IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury As a four-year-old when World War II began in 1941, my understanding of the enormity of it all escaped me. I was busy perusing comic books at the time, intrigued by Superman jumping tall buildings in a single bound. It was his “bounding,” I’m thinking, that caused my lingering gazes at real skyscrapers a

IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Proverbial truisms typically go unchallenged, but an expression dating back to the sixteenth century has gone by the boards when its application is directed toward men’s footwear. Historically, what men have worn on their feet has been basic, often dictated by comfort, durability and practicality. Long before Baskin-Robbins came along with 31 flavors that threatened

IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Folks who may have spent too much time in the environs of hog farms perhaps came by the odor honestly, simply a result of growing up years. Others of us may “smell of swine” by virtue of being frequent beneficiaries of “blind hog luck.” I admit having a foot in each camp, having spent time

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury It has been said of me throughout my adult life–perhaps also true of years unfolding soon after infancy–that my antenna has been on “24/7” alert for good deals. Many deals, though, have soured due to timing issues. I mean, how was I supposed to know as a lad that the once-raging demand for Davy

    IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury There are a handful of college coaches in this land whose names are interchangeable with the colleges they served during their entire careers. They were paid salaries that would be laughable compared to contracts held by many big-name coaches today. The coaches were J. Horace (Cap) Shelton (1893-1967) at Howard Payne College (now University)

 IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury They are to be commended–the “big box” store planners–for the many “edges” they’ve honed to make it to the ladder’s top for in-store shopping. Who would have guessed their modus operandi would feature vendors lined up like carnival barkers soon after shoppers have shown their credit card IDs for entry? Patrons truly haven’t “rolled” very

 IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury It’s an expression tossed about regularly; calling it “trite” would be an understatement for the proverb originating in 12th century Germany that is still valid today. Just as rivers still run downstream, hot air rises and cream comes to the top, blood remains thicker than water now like when it was coined nine centuries ago. It