Music, in theory
When I was in grade school, the year nearly always began with writing the same report: “What I did last summer.” It was usually a simple recital of the fun activities (and boring ones) we experienced with our friends and family. I don’t remember ever being asked to draw lessons from the experiences, or even to think seriously about them. But it was grade school, and the point I... READ MORE
Your opinion, please
There’s only one thing that no one can give you or take away from you: your opinion. What you think in your mind and feel in your heart is uniquely and always yours. Your opinion might change from time to time, even from minute to minute. But at any point it’s still yours. And that’s something we should cherish. Sometimes, however, we can feel we are being bombarded with... READ MORE
No one to trust
Every year, when the Medicare and Social Security Trustees issue their annual report on the status of those programs, there’s a flurry of interest in one question: At what point in the future will the programs no longer be able to meet their obligations in full? The 2019 report estimated that Social Security would be unable to cover full benefits as of 2035, just 16 years from now.... READ MORE
Diverse perspectives
People who have a passion for traveling abroad often say they relish the opportunity to learn about different cultures, hear unfamiliar languages, meet people from varied backgrounds — in short, to have mind-broadening experiences that change the way they see the world. While there’s nothing like international travel to accomplish those goals, I think most of us could have similar... READ MORE
Ready for a riddle?
I’m not generally a riddle lover. But I’m listening to a book on tape that my wife enjoyed, Elastic: Flexible Thinking in a Time of Change, by Leonard Mlodinow (m-lod’-nov). The book is about the human brain and the multiple methods by which we think — something science has only recently come to understand. The book addresses what he calls our brain’s elasticity: an ability... READ MORE
Let’s be more critical
No one likes a critic. Criticism is often shared in harsh ways, in which case it can be destructive rather than constructive. And let’s face it, even constructive criticism is seldom appreciated at the time! On the other hand, perhaps we should all be a bit more critical in how we read and understand things. Reading (and thinking) critically are more important today than ever, living... READ MORE
Congrats all around
First, I want to congratulate the winners of our Celebration of the Arts amateur art competition. You may have seen the special insert we ran in our September issue, describing the contest and giving brief bios of our first, second and third place winners in each of the four categories. It was only days ago, however, that we held the Awards Ceremony for all the winners, including... READ MORE
Lack of trust — Part II
Last month, I wrote about the disturbing state of Social Security and Medicare. I noted that an additional, unbudgeted-for $416 billion must be paid out of this year’s federal budget in order to meet the needs of Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries this year. Those programs are supposed to be funded each year out of the payroll taxes paid by every working American. Indeed,... READ MORE
A lack of trust (fund)
Two questions arise from a recent article from the Associated Press that begins: “An unexpected weakening in the finances of Social Security and Medicare...” First, what’s unexpected about it? (Answer: it’s only unexpected if you haven’t been paying attention.) And second, has this reported “weakening” become such a common alarm from the annual report of the Social... READ MORE
A complex subject
For most Americans, recent headlines concerning unfair trade and retaliatory tariffs seem far removed from daily life. But for papers like the Beacon, a trade dispute with Canada — which has led to U.S. tariffs that have caused multiple and continuing increases in the price of newsprint since last fall — could be a life-and-death matter. So I have chosen to write about this,... READ MORE
