Category Archives: Golden Rule

The King of Queens was a sitcom about a couple where the character Carrie (Leah Remini) was not always supportive of her partner.

Just like Seinfeld and Friends, there was another popular sitcom from the late '90s. Instead of the comical and troubling lives of a group of friends, The King of Queens was all about married life between Doug (Kevin James) and Carrie (Leah Remini).While Doug was the comedic relief of the marriage, it's more than clear that Carrie wore the pants in the relationship.

RELATED:The King Of Queens: Arthur's 10 Funniest Quotes, Ranked

She's a true New Yorker after all. She has tough skin, speaks her mind, and doesn't take anyone nonsense. Her tough demeanor often led her to not be so supportive of the people around her, even her husband. Sometimes her hard shell would crack and showcased how loving she could really be.

Part of the show's dynamics is that Doug is known as the slightly overweight character who is a bundle of love and jokes. While he is aware of his weight, he can also feel a bit insecure. In "Fatty McButterpants," Carrie goes shopping andbuys Doug a new shirt.

But Doug later discovers that she bought it at a Big & Tall shop. He was mortified and upset that his clothes aren't bought at normal men's store. But the sweetest moment is when Carrie tries to reassure Doug that she will love him no matter what size he is.But she does end up telling him that he should lose weight for his wellbeing.

Early on into the first season, Carrie's father, Arthur Spooner, played by actor Jerry Stiller, moves in with the couple. He plays a unique and interesting supporting character who lives in the basement. At one point, Arthur becomes tired of being controlled by Carrie. She tells him when to take his med, where he has to go, and forces him to events at the senior citizen center.

Arthur wants no more and one day sneaks off to a local bar for some fun. It's not hard to feel sympathy for Arthur. He's an older man with no wife living with his daughter. But Carrie isn't as sympathetic towards how he feels. She instead berates him for sneaking off and insists on controlling him.

Marriages or couples walk a fine line on the golden rule of telling their partner the truth. Doug walks that fine line in "Bun Dummy." Carrie starts wearing a new bun hairdo which Doug loathes. He keeps getting bizarre images of a librarian. Doug decides to stop beating around the bush and tell Carrie.

Carrie is at first is mad at Doug for telling her. All Doug wanted was for Carrie to look incredible and gorgeous at his high school reunion. Carrie, being the supportive wife, gets dolled up and gets rid of the hairdo. All for Doug to show off how he scored a babe.

When Doug gets bit by the workout bug, he gives it his all to lose weight. At first, Carrie was over the moon at Doug's new passion for a healthy lifestyle but it soon turned sour. Carrie finds him even more handsome and attractive but so do other women. It's safe to say that she had a little green monster on her back.

RELATED:The King Of Queens: 10 Storylines That Have Aged Poorly

Her jealousy and Doug now up to her level in looksleads Carrie to become unsupportive. She tries to get him to break his diet with temping pancakes. On their trip upstate, she becomes cold and envious of Doug. Instead of being proud of him, she let her jealousy get in the way.

This is a small feat of support that Carrie does for Danny (Gary Valentine). Danny was first a guest role before becoming more permanent characters as Doug's cousin. Throughout the show, Carrie has helped other characters, mainly Doug's friends, in many ways. In season six, Danny is once again on another business venture.

He takes his hobby of landscaping and uses it as a business. Carrie knows he's really good at it. She even goes out of her way to help promote his business. She even recommends him to her new gynecologist. That story ends in disaster when Danny overcharges and might lead Carrie to look bad.

It becomes clear that as the show progressed that Carrie always wondered if she could've become something more. Hence her high levels of jealousy. Her biggest example of being an unsupportive friend was when Holly (Nicole Sullivan) gets engaged. Holly is known for not dating the best men but she ends up meeting Mr.Perfect.

Carrie isn't so enthused, especially after seeing the huge diamond ring. She at first tries to convince Holly it's a fake and so is her new man. Holly is happy and ready to move in with him, but Carrie does everything possible to try and stop her. The sole reason is that Holly is getting the lifeCarriealways dreamed of. Marry a rich and successful man and live in a gorgeous apartment in Manhattan, New York.

