Most days I wish I could turn off the evening news, but I can’t. more

Wish I could turn off the news more

I knew my way around cows when I boy on the farm. I never worried one might hurt me, though all had dangerous-looking horns. more

Getting to sleep is difficult sometimes, especially with the recent time change. I find it means going to bed way too late and oversleeping in the morning, leading to dark circles under the eyes, hair that is barely combed, and a groggy (and sometimes grumpy) disposition. more

Polk County residents have taken to social media to voice their displeasure with State Bill 4 (SB4) and how their representative voted for it. more

The following events are happening at your local library. more

We always planted potatoes on March 17, St.Patrick’s Day, when I was a boy on the farm. more

“Mickey 17” is the kind of movie where you just have to trust the filmmaker to take you on a ride. Fortunately, it’s a filmmaker who has proven trustworthy with such rides in the past. Six years ago, writer/director Bong Joon-ho released “Parasite,” another movie that didn’t really telegraph its story. Even if people knew about its early stages about an impoverished family taking on jobs as servants of a wealthy family, they probably wouldn’t have been able to guess where the story was going. But enough people trusted Bong enough to see the film, which they overwhelmingly loved. Word of mouth carried the film to a Best Picture Oscar win, even though it was still a tricky movie to summarize because of all the subtleties and tonal shifts. more

I took advantage of the snow cover and light north wind recently to burn a brush pile. more

It is hard for me not to give into a severe dose of Spring Fever when the temperatures cooperate with that notion several days in a row. My youngest grandson, Kolin, shares my enjoyment of planting seeds and watching them grow. He already thinks we ought to be spending some time in the greenhouse. He knows that I am always saving containers to use to start plants in, so he also has an eye out for such things. After enjoying his Lunchable the other day, he smiles and tells me he has an idea for his empty Lunchable container. Off he goes to rinse it out and then place it upside down to drain. He was pretty pleased with himself and I was equally proud of him. Reduce, reuse and recycle. At four years old, he is getting a great head start on at least one of the 3Rs…reuse! more

There is something special about time spent around a campfire any time of the day or year. Smoke drifts up into the sky, wood crackles and pops. Flames dance and flicker. Sparks float hypnotically upward. more

Like most other products in the past year, eggs have been in the headlines as the subject of record inflation. Prices of the kitchen staple have risen precipitously in the past few months, leaving many consumers with flat cakes and empty breakfast plates. The situation is leading other consumers to take matters into their own hands and start raising their own hens. more

COLUMBIA, Mo. — For many nursing home residents, a trip to the hospital can be a jarring experience — one that leaves them confused and stressed. Yet avoidable transfers happen far too often, not only disrupting a resident’s routine but also costing the U.S. healthcare system $2.6 billion annually. more

“Last Breath” and “Anora” more

Different isn’t the same thing as wrong more

Adopt don’t shop. We have all heard that logo and I admit, I am an advocate for searching the pounds and sanctuaries for a dog in need of love. In fact, I can only think of one pup my family bought in an actual pet store. She is still alive today at a whopping 17 years old; she has diabetes and is blind, but we wouldn’t trade her for anything. more

My apologies to my unknown relatives in Canada for the unpleasant political winds emanating from below our border. more

It didn’t take long for me to get enough winter after the ice and cold weather that enveloped the Ozarks in early January. more

Valentine’s Day more

A battle for the aged more

All January long, I’ve been mentioning (okay, “whining”) that the month is a dead zone for new movie releases. So it makes sense that the biggest release of the month would be one that opened on the very last day (Friday the 31 st ) before making most of its money in February. With an estimated $36 million in its first three days, “Dog Man” is already the biggest new movie of 2025. And its success isn’t just commercial, the joyful film also gets my first recommendation of the year. It’s a chilly recommendation, appropriate for January I suppose, but a recommendation nonetheless. more

When a Coke was a nickel more

Give me a minute. I'll think of it. more

You probably do not realize this but someone is watching you. It may be your child or grandchild, other family members, friends, or neighbors. Maybe someone you don’t even know. more

Today is National Puzzle Day more