With the vestiges of winter snows swirling around me, and the icicles dripping from the roof, I wonder about Al Gore’s global warming theory.

In a previous column, I reported to you my new assignment to Washington, D.C., and then to Baghdad, Iraq.

No one need say more about how bad the dairy industry’s situation has nose-dived in the last two months.

As the unrest in the nation continues to unfold, I turn more often to the Holy Scriptures searching for answers to life’s challenging questions.

My good readers, you have been with me through many articles. Many of them reflect my thoughts of science and art, a recurring theme.

Yes, I will admit the buzz around the Internet and other media outlets concerning the idea of a tax on livestock has set off a firestorm of angst and anger throughout the animal husbandry world. I have seen it play out over blogs and posts and would agree that some might feel it is something to consider. I would, however, like to look at the facts to see where the argument stands and what really might happen.

I recently finished reading Buyology, a fascinating (and sometimes frightening) new book about neuromarketing – how marketing influences our brains and purchasing decisions.

This morning I climbed in my van and caught a glimpse of a silver thread of hair mingled with the normally brownish-gold ones. I wasn’t horrified or even sad. I deserve those sliver threads; after all I am at the tail-end of a half a century, and I have seen a few sunrises and sunsets in my young life.

Dear Editor, On the day that I recently hosted a Dairy Beef Quality Assurance program at my auction market facility, I was struck by the fact that on the front page of USA Today was an item that showed that 74 American Bar Association-approved law schools now offer courses in animal rights versus 12 in 1999. Why should we care about this?

We cry for many reasons. I found two reasons today, November 5, 2008. I write about them in this article.