Carrie often treats Doug's friends as her own and can be incredibly supportive. She shows this when Danny becomes unemployed andlater works at Doug's job, IPS. Danny is natural and starts at the bottom. But wants more and to become a driver like Doug. Doug is hesitant to write him a letter of recommendation.

He feels that Danny is trying to outdo him. Carrie finds it ridiculous and wants to help Danny. She takes matters into her own hands and writes the letter and has Doug sign it. Danny proves that he's a better driver and deserving of the job.

While Doug is perfectly happy in his position at IPS, he does have a secret dream. He's known amongst his friends and Carrie as being an impeccable sandwich creator. He always wanted to open his own shop. When his uncle comes into town, he allows Doug to invest and buy his own shop.

RELATED:King Of Queens: 10 Things That Make No Sense About Doug

Carrie is against it. She feels that Doug is ill-equipped to run a business despite it being his lifelong dream. She tries to talk him out of it and even gets Danny to persuade his father to invest in him instead. Doug is upset to learn what Carrie did and gives up. It's clear that Doug is hurt but accepts it anyway.

Throughout the show, Doug and Carrie are only close friends with Deacon (Victor Williams) and Kelly (Merrin Dungey). They're the only other married couple. But sadly, Deacon and Kelly go through a divorce. Carrie and out are there for moral support. Carrie shows her support for both of them, especially Deacon.

She ends up feeling sorry for him on his first Thanksgiving separated. She agrees with Doug to lend a helping hand and cook dinner for Deacon and his two boys. Before the split, she and Doug would also take care of the boys soDeaconand Kelly could have a night out.

Many fans can agree that one of the most hurtful and unsupportive things Carrie had done was lie to Doug about the Manhattan apartment. In a flashback, Doug and Carrie once put their names down for an apartment of Carrie's dreams. It becomes available and Carrie wants to move. Doug disagrees and they have a huge blowout.

When Carrie and Doug reconcile and realize they want a family, it comes with some strings attached. Carrie wants Doug to quit his job for an office position. Doug does so for Carrie. But he later finds out the truth that Carrie still kept her apartment. Doug then contemplates divorce and is heartbroken that she would be so unsupportive, especially when they already applied for adoption.

NEXT:King Of Queens: Arthur's 10 Stupidest Schemes, Ranked

Next The 10 Highest-Rated Episodes In Television History (According to IMDb)

Gabriela is a list writer for Screerant with experience in all things television, film and pop culture. She's interviewed some great actors from Cress Williams of Black Lightning to Tati Gabrielle from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.She grew up with her eyes glued to a television screen or in a book. She has a guilty pleasure for thriller and action films from the 90's and loves a good K-drama to unwind. You'll most likely find her binge-watching a new television show or movies on Netflix into the early morning.

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The King Of Queens: 5 Ways Carrie Was Supportive (& 5 Ways She Wasnt) - Screen Rant

By: Christian Hafer January 9, 2021

You can learn a lot from this picture of Old Mac at Bandon Dunes.

Christian Hafer

GOLFs chief photographer and visual editor Christian Hafer has mastered all the shots no, not on the golf course (sorry, Christian), but with his camera. In our new series, Shoot Like A Pro, hell pass along his tricks of the trade to ensure youll snap Instagram-worthy pics every time you tee it up. You can follow Hafer on Instagram here.

***

The benefit of always having a camera with you is the freedom to document as much or as little of your experiences as you choose. And doing so a little more creatively will yield images youll want to hold onto for years instead of the ones that get buried deep on your camera roll.

All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Here are three common mistakes I see from a lot of amateur photographers that if improved could yield much better results. But remember, these are guidelines and not hard and fast rules. Photos should be creative and expressive.

Understanding the relationship of the sun to your subject is the baseline for a good photograph. The easiest way to get the best results is to keep the sun behind you and on your subject. Shooting into the sun can be done I do it often if I want a specific look but stick with this guideline to start.

