Columns

Do you dare take the goodness challenge?

“The sincere wish to be good is half the battle.” — Marmee, in Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women.” “The OTHER half of the battle, however, is the part where the ungrateful objects of your kindness are unleashing the Rottweilers on you.” —Danny Tyree, in a shameless attempt to pad his word count.

Irish wit, wisdom abound

We could use some Irish wit and wisdom right now. Here’s a good start: “You’ll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind.”

Biden’s comeback and Bernie’s Cuba problem

Joe Biden sputters and gaffes his way along the campaign trail and somehow manages a resounding victory on Super Tuesday. Go figure. Perhaps what Super Tuesday revealed, among other things, is that Democrats prefer an uninspiring, sometimes-bizarre Biden to a Marxist.

Thank God for Supreme Court’s look at same-sex foster parents

A few years ago, an LGBTQ couple approached Bethany Christian Services and expressed an interest in becoming foster parents. Bethany Christian, which maintained a contract with the city of Philadelphia to provide foster care, turned them down based on a religious opposition to same-sex unions.

Under Trump, Gulf of Mexico oil production setting records

Oil production in the Gulf of Mexico is making history. In August 2019, oil production hit an all-time high with estimates of more than 2 million barrels a day.

There is no American worker shortage

“We’re full, our system’s full, our country’s full!” That was President Donald Trump last year at our southern border. “Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families.”

Better late than never

I was nearly a decade late, but, yes, I finally summoned my intestinal fortitude and underwent a colonoscopy.

Candidates peddle their papers

Do political endorsements by newspapers have much impact? It was debatable even back in the 1980s, when daily circulation stood at about 63 million nationwide, and it’s even more uncertain now that the number has dropped by more than half.

Kids have to make names for themselves

Get this: New parents are giving newborns outlandish names – so they’ll stand out on social media. That’s according to a new survey of British parents by ChannelMum, which found 72% of respondents “believe a unique name will help their child stand out from the crowd,” StudyFinds reports.

Impractical manifestation of a midlife crisis

I bought a BMW. It’s a white convertible that screams “Midlife crisis!” from the highest rooftops. Of course, when I bought it two years ago, I didn’t think I was having a midlife crisis. I just thought I liked the car.