Trying to tame that old pet peeve

Written by Paul Penner Tuesday, 24 January 2012 15:17

What do you feed a pet peeve? I’m not sure. Perhaps a pinch of self-righteous anger added with a bit of humble pie, mixed together with a dose of patience? Whatever it is, I am reasonably sure that everyone has at least one pet peeve hanging around the house or at work, and more often than not, has fed it from time to time.

What do you do when one pet peeve begets another? The short answer is, you deal with it as best you can.

My latest pet peeve has to do with the amount of space all airlines allow for passengers on small regional jets, more commonly known as “puddle jumpers.” In most cases, passengers traveling through the Wichita Intercontinental Airport will transport to larger airport hubs via these small jets. Exceptions...

Read more: Trying to tame that old pet peeve

Data give reasons for holiday blues

Written by Paul Penner Tuesday, 27 December 2011 15:26

Post-Christmas blues come and go, much like one’s constitutional regularity. There’s much to blame for its effects to last much longer than usual, however.

Christmas Eve, my beloved and I settled down for a “walk down memory lane.” With our children visiting the in-laws this time around and conflicting schedules that could not be overcome, we made plans for a quiet celebration alone. Brief meetings with family over the Internet, thanks to the wonders of two-way video conferencing, minimized our sense of isolation.

During previous holidays, our list of usual family related activities included watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” on television. This time, as the movie progressed, I couldn’t help but think that the story of...

Read more: Data give reasons for holiday blues

Another side to Thanksgiving cliches

Written by Paul Penner Tuesday, 22 November 2011 15:51

The leaves have finally fallen from the trees. Soon, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with family and friends.

As part of the usual Thanks­giving ritual, it’s time to “dust off” the usual holiday cliches that gives this day its unique distinction among holidays. Along with each statement written in italics, I offer another perspective, even if it is only tongue-in-cheek.

• I’m thankful for all of my family. Does this include extended family members and siblings you never see except at funerals and weddings? Isn’t it great when you can say nice things about people you never intend to actually meet and do things together?

Only kidding, Mom!

• I’m thankful that we have been blessed with an abundance of food and the...

Read more: Another side to Thanksgiving cliches

Cut budget with common sense

Written by Paul Penner Tuesday, 25 October 2011 17:46

The Joint Select Commit­tee on Deficit Reduction, or the Super Committee, as it is widely known, has until Nov. 23 to make its final decisions as to what items will face budget cuts.

This committee exists because of Congress’s inability to set aside partisan politics, lacking the courage to face each other to actually do the work they were elected to do.

Though few legislators would argue for an increase in deficit spending in a time when our nation’s credit rating has been lowered from its stellar position, thanks to the multi-trillion dollar debt load, opinions on how we should return to fiscal integrity varies widely.

On one hand, some politicians argue for an increase in government spending as a way to grow our way out of the...

Read more: Cut budget with common sense