By Mark Elfstrand, Cultural Affairs Writer
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03.16.24
I often wonder why I torture myself. Each weekday afternoon, I try to stay somewhat literate in what is happening in our world by watching the evening network news. Most every day, I regret it.
By Mark Elfstrand, Cultural Affairs Writer
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03.01.24
No doubt Elmo had good intentions. The Muppets have filled our homes with plenty of good laughs and good times over the years. The Muppet movies are worth investing the 90 minutes of time to watch the illustrious Kermit the Frog and friends seek a life of fame and fortune.
By Mark Elfstrand, Cultural Affairs Writer
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03.01.24
The seemingly never ending efforts to keep Donald Trump from regaining a return to his temporary residence at the White House got personal in Illiinois this week. The Chicago Tribune alerted us that Cook County Judge Judge Tracie Porter has ruled that the former president should have his name struck from the March 19 Illinois Republican primary ballot.
By Mark Elfstrand, Cultural Affairs Writer
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02.29.24
It’s here. Leap Day. A good thing if you need a day to catch up on things. Not as good if it means you have to work an extra day for your paycheck. Why the need for this extra day? So that our calendars can play catch up! For the Earth to orbit the sun, our planet actually takes 365.242190 days. You multiply that excess travel time and it yields up an extra day every four years. Or so we’re told.
By Mark Elfstrand, Cultural Affairs Writer
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02.17.24
Movie buffs will recognize the title of this article as also being the title of a movie from 1993 starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. The two aging retirees were next-door neighbors. Living in Wabasha, Minnesota, the two feuded constantly. While living alone, they seem to find joy in ice fishing, trading insults, and playing practical jokes on each other.
By Mark Elfstrand, Cultural Affairs Writer
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02.13.24
It was 1995 and I was hosting an afternoon talk show in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A buzz had formed around an announcement that the Pittsburgh mayor had planned to conduct a feasibility study of proposed riverboat gambling on the city's three rivers. This study would generate estimates of how many outsiders would travel to Pittsburgh to gamble.
By Mark Elfstrand, Cultural Affairs Writer
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02.07.24
Jesus forgave the sinner. He didn’t accommodate the sin. We read about this in John, Chapter 8 — often referred to as the “Woman caught in the act of adultery.” (John 8:2-11) Any of us who have read or heard this story about the adulterous woman should be asking why the Pharisees were not so hot on the idea of dealing with the sin of the adulterous man. And we should clearly see that Jesus is a God of mercy and forgiveness. Does He then excuse adultery? Hardly.
By Mark Elfstrand, Cultural Affairs Writer
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02.01.24
February has some interesting distinctives. Back in the olden days (when I was growing up), we celebrated TWO presidential birthdays this month: Abraham Lincoln’s and George Washington’s. Now we celebrate only one—a generic President’s Day for our Monday holiday benefit.
By Mark Elfstrand, Cultural Affairs Writer
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01.24.24
Being the Speaker of the House of Representatives puts you into the credibility circle. This important role, as with any political leader, gives rise to all sorts of questions exceeding the focus of the job at hand. Often, such questions come with an agenda.
By Mark Elfstrand, Cultural Affairs Writer
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01.22.24
Perhaps you’ve never heard of Allie Phillips. She is one to keep your eye on. Her story may help determine the fate of babies in Tennessee and elsewhere.
By Mark Elfstrand, Cultural Affairs Writer
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01.04.24
The New Year brings the annual tradition of resolutions. In February of last year, the Fisher College of Business reported that “only 9% of Americans that make resolutions complete them"…that 23% of people quit their resolution by the end of the first week, and 43% quit by the end of January.
By Mark Elfstrand, Cultural Affairs Writer
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12.22.23
Even the most secular of Christmas season greeting cards can be found promoting the idea of peace. Often seemingly quoting the angels message to the shepherds announcing the arrival of the Messiah found in Luke 2. That message in brief proclaims, “Peace on earth. Goodwill to men.”
By Mark Elfstrand, Cultural Affairs Writer
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12.08.23
It may not be a proverbial “dirty word,” but I believe the word “compromise" often comes very close. Not always, but often enough.
By Mark Elfstrand, Cultural Affairs Writer
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11.22.23
Perhaps like me, you’ve wondered… “What would the Pilgrims think of our modern day celebration of Thanksgiving?” Or, maybe that’s never crossed your mind. Maybe your Turkey Day “to do” list has priority. First, the Pilgrims, who referred to themselves as the “Saints,” would have been very sad to learn that the New York Times was fairly clueless on the real events of life in the early 1600s. The paper tried to “help us” get educated with their 1619 Project, which came out a few years ago.
By Mark Elfstrand, Cultural Affairs Writer
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11.09.23
Ahhh…the scenes and smells of the fall season in the Midwest are here. Leaf collection and burning — where allowed. Crisp morning air with men still wearing shorts who refuse to believe summer has ended. Pumpkin everything has arrived, including several variations of pumpkin lattes at Starbucks.
