I've been pleased in recent weeks to have some thoughtful responses to this column. They contrast to some I'll mention here just to make us thankful for the civil discussion we treasure.
Civil discourse does not include personal attacks or one line rebukes with no supporting information.

I read with frustration “A Setback for Civil Rights,” written by Fritz Groszkruger in the July 1 Hampton Chronicle. I have my own opinions.

We did it! We're halfway through 2020!
To say that this has been a challenging year would be an understatement. It seems that every month we get some horrendous new disaster to deal with.

Karl and I had reservations to fly to California to see fami-ly...until last night. The airline texted that the flights were canceled. So that's on my mind right now.

The game is afoot!
It's been a while since I've written about copyright law, but now there's a case sure to interest. Last week the Conan Doyle Estate filed a lawsuit against Netflix over their upcoming film "Enola Holmes."

I've always thought it was just Rhode Island. But the news says that they are now chang-ing the state's name to Rhode Island from “The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (as on state docu-ments).” The word “planta-tions” is offensive.

The state budget is paid for with Iowans’ hard-earned tax dollars and should reflect your priorities. That’s why a bal-anced budget based on the latest revenue estimates is the first and foremost obligation of the Legislature.
Unfortunately, the $8 bil-lion bundle approved for the fiscal year beginning July 1 failed Iowans on many levels.

It's become routine at this point. I stopped at Kum and Go on my way to work this morning. Before I went in to grab my usual breakfast sandwich and coffee, I pulled up a bandana over my face.
Like my wallet and cell phone, the black piece of elastic material has become just another item that I make sure to grab before I leave the house.
This should be the case for more people.

The COVID-19 crisis has given us an opportunity to discuss the health care system from an unemotional and objective viewpoint.

It's the end of the era and the beginning of a new one.
Last December, Microsoft revealed their Xbox Series X, their next big step in home video game systems.
Last week, Sony responded, finally unveiling their PlayStation 5.

I suppose it's my job to comment on the racial discrimination issue that has taken over public discussion. It is difficult because each time the English language opens a door it be-comes like British soccer fans fleeing a match gone bad. The door is plugged with complications.

The Iowa Legislature resumed our 2020 session at 9 a.m. Wednesday. We suspended the session in March in re-sponse to the coronavirus out-break.

We had a Black Lives Matter rally here in town this weekend.
It was a nice event, largely comprised of the same activities as any other community event you'd find in a small Iowan town. A parade down Main Street and people hanging out in the park.

I was kinda disappointed when I went away to college that I missed out on the Peo-ples' Park riots. College was a small art school in Oakland adjoining Berkeley. Peoples' Park was a vacant lot full of trash owned by the university and acquired through eminent domain (they stole it). Locals cleaned it up, removing derelict cars and demolition debris, planting flowers, trees and shrubs, and installing play-ground equipment.

I had an unremarkable weekend.
I know I'm not the only one, but it kind of feels like it.
While I stayed home, safe and sound in my little town, miles and miles away from any large population center, the major cities of this country once again burned with riots.