Opinion - Times-Union Newspaper

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Bees, The ‘Soul Of Summer,’ Helped Shape The Natural World

Bees evolved alongside the flowering plants, and their most remarkable traits all developed in the context of that relationship.
Relief Efforts After Tornado Show God In The Midst Of Life's Storms

The last column I wrote appeared in the Times-Union on July 19 — the same day an EF3 tornado went through the center of my hometown, Marshalltown, Iowa, causing massive destruction.
Doomsday Clock Marks Looming Apocalypse

The Doomsday Clock was conceived by University of Chicago scientists who had helped develop the first atomic weapons.
Pancreatic Diseases A Challenge To Diagnose And Treat

Even in the 21st century, when medical discoveries abound, the pancreas carries an aura of mystery.
Trump’s Words Don’t Match His Policies

Only President Donald Trump knows why he says what he does.
Missing Wheelbarrow
Dems Underestimate Putin
Real Enemies Of America
Even Today, Menstruation Shrouded In Shame, Secrecy

In some places women are considered polluted, even toxic, while on their periods, and an oppressive regime has evolved around this natural bodily function.
Shining A Light On Untold Stories

An outfit called Judicial Watch released a bunch of government reports July 10.
Lessons Learned In A Small Church Build Foundation For Life

I tell people that I had a “drug problem” when I was growing up — my parents drug me to church every time the doors were open.
Ticks Are Much More Dangerous Than We Thought

Residents in the Midwest are generally aware that ticks carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. But ticks are responsible for other fatal diseases as well.
Continued Insect Decline Could Be Harmful To Earth

Not too many years back, smeared tiny wings, legs and antennas made vision difficult during midsummer drives. Nowadays, a drive through northern New York, for example, yielded barely a blemish.
A Socialist Who Likes Tax Cuts?

Last week I wrote about the Democratic Socialist who won the U.S. Rep. primary in New York’s 14th District.

Here are a couple more observations.
North Buffalo Construction In Full Swing

From The Mayor

I’m sure you have noticed the North Buffalo Street project construction ramping up this summer.
Obedience Is Part Of Faith

While driving through town there is a sign that catches my attention. In the middle of a red heart on a white background are the words “Obey Jesus.”
The Act Of Breathing Keeps Our Bodies Pretty Busy

Several years ago a siege of bronchitis caused me to suffer with a severe cough that in turn resulted in sudden shortness of breath, gasping for air and likely my demise. Fortunately, a trip to the emergency room, a Medrol dosepack and two inhalers solved my problem. Since then I no longer take the simple act of breathing for granted.
Are Americans Ready For A Socialist?

It’s fun to watch the pendulum of politics swing.
NEWS VIEWS: Both Sides Behaving Badly

President Donald Trump reversed his position on zero tolerance immigration enforcement and separating families at the border.
Failures Don’t Have To Define You

A person may be down but they are never out of God’s grace and mercy.
Mosquitoes Most Deadly Enemy Of The Human Race

Mosquitoes are our most persistent and deadly enemy. They have killed great leaders, decimated armies and decided the fates of nations.
Evolutionary Flaws Leave Humans Less Than Perfect

Natural selection has resulted in a body form that should be fantastically robust, strong, resilient, clever and mostly successful in the great rat race of life. But it is not perfect.
Life’s Final Journey Nothing To Worry About

A recent issue of The Economist contained some startling information on the aging population.
Let’s Fire All Who Spew Vile

Roseanne Barr tried hard to apologize for tweeting some really vile stuff, but alas, it just wasn’t good enough.

