"Reel Reviews: ‘Freelance’ terribly predictable but packed with comedy dialogue" by: Jessica Shepard

We’ve hit that small cinema slump before Hollywood starts rolling out their big push for award-winning movies to hit theaters.    For me, that makes it harder to pick a movie to watch and review – like this week, I went to something I’d never even seen a trailer about.

"‘Permission to be’" by: Karen Restivo

Permission to be what - happy, healthy, successful, compassionate, empathetic, patient, loving, confident, faithful, humble?     The list goes on and on.     As a coach, I speak about embracing the possibility of your dreams.

"Letter to the Editor: An opinion on Proposition 9"

Dear Editor    When you go to the polls on November 7, please vote for Proposition 9 giving Texas retired teachers a much needed COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment).     The last COLA this group received was in 2004 nearly twenty years ago.

"Adding another puppy to the pet roster proves we’re at capacity" by: Jessica Shepard

I haven’t subjected myself to cable television for over five years – mostly because we don’t have it or satellite services and partially because I hate commercials interrupting my shows.

"There is plenty to be concerned about but not to be afraid " by: John Sample

Not a particularly fun week to be invested in equities.     For the year, the S&P 500 is still up 11%. You should feel great if the majority of you holdings are in the Magnificent Seven.     Without those seven tech stocks, the S7P would only be up less than 1% for the year.

PSA: Don’t leave your IRA to the IRS

You can get retirement income from your IRA - but what if you don’t use it all?     If you leave the remainder to your grown children, could they face taxes?     It’s possible.

"Reel Reviers: ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ highlights the evils of greed" by: Jessica Shepard

As far as I can remember growing up when we learned American history in school, there was a very short segment on Native Americans and it usually came with a learning unit on westward expansion or something similar.

‘Patience with a Cherry on Top’ by: Karen Restivo

Allow me to rewind to an incident occurring last summer.     Through some unconscious fault of my own, I developed a muscle strain on the right side of my leg between the ankle and knee.      Let me assure you it was not from a highly skilled athletic maneuver.

"‘Rice Festival' brings back fun memories every year" by: Jessica Shepard

Just like with the fair and rodeo in the spring, the fall Rice Festival also holds a certain place in my heart.     I have many happy memories of unlimited armbands being $10 and rides that seemed like they could touch the sky along with carnival workers trying to shout over the din.

"It is not as scary as you would think this time of year" by: John Sample

October may come with end of month horror show promises, but the month so far has been more of a yawn.     The fact that the Dow and Standard & Poor’s 500 index is at least up a bit should be welcome given the volatility of late.