Mark Knows It All

Dear Friends, The end of 2006 marks the 1 ½ year anniversary of Mark Knows It All . I want to thank all of you who take time from your busy day to read my opinions and rants. This blog has provided me with not only a creative outlet, but much pleasure. I especially appreciate your posted, emailed, and personal comments, both agreeing and disagreeing with whatever the topic at hand might be. Whether you agree with me or not, I try to provide you with well written commentary. Over the next several months you will see major changes in the format of Mark Knows It All . You have probably already noticed the addition of some basic graphics and pictures, and the addition of a security process to prevent unwanted spam comments. If you scroll down to the end of the archive list, you will see the addition of more links. This week, the Youngstown Vindicator has been added as a link for those of you from this area. The Washington Times is now linked. I have also added Imprimis , which is publish...

I am one of the few people who felt the OJ Simpson "not guilty" verdict was correct. Not because I thought he was innocent, the guy was as guilty as sin, but rather because I truly believe prosecutors should do their job. They have to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. The planted evidence on the socks in the bedroom, missing blood from a vial taken home instead of to the evidence room, and perjury by the chief investigating officer, all spell reasonable doubt. You see, the chances of OJ coming after me with a knife are non-existent. But an over zealous prosecutor or crooked cops trumping up charges…that is something that should give us all pause and concern. Don’t think it could happen to you? Consider the lacrosse team at Duke University. These chumps hired two minority strippers for a party. One of the strippers claimed she was locked in a bathroom and raped for 30 minutes by several of the team members. As a result, three of the lacrosse team players were arreste...

Peace On Earth Now More Than Ever

I admit it. I like fruitcake. I have always felt that these citron laden confections have been much maligned and battered (get it?) to the point where those of us who are aficionados are embarrassed to admit our secret vice. Those candied cherries and candied little green things that kind of stick out of them are just wonderful. I rank them right up there with dried apricots, also one of my dirty pleasures. There are all sorts of fruitcakes. I got one yesterday in the mail sent by my mother from an outfit called Collin Street Bakery. It was a Texas fruitcake, and everyone knows you don’t mess with Texas. It was also fairly heavy, which seemed appropriate as I was watching the Guns of Navarone on television as I was eating a piece. For a minute, visions of little Nazis danced in my head using those suckers for ammunition in those really big guns. Just kidding. Actually, Collin Street makes a pretty good fruitcake. If someone doesn’t send me one, I usually buy one for myself. There are a...

This year we are having an “Our Lady of Perpetual Christmas” Christmas because there are 5 weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. While the retailers love it, part of me would really like an end to it given that the decorations and television ads started before Halloween. I am a tad "Christmased" out, and there are still 2 weeks to go!!! The result of this overdose of ho-ho was an exhausted case of writer’s block when trying to find a topic for “ This Year’s Christmas Card ” blog. No inspiration, just “when is it going to be spring”. To add to my physical exhaustion, the community chorus in which I sing had its Christmas programs this past weekend. Seraphim is a chorus of 50 people who love to sing, making a joyful noise every Monday night. The chorus does its Christmas program twice, once in Youngstown, the chorus home base, and once in New Castle, PA, at the home church of the director. The New Castle program is physically taxing as it is performed on pull out blea...

This past weekend, after several hours of shopping in Pittsburgh, my wife and I looked for a coffee shop to rest our weary bones and have a cup of coffee. Because we were shopping close to the University of Pittsburgh, there were plenty from which to choose. The first one we entered was so filled with cigarette smoke we could barely breathe. After a hasty exit, we found another shop across the street that had a no smoking sign in the window, so that’s where we went. That is the difference between a conservative and a liberal. I don’t smoke, and I know that smoking is bad. If I go into a place where smoking is allowed, I leave and find a no smoking establishment. Sometimes it means going across the hall, or going across the street, or simply choosing to go home. I don’t need the government to tell me what to do. I am an adult, and I have choices. The same goes for those who choose to work in a smoking environment. They can simply choose to work somewhere else. Ohio’s recent public place...

Some of us are a tad obsessive compulsive, and those of us that suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), raise OCD to an art form. We will watch the sunrise/sunset times on the weather channel, dread the 4th of July as a holiday as the days begin to be measurably, if not noticeably, shorter. We buy all sorts of lamps to put all over, both inside and outside of our houses. And truly believe whoever discovered Daylight Savings Time ought to be canonized for sainthood. Although I do not have a profound case of SAD, the shorter days do affect me more so than most people. And I have to work at keeping my mood up. I have charted the rising and setting of the sun for the entire year. And my calendar is somewhat different than most peoples. My happiest day of the year is December 21, the day that is the shortest day of the year and hence begins the days getting longer. I ignore June 21, but find the July 4th holiday somewhat depressing. By October, I am positively morose, which gives way...