The Latest

Over half of all bat species are facing severe population declines, with 85 bat species listed as endangered and 23 of those near extinction. Credit: Pexels.com. Dear EarthTalk: How are bat species doing these days?   — Gregg Visconti, Butte, MT If you enjoy money, tequila and saving the planet, you should also be asking this question. Concerningly, […]

by Cal ThomasCalThomas.com Ancient proverbs can be helpful in adjusting our language and behavior in ways that can benefit every generation. They have become ancient because they work. One example: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger “ (Proverbs 15:1). It means calm, patient and kind words can de-escalate […]

by Jim Hightowerjimhightower.com Even In a Digital Age, Handwriting Remains Invaluable While the production of my Lowdown commentaries is high-tech, I confess that I’m antiquated.    I still write each piece in longhand, applying my ballpoint to paper. This has caused bewildered glances from some who see me scribbling away in local coffeeshops and bars. […]

An already long winter keeps getting longer  by Alan Guebertfarmandfoodfile.com It’s been said that February is the longest shortest month of the year. If so, it might be because freezing, snowy January often feels like the longest long month of the year.   That’s true this year when almost every day in January brought market-rattling […]

by Paula Johnson Normally, I enjoy what some might call heavy reading. As a social science major (history, geography, civics/government, economics, sociology, anthropology, and psychology), I gravitate toward non-fiction. If I chose fiction, it is often historical fiction. Bro John entices me with true crime books to give my reading palette a cleansing every now […]

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by John Mooy  I received this email from our dear friend Tina who lives in Colorado.  I have worked in a number of teaching situations in which we worked with lawyers.  In short, our classes would feature story (how you tell one) and the law.  I would say that Tina is one of the most […]

 “For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.”–Amanda Gorman, National Youth Poet Laureate    February is Black History Month, watch this column for new books about Black History and Civil Rights activism. New BooksMother Emanuel: Two Centuries of Race, Resistance, and Forgiveness […]

“The tyranny of this dictatorship isn’t primarily the fault of Big Business, nor of the demagogues who do their dirty work. It’s the fault of Doremus Jessup! Of all the conscientious, respectable, lazy-minded Doremus Jessups, who have let the demogogues wriggle in, without fierce enough protest.” -Sinclair Lewis -It Can’t Happen Here by Pastor Donnie […]

(LANSING, MICH) – With tax season upon us, the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) is reminding Michiganders that now is the time to establish a relationship with a bank or credit union, as the federal government will issue tax refunds electronically after phasing out paper checks last year. Having an account with […]