Took a long ride to nowhere
It turned out to be a long, hot, frustrating 700-mile loop. September is a great month to ride motorcycles. The weather is still good, and it is the perfect time to get in one last long ride before the season ends.... more
Two great reporters lost
I have always been a bit of a news junkie. While I won’t say I was glued to the TV for the nightly national news broadcast as a teen, I was always aware of what was going on in the world. As I got older, of course, I was much more likely to watch and absorb the news – local and national. I remember the stern news anchors who delivered the news with a straight face and even slight disinterest.... more
Confederate flag a symbol of hate
I will admit, I find it odd that in 2022 some people still fly the Confederate flag. And I don’t just mean people in Mississippi – I mean people in Illinois. I mean people in Ogle County.... more
Many choosing to not have kids, and I understand why
I still remember the day both of my children were old enough to start school. It was like getting the biggest raise ever. Why? Daycare. We had two kids going to daycare and it cost hundreds a week, even in the mid-90s. That was a ton of money for a journalist and a teacher to afford.... more
We only have ourselves to blame
Earlier in the summer, my wife and I and some friends did some tubing on a river in Wisconsin. I had not been tubing since probably 1975. But the basics were the same – people, tubes, sunburns and good times. Well, we did have beer this time, because in 1975 I was 12 and was not old enough to drink. No matter what they say about the swinging 70s, my parents certainly would not let me drink beer.... more
After all the conspiracies and lies, he got what he deserved
I have never been a talk radio fan. Even when it was at the height of its popularity I stayed away. The reason? It was all shouting, negativity and finger-pointing nonsense. It led to division and not societal solutions. It was all about making certain people or groups look bad. It was all about putting people down.... more
We need to treat teachers with respect
Why do teachers get so little respect in this country? Frankly I am tired of it. Being a teacher has always been a demanding job. Your knowledge base, no matter what you teach, must be very wide and deep. You are expected to be mentor, sometimes a friend, a psychologist and even a shoulder to cry on.... more
The aliens we meet might not be friendly
I have always loved UFO’s and aliens and all things little green men from another planet. As a kid I was excited by the idea of seeing a flying saucer or another form of alien craft. I was one of those rare kids who wanted to meet an extra-terrestrial and maybe even take a ride on their ship.... more
I decided to focus on things I love
I don’t know about you, but the news lately has left me in a pretty dark mood. The mass shootings, the Jan. 6 hearings, gas prices, inflation, hot weather causing problems around the world. Man, there have not been a lot of positives lately.... more
We are lesser for recent court rulings
My mother was an educated, opinionated, strong-willed woman. She was also soft and loving and was a very admired teacher in the community I grew up in. I learned a lot from my mom. One thing I learned from her was to respect women and understand that men are not superior to women – no matter what the Constitution said when it was written. Well, it didn’t really consider women much, did it? In fact, the Constitution does not mention women at all. Not once.... more
'Live PD' shows the best, and the worst
I love the TV show “Cops.” It is an adrenaline rush of a show, and one that highlights some of the best police officers and some of the dumbest criminals on the planet.... more