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Posts published in “Essays”

Killer Horses

Before his birth, Ed Sniece's mother galloped her steed down the cinder traces of the old railroad bed parallel to the river. Her favorite bonnet usually dislodged no farther west than the Macdonald ranch. Like…

Strong Towns, Weak Agenda

Ukiah’s City officials are hoping to rev up some of that old school spirit with an artificial “competition” among a few other cities, probably none so deficient as Ukiah, but you play the hand you’ve…

Frisco, Macy’s & The White Working Class Male

Did I cry when the newspapers announced that Macy’s in San Francisco was closing? No, I didn’t, though I have known about Macy’s and have shopped there on and off and mostly off for more…

Meeting Doug Holland

I was going to be up in the Seattle area and wondered what it would be like to meet Doug Holland, who chronicles his daily life with a blog (‘Diary Of A Fat Slob’), a…

You Must Not Remember This

Over the years we’ve noted a trend in the American language whereby two words are made to substitute for one. I’m sure we’ve missed some and would appreciate any additions you, dear reader, can provide.…

Johnny Pinches, An Appreciation

We have always considered John Pinches to have been a good supervisor, certainly a much better supervisor than any of his four colleagues when one applies the standard of the greater good. The prevailing myth…

Oscar’s Ring Of Fire

In those rare moments when the real pierces the illusions of Oscar Night, I grip the arm of my sofa, waiting for hidden burner rockets beneath the Dolby Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard finally to ignite…

Not Thinking About Rocks

One tolerable, humid yet cloudless July morning in the late 60s, the apparent aim was to relocate a buttload of ugly, undistinguished rocks — are stones bigger? to call them “boulders” would be hyperbolic —…

The Captain & Me [2000]

I have always loved a good sea story. It doesn't matter whether it's fighting a typhoon with Conrad, rounding the Horn with Chichester or kicking some nautical butt with Aubrey and Hornblower. If it's got…

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