http://www.news-tribune.net en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:23:00 +0000 http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_324022524.html http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_324022524.html Calculating your net worth is a rather sobering experience. You may only do this exercise a few times in your life — like when you’re applying for a major loan, planning for retirement or entering a nursing home. To calculate your net worth, you add up all your assets (the current value of all your possessions) and then you subtract all your liabilities (mostly money you owe). Whatever is left over is your net worth. It’s easy to look at this number and despair, wondering, “Is this all I’ve accomplished in my life?” Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:21:00 +0000 http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_324022111.html http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_324022111.html Last Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, was my garbage pick-up day. Falling the day after a national holiday I wasn’t positive that we would have service on that day. When I returned home from a hard night of work that morning I didn’t feel the need to immediately move my garbage can to the end of my driveway. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:58:00 +0000 http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_323010212.html http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_323010212.html In my last letters column, “Want To Be Pen Pals?,” I mentioned one letter writer who was a bit enamored with the exclamation point. Evidently he’s not the only one, because I received several e-mails from others who feel the same.Matt wrote this: “Just wanted to drop you a note to let you know I enjoy your column!!!!!!” Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:48:00 +0000 http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_323004808.html http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_323004808.html I was watching an NBA game the other night when suddenly, in blinding and revelatory Technicolor, I had a vision recalling Rollen Stewart’s career of religious advocacy. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:38:00 +0000 http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_323003646.html http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_323003646.html In response to Mayor England and Kay Garry’s statements of Oct. 31, 2009:After reading The Tribune article, “State Audit raises questions about New Albany’s bookkeeping” and going through all 73 pages of the audit, we find it laughable that Mayor Doug England said the administration may ask the council to fund a new computer system for City Controller Garry. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:14:00 +0000 http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_322011601.html http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_322011601.html Last Friday, I received a call that my mother was being taken to the hospital from the nursing home where she lives. I called the emergency room to check on her status and was told that she was in critical condition with severe dehydration and a blood infection that had gone septic or spreading throughout her body. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:12:00 +0000 http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_322011231.html http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_322011231.html Befriending a writer can be problematic. There is always the chance of showing up as a character in a book that will be around longer than you may be. You could spend your life committed to good deeds and clean living, and the next thing you know, you’re the inspiration for some bad guy who yells at children and writes bad checks. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:44:00 +0000 http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_320194339.html http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_320194339.html I’m not entirely sure how I feel, generally, about artificially blocking puberty. However, hearing this young girl describe her feelings in her own words was compelling. If someone is in such anguish and wants only freedom, give it to her. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:17:00 +0000 http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_320201423.html http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_320201423.html Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:50:00 +0000 http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_202161949.html http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_202161949.html I recently read with admiration about the local animal shelters and all the wonderful volunteers who work there. The animals are all so appealing. I wish I could feel as positive about our own dog, but I just finished burying the wire for the containment system for the fourth time. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:31:00 +0000 http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_318203209.html http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_318203209.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:27:00 +0000 http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_318202850.html http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_318202850.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:22:00 +0000 http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_318202324.html http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_318202324.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:20:00 +0000 http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_318202101.html http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_318202101.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:35:00 +0000 http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_318015150.html http://www.news-tribune.net/columns/local_story_318015150.html I’ve been writing about politics and public policy since 1985 and the current health care reform sequence is the most complicated issue of my career. So what I’m attempting to do with this column is to work through the many elements that have brought us to the point where the U.S. House has passed a plan and the action now shifts to the U.S. Senate.