Failing Up

We live in an age of video wars that we can watch in the safety of our homes detached from the sacrifice, courage and death that occurs.  We look to win, but of course war is not a game.  It is fought by those military that have more courage than I will ever be made to understand, and started by those who watch.  I think back to when I worked for the Syracuse Newspapers and was doing an internship...

In 1969 during the height of the Vietnam war Creedence Clearwater Revival released the song, "Fortunate Son."  This song has remained timeless and is as applicable today as it was then.  timothymahar.org

And Divided We Fall! There is a reason that leaders like to have people divided simply because it weakness their voice and power of influence. In this time of division and name calling, I find myself constantly reflecting on the basic conflict resolution model.  In that model sides work through emotions, to issues, towards common interests, then to consensus.  We all have common interests, in our...

Way back when I was in college a little wild and all over the place, a dear friend of mine at the time who had vast interest and depth of knowledge with rock music suggested I listen to the Kinks song  Celluloid Heroes.   This song written by Ray Davies, that debuted on their 1972 album, Everybody's in Show-Biz  instantly moved me, as it in some ways hit home for me.  This is one of the most...

Well, every four years I love Curling.  The Winter Olympics has one of the most mellow sports in Curling, but it is action packed and high-risk with the other events.  In fact, the Winter Olympics is far more exciting then the summer games.  I mean come on, the Luge, the Skeleton, Bob Sled, Down Hill Skiing, Snow Boarding, Ski Jumping and of course, Curling.  Every four years I become an expert in...

On February 4th, 1988, thirty eight years ago, my father Thomas Francis,"Te Te" Mahar passed away at the age of 55yrs.  This podcast is a tribute to my father the love we shared, and lessons I learn during the 8 months leading up to his death.  This is shared through the lyrics of his favorite song, Frankie Lane's 1949 hit, "That Luck Old Sun".  A song that played constant...

Everyone is flicking the "bird"!  Drivers flick it, kids flick it, leaders flicked it, old, young, red, blue, it does not matter the entire world is getting flicked off.  This once cherished gesture of last resort has become a common form of accepted communication, and not in an affection manner I might add.  timothymahar.org

The snow just keeps falling! It is like living in a snow globe.  There is  sense of peace as the snow falls, and also the reality of having to shovel or plow.  It does seem as if time stops during the a snow storm, then starts ticking as soon as it is over. As pretty and peaceful as it may be, after a while it just is not cute anymore.  I hope that damn groundhog see's his shadow!! timothymah...

Put another log on the fire we are in a deep freeze! It's so cold I opened the refrigerator to warm up.  This is old school cold, comfort food cold, ping pong in the basement cold.  The kind of cold that bites your face and freezes your nostril hairs.  The frost of winter's breath. timothymahar.org

The rush and crush of the holiday season is past.  Since Halloween, Christmas trees went up, houses illuminated like the Las Vegas strip, pressure shopping, pressure cooking, pressure fun, all gone with the drop  of a ball on New Year's. What does that leave us with?  A tree that goes out as fast as it came in, broken New Year's resolutions, utility bills, and bills!! The Christmas sprit...

In this episode I have conversation with Bill Crist, the Chair of the Advisory Council with the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary.  Bill shares with us the work and goals of the Sanctuary along with the history of Lake Ontario.   Bill also discusses the connection and past history of all the great lakes along with the St. Lawrence River, and the impact they had through the years on the region...

2025 seems to be the year when the truth was laid to rest. Truth from so called leaders, truth as to what we read online, and the truth from certain media outlets. What are the consequences of unchecked truth, lies without accountably. It is manipulation by a few to motivate many to act for their benefit.  It is an erosion of simple values and decency.  It is a greenlight for illegal and lethal ac...

