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One week to go for the 2024 General Elections: I have no further information to pass on, except for the wish that you do take time to vote. Remember “Good” from “Bad.” Remember the “Common Good” for all, not just special groups. Remember the “Liberal Left” most often runs after what they want, not what is good for the Common person. Those Politicians identified with the Liberal Left usually want to “control” the world with regulations, practices and government that is not for the common good . . . no matter how hard they try to justify thei...
Sometimes I don’t know if God Almighty has a sense of humor, or if it’s just another test. As you all know, it is very dry in southcentral Nebraska. I can’t remember the last rain of any consequence. The weathermen tell us ever so often that we have a 20 percent chance of rain . . . but it never happens. Well, my questioning of God’s sense of humor came from a visit to Superior Monday for a medical appointment. Remember, the weather forecast was for rain Monday. The rain did not come on the trip down or the visit with a brother-in-law. It came...
The “Common Good.” That is a phrase you don’t hear often in today’s political sphere. Over the years, I remember reading those two words often about the early days of American history. I was recently reminded of those two words when reading comments on the writings of Saint John Paul II. Although the two words are not in this part of his writing, the writing reminded me of those two words. In today’s world profound thoughts and words are often lost in all the banter we receive from so many different sources. Sometimes really profound thoughts...
Football games . . . Have you had your fill of the games yet ? ? ? or how about volleyball ? ? ? No, I have not. It is especially more enjoyable when your favorite team wins. I have, however, come to having my fill on the changes in the games, especially on the college level. Have you noticed the college games have been extended longer and longer in recent years? I don’t know if this year is the first year they have it, but do you wonder why the “two minute warning” was started in college games. This stoppage of play, along with all of the TV t...
I’m getting to not like “weather reports” more and more every year. For the two weeks prior to last weekend we were told to expect ‘good rains’ last weekend, most likely on Sunday. Well, Sunday came and went and many people set plans up to accommodate the rain. I’m not sure of other parts of Nebraska, but here in South Central Nebraska, the rain was not enough to settle the dust. The week end gives credit to the old farmer’s story that went something like this: “Remember that time it rained for forty days and forty nights?” “Here in south ce...
How about those Nebraska Cornhuskers. I haven’t checked the records, but when was the last time we were 3-0 to start a year? And when was the last time I got excited about winning three games in a row? I noticed this week’s game will mark the 400th game in a row the Huskers will have a ‘sold-out’ game. I remember a few years back attending the game that was the 300th sell-out. I also remember when the ‘sold-out’ string started. Back in 1962, when Bob Davaney, Dave Mazour, I think Tom Osborne and myself all started our University experiences...
Puffs “Pickleball:” a game similar to tennis, I guess, but more tuned to an older generation. Never tried it and I don’t have anything against it. However, I got a laugh last week when AARP sent me a letter asking me to join their organization. As a “Welcome Back” gift, they will send me a “Free Pickleball Set.” Don’t know how I can pass up on a deal like that . . . but I did. A O I’m learning more and more, the longer I live. For some time I’ve been learning the fine art of “Laundry.” You know, the process of making dirty clothes, clean. W...
Autumn . . . Ya, I know that season is not quite here yet, but last weekend sure made me feel like it was. No, I not talking about the weather, I’m talking about the Fall Sports Season. It was a difficult summer for me. I no longer get three daily newspapers and I haven’t gotten into reading all the sports news on the computer, so when high school and college sports got started last weekend, I was happy. The L-N Raider football team lost their game, but I thought they played well and better things will happen. The L-N Raider volleyball tea...
“Technology” and “Paperless Society.” Remember those two ideas that were so popular about 25 years ago? As technology in the forms of computers and social media came into being, the population was being sold on the virtues of a “paperless society.” I really wonder if that paperless idea ever came into being. I’ve read where the production of the common 8 1/2 x 11 paper has grown beyond expectations 25 years ago. It seems “everyone wants a copy” of most everything sent paperless. I’m guessing government regulations also play into this growth in...
Rains . . . August . . . The two words just don’t go together here in south-central Nebraska. But then, Sunday morning, while in church in Deweese, the rain came. While being grateful for an inch of rain (more or less, depending on where you live) in August, I was reminded of a thought an “old” farmer taught me many years ago. “An inch of rain in August just doesn’t last as long as an inch of rain in April or November.” Thankful to receive the rain, but ‘mud-puddles’ were few on Monday morning. A O I confess that I don’t watch a lot of the nati...
In the past few years, and especially in recent months I’ve been reading and hearing more and more about “A I.” “A I” = “Artificial Intelligence. I think we all are aware of it, even if we don’t call it by that name. It’s in our computers and when the computer corrects our bad English spelling and usage . . . that’s A I. When a farmer uses any of multiple programs to operate tractors, irrigation systems, fertilizer applications . . . that’s A I. A lot of people are getting worried that A I might just be able to control us humans more than we...
Smoke and dust . . . I was impressed when I was much younger when I read about how the ‘dust storms’ of the 1930s in the mid-west (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, etc.) reached the eastern states of the U. S. I believe some of the dust even reached Europe. Also included was reading about how the smoke from the great Chicago fire of 1871 reached England. Well, this international trade of dust and dirt continues. Remember last year with the smoke coming down from the forest fires in Canada? Well, that smoke this year is combined with smoke from fires in...
