Republican James G. Blaine (1830-1893) was a House speaker, senator and two-time secretary of state, but he is remembered, if at all, for this doggerel: "Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine/ the continental liar from the state of Maine." His lasting legacy, however, is even more disreputable tha…
You would think that there’s only one way to fold towels.
Not much is more frightening than a home invasion. Over the last several years, the Better Business Bureau has seen an increase in the volume of inquiries into door-to-door alarm sales companies. These calls have particularly spiked in late spring into the summer months, as this is when door…
Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., tweeted in response to anti-abortion legislation passed by the Alabama legislature: "I refuse to believe that these Republican men represent the views of most Alabamians. Their action is both unconstitutional and shameful. The people of Alabama deserve to be on the #…
June is right around the corner, and while June is best known for its scorching temperatures and the beginning of summer, did you know that June is also National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month? Fruits and vegetables are not only a great way to incorporate beautiful colors into our meals but…
The left is starting to take aim at Democratic front-runner Joe Biden. At a conference this week, liberal activists repeatedly booed when told that Biden wanted to find "middle ground" on climate policy. When an audience member shouted "No middle ground!" Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y…
The sixth annual Smith County Agriculture Tour will be held on Friday, May 24, 2019. Tour stops are listed below.
President Donald Trump and his supporters often tell us that he is fundamentally a free trader. The current trade war with China, they say, is simply the small price we must pay now for a world of much freer trade tomorrow, when all governments lower their trade barriers in fear of Trump's h…
Briefly suspending their warnings about the rising tide of socialism, a large majority of Senate Republicans recently joined with almost all their Democratic colleagues in affirming the essence of socialism, which is government allocation of capital. The Senate's revival of the Export-Import…
This week, representatives from Facebook, Google and Twitter will join with European leaders and the prime minister of New Zealand to launch a chilling proposal to curb free speech across the internet. Americans should be alarmed. Internet freedom is being extinguished fast in Europe. How lo…
Unity could also be described as “harmony.” When your landscape design has achieved unity, all things fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, with nothing out of place or failing to relate to the other parts or the whole.
It’s been another typical East Texas spring; the ground is warming up and nature is awakening. Finally, we are blessed with timely spring storms, providing needed water for landscapes and gardens. But, regrettably, the welcoming rain storms have brought on an unwelcome eruption of new fire a…
Our family has moved many times over the years, and we cover the entire process with prayer every time. And when we built a house from the ground up back in 2003, we built it on our knees.
The 4th annual East Texas Giving Day is in the books and it was a huge success. East Texans rallied to raise more than $1.3 million in 18 hours on April 30 to support 183 local charities. On the outside, I am thrilled that so many area nonprofits received a healthy dose of contributions to s…
Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Economics at Ohio University Richard Vedder's new book, "Restoring the Promise," published by the Independent Institute based in Oakland, California, is about the crisis in higher education. He summarizes the three major problems faced by America's college…
Educating Students About Social Security
A man who worked in a boxer's corner in a 1962 match against Cassius Clay, as he still was known, explained why the referee stopped the fight in the fourth round: "Things just went sour gradually all at once." It can be like that when government dabbles in protectionism.
The Better Business Bureau serving Central East Texas cautions consumers to be wary of phony calls from individuals posing as employees of local utility companies.
Measles has reemerged as a public health threat.
Many Democratic voters are worried that a female candidate cannot win the presidency in 2020. "I don't think they're strong enough to carry it for themselves," an Iowa voter told The Washington Post. Amber Phillips reports that "female politicians are held by voters to a much higher standard…
Whether they are used for dipping or topping off a meat, salsas add intense flavor, color and vitamins to a dish. Salsas can be created with tomatoes, vegetables, or fruit. Using fresh fruit and vegetables this way can add spice, heat, sweetness or a savory flavor to your dish. The fresh col…
Joe Biden's presidential campaign is in trouble. That may sound crazy. The former vice president just opened up (according to one poll) a 32-point lead over the rest of the Democratic field. But beneath the surface, trouble is brewing.
There’s an inherent conflict of interest that occurs when an agency serves as both a regulator and competitor. Unfortunately, that describes the present state of the Federal Reserve. But rather than reform the agency to eliminate sources of conflict, the Fed is proposing to expand its market…
Several letters are spread across your desk or dining room table. Return envelopes lay close by. The decision you face is which one or two will receive your donation check. You like all these nonprofit organizations. You have friends who volunteer or sit on the board of directors. You’ve att…
