Columns/Opinions

   My mom and I were discussing how things, like fads, cycled back over a period of years.
   Take, for example, the resurgence of 1990s nostalgia.
   It’s popping up in fashion, food, music and other aspects of our culture.
   And for those of us who grew up in that decade, it does pull at one’s heartstrings a little bit.
   I remember everything from Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls to the iconic dial-up internet sound and having to get offline so someone could use the phone.
   There’s also Pogs, Power Rangers and Pokemon.
   When I think about some of the fashions back then, I cringe.
   Especially when presented with glaringly bright neon clothes, choker necklaces and jelly sandals.
   But, I’m fine with it, overall.
   We’ll just wait and see if any of it comes back to Bay City.
   My money is on children being a source for revival of 1990s fashion.
   And not just teens and tweens.

   It’s probably not on many calendars, but August is “What Will Be Your Legacy Month.”
   So it’s a good time to think about the type of legacy you’d like to leave.
   On a practical level, establishing your legacy means providing your family and the charitable organizations you support with the resources you’d like them to have.
   So, you’ll want to work with your legal professional to create the appropriate documents, such as a will, living trust, power of attorney and so on.
   You’ll also want to communicate your plans to your loved ones.
   You don’t want anyone to be unpleasantly surprised when it’s time to settle your estate.
   And don’t forget to review your plans as your life changes.
   For example, if you’ve remarried, you may want to change the beneficiary designations on your IRA, 401(k) and other retirement accounts – if left untouched, these designations may even supersede the instructions left in your will.

 What does in mean to, “fall from grace?” 
   Many times when a political or religious leader falls into sin we see in the news that they have, “fallen from grace.” 
   While this is used a lot, it is not the correct and biblical definition of the phrase. 
   Galatians 5:4 tells us, “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” 
   What a horrible thought that someone can fall from grace. So to begin we must start by looking at the context. Robert Gundry explains what was going on in his book, “A Survey of the New Testament.” 
   In this he writes, “Many of the first Christians, being Jewish, continued in large measure their Jewish mode of life, including attendance at the synagogue and temple, offering of sacrifices, observance of Mosaic rituals and dietary taboos, and social aloofness from Gentiles.”  

   I parted ways with my oldest child Thursday at the airport. She went one way through security headed to D.C. alone.  I went the other way headed back home alone. 
   My destination was Fairfield Elementary for day No. 4 of summer school. 
   Hers was George Washington University for a weekend with an organization she has grown to love called Turning Point USA. 
   She was following her passion…politics. I was following mine too…kids.
My first inclination when she asked about applying for this leadership summit was to say no and hold onto her, but I did not.  
   Her Dad was obviously involved in the process, and I did my research.
    I perhaps should have been worried, but proceeded in faith and with prayer. I let her go with the help of Jesus. 

   “Atomic Blonde” opened in theaters Aug. 28 and made over $45.6 million worldwide.
   The film is directed by David Leitch, the same man who directed “John Wick” and produced “John Wick 2.”
      Stylistically, Atomic Blonde also echoes John Wick with a thin plot, but makes up for it with tons of action sequencing.
   And the action really makes the film move!
   The movie is based off “The Coldest City” trilogy graphic novel written by Antony Johnson and illustrated by Sam Hart.
   Set in 1989 Berlin just days before the collapse and teardown of the Berlin Wall, we’re introduced to the death of an MI6 agent by a Russian operative in an attempt to steal a secret microfilm filled with various spies and their exploits.
   Basically, the plot falls in line with several other movies we’ve seen over the years, like 2012’s James Bond flick, “Skyfall.”

Agricultural Situation
   Rainfall is creating havoc with cotton and soybeans, especially throughout Matagorda County.  
   This frequent rainfall has created deterioration of our cotton crop, including hard locks and lint deterioration. 
   Hopefully, no seed sprouting occurs due to the wet weather. 
   As mentioned earlier, about 1/3 to ½ bale of cotton was lost from the earlier rains.  
   If rainfall continues even greater losses could occur. A vast majority of our cotton crop is ready to be defoliated and/or picked. 
   Many soybeans are at the harvest stage. The frequent rainfall creates moisture in the dry bean and thus the pod pops open and beans are lost.  
   Significant damage or complete crop loss can occur. 
   Some corn still needs to be harvested. 
   Rice harvest is more than half complete.  

   Hundreds of events around the country are planned as part of National Health Center Week (NHCW). 
   The national campaign runs Aug. 13-19 with the goal of raising awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s Health Centers over the course of more than five decades.
   One of the bright spots in America’s health care system, Community Health Centers serve more than 25 million Americans, a number that continues to grow along with the demand for affordable primary care. 
   They have compiled a significant record of success that includes:

   A July 20 letter that DPS Director Steven McGraw advising law enforcement agencies statewide that the DPS would begin charging fees for its crime lab use was retracted by Governor Greg Abbott July 28.
   McGraw’s letter, in the short term, did manage to alarm Texas law enforcement agencies that use the DPS crime lab services to analyze evidence from DWIs to homicide cases.
   Matagorda County District Attorney Steven Reis said he was about to call outside testing agencies to get estimates on their crime lab tests.
   The DPS director noted in his letter that the legislature empowered him to begin charging for the DPS Crime Lab and directed him to collect up to $11,540,852 in fees for forensic analysis services.
   Abbott’s letter told McGraw to retract his letter, saying that a “proper reading” of the authorization, which was inserted during a Texas house-senate conference, did not require the DPS to collect the charges.

   With summer finally winding down and the start of school looming on the horizon, I struggle to find a bit of free time for myself.
   I’m not asking for a week-long vacation; though it would be nice.
   I’m trying to squeeze in a dedicated weekend of doing stuff just for me.
   Now, that may or may not include binge-watching on Netflix and a lot of sleep, but it’s something that definitely appeals to me.
   I might even work in a little personal writing block of time or two.
   Still, it’s a struggle to find time to even get a decent night’s sleep.
   This weekend shouldn’t be too bad since its Mike’s birthday.
   He likes laying around and watching movies, so we’ll probably end up doing that.
   Maybe go out to eat, too.
   The only drawback is that my sister, Ashlee, is supposed to be coming home, too.

   Here we are heading full speed into August. In Europe we would be packing for a month long holiday.
   I think they have the right idea as the temperatures locally climb to triple digits and my yard looks like it did in February. 
   I hang my hopes on the forecast for rain later this week. That is like believing stock analysts speculating this market will do nothing but climb in value. I would point out that August is historically the worst-performing month for equities. 
   I was intrigued this week to learn Boeing contributed over 200 points to the Dow in the last month - no small undertaking. 
   It does underscore that earnings drive this market, despite the outside noise. Did you miss the fact that crude prices climbed to $50 for West Texas Intermediate? This market is trading on better-than-expected earnings.