WELCOME TO OPINIONS BASED ON FACTS (OBOF)
Name
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Published
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OVERVIEW
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Dec. 28, 2010
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SOCIAL SECURITY PART 1
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Dec. 30, 2010
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SOCIAL SECURITY PART 2
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Jan. 10, 2011
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SOCIAL SECURITY PART 3
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Jan. 17, 2011
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SOCIAL SECURITY PART 4
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Jan. 24, 2011
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SOCIAL SECURITY PART 5
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Jan. 31, 2011
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SOCIAL SECURITY PART 6
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Feb. 07, 2011
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SOCIAL SECURITY PART 7
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Feb. 14, 2011
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SPECIAL ISSUE
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Feb. 18, 2011
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SOCIAL SECURITY PART 8
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Feb. 21, 2011
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SOCIAL SECURITY PART 9
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Mar. 01, 2011
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SOCIAL SECURITY PART 10
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Mar. 07, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 1
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Mar. 14, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 1A
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Mar. 21, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 2
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Mar. 25, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 3
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Mar. 29, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 4
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Apr. 04, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 5
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Apr. 11, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 6
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Apr. 18, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 7
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Apr. 25, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 7A
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Apr. 29, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 8
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May 02, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 9
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May 09, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 10
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May 16, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 11
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May 24, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 12
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Jun. 06, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 13
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Jun. 20, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 14
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JULY 05,2011
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SS & MORE PART 14A
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JULY 18, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 15
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JULY 19, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 16
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AUG. 03, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 17
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AUG. 15, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 18
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Aug. 29, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 19
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Sept. 12, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 20
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Sept. 26, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 21
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Oct. 10, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 22
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Oct. 24, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 22 EXTRA
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Nov. 04, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 23
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Nov. 07, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 24
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Nov. 21, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 25
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Dec. 05, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 26
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DEC. 19, 2011
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SS & MORE PART 27
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JAN. 03, 2012
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SS & MORE PART 27A
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JAN. 05, 2012
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SS & MORE PART 28
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JAN. 17, 2012
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SS & MORE PART 29
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JAN. 31, 2012
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SS & MORE PART 30
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Feb. 14, 2012
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SS& MORE PART CF1
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Feb. 21, 2012
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IN THIS ISSUE
"Contemplating Life"
IMPORTANT NOTE: THERE WILL BE AN EXTRA OF OBOF POSTED ON THURSDAY THE 23RD. FOLLOWED WITH THE REGULAR POSTING SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 28TH BY NOON.
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This is the first of a series of essays that I told you about in the last posting. By way of clarification, I will open with the first paragraphs of the last posting, which will lead us right into the beginning of this series.
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I want to tell you about an incredible man. He was born in the poorest of the poor. Despite unbelievable odds in his early years, he managed to get through early school years and went on to obtain a Ph. D. in economics. It just isn't possible to imagine the obstacles he faced and conquered to get to that point.
He was a Professor of Economics Emeritus, Eastern Illinois University
Also, for the past 17 years he has been writing weekly essays "Contemplating Life," that are published in five small newspapers in Arizona, Florida, Tennessee, Illinois, and Virginia. He has compiled 77 of these essays into a book and it is from these 77 that I am going to post some of the essays.
The reason for telling you this is, that the Tuesday between the Tuesdays that I post the "Opinions Based On Facts," I am going to post one of the essays from the book, "Contemplating Life."
The man that I have been talking about is Dr. Allen W. Smith Ph. D. and I have the greatest respect and admiration for him. I have found these essays to be very enlightening and comforting. I hope you will also.
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“The past cannot be changed, but the future is still in your power.”
Hugh White
AN ESSAY FROM THE BOOK
"CONTEMPLATING LIFE"
BY
Dr. Allen W. Smith Ph.D
Sometimes life hits us with such a heavy blow that we can see nothing ahead but a dark emptiness. It seems like the end of the world, and in some cases it may be the end of our world as we have known it. The loss of a loved one who has been a daily part of our lives for years or decades is the end of a major chapter in our lives, and a part of who we were dies along with the loved one.
Well-meaning friends and relatives may try to lessen our grief by saying such things as, “It won’t seem so bad in a few months.” However, despite the good intentions, such statements usually do more harm than good, and they are just plain not true. The loss of a loved one who was a part of our daily lives will always seem bad, no matter how much time passes.
What our friends should be telling us is that they understand that we have had a terrible loss and they know that we are going to be going through a long period of grief as a natural part of the healing process. They should assure us that they will support us and help us to get through the difficult period ahead. Expressions of love and support can be very helpful to those who have suffered a major loss. Trying to convince them that their loss is less than they think is about the worst thing we can do.
Whether we are dealing with the loss of a loved one or a lesser loss such as the loss of a job, a divorce, or major financial problems, we will go through a period of grief and healing. The one point that we must always keep in mind, no matter what our loss, is that the past cannot be changed but we do have some kind of a future as long as we are still breathing. It may not be the future we envisioned or wanted, but unless we physically die there will be a future, and we have some control over that future.
Each day of our lives can only be lived one time, so whatever happened in the past cannot be changed. The only thing that is within our power is how we live today and what we do to help bring a better future. If we spend the present regretting things that have happened in the past and reliving the pain in our minds over and over, we are just throwing our lives away, one day at a time.
Each and every day is precious. If we have recently suffered a major loss, some of our days will be used for grieving. However, during those periods when we have not recently had any major losses, why should we spend a single day regretting the past? The past is over and done with and beyond our control, but the future is still at least partly under our control.
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If the good Lord is willing and the creek don't rise, I'll talk with you again in two days, the 23rd,
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