Opinions

Updated: Confessions of a former meme-sharer

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Tuesday, February 19. 2019

Updated: 3 days ago

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

The word “meme” has two primary definitions, according to merriam-webster.com.

The first definition of “meme” is, “an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture.”

Scientist Richard Dawkins, who came up with the word in 1976, called it “a unit of cultural transmission.” Spending a lot of time on Facebook is an example of this kind of meme. [Full story »]

The older you get, the colder you get

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, February 12. 2019

“The older you get, the colder you get.” Those words of wisdom - the only words of wisdom from him I remember - were imparted to me by Grandaddy Lonnie.
We were living in Ailey, Ga. at the time. We had a burn barrel behind the house for burning trash. It was a cold day and I had trash duty. Once upon a time, trash duty for me led to a wildfire in the adjoining broom sedge field but that is story for another day. [Full story »]

Walking back through the years

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, February 5. 2019

By Charlotte Kirkland

Let’s take a walk back through the years.

It was a warm spring evening back in 1991. I came home from work and Harold had a nice supper on the table all ready to be eaten. Harold’s plant had closed and he was lucky enough to get an early retirement so he often had supper ready when I got home. He’s a pretty good cook too, I might add. [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: What are you immersed in?

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, January 22. 2019

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

In a recent service at the First United Methodist Church of Barnesville, Pastor Cyndi McDonald led us to remember our baptism. At the end of the service, she invited us to dip our hands in the water in the baptismal font as a way of doing so. [Full story »]

Geiger’s Counter: Too much information

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, January 15. 2019

One day last week, I was performing my morning ritual of getting coffee from a local convenience store to enjoy at my desk while dealing with the daily assault of e-mail - mostly junk. I encountered a woman whom I thought was addressing me. [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: A Broader Perspective

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, January 8. 2019

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

1968 was a tough year. The Vietnam War was raging. Assassins struck down Dr. King and Sen. Kennedy. Riots tore apart major American cities. The divisions between people were sharp.
But something happened at the end of that year that showed us something we really needed to know. And many of us watched it on television. [Full story »]

Many things to be happy about in the New Year

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, January 1. 2019

Kay S. Pedrotti
news@pikecountygeorgia.com

Not knowing the reason why, I seem to be able to be more grateful as one year ends and another begins. Maybe it’s the tendency we all have to reminisce, to remember good times, to wonder what’s in store for the future. [Full story »]

Geiger’s Counter: Christmas memories

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, December 18. 2018

When I think of Christmas Eve, I think of the late Holland and Louise Jackson and the fabulous party they hosted for generations on the night before Christmas at their Thomaston Street home. It was amazing. [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: My Christmas List

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Rachel McDaniel

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Monday, December 10. 2018

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

I remember when I wanted lots of things for Christmas. “How many things?” you might ask. Well, let’s just say that had I sent a letter to Santa, it would have required extra postage. [Full story »]

The heavens declare his glory!

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, December 4. 2018

By Beverly Brisendine
beverly.brisendine@gmail.com

Have you ever walked through a field at night, far from the lights of a city and paused quietly to view the skies above? There is an incredible silence in this experience for no human words can describe the boundless expanse of our universe. As we catch a glimpse of God’s infinite power and majesty we begin to sense what David experienced as he watched over his sheep in the fields of Bethlehem. Sitting under a magnificent canopy of stars he penned: “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork” in Psalm 19:1. [Full story »]

Hazel Harden

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Rachel McDaniel

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Monday, December 3. 2018

Mrs. Hazel Alice Williams Harden, age 99, of Williamson, passed away December 1, 2018, at her home. She was born in Meansville, daughter of the late Columbus Andrew Williams and Mintora Laura Barnet Williams. She was a dedicated member of Flat Rock Primitive Baptist Church in Zebulon. She was a hairdresser and for many years she owned and operated Maxine’s Beauty Shop in Griffin. Mrs. Harden had a green thumb and enjoyed her flowers and garden, taking care of her home and was also a wonderful cook. She never turned away a stray dog or cat. She was loving and kind to everyone. [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: Opinions

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, November 27. 2018

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

I’m grateful that Walter Geiger allows me to occupy this space every other week. I don’t know if he’s grateful that he agreed to our arrangement. I don’t plan to ask him. I figure he’ll let me know if he changes his mind about it. [Full story »]

Despite the chaos, I’m thankful for America

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, November 20. 2018

An outsider looking in may scoff at the notion but America, despite all its flaws, is still the greatest country on God’s good earth. Though they could not have dreamed what the world would look like 240 years hence, the founders of our system of government put together a pretty good framework back in 1776 that has stood the test of time. [Full story »]

Racketeering charges dropped against Veal

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Rachel McDaniel

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Monday, November 19. 2018

By Walter Geiger

Racketeering charges against George Randall Veal of Milledgeville that came about after an investigation into a scam operation by Pike County investigators in March, have been dropped. Prosecution of a co-defendant in the case, Billy Daniels Sr. of Zebulon, is still a possibility. [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: Things I’m thankful for

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, November 13. 2018

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

As our annual day of Thanksgiving approaches, I thought I’d share some of the things for which I’m thankful. [Full story »]