Articles
Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way: # 1
Learn (ideally, master) a completely impractical, useless skill. The more nonsensical and less practical it is or could possibly ever be, the better. Do it because you've always wanted to but thought it was silly. And get good at it. Get good enough that when you're...
On What It Means to Be a Marine on our 241st Birthday
The truth is I actually wanted to be a Navy fighter pilot.Like many young men of my era, I saw "Top Gun" in the late '80s just as I was about to apply for college. I fell for it - Hook. Line. Sinker. (Cue "Danger Zone" bass drop in).I was fortunate, as the son of...
Post-Election Political Analysis for Democrats and Republicans
While I was watching the election results come in last night - and I was as surprised as anyone - I couldn't help but enjoy a laugh at the expense of, well, about 60 million people who have been crying, pissing their pants, and otherwise engaging in exactly the...
…And even in an election season, politicians aren’t what matter
I have to confess to being interested in politics, perhaps unhealthily so. I wasn't always. It wasn't like I had some childhood fascination with politics. In truth, I don't think I've ever voted in a local or presidential election. (I may have voted for Perot, but I...
Welfare Reform that Everyone Can Support
I've decided that the most important issue that is not being talked about in this current political season - the most tumultuous one I can remember in my forty-six years of life - is welfare reform. Now, let me provide some context for the "most tumultuous" political...