As winter's snow blankets the ground with a cold warmth of silent nights, there are a new set of rules to live by.  These lifestyle rules apply to how we walk, drive, and even the amount of salt we use. (outside that is)  Ah, beautiful winter a season with rules of its own.  timothymahar.org

The tryptophan has worn off, and as we awaken from a peaceful Thanksgiving nap all Hell is breaking loose, it's the holidays!  Trees on speeding cars, neighbors houses lit up like a landing strip at LAX, shop until you drop, and get it all done in twenty days! Then when the big day it over the rush to tear down!  Deck the halls with whatever it left.  timothymahar.org

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  It's foundation, of family, friends, tradition, and food remains for the most part untouched by the stress and rush of other holidays.  Unlike Halloween where decorations are up in in stores by August, or Christmas where decorations are for sale by October, Thanksgiving does not have that forced rush about it.  In fact, in many cases it can be overlooked...

In this episode a follow-up to 'This Land is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie, I reflect on The Thanksgiving  Day classic," Alice's Restaurant" written by his son Arlo Guthrie.  This song which honored  the legacy of Woody and his belief in blending satire, humor and charm through storytelling and bringing the listener along for ride. "Alice's Restaurant" was rel...

With all that is currently going on in our country I found myself searching for  inspiration, a sense of connectiveness beyond all the geographic and political boundaries of today.  I came across one of the greatest protest songs ever written.  It was written in 1940 and recorded in 1944, by Woody Guthrie, "This Land is Your Land". It held true then, and holds true today.  timothymahar.o...

There is something about Sunday Night that can bring on the blues.  All the activities of the past week behind and the new week ahead.  It is a kind of calm before the storm.  Even when I use to work on Sunday Nights there was always a different feel, in a studio, or on the streets.   There is a peace, and bit of sadness in the reflection along with a sense of warmth.   timothymahar.org

After 232 years the penny has been minted for last time.  The impact may not be immediate, but over the long run it will be felt.  Our friend the penny, with Abraham Lincoln greeting us and giving us a sense of security.  Eventfully there will no longer be penny loafers, or just the price "of a penny for our thoughts", even though we always gave our two cents. We will have less luck, and...

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10th, 1975.  Twenty-nine  brave souls perished that day in the cold waters of Lake Superior.  Later a folk rock ballad was written, composed and performed by Canadian singer-song writer Gordon Lightfoot to memorialize the crew on board the Edmund Fitzgerald that perished that evening around 7:15pm.  The song was rec...

After 208 years the Farmers' Almanac is hanging it up. The 2026 edition will be the last. I never read the Farmers' Alamac, but I always took comfort in knowing it was there, especially this time of year.  As the cold breath of November was upon us we would hear on the news: "according to the Farmers' Almanac, we are in for a harsh winter".  A lineage of 208 years ending m...

I was listening to NPR, (while we still have it) the other day and the topic was ASI, Artificial Super Intelligence.  Now mind you, AI fills a void that has been identified in the majority of our civilized species.  A void we won't get back because we have become dependent on the technology. This next generation of Advanced Intelligence is still in the very early design phase. The result will...

Nothing brings autumn to life like a fresh glass of real cider!  Not that pasteurized juice you buy a the grocery store.  Real apple cider that explodes with the tastes of fall.  This takes me back to autumn when pumpkin seeds, were a dessert, and the blowing leaves and chilly nights brought created a comfort where time stood still.   timothymahar.org

I was 9 years old in 1968 during all the chaos of war, riots, assassinations, the space race, a cultural revolution that had a tremendous impact on the misfit I have become and relish.  Today information is everywhere and unavoidable, loud, threating and lacking virtue, what is the effect it is having on our children.  Talk of war from within, masked men dropping from the sky, hate speech treated...

Nothing beats a nice warm bowl of tomato soup on a rainy autumn day in the Northeastern United States.  As the rain falls on the vibrant leaves from a gray sky there is a sense of warmth and peace in that familiar bowl of soup. The changing of the leaves, a rich harvest and the comfort they bring is nature's way of saying goodbye to the year.  It is always a time of reflection for me, not jus...