I watched the 2006 film “Idiocracy” again for the umpteenth time last week. (Note: it’s not a suitable flick for those who are sensitive to crass, bawdy humor. Consider yourselves warned.) Raunchy humor aside, it’s a horrifying depiction of what happens to humanity when they allow themselves to be dumbed down[Read More…]
Editor’s Column
EDITOR’S COLUMN – Trust the process
“Life is not what it’s supposed to be—it’s what it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.” ― Virginia Satir For the last few days the phrase “trust the process” has appeared with such frequency I can’t ignore it. Maybe it’s the message we all[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN: What makes a leader great?
“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” ― Lao Tzu (Tao Te Ching) I’m taking a class on leadership, ethics and social responsibility this semester. Several weeks into class discussions and textbook readings[Read More…]
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR – February 13th, 2025
Tell your Representatives Dear Editor: Thank you for your comments last week on national issues. They are important locally. By the Constitution and by Congressional Acts, only Congress can establish (or dismantle), fund (or de-fund) federal agencies. Not Elon Musk. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provides emergency food[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – Time to speak up
“Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason toward my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.” ― Patrick Henry I try not to put[Read More…]
Editor’s Column: Try a board on for size before you commit
“Don’t ever forget that you’re a citizen of this world, and there are things you can do to lift the human spirit – things that are easy, things that are free, things that you can do every day: Civility, respect, kindness, character.” ― Aaron Sorkin I’ve been covering Meeker’s Town Board[Read More…]
Editor’s Column – Take responsibility for your pursuit of happiness
“No one is coming to save you; no one is coming to make life right for you; no one is coming to solve your problems. If you don’t do something, nothing is going to get better. The dream of a rescuer who will deliver us may offer a kind of comfort,[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – On anxiety
“No amount of anxiety makes any difference to anything that is going to happen.” ~Alan Watts I have a love-hate relationship with this quote. As a lifelong worrywart, I resent being made aware of the utter uselessness of thousands of hours spent fretting and worrying. As someone who would like to[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – On responsibility
“Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility. For the person who is unwilling to grow up, the person who does not want to carry his own weight, this is a frightening prospect.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt We all want to raise responsible young people and live near responsible[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – The arena or the peanut gallery — we get to choose
As we smooth open the shiny pages of 2025 calendars with a blend of hopeful inspiration and fretful trepidation, let’s pause for a moment and consider our position. What transpires in the days ahead will be a heady blend of things that are subject to our control through free will[Read More…]
Editor’s Column – Looks like we made it! Thank you!
“‘Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.” ~ Alice Walker Don’t ask me who sang the song referenced above, or what the rest of the lyrics are. I only get headline-length snippets in my head![Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN – December 19th, 2024
‘People who feel the need to control others, don’t have control over themselves.’ ~ Author Unknown My Christmas decorating this year got as far as carrying the artificial tree downstairs and plugging it in. I have no inclination to rummage through boxes in the chilly attic to find the ornaments,[Read More…]