Bluegrass
Opinion
Rockin’ down the highway

Rockin’ down the highway

Columnist John Moore has played guitar since he was eight. The Doobie Brothers helped remind him of why he still plays. Photo John Moore When I first picked up a guitar in 1970, my fingers didn’t make the sounds I wanted to hear. But I knew that if I kept trying, I...

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All Y’all

All Y’all

Columnist John Moore grew up in Little River County, Arkansas. Where they still say, “y’all.” Photo: John Moore According to Merriam-Webster, a colloquialism is “a local or regional dialect expression.” Another definition? Language that’s “unacceptably informal.” I’ve...

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Just peachy

Just peachy

Columnist John Moore recently pulled over to buy fruit from a roadside stand. It reminded him of home. Courtesy John Moore There’s a rhythm to the seasons that you can feel in your bones when you grow up in a place like southwest Arkansas. Long before supermarkets...

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A bit wordy

A bit wordy

Columnist John Moore doesn’t recall ever seeing gloves in a glove box. Photo John Moore  English is a language full of leftovers. It’s like the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Filled with things we just can’t seem to toss out. The difference of course is that at...

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True Grits

True Grits

Columnist John Moore loves grits. Real grits, that is. Folks who aren’t from the South invariably aren’t familiar with grits. When they come for a visit, they often twist their eyebrows into a John Belushi-type look after they spot them on their breakfast plate. I...

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Double time

Double time

Columnist John Moore is on a mission to save old timepieces. He needs your help. Photo: John Moore My friend runs a precious metals shop, selling mostly gold and silver. I was there to discuss those very things when a pocket watch caught my eye. An Elgin. My buddy...

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Abbott vetoes THC ban, calls special session

Abbott vetoes THC ban, calls special session

Gov. Greg Abbott just before the midnight deadline Sunday vetoed a bill on THC products and said he would call a special legislative session to regulate products containing the substance. The veto angered the bill’s chief champion, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Abbott’s...

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Clutching the past

Clutching the past

Columnist John Moore learned to drive on a stick shift. He still uses a clutch to operate his tractor. Courtesy John Moore One of the necessities of my youth is now one of your best bets to prevent vehicle theft: a stick shift. I watch a lot of YouTube, and...

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Polished

Polished

Columnist John Moore still shines his own shoes. As long as he can find the polish to buy. Photo: John Moore In some cultures, people wash the feet of guests who arrive at their home. At my parents’ house, I didn’t wash the feet of guests, but I did offer to shine...

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