All posts filed under: THOUGHTS

A white car at the scene of an accident.

We have freedom, but we’re not independent

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I have been a journalist for 25 years. In fact, this year marks my 25th year of being in the journalism industry in some area, starting in college at a local radio station and later as a paid intern at a newspaper. This also marks the 20th year of my college graduation.

In the last 25 years, I have covered a variety of stories, including homicides, fires and car accidents. I was good at establishing trustworthy relationships with law enforcement, but I have never really enjoyed covering spot news.

The black dog

The Black Dog and the Breeze: A simple moment that reminded me to embrace the present

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Today, as I drove home from the Japanese restaurant over the Reservoir, I noticed a black lab in the back of a black Chevrolet Silverado wearing an orange collar. As his owner drove, he ran back and forth on each side of the truck, stepping up and sticking his head out on each side to feel the cool breeze.

His movement was repetitive. Over and over again, he moved to the left, then to the right. I guess he thought the wind felt better hitting his face the first time, so instead of standing still, he ran from side to side, creating a pause, before sticking his neck out into the air again.

The mysterious wizard.

The mysterious wizard

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As I was driving home from work the other day, I saw a wizard on the side of the road.

Well, maybe he wasn’t a wizard. I’m not exactly sure. Perhaps he was Father Time. I’m just not positive. But he was wearing a long purple robe, a pointy matching hat and a long white beard.

The unicycle-riding banana

Unicycling banana spotted in Mississippi suburb: A delightfully unexpected sight

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I generally write about popular culture, so this is a little off-topic. But as I was driving home from the bookstore today, I saw something yellow coming down the sidewalk near my apartment complex.

As I got closer, I realized that among the walkers and bikers out enjoying a beautiful, sunny Mississippi day was — believe it or not — a banana on a unicycle. Yes, a banana. On a unicycle.

An image of bags and money that represents excess spending.

The $155 million mansion and the cost of living large in a world of need

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Is it just me, or do you ever feel a little queasy when you hear about people spending absurd amounts of money on things no one really needs?

Take MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16,” for example. Every episode centers around a painfully spoiled teenager whose parents drop hundreds of thousands of dollars to stage over-the-top birthday extravaganzas — complete with luxury cars, celebrity cameos, and tantrums. It’s like watching the Academy Awards on a budget of bad parenting.