The “Little TURD!”
It’s hard to imagine America being intimidated by a guy named “Little Turtle”. And yet, in the year 1790, he was about as terrifying as it could get.
Little Turtle was the war chief of the Miami nation, one of the Algonquian-speaking tribes in the Great Lakes region, and he had made a name for himself fighting against the United States during the Revolutionary War. Continue reading
So many of us are deeply troubled by the direction we find America following these days, and while all we want is to live free and peaceful lives, at every turn in the road, it appears that Big Government and its Big Brother agents have become ever more motivated to ensure that we can’t, as they add to our to our troubles unnecessarily so, each and every day in the name of our general well being and security – trampling and eroding our freedom and liberty every step of the way. Continue reading
Daniel Boone escorting settlers though the Cumberland Gap. Painting by George Caleb Bingham, Washington University in St. Louis, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum
One morning early last spring, my younger son and I were in an argument as I drove the boys to their respective schools. The subject was (in hindsight) entirely silly and unnecessary, but we both felt passionately about our positions and weren’t backing down. The argument continued right up until he got out of the car, which meant that (to the best of my recollection) for the only time during that entire school year, we didn’t say “I love you” to each other as he got out. I spent the remainder of the day paralyzed, unable to think about anything other than the possibility of a school shooting and of that angry drop-off being our last interaction.
Guns and gun culture in America have long been fraught and contested topics, subjects that quickly and potently divide us, issues that any public American Studies scholar addresses at his or her peril. I don’t expect to convert anyone to a radically different perspective than their starting point by writing about them here. But as stories of yet another school shooting unfold, I wanted to use my Considering History column to highlight a few histories that are, at the very least, relevant to engaging in these 21st century conversations. Continue reading
In The Pines ~ Khemmis
In a world where the night has forgotten the dark and the stars have been drowned by the city’s spark, Where the hum of the wires is the lullaby sung To the old and the weary, the restless and young, There wander a people who still hear the call Of the wind in the pines and the wildness of all.
They move through the alleys of neon and chrome, Yet dream of a meadow they once called home; They walk under cameras that watch from above, Yet carry within them a stubborn love For the silence of dusk and the howl of the breeze, For the whisper of God in the rustling trees. Continue reading
Each new year brings a flurry of promised changes, usually in the form of personal commitments to modify behaviors we’ve recognized. In an attempt to stay relevant, we promise to change our ways or improve in some areas. I gave up on that crap long ago.
Mark Twain called them good intentions quickly abandoned, and Jay Leno remarked on their effectiveness by noting the continual increase in the average weight of Americans. Incidentally, the average for men today is 200 lbs., and for women, 170 lbs. Since 2000, there has been a 20 lb gain. We call this anecdotal evidence because the study is observational and draws on several sources.
That’s why I’m calling for a new year’s revolution. I am NOT necessarily calling for the overthrow of our government, although we sincerely need to address many areas; I’m suggesting the overthrow of our fundamental thought processes that have led us to our current position.
I know I just lost 80% of the readers and listeners, but thanks to those still here. Continue reading
The Mark of Zorro (1940) — directed by Rouben Mamoulian and starring Tyrone Power, Basil Rathbone, and Linda Darnell — stands as one of Hollywood’s most enduring classics. The film truly shines, with its charismatic cast, sharp dialogue, beautiful cinematography, blending romance and witty one-liners with cinema’s best sword fight.
Set in colonial Spanish Los Angeles around 1820, the movie takes viewers back to a conservative and traditional society, very different from LA today. Yet, like the original novel from 1919, it explores timeless themes: identity and deception, the inspiring force of heroism, the tension between individual will and societal expectations, and — to top it off — justice and political struggle. One reviewer put it well: “The Mark of Zorro emphasizes the significance of fighting against injustice and standing up for what is right, even if it means taking risks and going against societal norms.”
These social and political messages make the film highly relevant today. Strong critiques of fiscal pressure, ruling minority corruption, and government overreach, all echo the situation in current so-called “democracies.” These messages are vividly delivered in dialogue, especially between Zorro (aka Don Diego Vega), his friend, friar Felipe, and his father. Continue reading
THIS is their Plan!
The following is a bit of study and reflection on a growing problem in America that is still being facilitated and implemented within the leftist/commie regions of America to the nation’s great detriment and ultimate demise as we once knew Her to be.