For those who missed it, during a discussion on Twitter about former Obama aid Valerie Jarrett, Barr tweeted, “muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj.”
Vietnam Vets The Best The U.S. Has To Offer

My life changed on April 29, 1975. I was a senior in high school at Marshalltown, Iowa, and we anxiously listened to the news coming from Vietnam.
Vietnam Vets The Best The U.S. Has To Offer

My life changed on April 29, 1975. I was a senior in high school at Marshalltown, Iowa, and we anxiously listened to the news coming from Vietnam.
Angier’s Writings Full Of Wordplay And Wit

Those of us interested in science and medical writing should be aware of a contemporary author, Natalie Angier.
Warburg Paved Way For Today’s Cancer Research

I have written about a number of outstanding doctors and research scientists, including James Parkinson, David Nachmansohn, Emory Rovenstine, John Sulston and others, but Otto Warburg may be the most important of them all.
The More Things Change ...

After the Parkland, Fla., shooting I wrote this:
Here’s Hoping Fairgrounds, Neighbors Can Settle

A group of homeowners has filed a complaint against the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds in an attempt to stop motorized racing.
Roundworms Facilitate Grasp Of Genetic Coding

A number of simple organisms are used as models for biological research, but perhaps the most unusual and likely the most important is the roundworm, Caenorhabditis elegans.
Prayer United Warsaw Against The Klan

News spread around Warsaw in April 1999 that the Ku Klux Klan was going to have a rally at the Kosciusko County Courthouse on Saturday, May 8. A few leaders gathered to discuss how the city should respond.
Genetic Research?Owes Much To The Fruit Fly

Most everyone knows that fruit flies gravitate toward bananas and most overripe fruit and almost magically appear in kitchens around the world. Less well known is that this insect species has been used by thousands of scientists around the world for more than 100 years to study genetics and developmental biology.
It’s OK To Hurl Slurs If You’re A Lefty

Joy Reid is a liberal MSNBC host (I know, redundant) who hates Donald Trump.
Leprosy – Not Yet A Thing Of The Past

While leprosy is classified as rare, it still strikes some 200,000 people a year, including 200 in the United States.
Doc Bowen’s 100th A Time For Reflection

Dr. Otis R. Bowen was born Feb. 26, 1918, in Rochester.
Study Of Eels Leads To Nerve Gas Antidote

Nerve gases paralyze the nervous system and are the deadliest weapons used in chemical warfare. They are odorless, stable, easily dispersed and invisible, and have rapid effects when absorbed through the skin, swallowed or inhaled.
City Works To Make Government More Accessible Via Website

As the “go to site” for city information, our newly redesigned City of Warsaw website (www.warsaw.in.gov) has added another critically important public service feature.
Good Or Bad? It Depends

Facebook is being criticized these days for the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
Women Unite Under Banner Of?Love To Serve Others

The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary began 50 years ago.
Experimenting On Humans Controversial But Useful

In the Netherlands, according to a recent report, 17 healthy volunteers took part in a controversial experiment in which Schistosoma mansoni parasites were permitted to burrow into their arms.
What's So Good About Good Friday?

I always thought that “Good Friday” was an interesting concept. How could anything be good about a day over 2,000 years ago when an innocent man was crucified on a cross?
The Heart — A Symbol And Its Function

The symmetrical heart symbol is a far cry from the actual fist-sized mass of tissue we all carry inside of us.
Schools: Where Perception And Reality Collide

This past week youths all across America walked out of class in schools in an effort to prod adults all across America to do something about gun violence.

I think it’s a good thing to exercise your right to free speech and assembly.
Why Do I Find Poetry So Inscrutable?

Robert Frost, one of America's great poets, wrote: "Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words."
Bed Bugs – Creatures Of The Night

For those of us who travel frequently, there is another major hazard to consider — bed bugs! Once nearly eradicated, these blood suckers have made a rapid comeback in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.
Humans Final Straw In Passenger Pigeons’ Extinction

While I was not witness to the demise of passenger pigeons, my mother was, and so was anyone else alive in 1914.
Not Sure Laws Are The Answer

The national conversation has turned once again to guns following a mass shooting in Florida by a 19-year-old miscreant named Nikolas Cruz.
We Can’t Stop The Clock, But Maybe We Can Slow It Down

