I have a confession to make: I nearly killed my eighth grade nun. To many of you readers who grew up attending a Catholic school, this probably doesn’t sound so bad because, just like me, you’d assumed they were trying to kill us. But this was not a preemptive strike
There are important notes, at least to many observers, within this page this week. Likely none is more important than the note from Carol Tidwell, president of the League of Women Voters (LWV) Aurora Area: “The forum originally scheduled (to be held Wednesday, Feb. 12 for State House District 83’s
“There is nothing cleverer than irreproachable conduct.” —Queen Maria Therese in 1682 Before the arrival of Christianity in France, a Gallo-Roman temple stood on the site of Notre-Dame. The building was replaced with an Early Christian basilica dedicated to Saint Stephen. It may have been constructed in the 4th Century
It’s déjà vu all over again, as baseball great, Yogi Berra, used to say. 2002: The George W. Bush administration requested Afghanistan to surrender Osama bin Laden so that he might stand trial for the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States. The Taliban-dominated government in Kabul responded
Politics is a fact of life. It has negative connotations, draws disdain from many who claim no interest, and can be rough and tumble. Politics is a fact of life. We can find some joy, however, above all, we should understand it is the grist which can advance our democracy
It is my intention again this year to focus on success stories of individuals who, by dent of their work ethic, commitment, and drive, transformed their earthly sojourn into meaningful and productive lives. I had never heard of Madam C.J. Walker prior to seeing a bookmark from the National Trust
America seems to have an abundance of angry individuals these days. I’m not one of them, except when my cable cuts out during The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. But, I’ve noticed infusions of anger when it comes to politics or driving. It would be nice if it stayed in
The haunting music of the street balladiers could be heard all along the boulevard du Temple. The high-arching trees, the chestnut trees, were Winter barren. It was January 1847, and each evening the gay boulevard was filled with Parisians waiting for the box offices to open. It was, of course,
From the vault – December 12, 2013 (revised): A response to Donna Crane’s column of December 19, 2019, Unplugging one day each week a salute for stress 24/6. Once upon a time, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas were separate events. Now, however, they are connected to each other by an economic
The build up to the holidays is in the process of winding down. A reality check indicates the best aspect of all holidays is time spent with family and friends. Sharing time and activities exceed any material aspect of any holiday. Seeing the glow of children reacting to the bright
Even in the darkness of Winter, Old Man Moon reminds us that light will follow the darkness. When I hibernate, just like the bears, the bees, and box turtles, I read. It is quiet and warm and my mind can go many new places. The Top Ten this year will
For this week, I thought I’d table the piece I’d planned to write and cash in on the Christmas holiday, even though I’m a day late and a dollar short…the story of my life. With nothing better to do, I began thinking over Christmases past and which ones were memorable.
When I watched everything leading up to the impeachment, I grieved for our broken Nation, where we have taken sides to the extent that we can’t even hear one another any more. In lock step each Democrat spoke of Donald Trump’s actions being precisely what the Founding Fathers feared when
The year is 1574 and the Hotel de Sens in Paris is welcoming Christmas guests. It was where the great lords of the Church lived and they seemed to have been, almost without exception, a rascally lot. The Cardinal of Lorrraine lived here. Some historians insist that Henry IV’s death
A significant part of the holiday spirit is in giving, especially to those less fortunate. Food pantries, charities, shelters, are sites and subjects of many individuals who have caught the spirit of giving. May we continue to understand its significance and continue selfless service. Large organizations and individuals make the
Ben Franklin was a Founding Father and in his 84-year old life, America’s best scientist, inventor, diplomat, writer, and business strategist. He was the only man who shaped all the founding documents of the United States which were the Albany Plan of Union, the Declaration of Independence, the treaty of
Because I was writing about pets (last time, I mean) I thought I’d continue. Humankind is finally learning about animal intelligence and behavior. In the past, animals were generally thought of as something dumb, disposable, targets for hunters, creatures in the way of progress. How could we build large environment-polluting,
On balance our communities offer more than odes to the holidays with Santa, lights, and, celebration. We all must take a break from the real world and indulge in light-hearted celebration. References to holiday celebrations will come into view here farther down and later this month. There are a few
Imagine three Celtic artist monks, secluded in the scriptorium of Iona, or in eastern Scotland, or in a new monastery at Kells, County Meath, Ireland. They welcome in the year 800 A.D. in days filled with extraordinary artistry and commitment. The Book is written on prepared calfskin (vellum) and contains
In 1937, Mr. William Randolph Hearst, newspaper-publishing tycoon, appeared before a committee of the U.S. Congress and requested that it introduce a bill prohibiting the growing, selling, and distribution of hemp. He was very disingenuous in his arguments because the hemp plant produced cannabis, a.k.a marijuana, which, he claimed, was
