THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury I’m not sure who the TV weather guy was, which city he served or exactly what he said, but if his observation passed down through the ages is even close to accurate, it still has wide application today. The man must have had his news antenna aimed far beyond the weather. He was a philosopher
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury A popcorn tradition was born 50 years ago this summer in the garage of our home in southwest Fort Worth. That was some 26 tons of popcorn and four machines ago. It was sparked by the late Dr. Veda Hodge, who owned a string of movie theaters and multiple West Texas oil wells. She heard
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Afterglows are wonderful, but are waning of late. Many folks forfeit times of warm reflection, too busy in endless pursuits of whatever comes next. Oh, afterglows are still around for important life events such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, promotions, holidays and such, but not like in yesteryear, when few roses went unsmelled. Uncle Mort and
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Walt Kelly is most remembered for his comic strip published more than a half-century ago. Its central figure Pogo–campaigning to fight world pollution–made an incisive statement that still rings true. You remember it: “We have met the enemy and he is us.” It’s about money. The golden rule has become twisted, however. Now, “them” who
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury A Texas doctor, closing out a hectic week, hoped it to be his final medical appointment. He stared at a Q-tip that was devoid of cotton at both ends. “This Q-tip must have gotten right up against 5 o’clock Friday at the factory,” he muttered. In the span of one week recently, I felt that my
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Aunt Maude, wed to my Uncle Mort since Noah’s ark went into dry dock, says that her hubby regularly encounters premonitions while in dreamland. “When he says, ‘I’ll bet you can’t guess what I dreamed last night,’ I know that soon he’ll be untangling his dreams in his workshop, not likely to be heard from
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury For the most part, handshakes, backslaps, hugs and teardrops–some joyously wept from grateful souls who achieved much, and some from others who barely sneaked by to graduate–now are part of history. In bygone years, school superintendents and university presidents considered graduation events to be successful if everyone left venues in the same state of health
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Family reunions are dwindling, going the way of the wild goose. Some, however, will hold annual gatherings soon. Littering nearby, though, are limbs of family trees that are no more. Most of us who have seen the snow of many winters remember reunion trivia from years long since gone from the calendar. Many recollections make
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury In the growing-up years of long ago, close enough was usually good enough. Precision rules now, though, and “guestimates” that were acceptable then don’t pass muster now. We commonly helped befuddled motorists, suggesting they turn on the county road after crossing three cattle guards, right after spotting a big red barn, or upon seeing a
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Spirit Of Abilene 