Today, journalists are mourning the deaths of two of their own.Marie Colvin of London’sSunday Times and French journalist Remi Olchik were killed Wednesday in thebesieged Syrian city of Homs.   Their deaths came a few days after we learnedNew York Times reporter Anthony Shadid died of an asthma attack, also in Syria. They were courageous. Brave in the actionsthey took and even braver in what … Continue reading Journalism and courage

Thomas Oliver and Melissa Turnerwere part of the record-setting crowd. I just read that the Tybee Island polar bear plunge on New Year’s Day officially broke a Guinness World Record. “Guinness World Record now credits the Jan. 1 event as the largest ever gathering of people wearing swim caps,” reported the Savannah Morning News. “In all, 2,049 New Year’s beach-goers sported caps for the event, … Continue reading A new Guiness record!

Christmas is not a tradition I grew up with in India. But who cannot love opening presents on a cold morning in front of a fire? Especially when the gifts include a pair of tomato red woolen gloves that come complete with special forefinger and thumb fabric that allows for — what else — easy maneuvering of the iPhone. I don’t have to take my … Continue reading Cool hands

I went with Georgia soldiers on a tour of the ruins at Ur, near Tallil Air Base in early 2006. Spc. Jason Smith and me at Tallil.  The Iraq war isofficially ended Thursday for the United States. Almost nine years after America“shocked and awed” Baghdad and young men andwomen from Maine to Hawaii began dying on foreign soil, the war isover. CNN, like other news … Continue reading Time for reflection