By Jim Nichols Realizing that I am showing my age here, a hit song played frequently on the radio in 1956 was titled “Transfusion.” There were several “novelty” songs current then (including the likes of “Purple People Eater”), but this one about blood was my favorite. This was the era of hot-rod cars and the chorus of the song performed
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By Nancy Patrick About two years ago, a friend asked me what “woke” meant. It just so happened that I had learned the new usage a couple of weeks before when I had read a magazine article about it. Modern language contains many new words and usages. As an English major and former English teacher, I find anything related to
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Second of two parts By Glenn Dromgoole These Food Elegies – not food allergies – are nostalgic tributes to the importance of food and family. Maybe as you peruse these short “elegies,” you will be encouraged to jot down a few of your own. Dinner with the FamilyNearly every night back thenwe sat down togetheras a family for dinner –except
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury The ballyhoo about “no free lunches” was first bandied about in the 1880s and today, Southwest Airlines’ “bags fly free” death bell is on the verge of gonging. Long known for allowing passengers to check two pieces of luggage “free,” SWA is altering its policy and there’s more story-spinning underway than a 10-year-old pulling
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How to helpDonations can be made to Meals on Wheels Plus and the Food Bank of West Central Texas through their websites:Meals on WheelsFood Bank of West Central Texas By Loretta Fulton Thousands of local and area residents could be affected if proposed federal budget cuts dealing with feeding programs are enacted. Both Meals on Wheels Plus and the Food
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McMurry University has rejoined the American Southwest Conference for athletic competition beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. McMurry will join Hardin-Simmons University once again as members of the same athletic conference. McMurry previously was a member of the American Southwest Conference before joining the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in 2024. According to a news release, the move was imperative for
Read moreSecond part of two-part series. Click here to read Part 1. By Danny Minton In the early months of 1807, Queen Louise was requested by her husband to do something that she dreaded, yet for the sake of Prussia, and at her husband’s request, she agreed to obey his wishes. Napoleon had overcome Prussia, and the country’s fate under his
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First of two parts By Glenn Dromgoole We hear a lot these days about food allergies. That’s not what this little collection is about. It’s about Food Elegies, melancholy tributes in verse to some of the foods we grew up with–and the loving hands who prepared them. A nostalgic reflection on the importance of food and family. Maybe as you
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Had a Texas Aggie been a Rip Van Winkle wannabe in 2011, he (she) might hardly recognize the university upon awakening from slumber in 2025. There might be understandable confusion. Is real time clearly in focus or is the awakening accompanied by swirling figmentary dream extensions from a heap of sleep? Surely the eye-rubbing
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Spirit Of Abilene 