THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury If all the COVID-19 stories were laid end to end and submerged, it might be a good thing. Most of us think of this acronym (Corona Virus Disease-2019) in negative terms. However, just as some first century Christians wondered if anything good could come out of Nazareth, surely Jesus smiled and cut them much slack.

HE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Since when  do I feel the freedom to “lump” more kinfolks into the bin already spilling over with “we-should-have-known-better” contents? Regrettably, we must make room for one more–my wife’s cousin.  Paula Ward–wedded to Jason Ward of Christchurch, New Zealand, 13 years ago–is a native Texan. The couple resides in his homeland, almost halfway around

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury How used cars are marketed shouldn’t matter to my ancient Uncle Mort. After all, he swore off use of traditional transportation in the late 1900s when they started pricing gasoline in dollars instead of cents. Now, he motors around the thicket in a golf cart.  Much matters to Mort, though, period.  So the announcement

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Late in the 1500s, noted playwright William Shakespeare wrote his classic, Hamlet–his longest play that included an oft-quoted line, “The play’s the thing.”  Surely he was prophetic. Providence cannot be ruled out, but coincidence can. Whatever, two plays about King David currently spotlight the prominent biblical figure–one long-running at the Sight and Sound Theater in

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury I’ve never claimed to have the gift of prophecy, nor do I now.  Yet, it seems beyond coincidence that two of my past three columns have centered on bears, and now–lo and behold–bears are back in the news, particularly in Japan, where they are attacking people. To the few readers who may think me to

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Their numbers are dwindling, but folks figuring there’s nothing new under the sun are spending too much time in the shade and/or staring too much at the fiery object that planets circle with precision–at least so far.  Assuredly this is not the opinion of a robot, spy or AI (“artificial intelligence” for people asleep

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury I’ve pondered– likely at times when I should have been engaged in thoughts of consequence–about goings-on that seem to “fit” into one of three categories: Divine intervention, coincidence or “blind hog luck.”  The older I get, the more I believe that in most instances, what we’ve often thought to be coincidences–or the referenced “blind

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Gentle friends, if any such folks are reading, I wish to make it clear that during my 22+ years of writing this piece, I have avoided ever using “bad” words. If any sneaked in, they were mild, never thrown carelessly around like many words crossing the lips of broadcasters, particularly in the sports world. 

THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury My friend–call him Barney–has jumped through hoops and negotiated mazes that are part and parcel of a long and successful professional communications career. Now, he is spending well-earned retirement years on an East Texas farm.  He’s learning to be a “yes” man to his wife and daughter, and he’s said “yes” repeatedly to