If there’s any group of people I can’t stand, it’s Faux Connoisseurs. I have no problem with true connoisseurs because they know what they’re talking about. For example, the chef instructors at Paul Smith’s College: They were all experts in their field; in fact, Paul Sorgule, the ...

Last week’s column elicited some readers’ comments that I have to respond to. The column was about suspenders. It focused on why men who are adipose-endowed should quit wearing belts, and switch to suspenders for their sole source of support. The reason is simple: No matter how tight ...

“Whole country’s goin’ to hell in a handcart,” said Iroquois Red. “They can’t even make a good belt anymore.” “Oh?” I said. “Yeah. This is the third one I’ve bought since summer ...” he said, pointing at a chrome snap-on buckle as big as a hubcap, “... and ...

It should come as no surprise when I tell you that over the past half-century I’ve read scads, oodles, and even buttloads on the fine art of writing. From how-tos to Who’s Who’s, from interviews to the latest news, from teaching ‘bout it to preaching ‘bout it, I may not have heard it ...

While there’s no shortage of Homo Sapiens (in fact, I can easily be convinced we’re a global blight) I think I qualify for the Endangered Species List. Or maybe more exactly, the Endangered SUB-Species List. And what, pray tell, is my sub-species? It is Homo Sapien Lector Obsessus. Or in ...

Last week, I wrote about my career in musical theater. It was as uneventful as it was short — five nights as a literal walk-on in “The Music Man.” I was in our long-gone summer theater, tooting away on my trombone, as part of the “before” group of incompetent marching band ...