The composition of a photograph is essentially what you put into your picture. Its supposed to express what you see and what story you want to tell others. Composition ideas, rules and theories are endless, but starting with a simple understanding of the rule of thirds, golden triangle or even the golden ratio is important.

The easiest way to start taking better photos is by using the rule of thirds, which divides the frame into nine equal rectangles: three horizontal and three vertical (see below). Placing your subject on these intersections will help make a better image. (Fun tip: Your iPhone has a rule of thirds option by selecting grid in your camera settings.)

An example of the rule of thirds.

Christian Hafer

Rarely do the most interesting photographs happen from the middle of the fairway or the easiest place to access. Move to the side and use the bunkers or other elements in the foreground of your image. In rule-of-thirds speak, thats the bottom half of the grid. Change your elevation and, if using a camera, try a wide or telephoto setting on your lens to see what looks best. Lastly, always remember what the subject is and where you want it to be.

Want a unique view like this of The Sandbox at Sand Valley Golf Resort? Go find it!

Christian Hafer

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3 mistakes all amateur golf-course photographers make (and how to avoid them) - Golf.com

We have stepped into the new year, and if we have learnt anything from 2020, it is that one cannot take their health for granted. Since the first month of the year is about making resolutions and new plans for the year, this year, why dont you give precedence to health and do everything in your power to ensure your well-being?

Dr Bishwaranjan Mohanty, consultant nephrology and transplant physician at the NephroPlus Dialysis center at Jyothi Hospital, Odisha, says maintaining kidney health is as important as taking care of other organs in the body, for optimum kidney health ensures the body can filter waste properly and produce hormones that ensure its smooth functioning.

He lists some kidney care tips which can help us sustain our health in 2021. Read on.

* Follow the golden rule of hydration: We all know drinking water is essential to good health, but drinking too much water can be just as problematic, especially if you have kidney failure. Dont worry so much about the eight-glass-a-day rule and focus on drinking enough so your urine is light yellow or colourless.

* Eat for better (kidney) health: Diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading causes of kidney disease, so choose healthy, low-sodium, low-cholesterol foods that help control these conditions and are also good for your kidneys.

* Keep fit: A regular exercise routine will help you maintain a healthy weight; prevent diabetes and heart disease and control blood pressure and cholesterol. Your kidneys will thank you for every drop of sweat, and so will the rest of your body. (Just dont forget the golden rule!)

* Be a filter for your kidneys: Kidneys are responsible for removing harmful substances from the blood, including smoke and alcohol, so give them a break and cut back on the bad stuff. They also filter prescription and over-the-counter medicines, so never take more than what is prescribed and avoid medicines you dont need.

* Consider your personal kidney profile: It may not be you; it may be your kidneys. Some people are more prone to kidney disease, and they need to be more diligent when it comes to care. We know diabetes and high blood pressure are the biggest red flags, but there are many other factors to consider: heart disease, obesity and smoking, along with age and family history.

* Schedule a kidney check-up: Kidney disease is known as the silent killer because patients can lose 90 per cent of kidney function before symptoms appear. If youre one of the 26 million who unknowingly suffer from kidney disease, early intervention may just save your life.

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Six things you can do in 2021 for healthier kidneys - The Indian Express

The President of the Korean Bishops' Conference says the world needs to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic with the virtue of hope.

By Lisa Zengarini

The new president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Korea (CBCK), Archbishop of Suwon Mathias Lee Yong-hoon, says that in 2021 world needs to respond to the ongoing challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic with the virtue of hope. He expresses this view in an interview in which he summarizes the dramatic events of 2020, stressing that in this global crisis which has caused the loss of so many lives and livelihoods we are all called to support and encourage each other.

I pray that the pandemic will end soon and I ask the Lord for mercy, Archbishop Yong-hoon says, noting that the virus is one of the effects of the destruction of our environment and of the abuse of our common home. The Lord asked Adam: Where are you? (Gn 3,9). Let us therefore meditate on this call and whether God is addressing that same question to man today", he adds.

