Christine Otten

Flossie and the chip | Mark’s Remarks

Sometimes when I am majorly fed up with some of my own children and their idiosyncrasies, I try very hard to reach back in the recesses of my memory and…

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Real education support | Ott Observations

In the past few months, Waterloo School Board meetings have been setting parent attendance records. Coverage of these meetings by the Republic-Times has required some of the largest column inch…

Waving goodbye | Mark’s Remarks

When the end of summer rolls around, I begin to remember things I knew as a kid. I remember the katydids and crickets singing as the sun was going down.…

And just like that, before you know it | Mark’s Remarks

With each passing year, I am amazed at how quickly time goes by.  I’ve said it before, again and again, so much so that I risk the thought of you…

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Reflections on Affirmative Action | Ott Observations

Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Affirmative Action is unconstitutional.  For almost 50 years, this has been an admissions practice by universities, accepting minority student applicants who might not…

Offended by the uncomfortable | Mark’s Remarks

In the past few years, I’ve noticed that people don’t want to hear from anyone they disagree with, because people who disagree with them make them feel uncomfortable or not…

Acting out | Mark’s Remarks

It happened, even with my brother and I.  We’d be at our grandparents or someone else’s house. Our parents would come to pick us up, and we’d get into a…

Graham A. Colditz, MD, Deputy Director, Institute for Public Health, is photographed at FLTC on March 15, 2022. MATT MILLER/WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

The A to Zzzzz of Healthy Sleep | For Your Health

By Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center It’s that time of year when it can be pretty easy to lose a couple hours of good sleep.  Even if we’re…

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Imagine | Ott Observations

Imagination is a powerful word. To have a goal is to imagine something beyond where you’re at today.  Progress requires both an imagined better situation and imagination as to how…

Walter | Mark’s Remarks

We have not had the best track record with dogs.   Our first two dogs met untimely deaths, one accidentally and the other due to health issues.  Both deaths were…