By definition, an authority figure is a person whose real or apparent authority over others inspires or demands obedience and emulation. Those who continue to walk in lockstep with Donald J. Trump certainly place him on a lofty pedestal. It seems nothing he does or says will shake their undying loyalty. But, what if other authority figures chose to act like the President of the United States? As […]

Attention, everyone! Big predictions for 2020 follow! Drop what you are doing! Read this! I’m using exclamation points! Harbor Freight will have a sale this year, probably at least 20-percent off any one item. Whatever you do, don’t pay full price for anything. Donald Trump supporters will continue to support him. No matter what he does. No matter what he […]

My twin grandchildren turned two years old last week, and though everyone told me how much being a grandpa would rock my world, I have to admit I did not expect them to be such an integral part of my life. They live just 45 minutes away, so their grandmother and I have seen them just about every weekend since […]

Does anybody else think the English language is worth saving? Grammar, I mean. Once again, I find myself feeling like the Lone Ranger when it comes to attempting to teach my students to speak correctly, especially when it comes to pronouns. Who is out there telling youngsters that a “person” can be a “they”? Does anybody else wonder why gas […]

Some random thoughts as fall finally shows its face in central Kansas: My advice to everyone is to avoid bruising your ribs if at all possible. I fell while running about a month ago, and I am still hobbled by the damage I did to my right side. I am back on the road, but I am definitely watching every […]

Our most noteworthy local event, the annual craft fair, is coming in a couple of weekends. I know not everyone is excited about it as it causes a healthy dose of disruption to our little burg, but I kind of like the adrenaline rush. Sure, all that outside traffic can be a royal pain, but the fair brings in more […]

I suppose it is the least kept secret in all of Marion County that I am no fan of the current president. I do believe, however, that our former leader, Barack Obama, will be treated much more kindly by history. So, allow me to list the top 10 reasons I, and perhaps others who are similarly minded, miss him now […]

We recently had the privilege of hosting our 18-month-old twin grandchildren for the weekend. While it was an absolute joy to have them spend a couple of nights at our house, we needed the next few days and nights to recover. My son jokes that he should start a business to help prospective parents and grandparents toddler-proof their homes. For […]

Everyone wants to feel smart. Or, at the very least, we all want to look smart. Sometimes, however, it’s easier said than done. It may even be simplest to do the least intelligent thing. For example: Paying full price for anything you buy at Kohl’s or Harbor Freight is not smart. Once you are on the mailing list, you will […]

This spring, I am much more interested in the National Hockey League playoffs than those of the National Basketball Association. I’m not completely sure why, but I have some ideas why I currently prefer action on the ice to the hardwood. The puck pushers seem less spoiled and somewhat more humble than the ball bouncers. Maybe it’s the fact that […]