When Frenchmen get riled

by | Aug 26, 2014 | Ten Gallon Liberal

Petanque is a serious game. And we’re talking deadly serious. If you don’t know the game, well–and may the saints of southern France forgive me for saying so–imagine bocci, only with pastis and lots of Frenchmen. Oh, and death threats. It is,...

Butterfly Effect Indeed

by | Oct 15, 2014 | Ten Gallon Liberal

I wonder if the first person to find him- or herself uncharacteristically pale for a human had any inkling what that small and personal mutation would lead to in 10,000 years? Astonishing: All instances of a gene mutation that contributes to light skin color in...

Proud?

by | Dec 9, 2014 | Ten Gallon Liberal

With today’s release of the details of Bush administration-sanctioned torturing, not to mention the report’s admission that there is not a single case of prevention of imminent threat, the notion of being “proud to be an American” gets yet more...

Turning a New Page

by | Dec 24, 2014 | News

I grew up in West Springfield reading the Valley Advocate. Ask Isadora, The Grand Band Slam, back door ads, Dexter, the-hard-as-nails Mayor Albano coverage, sassy reviews, Halos and Horns, Best Of — I read the paper every week. For me, it was a font of cool. Flipping...