Through An 'Old Timer's' Eyes
By Howard 'Mac' McDonald

Everyone knows you have to keep certain tools sharpened if you want them to work to their maximum potential. The same theory can apply to the human brain.

I am presently involved in "mind maintenance." This is a program where you exercise your brain by doing certain exercises, such as crossword puzzles. Research shows we can now prevent and maybe even cure Alzheimer's disease by maintaining a program to improve cognitive performance of all adults.

The cold February wind sends the snow swirling across the yard and it howls like a lonely wolf. This is winter in its foulest mood. The outside temperature has been steadily dropping all day. I don't mind winter as long as it doesn't get too cold.

Days like this make one you wonder about the issue of global warming. Still, we know that weather patterns all over the world are changing and that greenhouse gases should be reduced.

I was watching Animal Planet the other day and they had a woman on there that was teaching her dog how to read. She had several different commands printed out on cardboard and when she would show it to her dog, he would obey.

Roll over, sit up and speak were the three things that I remember. Pretty clever, don't you think?

That reminded me of a story that I heard about this farm boy who went away to college and depleted his allowance. He thought up this scheme to get more money out of the old man.

He wrote home and told his dad that there was a professor at school who would teach their dog Rover how to talk for a fee of $500. The farmer thought that having a talking dog would really be something. He packed up Rover and five big ones and sent them off to college.

This ruse worked so well that the boy decided to get the old man for another $500 so he wrote another letter home. This time he said there was another professor who would teach Rover how to read for $500.

Christmas break came up and the old farmer could hardly wait to see his boy and Rover, the talking dog. When the train pulled into the station, Papa was on the platform to meet them. When the boy got off the train, he did not have Rover with him.

The old man asked, "Son, where is Rover?"

The kid answered, "Dad I had to put him down this morning. Rover said he couldn't wait 'til he got home and told Mom about you and that hired girl."

The old man said, "Are you sure he's dead?"

Several people I know have recently undergone knee replacements. Some are doing well and some are not. Those who have arthritis in their knees are in constant pain and surgery seems to be their only way out.

The normal knee bends and straightens more than 100 times a minute while walking. For most it's a brisk, easy stride; for those with advanced arthritis, it is a painful and tiring effort. If you are contemplating this operation, be sure to get the right surgeon and follow-up care.

Have you heard that NASA is talking about sending people to the moon and Mars to live? I know of a few I would like to send. Most of the candidates who are hogging the TV could book their trip any time. It would be hard for them to ruin our country from so far away.

As the TV news keeps blabbing on about the politicians, let us not forget about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The latest count on U.S. military deaths in Iraq was 3,959.

The war has cost the taxpayers over $500 billion dollars. Think what that would do for Social Security and Medicare. We'd be good for