Mind Your Ps and Qs, Son
I’ve been writing Ps & Qs for twenty years, first for the Valley Journal and now for the Sopris Sun. As you may know, Ps & Qs refers to pints & quarts, the measurements of drink used in local pubs back in the day. Aptly named, my column really began in Claddaugh Irish Pub where I would sit with my friends, waxing philosophic on any and every topic to come up…
Ontology is the branch of philosophy that studies existence, being, becoming, and reality. In other words, what it is to be a human living among other humans, gaining life experience. My take is that life is hard, and it should be. Comparable to a video game, each level contains more difficulty and/or obstacles, and sure, you can play it safe and stay at a level that you’ve already mastered, but what’s the point of that?

I am not a fan of conventionality or predictability. I much prefer magic and spontaneity. In life I seek out new people, new places, and I try to generate positive esprit in all my endeavors. And whenever I find myself in the midst of an existential crisis, I recall the words of Dan Aykroyd as Jimmy Carter on SNL, “Just remember you’re a living organism on this planet and you’re very safe… Relax, stay inside, and listen to some music, okay? Do you have any Allman Brothers?”
I believe humor to be the elixir for what ails us in this life.
Please enjoy these ontological observations and mind your Ps & Qs!
Is Trump Number 2?
I’m just saying that entrusting our only planet to something we, ourselves, invented might not be our smartest play. Especially with our country’s current administration. They’re like if the short bus got lost on a field trip to the coal plant and started a useless war with Iran.
Trump’s life is a children’s book
…there are rabbit holes galore talking about the possibilities of time travel, alternate universes, and just plain black magic. I say magic is real and we have to hold onto it for as long as possible— especially because our current society hangs by a thread, only as strong as our weakest link.
Illegitimi non carborundum
I can’t really understand what happened to Congressional Republicans. Did they all drink from the same water cooler? They are acting like those little whistle pigs who freeze while looking at you with side-eye, in complete denial of the fact that they are facing imminent death from Dad’s gun.
Let’s put A.I. in D.C.
Frankly, I think we might be safer with A.I. in charge. Replacing humans with robots makes sense in some instances: like bomb diffusers or catbox cleaners, and I see no reason why we can’t start with Congress.



