Wayward Landlubber

     A white male with political or economic stature is expected to be assertive, it is considered a desirable trait. A black man, or woman of any color, with political or economic stature is accused of being a tyrant, in the first instance, or pushy in the second, if they assert their stature. Sometimes "uppity" is used but that has fallen out of favor. Assertiveness in that instance is considered an undesirable characteristic, or so asserts the white males. The presidency of the United States is supposed to be held by a statesman or diplmat who, while asserting his/her stature, must be seen as thoughtful and reasoned. The election of 2008 gave us our first non-white male president. He was thoughtful and reasoned, a gifted diplomat whose assertions were a model of statesmanship. The aggrieved white males whose candidacies were handily rejected could not tolerate this interloper on their rightful domain. "Right" in this instance can have dual meanings. He was a (gas...

Poor Richard's Almanac      Its been a year of social distancing, a misnomer if there ever was one. Stores monitored for occupancy. Pubs closed, then opened for outdoor seating only; this at the climax of winter. People are warned to keep with a small social pod, to prevent exposure to Covid 19. And to put the cherry on this sundae, everyone wears a mask, except those fools who who think a mask is an infringement on their liberty. Some of them ended their period of liberty with an intubating tube in their throat. I walked into my Credit Union recently wearing a mask, it had been a year since I had been inside. The last time I walked through the door there was a sign advising members to remove their hats and sun glasses.       But we made it. Not completely, the governor is lowering occupancy in pubs and restaurants again, but I got my first vaccine shot and we have managed to get through with little more than a sniffle. I am approaching my 3rd year of...