Freddie Mac and Frannie Nic, or how to start the New Year right

 What is REALLY wrong with Freddie Mac and Frannie Mae? The answer in just a moment. But first, let me set this all up. Robert Burns’ “Auld Lang Syne” has given American New Year’s celebrations a...

"Mele Kalikimaka" -- You don't have to pronounce it to celebrate

Pity poor Hawaii. Always on the tail end of national election counts. Seldom remembered at Christmas. But Christmas began in Hawaii in 1786. Anchored in Waimea Bay, British Captain George Dixon of the Queen...

"Noel" is one thing -- but "Christmas"???

 Last night, a little elf sat on my shoulder and asked me,"How many notable people have 'Christmas' in their name?" I swatted him with a bundle of Christmas cards. But as squarely as I had shaken...

"Road-Ready" vs. "Rice-Ready": Racism in Local Auto Marketing

Back in the 1970s, a personality on WAPE (Jacksonville, Florida) radio took a swipe at newly-popular Toyotas and Hondas. The contoversial "Grease Man" called them "Nagasaki Nut Buckets." [1] Over thirty years...

I Want to Believe: Licensing Religion in South Carolina

And it came to pass that in the State of South Carolina House of Representatives and Governor Mark Sanford intended to issue license plates picturing a gold cross and a stained glass window. The words...

Bloody water and other souvenirs

Souvenirs have a long history and even a likely prehistory.  A number of my friends and coworkers exchange stones brought back from faraway places. It would be hard to find a simpler, more authentic...

"Here, Sweetlips!" -- Presidential pets B. O. (Before Obama)

NOTE: Before reading this article, you may enjoy watching AARP TV's three-minute YouTube video, "Presidential Pets" at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d2GvRoEmXA . Speculation about the Obama family's...

Imps of frustration: Frenzied, frenetic and frantic

We all know of the Seven Deadly Sins. As listed by Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) they are Pride, Covetousness, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Anger and Sloth. Then there are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, in the...

The "B" Word: Barack, Baruch, Benediction and Blessing

Some were sceptical when Barack Obama told Jewish voters that his first name had the same Semitic root as Hebrew "Baruch," meaning "A blessing." [1] Although further speculation (not by Obama) that Barack was...

Harding: The first African-American president?

Warren Gamaliel Harding, the 29th U.S. president, served from March 4, 1921 to August 2, 1923. The American Decades reference source spoke of "attempts to arouse racist sentiment against (Harding) with accusations...

What's in a name?: South Carolina is a de-facto early-voting state

Forget those official reports about "absentee voters" only. South Carolina is a de-facto "early voting" state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures "Absentee and Early Voting" Web page, only...

Out of the Attic: The Ancient Roots of Elections

Biden, McCain, Obama, Palin. Which other names are on your mind on these few days before the Big Election? What! No thought of Cleisthenes? Athenian democracy lasted about as long as the United States has existed....