“Oh, what a beautiful mornin’, oh, what a beautiful day. I’ve got a wonderful feeling, everything’s going my way.”

My friend Jim brightened my morning by singing that song during a vacation our families spent together a few years ago. I told him I loved his attitude. His son, Jack, gave me an eye roll and said his dad sings that song every morning. And why not? 

Some of you know that “Oh, what a beautiful mornin’ ” is the opening song for the “Oklahoma!” musical and premiered on Broadway in 1943. It was written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and sung in the original musical by Curly McLain. Personally, I prefer my friend Jim’s take. Regardless, you are likely going to struggle to get any version of this song out of your head for the remainder of the day — and that’s a good thing. 

One of my original goals in creating this Times Vedette newsletter was to bring a smile to the faces of our readers. Meanwhile, I receive orders from a handful of you telling me I need to tackle contentious subjects locally and from around the world. Sometimes I do, but more often than not, I simply want to make you smile by sharing something other than wars, assassinations, and the general hatred that is spewed on social media. There is enough anger and division in the world today, and you have hundreds of “news” sources to find that. We might all do better by listening to the words of author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar: “A positive attitude will have positive results because attitudes are contagious.”  

How about you? Do you have a song, phrase, prayer or meditation that starts your day off right?  I hope you do and that you will join my friend Jim and me and try to have a beautiful morning every morning. I have a wonderful feeling that everything will go your way. 

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

Jim Croce asked for help from a telephone operator to place a call in his 1972 hit song “Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels).” And in 1972, using a telephone operator for assistance was common. But what about today? When was the last time you spoke with an operator? Even the term operator seems antiquated now. Sounds more like a surgeon. 

Do you remember when 1-800 numbers became mainstream? They launched in 1967 with a goal to cut down on labor-intensive collect calls that often required live operators. By the 1980s, every company seemingly had a 1-800 number, and my childhood buddies and I enjoyed dialing as many of them as we possibly could. We spent countless hours searching for and calling the 1-800 numbers on household products and telling the company representatives that we were doing a science fair project and were wondering if they would send us some free samples. We then provided our fellow-jokester-friend Dave’s name and address. His parents’ mailbox overflowed with samples and promotional materials every day, leaving his mother to wonder what in the world was going on. I can’t remember my own zip code today, but I can tell you Dave’s exact and complete home mailing address. 

The practical jokes intensified. Most every TV infomercial back then had a heavily promoted 1-800 number to call and order products and have them shipped COD (cash on delivery). No pre-payment or credit cards were required, and there was no ability (that we knew of then) to track where the orders came from. So, the orders to Dave’s home started. Ginsu knives. Armourcote pots and pans. The Pocket Fisherman. Chia Pet. Mr. Microphone. But wait, there’s more. The Egg Scrambler. Time Life books. The Abdominizer. The Thighmaster. And a wide assortment of feminine hygiene products, gold coin collections and K-tel Records. We thought it was funny. Dave’s mother didn’t. 

I realize now that ordering these types of products under another person’s name is illegal, immoral and some other things that start with an “i.” I am also not sure if a statute of limitations applies, so let me be clear: I was appalled that my friends Ian, Tommy and Mark would engage in such activity.

With that in mind, I close this column with the words of Jim Croce: “Oh, operator, let’s forget about this call. There’s no one there I really wanted to talk to. Thank you for your time. Oh, you’ve been so much more than kind. You can keep the dime.”

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

Those of you who were — and maybe still are — regular viewers of the popular TV comedy series “Seinfeld” may recall the episode that included George Costanza’s stuffed (and eventually exploded) wallet.

That was season 9, episode 12, when George was toting around a wallet so thick it was causing him back pain. It was crammed with things he deemed important including old receipts, Irish money and Sweet ’N Low packets. Can you relate? 

Meanwhile, I am amazed how many men today don’t even own a wallet. Since they don’t use cash, they don’t see a need to carry anything other than a credit/debit card and a driver’s license. Everything else is stored in their phones. Not me. I counted 14 cards in my wallet ranging from credit cards to my driver’s license to my health insurance cards to a COVID vaccination card. I wish I could tell you my wallet is also stuffed full of cash, but that’s not the case. Sometimes a bunch of $1 bills feels like a lot of money, but then George Washington’s recurring mug appears as I thumb through the bills. Sigh.

