Generally, I refrain from getting involved in politics. The headline that states our Department of Defense has been renamed the Department of War instantly alarms me; it suggests that our nation should focus on projecting strength and toughness. This change indicates that the Defense Department may no longer be sufficiently powerful to protect our lives and freedoms.

If this change is approved, the Defense Secretary will be titled Secretary of War. The last time someone held this title was during World War II. To me, changing the names is a political move supporting large-scale deportations of people considered threats and aligns with recent actions, like ordering forces to sink a foreign-flagged ship and kill 11 crew members, who are alleged drug runners. All of this creates a frightening, negative image worldwide. Some have even proposed awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to our leader. It’s worth noting that the award is not called “The Nobel War Prize.”

A major newspaper organized a fun contest to discover the best pizza you can buy in a grocery store. They tried out 11 different brands, each topped solely with cheese (a bit disappointing). I thought one of them would definitely stand out, but it ended up in last place; one tester even described it as “mushy” and “doughy.” Interestingly, one of the most popular options was humorously dubbed “tastes like herbed cardboard.”

Moving along, one “tastes like air” and, another was thought to be”too floppy”. The final one, DiGiorno was the clear winner. So, with a retail price of around $4.60 this is the one to keep in your fridge.

Here’s a pope who appeals to the masses; I’m quite certain he’s the first pontiff spotted riding a new BMW motorcycle. We shouldn’t find this too surprising, as he’s known to enjoy playing tennis.

I remember the excitement of visiting stores like Sears and Montgomery Ward, with their enormous mail order catalogs filled with pictures of all sorts of items I longed for. It was probably October when they began to send out catalogs directly to our homes, offering countless options to explore. These stores had endless counters with live demonstrations and samples, creating a lively and interactive shopping experience. Comparing that to the convenience of shopping online, it’s a whole different world, and I truly miss the joy of browsing in person.

For many kids, including myself, the Mickey Mouse Club was absolutely the best show to watch. Around 1958, everyone loved Annette, who was part of the cast. Boys my age couldn’t get enough of her. The other kids were also very talented, but Annette truly stole the spotlight. Honestly, she was simply the best. Confess now, do you agree?

Most of the time, I share fun things that made me smile. Today, I read an article in a major newspaper about the newest school shooter, Robin Westman. She documented in detail how she planned to carry out the attack, keeping secret diaries about acquiring a weapon and her plans to harm children. One entry read, “Oh my God! I got it. I have a shotgun!”

This is a person who has had lifelong difficulties. She described in 3 secret diaries how she would commit mass murder and who killed two children and injured 18 other people. This is a person who posted videos on YouTube. She wrote of her early fascination with school shooters and settled on her former church, Annunciation, the scene of the shooting.

The article I read included a comment from someone who knew her, saying, “she led a troubled life from an early age, filled with grievances, hatred, and self-harm.” I wonder how people can write such detailed comments. However, she never received medical help, despite her difficulties being well-known. She was found dead at the rear of the church from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot, so we may never understand her motives. She was 23 years old.

Unfortunately, Greyhound today, what’s left of it, is way different from the Greyhound of yesteryear in this 1951 ad. I remember several pretty long rides, and for certain, not a single rider was dressed like these folks or this happy.

Not long ago, I looked into taking the bus from where I live to Louisville, and it was a nearly impossible journey. So much for saving money.

This is one of the most ridiculous ads ever published. I would love to see the ‘nationwide survey’ that provided the statistics convincing enough to make me rush out and buy one of the strongest cigarettes ever sold. Back in my day, if you were smoking a Camel, you were just a hair’s breadth from the cancer clinic. I guess that’s convenient, as there will be many doctors nearby who smoke.

A wave of negative comments from politicians and public opinion targeted Florida’s policy team regarding incarceration at this facility. By any reasonable standard, the conditions there were unacceptable. By the end of this week, the facility—constructed with millions of dollars—will be empty and shut down. It never should have been built in the first place.

This ad really made me laugh out loud. I remember how every kid would pester their mom to buy Twinkies. Honestly, the product wasn’t the best for our health, but with “body-building” vitamins, who could blame moms for giving in? I also have fond memories of the cupcakes—my sister loved the chocolate one, and I fancied the fake coconut cupcake. Ah well, if I were to eat either now, I know I’d be very, very sorry.