The Bitter Taste of What We Take

I was introduced to two adrenaline-rushing moments at once, as his big, pimply face slammed up beside one side of mine, and I heard the quiet slink of a switchblade opening near the other side.
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I was introduced to two adrenaline-rushing moments at once, as his big, pimply face slammed up beside one side of mine, and I heard the quiet slink of a switchblade opening near the other side.

In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior. ~ Francis Bacon The day was September 15, 2001, just four days after we held each other in front of our televisions, watching our combined sense of security explode, disintegrate, tumble to the very ground before [...]

Prior to the introduction of soft, cuddly Teddy Bears into American society, bears were considered to be symbols of strength and ferocity – likely because Americans hadn’t been long-removed from their pioneer roots. One never thought to hug one of the cute little babies of the sharp-toothed and long-clawed denizens of the American forest. How [...]

On September 2, 1945, on board the U.S.S. Missouri, World War II was officially declared over. President Harry S. Truman and Japan’s Emperor Hirohito signed the Potsdam Surrender Declaration, on a simple table placed on the battleship’s deck, in Tokyo Bay. To be sure, the end to the conflict with Japan came as welcome news [...]

132 years ago to this day, Emma M. Nutt took the job as the very first female telephone operator in history, for the Edwin Holmes Telephone Dispatch Company. Remember good old fashioned telephone operators? Well, Boston native Emma did this job for over 30 years, enjoying every minute of it. This may come as a [...]

“Are Gringos falling from the sky?” ~ El Guapo, from The Three Amigos Today is May 5th, or Cinco de Mayo. This is a day set aside for Americans of Mexican heritage to celebrate their cultural roots. This is also a good time for non-Hispanic Americans to channel that inner Hombre. Which means plenty of [...]

Written to commemorate March 18, Supreme Sacrifice Day As the motorcade approached, it slowed ever so slightly, lights flashing, sirens off except for the occasional flip of the switch. The crowds began to turn their heads toward the approaching cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, and off in the distance, growing ever close, helicopters chopping the morning [...]

Written in remembrance of Justice, Faith and Power Day Two buses left Washington, DC on a warm spring day, May 4th, 1961. As they pulled out, they left behind them a young, modern President, John F. Kennedy, newly elected, having gotten to the White House on promises of change, of hope. They were bound for [...]

You normally don’t hear the sound of the water as it glides along the sides of a submarine. You’re either safely inside, hatches tightened and humming machinery all around, or scurrying topside as the sub is pulling in or out of port, orders barked right and left over the revving tug engines. It’s never, ever [...]

It was a cool morning on board the U. S. S. Madonna, the quiet of the day broken by the revving tug engines straining the mooring ropes, pulling the gray ship into the dirty, crowded piers of Ellis Island. On this day, March 14,1911, my great-grandfather, 40-year-old Manuel Bettencourt, stared up at the Statue of [...]