I have taken a keen interest in the process of aging and all that it entails the older I become. One reason may be the change in attitude regarding the perception of what it means to all of us.
Government: It’s All About The Money

President Donald Trump came out with his plan to rehabilitate the nation’s infrastructure last week.
Students Heading To College Can Control Their Own Financial Future

Not long ago, the prospect of living in Mom and Dad’s basement after college made students cringe.
Atwood Native A Pioneer In Field Of Anesthesiology

Emery Rovenstine was a dominant figure in anesthesiology in the United States between 1935 and 1960. His extraordinary research and writings had an enormous impact on the specialty and continue to this very day.
Things That Don’t Add Up

This week, a compendium of things that just seem a little bit off to me.
School Board Term Limits Questioned

Back in December, the Warsaw Community School Corporation Board of Trustees passed a resolution to extend board members’ term limits.
There’s Plenty Of Crooked To Go Around

When it comes to the Russian collusion investigation, I can say with certainty I have never seen anything quite like this before.
Math Can Be Surprising Useful, If We Don’t Let It Scare Us

Calculus was defined by humorist Dave Barry as “the branch of mathematics that is so scary it causes everybody to stop studying mathematics.”
Some Oddities In The News

Following are some things I think are odd.
Female Council Member

I have a small nitpick with the story that appeared in Friday's article regarding Sue Ann Mitchell's historic selection as council president.
As Human Vision Improved, Sense Of Smell Decreased

Dogs have a scent sensitivity many thousands of times greater than humans. In fact, this ability is one of the more curious facts in nature.

Humans, however, and other primates have relatively good senses of smell.
Tell-All Book Is Big News

Author Michael Wolff has made quite a name for himself with his Donald Trump-bashing tell-all, “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.”
Rep. Banks Calls For Support Of Iranian Protesters

Last week, citizens in Iran’s second largest city – Mashhad – took to the streets for what began as protests over Iran’s economy and the rising cost of basic goods such as milk and eggs. These frustrations illuminated the reality that Iranians desire more than basic goods. They thirst for basic freedoms.
Art Museum Proposal Faces Hurdles

In spring 2016 my wife, Mary, and I saw “Van Gogh’s Bedrooms” at The Art Institute of Chicago.
Mayor Thanks City Employees, Says They’re Dedicated Professionals

The bitter cold we have experienced recently kept many people indoors over the Christmas holiday.
Circadian Rhythms — Another Of Nature's Wonders

Scientists are increasingly finding new ways circadian rhythms affect us. For example, circadian rhythms can influence hormone release, eating habits, digestion, body temperature, sleep and even the sense of smell. Disruption in circadian rhythms can lead to the increased incidence of many diseases, including metabolic disease and cancer.
I'm Averse To Social Media

I am not averse to technology, but I am averse to social media.
Drug Ads Becoming More And More Annoying

If you hadn't noticed the amount of television time devoted to drug ads, then you may not be viewing as much as I do. It appears they consume more time than the actual program.
The 'W' In Christmas

Gleaned from the internet and author unknown, here is a little story for Christmas.
Salt — Widely Used But Often Misunderstood

Salt (sodium chloride) has been used for millennia and yet most people have no idea about its effect on health or its history.
Rep. Banks Urges Ditching Medical Device Tax By New Year's

Last November, the American people sent a message to Washington: Get things done. With Republican control of both chambers of Congress and the Oval Office, the time to enact pro-growth, pro-innovation policies that benefit American workers and businesses is now.
A?Cancer Journey Ends With A?Light At The End Of The Tunnel

It all began in August, 2016.

After a routine, annual mammography, followed by a 3-D ultrasound, a Breast Diagnostic Center (of Ft. Wayne) physician showed me an approximate 3 millimeter area of tissue that appeared to be cancer. It would require needle biopsy for confirmation.
Giraffes Unlike Any Other Creature In Many Ways

According to a recent article in the Smithsonian magazine, giraffes are disappearing from Africa before scientists can even begin to understand them.

