Author: Tom
Living in Isolation: Sub Lessons
I’ve watched a number of news reports on the challenges people face while living under stay-at-home directives. It is indeed difficult to live in close proximity to other people (even loved family members) for extended periods. But after serving in…
Living in the Plague Year*
(*Daniel Defoe’s A Journal of the Plague Year was published in 1722. It recounts the experiences of one man during the Bubonic Plague in London in the year 1665). If nothing else, the COVID-19 pandemic highlights how we perceive the…
Mister Smith Goes to Alaska
Harry Smith, formerly of CBS News and currently with NBC News, reported on a trip to Alaska where he covered the controversy of the Pebble Mine. This was no puff piece or a screed. His reporting demonstrated clearly the costs…
Autocracy: Rules for Survival
Last night while driving to an appointment I heard Rachel Maddow on Sirius satellite radio discuss a November 2016 article by Masha Gessen related to the forthcoming Trump presidency. Gessen is a Russian-American journalist who has written extensively about Russia…
The Beauty of Fish Scales
I came across this post on fish scales (rigid plates that provide protection for the fish). While that may sound like a topic of interest only to an ichthyologist, this is about the aesthetic of fish scales. They are absolutely…
Life Lessons from Norman Maclean
Scotch or bourbon – with ice, water or club soda. That’s before dinner and those are your only choices. At least that’s one of the rules for alcoholic drinks Norman Maclean (author of A River Runs Through It) gave writer…
The Eleven Nations
The United States today aren’t – united that is. Riven by partisan conflict, lack of agreement on the role of governance in our society, and a loss of faith in the institutions that provide the structure for society – we…
Patagonia Wader Work Station
Fly fishing at its core is a simple sport. Rod, reel (and if using Tenkara not even a reel), line, leader and fly are all that are needed to begin. Throw in a couple more flies – even though Yvon…
Orvis Moment of Chill
Orvis has released a series of short daily videos for this holiday season that are intended to provide a relaxing time-out from the stresses associated with the holiday season; they work just as much for the sturm und drang of…
Thanksgiving 2019
Thanksgiving is, or at least should be, a time for a reflection and giving thanks for all we have. This year for me has been more intense than any I’ve experienced. As I’ve written about, the majority of this year…
