Beech Tree News Network

As I’ve said, I am a reader. Sometimes I read about what I’m involved in, and sometimes I stumble upon something that just catches my interest. Below are my thoughts about three of the articles I’ve read recently.

Bringing about a flurry of facts and a storm of misconceptions, Kentucky’s pension crisis has become one of the most dominating news stories in recent months. One thing is for certain: if our state pensions are not addressed in the very near future, we will face huge cuts in state funding. Education, Medicaid, and other government services would likely be affected—a risk our state is not in a position to take.

One night, while I was cooking dinner, I noticed the knife I was using had become really dull, so I went into where Garey keeps his hunting knife stuff and got one of those hand-held knife sharpeners.  (I long ago gave up on trying to attain the skill it takes to use a flint rock to sharpen anything.)  The knife sharpener I chose had four little grooves and a handle, so it was obvious where to put my fingers and thumb.  The V-shape with the flint on either side was also the obvious place for the knife.  It wasn’t obvious, however, which direction to pull or push the knife through the V-shap

Solomon said in the long ago, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Prov. 27:1). The older one gets, the more he realizes the truth of this short statement. Many people we know and love have had their lives changed irrevocably in a matter of minutes. For example, it was this way for those who lost their lives in the disintegration of the space shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003.

Oh how God does bless!!! I saw this spectacular sunrise on the way to work this morning and  just had to share!!!! God is an amazing artist!!!

ENOUGH TO BE DANGEROUS- A while back, I had a gentleman tell me that his knowledge about what went on at a place where he is more or less “in charge” was only sufficient to the level of “knowing just enough to be dangerous.” Now the remark was made in jest and I suspect that he knows a little bit more than that observation would imply but it does infer that he does not have a “tight grip” or total control over all the details associated with managing the place we were discussing.

Every once in a while, an event takes place that’s once in a lifetime.  Sports-wise, the once in a lifetime event could be your team winning a championship.  What I’m talking about, though, is once in a lifetime events such as the total eclipse this past Tuesday.  Nothing like an eclipse party in a field, am I right?

Grandparents are often characterized as “spoiling” their grandchildren, telling too many when-I-was-young stories, or being too bossy. I try not to be that grandparent, but I am occasionally guilty of doing one or the other. Today, I am choosing to be bossy: I have some advice for my grandchildren documented below.

When you get right down to it, I don't guess there is too much difference in malapropism and a colloquialism. They perhaps are at least first cousins.
Now you take the word TARE. Colocalized: "We aint'tare yet." (arrived)
Malaprops are words that seem to jump the track, but maybe come close to correct... but not quite.  Even the educated succumb at times. Once one of my doctors told me he was "Val-Victorian of his high school class. (Valedictorian)
Juberious: At ole mule is plumb juberious about his head and ears. (Dubious)