Walk with me into the heart of a great city. Once it smelled of bread, coffee, and industry — of sweat and promise. Now the air is acrid with fear. Sirens sing where children once did. Needles bloom where tulips grew. The old baker’s shop is boarded; the jeweler’s glass is cracked like ice beneath a moose-hoof.
Look around at the new population of illegal alien invaders and those legal “immigrants” who no more desire to be true Americans than I desire to be Ms. Trans-America 2026, and you find the answer to these cities’ decline and demise, in fact the decline and demise of much of America today – wherever one finds Democrat Party Communists in control and any large number of immigrants, especially those from the third world countries of Latin America and the Middle East. Continue reading
If you are having a really difficult time keeping up with the rapidly rising cost of living, you are certainly not alone. This year, “affordability” was a buzzword that was constantly on the lips of politicians, economists and talking heads on television. As you will see below, Americans are being slammed by rising prices from a multitude of directions. Meanwhile, “layoffs” has been another buzzword that has been widely used in 2025. Thanks to the rise of AI and our steadily deteriorating economy, we have seen far more mass layoffs this year than we did last year. Unfortunately, one survey has found that executives are gearing up for an even larger round in 2026.
This is what happens when you flood the system with money and you go into unprecedented amounts of debt. Eventually a day of reckoning arrives. Continue reading
Self‑examination is a deeply Christian discipline. It requires humility, honesty, and the willingness to confront one’s own failures; traits that historically lead to repentance and course correction. But the modern hard‑left, and the Democratic Party increasingly shaped by it, appears fundamentally incapable of such introspection. To look inward would be to unravel the very foundations of what they have built. Continue reading
When the Framers drafted the Constitution in 1787, the first three words were “We the People.” The rest of the document repeatedly refers to “the people,” a term clearly denoting citizens of the United States, those whose rights the Constitution addressed. Additionally, the Tenth Amendment to the Bill of Rights identifies the states and “the people” as the repositories of plenary power, in contrast to the limited powers delegated to the federal government. Continue reading
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) stated that federal agencies have terminated or scaled back 55 contracts over the past five days, eliminating an estimated $261 million in spending tied to what the task force described as wasteful or duplicative services.
The canceled and descoped contracts had a combined ceiling value of $863 million, DOGE stated in a Dec. 22 social media post announcing its latest update. Continue reading
“Just the tip of the iceberg” is a perfect metaphor for what’s unfolding in Minnesota — a state swamped by over $1 billion in alleged welfare and program fraud, much of it tied to networks in the Somali community.
But Omar isn’t just the tip; she’s quick to cry “racism” whenever the fraud is called out. She’s slammed scrutiny of these schemes as “disgusting” and “vile,” insisting we shouldn’t “blame the lawlessness of an individual on a whole community.” Continue reading
This is what comes from “retiring” sooner than a man should. But truthfully, I must say I’m glad to be far and away removed from the madness of the corporate spinning and endless cycle of psychological bullshit aligned with all the politically correct programs that still persist in the corporate world today – that bullshit that ultimately led to the Woke movement and so many other detrimental and destructive programs across society, that which allowed the Transgendered Movement to grow to mammoth, militant proportions and tried to make the mutilation of children appear to be as ordinary as ordering a piece of apple pie at Mom’s Diner on 41A in Murfreesboro.
I know that in the grand scheme of things, no matter what anyone thinks of me, for better or worse. I am a man of little importance for the most part. And many people might question the reasons I write so prolifically on an entire array of topics, and to them, I say that it is to be certain there is an accounting of some sort left behind for whoever is to follow in this fight for the soul of America… Continue reading
My subtitle is an homage to the movie “A Christmas Story” based on a story by Jean Shepherd to set the tone for my commentary.
We watched this movie last night as part of our ritual viewings of our favorite seasonal movies. It’s based on the humorous writings of author Jean Shepherd; this beloved holiday movie follows the wintry exploits of youngster Ralphie Parker. It opens with a downtown scene about an Indiana town in the 1940s.
– “Downtown Hohman was prepared for its yearly bacchanalia of peace on Earth and goodwill to men.”
“Higbee’s corner window was traditionally a high-water mark of the pre-Christmas season. (The kids crowd around the window, and we soon see inside.) First-nighters, packed earmuff to earmuff, jostled in wonderment before a golden, tinkling display of mechanized, electronic joy.”
