Personal expressions of the world around us through text, sight and sound.


Filter Article list:
Article Scope:  

The Author, Category and Topic selectors will reflect the Article Scope setting.

Date range:    
Current: articles posted within the last 30 Days
Recent: articles posted within the last 3 Months
Sort Order:    

Hints on searching Articles

Some articles may be restricted—viewable only to logged-in users with the appropriate Security Level.

You can narrow your search using one or all of six criteria:

  1. Article Scope:
    • This Collection Only (default) limits search results to this article "home page."
    • All includes all articles (including blog entries) on the site.
  2. Date range:
    • Current shows articles posted within the past 30 Days
    • Recent shows articles posted within the past 3 Months
    • All includes all articles within the Collection Scope.
    • NOTE: Based on the number of articles found and other filter settings, the Date Scope may be adjusted automatically. However, in most cases you can still use the form to choose a specific range.
  3. Author--regular contributors are listed by name; "special" is used for ocassional or one-time authors. (They are idenitified by name in the article list using a "byline" field in the database).
  4. Category—each article is assigned to one category ( a master category list is used for Articles, Blog Entries, Resources, and similar features on the site).
  5. Topic—each article can be assigned to multiple topics (also uses a master list). You can narrow the search by one topic at a time.
    Even though we try to keep the number of topics limited and as general as possible, the list of topics is long and constantly growing simply because of the wide scope of content covered by aritcles on the site. A good alternative to using the drop-down list is to click on a topic from the Summary View of the Article List, or the category and topic summary at the top of an Article.
    NOTE: Because topics are added over time, some topics may not be associated with earlier articles to which they could apply. From time to time, we update category and topic links.
  6. Keywords
    Looks for a word, phrase or part of a word in the component parts of the article.

Viewing the Results

In addition to the "Most Recent" and "Top Articles" lists, there are three Views of the searchable Article List: (where you are now):

  1. Quick. Shows Categories in alphabetical order, with a list of articles by post date (most recent first), title, author. This is the default view. Return to it anytime by selecting "Clear Filter" in the Article Filter.
  2. Minimal. Shows a list of Categories in which articles for this collection appear, including the number of articles in each category. Activate this view by clicking on "View Category names only" under the gray view description bar.
  3. Summary. Expands a single Category to include a brief description of each article, the primary category, and any topics assigned to it.

Actions from the Article List

  • Click on an Article title to view it.
    • A link at the bottom of the article will bring you back to this page.
    • If you have expanded the Collection Scope to All, and view an article or blog entry outside this collection, the return link will take you to the corresponding "home" page. To return to this page, use the Back button in your browser or use the Site Menu.
  • Click on a Category name to expand the list into Summary View, which will include more detals about the articles within that Category, including the topics associated with it.
    • If you have selected "All" in the Article Scope, the initial Summary View will reset the Article Scope to "This Collection only." From there, you can go back to "All" if desired.
  • Click on a Topic name (Summary View) to see recent articles associated with that topic. From there you can expand to "All" articles or narrow the search using the Filter.
    • There are some categories that also appear as topics. In this case, the filter will set the topic, since that will return the greatest number of results. From there, you can modify the Search Filter to narrow your search.

Actions from the Article (listing of Categories and Topics at top of Article)

  • Click on the Category or a Topic and you will be taken to the Article List page with the search filter set accordingly. (The notes under Article List also apply here).

Printing the List or individual Articles

Using Print this page at the upper left will print the content displayed in the Articles List or an individual Article, without any of the surrounding page elements. The filter form in the list view is replaced with a summary of the filter settings.

Please note: Using the "Print this page" option is highly recommended over the print options available through the Share utility (described below).

Additional Hint: On some smaller devices you may find it helpful to use the Print option to display a simpler content-only view. Depending on the device, you may not actually be able to print, but it may produce a view that is easier to read. You will need to close the print window to get back to the site navigation.

Sharing and Commenting on Article Lists and Individual Articles

There is a lot of discussion about the merits of commenting within a site. At this time we have decided not to integrate it into the site. The AddThis Share utility that appears at the upper left on the page as well as at the end of articles allows you to share the selected page through Facebook, Twitter, and more than 200 other social media services. Most of these options allow you to add comments.

You can also comment through the site's own social media connections, which are linked through the icons in the site masthead (only active social media accounts are shown).


7 articles found.

