The Rocket Scientist Quarterback
Who said football isn’t rocket science? MIT quarterback Peter Williams has led the Engineers to a perfect season and a first-round Division III playoff win. Williams, who graduated from Lincoln … Continue reading
A Day for Relaxed, Serious Reflection
Thanksgiving is an annual ritual celebrating family. It is a symbol of a land of bounty. It also should be a day of relaxed, but serious reflection. While many families … Continue reading
Another Modest Proposal
News Report: Emperor Obama, frustrated with Congress and feeling his imperial oats, decides to reissue the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing slaves and granting amnesty to all past, present and future illegal immigrants. Infuriated … Continue reading
A Picture of Political Virtue
Abraham Lincoln is revered for the outcome of his life work, but not always recognized for the string of personal decisions that led him to his perilous presidency. Through time, … Continue reading
Dark Money and Lauren Hill
As “dark money” haunts American politics, it is reassuring that many Americans can see beyond their own self-interest. The GOP made major gains in the just completed election as only … Continue reading
The Irresistible Howard Dicus
Howard Dicus is a walrus-shaped man with dubious sartorial style and a penchant for using Legos and hand-drawn pictures to illustrate stories about financial issues. Somehow he is irresistible. Dicus … Continue reading
Islands: A World Apart
No man is an island, but when you are on an island, especially one in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, it can seem like a world apart. When you … Continue reading
Friday Night Frights
The Friday night lights of high school football animate many people’s lives. However, too many Friday nights in Oregon’s 6A high school championships end up as Friday Night Frights for … Continue reading
Keeping Portland Beard
Men can’t resist the urge to compete – in war, sports, love and facial hair. Historically, beards stood for tribe, class, ferocity and virility. Nowadays, beards are more often symbols of … Continue reading
Creeping into Unfunny Territory
Actor Rob Lowe, it turns out, can be creepy and even creepier, as he proves on a currently running ad for DirecTV that an advocacy wants pulled. He is just creepy … Continue reading
One Hell of a Summer
How do you convert a summer almost 90 years ago into an addictive non-fiction book? Bill Bryson, in One Summer, did it with a compendium of fascinating historical details, introspective … Continue reading
A Good Day on the Beach
People on beaches do interesting things. They cackle, fall asleep without sunscreen and float on an armada of objects that resemble anything from lids on coolers to sleek versions of … Continue reading
Gary Conkling Life Notes 