Posts Tagged Dr. Don Newbury
the idle american
May 2nd, 2013
Out-smarted by a smart key
By Dr. Don Newbury
Introspection of retrospection should never be taken lightly. Generally, getting on with life is preferable to dwelling on what might have been.
On rare occasions, though, it is profitable to re-visit bad decisions, declare intent never to make them again, and share details of painful experiences. Perhaps I can …
the idle american
April 25th, 2013
Life was simpler then
By Dr. DON NEWBURY
Keene, TX, isn’t today—nor was it ever—Mayberry, RFD. With a few decades peeled back, however, history suggests there were some parallels. Keene “town characters” also wound up in unlikely “fixes” of their own making.
I’m talking about the kind Andy and Barney faced in weekly TV episodes where the duo …
the idle american
April 19th, 2013
Looking down the nose
By Dr. DON NEWBURY
When sensory body parts were assigned, growing evidence suggests that noses got a raw deal. They haven’t made much noise about it so far; what can they do—snort, sniff or maybe drip?
Noses stiffened in protest—to date, anyway–have either been ignored or shushed. Even the “see no/hear no/speak no evil” …
the idle american
March 28th, 2013
Crazy about an Impala
By Dr. DON NEWBURY
Unlikelihood hardly ever deserves boldface emphasis as much as a classic car for sale now in May, Texas.
A 1958 Chevrolet Impala.
It’s a 1958 Chevrolet Impala, and when May School Superintendent Don Rhodes saw it at Rick’s Automotive, he quickly stopped, eager to closely examine the immaculate …
the idle american
March 21st, 2013
High roads and bunny trails
By Dr. Don Newbury
The trails of life–marked by obstacles of many kinds–rarely intersect with bunny trails of blue sky songs and joyous egg hunts.
Haley Whatley
They draw closer, however, when a youngster sees few limits and imbues others along the trail with a “yes we can” attitude. That’s the …
The Idle American
March 14th, 2013
Teachers and Ides of March
By Dr. Don Newbury
Julius Caesar’s assassination marked ‘em, Will Shakespeare wrote about ‘em, and teachers seem destined to perpetuate ‘em. Bad news–like “Ides” of old–blows in each year, “hammerlocked” with destiny on the wings of each windy March.
School personnel—lumped together—harbor fear premonitions of the school year’s final lap. They know that …
The Idle American
March 7th, 2013
Bring back the lay-away plan?
Dr. Don Newbury
He was as solemn as I’ve ever seen him. My Uncle Mort, looking down the gun barrel at his 101st birthday, was pensive, his thoughts filled with yesterdays and the snows of many winters.
“Our country’s in a heap of trouble, nephew,” he began. “There’s plenty of blame to spread …
The Idle American
February 28th, 2013
On the bubble
By Dr. Don Newbury
Though documentation may be several years away, athletes coming of age in the 50s, 60s and 70s perhaps had a decided edge in development of coordination.
A criticism commonly heard during the first half of the 20th century subsided. I refer to the hurtful comments often made of gangly youngsters “unable …
The Idle American
February 21st, 2013
The slimmest of odds
By Dr. DON NEWBURY
There’s nothing to support it, but a fascinating contention looms nonetheless. Lottery opponents say if you want to win the lottery, simply open your window. The odds of purchasing a winning ticket—and one blowing in through your window—are about the same. Odds may be similar on how a museum …
The Idle American
February 14th, 2013
Cardinal Scola and faint hopes
By Dr. Don Newbury
Five-ninety-eight. At the outset, sounds like a price tag, doesn’t it?
Well, put aside price tags and think in terms of centuries. That properly emphasizes the span of time since a pope has “stepped aside” of his own free will from papal leadership, thus introducing worldwide speculation …
