Author: PAUL BATURA
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We need the humor of April Fool’s Day | Paul J. Batura
Nobody knows for sure how or when the tradition of April Fool’s Day began – but most everybody enjoys the flashes of humorous, good-natured pranks and mischief that accompany it. If you don’t, you might be wound too tight and take yourself too seriously. It was back in 1957 when the BBC reported an unusually…
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You can win, even when the Rockies lose | Paul J. Batura
The 125th season of Major League Baseball begins this week at Oracle Park in San Francisco as the Giants host the New York Yankees. Traditionalists may scoff at the spectacle: opening night in March instead of opening day in April, interleague play right out of the gate, the introduction of the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS)…
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Higher gas prices today, peace tomorrow | Paul J. Batura
Whether you’re looking for them or not, gas prices are impossible to miss – a visible, numerical reminder of what’s going on politically and economically, not just in Colorado, but also clear across the world. “Operation Epic Fury” has spiked oil prices these last few weeks as the conflict between the United States/Israel and Iran…
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Surviving the weather is a constant in all our lives | Paul J. Batura
According to the National Weather Service, this past February was the warmest in the city’s history – at least dating back to 1894 when they began keeping temperature records. A story in the Gazette provided all the details. “Colorado Springs sees hottest February ever.” The headline was technically accurate, but I wouldn’t consider an average…
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At this contentious time, we should strive to live like Lincoln | Paul J. Batura
It may not feel or seem like it today, but every four years, for well over a hundred years, March 4th was a big day and a big deal here in the United States. Back in 1789, the Continental Congress codified it as Inauguration Day – a tradition that lasted until 1933 when the 20th Amendment officially…
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License plates tell more than you think | Paul J. Batura
Colorado drivers love their specialty and personalized license plates. Of the more than 6.3 million registered cars in the Centennial State, over two million of them possess a plate other than the classic green background and white mountain variety. There are over 200 kinds, ranging from the most popular black plate to others championing everything…
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Expect more out of your life than just the years | Paul J. Batura
We received some good news earlier this month when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that life expectancy in the United States reached a record high of 79 years in 2024 – up from 78.4 in 2023. A 0.6-year increase may seem small—but it equals seven months, 219 days, or over 5,000 hours.…
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Don’t blame Colorado Springs for your love life
My wife, Julie, who I met, dated, and married in Colorado Springs, advised against addressing this topic Valentine’s Day week – but since “fools rush in where angels fear to tread” – here it goes. A 2026 Consumer Affairs study ranked Colorado Springs the worst city for dating. Out of 110 towns evaluated, the Pikes…
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Olympic and life oaths are more than just words | Paul J. Batura
When approximately 2,900 athletes gather for the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games inside Italy’s San Siro Stadium on Friday, two representatives, a coach, and a judge will take the Olympic Oath on behalf of all those competing. Written by Pierre de Coubertin, president and founder of the International Olympic Committee, and recited by…
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Forty years after Challenger silence isn’t safety | Paul J. Batura
For Dennis McAfee, it’s a long way from his house just off Rockrimmon Boulevard in Colorado Springs to that fateful day at Concord High School in Concord, New Hampshire – just under 2,000 miles and 40 years, to be precise. A gifted and enthusiastic auto mechanics teacher, Dennis arrived at campus on the morning of…