Author Archives: Douglas Blaine

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About Douglas Blaine

Capnpen is a writer who was a newspaper and magazine journalist in a previous life. A college journalism major, he now works as an English teacher, but gets his writing fix by blogging about a variety of topics, including politics, religion, movies and television. When he's not working or blogging, Capnpen spends time with his family, plays a little golf (badly) and loves to learn about virtually anything.

Quick Thought – Thursday, November 12, 2026 – Lessons From Mom: Don’t Try to Catch a Squirrel

Posted on November 12, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

When a trained squirrel escaped from a traveling petting zoo, five-year-old Mom volunteered to retrieve it. She came down from the tree with scratches, bite marks, and an unforgettable lesson about wisdom. Continue reading →

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The Final Cut: We Are Marshall

Posted on November 11, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Most football movies celebrate winning a championship. We Are Marshall celebrates something far more meaningful: finding the courage to play again. In this week’s Final Cut, I revisit Matthew McConaughey’s moving portrayal of Jack Lengyel, the devastating tragedy that inspired the film and why even a lifelong Gator can find a hero in Bobby Bowden. Continue reading →

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What If We Tried Living in This World?

Posted on November 11, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Which video game world would I choose to live in? None of them. As an English teacher, I’m more concerned about a generation that can master imaginary worlds while struggling with basic math, literature and history. Perhaps it’s time we focused less on escaping reality and more on preparing our children to improve it. Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Tuesday, November 11, 2025 – Lessons From Mom: Love the Least of These

Posted on November 11, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

When my parents took us into a Florida prison as children, I learned that Christian compassion doesn’t depend on someone’s innocence. Years later, an encounter with a man whose crime became a Hollywood movie reinforced one of Mom’s most important lessons: No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Three Whiskeys, Three First Impressions

Posted on November 10, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Three impressive whiskeys, three scores separated by just 0.76 points. Chattanooga Experimental V1A brings unusual sweet and savory flavors, Jack Daniel’s Sweet Mash delivers its signature character, and Lux Row Four-Grain Double-Single Barrel emerges as a March Madness contender. Continue reading →

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The Most Expensive Word Is Someday

Posted on November 10, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

What life lesson did you learn too late? View all responses I’ve learned a lot of lessons in my 60 years, and some of them came at a pretty steep price. But if I had to pick one that I … Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Tuesday, November 10, 2026 – Lessons From Mom: Don’t Let the Sun Set on Your Anger

Posted on November 10, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

During their 33-year marriage, Mom and my stepfather rarely let disagreements carry over into another day. Their example taught me that anger left unresolved can damage even our closest relationships. Ephesians 4 offers a better way. Continue reading →

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The Bar Hasn’t Moved

Posted on November 9, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

At 25, I thought I knew what made someone a good friend. At 60, I haven’t changed my mind. After 36 years of friendship, I’ve learned that loyalty isn’t measured by how many friends you have, but by who you can count on when it matters. Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Monday, November 9, 2026 – Lessons From Mom: Don’t Argue in Front of the Children

Posted on November 9, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Growing up, I learned that disagreements between parents should be handled privately. But I misunderstood that lesson in my own marriage. Mom taught me that healthy relationships aren’t free from disagreement. What matters is how we resolve it. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: Blind Is Brutal

Posted on November 8, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Labels disappear, reputations vanish and sometimes expensive bottles get embarrassed. An 11-bottle double-oaked bourbon blind tasting reveals surprising results and a biblical lesson about judging by appearances. Continue reading →

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