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Look for the beauty around you

Columns

Dear Annie: I have lost most of my family and many close friends, and I struggle with depression myself. There are days when the silence in my house feels almost too loud. Over time, I have learned how to be alone without completely falling apart. I have a pet who has been a lifeline for me. This little creature depends on me, greets me at the door, curls up beside me and gives me a reason to get up and keep going. That steady love has pulled me through some very dark mornings. Every day when I wake up, I ask myself, “Do you want this to be a good day or a bad day?” I always ...

Hey Brad, please talk to me

Letters

To the editor: I’ve been trying for a year to catch the attention of First District Congressman Brad Finstad.  I’ve called all of his district offices, leaving voice messages and messages with his phone answerers.  Ditto for his Washington DC office. Twice I have been hung up on.  Never have I gotten a callback I’ve tried social media,   I live in District 1, so he is supposedly representing me.  How can he represent me if he won’t talk to me? Brad, if you are afraid of me, I promise I pose no threat.  I’m a nearly 70-year-old woman. Please, will you talk to me?  ...

Shovel and cold-weather safety – avoiding winter injuries

Columns

The winter season has begun, and our area has the snow to prove it. To help make this winter a safe one, read on for tips on shoveling and cold-weather safety. Keeping sidewalks and driveways clear of snow and ice is an important part of winter safety, but it can be hard work. Before heading outside, take a few minutes to stretch your body. Performing full-body stretches can help loosen muscles and reduce the risk of injury. To ease the strain of shoveling, go slow and take breaks as needed. When possible, push snow rather than lifting it. If lifting is necessary, avoid overloading the ...

High-tech piracy hits home

Columns

Ok, so that was unexpected. It wasn’t unexpected to receive a random email from an unknown sender who presented themselves as a New York law firm. Just another chunk of junk mail to chuck. But just for the heck of it I decided to read the missive before dumping it in the digital dustbin. The email’s headline trumpeted in a bold font: Notice of $1.5 Billion Proposed Class Action Settlement Between Authors & Publishers and Anthropic PBC This was followed in italics by: A federal court authorized this Notice. This is not junk mail, an advertisement, or a solicitation from a ...

The social weight of a plate

Columns

Dear Annie: I have a good friend “Amy,” who is a great lady. We’ve known each other for about 15 years, but we reconnected about two years ago and started attending events together, including dinners that range from casual to fine dining. We’re both in our late 40s and single. She’s a mom of three almost-grown adults who she raised without her ex-husband present, including financially. I have a lot of respect for her. The issue is her table manners. I first noticed them when I invited her over for a casual cookout, and I just overlooked it. I’m not a snob, but I know others ...

The importance of emotional self regulation in kids

Columns

All of us need to keep our emotions under control. Basing our actions on our feelings, to the neglect of thinking before doing or saying something, can have bad consequences. When something is said or done, it is too late to undo the impact. Those words or actions will not be forgotten. It is important that children learn how to control their emotions. Learning emotional self-regulation is an important part of healthy child development. Learning emotional self-regulation develops at a fast rate in a child’s younger years. The pace slows along the way to adulthood. The extent of ...