With the baseball season winding down, two books commend themselves as worthy companions for the hot-stove league that will begin as soon as the last pitch has been thrown.  One is a fascinating historical review; the other is a personal memoir.             “Bottom of the Ninth,” is not, as the title might otherwise suggest, […]

            I am about to celebrate another birthday, and the prospect only brings me any true sense of joy when I think about the somewhat bittersweet joke about getting older.  It does beat the alternative, or so, at least, I assume.             The passing of the years has been something of a puzzle to me for […]

            As Music Circus seasons go, the one that ended several weeks ago was very good, if not quite great.  It featured four terrific productions, one that was a star showcase, one that was the annual throwaway offering and only one that was a truly weak effort.  Here’s our critical summary of the seven shows, […]

The History of America Chapter 33 The War Against Islam             Most historians now consider that the first event that ultimately led to the war was the terrorist hijacking of four jumbo jet liners, three of which were then used as missiles that struck the twin towers in New York City and the Pentagon.              […]