The Justice Department announced a grand jury indictment yesterday against Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., on charges of lying to federal investigators and concealing the source of illegal campaign contributions. Ho-hum. Another corrupt politician getting caught. On to the next one. Except that the details of Fortenberry’s case provide lessons for the rest of us. It shouldn’t be such an obvious lesson, but […]

The early 2000’s crime and politics drama “The Wire” arguably was the first to expose the public to the concept of what “legalizing” drugs would look like when put into practice. Desperate to contain a growing heroin problem and the gang violence that came with it, an enterprising police major in Baltimore created “Hamsterdam.” In a few square blocks of […]

Ukraine’s courageous fight against an invading foe eight times its size has captured many hearts. It has prompted many of us to pray for peace or to contribute to refugee relief efforts. But for some of us, including many Americans, it’s stirred a desire to join the fight. Following Russia’s invasion in late February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky created the […]

The first thing to know about shed hunting is that it has nothing to do with searching for small storage buildings. The term shed hunting refers to a different kind of shed: deer antlers. (And yes, “shed” is indeed a noun. The American Heritage Dictionary defines this kind of shed as “something, such as exoskeleton or outer skin, that has been […]

Sometimes it feels good to let your personality shine through for everyone else on the road to see. And at other times, a stick in the mud working for the government wants to tell you what you can and can’t do. Just suck it up and accept your 710 MZT license plate like every other miserable commuter out there. But […]

Anybody with a bit of romantic imagination knows there’s a man or woman in the moon. Or maybe, if you’re from China, it’s a rabbit. Or, if you’re a member of the Salish Tribe in the Pacific Northwest, a toad. Wherever you’re from, you know there’s something special about the moon. It’s not just craters, rocks, and dust. It’s an […]