The prelate also calls for discernment: Let us identify what is important in our life. We must stop and reflect on what happened and take on the fundamental commitment to give love and help those who suffer, he says, recalling Pope Francis words. This means, in practice, applying what he calls the golden rule of the Gospel of Matthew: Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them (Mt 7,12).

Referring to the bicentenary celebrations of the birth of St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon (1821-1846), the first Korean priest and martyr, Archbishop Yong-hoon points out that during this Jubilee year Korean Catholics are called to become light and salt of the world, reaffirming their identity. According to the prelate, in 2021 the Korean Church should be therefore even more committed to defending life, protecting the environment and accelerating the reunification and reconciliation process between the two Koreas.

The prelate goes on to speak about his archdiocese. Noting the significant increase in the number of local Catholics, which is close to reaching the million, he says renewal and involvement in pastoral activities will be the cornerstone for further growth in his community.

Archbishop Yong-hoon also reflects on the present social conflicts and political leadership in the Country. He emphasizes that differences can be overcome only by peaceful dialogue, while respecting each ones role and ideas. According to the CBCKS president, political leaders must make an effort to find some common ground, because, he says, only the culture of listening and of mutual respect can guarantee us a future. Even in the most complex situations we must be able to follow the example of the Good Samaritan, he adds, noting that a true leader is never self-referential, but knows how to listen and not be overwhelmed by his own ideas. Archbishop Yong-hoon hence points out that the example to follow is Jesus Christ himself: You can exercise your authority and change the world only if you are willing to serve your neighbour.

Archbishop Mathias Lee Yong-hoon was elected as head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Korea during its General Assembly last October. In his speech after the election, he mentioned amongst the main pastoral challenges of the Church in South Korea the COVID-19 pandemic and life issues, namely the abolition of death penalty, for which Korean bishops have been advocating for years, and the legalization abortion, which the National Assembly is currently discussing. He also mentioned as priorities for the Korean Church the reconciliation and reunification process with North Korea and the commitment against climate change and to the protection of the common home.

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Korean bishops: 'Respond to Covid-19 with the virtue of hope' - Vatican News

Some friends of mine, a couple working from home together, have reacted to the boredom of lockdown by turning their hairless cat into a workplace antagonist, muttering darkly about his behaviour from the other side of the room. The impulse to invent enemies runs deep. And now that our entire social lives have been reduced to the domestic and online spheres, theres a lot of dark energy going around. And it has to find an outlet somewhere.

For the most part, this has taken the form of being unpleasant to people on social media. Twitter, especially now that theres a new feature that allows you to see if youve been retweeted by a private account, has never felt more rancorous and fogged in paranoia. This is fuelled by a lack of real-world gossip, as well as the way in which social media functions as a kind of public-private forum where intensely personal and confessional material (which can be grating) lives alongside endless discourse about politics (which can be objectionable).

But the hidden backstory to these unedifying disputes on the timeline is whats going on in private chats such as those enabled by WhatsApp: where stupid opinions and embarrassing disclosures are screenshotted and sent to friends or taken apart on locked accounts. Im talking about bitching. Its a practice thats as old as time itself, but Ive recently been considering it anew. And it may be something that is far more healthy and social than you might think.

The idea that bitching, something that necessarily takes place behind the subjects back, is cowardly and unpleasant is deeply ingrained in our culture, from Shakespeare (Iago was the original fake friend) through to hip-hop and reality TV. If you have a problem with someone, we are told, you should tell them to their face. And certainly this may be true if the person is someone you know well, and whatever fault youve assigned to them is serious. But the internet is suffering from a surfeit of people saying exactly what they think, and often to strangers over trivial slights. It is awash with pointless drama and petty beefs.

Perhaps we need to embrace the idea that, rather than being cowardly, bitching an ideal way to let off steam can be considerate. If someone on the internet says something embarrassing, choosing to mock them in private is an act of great mercy.