Losing these magnificent animals to poachers would be a tragedy for a number of reasons in addition to the fact that people love watching them.
Early Childhood Provides A Foundation For Learning

Decades of research confirm the deep connection between high-quality early childhood education and subsequent academic success, and yet, as a society, we put early childhood initiatives at the bottom of our budgetary priority lists.
In Support Of Moving The Capital Of Israel To Jerusalem

We are approaching the season of the year when many of our thoughts will turn to Jerusalem.
Politicians Aren’t Honest About Taxes

If you are looking for a pure example of demagoguery, look no further than the debate over the tax bill.
Candidate Says Ending Net Neutrality Regulation Is A?Bad Idea

Small business owners, how do you feel about your website being blocked or slowed because bigger companies are paying internet providers more than you are?
Local 7th-Graders To Attend Commemoration At Pearl Harbor

Planes appeared. Bombs fell. Ships sank.

Men died.

Dec. 7, 1941.
Mindfulness Meditation Reduces Errors, Has Health Benefits

Mindfulness is awareness, cultivated by paying attention in a sustained and particular way; on purpose, in the present moment and nonjudgmentally. It is one of many forms of meditation.
Event Aimed At Opioid Crisis Planned Dec. 11

There’s an important community event scheduled for Dec. 11. It’s billed as a community call to action with regard to the opioid crisis.
Several Public Works Projects Slated for 2018

With 2018 just around the corner, I thought it might be good to spend a little time discussing a variety of public projects that are slated to commence next year.
What Matters These Days?

This sexual harassment thing is spinning out of control, isn’t it?
My, How Times Have Changed

It’s easy to see that we’re living in different times.
Spanish Flu — May It Never Return

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that seasonal influenza is responsible for more than 20,000 deaths annually.

While 20,000 deaths is something to be alarmed about, it pales in comparison to those who died in the great Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918-19.
Brazile’s Rant And More Tragic Gunfire

Donna Brazile’s new tell-all book was all the rave this week.
Holcomb: Congress Should Act Now To Repeal The Medical Device Tax

There’s a cloud of uncertainty hanging over one of Indiana’s most important employment sectors – the medical device industry.
Shaking Palsy, Or Parkinson's Disease, Still A Mystery

There are hundreds of diseases named after a person, and one, Parkinson's, is known to many of us. While the disease is well-characterized, little is known about the person for whom it was named.
Vision - What A Wonderful Gift
Lots Of News Goes Unreported

I get that a lot of people on the left quite literally hate Donald Trump.
Rats, Humans Similar In Many Ways

Rats continue to be the most despised and feared creatures that plague mankind. Yet the basic internal structures of rats and humans are similar.
NFL Botches Anthem Debacle

I wondered how long it would take for the light bulb to go on.
Gun Problem Solutions Are Elusive

This is a troubling time for a gun owner like me.
Aging Infrastructure, Growing Community Provide Challenges

As part of a public education campaign to explain the city’s $40 million wastewater utility upgrade and expansion project, we held the last of four neighborhood information meetings earlier this week.
NFL Sows Disrespect; Trump, Divisiveness

The whole NFL kneeling thing really spun out of control, didn’t it?
Introducing The Two Smartest People Of The Past 400 Years

Now that I am retired I spend my spare time in odd ways. For example, I have often wondered why there are so many people smarter than I am and what makes them so.
IRS And Confiscatory Madness

The tax code comprises of 74,608 unreadable and too often undecipherable legalistic pages, or over 100,000 words.
Ants — The Real Masters Of Our Planet

According to a recent news report, fire ants were among the creepiest images to emerge from the flood in Houston caused by Hurricane Harvey. Instinctively, they rose up from their underground tunnel systems and literally stuck together to survive by linking their six claws (legs) and clinging to one another in massive rafts and balls that floated and spun in the current.
The Big News Of Hurricanes

My daughter and her husband live in Tampa.
'Death Valley' A Bad Choice For Tippecanoe Valley

On Sept. 18, the Tippecanoe Valley School Board is slated to choose a name for its high school football field. This has become a heated topic in the district, one which I feel a need to weigh in on as both a graduate of the school system (I was a freshman in 1975 when the consolidated high school opened), and as a pastor in one of its local churches. In writing, I know full well that many will scoff at what I have to say, but none the less I am compelled.
Was It A Russian Hack Or Inside Job?

