The Compleat Carosa Commentaries Archives - Page 49 of 57

… On Vacation, Back Next Week…

By Chris Carosa on September 22, 2011

[This Commentary originally appeared in the September 20, 1990 issue of The Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel.]

I lied. I’m not on vacation. I won’t be back next week. I was on vacation last week. I did come back this week. Welcome to the wonderful world of newspaper deadlines. Normally, I would have written this last week, but I couldn’t because I was on vacation. I’ll be back next week, though.

Confused? Just wait ‘til you read the rest of this…Continue Reading “… On Vacation, Back Next Week…”

Posted in Memoir of a Real Life, The Compleat Carosa Commentaries Tagged Growing Up, writing

My Lunch with Pearl Bailey

By Chris Carosa on September 15, 2011

[This Commentary originally appeared in the September 13, 1990 issue of The Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel.]

I used to always ride the train. An unnatural fear caused me to seek every opportunity to avoid flight. Yes, yes, I know all the actuarial tables say flying is the second safest form of transportation (after elevators). In that portion of my life when time seemed less important (namely, both during and immediately after my collegiate years), I viewed the train as the preferred method of travel.

The train relaxed me. It allowed me to read. It permitted me to get up and walk around. It provided the opportunity to be alone or discover new friends, depending on my mood. Most importantly, it forced me to slow down. Once I boarded the train, I knew I would next step Continue Reading “My Lunch with Pearl Bailey”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries Tagged Growing Up, Pearl Bailey, train, Yale

Saddam’s Savage State

By Chris Carosa on September 8, 2011

[This Commentary originally appeared in the September 6, 1990 issue of The Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel.]

Over 1,500 years ago, the great Roman civilization succumbed to the barbarian forces of the north. As the Huns swept down, the monuments of the Roman Empire crumbled. The invaders destroyed ancient buildings, killed innocent women and children, looted Christian graves and promptly left when they got bored.

These men had more in common with Continue Reading “Saddam’s Savage State”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries Tagged Daniel Ellsberg, Dark Ages, Greece, Huns, Iraq, Kuwait, Middle East, Roman Empire, Rome, Ronnie Kovic, Saddam Hussein, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Western Civilization

A Sense of Belonging

By Chris Carosa on September 1, 2011

[This Commentary originally appeared in the August 30, 1990 issue of The Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel.]

Certain environments intimidate me quite easily. I attribute my dread to breeding (and possibly genetics). From the point we first become socially aware until we are finally released from the protective custody of family, we absorb mere echoes from the outside world. Yet until we embark into society alone do we genuinely rethink the axioms of our naïve view of the universe.

Growing up infuses a sense of culture in each of us. Not only do we place ourselves Continue Reading “A Sense of Belonging”

Posted in Memoir of a Real Life, The Compleat Carosa Commentaries Tagged College, Freshman, Growing Up

Double Sessions

By Chris Carosa on August 25, 2011

[This Commentary originally appeared in the August 23, 1990 issue of The Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel.]

The early mornings of late August forebode the coming end of summer. A slight chill remains above the heavy wet grass until the sun gets high enough to melt the dew. Take a deep breath and you will notice the smell of the season has changed. The dry dustiness has been replaced by a soft gentle odor reminiscent of spring.

Late August mornings encourage us to Continue Reading “Double Sessions”

Posted in Memoir of a Real Life, The Compleat Carosa Commentaries Tagged football, Gates Chili, Growing Up

More Silly Thoughts

By Chris Carosa on August 18, 2011

[This Commentary originally appeared in the August 16, 1990 issue of The Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel.]

In a continuing effort to entertain, which gets more and more difficult in August (namely because Congress goes on vacation), we proudly present more in a series of silly thoughts. As before, we remind the gentle reader the following contains no natural boundariess and represents free and unassociated thinking.

The Stereo. Why does the stereo always stop playing the music you put on just when you’re finally relaxed and ready to Continue Reading “More Silly Thoughts”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries Tagged David Souter, Fay Vincent, George Steinbrenner, Orioles, Red Wings, Rosanne Barr, southern accents, Star Spangled Banner, stereo, television commercials

EDITORIAL

By Chris Carosa on August 11, 2011

[This Commentary originally appeared in the August 9, 1990 issue of The Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel.]

No Carosa Commentary appeared this week. In its place appeared an unsigned “Editorial” concerning the school budget vote.

Next Week #71: Happy 4^th of July! (originally published on August 2, 1990)
Next Week #73: More Silly Thoughts (originally published on August 16, 1990)

[What is this and why is here? See Interested in Discovering My Time Machine? for more details.]

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries

Happy 4th of July! (?)

By Chris Carosa on August 2, 2011

[This Commentary originally appeared in the August 2, 1990 issue of The Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel.]

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams bickered constantly during their lives. I don’t know too much about what they argued about. From the little reading I’ve done on the matter, though, it seems they agreed to disagree on just about everything.

We do know they agreed on at least three important things. First, they agreed the American colonies should be free from the reign of King George of Britain. This led to perhaps their best known Continue Reading “Happy 4th of July! (?)”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries Tagged Adams, Declaration of Independence, Founding Father, Jefferson, Locke

The Great Tax Battle of 1990 – Winner #2: The Democrats

By Chris Carosa on July 26, 2011

[This Commentary originally appeared in the July 26, 1990 issue of The Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel.]

Part two in a series discussing the ramifications of the announcement in June by President Bush to increase tax revenues.

In the spirit of last week, let’s begin with some expository gibberish which permits the reader to know exactly where I stand:

I grew up in the heart of a Democrat stronghold in the shadows of an old fashioned blue collar steel mill. All that was fair, all that was honest was taught to me by my grandparents and their friends in the name of FDR. All that was innovative, all that was accomplished by youthful zest was brought to me by my parents and their friends in the name of JFK.

Of course, my elders rendered these common sense philosophies without the burden of Continue Reading “The Great Tax Battle of 1990 – Winner #2: The Democrats”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries Tagged politics, Reagan, taxes

The Great Tax Battle of 1990 – Winner #1: George Bush

By Chris Carosa on July 21, 2011

[This Commentary originally appeared in the July 19, 1990 issue of The Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel.]

Let’s get one thing out quickly. I don’t like taxes. I don’t think the government does a good job spending our money. When it comes to the national budget, I think I could make better decisions in three minutes than some Washington Bureaucrat can make after a three year study. I hate taxes. I believe they suck the blood from an otherwise vigorous nation.

Of course, I am rational enough to realize the government must provide services (like Continue Reading “The Great Tax Battle of 1990 – Winner #1: George Bush”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries Tagged George Bush, politics, taxes