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Effects of a shutdown | Planet Ryan

By the time you read this, the United States of America will be in week two of the “Government Shutdown of 2013” (yes, it even has its own Wikipedia page).…

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Change the world, please | Mark’s Remarks

I had a great discussion with my students the other day. It made me come away from school believing that there just might be hope for this world. They were…

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What a wonderful world | Mark’s Remarks

Mornings at my house are sometimes a bit hectic. When you have three big kids and one baby running around, it tends to make life a little hurried. Just ask…

Mission: Get Healthy | Planet Ryan

Some of my readers who are also real life friends will have already heard this story, but for those who haven’t, I sincerely hope that if you have been in…

Luxury canal crusing aboard the Scottish Highlander

By MARK BRADLEY Travel Columnist Imagine your favorite boutique hotel with attentive staff, gourmet cuisine, and luxurious accommodations.  Now picture yourself elegantly gliding through the misty Scottish Highlands taking in…

Job fair etiquette

By KATHI WEILBACHER Career Specialist The Jobs Plus 2013 Job Fair will be held Thursday, Sept. 26, from 1 to 5 p.m., at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville. For…

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Touchy subjects | Mark’s Remarks

When teachers deal with negotiations and start talking about salaries, emotions can run high. I’ve been on negotiation teams in the past. It’s rarely fun. You see, there is a…

Syria: what’s going on? | Planet Ryan

Syria. It’s the smoking hot topic around the world. Thousands of analysts all have varying takes on the situation. I love the extended coverage, personally, but the problem is that…

Sour pusses | Mark’s Remarks

We all know them. People who rarely smile. People whose mouths naturally turn downwards. People who gripe, complain, and disapprove most of the time and have the face to match.…

Soft skills that employers seek

By KATHI WEILBACHER Career Specialist Employers in today’s job market are looking for more than technical skills. They place a high value on “soft skills” — everyone needs these skills…