Columnists

I’m concerned about the violent content of some children’s cartoon shows and the toys and other products connected with them. My husband thinks they’re harmless. What’s your point of view?

A young co-worker came into the office last week with a horrible black eye.

It has been some time since we answered the ton of mail that has been piling up so let’s get right to it and relieve the pressure on my inbox.

Sometimes messages are taped to the Stump Ranch gate, mainly dealing with the neighbourhood outdoors news: how the hunting, fishing or foraging have been lately. In season there will occasionally be the gift of a package of morels to prove they are up and around.

With fall comes the debate: should one cut off the tops of all the perennials or leave them intact for the winter.

Facts trump theory every time. Especially when that theory is ideologically motivated. An economist working for a big oil company doesn’t want the company’s shares to lose value, so he/she will haul out the supply and demand chart and state that when the demand for oil gets to a certain level, then entrepreneurs will just go out and find more of it.

If you are one of many parents facing tired children at the end of the school day, rest assured help is on its way.

I read the letter from “A Grieving Dad,” whose son died. His wife’s sisters want her to “get over it.” Please let your readers know that people must be allowed to grieve, and for considerably more than three months for someone as close as a spouse or child.

I saw a big box of Beatles in a store the other day.

Dear Margo: My husband and I are in the classic 50-year-old sandwich generation -- kids in college, 80ish parents who are emotionally demanding, a 30 per cent drop in retirement savings despite having made what we thought were low-risk investment choices, and while we are still both employed, we’ve taken pay cuts and there are storm clouds on the horizon for both of our industries. Just too much fun!