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My trusty Underwood typewriter was handy 50 years ago

Tulsa Beacon

When I graduated from Hale High School in 1972, my brother Ben gave me a reconditioned Underwood typewriter as a graduation gift. While at Hale, I took one semester of typing (and one semester of drivers’ education). I actually got to be a good typist. I could do 40 words a minute with few errors….

Like my Dad, I have my own Pioneer Cafe family of friends

Tulsa Beacon

I was born in Marshall, Missouri. Soon afterward, my family moved to Kansas City, and later, across the state. When my grandparents died, my parents decided to take up farming again on the old home place in Marshall. Every trip we made to town included a stop at the Pioneer Café. Whether you stopped in…

Written history is beginning to make much more sense

Tulsa Beacon

[Why our area has its unique political and religious attitudes.] Last article found that the pre-historic, pre-Columbian, Native American genome has significant modern Western Eurasian heritage with no ties to contemporary East Asian genome. Who were these people? All written historical records trace to the cradle of civilization. This becomes our heritage, whether European, Asian,…

A Reformed Progressive on Medicare for all

Tulsa Beacon

“Medicare-for-all” is a total pipe dream. American exceptionalism holds that we are a singular country on the international stage, and with regard to healthcare this is a natural fact. Never mind the solid arguments regarding Americans and her diversity of healthcare needs (unlike Sweden), nevermind the gargantuan landscape of America and its own challenges in…

Earthly fathers and our Heavenly Father hold a special spot

Tulsa Beacon

One of the highlights of my life as a dad is teaching my son Jeremiah’s classes once a year. He serves in a public high school in the Dallas area, where he teaches geography and coaches track and field.  Because of the pandemic, I haven’t been able to engage with his students for some time….

Native American genes mostly come from Europe, not Asia

Tulsa Beacon

[Why our area has its unique political and religious attitudes.] The research for this series of articles took a decidedly unexpected turn. Early mound-builders were predecessors of the people removed from the land, so that the forced migration could enter. From where did the mound-builders come? We left last article with the question “Did they…

Trip to Russia opened my eyes to problems that we now face

Tulsa Beacon

The first time I stood on Russian soil was in 1997 when the Alaska Air flight I was on stopped to refuel somewhere in Siberia. I was on a long flight from Anchorage, Alaska, to the city of Blagoveshchensk in the Russian Far East (on the border of China). The plane was about half full…

Roman numerals are less vital than the Book of Romans

Tulsa Beacon

My wife and I were discussing the fact that the Super Bowl is numbered using Roman numerals. She asked me, “How do you get a 56 out of LVI?” I explained that the “L” stands for “50,” and she told me that in her little two-room country schoolhouse, they never made it to the L’s….

Medicaid expansion is trouble for state workers

Tulsa Beacon

When Medicaid expansion was sold to Oklahoma voters, proponents declared it a no-pain-all-gain proposition. “Free” federal money would rain from the skies and the health of Oklahomans would be restored statewide. Now some of those proponents are singing a different tune. Working families should pay attention, because they are the most likely to be negatively…

Visiting Canada is off my ‘to do’ list – at least for now

Tulsa Beacon

I have never set foot in Canada. The closest I have ever been was in Alaska or maybe Seattle, Washington. I have always wanted to visit Canada. My favorite Spanish teacher, Mrs. Ford, at Bell Junior High School always said that Americans should learn either French or Spanish to better understand Canada (they speak French…