Dimes make dollars, as the saying goes. The dime itself has become largely irrelevant in the modern world of finance. What once cost nickels and dimes now costs dollar bills. These days, we're …

“One word, Benjamin: drones.” Hear that just as Mr. McGuire gave Dustin Hoffman’s character, Benjamin Braddock, the warning of “plastics” in the 1967 classic “The Graduate.” For …

Many of us feel detached from our bodies, minds or surroundings at times. But when these experiences have a big impact on our lives, it can become a mental health problem. Dissociation is when you …

I haven’t written much about the Native American side of myself lately. But I saw something on TV the other night that got my Injun up. I know a lot of people won’t agree with me on this topic …

While the battle is being fought over data centers and artificial intelligence, there is another movement quietly treading alongside it. While we are undoubtedly throttling forward with all things …

It doesn’t take long being around our English speaking cousins to realize we are very much different peoples. In my experience, the Australians are the closest but even they are “missing” …

Hello and welcome back to the road to mental wellness. This week we will cover journaling. As a kid as well as on and off throughout my adult life, I kept a journal. At one point it even had a name …

At times when worry for the future of this nation clouds my mind, I reach for words to help me find perspective. This one, though written some time ago, always seems relevant. Choices are being made, …

I deal with multiple people every week who are new to the area or just passing through. A common theme many of them share is how beautiful this place is. They gush over the scenery, the nature, and …

Andrew Jackson was not a man to be trifled with. Slashed on the head with a British officer’s sword as a boy during the American Revolution; destroyer of the advancing redcoats through the fog at …

Survivor’s guilt is a complex emotional response. It can occur when someone survives a traumatic event that others did not. This guilt can be overwhelming. It can lead to feelings of sadness, …

There’s something about me most of you probably don’t know. They say everybody’s got a past and I’m no exception. Now, I’m not exactly ashamed of this bit of my past. I was just always a …

Previously, I had ended the Founding Brothers Era of American History with President James Monroe. A few months ago however, I listened to the case made by fellow Jackson Countian and historian …

While we live in a rural area where targeted crime is rare, it isn't unheard of. Most of us routinely travel to larger urban areas where crime rates are definitively higher. Carjackings, armed …

Sleep and mental health have a powerful, two-way connection where poor sleep can trigger mental health struggles, and mental health conditions can disrupt sleep. Anyone who’s tossed and turned or …

I know that the “Holy Grail” is a great big concept for a little Briar to tackle. It’s one of those ideas we’re usually encouraged to leave to learned men and theologians and not worry our …

In researching these pieces, I was reminded how dominant foreign policy issues had been to this point in our then-new republic’s history. This week’s piece on President Monroe’s domestic policy …

We’ve got an important decision coming up in Jackson County, and I’ve been thinking about it a little differently. Forget the names for a minute. Forget who you know, who your family knows, what …

I spent roughly sixteen years driving a semi truck for the largest corporation there is. While I don't have a laundry list of complaints, and I'm appreciative of the life it provided me, there are …

The term “pride” can be a very confusing one. With all the conflicting messages that we receive about having pride and being prideful, it can be very difficult to decipher whether it’s a good …