Opinions

Putting COVID-19 anger into perspective

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Tuesday, August 11. 2020

I broke quarantine over the weekend and went to Athens to help the youngest move into her new apartment. She will be a junior at UGA this fall and we couldn’t be prouder of her and her big sister. [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: On the front lines

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, August 4. 2020

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

I’m sure you join me in appreciating those who are on the front lines of the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. [Full story »]

Sports not the same without fans

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, July 28. 2020

The first sports I saw televised without fans in attendance during these troubled times (aren’t you sick of hearing that?) were soccer contests from Europe and South America. Some piped in crowd noise at the stadium. Some added it to the broadcast. [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: Laughing to keep from crying

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, July 21. 2020

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

I follow the Twitter account @WatergateDayOf. Its description says, “Tweeting out the events of Watergate as they happened 47 years ago.” [Full story »]

Geiger’s Counter: Maybe we need the root doctor

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, July 14. 2020

Growing up in Savannah, one often heard snitches of conversation about the root doctor. I remember wondering what or who the root doctor was and where he stayed. [Full story »]

I hope we don’t just ‘return to normal’

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, June 30. 2020

My daughter, a fifth grader who is an avid softball player, can’t wait for things to ‘go back to normal.’ She wants to be able to shop again, see her friends and get back to striking out batters from the pitching circle. [Full story »]

Ruffin's Renderings: Looking back, looking forward

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, June 23. 2020

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

As I reflect on the Black Lives Matter march that took place in Barnesville on Saturday, June 6, I think about how far we’ve come. [Full story »]

Geiger’s Counter: America needs football

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, June 16. 2020

The question from a fellow Georgia football fan came out of the blue. [Full story »]

Thinking for a change: Class action

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, June 2. 2020

By Anthony Vinson
advkdv@att.net

Dear Class of 2020. Wow. What an end to your high school career. The pandemic threw your plans into the wind, but so what? In coming years, you will have stories to tell. Your 10-year reunion is going to be a blast as you make up for what you missed and celebrate with your classmates, but with the bonus of a decade of experience to help you better enjoy the festivities. That may not sound like much of a consolation prize at the moment, but trust me, it’s going to matter then. [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: Expertise

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, May 26. 2020

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

One piece of the COVID-19 situation that has concerned and confused me is the disdain some people have exhibited toward experts.

I was in Baltimore, Maryland a few years ago working at a conference. (Remember the old days when people traveled to conferences?) I was sitting at my table in the Exhibit Hall when I realized that the vision in my right eye had become very blurry. This would have seemed like something I should get checked on anyway, but I had recently had laser treatment to repair two retinal tears in that eye, so I was certain I should. [Full story »]

Geiger’s Counter: Forged in the fire of COVID-19

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, May 19. 2020

High school graduation has always been a defining moment. The class of 2020, these large groups of teenagers, many of whom have been together since pre-K, will scatter. After getting their diplomas, flipping those tassels and throwing their caps in the air, they will go off in many different directions. [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: In praise of religious leaders

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, May 12. 2020

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

Back when I was a pastor, I had a conversation with the local high school football coach. I observed that our jobs were similar in that everybody in town thought they could do our job better than we could, and that 99.9% of them wouldn’t last two weeks trying to do it. He agreed with me. We laughed outwardly as we wept inwardly (at least I wept inwardly). We parted to go do our jobs the best we could. [Full story »]

Geiger’s Counter: Did we overreact?

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, May 5. 2020

COVID-19 and coronavirus.

Two months ago, few, if any, us had heard those two words. The virus came upon us quickly. I would say we, as a nation, reacted pretty fast. We were scared not to. [Full story »]

Ruffin’s Renderings: Together and apart

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, April 28. 2020

By Mike Ruffin
ruffinml@gmail.com

One of the interesting things about living in these days of COVID-19 is how our commitment to being apart has brought us together. We have come together in our commitment to stay apart. [Full story »]

Geiger’s Counter: Epidemics are nothing new here

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, April 21. 2020

A review of issues of the Barnesville News-Gazette from October, 1918 revealed an epidemic of Spanish flu was plaguing the area to the extent classes at Gordon Institute were suspended. There were also multiple obituaries at the time listing flu or pneumonia arising from the flu as the cause of death. [Full story »]