[August 16, 2026] The “Devil Duck” was a real duck who served as an unofficial mascot with the 2nd Marine Division in the Pacific during World War II. This story tells us about the American military culture more than what we typically would see in history books. In 1942–1943, while the Marines were staging in New Zealand, Sgt.… Read More »
[August 5, 2026] I didn’t give him much notice until he chased me home one day. My Mom had given me the proper warning, “watch out for that mangy dog.” Rabies was real, although looking back, I don’t think he had the disease. I loved dogs then, and I love them more today, perhaps because I’m less busy,… Read More »
[June 28, 2026] It’s late Saturday night and I’m tired. What made me so tired? First off, I was nervous about traveling out to the western side of New Jersey (yeah, only a little over an hour drive) to attend a U.S. Marine O-6 level change of command. For those who’ve spent any time in the military, know… Read More »
[May 23, 2026] My recent series on “Letters to My Granddaughter” will soon be published in book form. My problem is that the upcoming book has a few structural issues, and I’m not a great writer. So fixing those problems will be difficult. I asked Grok to list the top three high-level problems. They are listed here. Even… Read More »
[April 10, 2026] One of my favorite contemporary movies of all time is Babe (1995) starring James Cromwell as farmer Hoggett. The pig Babe was voiced by Christine Cavanaugh. Great movie for some very good reasons that I’ll unpack here. The movie Babe isn’t just a cute story about a pig who herds sheep. It’s a smart tale… Read More »
[February 4, 2026] Just a few crazy items I found on X and thought them interesting enough to share in my Clearing the Spindle: Chaya’s Clan @ChayasClan Satire is a form of humor that is used universally, but English-speaking nations seem to have an unusual flair for using it to attack the most outrageous situations. In this satire… Read More »
Iraq War Pre-Surge: my View [January 16, 2026] In a few months, it will be twenty years since I arrived for my second combat tour, part of the Iraq War (2003-2011). Such a time past gives me time to reflect, and despite some details being lost to old memories, I think I can put the war in a… Read More »
[January 14, 2026] I never thought of “owning” a dog as a philosophy of life, yet we have given it some thought. Whether we realize it or not, owning a dog requires something special. Have you ever looked into a dog’s eyes and asked yourself, “What is it that I see?” Most folks will say they see loyalty,… Read More »
[November 10, 2025] In a brutally honest email sent to the “Penn community” declared that the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education is a “dogshit and elitist institution” and that they “hire and admit morons.” As to be expected in damage control, Penn administrators immediately labeled the email as fraudulent. I got a laugh out of it.… Read More »
[October 19, 2025] It’s been a few weeks since I posted a “Sunday Morning in Pictures” entry, so here it is. I get more views on these Sunday posts than on any other type. Does that tell us something about the people who “read” this blog? Insert smiley face here. Typically, my pictures include dogs, cats, and humorous… Read More »