Theres a narcissistic pleasure to imagining you have haters, but social media, like the world at large, is mostly indifferent to all of us. That said, I know there are people who dislike me. It would be affecting a bravado I dont possess to say that I dont care when I get slagged off. In fact, I care so much that I would rather not read it or hear about it (while acknowledging that, as a writer, my work is fair game for public criticism). What people say about me in private, Ive realised, is none of my business. So to anyone whos ever made fun of me in a group chat, thank you for being so considerate of my feelings. If youve ever quote-tweeted me on a locked account, on the other hand

But what about the idea that bitching is bad for yourself and the culture at large? That it is unhealthy for the ego and corrosive to the soul? Its true that bitching can be motivated by bitterness and jealousy (Im sure, for instance, this has been the case every single time someone has criticised me behind my back). It may also be the case that bitching about someones online brand can make you dislike them without really knowing them. It can encourage a kind of prejudice based on limited evidence. This is where it can play into more tangibly harmful behaviours, such as shunning, ostracism, or the formation of exclusionary, gate-keeping cliques.

But its possible to separate disliking someones social media presence and disliking them personally. Of course, one can bleed into the other, but its possible to bitch at the level of abstraction, in such a way where it isnt really about the subject at all.

And besides, even if we are to accept that bitching is a moral crime, its still better to do it in a way that doesnt hurt anyone. In a culture where we are increasingly prone to react to what we see on the internet, bitching behind peoples backs is a form of harm reduction. The goal is to bitch without being a bitch about it.

The say it to my face school does have one thing right: if you have a genuine problem with someone, the best course of action is to approach them directly. But if your only issue is that you find their social media output embarrassing, then going out of your way to tell them this would be bizarre: Hi, I thought I should let you know I thought the risotto you posted earlier looked absolutely disgusting. Anyway, hope youre well! Xx If your sole issue with someone is that they post too many twee photos of quarantine baking on Instagram, its probably better to text a friend.

Bitching in private starts to look much more palatable if viewed as an alternative to the kind of harassment that social media encourages, acting as a release of the same energies a kind of cultural criticism among friends, where the material under review is everyday life. There is, these days, often a conflation between thinking someone is irritating and thinking theyre fundamentally toxic. We should be more accepting of the idea that its fine to dislike someone, not because youve decided they embody some profound problem, but simply because you find them annoying, or even because youre jealous.

If we were more honest about our motivations, wed be likelier to opt for the kinder option bitching about someone in private instead of feeling the compulsion to denounce them in public. Ethical bitching is about acknowledging when youre being a bad person, rather than trying to convince yourself that youre leading a moral crusade.

To use social media today is to feel constantly surveilled. As such, there is a libidinal pleasure to being catty in private. Its not noble or productive, but unless youre indulging in slander, its difficult to see what harm there is in taking the piss out of someone. The kind thing is to ensure they never find out.

James Greig is a London-based journalist who writes for Vice, i-D and Huck

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My golden rule for social media: talk trash to your hearts content, but do it in private - The Guardian

You have heard that necessity is the mother of invention. Necessity arises out of chaos things not working well. Chaos is a Greek word used to describe the beginning as in John 1:1. In Chaos was the Word is how the Greek reads.

Utopianism seeks to minimize chaos by ordering society from on high. Do as I say, or I (the government) will cause you to suffer and therein lies its flaw. Mankind naturally wants freedom of action what we call liberty. In a free society, there are some restrictions based on maturity and the concept of the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

There is always some level of chaos in every society, some level of laws and some level of crime. Under liberty there is a high standard to be met of harm to society or others and the pressure to confirm is light. So, the non-conformist is tolerated as are dissenting viewpoints. My daughter in high school choir disagreed with one song. So, when that song was performed, she stepped out of the choir and stood beside it in quiet protest. No unusual pressure was brought to force conformity and she rejoined the choir for the next song. That is liberty.

Today, dissent is called hate speech and motives devolve into unacceptable racism. Insisting on your individuality is labeled privilege. And so group think is sold to Americans to force conformity and make the masses easier to manage. What is lost is the low-level chaos and independent thinking that leads to invention. By chasing conformity, we are losing the creativity of the human spirit.

