An observer of the modern scene recently opined that people today don't have many friends; some have none. In the hectic pace of modern life, it seems that many do not take the time or have the opportunity to develop lasting friendships.

The headlines glaringly scream: "Sex Offenders See New Limits for Halloween"; "Plan Ahead and Avoid Halloween Violence"; "Halloween: A Very Dangerous Day for Children"; "Halloween Costumes Cause Pedestrian Accidents"; "Police Warn about Drugged Candy."

It's that time of the year again; pumpkins, witches, goblins, black cats, bats and vampires swirl around in the heads of children as they plan their annual assault on the neighborhood to get treats while threatening tricks.

With mid-term elections drawing near, politics at its "best" has been on display. One of the most heated and passionate races has not been between two people, but between two views on a contentious issue: embryonic stem cell research and what many call "cloning."

While visiting a dear friend in the hospital, I was waiting in the hallway until the nurses completed a procedure that required privacy.

Ever since the first atomic bomb demolished Hiroshima, military thinkers have wrestled with the question of how to fight and win an atomic war. Now with North Korea and possibly other countries going nuclear, the world is becoming a much more dangerous place.