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Month: September 2020

Blousy back?

September 30, 2020Ed Ackerman Leave a Comment

I still get excited when Esquire magazine appears in my mailbox each month, but I often wonder why.I am so far removed from pop culture, I rarely relate to the Esquire articles these days. But I still relate to the… Continue Reading →

It used to be simple, and beautiful

September 25, 2020Ed Ackerman Leave a Comment

Not all things are better with science.Take baseball.It used to be such a simple, beautiful game.It’s always been said baseball is a game of statistics and that’s true. Hitters were always measured by three things: batting average, home runs, and… Continue Reading →

Hooray for fall

September 23, 2020Ed Ackerman Leave a Comment

The last time I saw my grandson, who lives in Austin, Texas, was last November.It was a month before his 3rd birthday. I’m sure he’ll be well past 4 when I see him again. I know planes are flying again,… Continue Reading →

‘You Day’ part of this New Day?

September 18, 2020Ed Ackerman Leave a Comment

Everyone wonders what this “new normal” we’ve been hearing about will look like.My biggest concern is that it will wind up be not much different from the “old normal.”Which would mean we haven’t learned anything.If the coronavirus and all that… Continue Reading →

Et tu, Kevin?

September 16, 2020Ed Ackerman Leave a Comment

A magazine arrived the other day with Kevin Costner on the cover. “Cool,” I thought. Until I realized it was AARP Magazine.First of all, if it were up to me we wouldn’t get AARP Magazine. I have never signed up… Continue Reading →

Who could hate America?

September 11, 2020Ed Ackerman Leave a Comment

It would seem appropriate to write a 9/11 memory today, the 19th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center. But my 9/11 memory is actually my brother’s 9/11 memory.My brother Bill along his wife at the time and… Continue Reading →

Too late now

September 9, 2020Ed Ackerman Leave a Comment

I have college students who can’t name The Beatles.Some don’t even know who The Beatles are.I don’t put them down.I tell them all the time that in my classroom they are on my turf. If I want to, I can… Continue Reading →

A divine reprieve

September 4, 2020Ed Ackerman Leave a Comment

I sometimes recall something I wrote in my early days as a columnist and cringe. Did I really say those things?I fear someone will uncover something embarrassing from ’84 or ’85 and throw it in my face. That’s just one… Continue Reading →

Working for a living

September 1, 2020Ed Ackerman Leave a Comment

Be a laborer,great or small,do it well,or not at all Every Labor Day I either write something about that little ditty or at least think about it.My friend and former colleague Sarellen (yes, they made up names 75 years ago,… Continue Reading →

About the Optimist

Ed Ackerman Ed Ackerman, a consulting editor and columnist for the Greater Pittston Progress, has served the people of Greater Pittston for 48 years, starting in the newspaper field at age 17. The Pittston resident will share his thoughts in this blog and in a weekly column published in the Progress. greaterpittstonprogress.com

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