Opinion

Late in the 1500s, noted playwright William Shakespeare wrote his classic, Hamlet--his longest play that included an oft-quoted line, “The play’s the thing.” 

Surely he was prophetic. Providence cannot be ruled out, but coincidence can. 

Whatever, two plays about King David currently spotlight the prominent biblical figure--one long-running at the Sight and Sound Theater in Branson, MO, and the other presented in August in the packed-out chapel of Plano’s First United Methodist Church. 

Globe-trotting newspaper reporter Hubert Renfro Knickerbocker spoke in Dallas at Southern Methodist University on Nov. 20, 1941, but as usual his pro-war message fell on deaf and hostile ears.

For years the award-winning journalist had implored the public to take a hard look at Adolph Hitler and the threat fascism posed to democracy around the world. But he was drowned out by the greatest American hero of the century, who emphatically insisted that events in Europe did not concern this country.

Late in the 1500s, noted playwright William Shakespeare wrote his classic, Hamlet--his longest play that included an oft-quoted line, “The play’s the thing.” 

Surely he was prophetic. Providence cannot be ruled out, but coincidence can. 

Whatever, two plays about King David currently spotlight the prominent biblical figure--one long-running at the Sight and Sound Theater in Branson, MO, and the other presented in August in the packed-out chapel of Plano’s First United Methodist Church. 

Dear Rusty: I reached full retirement age back in June, but I have not yet filed to collect Social Security. My husband currently collects SS funds, and he waited until he had reached full retirement age a few years ago. I am considering signing up now to receive my funds, but I am a little confused about whether I will receive my full benefit or is there some kind of adjustment made based on both of us collecting?

At the largest mass meeting in living memory, the citizens of Cincinnati, Ohio expressed their enthusiastic support for the Texas Revolution on Nov. 17, 1835.

Their sincere statement of solidarity did not satisfy the Cincinnatians, who wanted to make a concrete contribution to the cause. So the hat was passed until sufficient funds were collected to buy the Texans something they could really use – a matching pair of cannon.

Dear Rusty: I will be retiring early next year but my question to you is: During the Obama administration, payroll taxes that employees pay were cut in half from 6.2% to 3.1%, while the employer’s part stayed the same at 6.2%.

This continued for around a year I think. This was an attempt at giving people a tax cut, which I think was a bad idea or maybe the wrong way to have done it. How much damage do you think this may have caused to Social Security? 

Signed: Soon to Retire 

I’ve never claimed to have the gift of prophecy, nor do I now. 

Yet, it seems beyond coincidence that two of my past three columns have centered on bears, and now--lo and behold--bears are back in the news, particularly in Japan, where they are attacking people. To the few readers who may think me to be clairvoyant, don’t let me stop you from elevating me to prophet status. If there’s just one such reader, I am flattered. 

Dear Rusty: Enjoyed your recent article on claiming SS benefits. I feel, however, any decision making should also include what I call the “wearing out” factor. 

Yes, financial need, health, and longevity are definite criteria for a decision. The inevitable problem (I just turned 83) is the speed at which many of us descend down the back side of that hill after we hit around age 65. 

In the middle of the night on Nov. 5, 1960, Johnny “Battle of New Orleans” Horton’s premonition of dying at the hands of a drunk came true on a dark highway in Central Texas.

John Gale Horton grew up on the move with a family of migrant farm workers shuttling back and forth between the East Texas county of Cherokee, which they called home, and the produce fields of California, where he was born in 1925.