The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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As the long hot summer ends and Labor Day approaches, let’s take a look back at what occurred over the last three summer months, politically. First of all, it was one of the hottest summers on record. Temperatures soared into the hundreds as early as late June. On one of those late June days, one of the hottest political events of the year occurred. The annual Tomato Sandwich Lunch event hosted by Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate was the biggest, yet. The twentieth annual Tomato S...
One Hundred years ago, President Warren Harding died unexpectedly. Occupying the White House for a little more than two-and-a-half years, he was a popular president having been elected with the largest margin of victory of any presidential candidate before or since. Following his death, several scandals, both public and private, tarnished his reputation and obscured several significant accomplishments. Though he had been involved in Ohio state politics, the highest state office Harding ever...
As a regular Alabama Gazette columnist, it always does my heart good to hear of letters sent to the paper. Good or bad, without feedback, you rarely get a full appreciation of how readers are responding to your work. As someone who has written a couple of books, several screenplays, over four dozen book reviews, close to 200 columns for the Gazette and other papers and professional journals, I have opened myself up to a lot of positive and negative feedback. I welcome that. But to be a writer,...
School bells are ringing as our children prepare to return to school this month. The little ones are ready with new shoes and personalized book bags. Parents and grandparents believe their children will receive excellent instruction and learning activities. For others, reality may dim dreams for academic progress. The sad truth is the number of our children who will not likely succeed sufficiently to graduate and move on to college or career goals is unacceptable. In 2018, Alabama's State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey recommended,...
There may be those that think the Chief Justice and the eight Associate Justices on the Alabama Supreme Court may not be the legal minds as found in the United States Supreme Court. I can assure you that each of them are exceptional as to their backgrounds. They may not on the whole have participated in the Federal judiciary but the brief backgrounds that I will give I think you will find most impressive. These ladies and gentlemen are not only civic minded in serving their state but also...
2,014 years ago, around the 9th of September of 9 A.D., two events were happening that would change the world. In Galilee, a Child was growing up who would die on a Cross for the sins of the world. And 1,500 miles to the northwest, in Teutoburg Forest of northern Germany, some 18,000 Germanic warriors were waiting in grim silence as the 17th, 18th, and 19th Roman legions drew near. Little did they realize that the blood they would spill that day would decide the future of Western civilization...
Have you ever thought about what goes on in the funeral industry? Have you ever wondered why just about every product and service related to a funeral is grossly overpriced—with a price that is often not even disclosed until after the family is stuck with paying it? Welcome to America's most extreme price gouging—gouging that is MANDATED BY LAW. In our early days, families took care of their own according to their own traditions and religious beliefs. Procedures varied widely. Some might see...
A most stirring column this year explains the economic lynching of Mr. Willie Philpot and his growing business [ViroTek] killed by Lee County. This anticompetitive, ACCA/BCA type clown-show of politburo members is currently led by the most corrupt ‘public servant’ Commissioner Gary Long. Lee County voters removed the previous anti-business/pro-cronyism ringleader [Ham] in the 2022 primary run-off. ‘Follow-up’ to my March 2023 Gazette column [https://www.alabamagazette.com/sto...
Alabama ranks among the top three states in land owned by foreign interest, a startling fact that places at risk Alabama’s large number of vital military bases and facilities and, by extension, our national security. Our soil in the wrong hands can function as a base for spy operations, a safe haven for terrorist activities just to mention a few potential consequences. This unsettling reality has not gone unnoticed. Concerned citizen and Lafayette native Greg Lowery, whose family's t...
The enemies of the South are all around. One of the most repugnant is Elizabeth “The Fake Indian” Warren. You also have Lloyd “The Wokester” Austin, who seems to have periodic battles with the English language; Mark “The Mannequin” Milley, who appears to have had brain surgery that went awry; and a gang of so-called historians who worship at the foot of Abe Lincoln and blame America’s “ills” on the South. As the Brits would say: bollocks! The political football that leftists and “race hustler...
Now, as a U.S. Senator, I have the honor of nominating qualified candidates each year for an appointment to a United States Service Academy. It is no small step to pursue a nomination to a United States Service Academy, but it is an opportunity to be a part of the next generation of American leaders and join the ranks of great men and women who came before you. My office is accepting applications from Alabama students who are seeking a nomination to the United States Naval Academy, Air Force...
