Joy! It’s an inside job

A long-time friend, Brenda Badger Bonser posted a meme this week. For those unaware, a “meme” is a picture that someone has added a message to make a point. Brenda posted a picture of a joyful child. It read, “Don’t wait for things to get easier, simpler, better. Life will always be complicated.

CHECK YOUR MIRRORS

“The responsibility that the Holocaust instills is far greater than simply learning the facts.” Humanity in Action mission statement January 27 is designated as International Holocaust Day. In 2005 the United Nations adopted a resolution “for commemoration of the victims of the Nazi regime.

Lawmakers start $7 billion away from target

Texas House and Senate leaders appear to agree on their proposed budgets. Next, they just have to figure out how to cut $7.2 billion. Senate Finance Chair Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, worked with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to propose a state budget of $119.7 billion in general funds.

Old Glory News

This is the third day that it has been foggy, misty and cold. It has tried hard to rain, but it just doesn't appear. I guess this is good, better than a wind storm with lot of dust. Still a lot of sickness and funerals. So very depressing, don't seem to be getting any better.

2 CENTS WORTH

Wow! what a week, half of the month has already flew by, Joe and I rode around one day to get out of the house. We ran up on the sand hill cranes again eating on the grain fields. We saw so many pretty pictures to paint, I've got to get my paints out again.

Faces & Places

“Free, cheap abortion is a policy of social defense.

Better

As I’ve written before, I’ve made it my personal custom to spend some time on Martin Luther King Jr. Day reading from Dr. King’s April 16, 1963 “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” In my estimation, it’s one of the most important, impactful pieces of writing about transforming a society for good.

WRITING AD FOR BROADCAST

When I was teaching broadcast writing and production at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Odessa, I laid down some rules for writing radio or television commercials. Basically they said two things: 1. No trite overused phrases. 2. Surprise the audience with something unexpected.

The Pandemic of Pessimism vs. the Opportunities of Optimism.

“The sky is falling! The end is near!” In a variety of words, we are hearing these dire warnings issued by the talking heads on television and on talk radio, daily. The fear then permeates into the minds and hearts of listeners who then spread to their friends, family, and coworkers.

CHECK YOUR MIRRORS

Texas seceded from the Union in 1861 for political reasons. Some in the Lone Star State want to do this again. I would rather be identified as both an American and a Texan. Smugly I say, there is no more extraordinary birthright.