2020 has not started off well for my wife, Wendy. Not long after New Year’s , she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She did not court this: cancer does not run in her family, she has never smoked, drinks little, exercises regularly and eats far better than the average American. As her surgeon at Swedish American told her, she was a “one in eight,” meaning she was one of eight American women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. All that said, we are fortunate on two

If there is one thing that the Democratic candidates for President can agree on, it is that the 2020 Iowa caucus was an unmitigated disaster. Problems began when the mobile app that had been designated for reporting results failed to operate. But blaming the tech might be missing the point. Clearly the app -- which was developed by the now aptly named Shadow , Inc. -- did not perform as anticipated. But the cause of the problem was more widespread and systemic. The app was rolled out with little

I’ve been indulging in Valentine’s candy. I tell myself I need solace from the very contentious, chaotic, and crazy events swirling around these days. My flavor of the day is Dove dark chocolate -- which is good for you, isn’t it? But did you know that the mini Doves give you messages? One Dove wrapper told me, “Your vibe attracts your tribe.” Almost as good as a Chinese fortune cookie! Here’s another, “When life isn’t going right, go left.” Well, I’ve been going left for a lot of years, and it

We live in an age where everyone loudly proclaims their rights, even when they inspire fear or threaten another's well-being. When I witness these vociferous defenses of the individual over the collective, I think back to a story my father told me. As a teen, he and his family arrived in Dresden on Feb. 13, 1945. That night the incendiary bombs fell from the sky. In the school cellar where they were sheltered with other refugees, my grandfather managed to get a place next to a wall for himself

The Presidential Medal of Freedom was established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy. It is one of the highest civilian awards given in the United States. The medal is awarded for “especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, or world peace, or cultural or other significant public or private endeavors,” according to government websites. Honorees are selected by the president or recommended by the Distinguished Civilian Service Award Board .

The spellers were nervous. And w ho could blame them? Approximately two dozen 4 th and 5 th graders lined up on a stage with a gymnasium filled with their peers, parents, and grandpar ents sitting behind them. In an age of spell check and auto correct, it’s a wonder anyone can spell any more. And yet these 4 th and 5 th graders could and did , beat ing out the rest of their peers to get to this competition. Before the spelling bee began, rigid rules were announced , a nd then the fun began. O ne

For the second year, we're turning this week’s Perspectives segments over to Breja Fink's A.P. Language and Composition class at Beloit Memorial High School. School always preaches to students about taking its subjects seriously, yet they are never brought up after graduation. After we are released into the real world, most of us will not have a clue about filing taxes, paying a mortgage, or fluently speaking a foreign language because they are not as emphasized in our education system. Foreign

For the second year, we're turning this week’s Perspectives segments over to Breja Fink's A.P. Language and Composition class at Beloit Memorial High School. Everyone’s met her. She may not have been into horses, she may not have even been a girl, but everyone has met the Horse Girl. Maybe she was passionate about a cartoon she might be considered a bit old for. Maybe she had an affinity for a music group that was a little bit out there. She's the “weird” girl your friends may reminisce about

For the second year, we're turning this week’s Perspectives segments over to Breja Fink's A.P. Language and Composition class at Beloit Memorial High School. Cultural assimilation. The all-too-familiar concept for the millions of people who make up this country’s minority population . It’s a concept we have now , thankfully, started to challenge. It fills me with pride to see people finally choosing to embrace the culture that was passed down to them, instead of trying to fit in with what the

For the second year, we're turning this week’s Perspectives segments over to Breja Fink's A.P. Language and Composition class at Beloit Memorial High School. I’ve been running cross country for years now. Along the 5,000-meter courses, I run through quite beautiful wooded trails. However, my focus is always intently on the finish line. How I can get more in the zone, more focused on each minute detail that can help propel me there faster. But why do I do this? So that when I’m done, I can look