If you ever read comic books as a kid – or do now – you might be familiar with “Bizarro World.” That’s a place in the Superman stories in which a mutant […]
Retorts: Welcome to your Bizarro World!
Retorts: Here’s what you should resolve
One of the biggest clichés of January is the New Year’s resolution thing. Quitting smoking. Losing weight. Stop procrastinating. Clearing out the clutter. Stop being so negative. And on and on. The […]
Retorts: The shape of things to look for
This is the time of year in which a lot of journalists spill a lot of ink (in today’s terms, also, electrons) reflecting sonorously on the months past. But, heck, anyone can […]
Retorts: We need a new Bill of Writes
Editor’s note: In last week’s column, Jim pointed out the things that citizens can do to make their communities better. This week, a big – but inexpensive – idea about how government […]
Retorts: Willing to get out and push?
One of the reasons that the Germans failed on the western front during World War II, and the Americans advanced, was as simple as getting up off your duff. By 1941-45, war […]
Retorts: Two old and new “places to be”
The past may live on forever in the South, but here on the West Coast in general and in Orange County in particular, it disappears storefront by storefront. Two iconic eateries in […]
Retorts: Vultures and victims, wise up
There’s a line in the 1987 film “Broadcast News” in which Albert Brooks’ character stares sourly at a network segment and growls, “Sex, tears, yes, this is the news.” In a bit […]
Retorts: These lands are your lands ….
Disneyland, located in Upper Garden Grove, is truly a magical kingdom. We were there on Wednesday, Marilyn and I, and we marveled at the huge throng present on a workday in November. […]
Retorts: A nation that’s still very divided
Note to readers: Columnist Jim Tortolano is taking the week off with Retorts. Here’s a “classic” column from a year ago. It seems like not much has changed. Back to live action […]
Retorts: Are “bad” words a good idea?
“Why are you guys farkling around? Ah, zork! Quit being such a honyocker!” This is how I swear. Pretty lame, eh? Well, maybe, maybe not. I wasn’t always quite so delicate in […]
