Commentary

Commentary Humanity

On the Road

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Watch out!  He is cutting in front of you from the right, from the blind side.  From the lane that was marked as ending a long way back.  Other cars merged in as instructed, but not him.  He is bent on getting ahead.  Getting there a car-length earlier means a lot to this guy.  There isn't really space for his car in front of you, but he makes space.  He makes space because you chicken out and hit the brake as he swerves.  He is more aggressive than you which is why he is now in front of you.  He throws a casual wave as if to thank you, to thank you for being a sap.  You are mad at him and mad at yourself both.  You frown and fume and mutter various characterizations for this man. …

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Commentary People

Urging On

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Some people find it hard to exercise regularly.  I find it hard NOT to.  I hate going to the pool on Saturday mornings for the reason I’m about to illustrate, but this morning I went anyway.  The swim teams are there on Saturday mornings, and they tie up 15 of the 17 lap lanes.  The 2 open lanes are like a traffic jam on the D.C. Beltway.  I tried the traffic jam for awhile and then retired to the hot tub.  The hot tub is out in the open and overlooking the swim lanes where the younger boys practice. …

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Commentary

The Wariness of Crows

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We feed the birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and other visiting animals such as foxes and possums and raccoons on occasion.  We try to provide special nourishment during snows and blizzards, such as we have been having lately.  Our usual birds are the doves, blue jays, various woodpeckers, cardinals, sparrows, finches, grackles, and others.  But for the last few days we have had gangs of crows, sometimes numbering in the dozens.  They sit in the distant trees and swoop in when the coast is clear.  They are beautifully black against the white snow.  When Dylan Thomas described night time in his mythical town of Milkwood as “crow-black,” he was using an apt image. …

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Commentary Humanity

Warnings

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Most mornings I go early to the pool and swim a mile.  Where I go this means 36 laps, a lap meaning down to the far end and back.  It isn’t a very social activity, and some people consider it boring.  But a person whose Myers-Briggs type is INFJ can easily enjoy the solitude.  This writing actually began while swimming laps.  I had noticed a new sign at the entrance to the locker rooms.  It warned of the wet floor.
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Commentary

Order of Magnitude

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Despite the Pennsylvania trends, Bedford PA is not a left-leaning area.  One clue is the big “Jesus Is Lord” sign (with photograph of Jesus) that preaches to the Pennsylvania Turnpike as it angles through town.  People support the NRA here, and disapprove the ACLU.  Christian values are promoted in the local paper alongside church suppers, county fairs, and yard sales.  Compared to where I live and work in the Washington, D.C. area, this is a safe and peaceful place.  The crime report tells of of a bicycle stolen from a garage, or a coin box pilfered at the laundromat. …

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Commentary Stories

Stock or Native

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I  knew a man in Tennessee whose real name was John Smith.  I point out that this was his real name because otherwise you would think I was disguising it.  John lived in Tellico Plains and he’d been taught to trout fish by a forest ranger who was the best in the region.  John became an expert himself and one day I went fishing with him because we were friends.  I was no expert when it came to trout fishing. …

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