Columnist William Perugino in Friday’s paper complained that the Department of Health and Human Services and Secretary Kathleen Sibelius had announced that all health insurance must offer sterilization, contraception and abortion drugs with no regard for individual beliefs. He feels that the founding fathers who fled to America to find religious freedom would now believe that that religious freedom was taken from them. » Read More

In order to keep my national certification as a modest and much-beloved columnist, I am required to submit annually a State of the Column message. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please stand and applaud if you hear something that floats your boat or look bored if you don’t. You may be on television. » Read More

Transitional phases are never easy. Whether it’s remodeling a kitchen, rearranging the furniture or cleaning out a closet, the transitional phase is always a bit messy. This past month, we had our children’s bathroom remodeled. We put it off for as long as we could. The shower has leaked for years, so our two children have been using our master bathroom for showers. The water in the sink only ran out in a trickle, barely ... » Read More

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Just because the economy is bad doesn’t mean your social life has to be.  » Read More

The very essences of the principles devoted to the founding of our country were steeped in the preservation of religious freedom. Our founding fathers fled their homes in Europe and England to find a land where they were free to worship God as they believed and pursue their lives as they wished in happiness and peace. They died to gain their freedom of religion. » Read More

“I’m not James Taylor,” laughs Mansfield’s singer/songwriter Johnny Roquemore, known more for his humorous, bluegrass-inspired compositions than the smooth ballads delivered by tweed-clad Taylor. Growing up in DeKalb County, Roquemore picked up an electric guitar at 14 and with a neighborhood band made some “big noise,” he recalled.  “All I ever wanted was an amp taller than me.” In college, he played frat parties in another band, but at the same time, he got hooked ... » Read More

Whew! That was close! I almost became a Baptist the other day. Not just any Baptist, but a (gulp!) Southern Baptist. » Read More

Whatever happened to good, old-fashioned fun? I’m here to tell you, friends. Nothing happened. Good, old-fashioned fun is waiting for you and your family right outside your back door. Not only can you have hours of fun together, but you can do it for free while getting (dare I say it?) exercise, too! Like some cosmic added bonus, you’ll all get to unplug from screen time — cell phones, television, computers, eReaders, iWhatevers. You can ... » Read More

On the rainy weekend a few weeks ago I indulged in some retail therapy — shopping. A rainy weekend with nothing to do seemed the perfect occasion to shop. I don’t know many women who dislike shopping, especially if they can score a bargain. » Read More

The sweat somehow made the moment more real. There we were, standing on the stage at the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Columbia, S.C., on Saturday night with my dad, Newt Gingrich, celebrating his primary victory. It was the sweat rolling down the faces and dripping off the noses of the television cameramen, photographers, audience members and even those on stage celebrating that transformed the almost surreal scene into reality. » Read More

In case you missed this, a scientist, Leonid Ksanfomaliti, at the Space Research Institute of Russia's Academy of Science, announced he analyzed photographs from a 1982 probe of Venus and thinks they may reveal life on the planet. » Read More

Unless you’ve been under a rock for the past couple of years, you know about predictions from some quarters that the world will end on Dec. 21, 2012.  That date marks the end of a 5,125-year cycle as calculated by the now dead Mayan culture that once inhabited parts of southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. While the Mayans themselves marked the end of one of their time cycles with celebration, many interpretations ... » Read More

State Sen. Tommie Williams (R-Lyons), one of our two unelected lieutenant governors — Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) is the other — sent out a puff piece taking much credit for authoring a bill to require local school boards to consider a teacher’s “effectiveness,” not seniority, when getting rid of teachers. People both inside and outside state government tell me that Williams has solved a problem that doesn’t exist. Many school boards are already doing this. Seniority ... » Read More

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Rock Eagle 4-H Center continues to change as cabins are gutted, torn down and replaced with beautiful new cabins. » Read More

I don’t know what the state curriculum requires now, but when I taught, the Language Arts curriculum required students to write a term paper or research paper in the 10th and 11th grades. It was difficult enough then, but it must be impossible now with the blessing and the curse of the Internet. » Read More

As the man said who watched the mule dance: "That just ain't right." » Read More

Even now - far removed from the original passions - I can still remember that my friends and I were once young and vibrant. When we were just approaching our 20s, we were night owls, prowling the Atlanta New Wave music scene when we should have been doing calculus homework. On a typical weekend in our suburban town, we'd finish our work at the mall or any of a dozen other places desperate enough to ... » Read More

I don't know what the state curriculum requires now, but when I taught, the Language Arts curriculum required students to write a term paper or research paper in the 10th and 11th grades. It was difficult enough then, but it must be impossible now with the blessing and the curse of the Internet. » Read More

Our democratic republic is founded on the basis that there is an informed active and participating citizenry. Somehow through the years our society has become apathetic and lazy in the responsibility to stay aware of issues in our government and intellectually curious enough to seek the facts and actions of our elected leaders.  » Read More

You knew this column had to be written.  It’s just too obvious. I can’t turn and look the other way.  The topic just fell into my lap, so who could ignore it or pretend it didn’t happen and just go on as before?  Nobody, I say, and least of all, me. » Read More

State School Superintendent John Barge knows what teachers can do, given the opportunity. "A teacher turned my life around," he said in a recent telephone conversation. Monty Fountain, a teacher and a coach at Alexander High School in Douglas County became a father-figure and set him on his career path. » Read More

Part of the joy of a presidential campaign is visiting different parts of the country. This past week was New Hampshire week. I’ve been to New Hampshire about a half-dozen times. It’s a beautiful state. Mountains, ocean, beautiful forests and normally snow this time of year. However, we were snowless. » Read More