Crane: A true, heartfelt salute

My paternal great-grandfather, Charles C. Crane, nearly lost his life during World War I. I can still recall as a child, him telling me haunting stories of war. My paternal and maternal grandfathers, William C. Crane and Leonard W. Ready, respectively, served in the Army and Navy during WWII.

Crane: So, what is a RICO?

Rico Carty was my favorite Atlanta Brave when I was a kid, along with Hank Aaron. Carty was among the first Dominicans to play in MLB and was part of the Atlanta Braves team that won its first National DivisionWestern League title in 1969.No, not that Rico.

Southern gothic murder (part one)

The first time I ever sat in a courtroom for a Southern Gothic murder trial, I was 17. Back then, I didn’t know there was a name for it because I had yet to read “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner or “A Good Man Is Hard To Find” by Flannery O’Connor.

I stand with Israel

As a world leader, the United States has plenty of conditional allies and even occasionally helpful “frenemies,” but when the chips are down that list of nations that always have our backs gets pretty short pretty quickly.Canada, the United Kingdom, Israel, and most of the time Australia.

Scott a good role model for GOP

Georgia Congressman Austin Scott of Tifton is what a Republican should be – and used to be – before the right-wing crowd took control.

Just a little talk

Tink enjoys looking out a window to see me meandering through the yard, talking to imaginary people. Usually, I’m working out a story but, not infrequently, I’m talking to someone special. Recently, I was out in the yard, picking up limbs from River Birch trees which prune themselves, constantly.

No Nobel Literature Prize – again

Rats!Can you believe it?Once again, I have been passed over for the Nobel Prize in Literature.This is beginning to get on my nerves.Some guy named Jon Olav Fosse won it this year.As you may know, the Nobel Committee is located in Sweden and the award went to a Norwegian.

More random thoughts on random subjects

Just when you thought our federal government couldn’t get any more dysfunctional, we all watched the political train wreck that was the ouster of a U.S. Speaker of the House for the first time in our nation’s history.

Business trip to Music City

With all the conference realignment that has taken place, you hear about all the travel costs and headaches to come with expansion, which will have, in the Big Ten, UCLA and Southern Cal playing in New Brunswick, N.J., and State College, Pa.

Tournament fishing

James K. Pressley First things first. I’ve never fished a bass tournament in my life. I’ve fished striper tournaments but never a bass tournament. However, I have always been a fan of them. B.A.S.S. tournaments, like the Classic and the Elite Series, have always held my attention.