David Sparkman is a resident of Frederick County.

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Open Forum: By chasing conformity we lose creativity - The Winchester Star

By Dr. Marion Mass| Bucks County Courier Times

Here are six dots to remember. Well connect them later.

Now, lets connect the dots with a scenario a dangerous, nasty emergency.

A drunk driver hits your child. Femur: broken. Fracture: compound. Blood: abundant.

Your child is rushed to the nearest emergency room.

Compassion, a professional oath, and the EMTALA all demand that the hospital spring into action.

Someone will take your insurance card; but at that moment, nobody (especially you) cares about insurance networks.

Maybe the hospital is in the network. Maybe the ER physician who examines your child, the radiologist who reads the x-ray, the anesthesiologist who puts your child under, and the orthopedic surgeon who sets the bone and closes the wound… maybe all, some, or none are in the network and must accept the insurers payment.

In any case, you expect your insurer to cover the emergency treatment and to pay the people who saved your child the professionals whose role is to render such service.

Instead, because the insurer follows the Golden Rule He who has the gold makes the rules the following may be your experience.

You may receive surprising bills from parties involved in your childs treatment who were outside the network. You may think that youre being gouged, but think again.

Astounded at your insurers denial of payment, you may go back and forth with your insurer and with those who sent the bills. You will be up to your neck in the fine print of your policy.

You will be disgusted and probably very worried.

And you, not the insurer, may end up on the hook for those surprise bills.

Can you spot the villain?

Given the forces at work in the health care industry, surprise billing has become so commonplace that its now on the radar of lawmakers in Washington.

They have two solutions in front of them. Both would prevent you, the patient, from receiving surprise bills.

One is benchmarking. It favors insurance companies by leaving them with the ability to game the system, while guaranteeing that the shrinkage in the nations supply of physicians will continue, and that there will be deepening problems with access to in network physicians. California uses benchmarking. At best, the data on the programs success is limited and ambiguous. You can check.

The other is independent dispute resolution (IDR) the approach adopted in New York and Texas. IDR requires that the surprise biller and insurer go through binding, independent arbitration. Physicians prefer it because it evens the playing field in their struggle against insurers for survival and helps those who actually treat patients to stay in practice. Seems to work well. You can check.

Despite the availability of a pure IDR bill that has 110 bipartisan co-sponsors, a House committee has sneaked a benchmarking solution with three co-sponsors into a bigger bill. They must think people are stupid and not paying attention.

What can you do?

Contact your representatives in Congress.

Tell them to become informed on the subject.

Tell them not to reward the insurance industry. (The villains in this scenario are definitely not fighting for their survival.)

Tell your representatives not to make the spectacularly stupid choice that will continue to choke the life out of the medical profession.

Tell them to make the smart choice: IDR.

Marion Mass, M.D. is aBucks County pediatrician; co-founder ofPracticing Physicians of America and amember of this papers editorial board.

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"Surprise billing" in health care don't reward the villain - Bucks County Courier Times

By former Congressman Gary A. Franks

Thanksgiving Day is one of my favorite holidays. A time when the nation comes together as one big family to thank God for the many blessings he has bestowed on us, individually and as a nation. Despite everything we have seen and experienced this year we have a lot to be thankful for as Americans. To borrow two symbolisms, I believe that America is on the Mayflower and not the Titanic.

As one of those Bible- and gun-hugging proud Americans who is a recovering politician, I pray and believe that continued blessings will shine on America even if we do not deserve it, as we are the best hope for mankind.

The problem, however, lies with who do you trust. So help me God and In God We Trust had meaning when I was in Congress. However, for a while Democrats removed So help Me God from the oath in our swearing-in proceedings. At times I believe that if some of todays politicians were around during Noahs Ark time, they would probably blame climate change for the flood.

