Opinion

Let’s hear it for humanities!In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act.

Virtually all of the articles that I have written have been about agriculture.That is a byproduct of this Kansas farm boy’s upbringing. The land, and the people who tend to it, are topics close to my heart.

The ubiquitous image of a farm includes a red barn, which historically took that shade because iron oxide, or rust, was added to the linseed oil to prevent mold and fungus. It also added the red hue that became synonymous with barns.

Dear friends, colleagues, neighbors and (possibly) interested parties, thanks to overwhelming response from Leavenworth County and beyond, Leavenworth County Humane Society Inc., is still serving.On Feb. 4, the president, vice president and director of animal welfare couldn’t see a way to continue.

I recently read a letter to the editor in one of my woodworking magazines in which the writer said that he was concerned about the future of woodworking because of the rising costs of hardwood lumber. I'm not sure that lumber prices are going to kill the woodworking hobby, although it may result in fewer willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars over the years on nice equipment and its maintenance.As the editor suggested, he may have to just make smaller projects and use less expensive species of wood.One viable option is to avoid the costs of equipment that include not only their purchase price and maintenance, but also the location of all that equipment, often in your garage or in a special workshop building, all significant costs, to be sure.

The cities of Leavenworth and Lansing, and Leavenworth County, take pride in being recognized as a hub for prison and corrections excellence, showcasing a commitment to public safety, responsible rehabilitation and community support. The community is the largest congregation of correctional installations in the state.

I've moved since my last writing into an apartment with a walk-in shower. Boy, is that nice.

Do you believe that private citizens, rather than the overreaching, intrusive federal government, should be the safety net for fellow Kansans?Do you think that our best museums should operate not with the aid of taxpayer money, but instead from the revenue created by large private donations?Do you think that ambitious science should be funded through millions of small donations from everyday Americans who will rationally donate each year?Do you worry that the federal government will create socialized medicine by being involved — at all — in American health care?“Yes. Yes.