Opinion

As bets go, two $10 wagers that I could lose more weight than other dieters aren't substantial from a monetary standpoint. But losing is a blow to my pride and an indictment of my willpower.

Technically, I haven't lost the two "Biggest Loser-type" contests inspired by the TV show. But it's looking that way.

"Edge of Darkness" marks the first time Mel Gibson has starred in a film for nearly eight years. It's a shame Mel waited this long, because he's still got it.

Maybe you feel differently about him after all the controversy of the past few years. If his remarks or actions made you hate him, this film isn't going to bring you back on his side. If, like me, you ignore controversy and just watch a movie, then you'll get a nostalgic feeling while watching "Edge of Darkness" and you'll wish Mel never took a break.

I pounded out this column on Friday as the area was preparing for another round of snow. I won't mind the few inches that were forecast as long as it doesn't turn to ice like it did last Tuesday and moves us one step closer to spring.

Indiana Rep. David Wolkins made a strange suggestion recently.

A friend of Wolkins who works in a landfill reportedly told the representative that the majority of waste that he sees in his line of work is tossed-out newspapers. Deciding that this was a problem that he could propose a fix to, Wolkins introduced legislation in House Bill 1355 that would tax newspapers for the newsprint they use.

By doing this, he believes newspapers will use a greater amount of recycled content, which would reduce the number of old papers lying around in landfills.

Do the collection of communities that make up Perry County have the government and school systems they want and need?

Many residents would say "yes, we're happy with the way things are."

That's a perfectly legitimate response. If it's the way the majority of residents feel, perhaps things should remain as they are.

We have reason to believe, however, some people feel they aren't treated as well as others are, even though they make the same contributions through property and sales taxes.

Poland was conquered by the Nazi juggernaut early in the second World War. After only five weeks of fierce fighting, the country capitulated.

The German conquerors herded 450,000 Jewish inhabitants of Warsaw into a 16-block ghetto section of town where they were, in effect, imprisoned, unable to leave.

Individuals make New Year's resolutions on a wide range of topics, from shedding pounds and giving up cigarettes to saving more money for retirement and spending more time with loved ones.

The U.S. census 2010 is on our doorstep and will be here in just a little over 60 days and it really matters to everyone in our community, our county, our state and our nation.

Many people turn their noses up whenever the census is mentioned. But it is an extremely important part of life in America every 10 years.

We are all part of a team and when a player doesn't do his or her part, everyone loses. The census is not something that came about during this century or the last.

Several years ago when one of our staff writers said she wanted to write an editorial on vandalism, she was jokingly asked, “Are you for it or against it?”

Amazingly, an issue that should be as cut and dried as that one is now before the Indiana General Assembly - whether to prohibit texting while driving for all Indiana drivers.