We need good leaders as they are charged with making the key decisions that could determine our success or failure. It does not take a right or left turn to hurt the people on the ship, inaction or if the ship is drifting, can be equally damning especially if there is an iceberg in your path. Remember, during the Exodus the Promised Land was literally only a few miles away but the Chosen People took 40 years to get there and their leader (Moses) never touched foot on the land. God gives us what we deserve on his own timeline.

Leaders need advisers. But advisers told President George W. Bush that there were weapons of mass destruction. Their error has resulted in a 19-year war and the spending of enough money to repair nearly all of our infrastructure major repairs and have money left over to lower the national debt.

And let us remember, the experts said the Titanic could not sink.

I have always believed that following God is the best thing to do. You cannot go wrong. Following scientists or advisers, as important as they may be, does not match following God. After all, God has never made a mistake.

We should try our best to follow the Golden Rule and let love, not hate, dominate you, peace not anger. Be givers not just takers. Let telling the truth, not lies or half-truths, be your doctrine regardless of how painful or embarrassing, and eliminate being disingenuous, all tactics from Satans playbook.

God can not lead the USA unless the USA is willing to follow. For example, nearly every war or conflict we won until we failed to honor the Sabbath (resting/no work and limited commerce), got rid of school prayer, and allowed babies lives to be terminated; 56 percent of abortions are Black and Hispanic.

The goal of bad people is to get you to go in the wrong direction. At the beginning of time, it worked on Eve. For some folks, Satan is easy to recognize, but they will be hated, silenced and ostracized by evil self-centered people when attempting to expose the destructive ways of bad evil people. Good people must help good people regardless of what team they are on.

We will all know whether America is on the Mayflower going toward the New World or if America is on the Titanic heading toward an iceberg. Spoiler Alert one ends incredibly well for hundreds of years and the other, lets just say, does not.

For those, like me, who feel America is on the Mayflower, you know that it is time to celebrate Thanksgiving Day 2020 with joy, and if you feel America is on the Titanic you really should welcome Thanksgiving Day, it can make a difference.

Gary A. Franks served as the U.S. representative for Connecticuts 5th District from 1991 to 1997. He was the first Black Republican elected to the House in nearly 60 years and is New Englands first Black member of the House. He is host of the podcast We Speak Frankly. Follow him @GaryFranks

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Former Congressman Gary Franks: Happy Thanksgiving, America - The Advocate

MARTINSBURG Martinsburg lost an icon last week as 105-year-old Ethel Bovey passed away on Nov. 23. Described as a trailblazer, Bovey spent her life in Martinsburg where her career spanned several decades.

She was employed first at the Berkeley Woolen Mill from 1932 to 1941, after which she spent a short time at Fairchild Aircraft. Aetna Casualty & Surety Claims Department was her next stop from 1957 to 1963 after which she landed a job at The Journal where she remained until 1981. She continued to write columns for the paper for many years.

While at The Journal, Bovey served in several positions including womens editor, feature editor and columnist. She was also a charter member of the West Virginia Press Women.

Having lived here all her life, she had a deep connection to Martinsburg and its residents, shared Maria Lorensen, former editor for the Journal. She loved story-telling and writing and helped many young journalists find their way, Lorensen continued.

Many benefited from Boveys kind words and guidance in the newsroom.

Newsrooms are quiet places today, but they werent then and all of us young reporters were loud idiots, shared former staffer Tim Rowland.

Mrs. Bovey, as we called her, would survey us from her corner desk with the charitable dignity of a queen who was kind enough to give us the benefit of the doubt, assuming that one day there was an outside chance we would all grow up, Rowland added.

Bovey wrote verse, skits, columns and commentary and was published in Ideals Magazine and Upper Room. At the age of 80, she discovered the computer and began writing occasional historical and thought-provoking articles for the Local Lore Section of The Journal.

I worked at The Journal from 1999 to 2008, shared former Living Editor Crystal Schelle. When I first started working with Ethel, I was nervous trying to edit someone with that much experience. She was warm and giving as a writer and I learned so much from her about Martinsburg, about writing and about life.

Bob Madison, another former The Journal writer, who now writes sports for the Shepherdstown Chronicle, recalled Bovey with fondness.

