The first line of the song For What It’s Worth, by Buffalo Springfield—the rallying cry of the Baby Boom generation against the Vietnam War and the traditional mores of their fathers’ generation. They spoke out. They marched. They brought about a cultural revolution. The results? Some good, some bad. But the country was definitely [...]

What a stupid idea. The news sent me deep into a rewrite of one of my previous novels, the best place I go to escape sadness. The horror of Charlie Kirk’s assassination left level-headed people aghast. I mean, how can anyone celebrate the death of another human being—guilty of nothing more than standing up [...]

The memories behind the songs. (Some weeks ago, I submitted a series of posts on some of my favorite songs and the memories they elicit whenever I hear them. This is my final post on this subject, but please send me comments on your favorite songs and memories. I will post them in a [...]

Part 1: Why AI Won’t Save Us—But Wisdom Might (* Thanks once again, friends, for engaging here.) Well…I guess that depends on your worldview. “Help me sort out these terms,” I said to a close friend and spiritual mentor just this morning. “Knowledge, discernment, and wisdom.” “Knowledge fills the mind,” Thomas answered. “Discernment selects [...]

...a self-avowed flag waver I can’t remember a time when I didn’t feel proud to be an American. I still well up during that scene in Mel Gibson’s movie “The Patriot,” which I watch every July 4, when Mel’s character rides to catch up with his fellow soldiers, waving the tattered flag that his [...]

...but true! Time has way of setting records straight. Putting the doubters to shame. That time came for John Capes, a British submariner, in the late 1990s. Unfortunately, it was years after his death. I recently released my fourth historical novel, The Weight of Loyalty, which is loosely based on the story Capes told [...]

The memories behind the songs. Recall that memorable moment in the movie When Harry Met Sally, when Harry contends that men and women can’t sustain purely platonic friendships because “the sex part always gets in the way.” Sally counters, sparking a spirited debate on whether it’s feasible for men and women to maintain close, [...]

The memories behind the songs. Two weeks ago I asked you to join me in sharing how music stimulates some of your favorite memories. Thanks to those who have jumped right in. To the rest of you, click on the button below and join the romp down memory lane. No matter our country, skin [...]

The memories behind the songs. If you lived through the 60s like me, the title of this post must be a dead giveaway. It’s 1965. The British invasion is well underway, and through the radio waves comes that distinctive Gibson Fuzzbox guitar riff that every high school band tries to duplicate, including mine. “Satisfaction,” [...]

The memories behind the songs.Roll out the barrel, we’ll have a barrel of fun.Roll out the barrel, we’ve got the blues on the run.Zing! Boom! Ta-rarrel!Sing out a song of good cheer.Now’s the time to roll the barrel,For the gang’s all here!Okay. Maybe not Top 40 Hit Parade material, but occasionally the tune to this [...]