Heartland

How Many Christmases? By Dr. Ileana Johnson Paugh | December 9, 2023

But in the material chase to bring happiness to others and especially to children, we forget the simple pleasures of Christmas, love, laughter, being here and now, songs, and the presence of God in our lives

Oh, To Have Just One Day By Dr. Bruce Smith | November 28, 2023

We’ve just passed Thanksgiving week. We try to remember to be thankful on that day, and with luck, we’ll remember to be thankful every week of the year. So far, so good

Pie… “It’s What’s for Breakfast” By Barbi Martin | November 26, 2023

For 25 years now, Mike and I have celebrated Thanksgiving by having pie with our morning coffee

Report From the Frugality Front By Dr. Bruce Smith | November 23, 2023

Survival in Tough Times: Fuel, Food, Groceries, Tea, Coffee, Store Brands, Name Brands

Give Us This Day Someone Who Will Listen By Dr. Bruce Smith | November 21, 2023

So as a listener and as a narrator, neither exploiter nor abuser be. It’s a good place for applying the golden rule

Pet Peeves By Jim Ross Lightfoot | November 14, 2023

This list goes on for several more pages, but listening to an old man rattle on about things they can’t change is probably one of your pet peeves.

To Whom Shall We Listen? By Dr. Bruce Smith | November 13, 2023

One of the Most Important Choices in Life

The Witch of November By Dr. Bruce Smith | November 5, 2023

In this month of Thanksgiving, we can give thanks that there are miners and sailors and steelworkers and factory workers who provide for us without knowing who we are

Transition Weekend By Dr. Bruce Smith | October 30, 2023

Survival in Tough Times, Let it come. The snowbirds have made it safely and we will feed them well for their journey back to the True North when April comes around

The Beauty of Eclectic Interests By Dr. Bruce Smith | October 23, 2023

Survival in Tough Times: The Golden Guides

Healthcare Limbo By Dr. Bruce Smith | October 17, 2023

Survival in Tough Times: Skills for healthcare today

Musical Perfection The Last Rose of Summer By Dr. Bruce Smith | October 17, 2023

This morning they’re perfection itself, with old fashioned sweetness in their scent

Prudent Seasonal Abundance By Dr. Bruce Smith | October 9, 2023

Survival in Tough Times: I’m here to say that taking advantage of the seasonal bounty is likely a good thing

Give Us This Day Our Small Moment of Luxury By Dr. Bruce Smith | October 5, 2023

During that pause we can look philosophically at the slings and arrows we endured today from our adversaries and count our victories, however small

Musical Perfection: Bobby Vinton, Blue Velvet By Dr. Bruce Smith | September 27, 2023

Survival in Tough Times: Bobby Vinton Ray Anthony, Blue Velvet, Bunny Hop, Hokey Pokey

Historic Artifacts and Where To Put Them By Dr. Bruce Smith | September 19, 2023

Survival in Tough Times

From My Window By Barbi Martin | September 17, 2023

I do my best thinking when I am staring out a window.

Late Summer Flowers By Dr. Bruce Smith | September 12, 2023

As you go about your day, please look for the late summer flowers and enjoy them. Be sure to savor the moment. Like the summer of 1913, or the summer of ’39 or ’41, especially when we don’t know what lies ahead we can always thank God for today

Small Town America By Dr. Bruce Smith | September 5, 2023

Survival in Tough Times: As you read this, dear reader, that little burg is still there, like a thousand others scattered across the Heartland, and good people live and work there

Remember When—August of 1971 By Dr. Bruce Smith | August 28, 2023

The Indiana University: I had landed at a place that turned out to be wonderful, and I had only just arrived

Today’s ultimate weapon is a mute constituency By Dr. Bruce Smith | August 22, 2023

Survival in Tough Times: The Ultimate Weapon

When Trust Has Been Lost, The Republic Is In Peril By Dr. Bruce Smith | August 14, 2023

Survival in Tough Times: Unequal justice is no justice at all

Well, There’s Something You Don’t See Every Day! A Fine Gaggle of Geese By Dr. Bruce Smith | August 10, 2023

Survival in Tough Times: A gaggle this nice is something you don’t see every day.

It’s Not the Humidity, It’s the Heat By Dr. Bruce Smith | August 2, 2023

Survival in Tough Times: Last week was the last week of July. That means here in the Heartland it’s supposed to be hot and humid so we can have lots of corn. It’s July. It’s supposed to be hot and humid, thank God!

An Antique Shop Is Like A Little Museum By Dr. Bruce Smith | July 26, 2023

Reminders may be found in antique shops, junkyards, old barns, thrift shops, cemeteries, and proper museums. I may run into you coming around the corner where the player piano rolls and the Blackhawk corn shellers are waiting for us

Our Ancestors Comfort Us With Memory By Dr. Bruce Smith | July 20, 2023

Survival in Tough Times: It was part of a world long gone, but a world we can recall at will. The memories are in color, I just realized

Don’t Be Fooled By Dr. Bruce Smith | July 10, 2023

Survival in Tough Times: So they’re murmuring and tut-tutting about Biden, but I don’t hear them saying they’d do anything different. Strange, isn’t it? What would you bet there’s another election year coming up soon? Don’t be fooled

The Tyranny of the Seasons By Dr. Bruce Smith | July 3, 2023

Survival in Tough Times: We should not let a day go by that we don’t thank our lucky stars that we came along after the miracle of the Industrial Revolution

Why AI is a problem By Dr. Bruce Smith | June 25, 2023

So anyone wishing to avoid responsibility will find the capabilities of AI mesmerizing. For the rest of us the only sensible response to this isn’t just “No.” It’s “Oh, Hell no!”

Musical perfection: Snap, Crackle, Pop By Dr. Bruce Smith | June 20, 2023

Survival in Tough Times: Crackle’s lyrics and his guitar part are the best to my way of thinking, and what I always sing. Which is your favorite, dear reader?