I wanna be Dick Proenneke when I grow up

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"Alone in the Wilderness," the documentary about Alaskan naturalist Richard "Dick" Proenneke (pronounced prin-uh-key) is one of the most remarkable films ever made, in my estimation. Yes, I know that's an ambitious statement, but I stand…

It’s official: I’m rich!

Great news to report!  Today, I decided to take a closer look at the barrage of emails I've been receiving lately, and boy, am I glad I did —  I appear to be filthy, stinkin' rich! No more mortgages!  No more 9-to-5 grind! No more…

What to do about it

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Since Friday (Dec. 14, 2012), it's been the elephant in the room of our minds. It won't go away.  It's too horrible to look at directly, and it's too big to ignore.  It is an foul, obnoxious, unwelcome houseguest that is draining the…

No color copiers

I grumble as much as the next person — I admit it. I often grumble about my job. I don't like office politics.  I'm not particularly fond of planting my butt in a swivel chair for eight or 10 hours at a time.  No matter how much I…

To my fellow Bigfooters: Don’t stop believin’!

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OK, I'm gonna come right out with it. I believe in Bigfoot. Sasquatch. Yeti. There you go. I said it. Hello, my name is Mark, and I believe in Bigfoot. (All together:  Hello, Mark!) From the infamous evening back in 1972 when…

Sugar pushes buttons

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Tuesday night, I wrote a post about how America indoctrinates our children into the Sugar Culture from the word go.  I really didn't expect the post to generate much interest. Boy, was I off. Now granted, my blog page is still in its…

I know you’re just trying to be nice. Don’t.

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I know you're just trying to be nice. I know you're just trying to be neighborly. But please keep the candy to yourself.  Don't put me in the position of saying no to my kids after they've displayed good manners at the hair place or…

Consider the Chandlers

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Today is Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving — but despite the mad rush on shopping and advertising, I'm not ready to move on to Christmas just yet. I posted something silly yesterday, but not today.  This is something hopeful.…

10 things for which I’m thankful. No, really.

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Today is Thanksgiving, and here are some things for which I am thankful: I'm thankful that the Titans are so bad this year.  Time normally devoted to watching games is now directed to more educational programming, like "Breaking Amish,"…

“Like wind through my hand”

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I think it's hard to overestimate the emotional power of music. Not all music, mind you.  And not all the time. But given the right circumstance and frame of mind, a particular song or recording can really do a number on us. It's…