I once made the mistake of referring to my political views in a social media post as being “centrist.” That was a mistake I won’t make again. Centrist is, I now know, not a nice word. According to my peers, a centrist is a wishy-washy invertebrate; an indecisive person without purpose; a weak cup of coffee who wishes to please everyone. In short, centrists are not well regarded...

As Christmas nears, and we prepare for the flurry of activity that surrounds it, a couple of random, holiday thoughts come to mind. Gift giving is both a joy and a burden. In some cases, budgetary restraints prevent us from giving as much as we would like and at other times, we find that the loved ones we value the most want for nothing. Sometimes, the selection of an appropriate gift at any price can present a challenge...

Santa Clarita, Duncan, Oklahoma, Fresno…. With several dead, and hurting, law enforcement officials are still in the process of unfolding the why and the how. So far, speculation supports crimes of passion, possible gang activity and the angst of a grieving teenager. ...