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Opinion

‘Waisting’ away…

A woman described her middle-aged hubby thusly: “He’s 44 inches around the waist, size seven and a half around the head, 95 around the golf course and a nuisance around the house.”

Clever, of course, this play on phrases, but under the thin veneer of humor is a rock-hard truth about waistlines. Many men, as well as women, face ongoing warfare in the battle of bulges, and they’re losing.

Merchandisers of pills, pushers of exercise equipment and calorie-counting doo-dads are showing up at every turn. Yes, tons of adults are going to great heights to avoid great widths.

Solar energy companies report rough third quarter

 Inflation and rising interest rates hit the solar energy sector hard during the last three months, resulting in declining interest among investors.

The Wall Street Journal reports the iShares Global Clean Energy ETF reached its lowest level since July 2020 this week. The exchange-traded fund invests in renewable-energy companies and utilities in line with a benchmark compiled by S&P Dow Jones Indices, including First Solar and Plug Power. It has plunged 32% this year.

Ask Rusty: My birthday is on the first of the month; when should I claim Social Security?

Dear Rusty: I will be 62 on November first and I have chosen to take my benefits early. I know that my benefit will be less than it would be if I waited and that does not concern me, but I don’t want to be without income for a long period of time. I know that if my birthday is on the first or second of the month, then I can draw that month. Does that mean that when I turn 62 on November 1st that I can receive my first check on the second Wednesday of November? And should I select November as the month I’d like my benefits to start?

The Swan at 70…

Even when life’s storms rage, we Americans are privileged to seek “ports of peace” that are welcoming, even if only for a few hours. There, we re-charge to face another day, with hopes re-kindled.

We who admit to being senior adults found such joy recently on a beautiful fall afternoon in Duncanville, TX, where 500 or so folks whose average age teetered on ancient numbers gathered for an elixir of music and humor.

Woodson News: Survival of the busiest

A big week for Woodson. Like homecoming but fewer people. So many events to attend. So many cheers. So much success. And, again, we have survived!

Headed to Regional! On Wednesday last week, the cross-country runners were successful. The varsity girls ran into second place as a team and Kiki Buse was the 10th high individual. That sends the team to regional competition Monday, Oct. 23.

Words well chosen...

Sometimes, newspaper headlines are clever to the max, like the one in the Dallas Morning News when the Texas Rangers mauled the Tampa Bay Rays in the first two games of the American League wild card playoff.

There was but a sprinkling of Texas fans in the half-filled stadium, none of whom carried brooms. This shouldn’t be surprising, since getting brooms through airport security might be problematic.

Conflict in Isreal, Gaza has small impacts on oil supplies

The conflict in Israel and Gaza has had little impact on global oil supplies and prices this week. Brent crude, which is traded on the international exchange, closed at $85 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate closed at $83, which is a small change since last week.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) issued its International Energy Outlook (IEO) 2023 with projections that global energy consumption will increase through 2050.

Relationship between Saudi Arabia and U.S. becomes cold

Even though crude oil and natural gas production in the U.S. is on a record-setting pace, a majority of the oil companies that participated in a recent survey see positive and negative economic factors impacting future business activity.

The Dallas Fed Energy Survey’s business activity index released this week surveyed 147 oil and gas companies during Sept. 13-21 that revealed the industry continues to witness rising operating costs, but crude oil and natural gas prices are beginning to reverse many negative opinions.