Christmas’ meaning has changed drastically over my 74 years, altering my appreciation for this particular holiday as I read and learned to appreciate classic literature and film messages that try to interpret its true meaning. The culmination was my realization of its importance to mankind. Continue reading
The 1962 UPA production of Mr. Magoo’s A Christmas Carol is an unfairly overlooked Christmas classic. This animated 52-minute TV is presented as a Broadway theater extravaganza with songs, dances, and curtain calls, and it really does delve into the true meaning of Christmas.
Magoo, voiced by Jim Backus and created by Millard Kaufmann and John Hubley, is an extremely near-sighted man who stubbornly refuses to accept this reality, causing numerous comical situations that affect everyone around him. In this production, he is Ebenezer Scrooge. Other cast members include Jack Cassidy as Bob Cratchit and Royal Dano as Marley, along with Morey Amsterdam, Joan Gardner, and veteran voice actor Paul Frees.
Image created using AI based on the original illustration to A Christmas Carol.
The show-within-a-show is a brilliant twist on the novel, but modern viewers won’t get it. That’s because many scenes have been cropped or deleted entirely. The deleted original begins with Magoo navigating through busy Manhattan traffic to the theatre, where he’s the star of the musical Christmas Carol. The deleted conclusion shows how Magoo, in trademark fashion, pulled a cord that collapsed all of the background sets. Typically, he emerges unscathed, leaving utter chaos in his wake. Continue reading
So long as the government controls the “public” schools, there are bound to be conflicts over what should be taught there. Only if all schooling is supplied by the free market will the problem end. In a free market, parents can get schools that supply them with the sort of education they want for their children. Continue reading
“He sees you when you’re sleeping.
He knows when you’re awake.
He knows if you’ve been bad or good,
So be good for goodness’ sake.”
— “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
For generations, “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” has been treated as a playful reminder to children to be good because someone, somewhere, is watching.
Today, it reads less like a joke and more like a warning.
The Surveillance State is making a naughty list, and we’re all on it.
Long before Santa’s elves start loading his sleigh with toys for good girls and boys, the government’s surveillance apparatus is already at work – logging your movements, monitoring your messages, tracking your purchases, scanning your face, recording your license plate, and feeding it all into algorithmic systems designed to determine whether you belong on a government watchlist.
Unlike Santa’s naughty list, however, the consequences of landing on the government’s “naughty list” are far more severe than a stocking full of coal. They can include heightened surveillance, loss of privacy, travel restrictions, financial scrutiny, police encounters, or being flagged as a potential threat – often without notice, explanation, or recourse.
This is not fiction. This is not paranoia. Continue reading
(Roman Genn)
It looked for a moment as if Henry Cuellar’s career might be over. The eleven-term congressman from Texas’s Rio Grande Valley had long fought to retain his seat in this overwhelmingly Hispanic region of the state, facing closer margins over the years as the Republicans gained traction among Latino voters during the worst of the Biden-era illegal-immigration crisis. The voters in Cuellar’s district had, for the first time in history, given their votes to a Republican — Donald Trump carried the district 53–46, in a straight reversal of Biden’s 2020 margin. Statewide Texas Republicans altered his district’s shape to make it slightly redder. And on top of it all, Cuellar was indicted in 2024 on twelve federal charges of bribery, conspiracy, and money-laundering. Would this be the end of the popular, but increasingly threatened, incumbent?
Trumpism embraces the best and the worst of two sides of the political aisle, in a frenetic fashion that sometimes supports and defends freedom and liberty while trampling both at other times. It is a pitchfork populism that isn’t really making the reforms to government necessary to take the American people along a path to truly living free, and instead, it is bringing closer to fruition the very thing that so many liberty minded Americans reject – a massive surveillance police state that is on track to remain and grow as an ever more mammoth and intrusive Big Brother/Nanny State, as President Trump cannot seem to divest himself of his statist and globalist inclinations.
In the twilight of the American century, a profound question looms: How can the United States unwind its vast imperial commitments without descending into economic ruin, social dependency, or authoritarian control? The nation’s Founding Fathers envisioned a republic of free individuals, bound by limited government and inalienable rights derived from a higher moral order. Yet, over two centuries, America has morphed into a global hegemon, with a sprawling federal apparatus that often tramples those very principles. From endless foreign entanglements to domestic overreach – exemplified by agencies like the TSA detaining citizens without cause and demanding access to personal devices – the drift toward centralized power has eroded liberty. Continue reading