Well, here’s something you won’t see on CNN or any other mainstream news network.
Demos, GOP Both In Bed With Russia?

Remember Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager John Podesta?
Let’s Remove Everything That’s Offensive

Seems like it’s a good time to denounce things in America.
EPA Water Rule Can Place Limits On Our Farmers

Hoosiers currently have the opportunity to weigh in on a federal policy that will significantly affect our state for years to come.
Trump Sticks Foot In Mouth

I will admit I was more than a little concerned when Donald J. Trump was elected president.
Someone Will Get Busted For Something

I’m not sure that Russia colluded with the Trump campaign.
Lots Of Folks Deciding Not To Work

So have you noticed all the “help wanted” signs around the county?

They’re everywhere.
The Weird Case Against Wasserman’s I.T. Guy

I know the national media won’t latch onto this with the same pit bull vigor they employ to cover the Russian bombshell-of-the-week.
Media Must Investigate All Of The Collusion

I wrote last week about the meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and a Russian lawyer.
Donald Jr. Got Played This Time

OK, this is about Russia, and it’s going to get a little deep in the weeds, but bear with me.
What Happens When Service Jobs Dwindle?

I am not averse to technology.
Mayor Meets With Sheriff, Calls For Unity Between Departments

Now that the sheriff’s investigation and judicial process has concluded, the city and county must move ahead.
Health Care Legislation Is A Mess

Here’s a rundown – provided by National Public Radio – of the proposed changes to Obamacare from House and Senate Republicans.
Healing May Take Some Time

I moved to Warsaw in 1988 to take a job as Managing Editor here at the Times-Union.
Memorial Services Remind Us Of The Importance Of Unity

Last Monday, Oakwood Cemetery hosted the city’s annual Memorial Day tribute to honor all of our local veterans, both living and deceased.
Fox’s Fake News, & A Democrat Defends Trump

First, an update.
Trump Not Sinister, But Rich Murder Might Be

Well, President Donald Trump has turned out to be quite the lunatic, hasn’t he?
Indiana’s Holistic Approach To Health Insurance: Why HIP 2.0 Works

Health insurance has been a hot topic lately, and not just in the managed care sector. The landscape of how we operate and provide care has changed dramatically over the past few years in Indiana, and it’s going in the right direction.
Fest At Waubee Lake Park Planned To Dedicate New Playground Gear

Sift through your family photo albums from the last 20, 30, 40, even 50 years and chances are pretty good you’ll come across a picture of someone in your family enjoying a sunny day at Waubee Lake Park in Milford.
Don't Click The Bait

We ran a small story Wednesday about Winona Lake being named “one of the coolest towns in the U.S.”
Now It's Time For Demos To Hate Deficits

Well, the government didn’t shut down last weekend.
Funny How Culture Decides What's Acceptable

I’m not going to make excuses for Bill O’Reilly’s behavior.
Different Treatment For Similar Rich Kids

Variety magazine is honoring Chelsea Clinton in its “Power of Women” edition.
Trump’s Comments Do More Harm Than Good

Everybody knows that President Donald Trump makes inflammatory comments.
Economy Seems A Bit Better

A couple of weeks ago the government released employment data that I found encouraging.
Seems Like A Strange Way To Assess Laws

I was reading about the rulings against President Donald Trump’s second, “revised” travel ban this week.
GUEST COLUMN: Rep. Nisly Gives Update On State Legislative Progress

Since we have recently passed the halfway point of the legislative session, here are a few bills I would like everyone in the district to be aware of.
Who Do You Trust Anymore?

