Call of Duty

Originally posted on I Don't Get It:
In 1943, the USA was smack dab in the middle of WWII, and graduating college students were faced with the inevitable: enlistment. A cartoon in the Jayhawker magazine shows the four steps awaiting them: graduation and swearing in… …securing fatigues and heading into combat. How frustrating it must…

Jury duty: When your number comes up, you’re ‘it’

Originally posted on Jim McKeever:
Odd as it may seem, I was looking forward to jury duty when my summons arrived in the mail. The system requires those summoned to call the court each day after 5 p.m. to listen to a recording. If your number is within the range chosen for the next day,…

A Dog’s Degree

Originally posted on Kindness Blog:
“My university gave an honorary master’s degree to the service dog who sat through every one of his owner’s classes. He dressed appropriately for the ceremony. A dog with a better education than me.” (Source: oldblueeyes)

Last Call for Blogging U.: Challenges Start Tomorrow

Here I come Blogging 201! I can’t wait to learn how to make this thing better.

A man with a tin can, a street corner institution in Syracuse

Originally posted on Jim McKeever:
Gertis McDowell is a familiar sight on the campus of Syracuse University. You hear Gertis McDowell before you see him. The steady rhythm of coins shaking in his tin can gives him away before you spot him in his wheelchair on the street corner. Gertis is an institution in Syracuse,…

A Masters-ful start to our golf season

As the best pro golfers in the world were traversing the hills and negotiating the fast greens that mark the Masters in Augusta, Ga., this morning, KP, Wags and I were rapping putts on the ruddy greens of Westvale. I have to hand it to my two playing partners on this first day of our…

New York State Blues Festival back with big lineup

After a year off to retune the organization and format, the New York State Blues Festival has announced a big and impressive lineup for a two-day return, July 18 and 19 in Clinton Square in Syracuse. Media relations representative Julie Briggs sent out the list of performers today. Coming to play the free-admission event in…

A Word About Words – Stephen Fry

Originally posted on Unload and Unwind:
I came across this first thing this morning when taking a quick look at Facebook. My son had put this up on his page, mentioning having watched it in a lecture regarding language of the ‘proper’ use thereof and I found it both utterly hilarious as well as more…

A community is welcome to appreciate art at La Casita

Artist Abisay Puentes says he changed the concept several times as the deadline approached for the opening of his exhibit “Mist.” On opening night last week in the newly refurbished La Casita in Syracuse, N.Y., community members slowly walked past his final result. It was an interesting display. Part mural, part gallery. The native of…

The 13.1 miles includes .1 past our house

They will come thundering down our city Syracuse neighborhood hill again Sunday. The runners participating in the second edition of the Syracuse Half Marathon are sure to be a colorful bunch. Cold, too. Forecasts right now are for high temperatures in the 20s. About 1,600 runners have signed up to log the 13.1 miles that…