Jessica Watson Almost Home; Unsupported Around the World Sail

For those of you who have not been following along at home, Jessica Watson is about to complete her Around the World sailing voyage, solo and unsupported. Oh, and she turns 17 on the 18th of May. She’ll be the youngest non-stop solo sailor to make this trip. (Apropos of absolutely nothing, May 18th is …

It's Not What's For Dinner

Some people dislike cilantro with a passion. My wife, the ineffable Jennifer, will not have it around. I find this unfortunate because I happen to like cilantro a lot. It turns out that she is in good company. Some people may be genetically predisposed to dislike cilantro, according to often-cited studies by Charles J. Wysocki …

Pollen Apocalypse

Editorial Note: This was written last week. “Yesterday” = “Not Sunday”. Some minor server issues and general laziness kept it from being posted. Everything is still true, though. I always find myself strangely fascinated this time of year in Georgia—the same way I’d be strangely fascinated driving by a five-car pileup with dismembered bodies lying …

How Much a "But" Can Change Meaning

I’m amazed, sometimes, at the subtlety of language. For example, from this morning’s AJC: Bells Ferry Road near Canton has reopened after a water main break. Officials had originally said the road would be closed throughout the morning commute but later said the road had not been damaged. It was reopened shortly after 6 a.m. …

A 10 Year Old Understands America

Will Phillips has come to the correct conclusion about America . Quoting from the article: At the end of our interview, I ask young Will a question that might be a civics test nightmare for your average 10-year-old. Will’s answer, though, is good enough – simple enough, true enough – to give me a little …