"Reel Reviews: ‘Barbie’ packs a punch with audiences with hot-pink power" by: Jessica Shepard

   When I saw the first trailer for “Barbie,” I spent more time cringing with a few choice chuckles at the antics displayed.    But, when the time came, naturally, I took my mom to see it with me and honestly spent more time laughing at the realism portrayed by the human characters.

"An old Aggie greeting helps welcome STP’s foreign visitors" by: Mike Reddell

   It’s been a long time since I was a cadet at A&M, but a group from the Philippines and Indonesia brought an Aggie tradition back to me in a pleasant way.    Last week, the U.S. State Department sponsored a visit by dignitaries from countries considering nuclear power.

"Adding a new designator to food judging skills" by: Jessica Shepard

   Just like the headline says, I’ve managed to add a new category designation to my food-judging skill scorecard.    Now, my usual column readers know that I’ve judged food at two annual events – the Rice Dish Roundup in the fall and the youth food show for 4-H in the spring.

"Is the party really going to go on forever?" by: John Sample

   Well, the long-awaited recession may never come or it was here and we just didn’t notice.    Last Friday, so much for the financial sector disaster, as JP Morgan, Wells Fargo and Citibank announced greater than expected earnings.

PSA: Retired? Consider benefits of part-time work

   After spending decades in the workforce, you might look forward to the day you retire.    But if you’d like to redefine “retirement” to include part-time work or consulting, you could receive some key financial benefits.

"Reel Reviews: ‘Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One’ a mouthful of overused tropes" by: Jessica Shepard

   Look, I grew up with the “Mission Impossible”(MI) movie franchise and just found out that it was based on an older television series.    Apparently, I’ve never watched the introductory credits with enough attention to notice that until I caught the latest installment over the weekend.

"Community leaders’ presence didn’t match agenda" by: Mike Reddell

   By now, my readers know the fondness I have for government entities to have an executive, or better put, closed meeting.     I know, I know, some taxpayer-funded things are better discussed behind closed doors.     By some, I mean a lot.

"Sonic nugget ice crunching might be my summertime addiction" by: Jessica Shepard

   I’m one of those “ice chewing” people – whenever and wherever I get the chance to do so!     And when I say that, I mean the only ice I’m usually munching on is Sonic Drive-in’s iconic “nugget” ice pieces and chips.

"Just when you were sure it was certain, everything changed" by: John Sample

   We are into the first quarter and as such the next earnings reports from the big financial companies will be reported at the end of this week.

PSA: Retirees: Talk finances with your grown children

   Are your adult children concerned about your finances?     You might be surprised.     Consider this: 66% of the millennial generation worry that their parents or in-laws may not have enough money to live comfortably in retirement, according to a 2023 study by Age Wave and Edward Jones.