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Nightrider's Lament

"Why do they [write] for their money? Why do they [work] for short pay? They ain't getting nowhere and they're losing their share. They must have gone crazy back there." — Michael Burton (paraphrased)

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Tag: novels

County Signs: Hose get ready for taste of bigs

On March 18, 2024March 18, 2024 By wastedpilgrimIn Fiction, SportsLeave a comment

Mara Neira (Monte Dutton photo) Click here. In the small town of Clinton, some folks are aghast that the local college has such a tough path to the women’s basketball championship. Why must the Blue Hose have to be in a play-in? And, if they manage to defeat Sacred Heart, next is the No. 1 …

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Satire at Sunset

On April 18, 2020April 18, 2020 By wastedpilgrimIn HumorLeave a comment

Clinton, South Carolina, Saturday, April 18, 2020, 8:37 a.m. Back when I traveled most of the country, writing about race cars that went ’round and ’round and the mostly white men who drove them, my favorite device was not a shock absorber but its literary equivalent, satire. Once -- it was in Dover, Delaware, I …

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Mastodons Run Amok

On March 31, 2020 By wastedpilgrimIn BooksLeave a comment

Clinton, South Carolina, Monday, March 30, 2020, 7:45 p.m. When I read Don Quixote, I found it astonishing to learn that the art of comedy had not notably advanced in over four centuries. Salman Rushdie’s Quichotte takes Miguel de Cervantes forward and adds levels that would not have been structurally feasible in 1616, when the …

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My Breakfast Is My Life

On November 11, 2019 By wastedpilgrimIn LifeLeave a comment

Clinton, South Carolina, Monday, November 11, 2019, 9:51 a.m. Most mornings, I get up, put some coffee on, plug in the cell to recharge, take some medication, and retire to the facilities. Then I return, sit down and arm the laptop (okay, sign on), let the coffee cool a bit, and check the morning email …

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Friday the 13th and Beyond

On September 17, 2019September 17, 2019 By wastedpilgrimIn HumorLeave a comment

Clinton, South Carolina, Tuesday, September 17, 2019, 12:49 p.m. One of the small attributes that has grown within me as I’ve aged is an attempt to minimize the effect of superstition in my life. This sort of began with research for my third novel, Crazy of Natural Causes (2015). The story of Chance Benford required …

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Independence with a Little ‘i’

On July 6, 2019 By wastedpilgrimIn LifeLeave a comment

Clinton, South Carolina, Saturday, July 6, 2019, 1:49 p.m. I’ve restrung two guitars this week during the time I could spare from work. I also worked on my next novel on consecutive days for the first time in at least six months. Independence Day gave me some time for independence. I had a few local …

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A Celebration of The Celebrant

On July 5, 2019July 5, 2019 By wastedpilgrimIn BooksLeave a comment

Clinton, South Carolina, Monday, July 4, 2019, 8:29 p.m. So many words are insufficient. I’ve never liked to say that I “covered” something, such as, oh, stock car racing for 20 years. Sometimes I say it or tweet it, but I try not to write it. I’ve never liked the notion that I “pull” for …

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Suddenly a Song

On July 2, 2019July 2, 2019 By wastedpilgrimIn MusicLeave a comment

Clinton, South Carolina, Tuesday, July 2, 2019, 11:20 a.m. For about a month now, I’ve thought that next year, when I vote for the first time, it will also be the first time I walk into a poll unsure of my choice. The more I think about, this is natural. It’s likely that if I …

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Just Trying to Accentuate the Positive

On June 14, 2019 By wastedpilgrimIn HumorLeave a comment

Clinton, South Carolina, Friday, June 14, 2019, 12:22 p.m. What is better now than it used to be? Special K. Remember when kids jockeyed for position to get the best cereal ahead of their siblings from the Kellogg’s Snack Pack? Special K wasn’t special at all. It usually got thrown away. It was supposed to …

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My Own Private Elba

On May 17, 2019May 17, 2019 By wastedpilgrimIn LifeLeave a comment

Clinton, South Carolina, Friday, May 17, 2019, 10:42 a.m. Realistically, there’s not much else I really want to do. At this point, a bucket list is kind of silly. It would have been worthwhile when I was young. Maybe if I’d decided back then I wanted to go to Venice – or the Knoxville Nationals …

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