Opinion

“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” — Sam Ewing, Former American baseball player for the Chicago White Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays. Now Hiring.

Now that my age has surpassed the mid-century mark and I’m more ancient than virtually all professional athletes, everyone in my department at work, and even my pastor at church, I’ve noticed that the old memory is not what it used to . . . . Wait. What was I writing about again?

One summer night, we fell in love. One summer night, I held you tight.

There is a very delicate balance between our judicial system’s need to gather evidence and a person’s natural rights (rights every person has, not permissions granted by government) enshrined in the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights. The Fourth Amendment to our Constitution guarantees each citizen’s right to “be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures”. The key word is unreasonable. The amendment, and significant case law, goes on to list how a search or arrest warrant may be legally issued. As a Justice of the Peace, one of my most solemn duties is to ensure the law is followed while protecting the rights of the citizen. Indeed, as the Supreme Court opined in Boyd v. United States (1886), “It is the duty of courts to be watchful for the constitutional rights of the citizen, and against any stealthy encroachments thereon”.

“He’s a pinball wizard, There has got to be a twist. A pinball wizard’s Got such a supple wrist.” — Song lyrics ‘The Pinball Wizard” by The Who Remember video games? Yeah, I know they’re still around. I’m talking about early iterations: Nintendo, Pac-Man, Pong, Odyssey. I don’t know the history of video games, but I have no doubt my son does.

The Rio Grande There was a time of joyful people who came and went from both sides. They crossed the Rio as they pleased, no longer, now the Rio cries.

The week of Monday, May 4 is Teacher Appreciation Week. After a year of political scheming in Austin that held funding hostage for long-overdue teacher pay raises in a failed effort to push through voucher schemes, there has never been a more important time for local communities to show their teachers how much they are appreciated.

“If you don’t like the weather, just wait a few minutes. It will change.” — Attributed to both Will Rogers and Mark Twain, depending on what you read.

Dear Alpine Cowboys fans, players, staff, and volunteers, My great-grandfather donated Kokernot field to AISD back in the day and AISD leases it to Sul Ross and Sul Ross subleases the field for three-and-a-half months to the Alpine Cowboys. We have always paid a small fee in addition to in-kind improvements and maintenance since we became a 501c3 Non-Profit in 2011.

I’m trying hard to remember. What was so dad-gum funny about that?”— Me.