What a talent. What a woman. What a story. At age 80, Dolly Parton has passed away. There is much to admire... Her career spanned 60 years. She made 50 studio albums. She won eleven Grammys, three Emmys, and was nominated by the Academy, Golden Globes, Tonys and more. She
Once again we come to the end our an annual summer series, a time when we hear the varied perspectives from a variety of people. What a great group of writers and an insightful slate of topics! From books to billionaires to examining human birthrights… From life in the margins
As has become a bit of a tradition, we end this year’s Guest Writer Series with keen insights from my favorite guest blogger. He is articulate and creative and really good with people. He likes college football, country music, and most all edible Mexican fare. He is my gifted
[Welcome to our annual Guest Writers Series. Meet articulate contributor #11...] Have you ever stopped to think of all the lives you could have lived? We made so many choices to get to where we are today, and if we had heeded another call on our time, where would we
[Welcome to our annual Guest Writer Series. Meet articulate contributor #10...] I know this sounds ridiculous. Especially in a country and culture where beauty seems to be the most valuable commodity of being human. I come at this from a weird perspective. Let me give you some background for context.
[Welcome to our annual Guest Writers Series. Meet articulate contributor #9...] I don’t know about the rest of the world, but those of us living in Chicago have been subjected to a daily barrage of fact, fiction, opinion, rhetoric, and various other forms of clickbait over the past several
[Welcome to our annual Guest Writer Series. Meet articulate contributor #8...] I’ve been an Anglophile for decades and recently became so enchanted with Scotland that I’m hoping to find a way to rent a house over there soon. I’ve been watching as the United Kingdom encompassing England,
[Welcome to our annual Guest Writers Series. Meet creative contributor #7...] Who wants to be a disciple? This question sprouts in my mind every time I read the New Testament. The disciples came from humble backgrounds, followed Jesus Christ, and then died in a variety of gruesome ways. They abandoned
[Welcome to our annual Guest Writers Series. Meet articulate contributor #6...] Hey folks—me again, the foreigner who still believes that America is a noble experiment of a country that should be admired. I didn't say perfect—just noble. I arrived in the U.S. in the early
[Welcome to our annual Guest Writers Series. Meet contributor #5...] I can’t remember not being able to read. Books have always been my companion. My bed had a headboard to which a lamp was attached. I would pull the covers over my head and it, so my parents could
[Welcome to our annual Guest Writers Series. Meet articulate contributor #4...] When did the United States of America become the UNunited States of America? With certainty, I can tell you it wasn't overnight. It has been a steady and slow progression over the past 25+ years as media
[Welcome to our annual Guest Writers Series. Meet contributor #3...] On June 12, 2026, SpaceX held an initial public offering, allowing ownership shares to be sold on the stock market for the first time. By the end of the day, the company’s market valuation was about $2 trillion. SpaceX’