Columns & Opinions

It doesn't take much

Body
Z ack and I usually say “It doesn’t take much” when a simple thing makes us overwhelmingly happy–like a gorgeous dawn, sunrise, twilight, sunset, or green grass and spring bulbs poking up. Or something our animals do. Or when we accomplish a difficult project.

Massive wildfires ignited by power lines in Texas Panhandle

Body
T wo wildfires that burned more than 1 million acres in the Panhandle were caused by downed power lines, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Juan Rodriguez, with the service, told the Texas Standard that its law enforcement investigators had concluded their probe into the source of the Smokehouse Creek and Windy Deuce fires.

Religiosity

Body
I ncreased antisemitism in Czarist Russia, starting in the early 1880s, led to a tidal wave of Jewish immigration to the United States. Jewish leadership in America strongly supported open immigration as a way to escape the oppression in Europe.

Religiosity

Body
T his coming Sunday, March 10, at sundown, 1.8 billion Muslims around the world will begin their observation of the ninth and most sacred month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan. Ramadan is a month of fasting which is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with faith, prayer, charity, and a pilgrimage to Mecca.

Will winter ever end?

Body
I ’ve had enough winter, thank you. And it’s only February. It hasn’t been terrible –except for that week of temps under freezing when we prepped outdoor faucets, dripped water, spent a bundle on propane, and barely left the ranch.

Letter to the editor

Body
Dear Editor, The candidate forum article were inaccurate and misleading. I would like to correct the record.

Time and memories

Body
S ometimes a flood of memories can be sparked by noticing an item in one’s home. People used to look at old photographs and be overwhelmed by the same sense of history. Now we can be bombarded by our Google photos and memories by AI to achieve the same effect.

Religiosity

Body
E very year, before the Lenten season begins, we typically hear a lot about Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and sometimes we also hear about similar celebrations elsewhere called Carnival. Where did those traditions originate? There is no simple answer.