The Underwater Bus

LightGramsApril 16, 2026Volume 30, Number 14 The headline of this service in Cuba grabbed my attention. I expected to read about something like a submarine which ferries passengers from one side of Havana to the other. That would be unique! Instead, the service is a bus that travels through a tunnel. Since an embargo was…

To InFinity – And Beyond!

LightGramsApril 9, 2026Volume 30, Number 13 You may recognize the title of this article as a famous phrase made by Buzz Lightyear, the animated astronaut of the movie “Toy Story”. Is it really possible to travel to infinity – and then go beyond that point? Most understand that it was Buzz’s way of showing enthusiasm…

Unplanted Seeds

LightGramsApril 2, 2026Volume 30, Number 12 In my time of growing up, I observed (and participated in) serious gardening. My father was devoted to having a well-kept garden, and he always had more produce than our family could eat. Planting began in March and the harvesting might go as late as October. His gardens were…

More Than Good Luck

LightGramsMarch 26, 2026Volume 30, Number 11 I spent a lot of time in my grandmother’s yard in my early years. She lived across the road from our house, and she had a large front yard. One of my favorite activities was looking for a four-leaf clover. This small green plant usually has only three leaves,…

Running In The Dark

LightGramsMarch 12, 2026Volume 30, Number 10 People do some strange things to get their names listed in Guinness World Records. We’ve written before about some of those and could actually devote this column every week to just some of those antics. One that took place in October of 2025, though, seems worthy of some reflection.…

Hold On For Dear Life

LightGramsMarch 5, 2026Volume 30, Number 9 Skiing can be an exhilarating sport, and that’s no doubt what Roula De Miranda-Arce expected last week when she, her twin sister, and a friend traveled to Big Bear Mountain Ski Resort in California. Her skis were not yet on the ground when she had the greatest adrenaline rush…

Don’t Shoot The Messenger!

LightGramsFebruary 26, 2026Volume 30, Number 8 “Don’t shoot the messenger” is a phrase that has been around for a while. One website said it can be traced to ancient China between the 3rd and 5th centuries, B.C. The meaning is simple: Don’t get upset at the person who reports bad news; they weren’t responsible for…

Fraudulent Ownership

LightGramsFebruary 19, 2026Volume 30, Number 7 Mickey Baretto claimed to be the owner of the New Yorker Hotel, a landmark property with more than 1,000 rooms. In 2018 he paid $200 to rent one of its rooms and never moved out. He never paid for another night’s rent. When the hotel refused to give him…

A Free Grocery Store

LightGramsFebruary 5, 2026Volume 30, Number 6 Food pantries are not uncommon in our land. Our church maintains one, serving those who can’t meet expenses. But most of the people we serve understand that we don’t carry a wide selection of items. Canned goods and other non-perishable items are mainly what we have to offer. A…

A Museum Of Failure

LightGramsJanuary 29, 2026Volume 30, Number 5 Most museums are of great interest to some, but not to others. A train museum captures my attention, but others glance at it with little interest. It’s all about finding common ground. Which is why a museum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada stands out. Entitled, “Museum Of Personal Failure”,…