Recession may feel like Depression, but ‘taint?

Recession may feel like Depression, but ‘taint? Early in everybody’s growing up years they’ve heard the expression: ‘The first liar doesn’t have a chance.? Well, listen to this one. Economists and other fabricators, like Democrats and Republicans, say the current economic slowdown has been going on for over 10 months. Then comes an up-beater who […]

Maybe a confession will diffuse my fears

Played golf recently with a couple named Paul and Karin March. In this league we don’t talk golf while playing golf. The conversation got to life and television. Karin said, ‘I’ll know when Paul dies, because if the clicker doesn’t change the channel in 10 seconds he’ll be dead.? Later that thought took me to […]

Just jotting

I love those offers on television that end with the product pusher yelling, ‘If you order right now I’ll send you Great Britain, the Suez Canal and Oahu. I’ll even pay the shipping and handling.? Or something like that. – – – 0 – – – It’s good that we have these 22-month-long national political […]

There were 7 bad words, now there are six

Several years ago comedian George Carlin did a routine on the seven words you can never say on television. I didn’t go, but one of his appearances was at the Fisher in Detroit. Jim Fizgerald, now retired back-page columnist for the Free Press, went just to make sure he knew them all. Recently someone sent […]

It’s hunting season, and I’m hunting for words

Mary had a little lamb, and the doctor fainted! – – – 0 – – – I had to take a week off from Jottings last week for what Dr. Portnoy made sound like minor surgery. ‘We’re just going to scrape one of the discs in your back to ease your leg pain.? For the […]

So, how’s your water?

The building housing The Citizen newspaper in Ortonville has its own well. As such, it is checked four times a year by the county and once a year by the state for tadpoles, roe and other swimmy things. A lady named Jeanine with the county environmental department checks the checking. She’s probably not allowed to […]

Like ‘Ramblin? Rose? here’s ramblin? column

Golfers look forward to the day they can shoot their age. I play golf three times a week in groups with Fran Bertram, 81, and once a week with John Patrell, 80. Fran has been shooting his age over 10 years (and still is) some 150-plus times. John took 13 holes to shoot his age […]

Today’s politicos can’t meet Dirksen’s orations

In my early newspapering days I took an interest in Senator Everett Dirksen, Illinois. He was minority leader of the U. S. Senate. My interest probably came from working for a man whose interest in politics was deep. My publisher was Enoch ‘Ink? White, and he was one of the writers of our present state […]

Today’s politicos can’t meet Senator Dirksen’s orations

In my early newspapering days I took an interest in Senator Everett Dirksen, Illinois. He was minority leader of the U. S. Senate. My interest probably came from working for a man whose interest in politics was deep. My publisher was Enoch ‘Ink? White, and he was one of the writers of our present state […]

Try the power of positive thinking for a little while

Try the power of positive thinking for a little while ‘Act enthusiastic and you’ll be enthusiastic? is the motto and teaching of Dale Carnegie programs. This is most often used in reference to selling. Change it just a bit and it becomes a teaching of life: ‘Act and talk positive and you’ll become more positive.? […]

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