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Trump Derangement Syndrome Is Severe

Here we are at the first anniversary of the Trump presidency. Or the fifth, depending on how you count. * * * Many things are striking about it. One of them is the number of his opponents with Trump Derangement Syndrome. Another is the severity of their Trump Derangement Syndrome. Is derangement a new malady among opponents of presidents standing athwart the statist agenda? No, of course not. Yet Trump Derangement Syndrome is different in both the number of his opponents who have it and in its severity. So what’s up? If those with Trump Derangement Syndrome are ...

Having A Sweet Tooth During A Blizzard

By Marcy O’Brien Running out of Werther’s hard caramels doesn’t qualify as an earth-shattering crisis. Unless the only hard candy left in the house are the candy canes hanging on the Christmas tree. And they of course contain sugar. I’m supposed to limit my sugar intake. Werther’s, a German company, has been making their butterscotch-flavored morsel since 1909. They sell their candies in 100 countries. Here in the States, the candy has developed a reputation as a senior citizen favorite. Last Christmas, my grandson, Malcolm, said my candy dish was full of “old lady ...

Telling Secrets To A Machine

I know people who are using ChatGPT as their personal therapist, and they always seem amazed by the quality of Chat’s answers. I’m guessing a great percentage of the questions posed to Chat go something like this: “This guy I like never called me back, and so I texted him, and he wrote a flat answer back with no emojis, and so I tried to call him like two days later, and he never picked up and never called back, and I don’t know what to do. Do you think he likes me?” And Chat will answer with something like this: “No.” Chat is definitely not the “Girl, give him ...

Memorable Tales Of Lorna Doone

Lorna Doone is a historical romance novel that was written by R.D. Blackmore, and was first published in 1869. To be perfectly honest, that’s about all I really know about it. I do have, however, some very fond memories of a different Lorna Doone, and its place in my past, and present. Back in the days of growing up at 92 Bowen St. in Jamestown, Saturday mornings were planned out for us, before we could plan anything else. On some Saturdays, my brother Lou and I had Altar Server (Knights of the Altar) meetings at St. James Church, and after coming home we each found a note from mom ...

Brady Is An Excellent Choice

ORCHARD PARK—Let’s pick up where we left off last week. To be sure, dismissing a nine-year, grade-A head coach because one wants to do even better has its risks. On Jan. 21, Buffalo Bills’ owner Terry Pegula acknowledged as much. The Bills’ most important task this off season is to make this decision work. The team took the first step in that direction on Jan. 27 by promoting its offensive coordinator to head coach. * * * Joe Brady, a Hollywood, Fla., native, grew up in Pembroke Pines, Fla.; spent his undergraduate years at the College of William & Mary, where he was ...

A Life In Linen

As a hobby, from time to time, I visit estate sales looking for fine linen to resell. While all the other bargain hunters are in deceased women’s closets looking for designer bags and clothes, I’m happily alone in the linen closet, looking at napkins and tablecloths. Florida is a wonderland for estate sales. The wealthy retire here, and they bring all their stuff with them. They have curio cabinets full of Lladre figurines and Baccarat crystal, closets bursting with designer clothes, and new purses stiff with intention. A long life of consumerism often ends with a line of people ...