Author Archives: John Swinburn

Had the universe operated as it should, Home Depot would have delivered, yesterday, a new American Standard Champion 4 High-Efficiency 1.28 GPF Single Flush Elongated Toilet. I was given a window of delivery of 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., meaning … Continue reading →

I’ve written before about my little notebooks. I still keep the little spiral-bound pads on which I write grocery lists and reminders about programs I hear on the radio that prompt me to want to explore ideas or people some … Continue reading →

Something I wrote in an email a few years ago found its way to my consciousness yesterday; I liked what I said, so I decided to memorialize it here. Is that the height of arrogance or is the fact I … Continue reading →

For years, I’ve wanted to explore how little money would be required for me to live decently, comfortably. How many dollars would it take, I ask myself, to have not just a tolerable, but a comfortable life without all the … Continue reading →

An unhappy discovery during a house-cleaning of my Gmail account earlier today led to happier moments, but only after a period of deep sadness. I came across an email I sent, on November 8, 2007, to the mayor of the City … Continue reading →

  Outside the window, I see two trees marked for death. Through the screen, I see bright orange ribbons circling their trunks, signaling their impending demise. I do not know when, nor whether, their euthanasia has been scheduled, but I … Continue reading →

Let sleeping dogs lie. Let sleeping dogs prevaricate. Let sleeping dogs distribute their deceptions. Let sleeping dogs dish out dishonesty the way politicians deal in distortion. Let sleeping dogs traffic in tall tales while wagging their tails. But why do sleeping dogs get all the glory? … Continue reading →

Sanguine. How often do you hear people use that word in conversation? Yeah, I don’t hear it often, either. But I wish we would. Would that a larger proportion of the population sought out more expansive vocabularies. Would that more … Continue reading →

Who doesn’t get excited about shopping for toilets? I mean, what could be more riveting than talking about flush capacity, gallons per flush, blah, blah, blah? I want to remodel the bathroom. My wife simply wants to replace the toilet. … Continue reading →

Using rational arguments to counter positions based solely on emotion is possible, but the undertaking is fraught with frustration, like eating thin chicken broth with a salad fork. Both require discipline, time, and acceptance of almost imperceptible progress. But attacking the … Continue reading →