As long as the clock is ticking, the pendulum swings from one extreme to the other. Politics are no exception. Whichever side takes power, there’s a reaction from the other side. It’s almost always a lot of drama without a lot of substance. Take, for example, the latest bit of[Read More…]
Columns
Editor’s Column: Cautiously optimistic
Although I remain a grateful pessimist (I still need to read the book about optimism the nice Australian author sent me as a gift after that column and see if it changes my mind), I am exercising cautious optimism about the new county attorney, Todd Starr. His first “lunch with[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Aging is a privilege
‘ll be 49 this year (Lord willing), putting me smack dab in middle age territory. The AARP mailings aren’t arriving yet, and I rarely “feel” my age (thanks, I assume, to reasonably good genes), but I’m starting to notice little changes to which I’m learning to adapt. 1. I need[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Anonymous returns
It’s been nearly a year since I lambasted the author of an anonymous flier distributed just prior to the rec district board election. I still believe if you want to share your opinion you should put your name on it, whether you’re stuffing future litter under windshield wipers in the[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Open meetings demand open discourse
Are the commissioners, returning and new, abiding by Colorado’s Open Meetings Act, aka the “Sunshine Laws”? Based on video and audio recordings, and comments from all three commissioners after Monday’s meeting, it would appear that two of our county commissioners made a decision about the future of the county attorney[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Got the mid-winter crankies? Please don’t share.
A quote from one of my all-time favorite novels reads: “…while golf and fishing are Scotland’s most popular outdoor sports, gossip is the most popular indoor sport. And when it rains as much as it does in Scotland, people spend a lot of time indoors.” That quote reminds me of[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Ten easy ways to make our communities even better in 2019
1. Read the newspaper. Informed citizens make better community members. (FYI: an in-county subscription to the print edition will save you almost 25 percent off the single copy price and you get the online edition for free.) 2. Attend public meetings and participate in community events. Hold your elected (and appointed) leaders[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: What will you do with the new year?
It’s time to start the annual debate about New Year’s resolutions, whether we’re for or against them. I think some folks are so discouraged by past failures they swing all the way to the other side of the spectrum, denying and defying the notion that making resolutions is a good[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: So this is Christmas …
To file under your “ridiculous” column: A popular online and brick-and-mortar store has sold out of a popular item: A bundle of twigs—20 “birchwood” branches tied with brown string—retailing for $42. Every time I see how much government entities pay consultants to come up with “new” ideas I shake my[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: When it comes to marketing, ‘free’ isn’t really free
The word “free” is a tantalizing attraction. Maybe it’s our capitalistic system where literally everything has a price, or maybe it’s simply human nature to want something for nothing… results without effort… benefits without expense. You’re probably familiar with the phrase “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.” The[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: The grateful pessimist
For brief periods in my life I’ve attempted to be an optimist—someone who expects the best, is hopeful for the future and has faith in the good of humanity in general. Optimism is supposed to be good for you, mentally and physically. My forays into optimism never last long. Circumstances[Read More…]
Flaming marshmallows {Editor’s Column}
I’ve been cooking for almost four decades, but last Saturday was a new experience. I was making candied yams for the St. James Episcopal Church annual fundraising dinner. Once the yams were cooked, I sprinkled mini-marshmallows (the best part of candied yams) over the top and put them under the[Read More…]