Negative ads create a disgusting tone

Written by Paul Penner Tuesday, 27 July 2010 15:41

Mid-term election campaign rhetoric is at a fevered pitch these days, even when compared to past campaigns. Mud-slinging via negative ads on television run without interruption and will not let up until the last poll closes on election day.

Congressional candidate Wink Hartman, even though he declares in an ad that he has signed a pledge to stop running negative ads against his opponent, promptly launches into a diatribe denouncing Michael Pompeo’s business activity and moral character.

Apparently, Hartman’s pledge wasn’t worth the paper it was written on.

Closer to home, it doesn’t get any better. Consider the latest rhetoric from a candidate for Congress. Without naming names or party affiliation, I don’t doubt readers...

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Babies’ arrival trumps wheat harvest

Written by Paul Penner Tuesday, 29 June 2010 17:02

Wheat harvest in central Kansas is coming to an end while in far western Kansas, they are going strong.

For producers in our area, yields have ranged from disappointing to surprising, from 25 bushels per acre to more than 50. In short, this year is nothing spectacular, nothing special. As for the price of wheat, one would have to say the same thing as well.

Personally, this year was one of firsts, however. Son Ben was unable to make the annual trek to our farm, thanks in part to the anticipated, yet early arrival of twin girls. As I write this, daughter-in-law Anna is still awaiting the day when she can carry one or both in her arms.

Lacking a combine driver with necessary skills to match, someone was needed to fill the gap. As luck...

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Accepting responsibility is difficult

Written by Paul Penner Tuesday, 25 May 2010 19:16

On the lighter side of finger pointing.... While making my weekly appointment at a meeting of the Lehigh Double Circle Day Care, a charter member expressed concern over Cooperative Grain & Supply’s policy of closing on Saturdays.

“It’s costing me extra to go to Hillsboro to get my coffee one day a week,” he says, grinning. “I’m thinking of sending CG&S a bill for the extra cost. It’s up to about 63¢ for the coffee, not counting mileage. If only Lehigh stayed open, I could get it for free.”

Amid the ensuing laughter, a new round of lighthearted finger pointing began. Another member of the group told a story that involved a Kansas Department of Transportation vehicle safety inspector, a semi hauling heifers and a...

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U.S. Schools need to rethink strategy

Written by Paul Penner Tuesday, 27 April 2010 18:31

Of all the nations in the world, what do the United States and the Russian Federation have in common? Other than both countries being major nuclear powers and ethnic groups in both countries sharing ancestral ties, they have little in common.

One similarity, however, is their average test scores for math and science literacy among 15-year-olds.

According to the latest available data from the National Center for Education Statistics taken from a study conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United States ranks 25th out of 30 countries in math literacy and 21st in science literacy.

Students in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, South Korea, Nether­lands and the Czech Republic are top...

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