She was one of the most sincerely nice persons to come into anybodys lifetime, Madison said. She had a kind word and a radiant smile for everybody she met.

Madison went on to say, Any new employee to the Journal newsroom had an instant friend and a place where knowledge of the ins and outs of a newspaper could be obtained with a generous pat on the back.

She always had time for anybody about any subject. She was an inspirational source, constant in her kind ways and a help to all, Madison concluded.

Boveys extensive involvement in many areas was of benefit to her community in a variety of ways. Her church was of significant importance. She as a member of Otterbein United Methodist Church since 1923, where she taught in the kindergarten department, was a teacher of the Fidelity Ladies Class, and, not surprisingly the editor of the church newsletter.

In addition, Bovey was active in local Parent/Teacher associations in Berkeley County. She served for over 20 years on the Board of Directors of the Eastern Panhandle Training Center and was presented Martinsburg High School Alumni Associations Outstanding Alumni Award in 2008.

She held membership and offices in several other organizations, including the soroptimist International of Martinsburg, Golden Rule Chapter No. 69, Order of the Eastern Star, Opequon Home Demonstration Club and Martinsburg Lioness Club, to name a few.

She published a collection of her writings in 2003 under the title Hometown Memories, Growing Up in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and a second volume, Hometown Reflections, Life and Times in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

She was a committed community member, who loved God and neighbor, shared Lorensen. In later years, she was recognized as a Woman of Distinction from the Girl Scouts Council Shed have all the other women awardees listening attentively as she shared stories from her early life. She was a strong, intelligent woman until the end.

What I loved about Ethel was that she loved Martinsburg, Shelle said. My favorite memories were when she invited reporter Joey DiGuglielmo and me over for lunch. Shes set a beautiful table with help from Kathy, and served us soup and sandwiches while we chatted about working at The Journal.

She had the best laugh when she recounted her days of working there, Shelle concluded.

Former staffer Lisa Clipp concurred.

When Ethel stepped through the doors into the newsroom to drop stories off and to chat, everyone always smiled and was cheered by her presence. She had a way of making people listen and lean in, and her charisma charmed even the most jaded reporters, Clipp shared.

She will be missed in the community because she was a true treasure.

Bovey leaves a daughter, Sharilyn Derlene Bovey, several cousins and many dear friends, including close friend Kathy Weaver.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Berkeley Senior Services, Hospice of the Panhandle or Panhandle Home Health.

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Newspaper co-workers sing the praises of Ethel Bovey - Martinsburg Journal

Elisabeth Slay|The Shawnee News-Star

While the country and worldremainin a global pandemic and Thanksgiving will look different than it ever has been, various Pottawatomie County residents reveal what theyre thankful for this year.

I'm thankful that even amid the crazy and hate that we have seen this last year, I've also seen kindness and human decency in places I never thought I would, said owner of Swanky Okie Weddings Chanda Carreon.

Each day I amthankful for my family, my home and the life I have. I am very appreciative that during thistrying year I have been able to continue working. It is a sad job wehealthcareworkers do but it is anhonor to be one of those that are soimportant to others right now. I thank God that Hehas helped keep myself and my family safe, saidAdministrator of Golden Rule HomeJessica Mitchell.

Im thankful to have exactly what I need to achieve the goals Ive set for myartgallery. Everything I need is right here on my own downtownMainStreet. Each day I enjoy walking to lunch, or even breakfast the next day when I work through the night. I have favorite meals at Owl Shop,theLunch Boxand Theopolis. Coffee and Crafts across the street knows my order without me saying it. I walk to The Arts 317 for all my art work to be documented and printed. I walk to the post office to ship art work all over the country. I also have Savvy Bites to help me with my gift shopping and CroweFarms for groceries on the way home. I love my town, and Im thankful for it, said local artistLeAnne Henry Wright.

I am thankful for my healthy family, our warm home and a job that I love. I am blessed beyond measure, said Shawnee Public School Public Information OfficerCherity Pennington.

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A season of giving thanks - Shawnee News Star