Opinion

They say having kids will keep you young. They also say your kids will give you gray hair and empty bank accounts. My kids are competent at generating all these conditions through their presence in my life. I love them with all my heart, and we have decided they are worth the investment despite the accompanying sacrifices.

More than 2 million Texans lost power when Hurricane Beryl hit the Texas coast, and Gov. Greg Abbott wants to know why. The Austin American-Statesman reported Abbott has ordered the Public Utility Commission to conduct an immediate study into why the Houston area has again been hit by widespread power outages.

Afterglows are wonderful, but are waning of late. Many folks forfeit times of warm reflection, too busy in endless pursuits of whatever comes next.

Over the years, I have done several mission trips where I worked in around thirty different nations. I have been blessed to experience many diverse cultures and learned that we live in a huge world that is, somehow, still very small.

A year after a new state law ended mandatory water breaks in Texas, a proposed federal rule would protect millions of workers from the risks caused by extreme heat, The Texas Tribune reported. The rule would require employers to create plans to prevent heat injuries and illnesses and ensure workers get access to drinking water, rest breaks and control of indoor heat.

In the 1970s, Kris Kristofferson wrote a song that would become the ballad of an entire movement. Most of us know the song as it was recorded by Janis Joplin, “Me and Bobby McGee.” In the chorus, Kristofferson makes a radical claim. He states, “Freedom is just another word for ‘nothing left to lose’...” To be clear, he is precisely right. Our ability to live totally free hinges upon how much we are bound by our stuff.

Walt Kelly is most remembered for his comic strip published more than a half-century ago. Its central figure, Pogo--campaigning to fight world pollution--made an incisive statement that still rings true.

With the Fourth of July bringing a possible four-day weekend for lucky Texans, the Texas A&M Forest Service urges outdoor enthusiasts to exercise _re safety outdoors, especially when using _reworks or starting camp_res to roast hot dogs and toast marshmallows. Approximately 90% of wild_res are caused by humans and their activities, and the Fourth of July is one of the top days for reported wild_res, according to the forest service.

A Texas doctor, closing out a hectic week, hoped it to be his _nal medical appointment. He stared at a Q-tip that was devoid of cotton at both ends.

Many years ago, I made a living remodeling supermarkets. This work is performed at night so the store can stay open during the project. The dif_culty involved keeping the store clean, the department heads happy, and the groceries cold and fresh during the work. Maintaining the refrigeration system while we moved cases and equipment around was a great challenge. It required a strong, very skilled crew who maintained a positive attitude to deal with the demands of working at night. It proved wise to ensure they were well fed and taken care of through the life of the job.