Author Archives: John Swinburn

What is it called?  Is there a name for it?  I’m referring to the phenomenon of waking up at 1:35 a.m. and misreading the clock, thinking it’s 5:35 a.m.  Then, getting out of bed, taking the obligatory pee, going to … Continue reading →

My wings are missing this morning. I am relatively sure I can no longer fly. But I can pretend, which is the next best thing. If reality doesn’t suit me, I have alternates readily available.

I haven’t tried it, but I wonder how Spanish tapas and dry sherry would taste for breakfast? I think it’s the sherry that has me a little concerned. I’ve never liked booze in the morning (with the very rare exception of a bloody … Continue reading →

We place our trust in people we don’t know because we have no other reasonable choice. Even doing one’s “due diligence” is no guarantee that the doctor or lawyer or electrician will perform well. We simply trust. And, then, we … Continue reading →

I wonder whether I could assemble a group in Hot Springs Village—people who enjoy spicy food—to regularly venture out to restaurants to explore spicy stuff and/or gather at individuals’ homes to make and eat spicy dishes? The answer, of course, … Continue reading →

Superficial thinking is dangerous thinking. It allows determinations without foundations. It breeds certainty where doubt should reside. Shallow, perfunctory explorations of ideas may permit us to claim we have examined issues but, in fact, we have only scratched the surface, leaving understanding to … Continue reading →

I looked out my window yesterday morning and, through the trees, saw a silver sky polished with sunlight. For just a moment, the trees and the sky and the small portion of my neighbor’s driveway that was visible to me … Continue reading →

I had heard the term “the Vapors” around Hot Springs several times, but it wasn’t until yesterday, when I happened upon a woman with whom I share space at the National Park College pottery studio, that I learned a little … Continue reading →

I wonder: Would the super-rich (let’s use the cliché and call them the top one percent) be willing to give up just one half of their wealth if, in so doing, they could assure that every human being on earth … Continue reading →

I envy people who look graceful when they dance. A genetic flaw, I am convinced, is responsible for my awkwardness when I try, and fail, to dance.  But, then, that awkwardness may be more obvious when I dance in public … Continue reading →

I recognize the hypocrisy in me when I express appreciation for access to—and buy—all sorts of foodstuff that comes from Asia, then object to trade agreements that negatively impact workers in the U.S. I wonder if others who share my hypocrisy … Continue reading →