Category: Opinion
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The Adventures of Casey and Seth, Part Three
Larry laughed again. “It doesn’t matter. Profits are what count. My wife and kids have a nice place in another suburban town not far from here. The money I save on the drainage buys them plenty.” “But we’re talking about poisoning the world here, the world that your children will inherit in the future.” Larry…
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We Can Do Better
“We can do better.” That was part of the opening speech given at the beginning of the 25th Interfaith Homeless Memorial Service that is held annually at the Church on the Hill in Boston. It’s a somber event, as the names of those who have passed away on the street in the previous year are…
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The Adventures of Casey and Seth, Part Two
Now maybe you’re wondering where I’m going with this story and what things are about. It is much later now, later than we all think. Casey joined the service and went to Vietnam. I stayed here and grew my hair long. Casey fought for his life and his sanity in a world that made all…
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Demon
I watched along with the rest of the nation two weeks ago as the Ferguson, Missouri, District Attorney announced the decision of the grand jury regarding whether to charge the police officer who gunned down an unarmed black teenager in August. I can honestly say that it turned out the way I expected. Anyone who…
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The Adventures of Casey and Seth, Part One
Papaver somniferum defies agricultural advances. Poppy cultivation remains a time-consuming gamble, opium extraction a tedious, manual exercise. To produce enough opium for just one viss (about 1.65 kg) requires the scoring and scraping of three thousand seedpods for their alkaloid-rich opium ‘tears.’”—from “Chasing the Dragon” by Charles Cox. Way back when, we were friends from…
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Ban This, Ban That
As I write this column, it’s a very frigid, cold day and the night will be even colder. Naturally, I can’t help but think of those who have nowhere to go, and as I think of them I wonder why people are trying to run away or even hide the homeless. I say that because…
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Angels in the Snow
A frigid wind stung Bobby’s face as he pushed open the door of the package store. Sleet beat a staccato rhythm on the window of the store as he handed the man cash for a bottle of respite. Out the door, back into the yellow-jacket wind. Bobby clutched the bottle right against his body as…
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Does It Really Matter?
So the elections have come and gone, and for the first time in eight years here in Mass. a Republican will be in the State House. I voted this past Tuesday, but like thousands who stayed home I wondered if it would make a difference. I mean, really, does it matter who is in the…
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Garret’s Movie Palace: Into the Storm
By Garret Jordan Well, I was not blown away by this movie — pun intended. I thought for sure that this latest tornado-thon would be better than Twister, given the advances in special effects since 1996. The effects were great, but they just weren’t enough. The exposition and rising action of any story are supposed…