The Dog Days of Summer

  In baseball, the “dog days of summer” refers to the period from mid-July to the end of August when temperatures and humidity reach their peak.  It is also the time when a team’s outcome is pretty much determined.  You are either a contender or already declaring “wait ’til next year.” For politicians running for … Read more

Love the Crime; Hate the Criminal

  In letter #211, St. Augustine wrote, “Cum dilectione hominum et odio vitiorum,” which translates to, “With love for mankind and hatred of sins.”  The more commonly quoted version of this sentiment comes from Mahatma Gandhi, “Love the sinner but hate the sin.”  In Gandhi’s case, he appealed to his fellow countrymen to challenge British rule without … Read more

The Emily Litella Candidate

Sometimes, I really miss Gilda Radner and her many Saturday Night Live characters (e.g. Roseanne Rosannadanna, Lisa Loopner). Each was guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.  My favorite, however, was Emily Litella, the hard of hearing guest commentator on Weekend Update. Once informed she had misunderstood the question, she would close with her trademark … Read more

A Solution in Search of a Problem

  In an August 2nd interview with the Washington Post’s Phil Rucker, Donald Trump was asked about his statements that the 2016 presidential election might be rigged. RUCKER: You said yesterday that you worried the election might be rigged in some way. TRUMP: Yeah. RUCKER: What is your worry exactly? TRUMP: I don’t like what’s … Read more

The Real “Khan” Job

  Dictionary.com defines the term “con” as a verb meaning (1) “to swindle; trick” or (2) “to persuade by deception, cajolery, etc.” I looked up the term after businessman and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg addressed the Democratic National Convention last Wednesday night.  Playing off of Donald Trump’s defense of “New York values” … Read more