Each day, in a variety of ways, we communicate with our children. Those moments that go beyond spoken language. It’s in our tone of voice, our body language (I am told I have a “mom look”), our gestures and so much more. So here is a new communication strategy to try … sign ...

After nearly two months of being at home on the mend from knee surgery, yours truly is back in the flesh at the Times-Republican. I am temporarily working out of the advertising department on the ground floor to save my somewhat inflexible knee the challenges of climbing 26 steps to my ...

If you are groping for markers by which to measure how profoundly we have been changed since Inauguration Day, here’s one you might want to consider: In January of 1998, reports surfaced of a sexual affair between President Bill Clinton and a 24-year-old White House intern. It would ...

Ida Maxine Croker, 95, of Marshalltown, IA, passed away on Saturday, January 20, 2018, at the Southridge Nursing Home in Marshalltown. She was surrounded by her family and under the careful watch of the devoted staff. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, ...

It is actually remarkable that one of the things conservatism has preserved the best in the United States is a culture of life. Just as secular liberals have had to rebrand again as progressives since people stopped liking liberals, they also have to rebrand the idea of “choice” as ...

Week 2 of the session was marked by the process of filing bills and moving them through subcommittee. There are of course the larger issues that are being addressed by the various committees such as the budget, tax reform, Medicaid and health insurance issues, water quality, and so on. There ...

As the week started, the drive to Des Moines was treacherous, and the weather reminded us all we live in Iowa. I saw emergency responders at work in the multi-car pile-up on the I-80/I-235 mix-master. Now that we are in the second week, we’ve started our work in subcommittee and committee. ...

The war for dominance in the Middle East, following the crushing of ISIS, appears about to commence in Syria — with NATO allies America and Turkey on opposing sides. Turkey is moving armor and troops south to Syria’s border enclave of Afrin, occupied by Kurds, to drive them out, and then ...

Dear Dave, What is your opinion of businesses that no longer accept cash? — Heath Dear Heath, Honestly, I think the whole scenario is kind of silly. Businesses that are suddenly into the “no cash” thing lose out on a lot of transactions. Believe it or not, there are still tons of ...

I learned there was this man, his name was Hafiz. Not his real name. His real name just wouldn't get along with my spell-check. He was a 14th century, Persian poet. I was thinking about Hafiz because I was first thinking about Oscar Wilde, a 19th century, Irish poet who hasn't a lick in common ...

When I went in for my evaluation prior to receiving LASIK eye surgery, one of the first questions I was asked by the nurse was, “What’s wrong with your eyes?” I answered truthfully. “Too many ladies get lost in them,” I said, forlornly. Apparently this wasn’t “medically ...

Snacktime! Today I have some recipes that might result in calling the neighbors over to snack and chat. Taco Crescent Squares 1/2 lb, ground beef 1/2 c. tomato sauce 1 c. shredded Sharp cheddar cheese 1 Tbsp. instant minced onion, or 1/4 c. diced onion 2 Tbsp. chopped ripe ...

As a president who speaks out of both sides of his mouth, first saying he will sign any immigration and border security bill placed before him and then reneging, Donald Trump needs to have an interpreter. Emerging in that role is White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, the tough former Marine ...

There’s a word that has become popular in feminist circles these days: “mansplaining.” The word is a mashup of “man” and “explaining” and refers to men who condescendingly explain the facts of life to women. So, for example, if a man believes a woman doesn’t understand ...

Is there anything more depressing than a cheerful liberal? The question is prompted by one such, historian David Goldfield, who has written a large-hearted book explaining that America’s problems would yield to government’s deft ameliorating touch if Americans would just rekindle their ...

Dear Readers: Today’s SOUND OFF is about people who don’t bag their garbage: “Dear Heloise: My pet peeve is people who dump loose garbage into their cans instead of placing it in a tied bag. When the garbage gets dumped by the garbage trucks, all the loose papers fly out as the ...

Florida freeze threatens OJ As bitterly cold temperatures descended across the United States this week, even the Sunshine State felt the chill. Temperatures dropped below freezing across much of Central Florida on Wednesday and Thursday night, threatening the state’s crops. Growers ...

Isn’t it true that the church has never been able too define when life begins? I recall Nancy Pelosi once saying that even though St. Augustine set it at three months, it’s only been over the past 50+ years that the church has said life begins at conception. Your question is most timely ...

Q: I love my adult son and am very proud of him. But I think he works too much and seems too busy for his own children (my grandkids). What can I do to help this situation? Jim: This scenario places you in a delicate position as a grandparent. On the one hand, you may feel your child’s ...

“You can get a lot farther with a smile and a gun than you can with just a smile.” This quote has often been attributed to the late Chicago mobster Al Capone, who with his fellow organized crime buddies used extortion as one of their tactics to get what they wanted. Today’s modern ...