Water park lessons for control freaks

It all began as a simple family outing to the water park. I prepared for a day of sun, water, good times and leaving the cell phone locked away for a day. Could I do it? Of course I could.

No, China Isn’t Going to Lead

T he world has had its delusions about China over the years, but none quite as fantastical as the notion of Beijing assuming the mantle of global leadership.

Carrie

“M imi! Come quick! There’s a baby bird on the ground, and it needs our help!” Charis called out as she ran into her grandparent’s house. “What? Well, don’t touch it. Let’s look and see if we can find its nest,” my mom told her.

Cholera the unstoppable scourge in early Texas

C holera again reared its deadly head in San Antonio on Jul. 30, 1834 causing the panic-stricken populace to flee for their lives as the second outbreak in as many years turned Texas’ largest settlement into a ghost town.

News your head

I’ve discussed this a few times on the YouTube channel supporting this column ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsEFbjapoK23Gjukt4hdfrA ), and after giving it some consideration I’ve decided to go ahead and talk about it in print as well.

Honey, vinegar, spotlight hogs and votes

So, here we go, it’s election season again in our city—if you didn’t know. Be prepared for “sign time.

Open or Closed? Nothing new about border debate

Worried the war might cut off their supply of cheap labor, the Texas Dirt Farmers Congress appealed to the federal government on Jul. 22, 1941 to reopen the border with Mexico. Texas did not always have such a significant Mexican presence as today.

Trump’s Warsaw triumph

Imagine that President Donald Trump gave a speech praising a strong Europe. Imagine that he called forthrightly on Russia to stop its aggression in Ukraine and join the community of responsible nations. Imagine that he embraced the mutual defense commitment, so-called Article 5, of NATO.

Genie in a Bottle

Sometimes, I long for a dull life. Just a simple, peaceful life where there are no daily crises, no high-drama moments, and no stories to tell. Oh, the bliss. Just a bland, grey life filled with nothing but yawns and cozy cat-stretches . . . this is the existence of my dreams.

Milestones, sports and otherwise, bare examination today

Have you ever just picked a day and looked back through history to see what happened on that date? Several sports milestones and even personal things are on the July 18 almanac page, so let’s look at a few... 1896 - James Foulis won the U.S. Open golf title at Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, N.Y.