Captain Jerry L. Gantt, Naval Aviator Captain Jerry L. Gantt served five years on active duty in the U.S. Navy and 25 years in the Naval Air Reserve. His Navy Designator was 1325, Naval Flight Officer. His military medals, decorations and awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with gold star, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy "E" Ribbon (five awards), National Defense Medal with bronze star, Humanitarian Service Medal, Outstanding Volunteer Service...
1st Sgt. Sandra Dee Lucas 1st Sgt. Sandra Lucas served 20 years in the U.S. military including four years in the Navy reaching the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class and 16 years in the Alabama Army National Guard. Her Navy Enlisted was a Specialist (46S). Some of her awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal with Triple Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Navy Achievement...
LtCol Mark Stephen Barnhart: Age 69 LtCol Mark Stephen Barnhart served 26.5 years in the United States Marine Corps. He served as a Naval Flight Officer flying F-4 Phantoms and F/A-18D Hornets with 3900 flight hours in fighter jets. His major squadron billets included Aircraft Maintenance Officer, Operations Officer and Commanding Officer. LtCol Barnhart was the director of day one flight training (Aviation Preflight Indoctrination) for the Naval Aviation Schools Command at Naval Air Station...
ELDER ABUSE: COMBATING INJUSTICE: Elder abuse is the intentional mistreatment or harming of an older person. An older person is defined by the Social Security Act as someone over age 60. This abuse takes many forms – including physical, emotional, and sexual harm, neglect, and financial exploitation. More than 1 in 10 older adults experience some form of abuse each year. That number is likely much higher because elder abuse is often underreported– especially in underserved communities. Abu...
This series on “Legacy: Outlive Your Life” will be a three part series focused on what I call “The Big Three Life/Legacy Questions”: 1.The Heart Question: Is my heart growing bigger? 2.The Joy Question: Is my joy going deeper? 3.The Passion Question: Is my passion getting hotter? In part one we will focus on the heart question. Is my heart growing bigger? In other words, is my love for God and for others growing bigger? Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” -John 15:12 And the dis...
When we reach the month of September, we say goodbye to summer. Labor day barbeques and festivities abound. The children settle back into the routine of school, vacations have been planned and executed, and conversations begin to wrap around football whether it be college or high school. September is also a transition month as far as gardening is concerned where some annuals have flagged and need to be pulled out, and some perennials have flagged and need to be cut back. Caladiums, which we...
One of the aspects I dislike about hunting and fishing is getting ready for the first day. Whether it’s the first turkey hunt of the year or the first deer hunt, there’s always the need to make sure nothing is forgotten on that opening day. One of my on-going paranoias is to be in a tree stand when a deer walks by and realize I have forgotten my trigger release. I’ve actually dreamed several times about such an episode. The first day of fishing is the same way. Gathering up rods and reels and m...
I don’t see myself finding the time to watch either, but I have heard reports about the Barbie movie and also the latest version of Snow White and what both have in common – other than being fairytales – is that apparently they are about promoting leadership. Is that not hilarious? They must be doubling as comedies too. Barbie is into leadership these days and Ken was just an accessory from the start. Snow White will no longer be being kissed by a prince. There will be no more of that nonse...
There's something in life that took me a little while to realize…If it makes sense to God, it doesn't have to make sense to us. Let me repeat that. If it makes sense to God, it doesn't have to make sense to us. A lot of times in life we want things to make sense. We want to see the plan. And God is saying that's not how it works. You're seeing what is going on in the present. God is saying I'm seeing in the future. I'm looking a week, a month, a year out, and this is when it's going to make s...
The type of roux used in Cajun cooking is indeed important and can significantly impact the flavor, texture, and overall character of many Cajun and ethnic dishes. Roux is a mixture of equal parts flour and fat (traditionally, oil or butter) that serves as a thickening agent for sauces, stews, and gumbo in Cajun cuisine. In Cajun cooking, there are generally three main types of roux, classified based on their color and flavor: 1. White Roux: This is the lightest and has the shortest cooking...
