As we began looking at topics of interest for today, we had to laugh - heartily - at Paul's cartoon. Rarely has there been a more succinct statement of where our country sits on the issue of taxation these days. It's a massive change from the sane policy position of an America long past where - instead of peddling themselves as a speaker at a political event for one party or the other - Supreme Court judges might impart a simple bit of wisdom like, "Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society."
As we head into Autumn - the season of change - we're noticing how many more things around us also keep changing.
Another Lincoln legend, Barry's Bar and Grill, is closing after the Husker Football season closes. It's a place we've enjoyed many times over the years, both during football season and other times of the year.It wasn't that long ago that Barry's was rated as the #2 best bar in the nation for pregame football festivities. We've even held our North Central Chapter National Cartoonists Society meeting in Barry's Outback. We thank Lou Mary, Mike, and the Hambeltons for allowing a bunch of crazy cartoonists to take over their bar on a weekend when the Huskers weren't playing at home.
The changes aren't just happening in businesses, the weather, and the trees. Online, one of the tools we use - Facebook - is changing once again. Many people, including our own web monkey, aren't exactly thrilled with that development.
Sadly, a rock radio station we've enjoyed in DC also recently changed formats - temporarily - to another right-wing talking head repeater. We're aware the change is due to radio companies buying each other out, and not because right-wing talk radio is doing well (it's not). Still, it's not a change we're in favor of.
Not all changes are bad, though.
Apparently, household income in Nebraska grew slightly between 2009 and 2010 - which is an improvement for Nebraska. After nearly a decade where the income of middle class Americans fell by almost ten percent, we'll cheer a positive change in the status of working people any where we can find it.
Even the perception of beer as unhealthy has been changing. A group of scientists and brewers in Europe has apparently just released a study that says beer can be good for your health.
Of course, this last story of change came from one of our readers who lives in Denver, where the Great American Beer Festival is going on this weekend - so we're not quite convinced he's pointing us to an unbiased study.
Still, as seasons go, while we might complain and grumble a bit about the changes we see, the autumn rains, or even the chill in the air, we generally like fall. Our staff in our Palm Beach location even tells us they wish they could come back up to DC or Lincoln and enjoy the colors and brisk weather of autumn.
We'll see if they're still so intent on coming up and enjoying the weather when January comes around.
