Opinion

“Art washes away from the soul, the dust of everyday life.” — Pablo Picasso (1881 - 1973), Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, and ceramicist While hanging the painting of a sad, wet dog on the wall in my newly refurbished “music room slash library” last week, words from some 30 years ago came back to me. “You collect some heavy stuff, man.” They were words of Judy Snouffer, about July 1993.

W A Heartfelt Thank You from the Centennial School Reunion Committee 2025 The Centennial School Reunion Committee 2025 extends our deepest gratitude to everyone who made the recent reunion a truly memorable and successful event. This milestone gathering was filled with joy, laughter, and reflection—and it would not have been possible without the collective spirit and support of so many.

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At Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, we take pride in creating strong connections across our membership. One of the ways we do this is through our longstanding tradition of local Ranch Gatherings — informal, yet impactful events designed to bring members together in their own community.

“Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.” — Mark Twain (1835-1910) celebrated American writer, humorist, and essayist “Do you think animals … our pets, will be in heaven,” my friend asked.

Death toll climbs in Hill Country flooding; Legislators will investigate response to crisis Gov. Greg Abbott said Sunday he’s likely to instruct the Texas Legislature to investigate early warning systems and other governmental responses to July 4 flash flooding that killed at least 82 people in the Hill Country.

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” — Zig Ziglar (1926 – 2012), world-renowned motivational author and speaker “So,” friends ask, “How is retirement going?” “Great,” is my go-to answer. “It lasts just long enough … between calls from people needing my help for a while.” Careful planning of one’s career, I’ve always advocated, is a crucial step in life.

Last year, scientists signed the New York Declaration, formally acknowledging that animals, including invertebrates, have consciousness. That’s right: your dog, your goldfish, and possibly even the cricket chirping behind your fridge at 3 a.m. are not only alive, but aware of it. And now that this is official, I’m not sure whether to celebrate or to start apologizing to every mosquito I’ve ever slapped mid-air.

The passage of the state’s first voucher program means homeschool families in Texas will soon be eligible for up to $2,000 to use toward educational costs such as tutoring or curriculum. From 500,000 to 600,000 Texas children are being homeschooled — between 8% and 10% of all school-aged children, the Houston Chronicle reported.

“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.” — Author Herman Melville “Write an article about the banquet … and make it sound like we had a good time,” the judge pronounced as punishment after declaring me guilty.