Category: Americana
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What Good Is Freedom If It Is Only Used To Pursue The Obscene?
Frankly, my dear, I don’t know how this happened. There we were in 1939 when Clark Gable poked a hole in the dam of civil discourse when he emphatically declared to Scarlett, “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.” In other words, that’s when the verbal dam broke! (Pun intended.) It only took forty-six…
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Buttermilk and Cornbread
Driving to Grandma’s house in the late 1950s and early 1960s usually meant a day-long pilgrimage. It was an hour’s drive from our home in Decatur, Georgia, as we wound our way through small towns like Stone Mountain, Snellville, Loganville, and Bold Springs until finally arriving at the family’s ancestral home of Winder. Mom and…
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A Chilling Wind for Christendom
There’s a chill wind blowing in our cultural ethos. It reminds me of those days when winter’s first breath slaps your face as bitter, freezing, and gusty winds sweep southward alerting you that shorter days, lower temperatures, flu season, and barren landscapes are on the way. It seems like just yesterday, maybe ten years ago,…
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Identity Theft
One of the most annoying and upsetting threats today is what is known as identity theft. Someone “steals” your identity and uses it to make fraudulent purchases in your name. As frustrating as that is, it occurs to me that another form of identity theft is taking place. There is a verse in Exodus 3:14…
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Signs of Growing Old
I don’t feel old. Correction: I used not to feel old. Now, I only feel my age on days that end in Y. I should have seen it coming. There were ample signs. Some were subtle, others were less so — like a ball peen hammer upside the head. Well duh! Of course, you feel…
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The Allure of Advertising
This past weekend, as I watched a few football games on television, I became fascinated with the taglines of the commercials. Normally, I ignore the incessant non-stop ads that relentlessly plug their respective product or service. But this weekend, I took another approach. I made note of the taglines of each commercial. You know the…
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Today’s Snake Oil Salesmen
I remember watching Western TV shows back in the ‘60s, and occasionally, there would be a character selling a cure-all for what ails ya. Grandstanding from the back of their wagon, these “snake oil” salesmen would pitch their too-good-to-be-true wares on an unsuspecting public. Their concoction, usually some alcohol-based remedy, was touted as a medicinal…
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I Confess, I Watched a K Drama
The following words were written in a moment of weakness when my desire to be open and transparent overrode any embarrassing concerns regarding my actions. Better yet, maybe I should deny any connection with the comments below. That’s it. I will plead the 5th or shout “blog hacker” as if such remarks will distance me…
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Southern Accent Fading Fast?
I am a son of the South. And I say that proudly. My accent may not be a drawl or as slow as sorghum syrup, but I still throw in a “y’all,” an “ain’t,” or an “I reckon” from time to time. Hopefully, my manners and inbred spirit of hospitality make my Southern upbringing evident…
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15 Signs That Toe is About to Meet Leather
It’s that time of year again. Yes, schools have started back and the prospect of cooler temperatures grows increasingly likely as Summer transitions to Fall. But that is not what I am talking about. Decades ago, when I was a student at Georgia Tech, our football play-by-play radio broadcaster was a guy named Al Ciraldo.…
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