Fields or Hutches?

When I was small, living on a small farm near a college town, my father fell for an idea proffered by the Ralston Purina Company of Checkerboard Square in St. Louis.

“Best Of Both Worlds” Has A Third Episode

“Best Of Both Worlds,” part 1 was the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode that concluded its third season, and its heart — the capture of Jean-Luc Picard by the Borg, and his transformation into “Locutus” — is resolved in Season 4’s opening part 2. But the next episode, “Family,” in essence is the third part of the episode, and deserves to be remembered as such.

Et Tu, Aldi?

It was the day that I stopped forever my weekly visit to Kroger.

The COVID-19 epidemic was underway, and we were advised to stay away from each other. It was cold, and the forecast was that an ice storm would hit about sundown (made an hour earlier each year for no good reason by the switch to standard time).

My Nephew Was Going Off To College. Naturally, I Made Him A Playlist

It reflects me as much as him. But isn’t family truly the shared experience of knowing and enjoying one another? He likes Gracie Abrams, so I put “That’s So True” on the list, because I like it, too. She’s like a Jewish Taylor Swift; even to say it like that feels like a massive compliment. And I truly hope no one has lingering bitterness toward director J.J. Abrams; Gracie is his daughter.

Wasps, Baseball, and Google

The Temptations had a hit song 55 years ago, “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today).” It feels as if it were a prediction of the last week around here.