SUMMARY VIEW  Expanded details within a Category. Click on article title, Category, or a listed Topic

To change sort order or make another search, modify the form above

General

 35 records found

It's Never Too Late to be Normal by Garrison Keillor


(January 11, 2025)
As I proceed through my eighties, I go back to a Minnesota point of view: life is complicated, take it one day at a time, the urge to be top dog is not a useful ambition, be grateful for what you have and learn to cherish your portion…
Topics: Attitudes • Beliefs • Contemplation, Insight • Contentment, Satsifaction • Humor • Optimal Aging


Seven Bad Housekeeping Habits by Birttney Morgan / Apartment Therapy


(July 12, 2024)
Give these up and take back control of the mess…
Topics: Advice, Guidance & Mentoring • Lifestyle, General • Optimal Aging


We Must Become Children So Our Kids Can Survive by Garrison Keillor


(November 2, 2023)
The classic story: the elders make a desperate choice to spare their children the grief of history and put language and life story behind and become as children themselves in order to start anew…
Topics: Attitudes • Beliefs • Character, Integrity • Choices and Decision Making • Contemplation, Insight • Parenting, Parents • Politics • Religion • Trends


Standing at 86th, Waiting for a Train by Garrison Keillor


(October 26, 2023)
Americans believe that opportunity and kindness can overcome barriers of race and religion . . . something I witness on the New York subway…
Topics: Attitudes • Beliefs • Civility • Diversity & Pluralism


Why I'm Looking Forward to November by Garrison Keillor


(October 20, 2023)
It's hard to ignore reality for long. I don't see much hope for Congress in this regard—when you elect people who are anti-government to govern, you must reap the whirlwind—but I see it happening to Taylor Swift.
Topics: Baseball • Hopes & Dreams • Memories • Optimal Aging • Politics • Popular Culture • Seasons • Writing


Many States Moving Away from Embosed License Plates by Rob Stump / TheDrive


(September 23, 2023)
If you live in Colorado and any of the twenty or so other states moving to printed license plates, you may have to trade in your old plates…
Topics: Change • Current Events, News • New Year's • Technology • Transportation • Trends


A Week in Kansas and Missouri by Garrison Keillor


(February 16, 2023)
This is the beauty of being eighty years old, my kiddos, the ability to disengage from the tumult and the tragedy and enjoy the everyday ordinary.…
Topics: Attitudes • Civility • Humor • Optimal Aging • Patriotism • Relationships


Walking a Crowded Street in Gratitude by Garrison Keillor


(November 24, 2022)
I walk down upper Broadway and it's very amiable, like the Minnesota State Fair, throngs of people, the smell of pizza and hot pretzels in the air, bursts of music in passing, a general civility…
Topics: Attitudes • Contemplation, Insight • Contentment, Satsifaction • Gratitute • Holiday Season • Lifestyle, General • Thanks, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving


Listen Up, He Says, and He Means It by Garrison Keillor


(October 13, 2022)
I believe that if you want to see America clearly, don't read the paper, go to a state fair…
Topics: Attitudes • Character, Integrity • Diversity & Pluralism • Hopes & Dreams • Memories • Optimal Aging • Politics • Popular Culture • Relationships


It's Summertime! by Leona Bergstrom


(July 22, 2022)
It's fun to remember summers past, but there's still much to look forward to now…
Topics: Hopes & Dreams • Memories • Opportunity • Optimal Aging • Seasons


Good Isn't Good Enough, Seek Perfection by Garrison Keillor


(July 8, 2022)
I’m in Minnesota where the other day I ate a radish that had a real bite to it, not the tepid politically correct radishes I’ve become accustomed to…
Topics: Attitudes • Contemplation, Insight • Humor • Optimal Aging • Wisdom


More Than One Million Americans Report Ukrainian Ancestry by US Census Bureau Staff


(July 8, 2022)
Nation's population of Ukrainian ancestry grew fastest after dissolution of Soviet Union…
Topics: Current Events, News • Demographics • History • News • Statistics


A Weekend in the Wilds of Connecticut by Garrison Keillor


(June 24, 2022)
I have seen some of the future lately and I must admit it’s very appealing to me…
Topics: Communication • Contentment, Satsifaction • Family • Travel


Blessed Are the Meek for They Shall Inheirit a Shirt by Garrison Keillor


(June 17, 2022)
I sat down in a café and enjoyed a croissant. The waiter offered to refill my coffee cup. This is the sort of kindness an old dog takes sustenance from…
Topics: Attitudes • Beliefs • Contemplation, Insight • Contentment, Satsifaction • Grace • Gratitute • Lifestyle, General • Optimal Aging


The Meaning of Life as it Dawned on Me the Other Night by Garrison Keillor


(June 10, 2022)
. . . nonetheless we are independent individuals and we can discern what is true, what is noble and right, what is lovely and admirable and to think on these things…
Topics: Attitudes • Circumstances, Life Events • Contentment, Satsifaction • Optimal Aging • Relationships


Nobody Asked, But I'll Tell You Anyway by Garrison Keillor


(May 12, 2022)
I’m a Midwesterner, suspicious of medals and titles. I only care what my readers think. I only want to be known by my own…
Topics: Personal Stories (Biography/Autobiography) • Circumstances, Life Events • Contentment, Satsifaction • Lifestyle, General • Memories • Personal Issues


