Wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy a little humor in the current presidential campaigns? Nothing is funny about what’s going on. Despite what you thought of John Kennedy, his politics or his …

Better Business Bureau (BBB) is noticing an increase in calls related to door-to-door sales. Door-to-door salespeople offer paving services, pine straw, magazine subscriptions, security alarms, or …

It’s been a long time coming, but I’m finally happy to say that my first book is nearly here. My novelette, Tales of the Bloodstalker: Blackmane’s Chest is being released in May of 2024. …

This past Easter, after visiting Blackville First Baptist Church, (BFBC); I left the parking lot with such gratitude for new beginnings. Raised Catholic as a young child I remember daydreaming …

I was that kid who loved going to the Scholastic bookfairs in elementary school. I collected Captain Underpants, sticker books, and Magic Treehouse. I loved getting books. I loved reading time during …

Our granddaughter Abigail texted, asking if we would like to hear an author speak during our visit to Birmingham. The name of his book is, How to Stay Married. “I think she wants us to hear a …

Whether you’re in need of HVAC system installation, electrical work, a new roof on your house, or you’re ready for a bathroom remodel, it’s extremely important that you check out prospective …

I love to read. I like to think myself as a fairly well-read person. However, in my lifetime as a reader, I have come across books that were just not worth the hype. Here are some of them. 1. The …

Awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 and the Nobel prize in 1954, Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea is regarded as the finest piece of literature that was ever written by the author. This …

Sitting on my shelf for a few years, I decided to finally read all the way through Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology. A large part of this had to do with the fact that I had just finished John …

I was at a Christmas party last month when I got into a conversation with a friend about books (one of my favorite conversations to have). We were talking mostly about young adult books and fantasy …

The IRS recently announced that they will begin accepting 2023 tax returns on Monday, January 29th and the filing deadline will be Monday, April 15th. If you need help with your tax preparation, now …

The first book of The Bloodsworn Trilogy, John Gwynne’s The Shadow of the Gods, is an engagingly entertaining epic of warriors and monsters. The book follows three different characters. Orka, a …

According to reports, more than 50% of us returned a Christmas gift during the 2022 holiday season. Clothing topped the list with home decor following close behind. But with holiday returns also …

As is our holiday custom, my wife and I were watching the highly entertaining Muppets version of the timeless tale A Christmas Carol last week. Viewing this version of the story began when my …

Did you know that Christopher Columbus discovered America while cursing about the Atlantic? And that his ships were called the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Fe? No, I didn’t know that either. …

I have never been a very touchy-feely person. I was trained as a biologist and chemist, then went to medical school where more science on top of science was aimed at me like a gushing firehose. I …

Okay, this is one that I need to get off my chest, and some of you will not like it. Columns are fickle things, and Mind Matters is no different. Sometimes my biweekly pieces write themselves, full …

Recently I’ve been teaching a lot of nonfiction to my students. We studied biographies a couple of weeks ago, and last week we transitioned to reading autobiographies. We read “Funeral” by …

“Are you wearing a Christmas shirt?” my wife asked with a slight hint of embarrassment and disbelief in her voice. We were heading to supper after work on Nov. 1 when she noticed my shirt that …

After my mother-in-law died last month, the family was faced with the task of going through her things, her apartment, her papers, her life. That process, for those of you who have lost someone close …

Have you ever wondered how long you can store perishable foods that have been vacuum-packed? It would seem like air-proof packaging would keep them safe for a very long time - right?? Not …

What do you look forward to when you sit down to a meal? Are you most concerned with how the food looks or are you busier calculating the quantity of vitamins, fiber, and protein? For 99% of …

I love to eat. I also love to travel. Traveling serves up new sights, smells, sounds, and tastes. As a foodie, I personally enjoy experiencing the culinary delicacies of the places I visit, even …

This week, I wanted to spend some time taking a look at some of the characters that will make an appearance in my upcoming book (tentatively titled Blackmane’s Chest). These characters are …