• The bold choice

    With the election slipping away like a handful of mercury on a turbocharged merry-go-round, Mitt Romney managed to change the conversation from unreleased tax returns and foreign misadventures by plucking Paul Ryan out of the Wisconsin wilds to be his running mate. “Romney-Ryan.” Short, alliterative …

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  • Kilz that idea

    I am a Kilzaneesta. It’s kind of like a fashionista except you wear paint; lots of it. Kilz is my brand of choice. It seems to work for some of my various projects. Projects, yes, it’s plural. I am on overload with things that need …

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  • A grandmother next door

    I opened the can and took a big breath through my nose. There was nothing quite like the smell of barbecue Charles Chips. I sure loved those chips as a boy; they were delivered like milk to the house and replenished into that metal can …

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  • Immigrant welfare abuse hits Americans’ wallets

    Pulling into town soon-maybe where you live will be the UndocuBus, the so called “Ride for Justice.” In a shameless exhibition of United States immigration law flouting, the bus has emblazoned on its side “Sin papels, sin miedo” (“without papers, without fear”). According to its …

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  • Is there a conspiracy afoot?

    It seems Americans love a conspiracy. Is that what Chavis Carter’s death was? On Monday, the autopsy report was released, listing cause of death as suicide. But, like an onion, peel back the layers and you’ll see a lot to this story. Being nosy person …

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  • How to live well in retirement

    Are you concerned about being able to pay for a secure and happy retirement? The good news is that there are many costs that retirees typically don’t face, such as commuting to their job, buying a business wardrobe or saving for their children’s college tuition. …

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  • Do you ever wish you could get other people to change?

    Who hasn’t wished that their boss, spouse or in-laws would change? We’d love to possess a magic change potion we could give the offender to help them see the error of their ways. We delude ourselves into believing that our desire is not for our …

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  • Scared to fly

    Can I be honest? I’m scared. All my life I’ve been afraid of something. I find reasons to think myself out of situations or second guess myself and this time is no different. The thought of living on my own, paying for my own utilities …

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  • The Bank of Franklin misses “Bank Holiday”

    On March 6, 1933, after a month-long run on U.S. banks, President Roosevelt proclaimed a “Bank Holiday” which lasted until March 13. For seven days, the nation was without a banking system. While the banks were closed, Congress passed the Emergency Banking Act, which included …

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  • Remembering Gene Kelly

    Thursday marks the centennial of the birth of Gene Kelly, the great American dancer, actor, singer; a guy’s guy who — along with Fred Astaire — is the only male who ever left me (momentarily) wishing I could dance. I’ve always felt a kinship with …

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  • Fat, love and money

    There’s only a handful of subjects that will get just about everybody’s attention in the U.S. The three biggest are how to lose weight, how to find love and how to get rich. All of them are billion dollar industries that often seem to be …

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  • Broken promises: Tomorrow never came

    “Hello?” my sister Lorie answered in a lowered voice. “Where are you?” I asked, already knowing the answer. “I’m at work but I feel fine,” she replied. “You promised you would go to the doctor,” I said with disappointment. “If it happens again, I will …

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