Opinion

Along time ago I watched a documentary about poet Emily Dickenson’s life and writings. One thing that I never forgot about that film is that she lived at a time when death was regrettably common - and therefore the subject of many of her poems.

The July Bureau of Labor Statistics report was a blockbuster. The economy created 528,000 jobs, and unemployment dipped to 3.5%, well ahead of Dow Jones’ 258,000 new jobs and 3.6% unemployment estimates. Wage growth also rose. Average hourly earnings increased 0.5% for the month and 5.2% yearover- year, higher than, respectively, the 0.03% and 4.9% Wall Street estimates. An 0.05% increase, however, keeps consumers getting poorer as inflation last month proceeded at an 8.5% rate. But no federal government report merits more skepticism than this monthly jobs report. If the jobs market were truly booming, then the labor participation rate should be climbing. Instead, the participation rate is falling.

Dear Neil: This plant was in our landscape when we bought our house new 30 years ago. The cold in February 2021 hurt it badly.

Iwas watching an old documentary the other day about classic Hollywood stars. Henry Fonda, a man who epitomized the stalwart, decent American, was the narrator, and he walked us through several decades of famous (and sometimes infamous) actors, from Charlie Chaplin to Natalie Wood.

East Texas is hot, and not in the way you compliment your wife when she’s mad at you for performing an epic cannonball while she’s lounging by the pool with her laptop. For the past few weeks, Texas (and much of the world) has been suffering through a distressing phenomenon known as summer, that time of year when we all remember what it’s like being toddlers walking around with drenched undergarments.

In 1 Corinthians 2:9 the Apostle Paul quotes the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 64:4 & 65:17) when he writes, “But as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.’” This is an incredibly famous verse that is quoted often by many Christians, pastors, and evangelists. The problem that is often present when verses like this are quoted is a frequent problem - a lack of context and reading of the verses that occur before and after that verse (i.e. - Philippians 4:13 or Jeremiah 29:11). The unfortunate reality of the Bible saturated world that we live in is that is common for versus like 1 Corinthians 2:9 to be ripped off of their pages and out of their context to mean whatever we want them to mean.

Karan Heffelfinger Do you have a child who is back in school? Check out these tips for keeping your student healthy during the hectic backto- school season. Back to school time can be stressful for parents and kids.

Dear Neil: I took this photo last fall at a garden in South Texas. I’d like to grow this plant.

The real crisis The Supreme Court decree eliminating a constitutional right to privacy and bodily autonomy for women and banning abortion by the Texas legislature were myopic and cruel acts based on a myth that the only acceptable purpose of sexual behavior is to produce more babies. Perhaps the most important function of sexual behavior is affectionate bonding, which enhances relationships and strengthens families.