Editorials

In the Appalachians years of Mama’s childhood, there wasn’t a lot of learning to be done other than that which comes from hard times and harder work. Scattered throughout the widespread communities were one room schoolhouses. In some instances, the church houses and the schoolhouses were one and the same. That’s another wink of Appalachian language: “house” was attached to […]

I am living in a house I rent from a friend. It’s a big house, much, much bigger than any other place I’ve ever lived. My cat, Dash, and I are quite happy here. Our bedroom, which I have started thinking of Dash’s bedroom, is huge. We have a lot of room. The very first night Dash and I stayed […]

As a teenager, I was leaving my purely Southern mother’s house one day with a salutation of “See you later.” “Okay,” she replied. “Be sweet.” “Be sweet.” It’s the mandate of mothers across the South when sending their daughters off on a trip or social engagement. Not “be careful,” mind you, but “be sweet.” That’s because to Southern mothers, being […]

With all the technological advances in warfare, and the sweeping changes in cultural and society between 1864 and 2022, it is perhaps surprising how many things in a soldier’s experience remain the same. Our time in the field last week raised two of these similarities. The first is boredom. In 1864, as now, military service inevitably involved a lot of […]

One of my favorite days is always the first Saturday in May when hundreds of private jets land in Louisville, Kentucky, and limousines arrive for a ride over to beautiful Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby has delivered some of the best stories in sports history. Winners become losers. Losers become winners. And, on rare occasion, a hero emerges to inspire […]

Every few years, there’s a news story about a previously unknown or lost work of ancient literature that is discovered hidden under a Medieval manuscript. This happens because vellum, the prepared skin of a calf, sheep, or goat, that was used for writing until paper became commonplace, was regularly recycled. It was scraped, or folded over, or rebound in such […]

Last week marked the first day we’ve been able to make it out on a Friday, and our work reflected that, with metal detecting being finished in Grid 1. This week, we’ll set up a new grid, and see what secrets the ground holds for us. We’ve also set up two test units over large metal signals that could be […]