I watched a few episodes of the original Star Trek series the other night. Did you grow up watching Star Trek? Like many of you, my siblings and I looked forward to the weekly episode back in the 60s. There were no videotapes then, so we were at the mercy of the TV network’s schedule and had to stay up past our early bedtime. We only had black and white TVs so now, watching it in color, I noticed how gaudy and colorfully horrendous the costumes were. Who let that drag queen costume designer out? Why did I stay up for this crap?

Tonka and Tinker, our two Corgis, were playing outside in their dog pen and they were having so much fun. I decided to let them play while I went inside to do some work on the computer. After some time, I opened the door and they rushed inside. But just before I shut the door, I noticed there was a dog tail laying outside. A dog tail?! It looked like Tonka's dog tail! I looked inside and I noticed Tonka's butt was tailless and his butt bones were sticking out. But wait! His coat was lighter than normal. Tonka was thinner. Hey, that isn't Tonka! That's another dog! Somebody stole Tonka!! Who? What? When?!?!

Fast forward, here I was again with the same woman. Over the years she had learned how to execute a buzz cut well. But, over the years, her price had doubled. It only took about fifteen minutes and it was done. So I was thinking: “Twenty bucks for this? How difficult would it be if I cut my own hair with a proper trimmer?”

Do they appreciate this amazing period of their life? I love their innocence, their joyful exuberance, their respect for elders, their boundless energy. Do you remember those days? In my early teens, I had no clue about the politics around me. I trusted the grownups to take care of the world for me. I trusted the grownups for everything! I trusted my teachers to have my best interest at heart. I believed they taught us Algebra because it was necessary for adulthood. We had to know the origins of species and understand their internal organs because one day we would need to dissect a frog in some strange emergency. We had to appreciate Shakespeare and Charles Dickens because those guys knew how to tell captivating stories which would be useful in campfires and job interviews. Wish I could say something good about Chemistry and Physics but I slept through both of those courses ... although somehow, I survived life without needing to alter the rotation of the planets.

Another year … another grey hair. Another month … another wrinkle. Another workday … another body ache. I decided to write a checklist of what I think about getting old. You know you’re old if: - Social Security is your friend. - Tinnitus follows you wherever you go. - Your back squeaks. - Every word you want to say is at the tip of your tongue.

Welcome to 2026. Pardon the mess. I've been cleaning my office. Going through my pile of documents and my trash can is full. I've got a box full of broken electronic stuff. a box full of art stuff. And piles of other stuff. How about you? Sorting out your closet for your faded wardrobe? How about your email? How many TeraBytes is it now?

This has been a very strange Christmas for me. I know several people who are grieving the loss of a loved one and a few who took a financial hit. Then there are those who are celebrating better health and better wealth --- a perfect Yin Yang, Day and Night, Black and White paradox.

This Christmas, many of us are struggling to make ends meet and worried about finding the right gift. Are you one of them? Why not follow my Mom’s advice? It’s the homemade ones that are the real treasures.

In the very first century, a young Jewish couple headed to a humble little town of Bethlehem. Although the young wife was pregnant with their first child, they were forced to make that long journey because Rome ruled the land and Caesar Augustus, the head of the empire, demanded a census --- all that trouble because Caesar wanted to know how many people were in his kingdom. Why? You know how important bragging rights are for kings when they meet in the Annual King Convention.

Raoul’s Two Cents: December 5, 2025 Old Christmas Carols If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes. December. Christmas. Shopping. Presents. Family gatherings. Is it beginning to look a lot like Christmas to you? Somehow this year seems to be lacking something. For one, I don’t hear a lot of Christmas carols anymore. Once upon a time, …