Even the most ardent Trump supporter these days has to admit that our president needs to rein in his twitter rants.
The Constitution And Religious Freedom

The Indiana House Education Committee this past week passed a bill related to school prayer on a vote of 10-2.
Politicians Can’t Handle Prosperity

Why is it that politicians just can’t seem to handle prosperity?
Trump Should Dial It Back A Bit

I’ve been writing a weekly news-pegged opinion column in this newspaper since 1990.
Trump Policy Flawed, But Critics Are Off Base, Too

I understand the hubbub regarding Trump’s executive order for a travel ban.
Trump: The Good, Bad And Ugly

The good – jobs.
Russia, Russia, Russia! And Politics

Anybody remember “The Brady Bunch”?
Keep Guns Away From Crazy Folks

For purposes of full disclosure, I want to say right up front that I like guns.
GOP Should Not Overplay Its Hand

My fondest hope for the soon-to-be newly minted Republican-led government was that lawmakers wouldn’t overplay their hand.
A Pipeline To The Facts

Anybody looking for evidence of why there is such a high level of public distrust for government and media needs to look no further than the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Hypocrisy, Politics Go Hand In Hand

I suppose this is what one would expect following an election like the one we just witnessed last month.
Mayor Thallemer: A Good Time To Be Thankful

Spending time with our families on the Thanksgiving holiday allows for a pause from the fast pace of our daily lives.
Americans Want A Return To The ‘Good Old Days’

I have a theory as to why Donald Trump won the election.
Media's Role In Election

Well, that election took a lot of people by surprise, didn’t it?
What Goes Around, Comes Around

I can see why Democrats are upset with FBI Director Jim Comey.
Why Don’t Rap Lyrics Bother The White House?

Michelle Obama went off on Donald Trump on the campaign trail a week-and-a-half ago.
Who Knows What Trump Is Up To?

I received some interesting correspondence from a reader this week.
How Come Nobody’s Denouncing Hillary?

Donald Trump is a loutish boor, to be sure.
All’s Fair In Politics And Arms Deals

You probably don’t know who Marc Turi is, but that’s OK, because I’m fixing to tell you.
Media Give Hillary A Pass

For decades, there has been a liberal bias in the national media.
Newspaper Tradition Lives On

In 2003, 100 percent ground beef was selling for an average of $1.93 a pound.
Of Course We Don’t Trust The Media

Gallup came out with a poll this week which was not surprising.
But at the same time, it was really troubling to me.
Despite Polls, Obama A Bad President

President Barack Obama’s approval rating is hovering around 51 percent this week.
Cost-To-Benefit Ratio Is Deadly For Obamacare

A?week or so ago we ran a story about Physicians Health Plan of Northern Indiana leaving the individual-insurance marketplace.
The Good And The Bad Of WikiLeaks

Julian Assange is an Australian computer programer who for years has fashioned himself a champion against government overreach.
Whether he is a hero or a villain is up for debate.
Hillary Didn’t Intend Or Know A Darn Thing

I realize the national media is awfully busy talking about Donald Trump’s “campaign shakeup” or his latest gaffe.
No, Hillary Hasn’t Been Indicted

Without a doubt, this is the most bizarre election cycle I have ever witnessed.
Welcome To Our New Look

There are some big changes going on here at the Times-Union and we’re pretty excited about it.
First of all, our print redesign was launched this week.
To Protect And Serve

So I rode my motorcycle to work on Wednesday because it was such a nice day.
Instead of heading home to Syracuse the usual way – north on Ind. 15 to CR 900N, etc. – I decided to go through town and head east on U.S. 30 to check out Lake City Honda.
Perception And Reality

You’ve heard the phrase “perception is reality.”
A few weeks ago I wrote how the perception in the US today is that we are living in a time when violent crime is spiraling out of control, even though precisely the converse is true.
New Website A Big Step Forward

I would like to take a little time to talk about the Times-Union’s new website, which launched during the first week of April.