Opinion

I don't often get asked for directions here in our small town, but when I'm waved down by a stranger they are usually looking for the arena. We don't spend a lot of time at the rink, but I know a lot of people who do.

Ed, my neighbour next door, is beginning the New Year shaking his head at me. It bothers Ed that in seven days of Christmas holidays that I read four westerns and began reading three other books.

It is an age old debate. When trying to lose weight is it best to do cardio, weights or simply to follow a diet plan? When exercising for weight loss, how intense should the activity be? The answer is pretty simple.

Dear Editor Thank you for publishing my letter, "What's a four-besider?" in your Dec. 2issue. A librarian at the Lakeland Library promptly solved this mystery.

It's more than a decade since I began writing these articles and I wanted to offer something fresh and inspiring. Going over some of my past musings I decided to offer these Lessons from The Sea.

Dear Editor The Sask Party's Bob Bjornerud wrote a long letter in the Dec. 29 News-Optimist, evidently in response to an article quoting Dwain Lingenfelter in the Dec. 15 issue.

Nothing dies as completely as the local news cycle in the period between Christmas and New Year's Day.

I didn't get a lot of sleep in the days immediately following Christmas, and I blame it all on John Gormley.

Welcome to my annual Box Office Year in Review column, where I look at the winners and losers of the year 2011.

Dear Editor Perhaps the Battlefords could try curtailing obnoxious ATV use the way Thornhill did. One weekend last fall, RCMP pounced all over illegal behaviour.