Columbia Daily Tribune

E-Mails About Closings Stoke Gift Card Fear

Most consumers know that when buying a gift card they should check for hidden fees and expiration dates. But this year, with the national economy sinking, there's the added worry that some retailers might not be open long enough after the holidays for gift cards to be redeemed.

Plan Ahead to Keep Shopping Budget Intact

RALEIGH, N.C. - The Christmas Countdown has begun. Black Friday is just days away. For the next month you will be charmed, pitched and enticed. Your emotions will be tugged upon. Eyelashes might be batted. And that's just from retailers. There's no telling what your loved ones might try just to ensure that their wish lists are fulfilled. We know about wishes. We also know that many budgets are tight - and even if they're not, who doesn't love a bargain? So as an early holiday present, here ar...

Your Office Coach ; Complaints About Peer Might Glue Him to You

Q: Two years ago, my manager asked me to team up with Jim, a newly hired salesman. He felt that Jim could benefit from my experience because I had been with the company for many years. Jim seemed nice at first, but then he turned into some kind of monster. He always has to be right about everything. He will ask me a question, then argue with my answer. Sometimes he even surveys other colleagues, hoping to prove me wrong.

Bill Collectors See Hard Times ; Bad Economy Means More Accounts, Fewer Payments.

HACKENSACK, N.J. - You won't find many bill collectors twiddling their thumbs these days. But, even though collection workloads expand as the economy declines, a longer account list hardly spells a profit windfall, agency owners say.

Trib Talk

Jim Robertson managing editorCall TribTalk at 815-1776. "This is for the elderly gentleman who thinks the city pays too much for luxury items and should mark the streets because he can't see them. I drive around this city all the time, and frankly, if he can't see these street lines, maybe he should consider taking the bus because I'm not sure I want to be on the roads the same time he is."

The Tribune's View ; Cuba

The Russians plan to drill for oil off the coast of Cuba. Russia and Venezuela want to rebuild a Soviet refinery in Cienfuegos on the southern coast. Russian President Dimitri Medvedev is touring Latin America drumming up business and strengthening relationships throughout the region.

Gop Must Give Us Something to Vote For

They'll be back. Don't think for a minute that they won't. These things run in cycles, and death in politics is about as permanent as death in Marvel Comics which is to say, not very. Yes, Team Red had its butt kicked and its lunch money taken a few weeks back; yes, Team Blue stands at the prow of the ship, arms wide, screaming "King of the world!"; yes, the GOP slinks off into the wilderness now amid grumbles of recrimination and remonstration.

`Just Say No' to Rescuing Automakers

You might remember that Nancy Reagan fought against drug consumption by urging Americans to "Just say no." Now we need Mrs. Reagan again because some poorly run corporations are asking for taxpayer bailouts and loans. They want charity from hardworking Americans who are getting pounded in a chaotic economy primarily caused by irresponsible businesspeople. The situation is totally out of control. Leaders of the three major American car companies showed up on Capitol Hill saying that if billion...

Open Column ; Columbia Offers Many Reasons to Give Thanks

Editor, the Tribune: Thanksgiving is tomorrow. Everyone should give thanks every day of their lives. We, as Americans, should give thanks for our health, our jobs, our families, shelter and plenty to eat at the family table. I personally would like to give thanks to Columbia, to all these people and places for the role they play in making our community a better place to live. My thanks go to teachers at schools, Columbia police officers who keep our streets safe, hospitals (along with doctors...

Open Column ; This Month, Remember Hospice and Palliative Care

Editor, the Tribune: November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. The theme this year is "Hope, Dignity, Love ... It must be hospice." When I reflect on the care from the nurses, chaplains, social workers, personal-care givers and volunteers, I think hope, dignity and love are exactly what they provide. One of the strengths of hospice is treating death as a process, not a moment. This allows for preparation physically by treating pain, psychologically by attending to self and needs...

Open Column ; Author Either Brilliant Satirist or Misinformed

Editor, the Tribune: Assuming that Terry Godfrey's Nov. 18 letter, "Bush deserves praise for the past eight years" was written tongue-in-cheek, it is a masterpiece of good satire. However, should it have been written in sincerity, the author should read "Justice After Bush, Prosecuting an Outlaw Administration" by attorney Scott Horton, on pages 49 through 60 of the highly respected Harper's Magazine, from the December 2008 issue.

Open Column ; Waters' Suggestion Was Realistic, Not Racist

Editor, the Tribune: Recent letters from Carolyn Mulford and Doug Callahan take umbrage with Hank Waters' suggestion regarding "black male monitors" patrolling Hickman halls. Mulford finds it "extremely offensive," and Callahan suggests that the solution is to "teach the students to respect the school authorities, regardless of their color." In my view, these are basically useless ululations, although no doubt rooted in sincere wishes for racial utopia - a blessed condition that doesn't appea...

Tribune Column ; Kurzejeski Called for Action with Aktion Club

One of the joys of retirement is speaking to a wide variety of groups - civic clubs, nature groups, baseball hot stove leagues, officials' associations, senior citizens centers, retired folks' organizations - anyone who offers free food for a few words of alleged wisdom. I've enlightened four local Kiwanis Clubs: the Golden K, Little Dixie, Boonslick and the oldest of all - the Columbia Kiwanis Club.

Show-Me Eats ; Small-Town Pork Goes to the Big City

You know you're looking for a small town when you try to find the place on a map and strike out on Google. Apparently there's a Myrtle up by Kirksville, but it's not the one Mark and Rita Newman live in. Their Myrtle is in Oregon County, down on the Arkansas border. Go a couple thousand feet south from their place, and you're in the Natural State. Not that the seclusion bothers Mark at all. No, he's happily turning out 100 hogs a week for some of the best restaurants in the country. You might...

Wolfgang's Kitchen ; and Now for the Turkey Weary, Something Completely Different

This year, I'm hosting a small Thanksgiving party, at least by my standards, for about 35 guests. I'll roast four big turkeys and offer all the trimmings and then some. You can imagine that, by the time the weekend is over and I've worked my way through all those leftovers, I'll be very tired of turkey and of all the cooking that went into it. I bet you'll feel the same way.

Homemade in Minutes ; Thanks for the Little Red Berry

I am sure you are frantically preparing foods for the big dinner tomorrow. For many of you, it will be food preparation for the next four days if family has arrived to share this special holiday. One of the food items we seem to be unable to resist this time of year is a bag of fresh cranberries. Often we purchase them and then find them in our refrigerator months later. Fresh cranberries are available only a few weeks each fall, but you can freeze them for use in baked goods and to cook into...

Books Offer Balance for Diabetics

November is American Diabetes Month, so this is a good time to take a look at new diabetes cookbooks. The diabetes diet is about eating balanced meals that are high in fiber and also contain lean protein, healthful fats and minimally processed ingredients.

Curry Up and Make These Turkey Leftovers

Curries typically are served with rice or flatbread. To put yet another Thanksgiving leftover to work in this turkey curry recipe, serve it over a bed of mashed potatoes. The curry sauce and cranberry chutney will be delicious on the potatoes.

Kitchen Notes

Roast pears for the holidays Although poached pears are a classic dessert, roasted pears double the pleasure. Not only do you have a delicious final product that is excellent with blue cheese, caramel or salted almonds, the roasting process also makes the house smell wonderful.

Mary Gonnerman, 1927-2008

Mary Frances Gonnerman, 81, of Columbia passed away Monday, Nov. 24, 2008, in Lincoln, Neb. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at Memorial Funeral Home. Inurnment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.