Reading . . . Some people do not like to do more than necessary, but some of us enjoy the pastime. Of course, you have to be a little careful of what you choose to read. I receive several magazines a month and I admit I don’t read them ‘cover to cover.’ But, I always look them over and try to pick out what I think I’ll enjoy the most, or what might benefit me the most. Last week I received the current copies of “NEBRASKAland” and “The American Legion.” From the American Legion magazine one of the items I sometimes enjoy is the final page. It...
I’ve admitted in the past that I’m a slow learner, but I just read something a week or so ago that made me think a little about the well-being of so many Nebraskans. Consider the following: • I don’t have exact figures, but a large percentage of Nebraskans are either farmers or working in, or own, an ag related business. • Although farming is a highly risky business, farmers, and those working with them, seem more ‘well-balanced’ than many people working in other professions. • Small town ‘values’ and cultures often follow citizens who were r...
A O An assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump on Saturday might get all the national news media outlets busy questioning how such a thing could happen in this day and age. They seemed astounded that such a thing occurred. I have to admit I was almost in tears as I watched the news reports and I wondered how and why it had to be. You know, the national media has the same reaction after most any and all “shootings” that have been occurring across our nation in recent years. As I understand it, they answer their own questions. Mos...
Wow, a rain storm over the July 4th holiday weekend. That’s a rare action that should be noted. Here in our household in Lawrence, I often measure fog, or snow storms by the ability to see Main Street of Lawrence through the fog or snow . . . but I don’t remember doing that with rain. However, that rain storm had wind and rain that hit all five sides of the house and I couldn’t see much more than one-half of a block. It didn’t last a long time, but it was intense. We can thank God there was not much damage that I know of. Speaking of rain. M...
Singing at Sunday church services varies greatly. If familiar songs are used, the volume is usually greater. If the song is not familiar, people either don’t sing, or do so timidly. Often on national holidays, our church uses patriotic songs. This last Sunday, close to the 4th of July, the ending song was “America the Beautiful” and the response was great. The volume was great as it seemed almost everyone in church was singing. And . . . that song is one of my favorites. A O I try to do my best to sing that song to the best of my abili...
Nebraska weather . . . it gives people something to talk about. Last week Tuesday, I had a medical appointment in Grand Island, late in the day. When I left Lawrence, the temperature reading in the car read 90 degrees. An hour or so later on reaching our destination in Grand Island, the same reading was 70 degrees. If you don’t like what you have, wait a bit, it will change. Now, if only we can change this week’s forecasts of 100 degrees. That brings up another aspect of our Nebraska weather. (Although I’m sure this happens all over the natio...
I think I’ve hinted in the past that I like history. I don’t know if I could pass a history test right now, but I do like to read history. I don’t know when, or how, but I receive an email every day entitled “This Day in History.) The information they sent out included many things. American and World historical events on that day; from Crimes to Native American History . . . all events that happened on a particular day. Today, I learned something new. I suspect most of you have heard the phrase: “Don’t shoot until you see the whites of t...
The end of last week, I finally realized another example of the power of three. A lot of people believe things happen in “threes.” As I understand it, mostly bad things happen in threes. I’m not sure I believe in that, but it does seem to happen often enough to make many believers. My example in recent weeks is that three first cousins have just died, all close together: Robert Ostdiek, Harold Brockman and Jack Lemke. All first cousins to each other. That’s enough of my relatives to leave us. I hope the power of three is satisfied and I have...
Just a few days ago we observed “Memorial Day.” On June 6 we observe “D Day.” Throughout world history, few countries go out of their way to help protect the innocent. It happens, but just not very often. In the history of the United States of America, it has happened time and again. June 6, 1944 is a date the allied forced attacked the Nazi controlled Europe in an effort to free the world from the evil that was the Nazi rule of government. Not that America is free of bad decisions, it is just that so many of those graves we honor on Memoria...
Memorial Days can just come and go . . . sort of like birthdays. Sometimes you don't like to think about them. However, just like birthdays they are important. Nobody is "glorifying" war as some claim, we are just trying to say "Thank You" to all the military veterans who have gone out of their way to help continue this way of governing ourselves. However, almost each and every year something seems to be different and unique. This year, I came across two things, one humorous, one profound. 1:...
• Weeds . . . I finally got out to do a little work in the garden and yard last week and yes, those weeds were still there. I thought I pulled enough last year that I’d never see them again. (I didn’t say all signs of Spring were pleasant.) • Kids . . . one day when I was working outside, I heard the unmistakable squeals of happiness of children in the neighborhood. Yup, school was out. Children were enjoying playing and exploring outside in the middle of the day again. That was great. • There were high school and college commencem...
Northern Lights . . . Aurora Borealis . . . Plus scientific names . . . Gosh, what an experience. Something many of us in south central Nebraska never thought we’d have the chance to experience in our lifetime. I did take a peek outside Friday night, but did not see anything at all. Most all reports I heard about were much later. I heard about those lights, I read about them, but never thought they would ever reach this far south. In today’s ‘technology based’ world, it seems pictures taken by today’s cell phones show more than just plain vie...
RAIN . . . Remember all those foggy days we experienced late last winter. They were supposed to forecast rainy weather in 90 days. Are we there yet? Around this local area we’ve had approximately two inches of rain in the last few days. Pray that it continues. A O Some time ago I noted that the liberal, federal government we now have seems intent to pass so many laws over so many areas that no matter what we do, we’ll be breaking a law some place. That will give the government control over all of us in some form, or another. Then last win...
