I do not consider myself a sports fanatic. I’ll watch the games that are on and enjoy myself, but I’ll never become so invested in a game that I put money on it or threaten to punch a wall.

The lyrics “Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies”* from Fleetwood Mac’s 1987 release of “Little Lies” popped to mind last week with President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter Biden.

Most of us would be hard-pressed, if we had the opportunity let alone the power, to pass up the chance to pardon a child from a conviction for an illegal act. People love their children. People want the best for their children. People don’t want their children to suffer.

How magnanimous of the winning political party and supporters to call for unity and finding common ground given what happened Jan. 6, 2021. The mere fact a peaceful transfer of power is in process is more unity/common ground granted than when they lost.

On Tuesday, Nov. 19, the Weighted Works with Love group hosted members of the Spencer Ambassadors at Grace United Methodist Church. A group photo with the Ambassadors appeared Friday, Nov. 22, on the Business & Ag/Education page of the Spencer Reporter.

I can remember standing in the doorway to our home that leads to the basement looking to the west and seeing what is described as a wall cloud approaching. There was a different smell in the air and rumble in the distance so that all of your senses are playing into what was happening. The wind will briefly still, literally becoming the calm before the storm. It could make the hair on your neck stand on end. It gave you a sense of raw power and that it was irresistible.

In the 1979 movie “The Jerk,” Navin Johnson, the main character played by Steve Martin works tirelessly and single-mindedly to “become somebody.” Already a multimillionaire thanks to an invention, he is excited when he has a drink in his hand that mimmicks a celebrity advertisement for the same drink in an advertisement.

“Be somebody.”

From time-to-time … who am I kidding, weekly … I receive survey results from various sources. Most times I pass on them, but from time-to-time I save those I want to share after I get enough.

Enjoy.

TO TAKE A DATE, OR NOT TO TAKE A DATE, THAT IS THE QUESTION

According to a DatingNews survey, Chick-fil-A is the top first-date choice for Iowa men.

I originally intended to comment on letters previously submitted by several “regulars”: One that characterized the president-elect with nasty name after nasty name, and the other which did more of the same, only he used fewer words. In a presidential election there is a winner and a loser.

Q: When will FAFSA be available?

Dress up a potted dwarf spruce, Norfolk Island pine, lemon cypress or topiary Rosemary or lavender plant for the holidays and enjoy its beauty all year. Add a bit of garland and a few small ornaments for a festive effect.

There is a payoff, Doc told us, for getting the aches and pains of old age. Doc should know. We have it on good authority that he is actually older than a flat, brown rock.

"Sure," said Doc, in his usual cheerful way. "You get gray hair, or maybe kinda bald like ol' Steve here, and you develop wisdom, which we all know just means you know not to argue with your wife, right? So then what happens? Your grandchildren think you have all the answers."

Full disclosure: I never saw the play and I don’t like musicals.

That explained, I really enjoyed “Wicked.”

“No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (The Living Bible).

I was asked to speak last week at the annual conference of the National Freedom of Information Coalition. My remarks boiled down to a simple message: The public needs more information about their governments, not more secrecy from their governments.

I explained a troubling trend I see worming its way through local governments in Iowa. This trend cuts at the heart of the public meeting law that has served our state and its citizens well for 50 years.

The late David Rhodes returns to his beloved Driftless region of southwestern Wisconsin in his futuristic novel “Painting Beyond Walls,” a story of a man of humble beginnings who goes on to achieve great things. The novel was published in September 2022, two months before Rhodes’ death.