I bicycled downtown this afternoon to drop off my annual dues to the Missouri Press Association, then the Mizzou Alumni Association where I picked up a copy of the Columbia Missourian. What a treat. For two years as a journalism … Read More
The Confluence
It was a cool day. As we paddled down the Missouri River into the Mighty Mississippi, a flock of pelicans took flight from the far shore.
Ode to Road Hogs and Road Rage
I only did this once. On a lonely west Texas highway, where the flat boredom is punctuated by a battle between oil wells and windmills, we came upon a left lane hog in a nondescript sedan with heavily tinted windows. … Read More
Hillbillies, Hay Bellies and Hostess Twinkies
It was a dream. A nightmare. When I was a kid, I don’t remember seeing any over-sized hillbillies. Hill folk worked hard to squeeze a living from rocky soil. They were rugged, independent, self-sustaining people. Skinny, mostly, but healthy. They … Read More
Despite Sheridan, Bison making comeback
General Philip Sheridan’s statue stands on the New York state capitol grounds. Why do we honor this man who orchestrated the systematic genocide of the millions of bison on the American plains? Missouri’s Highway 13 cuts through a rogue’s gallery … Read More
Science Quiz
Ever look up to watch a hippopotamus swim? Or stand between diving penguins and puffins? On a delightful Saturday morning, the St. Louis Zoo proved again why a recent survey called it America’s favorite zoo. The experience invigorates the senses. … Read More
Back Door Branson
It bothered him like a gnat, the red dot on his chest. He knew it wasn’t a rash because the dot danced in a tight circle on the outside of his grimy wife-beater undershirt. He tried a few times to … Read More
Pegleg Shannon’s County
Shannon County is a synonym for wilderness, with a few small settlements scattered across the deep woods. It’s a great place to hide, or get lost. From border to border, as the Jacks Fork River slices across its face, Shannon … Read More