Another election season has passed. With the hyperbole and nastiness given a break following the November 6 elections we can rest with the knowledge that the twin functions of candidates will return. We would like to think not too soon. It is disconcerting that negative advertising works for candidates. Sanity
Yet another shooting. Yet another smear of ugliness, hatred, and violence. Yet another ratcheting up of the calls for the government to clamp down on the citizenry by imposing more costly security measures without any real benefit, more militarized police, more surveillance, more gun control measures, more metal detectors, and
By Christopher J. Lauzen, Kane County Board chairman – Let’s say you’re the hiring manager for the Kane County Board, because that’s exactly what you are. Four years ago, the good people of the Southeast Side of Aurora made an unintentional error by selecting Don Ishmael for County Board. He
Thanksgiving dinner in Plano Nov. 8 A complete turkey supper with all the trimmings will be available from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8 at Plano United Methodist Church, Hale and Clark Streets, in Plano. Food will be served at 5 p.m. with seating or carry outs. Reservations
Plano High School staff members nominated students for “Student of the Month” for September. Students are nominated for pride behavior, personal responsibility, respect, involved academically, demonstrates safe behavior, and excellence in what they do. Some reasons for nomination include making efforts to grow as an individual, translating class direction with
Predictability. Spontaneity. Both are a parts of our worlds, the fabric of our society. We can be just one strain, or, continually act in the other. Likely the best of each keeps us fresh and in focus at the same time. The joy of each day is relying on predictability
“ It’s A Small World, after all. It’s A Small, Small World.” —Written by the Sherman Brothers in response to the 1962 Cuban Missle crisis. What do you think the balance of trade is vis a vis the United States and the Chinese? The deficit is the excess of imports
The other day, I was thinking about phone books. You younger readers are probably wondering which planet I’m from, but that’s beside the point. Phone books were big, two-to-three-inch-thick books listing the phone numbers of every human in a city. Every human who had a phone, at least. Many times,
Life in a post-9/11 America increasingly feels as through it is an endless free fall down a rabbit hole into a terrifying, dystopian alternative reality in which the citizenry has no rights, the government is no friend to freedom, and everything we ever knew and loved about the values and
Frum thuh vawlt (November 3, 2011, reevized): Thuh disserneen reeder will notiss immeedeeuhtlee that thair iz sumthing rather differuhnt abowt thiss essay. Evereewun elss will haff too stuhdee it uh bit too reelize whuht iz differuhnt abowt it. Hee or shee may naht eeven beeleeve hee or shee iz reedeen
First of three parts – Comedian and author D.L. Hughley has made the rounds to promote his new book “How Not To Get Shot and other advice from white people.” Hughley has a wonderful sense of humor which he exhibited on shows, but it saddens me that as a society
During Labor Day weekend I lived up to the spirit of the holiday by doing labor: Cleaning gutters, moving furniture, and whining. The whining accounted for the majority of the labor. Speaking of labor, my unwritten rule for employment is to do just enough to keep from getting fired because,
Many items fill this page, which is a reflection of many the activities which rush to cross the bridge prior to and following Labor Day. It is Labor Day for many who reduce the Summer activities and resume a less hectic pace. Certainly last weekend in Aurora there was a
If you have been following Wayne Johnson’s contributions to this publication, dear reader, you will know that he has spent some time in the military. By all accounts, it was a rich and rewarding experience, and he has cherished it ever since. Sadly, the same cannot be said of my
Grandpa, I would like to start by saying I truly enjoy The Voice, but especially Ask Grandpa. You always seem to have very well thought out and very honed, heartfelt feedback to all your readers. Maybe you could share your thoughts and insights into an issue I am seeing all
By Jackie LaVia – It’s human nature to be more inclined to complain and give a bad review than it is to speak up and give a good review. I think YELP, an internet-based service review website, proves that. One-hundred individuals will have a good meal, and only one will
• Police in a small Georgia town tasered a five-foot-two and 87-year-old woman who was using a kitchen knife to cut dandelions for use in a recipe. Police claim they had no choice but to taser the old woman, who does not speak English, but was smiling at police to
“Tea comforts the spirit, lightens the body and adds sparkle to the eyes.” —Shennong In Chinese medicine during the Tang and Song dynasties, the medicinal effects of tea were recommended for curing and preventing many ills. Tea was believed to dissolve fats and assist with digestion. Because of its antioxidant
It has become way too easy to lockdown this Nation. Five years ago, Boston was locked down while police carried out a military-style manhunt for suspects in the 2013 Boston Marathon explosion. Four years ago, Ferguson, Mo., was locked down, with government officials deploying a massive SWAT team, an armored
Here are some important notes and thoughts: • In our back-to-school mindset, it is refreshing to know that there are teachers who put innovation and thinking outside the usual as a part of their calling, not just their jobs. Teachers play important roles. • The Aurora Animal Care and Control
