Last year, when Dick Van Dyke turned 100, it felt less like a birthday and more like a national thank-you note. Everywhere you looked—TV tributes, interviews, clips circulating online—there was this shared sense that we weren’t just celebrating a man’s longevity, but the way he’s been woven into American culture for generations. I found myself …
Lately I’ve been thinking about friction-maxxing—a concept that’s been buzzing around as we head into 2026. I first encountered it in an article by Kathryn Jezer-Morton, and it really made me pause. At its core, friction-maxxing is about choosing discomfort and challenge over ease and automation—not out of masochism, but because friction helps us actually …
Those close to me know I love to sing. In the shower. In the car. Working in the kitchen. I’ve even done karaoke once in my life. I don’t plan to go on tour anytime roon. Nor will I ever be a vocalist in a band. And I’m good with that. But I will keep …
It is time to close out this list of Top Ten blog posts. This time of year, food is a central theme. So I figured a good way to go out would be to look at some of my favorite places to eat. Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar—I discovered this regional chain on a trip to …
At the end of the year, a lot of people look back at things that happened during the year. I’ve never done that before, so I figured it was time to give it a try. So please bear with me as I take this step of looking at the top things I am thankful for …
When I first heard the story of the Marion County Record, I could see my reporter notebooks scattered across that newsroom floor. I imagine my laptop bag being hauled away as evidence, my phone sealed in a plastic bag, my camera’s memory cards quarantined, my sources suddenly cut off because someone in power did not …
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Like a lot of holidays, food plays a central role around the family gatherings and celebrations. So, continuing with the Top Ten trend, today I am looking at my favorite foods from holidays past. Once again, in my particular order… Cherry cordial candies Danish butter cookies Freshly roasted chestnuts Pecan pie Little Debbie Christmas Tree …
Continuing with the Top Ten focus for this month’s Tuesday posts, I give you (once again, in no particular order) my Top Ten Movies. The Blues Brothers is a chaotic musical comedy that follows Jake and Elwood Blues as they try to save the Catholic orphanage where they grew up. Their “mission from God” leads …
With the year drawing to a close, I can’t help but ask: Has this year gone by faster than previous years? From my gaming chair, the answer seems to be a resounding “Yes!” So I thought I might end this year a bit differently. So this month, I’m going to commit my Tuesday posts—all five …
I’ve only ventured out among the early-bird Black Friday shoppers a handful of times, and that was enough to know it isn’t for me. I remember standing in long lines before sunrise, watching crowds rush through store doors the moment they opened, everyone chasing that once-a-year deal. It was a fascinating sight—part tradition, part frenzy—but …
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