If you had three daughters

Today’s post was contributed by Rob Teilhet, an Atlanta attorney and former state legislator. In the span of about 72 hours since Donald Sterling was revealed as a racist on audiotape, the NBA moved decisively by banning him for life and setting in motion a process that will force him to sell his team. There … Continue reading "If you had three daughters"

How to tell time like a man

The flack over L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s racist comments is well-deserved. While the players, fans, media, and public chew the NBA team owner up, Sterling is guilty of much more than being an anti-Semitic racist. Sterling is also a bastion of sexism. He tells his girlfriend ((he’s had several according to news reports)  that … Continue reading "How to tell time like a man"

Notes on Swimming 100 Miles

National Poetry Month continues on Rural and Progressive with this poem written by Janice Lynch Schuster. Janice is an advocate for aging populations. She writes and speaks about aging in addition to being a poet. Her poem “64 Caprices for Long-Distance Swimmer” was both a personal and academic challenge. She said this about the poem: … Continue reading "Notes on Swimming 100 Miles"

In full bloom

The Friday Photo April 25, 2014 Guilford College awaits the Class of 1964 and Alumni Award recipients.

Billy Collins pays tribute to his favorite 17 year old high school girl

Today is Poem in Your Pocket Day. I heard Billy Collins, who has twice been chosen as the United States Poet Laureate, read this on a National Public Radio program and it stuck with me. To My Favorite 17-Year-Old High School Girl  Billy Collins Do you realize that if you had started building the Parthenon … Continue reading "Billy Collins pays tribute to his favorite 17 year old high school girl"

It is a two poem kind of day

Rural and Progressive’s National Poetry Month tribute continues today with two poems shared by attorney, software guru, artist, dog owner, and horse rider Kathleen O’Neal of Macon. Kathleen wrote, “Mary Oliver’s poetry gives me hope, which is the point of all good poetry, at least in my world. Mary Oliver shares my affinity for being … Continue reading "It is a two poem kind of day"

Clean Up Crew

It’s Earth Day. Let’s start cleaning up the mess we’ve made.

And he’s out!

In November 2012, Governor Nathan Deal and Gold Dome Republicans found themselves in an embarrassing situation after State Senator Chip Rogers hosted a presentation in the state capitol by an Agenda 21 Conspiracy believer. Rogers boasted he would host more anti-Obama, fact-less meetings for legislators. Deal strong-armed Georgia Public Broadcasting and created a $150K a … Continue reading "And he’s out!"

Kindness

April is National Poetry Month. Rural and Progressive is posting favorite poems shared by writers and poets. Today’s was contributed by writer and artist Patti Digh. Kindness Before you know what kindness really is you must lose things, feel the future dissolve in a moment like salt in a weakened broth. What you held in … Continue reading "Kindness"

A family’s traveling free verse

April is National Poetry Month. Rural and Progressive is posting favorite poems shared by writers and poets. Today’s was contributed by Raven Waters. While Traveling to Montana by Train a family free verse, by Janisse, Raven and Skye Twelve degrees outside the glass tube a lot of snow trees in perfect rows snow sculpted by the … Continue reading "A family’s traveling free verse"

Showing off

The Friday Photo April 18, 2014 Spring is showing off in downtown Milledgeville, Georgia.

Table Grace: For the Good, the True, and the Beautiful

April is National Poetry Month. Poet Dan Corrie shared this poem with Rural and Progressive. Table Grace: For the Good, the True and the Beautiful Seed of the three is the True – world itself’s soon-entangling particulars, like the fence-line lost in thickets of blackberries favored by a phoebe. From that first, seeds buried in … Continue reading "Table Grace: For the Good, the True, and the Beautiful"

Got poetry?

Two years ago my friend (and poet) Dennis Kirschbaum opened my eyes to Poem in Your Pocket Day (His piece “The Useless Machine” is brilliant). Dennis was kind enough to give me a poem about coffee to have that day, which I have kept with me since then (I confess to making a note once on the … Continue reading "Got poetry?"

So many firsts

Yesterday the Guilford College community burst into celebration as the next President of the College, Dr. Jane Fernandes, was announced. After an inclusive and exceptionally open search effort, the campus community and far-flung alumni were anxious to know who would be living in Ragsdale House in July. Jane will be Guilford’s first woman President, our … Continue reading "So many firsts"

Um no, not really

This letter was submitted to newspapers sold in the Washington EMC area: Um, no. Not really There is a critical error of fact in a press release issued by Power 4 Georgians last week. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has NOT stated that Plant Washington is exempt from any of the proposed carbon, or greenhouse … Continue reading "Um no, not really"

All to pieces

The Friday Photo April 11, 2014 My friend bought a yard for her dogs last fall that came with a house. She decided that the brick patio could use some color and texture. Thrift store finds, dollar store bargains, and cast offs from friends are being added to her mosaic almost daily. Two pieces of … Continue reading "All to pieces"

Crop Mob happening!

Crop mob– A group of landless and wannabe farmers who come together to build and empower communities by working side by side. You don’t have to be landless or a wannabe farmer to support farmers who are committed to sustainable farming. You also don’t have to know anything about farming or gardening (that would be me). … Continue reading "Crop Mob happening!"

Chalk one up

The Friday Photo April 4, 2014 The best afternoons include sidewalk chalk.  

Psst. Over there. On the right.

Rural and Progressive tends to lean a little, or a lot, to the Left when it comes to politics. Just last weekend I launched a new shiny Facebook page for Rural and Progressive. You can find a link to it and my Tweets on the right side of this post. I’m using both for things … Continue reading "Psst. Over there. On the right."

Buying a good experience

We like to paddle with our grandchildren, so over the weekend we piled into the car and went to REI to get water sandals for them. We are hopeful that warm weather may return to Georgia. On the way to lunch in Decatur I promised them a trip to The a Little Shop of Stories, … Continue reading "Buying a good experience"