What Mac & Cheese Means to Me by Garrison Keillor


(April 28, 2022)
The beauty of old age is giving up the pursuit of evildoers and simply enjoying lunch, which my faithful companion and I did yesterday at an old beloved café that still has macaroni and cheese on the menu…
Topics: Contentment, Satsifaction • Food & Nuitrition • Memories • Relationships


Through the Years by James N. Watkins


(January 21, 2022)
The top ten posts at Hope & Humor…
Topics: Advice, Guidance & Mentoring • Contemplation, Insight • Faith • Humor • Politics • Popular Culture • Prayer


My Mother Told Me and Now I''ll Tell You by Garrison Keillor


(January 20, 2022)
The days are getting longer and the skies are brighter. . . that is a good thing…
Topics: Advice, Guidance & Mentoring • Memories • Relationships • Seasons


A Man Walking Through a Big City Snowstorm by Garrison Keillor


(January 13, 2022)
A good hard winter is a restorative…
Topics: Attitudes • Circumstances, Life Events • Contemplation, Insight • Coping • Lifestyle, General • Relationships • Weather


Meditation While Waiting for Coffee to Brew by Garrison Keillor


(January 8, 2022)
I hate wasting time…
Topics: Attitudes • Lifestyle, General • Optimal Aging


100 Ways to Improve Your Life by The Saturday Magazine staff / The Guardian


(January 7, 2022)
Simple things to do without really trying very hard…
Topics: Advice, Guidance & Mentoring • Holidays • Holiday Season • Hopes & Dreams • Humor • Lifestyle, General • New Year's


You Make Me Happy When Skies are Gray by Garrison Keillor


(January 1, 2022)
Welcome progress observed at my last visit to the dentist…
Topics: Change • Contemplation, Insight • COVID-19 • Holidays • Holiday Season • Hopes & Dreams • Humor • New Year's


The Hart of America by U.S. Census Bureau staff


(November 19, 2021)
Census Bureau Announces Hartville, Missouri, as 'Center of Population' for the United States
Topics: Demographics • History • Statistics • Trends


It's Time for Americans to Buy Less Stuff by Terry Nguyen / Vox


(October 29, 2021)
Thanks to the supply chain crisis, holiday shopping won't be easy this year—even if you buy early…
Topics: Advertising • Change • Cost of Living • COVID-19 • Crisis • Current Events, News • Ethics & Morality • Financial • Holidays • Holiday Season • Lifestyle, General • Opportunity • Social Issues • Technology


I've Had the Same Supper for 10 Years by Wilf Davies / The Guardian


(April 23, 2021)
I have two pieces of fish, an onion, an egg, baked beans and biscuits. Being a farmer means every day is the same…
Topics: Personal Stories (Biography/Autobiography) • Contentment, Satsifaction • Lifestyle, General • Wellness • Wisdom


Wonderful Words submitted by Stu Johnson


(January 27, 2020)
…that take a whole sentence to convey in English…
Topics: Communication • Language, Meaning


Life Matters by James N. Watkins


(January 18, 2020)
From womb to tomb…
Topics: Choices and Decision Making • Compassion • Contemplation, Insight • Courage • Crime, Justice, Punishment • Ethics & Morality • Social Issues


Who's to Blame? by Ken Potts


(October 6, 2019)
Sorry, but sometimes the fault truly is our own…
Topics: Choices and Decision Making • Circumstances, Life Events • Discipline • Financial • Hopes & Dreams • Lifestyle, General • Personal Issues • Planning


From Womb to Tomb by James N. Watkins


(January 18, 2019)
All lives matter, all the time…
Topics: Crime, Justice, Punishment • Faith • Health Care • History • Relationships • Social Issues • Social Movements


Food, Glorious Food! by Stu Johnson


(January 30, 2018)
Memories and reflections on one of God's gifts to us…
Topics: Cooking • Food & Nuitrition • History • Lifestyle, General • Memories


Lighten Up! by Stu Johnson


(January 23, 2018)
Memories of winter fun, injecting laughter and humor in your life…
Topics: Contentment, Satsifaction • Humor • Lifestyle, General • Memories • Optimal Aging • Recreation • Weather


March Madness by Wes Wick


(April 3, 2016)
Lessons from the rituals of brackets and primary elections…
Topics: Basketball • Metaphors, Life Lessons • Optimal Aging • Politics • Sports


Unintended Consequences - Part 1 by Stu Johnson


(November 6, 2015)
A personal experience leads to thoughts about unintended consequences (part 1 looks at making matters worse)
Topics: Government • Nature • Planning • Science & Technology


Unintended Consequences - Part 2 by Stu Johnson


(November 6, 2015)
A personal experience leads to thoughts about unintended consequences (part 2 looks at unexpected benefits, causes, and tips)
Topics: Government • Planning • Science & Technology