Is the U.S. government evil? You tell me. This government treats its citizens as faceless statistics and economic units to be bought, sold, bartered, traded, tracked, tortured, and eventually eliminated once they’ve outgrown their usefulness. This government treats human beings as lab rats to be caged, branded, experimented upon, and
Observing Joe Wiegand portray Theodore Roosevelt Saturday, April 14 was informative and fun. As a society we are nearly singularly focused on our presidents in the political realm. One reason is the chief executive sets a tone in word and deed. Wiegand used his one-man show to inform the audience
In another life, I wrote essays for that other newspaper in town (TONIT) as part of a collaboration called “Common Sense.” Then, as now, I followed the dictum of my philosophical godfather, the 18th Century Frenchman, Voltaire, who said, famously: “I have come into this world to comfort the afflicted
By Mayor Richard C. Irvin – Yesterday (Saturday, April 21), I was informed about a display at the Aurora Public Library and the amount of attention it was drawing from the community. Upon reviewing the display, I immediately contacted the chairman of the Aurora Public Library Board of Directors and
John Savage, president, Aurora Public Library Board of Directors, issued the following statement Sunday, April 22: On behalf of the Aurora Public Library Board of Directors and staff members, I sincerely apologize to the community for the offensive display in the library’s exhibit this weekend. Once I became aware of
Grandpa, I hate that all a woman has to do is claim that a man made a lewd or off-color remark and his career is over. I have spent my life looking to always say something complimentary to co-workers, those on the street, just everyone with whom I am in
Let us not mince words. We are living in an age of war profiteers. We are living in an age of scoundrels, liars, brutes, and thugs. Many of them work for the U.S. government. We are living in an age of monsters. Ask Donald Trump. He knows all about monsters.
Ben Schiller of FastCompany expresses his opinion regarding the students who have taken to the streets to protest after the Parkland, Fla. school shooting massacre February 14. “If one good thing has come out of the horror of the Parkland massacre, it’s the sight of young Americans standing up to
Grandpa, How is this for a scam? I placed an ad on Craigslist for a roommate. I got back a text message that said the sender was interested in my ad. She gave me a web address to reply to her. I typed in the goo.gl/MGX23F that she gave me.
The ease with which Americans are prepared to welcome boots on the ground, regional lockdowns, routine invasions of their privacy, and the dismantling of every constitutional right intended to serve as a bulwark against government abuses is beyond unnerving. I am referring at this moment to president Donald Trump’s decision
The Old Farmer’s Almanac has been on my stocking-stuffer gift list ever since I can remember. It is interesting reading, economical, and gives both history as well as future prognostications. How is that for a 2018 word of the day? Before I take it to the Goodwill, I will share
Let’s discuss the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, shall we? The Second Amendment has been the one part of the social contract between the government and the governed which has been largely misinterpreted. And, if I may be so bold as to say so, much of
Grandpa, Four years ago, I got out of prison. I did 17.5 years for holding up a small neighborhood grocery store. I only got $(XX) dollars from them. I used a handgun and am now so grateful I did not pull the trigger. Nearly 22 years after the crime, I
As a Nation, we have a tendency to sentimentalize cultural icons in death in a way that renders them non-threatening, antiseptic, and easily-digested by a society with an acute intolerance for anything controversial, politically incorrect, or marred by imperfection. This revisionist history has proven to be a far more effective
Carl Kleimaier of Elburn visited India for six weeks on a spiritual and meditation retreat in Tiruvannamalai, a city of 150,000, earlier this year. A sense of spirituality and chaos pervade the culture in India.. Here is his report: By Carl Kleimaier Spirituality and chaos: India and the modern world
As a society we rarely stand still. We celebrate, observe anniversaries, and seek to be helpful. We are in a time of acknowledging the 50-year anniversary of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King’s death. He was shot April 4, 1968, a volatile time in American history. He took our society to
The color purple is popular with religious organizations and there is a movie entitled “The Color Purple” with Oprah Winfrey. AARP (American Association for Retired Persons) writer Kim Hayes submitted the following article regarding purple superfoods such as cauliflower which provides key vitamins for a diet. Hayes wrote: “The late
From the French carrousel, the Italian carosello, and the Spanish carosella “little battle,” the American word carousel or merry-go-round, was an amusement ride usually with horses for seats that were mounted on posts. They moved up and down as if the horses were galloping to the accompaniment of circus music.
Remember when a lot of stuff used to be made in America? Then everything went to Japan, then to foreign countries no one realized actually existed, and now China? We still make some things here. We make the top of lists in yearly deaths from guns, highest health care costs,
Grandpa, My wife surprised me recently. She told me to quit calling her homemade soups and stews “chlamydia chowder.” I have always had pet names for her favorite recipes; Ptomaine Tacos, Shigellas and cheese, coli cake, crypto-casserole. You would think that after all of these years, she would be used
