Lead contributor Greg Asimakoupoulos expresses his perspective on current events and life in general through verse. We have used Greg's weekly expressions since SeniorLifesytle began in 2006 and borrowed (with permission) the "Rhymes & Reasons" title used on the Partial Observer website where his work still appears.

The updated SeniorLIfestyle site includes all of the Rhymes & Reasons we have used since April 2006. 


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News & Current Events

 43 records found

Pull Up Your Socks, People, Let's Get Going! by Garrison Keillor


(My World   February 22, 2024)
The country needs something marvelous and fascinating to disperse the current gloom…
Topics: Change • History • Humor • Politics • Technology • Travel • Trends


Last Wedneday, Stuck in a Traffic Jam by Garrison Keillor


(My World   February 15, 2024)
New Yorkers have the ability to express despair and municipal pride in the same sentence. Joe Biden's visit created traffic jams, so I over-tipped the cabbie and hiked 12 blocks to my doctor who took my blood pressure and said it was excellent…
Topics: Attitudes • Contemplation, Insight • Coping • Humor • Lifestyle, General • News • Optimal Aging • Politics


Is There a Speaker in the House? by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   October 22, 2023)
Can Lincoln's party find a way to fix what's so absurd?
Topics: Government • News • Politics • Relationships


Why I Won't be Playing Golf in Oman by Garrison Keillor


(My World   June 29, 2023)
If the law doesn't apply to the big guys, then the peons and pissants are not going to abide by it either…
Topics: Crime, Justice, Punishment • Ethics & Morality • Legal • News • Politics • Social Issues


Worse Than a Crime, a Mistake by Sandra J. Saunders / Creators


(Health & Wellness   September 7, 2022)
Isolation is essential for vulnerable people who don't want to get long COVID, or worse. But it never made sense to mandate closures that create additional mental and public health problems to contain the virus…
Topics: Beliefs • Change • COVID-19 • Crisis • Current Events, News • Disease • Media • News • Policy, Policy Formation • Politics • Social Issues


Here're Your Orders: Make Something Beautiful by Garrison Keillor


(My World   June 30, 2022)
Don’t be disheartened. Deal with the problem.. . . Exercise your gifts. Create beautiful things…
Topics: Beliefs • Crime, Justice, Punishment • Government • News • Politics • Social Issues • Social Movements • Social Unrest, Division


A Supreme Decision by James N. Watkins


(Finance and Legal   June 24, 2022)
Thoughts on the cultural/political debate likely to intensify following the Supreme Court decision striking down Roe v Wade, sending abortion policy back to the states…
Topics: Beliefs • Change • Government • News • Politics • Religion • Social Issues • Social Movements • Social Unrest, Division


Calm Down, People, It's Going to be Okay by Garrison Keillor


(Connections   March 30, 2022)
Our problem isn’t polarization, it’s Twittification …
Topics: Civility • Communication • Current Events, News • Dysfunctional, Broken • Faith • Humor • Jesus • News • Politics • Popular Culture • Social Issues • Social Media • War


Sitting Scared in Church, Thinking About Evil by Garrison Keillor


(My World   March 17, 2022)
America has been so fascinated with our own circus, we didn’t fully appreciate true evil and now here’s Putin taking his place with Lenin and Stalin…
Topics: Crisis • Faith • News • Politics • Religion • War


Bridging the Divide by Stu Johnson


(My World   January 15, 2022)
A reminder as we look back at The Capitol Insurrection and approach Martin Luther King Jr Day that the divisions we face are not new and that there are ways to bridge the divide…
Topics: Attitudes • Beliefs • Civility • History • Media • News • Politics • Popular Culture • Social Issues • Technology • Trust • Values • Voting & Elections


A Tribute to the Kid from Kansas by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   December 11, 2021)
He modeled how the right and left can work together…
Topics: Character, Integrity • Leadership • News • Politics • Tribute, Testimony


The Rush Has Been Hushed by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Arts & Entertainment   February 20, 2021)
Remembering the voice of conservative Americans…
Topics: Communication • Language, Meaning • Media • News • Politics • Radio • Tribute, Testimony


How is Your News Literacy? by Stu Johnson


(My World   January 28, 2021)
Learn how to be a literate news consumer during News Literacy Week…
Topics: History • Knowledge • Learning • Media • News • Politics • Popular Culture • Social Media • Social Movements


Preventing a Second Civil War by James N. Watkins


(My World   January 7, 2021)
Echoes of a day that tore the nation apart…
Topics: Current Events, News • Faith • Government • History • News • Politics • Social Issues • Social Movements • Social Unrest, Division


From Where Lincoln Sits by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   January 6, 2021)
Reflections on the insurrection in Washington, D.C.…
Topics: Crime, Justice, Punishment • Halloween • History • News • Politics • Social Issues • Social Movements • Social Unrest, Division • Voting & Elections


