Chris Rodell's Blog, page 39
April 10, 2017
PBS & the missile that missed
(530 words)
The op-ed, published in the NY Times two days before President Trump ordered the missile attack on Syria, made me want to locate the author and bestow a big, wet sloppy kiss. The headline: “Save PBS. It makes us safer.”
The essay reads: “As our leaders in Washington confront tough decisions about our budget priorities, I urge them to continue federal funding for public
The op-ed, published in the NY Times two days before President Trump ordered the missile attack on Syria, made me want to locate the author and bestow a big, wet sloppy kiss. The headline: “Save PBS. It makes us safer.”
The essay reads: “As our leaders in Washington confront tough decisions about our budget priorities, I urge them to continue federal funding for public
April 5, 2017
What if you're too rich to get into heaven
(696 words)
I was sitting there feeling fidgety. I was without a book or a magazine and pulling out the phone in my situation would have been crass.
Then, lo and behold, I spied a book that had been left there for just such an occasion.
It was the Bible!
It was like a sign from God.
Sure, I was in church awaiting Sunday service but — what the heck? — I chose to ascribe divine
I was sitting there feeling fidgety. I was without a book or a magazine and pulling out the phone in my situation would have been crass.
Then, lo and behold, I spied a book that had been left there for just such an occasion.
It was the Bible!
It was like a sign from God.
Sure, I was in church awaiting Sunday service but — what the heck? — I chose to ascribe divine
April 3, 2017
Soothing drug-addicted babies
(513 words)
A pharmaceutical giant that makes billions aggressively marketing addictive opioids — side effects may include constipation — is now aggressively marketing a drug that relieves opioid-induced constipation.
Side effects do not include, apparently, an appreciation of fine irony.
I’m interested in this because I’ve been feeling a bit constipated myself lately.
Constipated
A pharmaceutical giant that makes billions aggressively marketing addictive opioids — side effects may include constipation — is now aggressively marketing a drug that relieves opioid-induced constipation.
Side effects do not include, apparently, an appreciation of fine irony.
I’m interested in this because I’ve been feeling a bit constipated myself lately.
Constipated
March 31, 2017
National Crayon Day news from Crayola & me!
(745 words)
Today is National Crayon Day and I know what you’re thinking:
What the hell’s Rodell doing up there in the Tin Lizzy when he should be grand marshall of some big crayon parade down through?
Well, first of all, there are lots of logistical difficulties answering nature’s call when you’re wearing a great, big crayon costume and the only way I’m going to wear a great, big
Today is National Crayon Day and I know what you’re thinking:
What the hell’s Rodell doing up there in the Tin Lizzy when he should be grand marshall of some big crayon parade down through?
Well, first of all, there are lots of logistical difficulties answering nature’s call when you’re wearing a great, big crayon costume and the only way I’m going to wear a great, big
March 30, 2017
March tweets & 4 random thoughts
Because my tweet output was a paltry 18 (I usually average 40), I’m splicing in a few random thoughts so no one feels like they’re getting cheated.
• People who want to appear more interesting get new tattoos. People who want to become more interesting get library cards.
• Never dreamed I'd say it, but I long for the days when Republicans seeking party sense used to say, "Let's wait and
• People who want to appear more interesting get new tattoos. People who want to become more interesting get library cards.
• Never dreamed I'd say it, but I long for the days when Republicans seeking party sense used to say, "Let's wait and
March 29, 2017
The PG halts local delivery & greatest newspaper story ever
(700 words)
It was maybe the greatest story I’ve ever read in any out-of-town newspaper. It was last year in the Omaha World-Herald.
It was about a local businessman who repeatedly risked his own life to save a dozen people from a raging fire.
As news stories go, it sounds fairly dog-bites-man, doesn’t it? Many men and women conduct selfless heroics each and every day.
Why was
It was maybe the greatest story I’ve ever read in any out-of-town newspaper. It was last year in the Omaha World-Herald.
It was about a local businessman who repeatedly risked his own life to save a dozen people from a raging fire.
As news stories go, it sounds fairly dog-bites-man, doesn’t it? Many men and women conduct selfless heroics each and every day.
Why was
March 27, 2017
The day-long swim meet from Hell
(638 words)
It was an indicator of either my desperation or my depravity, but after five hours of confinement I began to feel a kinship with people who become refugees because of acts of war or acts of God.
I’d lost all perspective.
I’d equated my situation with those who’d lost their homes, their humanity and their hopes in cruel circumstances beyond their control.
But, hey,
It was an indicator of either my desperation or my depravity, but after five hours of confinement I began to feel a kinship with people who become refugees because of acts of war or acts of God.
I’d lost all perspective.
I’d equated my situation with those who’d lost their homes, their humanity and their hopes in cruel circumstances beyond their control.
But, hey,
March 24, 2017
Lavish lunches & the choosy beggar
(898 words)
Val’s announcement that she’d scored a Groupon for lunch Sunday at The Hofbrauhaus on Pittsburgh’s South Side drew a surprising rebuke from our 10-year-old.
“Pittsburgh is too far to to go for lunch,” she bitched.
She is mistaken.
Pittsburgh is not too far to go for lunch.
Neither is New Orleans.
I went there for lunch in 1999. It lasted 10 days.
Paschal’s
Val’s announcement that she’d scored a Groupon for lunch Sunday at The Hofbrauhaus on Pittsburgh’s South Side drew a surprising rebuke from our 10-year-old.
“Pittsburgh is too far to to go for lunch,” she bitched.
She is mistaken.
Pittsburgh is not too far to go for lunch.
Neither is New Orleans.
I went there for lunch in 1999. It lasted 10 days.
Paschal’s
March 23, 2017
My fantastic day in Philly
(761 words)
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House in Philadelphia is one of the city’s finest restaurants. Its menu features one seafood item that costs $79.50.
And, gulp, it’s only an appetizer.
So I can’t afford to eat there.
Heck, I can’t afford to valet park there.
That’s why what happened at Del Frisco’s on Monday evening was so odd.
I owned the joint.
At least
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House in Philadelphia is one of the city’s finest restaurants. Its menu features one seafood item that costs $79.50.
And, gulp, it’s only an appetizer.
So I can’t afford to eat there.
Heck, I can’t afford to valet park there.
That’s why what happened at Del Frisco’s on Monday evening was so odd.
I owned the joint.
At least
March 17, 2017
My dollar on the wall forever at Flappers
(505 words)
Maybe the one bar honor that’s eluded me over the years was secured last month when Josh Starrett took over management of Flappers, the beguiling 1920’s speakeasy-style saloon on the second floor of the historic Tin Lizzy.
I was the first customer.
Really, as bar feat’s go, it wasn’t like the time in ’87 at The Junction in Athens, Ohio, where George and I remained
Maybe the one bar honor that’s eluded me over the years was secured last month when Josh Starrett took over management of Flappers, the beguiling 1920’s speakeasy-style saloon on the second floor of the historic Tin Lizzy.
I was the first customer.
Really, as bar feat’s go, it wasn’t like the time in ’87 at The Junction in Athens, Ohio, where George and I remained
