THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury My friend–call him Barney–has jumped through hoops and negotiated mazes that are part and parcel of a long and successful professional communications career. Now, he is spending well-earned retirement years on an East Texas farm.  He’s learning to be a “yes” man to his wife and daughter, and he’s said “yes” repeatedly to

THE IDLE AMERICAN THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury If a vote were taken, Irving Berlin and Richard Rodgers likely would score landslide wins for memorable musical compositions, many of which live on.  One hit song–featured in the 1946 Broadway hit, “Annie Get Your Gun”–was unforgettable. Remember Ethel Merman belting out, “There’s No Business Like Show Business?” After 1,147 performances,

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Only one other example of ongoing embarrassment trumps name-calling many of us faced in elementary school during the final years of the Great Depression.  And it was in the “funny papers,” for crying out loud. No “real people” were involved, unless the late Charles Schulz–creator of the popular “Peanuts” cartoon starring Charlie Brown and

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury I’d never thought of naming my laptop. Now, I’m making a u-turn, deciding that it deserves a name: “Dolly.” Hundreds of miles away from her for five full days, I can now warble with gusto, “Hello, Dolly. Well, hello, Dolly. It’s so good to have you back where you belong.” Our “separation” began around

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury My time away from writing the last two months–for repairs, rejuvenation, re-connection and respite from the world of 24/7 caregiving–has been more than rewarding. Resulting are at least two more “R” words: resumption and re-commitment. Truly I have missed writing weekly. Perhaps you haven’t missed me, and perhaps I am viewed like the pesky

 THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury The late George Carlin is best remembered for poking holes in the policy implemented to eliminate the foulest of words on radio and television. He essentially made a living with his TV “bit” entitled “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television.” The czar enforcing the edict was viewed to be the toughest, most unforgiving

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Many retirees–even if admitting only to slowing down to a lower gear–have a difficult time finding rocking chairs that fit.  Some don’t even try; count me in that group, with entry into my 89 th year now but weeks away. A credo for many is choosing to “wear out” instead of “rust out,” and a sliver

 THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Foul balls aren’t really the worst things in the world. Generally, unless they’re caught, at least one more swing is assured. Missing the ball by even one-millionth of an inch on the third strike results in a “whiff” that can cause serious sleep disruptions. Okay, so much for framing with baseball jargon. If I get

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury The event is “brain-etched,” deeply embedded and validated by the calendar. It was May of 1962, all “heady stuff” for a one-year-out-of-college guy invited to make a commencement address.  The distance was 87 miles from Brownwood to London in Texas’ beautiful Hill Country, where I would speak at graduation exercises for four seniors at