By EVERETT TAYLOR

In today’s political climate, a liberal Auntie Mame might say that life is a banquet, which the government must pay for, and that those who can’t afford a place at the table should behave as if it was an all-you-can eat buffet.

Let’s do a thought experiment asking whether Americans are for or against slavery. You might say, “What are you talking about, Williams? We fought a war that cost more than 600,000 lives to end slavery!” To get started, we might find a description that captures the essence of slavery. A good working description is: slavery is a set of circumstances whereby one person is forcibly used to serve the purposes of another person and has no legal claim to the fruits of his labor.

If there is a God, surely his work is held up by offenses — not in the sense of “held back,” but in the sense of lifted up for all to see. It’s through offenses that true motivation and the measure of any person’s spirit is revealed and contrasted against God’s standards.

I’m a gun owner by philosophy, not passion. Although there are firearms in my home, it’s been years since I’ve fired any of them. In other words, I treasure my right to bear arms, but I exercise my right to neglect them.

On a recent trip to Reno-Tahoe, I realized how well the community, its eating establishments and individuals reap the rewards of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and herbs that grow in the area.

It may sound like a threatening, predatory dinosaur, but a “Raptor” can be found inside seven Tyler ISD elementary schools protecting students and helping the staff keep track of visitors.

It’s always great to see a loved one back from Iraq, even if it’s a quick visit before they head back to the war.

By CINDY MALLETTE

The snap of the bull whip, the crooked smile under the brown Fedora-style hat and the musical score from John Williams all sent me down memory lane.

Being a regional reporter means a lot of time on the road and, for me, that means treks through Henderson and Cherokee counties to cover meetings, major events and other happenings.

I received one of those forwarded e-mails last week that usually make the waste basket immediately. This one, however, really hit home. Here’s what it said: I took a day last week to review all my e-mails for last year. It was frightening, yet enlightening.

If you are a bride-to-be planning a wedding, there’s so much to do: get the dress, choose a caterer, book a venue, select the flowers. But there’s one more important thing you may need to put on your list: contact Social Security if there’s going to be a name change.

“Engage in regular physical activity”… this is one of the key recommendations from the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Having an active lifestyle can mean outings as a family for hiking, camping, and other recreational activities which often involve food. As we approach the warm summer months, be sure to handle food safely.

The Victoria-style house on Bois d’Arc Avenue, known for 16 years as HIS house, doesn’t make a sound.