2021 Columns

  Would you like to hear an encouraging word?  How about “No!” That was the succinct reaction from Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tricia Pridemore when I asked her if what happened in Texas where hell and most everything else froze over, could happen here.  Pridemore, a member of the state’s utility regulator since 2018, gave me a short course the other … [Read more...] about March 7, 2021: Texas Power Debacle Not Likely in Georgia Says Public Service Commissioner

In the midst of the cacophony over election reform, vaccination policy, sports betting, Trump’s grumps harrumphs and another unconscionable private school voucher scheme, a piece of much-needed legislation is quietly wending its way through the legislative maze this session and maybe will finally become law.  It is long overdue. It is called the Child Victim Protection … [Read more...] about February 28, 2021: Legislature Has Chance to Help Those That Can’t Help Themselves

I blush as I write this (well, not really) but things are going well at the University of Georgia, the nation’s oldest state-chartered university, located in Athens, the Classic City of the South.  UGA President Jere Morehead’s State of the University address notes among other positives that U.S. News and World Report ranks my alma mater in the top 20 (#15) of all public … [Read more...] about February 14, 2021: Some Random Thoughts on Some Random Subjects

My column suggesting to Republicans that, like it or not, the presidential elections are over and for those crying ‘foul’ they might want to take out their anger on the Democrats and not each other brought some interesting and some predictable responses.  There was, of course, the “Fergit, Hell,” group who think they can garner enough support among Georgia voters to … [Read more...] about February 7, 2021: Some Final Harrumphs on Trump’s Grumps

I had just hung up from a robocall wanting to extend the warranty on a car I no longer own when the phone rang again. I assumed it was some helpful robot offering to consolidate credit card debts I don’t have or trying to sell me a back brace I don’t need.  You can imagine my surprise when I discovered it was Skeeter Skates, owner of Skeeter Skates Tree Stump Removal and … [Read more...] about January 31, 2021: Talking Current Events with Skeeter Skates and the Ryo Coffee Club