[N.B. I originally wrote this article in 2012 and it has been by far the most popular of anything I've written on this site. Occasionally I'll update it, but to the best of my knowledge, it's still one of the most in-depth studies into the topic of Honorary Alabama Colonelcy.] Most people are familiar with … Continue reading Honorary Colonel in the Alabama State Militia
Kudzu and Its Ilk
It was planted to stop erosion. It fed cattle. It was praised by experts and promoted by the government. Then it crossed the fence line. Today it covers forests, barns, telephone poles, and most of my backyard. Kudzu never asked permission. Neither does power. Every generation invents a new reason to surrender an old liberty. … Continue reading Kudzu and Its Ilk
The Pen in the Drawer
I recently started a new job. Like most new jobs, the first week was filled with orientation, unfamiliar faces, and the slow process of making an anonymous cubicle feel a little less anonymous. The top drawer in the cabinet under my desk became the natural place to keep my notebook. For the first few days, … Continue reading The Pen in the Drawer
The Free State of Trust
Several years ago, not long after my wife and I moved to Winston County, Alabama, I was talking with a longtime member of the community. During the conversation he said something I’ve never forgotten. “It doesn’t matter how long you live here,” he said. “You’ll always be an outsider.” He didn’t say it kindly. And … Continue reading The Free State of Trust
On Heroes and Hero-Worship in the Information Age
I recently listened to Thomas Carlyle's On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History. It is one of those books that has acquired a reputation few people seem interested in challenging. Mention Carlyle today, particularly in academic circles, and before long someone will invoke the "Great Man Theory" as though the matter has been settled. … Continue reading On Heroes and Hero-Worship in the Information Age
The Revolution Will Still Not Be Televised
The revolution will not be televised, will not be televisedWill not be televised, will not be televisedThe revolution will be no re-run brothersThe revolution will be live—Gil Scott-Heron, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised A few years ago, while watching The Get Down, I heard a piece of spoken-word poetry woven into the soundtrack that stopped me cold. … Continue reading The Revolution Will Still Not Be Televised
Earning its Place on the Shelf
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven..."Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) There was a time when every new book represented possibility. I bought them with the optimism that someday I would read them, understand them, and perhaps become a little wiser because of them. Some came from bookstores, … Continue reading Earning its Place on the Shelf
Becoming the Gray Man in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism
Living in Alabama, I don't often have the opportunity to walk through fresh snow. Fortunately, mud tells many of the same stories. After a good rain, a hiking trail or dirt road becomes a record of everyone who has passed that way. Every boot and every tire leaves an impression. Some tracks are deep enough … Continue reading Becoming the Gray Man in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism
