Benning Printing & Publishing

As we’ve suspected for weeks, Mom’s lung cancer has returned. This was not a surprise for us. The cancer reappeared in a lymph node in the upper part of her right lung and has spread to the right side of her neck and her brain. Confirming the brain cancer was not an easy task. Because she has a pacemaker/defibrillator, she cannot undergo an MRI. Her doctors were relieved that the CT scan with contrast dye was able to capture an image sufficient to confirm the presence of a t

This month’s Book Club book was “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini. The story takes place in a changing Afghanistan and explores themes of friendship, betrayal, and the journey to find redemption. It looks at decades of conflict before, during, and after the Russian invasion and the rise of the Taliban, talking about the experiences of the Afghan people. The main characters, Amir and Hassan, share a complicated friendship. They start as loyal friends in childhood, but the

A recent jury verdict against Meta (Facebook) and YouTube is quite ironic. These platforms, which are central to a lot of our daily communication, are now facing criticism for creating features that make it hard for people to stop using their apps. The case focused on the idea that social media companies designed their apps to keep users’ attention for as long as possible. Features like infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, constant notifications, and personalized recommendat

March 17 is more than just St. Patrick’s Day; it’s also St. Gertrude Day, a feast day dedicated to Gertrude of Nivelles, a remarkable 7th-century abbess in what is now Belgium. This day is an opportunity to remember her legacy of hospitality, care for the earth, and protection of animals—especially our beloved cats. Gertrude’s fame as the patron saint of travelers stems from her deep commitment to helping those on the move. Her monastery, located along key travel routes, bec

Is anyone else feeling a sense of déjà vu, or is it just me? The U.S. is once again involved in conflict in the Middle East. I often catch myself saying “Iraq” instead of “Iran” because the events in Iraq are still fresh in my mind, just like for many of you. The U.S. and Israel have teamed up to carry out strikes on Iran. They say this is due to ongoing worries about Iran’s nuclear program, missile development, and military influence in the region, which they see as direct

The Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case continues to fail the very people it should protect—the survivors. On January 30, thousands of documents related to Epstein were released, once again bringing attention to one of the most horrible sex-trafficking cases in history. But as these documents came out, survivors were harmed by the Justice Department’s actions and silence. Important details identifying survivors were not properly redacted in the rele

I have long wished to attend a local yoga class, but my schedule didn’t allow it at the time. By the time I was free, I was deep into holiday activities, leaving me little time for much else. Finally, I was able to participate, and I forgot how challenging it could be. I used to practice yoga regularly over 10 years ago. As I became busier, yoga was unfortunately pushed to the wayside. This was not a smart choice for me, as I started experiencing more issues with my body. Th

I don’t even know what reality I’m living in anymore with all the insanity happening in the world. Everything is moving so fast that it’s hard to process—from what’s happening in Venezuela to the ICE shooting in Minneapolis. It’s all maddening for so many reasons. But this one caught me completely off guard: why would we even want to buy a country? Russia wants Ukraine. Trump wants Greenland. One has already led to war, and the other raises uncomfortable questions. The cont

Most people have their own preferred footwear, whether it’s sandals in the summertime or sneakers in the spring, but when fall comes around, I always reach for my knee-high boots. I’ve always loved a good pair of black leather boots—preferably with the lowest heel possible, because I don’t do heels. I wore my old pair constantly, and, as well-worn shoes do, they eventually started falling apart. While searching for a new pair, I came across some gray boots and found myself r

It’s that time of year—time for the annual banished word list—and I bet you know which annoying word took the top spot! Lake Superior State University Announces 50th Annual Banished Words List It’s time for a golden anniversary. Celebrating five decades of linguistic commentary, Lake Superior State University (LSSU) presents the 50th annual Banished Words List, a tradition highlighting the importance and evolution of language. What began as a whimsical New Year’s Eve party