Unprecedented, Not! by Stu Johnson


(My World   January 3, 2021)
2020 was quite a year, but not without precedent . . . setting expectations for 2021…
Topics: COVID-19 • Crime, Justice, Punishment • History • Knowledge • Politics • Racism and Inequality • Social Issues • Voting & Elections


Harrowing Blame Game Reported by Stu Johnson


(Health & Wellness   June 15, 2020)
Looking for answers for the COVID-19 death toll in nursing homes…
Topics: COVID-19 • Crisis • Current Events, News • Dying and Death • Demographics • Government • Health Care • Media • News • Politics • Racism and Inequality • Social Issues • Statistics


Build Trust Before a Wall by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   January 12, 2019)
A message to President Trump…
Topics: Character, Integrity • Government • News • Politics • Trust


Remembering a Remarkable Bush by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   December 8, 2018)
A tribute to President George H. W. Bush…
Topics: Character, Integrity • Civility • Faith • Government • History • Politics • Tribute, Testimony


So Who are We to Judge? by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   October 6, 2018)
A timely question&helllip;
Topics: Government • News • Politics • Relationships • Social Unrest, Division


Remembering a Memorable Bush by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   April 21, 2018)
A tribute to a former First Lady…
Topics: Character, Integrity • Dying and Death • Inspiration • News • Politics • Tribute, Testimony


Praying for John McCain by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   July 23, 2017)
Asking God to heal a Senator and his colleagues…
Topics: News • Politics • Prayer


A Farewell to Fidel by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   December 3, 2016)
Saying so-long to a short-sighted bully…
Topics: History • News • Politics


More Than the White House by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   November 19, 2016)
What happens inside our houses is what matters most…
Topics: Beliefs • Faith • Family • Government • News • Politics • Values


Trump by Dan Seagren


(Senior Moments   June 19, 2016)
The word, the name, the candidate, the choice…
Topics: Language, Meaning • News • Politics


Enough is Enough! by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   January 30, 2016)
A poetic plea for election reform…
Topics: News • Politics


The State of the Union (Revisited) by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   January 16, 2016)
Contemplating the health of our nation, marriage and relationship with God…
Topics: Faith • God • Government • Grace • Politics • Prayer • Relationships • Religion


And They're Off! by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   August 9, 2015)
The horse race to the White House has begun…
Topics: Politics


Trump Towers Over His Rivals by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   August 2, 2015)
Why I am baffled by his standing in the polls…
Topics: Politics


Hillary's Last Hurrah? by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   April 19, 2015)
Questioning a questionable candidate's candidacy…
Topics: Politics


Blackberry Jam by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   March 22, 2015)
Hilary's not-so-smart phone use…
Topics: Politics

Big Bird's Big Dilemma by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   October 7, 2012)
Is Sesame Street or Wall Street the problem?…
Topics: Financial • Politics

A Hatfield Who Was the Real McCoy by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   August 14, 2011)
Remembering an Oregon Senator…
Topics: Personal Stories (Biography/Autobiography) • Faith • Politics • Tribute, Testimony

I'll Be Back! by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   May 15, 2011)
It takes will and grace to keep marital promises…
Topics: Family • Politics • Popular Culture • Trouble

When Gay Rights are Wrong by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   August 8, 2010)
Judging by on judge's decision…
Topics: Family • Legal • Politics • Religion

Global Warning at the Gores? by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   June 6, 2010)
An inconvenient truth about marriage…
Topics: Family • Politics • Trouble

A Man Named Jack by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   May 10, 2009)
A tribute to Jack French Kemp…
Topics: Personal Stories (Biography/Autobiography) • Politics • Sports • Tribute, Testimony

Scare Force One by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   May 3, 2009)
Flying in the face of reason…
Topics: Politics

Overshadowed by a Running Mate by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   September 21, 2008)
What candidates and hurricanes have in common…
Topics: Current Events, News • Politics • Weather

A Papal Bull and a Burning Bush by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   April 20, 2008)
A humorous look at Pope Benedict's U.S. visit…
Topics: Current Events, News • Humor • Politics • Religion

Life is Precious by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   January 20, 2008)
A poem for Sanctity of Life Sunday…
Topics: Ethics & Morality • Faith • Policy, Policy Formation • Politics

What's Going Down in Iraq? by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   September 24, 2006)
Why Bush keeps getting the shaft…
Topics: Current Events, News • Politics • War

A Soldier-Like Salute to Mr. Bush by Greg Asimakoupoulos


(Rhymes & Reasons   June 23, 2006)
Best wishes for a Happy 60th Birthday to our President…
Topics: Birthdays & Annivesaries • Politics • Tribute, Testimony