Columns

I read recently that a national poll revealed a disturbing trend — at least to me. Apparently, nearly 40 percent of Americans say marriage is “obsolete.”
Say what?
For decades nearly half of all marriages have ended in divorce.
But for an almost equal number of respondents to say the state of holy matri-mony is dead on arrival.
I can’t imagine ever not being married.
I met the love of my life when I was 19. I’m 51 now.

In one of his many post-game interviews Saturday afternoon Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley summed things up: “We made some special plays.”
Indeed, something special happened at Neyland Stadium on homecoming week-end.
The Vols literally came out of nowhere, put together their best effort of the year and waxed the University of Mississippi, 52-14.
The 6,000 or so no-shows missed a huge opportunity to be present and hear “Rocky Top” played more than it has all season.

If you are a softie, like I am, don’t read this.

OK, you’ve been warned.

For the past four years or so, I have been lucky to have custody of my ridgetop community’s neighborhood dog.

Jasmine, so I’m told, was dumped here  about 16 years ago as a puppy.

I smile to imagine what that roly-poly golden ball of fur must have looked like then. She was lucky enough to find a home with a family that had children.

Last week we told you of the infamous Citizens United Supreme Court opinion which upheld the theory that spending money is the equivalent of speech, and that corporations have the same rights as real live human beings insofar as the First Amendment is concerned.
We demonstrated that both concepts are foolish and without foundation in history, language, or law.
We concluded with the promise to conclude on this topic this week, so there follows part two of our consideration of this matter: