Columns & Editorials

Peruse social media and you will find a variety of discussions related to COVID, masks, vaccinations, and schools reopening. These “discussions” often devolve into political dumpster fires as participants hold on to their positions with death grips, refusing to consider alternatives to what they believe. Increasingly, it seems that medical necessity and public health have been reduced to political tools of manipulation being used against our children. It’s hard to judge the accuracy of COVID related information being disseminated. Are the current CDC stats and recommendations legitimate or just a means to an end of someone’s agenda? What’s certain is countless students are not learning. Many students are falling farther behind and may never catch up.

If you’re getting close to retirement, you’re probably thinking about the ways your life will soon be changing. And one key transition involves your income – instead of being able to count on a regular paycheck, as you’ve done for decades, you’ll now need to put together an income stream on your own. How can you get started?

Two years before I was born Alfred Hitchcock made one of my favorite movies: Rear Window. It starred Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly and is one of the best movies ever made.

As Dallas ISD prepares to serve students, hence comes another tale from the DISD folly files. According to internal documents shared publicly by DISD employees, the district is offering an incentive of $500 to employees who submit proof they are fully vaccinated. The information is supposed to help the district with contact tracing should a positive COVID contact occur. Some wary teachers suggested the incentive is also a good way for the district to determine who is fully vaccinated and who is not without having to ask employees outright. Smart thinking, but that’s an article for another time. Whatever the reason, the district is spending about $11 million on this venture.

If a Christian’s service to GOD is to be acceptable it must be from the heart and intentional. Nothing else will get past the ceiling of their house. Not only our service to each other, but in all the areas of our lives. If people are to be successful at serving GOD, they have to apply the teaching of the bible. The Bible says that whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might. Through the years I have found that to be true. When I am serious about a job or task I need to do I will do it the best I can. Most of the time, the job is satisfying and makes me feel good.

Dear Aunt B,

PLEASE SUPPORT THE REEVES HENRY HISTORICAL MARKER

If you’ve heard of 529 plans, you might think they can only be used to help pay for college. And you wouldn’t be alone: Less than one-third of adults properly identified that a 529 plan can be used for more than just higher education, according to a survey by Morning Consult and Edward Jones. But what are these other expenses?

August is the month when hunters across the state begin preparing in earnest for the upcoming hunting seasons. The big outdoor shows are scheduled this month and hunters are busy doing everything from maintaining and filling their game feeders to locking in on places and dates for their fall hunts. There is no better time to head to the range or skeet field to sharpen up one’s shooting skills. Many Texas hunters wait until the week before the opening of deer season to make sure their rifle scopes are in proper adjustment. Why not go now before the fall rush? Besides, even though the scope on Ole’ Betsy might be in proper adjustment, it’s always good to do a bit of practicing in preparation for opening day.

(Part 1 of 2)

When GOD brought Israel to the Promised Land, He gave them a law to live by. The law could not prevent anyone from doing wrong, it could only punish them when they did something wrong. GOD had to give some rules that the people could understand. I don’t think GOD expected His people to live in constant fear of the law, but to respect and honor it. Every detail for human daily living was covered. If they kept the law from their hearts GOD would bring them peace and well being. If they did not keep the law GOD would bring disorder and chaos to their land. GOD sent Judges and Kings to govern the people and prophets to speak His word to the people. He had to do it that way to cover everything His people would need in their new land.

Dear Aunt B,

It has been said of creative people, there are no such things as messes, only brilliant ideas lying around everywhere. That has certainly always been the case with my creative brain. Mind you, the term creative brain does not correlate with other words like successful or heralded. We creatives understand this all too well. Watch any episode of Hoarders and you will see how our minds work. There is such beauty and magic in re-seeing what a thing can be. Once you break the chains of the 2nd dimension, nothing is as it seems. Those puzzles missing pieces were obviously destined to be decoratively lined, in modus Picasso, with Sharpie markers, then fashioned into 80s era earrings. Those empty paper towel and toilet paper cylinders can be drizzled with hot glue and spray painted. Once we add the batteryoperated tea lights that are around here somewhere, they’ll be amazing ghoulish Halloween window lights. Torn books make excellent decoupage material. What if a child knocks on the front door holding a Barbie missing one pink 1950s era plastic pump shoe and I have to tell her I was made to throw its mate away? We see the unseeable. We just don’t know where we put it. But, please don’t tell us it isn’t important. Creative people can be many things, including stubborn and yes, a bit messy. Don’t we try, though.