Glenn Melancon One of the best parts of my job as a historian is reading. Because I work at a small teaching university rather than a large research university, I take a broad approach to my continuing education. This morning I read a fascinating genetic study about prehistoric dogContinue Reading
Ken Bridges The borders of the United States have expanded considerably since independence was declared. As the nation grew, newer and more detailed maps were needed so the country could plan ahead and utilize the landscape and resources available. Gen. William Emory, an army cartographer, was a vital part ofContinue Reading
Anyone who reads my articles knows that I am a political nerd. It’s a badge of honor that I wear proudly and I make no apologies for it. I got involved in politics, because it is easy to sit on the sidelines (social media) and gripe about the government. InContinue Reading
Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer In October of 1929 the New York Stock market crashed and took down the global economy. Conservative President Herbert Hoover chose to keep government help limited. For the next three years the economy remained in free fall. This horrible experience taught voters that something had to change. Continue Reading
To the editor, Learning lessons from history has been an endless source of moral beliefs and free advice. We learn from wars, epidemics, and plagues of the past, and economic failures and successes. History teaches us another valuable lesson which is playing out in America today. When false Gods comeContinue Reading
To the editor, In 2019 Medicare quietly launched a scheme called Direct Contracting allowing insurance companies to control the healthcare of tens of millions of traditional Medicare and Medicare supplement beneficiaries. Direct Contracting inserts a for profit company between patients and medical providers. Companies are paid a monthly fee toContinue Reading
Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer The Gospel of Luke starts with the most recognizable image of Christmas: a babe, wrapped in bands of cloth, lying in a manger. The manger scene certainly is touching, but it is also powerful. It tells us everything we need to know about Christianity. The Christ childContinue Reading
Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer As a kid I didn’t “go to the movies” with adults. On special occasions my Aunt Barbara would round up her nieces and nephews and take us to see classics like “Herby the Love Bug.” In Bamberg Germany, my friends and I would walk together to theContinue Reading
Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer Now that the election is over, conservative smoke and mirror politics is evaporating right before our eyes. Gas prices have dropped to $2.60 in North Texas. Fox News has stopped spamming crime stories. Retailers are slashing holiday prices and seeing record sales. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, however,Continue Reading
Hunter Bonner/Contributing writer Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Many of us will be taking off for relatives homes both nearby and far away. Some will stay right here in Marion County and celebrate eating turkey, cornbread dressing (the only legitimate kind), and then slip off into a turkey induced comaContinue Reading
Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer At the beginning of the Second Gulf War, Vice President Dick Cheney confidently told us that American troops would be greeted as liberators. We know that was a lie. Like the Weapons of Mass Destruction lie, the Bush Administration told it to avoid facing reality. These liesContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer Cartoons have captivated and delighted children – and the young at heart — for generations. As the motion picture industry emerged, cartoons became a staple feature of the matinee. As television later emerged, they became normal fare on Saturday mornings and late afternoons after school. Even inContinue Reading
Austin Lewter/Jefferson Jimplecute Editor’s note: This is a variation of a column wh ich was first published in the 2010 Thanksgiving edition of the Jefferson Jimplecute. My wife and I have four children. The oldest of whom is a 15-year old boy named Jackson. Jackson was born at 28 weeksContinue Reading
Dan Eakin/Contributing writer Thanksgiving Day is a special day for many people. It means a lot to a lot of people for many different reasons. For many, it is a time for a family get together. To sit around the table and enjoy the traditional turkey, with ham, and allContinue Reading
Austin Lewter/Jefferson Jimplecute Election Day was Tuesday. It seems like each midterm is more hyped than the one before. We’ve spent two years being bogged down with rhetoric and ads and messaging and marketing. It all came to a head Tuesday. And the sun still came up Wednesday morning. SeveralContinue Reading
Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer It is a truism that elections have consequences. No doubt this Tuesday’s election will also, but it will not change much. All across the country voters dug into familiar patterns rather than alter course. Nationally, President Joe Biden can lock in his legislative victories. Here to stayContinue Reading
Austin Lewter/Jefferson Jimplecute I spent the latter half of last week in our nation’s capital. I had never been to Washington, D.C., so when the opportunity arose to escort a group of college journalists to a conference there, I jumped at it. We spent three days learning best practices from otherContinue Reading