And then there’s the TV commercials for “those romantic moments.” I swear I’m not making this up, but one of the commercials shows a man and a woman sitting in separate bathtubs in the middle of the woods. Why? Because you never know when the time is right. Men buy this product, of course. Why? Because they are scared to death that one day they’ll come home and see two bathtubs sitting in the woods or the backyard under two tiki torches and a plastic palm tree. Hey, you never know when the time is right. You must be prepared.

If I have learned nothing else in 50 years, I've learned this: If we cannot respect, we cannot like; if we cannot like, we cannot love; if we prefer to judge, we cannot forgive.

Hey, before I forget, did you hear the one about the bartender and the three lawmakers at the Ohio Statehouse? A Republican senator, a Democrat House member and the governor walk into the new Statehouse bar. The bartender says, “What is this, some kind of joke?”

Most of the time, I’m smart enough to avoid entering into a debate with Jim Surber. And, by no means, is that my intent today. But when Jim used these medium to lament the End Times of newspapers, I couldn’t help but smile.

On those rare occasions in the American political landscape where an all-Democratic political body appoints a Republican to public service or where an all-Republican political body appoints a Democrat to public service, it sends a clear message about the character and integrity of the appointed person.

The majority of us in America’s small towns and rural communities are friends and neighbors. And we ought to start acting like it. In the past several months, we seem to have lost a little focus on the important things. Why?

This attempt to place blame on the city auditor, if that's the intent, may be one of the more disingenuous comments to ever come from the city administration (except that there have been so many of them, it's hard to keep track).

John Wayne never texted. I’ve often said that it’s my final bucket list goal to be the last man on Earth without a cell phone. When John Wayne gets a cell phone, I tell my few friends, so will I. Of course, that’s usually about the same time that Winchester Willie “Ol' Rebar” Lange informs me that “John Wayne’s just a Little Bit Dead” and in no need of a cellular communications device.

Once again, Rob Portman is ahead of the legislative curve. The current U.S. senator and former Second District congressman from eastern Hamilton County campaign strongly on job retention and creation in last year's race against Lee Fisher. A big part of that campaign was an incentive for employers which called for a one-year payroll tax holiday on all income below $50,000.

“All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.”

I was fortunate to serve with Ben on the SSCC board since his appointment by Gov. Ted Strickland in 2008/ In addition to his friendship, the board appreciated Ben’s straightforward approach and wonderful sense of humor. He will be missed more than words can say.

Our thought-process behind the coverage has been this: Be accurate, be fair, be informative to the general public and be beholden to no one. Simply put, we have no entangling alliances with any public official, candidate for public office, or political party. Period. We intend to keep it that way, too.

While I’ll miss Ed’s old-fashioned, fire-and-brimstone radio sermons, the sinner in me might just rest a bit easier this coming Sunday. (Mr. Bousman, please, don’t tell St. Peter.) Besides, you and the Good Lord have bigger issues to solve for the rest of us. Godspeed, Ed Bousman & Family.

OK. You can't say I didn't warn you. Do not, I repeat DO NOT go to this website: http://www.usdebtclock.org/# I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO IT!

Thank you to the Southern State family for setting up this scholarship in Bill’s name. This is only a hunch, but I’m wagering that all future scholarships will find their way to students truly deserving and truly in need of a little assistance. Bill wouldn’t have it any other way.