Guest Opinion | Wednesday, August 23,2006

Author! Author?

The road to publishing full of detours and dead-ends

Fifteen years ago: I quit golf and try a less expensive hobby to humiliate myself. I’ll write a book. A long habit will lead me: Whenever an odd thought passes by, I grab it and force it into a

Guest Opinion | Wednesday, August 2,2006

The suitable war

Or, how I infiltrated the private and public sectors and caused men to change

By Doug Bybee

1964. I have nothing against the suit and tie; it’s just that I don’t have them in my wardrobe. In my last college semester, for my first professional-type job interview, I borrow my roomm

Guest Opinion | Wednesday, July 26,2006

The checklist

It's easy to mark progress, when you lower the bar

By Doug Bybee

As we pass from one life phase to another, it’s not unusual to make resolutions. Two years ago I passed from work to retirement — and I resolved. It’s time to check up — how&r

Bybee | Wednesday, July 19,2006

The essence of beauty

The answer, it would seem, has toes

By Doug Bybee

He is dressed as a cowboy and looks to be about 6, which, according to my (admittedly yet unpublished) Rules of Diner Etiquette, is about two years too old to be leaning over the back of his booth, in

Bybee | Thursday, June 22,2006

When today’s 65 is yesterday’s... 65!

Note to self: Television doesn’t resemble reality

By Doug Bybee

I’m 65. The TV is on because I like background noise as I pretend to do my morning exercises. The man has a few wrinkles around his eyes, but his eyes are clear and bright. His

Bybee | Tuesday, June 20,2006

Hamburger, in the eye of the beholder

Hold the pickle, hold the lettuce, hold this thought

By Doug Bybee

Doctor: No more hamburgers for you! Neighborhood bar and grill: $2. Police officer: The alleged hamb

Bybee | Thursday, June 15,2006

Lifting the smokescreen

Life can get a little strange, cold turkey

By Doug Bybee

Henry Rose is a man full of charity, kindness, and even temper; he can’t recall ever thinking ill of anyone, and he’s never been angry. Life is good, always has been, and through

Bybee | Thursday, May 18,2006

The last rhubarb

A veteran manager reveals the secrets of America’s pastime

By Doug Bybee

Brad Dood (pronounced “dude”) settled into a smirk. “Right place! Right time! Right stuff! No one more deserving,” he thought. “I’ve paid my dues!”

Bybee | Thursday, May 4,2006

The fan

Even in hell, it’s possible to come out a winner

By Doug Bybee

John awoke to searing pain, running from behind both eyes to the middle of his forehead: a migraine triangle. He pressed his palms hard against both temples, went to

Bybee | Wednesday, April 19,2006

When nothing “really” matters

The American Way of voting, as described by participant in last month’s primary

By Doug Bybee

Yanks (“American”) Avatar (“embodiment of a concept”) is, by definition, the essence of American thought, the quintessential American. Were it