October 10, 2026
Opinion
World Cup Soccer, super great! – I guess
Every four years when World Cup soccer comes around, it transforms ordinary people into soccer experts. Suddenly your neighbor, who only watches fishing shows, tries to explain to you the tactical brilliance of the 4-3-3 formation. Just last week, he thought VAR was an electric car.
Practical steps to lower debt
Sometimes, life has a way of throwing curveballs at us when we least expect them. A car repair, medical bill, unexpected home expenses, job change, or even a season filled with special events and family activities can disrupt even the most carefully planned budget.
I’ll sit this one out
Back in 1975, Tom T. Hall sang, “I like beer, it makes me a jolly good fellow. I like beer, it helps me unwind and makes me feel mellow. Whiskey’s too rough, Champagne costs too much, vodka puts my mouth in gear. This little refrain should help me explain, as a matter of fact, I like beer.” Up until then, Tom T. and I agreed on almost everything. We both loved old dogs, watermelons, little baby ducks, and pickup trucks. But we parted company on beer.
Maine, a political Rorschach test
Bryant Pond, Maine Spending time in Maine this month, it occurs to me, it is just like other states. It has a flag, people, and divided politics. I have absorbed the state’s entire political philosophy: form a committee to investigate having a committee, postpone the decision until mud season is over, and do it again. It is a place where kids whose parents sent them to Skidmore, Oberlin, or Vassar College can be unemployed with little judgement from the locals. It is a state with liberal colleges that invent majors to prove that everything bad is the fault of Republicans, its leading export are Champaign Socialists.
Insight
What do you have to lose when you knowingly commit a sin after being giving insight to the truth? This may sound like a trick question or even a harsh question to some, but after studying the book of Deuteronomy today God laid it on my heart to examine the text. What do we lose when we choose not to follow the commandments, statutes and judgements put forth by God? The answer is simple, everything. “ Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, And then the Lord’s wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you.” Deuteronomy 11:16-17.
Drinking from a fire hose
Igenerally limit my column to one topic. Sure, I often veer off course, but I always return to the main topic. It’s like when I’m on a road trip to Cincinnati. When I see a Shoney’s sign, I will go out of my way to get a hot fudge cake. But I always end up in Cincinnati. Having said that, let’s explore a few recent diversions.
Protect yourself from the heat
Brace yourself. We are approaching some of the hottest weeks of summer. The heat can be brutal! Excessive exposure to heat can lead to mild discomfort and fatigue as well as life-threatening emergencies like heatstroke. But we don’t have to be afraid of summer or the sun! There are some actions we can take to lessen the discomfort and the likelihood of experiencing heat related emergencies. One action you can take is to drink consistently by sipping on water throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty. If you sweat a lot, supplement water with sports drinks or electrolyte packets to replace lost minerals. Limit or avoid alcohol, caffeine, and heavy sugar because they can cause your body to lose more fluids. Choose easy-to-digest, cooling foods like fruits and salads.