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The real are you my mother?

Columns

In 1956, the movie “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” hit the silver screen. Seed pods from outer space landed on Earth. If a pod were placed near a sleeping person, a visually identical copy of that person would be produced, and only the copy would be left. Each copy had the original person’s personality and memory, but no human emotion. When a parent duplicate was made, for example, the children were sure that the copies were not the real parent. A psychological problem that very much resembles the movie is called Capgras Syndrome. A person with Capgras Syndrome will believe that ...

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Editorials

THUMBS UP New Ulm a 2024 Tree City USA for 21st year New Ulm once again received Tree City USA recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation. This is the 21st time New Ulm has received the honor and it is fairly impressive. For over two decades New Ulm was able to maintain Tree City USA status. In order to qualify a city must have a tree commission, tree ordinance, spend at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and participate in an Arbor Day celebration. Meeting these might seem relatively easy, but to consistently do it year after year takes commitment. THUMBS UP Newly discovered Wanda ...

Defending Medicaid, HCBS for disability community

Letters

To the editor: I am deeply concerned about potential cuts to the Medicaid program that could significantly impact Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) for people with disabilities(PWD). Medicaid is more than a health insurance program; it is a lifeline for millions of Minnesotans with disabilities who need ongoing care. HCBS provides personal care assistance, home health aides, therapeutic and other supports essential services to ensure people with disabilities can live with dignity in their own homes and communities. These services promote independent living and prevent ...

Wondering about God’s plan

Columns

I wrote this in November 2023. On advice of attorney, I didn’t submit it then. Both drivers were beat up, but we recovered. All the equipment was totaled. We finished combining corn the last week of October. Then it was a rush to do tillage because you never know when winter is coming. It was going well, with a few monkey wrenches at the end. When I finished ripping the last cornfield Nov. 10, I was feeling good about the world. It was around noon that I was coming home on Highway 14 like I’ve done a thousand times before. I was thinking that Pam and I should celebrate. ...

Defend our common rights

Letters

To the editor: I taught English for 43 years. I don’t like all poetry, but I love some poems. “The Hangman” by Maurice Ogden is one. Into our town the Hangman came Smelling of gold and blood and flame- And he paced our bricks with a diffident air And built his frame on the courthouse square. “Due process” is an important part of our democracy. It means that everybody gets a chance to present his/her side of the story. The individual won’t just disappear, never to be seen or heard again. And innocent though we were, with dread We passed those eyes of buckshot ...

What is a good plan?

Columns

A simple definition of planning is thinking about what you have to do to accomplish your goal. It involves future thinking. Psychologists have tried to break down this type of thinking from a variety of perspectives. One view is that it is a process of formulating, evaluating, and selecting a sequence of thoughts and actions that hopefully will lead to the goal. Another perspective is that planning is a deliberate, mental organization of actions that are oriented toward a goal. Yet another perspective is that planning involves being conscientious, orderly, and meticulous, then ...