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Different perspective on Earth’s age

Letters

To the editor: Every year, I enjoy listening to the Christmas Martyrology being sung before the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This year, I discovered there are two versions. The traditional version says creation was 5199 years BC, and Noah’s flood was 2957 years before Christ. A newer version states; “unknown ages from the time when God created the heaven and the earth.” And, “several thousand years after the flood”. A reason given for the newer version was to avoid reinforcing a type of “biblical fundamentalism”.  Many of us try to avoid being accused of being ...

What is insomnia?

Columns

It’s not uncommon for people to have issues with sleep. Most will get back to regular sleep patterns sooner rather than later. What if the difficulty with sleep does not stop? What if sleep problems go on and on? Impaired sleep is a threat to a person’s general well-being and ability to function. The typical name for this problem is insomnia. Sleep disturbance is so important that it really should be addressed sooner rather than later. Impaired sleep, at a minimum, can impact your memory, your ability to think, your job performance, how you interact and socialize with ...

My Cororna

Columns

It started out as an ordinary, run-of-the mill winter cold. It’s been a few years since I’ve had a cold, so I thought OK, I’m due. Generally, my colds are simply an annoyance. Seldom do I take anything for it. Besides, the syrups that are commonly used to treat the symptoms of a cold taste so horrible that you want to scrub your tongue with soap and water. My cold journeys usually go like this: I develop a slight case of the sniffles. This is followed a day to later by some light to moderate coughing. A week later, it’s all over; the symptoms resolve, and life goes on. Not ...

Weighed down while husband is worry-free

Columns

Dear Annie: I’m writing because I can’t tell if I’m being too sensitive or if I’m finally seeing something I’ve been ignoring for years. I’m 46, married, and we have three kids (two teens and one in college). On paper, our life is good. We’re busy, we’re stable, we show up for school events and family birthdays. But lately I feel like I’m disappearing inside my own home. My husband isn’t cruel. He works hard and he’d say he loves me. But the day-to-day is starting to feel like I’m the household manager, the default parent, the calendar keeper, the meal ...

Continue season of giving by donating blood

Columns

Along with being the month when we make resolutions or start a new diet or exercise plan, January is also the month to raise awareness about the urgent need for blood donations. Donating blood is a simple and relatively painless way to do something amazing: save lives. January is National Blood Donor Month, established to combat winter blood shortages by honoring existing donors and encouraging new ones, while highlighting the critical need for blood for surgeries, trauma and chronic illnesses like cancer. January is often the month when blood shortages happen. Otherwise regular ...

I need an official’s timeout

Letters

To the editor: This submission is something that’s been percolating with me for a long time. I wish I’d started a journal to chronicle my experiences as a referee, primarily officiating basketball, but baseball and football stories exist. Living with a 350-word constraint in my letter writing, I’ll have to report my anecdote carefully. I could write a book. I still might. After 17 mostly uneventful contests to start this season, I had been lulled into a self-satisfied state and was happy about how my games had gone. At halftime of a 7-3 game recently, I was targeted by a ...