Categories
Body, Home, Street

Point the Way, Bruce Walker

Attending the musical wake of Bruce D. Walker on Sunday brought up a lot of sadness in the midst of so many cheerful tunes by local songsters. Standing in several of the eight corners of George’s Majestic Lounge (front bar/stage and garden bar/stage) I saw dancing and clapping and heard hoots and whoops. Embracing the […]

Categories
The Course of Words

Not Going Anywhere

The following is my president’s column for the March 2011 edition of the monthly newsletter of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists An NSNC friend e-mailed links to farewell pieces that a couple of just-downsized columnists were allowed to publish. That opportunity isn’t always granted. Atypically, he didn’t add his opinion, which made my impression […]

Categories
Education, Coarsely

Stone’s Throw from Campus

Copyright 2011 Ben S. Pollock Catherine Wallack, a University of Arkansas interior design professor, deserves praise for curating a comprehensive exhibit of furniture produced by the Fulbright family’s wood business and designed by Edward Durell Stone. Wallack is credited with putting together the show, but University Relations leaves unsaid who’s responsible for honoring him after […]

Categories
Main Courses

Mom’s Chili, If She Was Vegan

Here is Mom’s Spaghetti Sauce, circa 1970s (my sister kept the index card): Brown 1 pound ground beef, drain. Add 1 Tablespoon salt, half an onion chopped, half a stick of butter, 1 (large) can tomatoes cut up, and 1 large can (2 small cans) tomato paste. Cook covered in 275-degree oven 1 1/2 to […]

Categories
American Culture

Stances with Wolves

The following is my president’s column for the February 2011 edition of the monthly newsletter of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists Columnists get labeled as opinionated. This was brought home again after the Tucson shooting. Americans saw on the air and online — come on, paper? — as many pundits as politicians (and rarely […]

Categories
Life Lessons

North East West South

Copyright 2011 Ben S. Pollock When teaching (it’s been awhile) or just yakking, I find greater utility in broad definitions. News, for example, “is whatever is new, whatever is different.” Meaning front-page, top-of-the-hour news. That’s where are found recountings of heroism, and more often tragedy. Print and broadcast are front-loaded mainly with bad news, which […]