100+ Bands I’ve Seen Live (Updated 7/11)

August 14, 2009

This is really taxing my memory, but I tried to put dates with these. If you were with me at one of these shows, please leave me a comment, and include any corrections if you spot any. David Gates and Bread 1978 Ian Matthews 1978 Earth, Wind, and Fire 1979 George Thorogood (3) 1980, 1982, [...]

Read the full article →

Tipping for Dummies

June 30, 2009

I went for a couple of pints of Guinness with my buddy Josh last night, and watching him calculate his tip to the penny reminded me that this post was overdue. This I believe: Nearly any server needs the money more than I do 20% is your starting point for tipping, only truly bad service [...]

Read the full article →

A “Kidney Birthday” Celebration for My Friend

June 25, 2009

This is an update on a post from exactly one year ago, announcing that my good friend Tom Fulcher had just found a kidney donor to make possible his life-saving kidney transplant. Today is the one year anniversary of that successful surgery, a day that Tom calls his “kidney birthday.” And what a year it [...]

Read the full article →

It’s Its, Not It’s

June 18, 2009

Most people can, without thinking, form a possessive noun. You build one by adding an apostrophe and an “s” to a noun, as in “Occam’s razor” and “the cat’s meow.” But things are different with pronouns. (Pronouns are those little words that stand in for nouns, such as he, she, it, they, us, him, her, [...]

Read the full article →

Leave No Trace Comes to a Public Restroom Near You

May 12, 2009

This one gets me every time I go to a movie. The movie lets out, a stream of men queue up in the men’s room, and by the time I get my bladder emptied and arrive at the sink, it looks like New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. So let’s bring Leave No Trace principles to [...]

Read the full article →

When Did You Tear Up?

January 20, 2009

For me, it was about halfway into Obama’s inaugural address, as he expressed his hope for peace in this way: “…know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.” When was it [...]

Read the full article →

Good News for a Good Friend

June 25, 2008

My good friend Tom has been on kidney dialysis for the past few months, as his kidneys have essentially failed from a disease called PKD. He’s been on the transplant list for over a year. Tom called me last night to tell me he is getting a kidney transplant this morning. He found out yesterday [...]

Read the full article →

Next Entries →