My wallet isn’t just for cash and cards, though. I, much like George Costanza, also keep receipts in my wallet, at least until the credit card statement shows up and I can match them up — or until the Costanza crunch happens. 

You may have heard the phrase “as comfortable as an old shoe.” Well, old wallets are comfortable, too. That’s why those of us who use them dread buying new ones. Fortunately, a good leather wallet can last for years. 

I don’t believe I have ever asked anyone to search for something in my wallet, although my daughters discovered some cash there in their youth. My wife often asks me to find items in her purse. It’s a tedious task that usually ends up with me frustrated and dumping the contents of her purse onto the table. Jolene then gets frustrated and bumps me alongside the head. On a rare occasion, I actually find the item she asked me to locate, but, more often than not, I end up empty handed. There are a lot of pockets, zippers and compartments in purses. Too many.

I often say the human brain can only hold so much information, but the same is true for a purse. And, unfortunately, that goes for a wallet, too. George Costanza proved it. 

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

The words in the above headline were advice I heard from a business owner during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was partially jesting and partially being honest. As with the pandemic, and most things in general, the truth is often somewhere in between. 

Setting the COVID-19  debate aside, if there was any good that came out of the pandemic, it was that we all may be washing our hands more frequently. But how often? How many times per day should we be washing our hands? And how many is too many? 

The answers come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the most obvious one is to wash your hands after touching surfaces with lots of contact from others such as door knobs, railings, telephones, etc. The CDC gives additional advice that also makes sense, including before, during and after preparing food and before consuming food. Additional advice from the CDC is to wash your hands before and after caring for someone who is sick, or before and after treating a cut or a wound. 

Most of us are likely washing our hands after using the toilet to avoid exposure to bodily fluids that can contain viruses and germs. With that in mind, the CDC says it is also important to wash your hands after changing diapers. In a nod to Captain Obvious, we should also wash our hands after sneezing, coughing or blowing our nose. 

And finally, we are told that we should wash our hands after handling garbage, as it can ferment at room temperature, leading to the formation of dangerous germs.

But can you wash your hands too much? According to healthspectra.com, the answer is yes — or at least a maybe. The site says there are possible risks of an affected immune system, as over-washing your hands can strip your skin of the good bacteria that are necessary for a healthy immune response.

Over-washing can also lead to constant drying of the skin, which is comprised of numerous sebaceous glands that are responsible for secreting sebum and oils that help keep our skin soft and supple naturally. Chemical-induced antibacterial soap can strip the skin of these natural oils, resulting in cracking of the skin that can act as an open passage for the germs to enter the body and cause disease. And finally, over-washing your hands can lead to a heightened risk of bacterial resistance, as antibacterial soaps and sanitizers make the bad bacteria immune to those.

Again, the truth is likely somewhere in the middle. While you all debate this, I am going to wash my hands and get back to work. 

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

We had a great event Tuesday night that most of you on this subscriber list of 1,587 did not attend. To be fair, most of you didn’t know about it, as it was an invitation-only program to recognize the winners of our 2025 Best of Guthrie County readers’ poll.

Who was invited? We welcomed the top three vote-getters in each of the 82 categories that were featured in the poll and encouraged them to bring coworkers, friends and family members to share in the celebration. And they did. Nearly 300 people attended this first-time event that we held at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds. The event center was packed many of the top movers and shakers of the county who are working relentlessly to make this area a great place to work, live — and play, too. 

The maximum-capacity crowded cheered each other in recognition of the great work that so many people have done throughout the county. Titles were awarded. Certificates were presented. A bit of playful bragging was even heard, along with a whole lot of hooting and hollering. It was what we hoped it would be.

To be clear, the winners of the Best of Guthrie County poll were not chosen by us. They were chosen by you, or at least the 642 of you who cast your votes in the poll. That’s important, as it ensures that nobody can buy their way into winning. All the winners earned the incredible honor of being voted in the top three.

This was our first event, but it was our second year hosting the poll, and numerous changes occurred from last year’s results. I expect there will be numerous changes in the results next year, too, and, overall, that’s a good thing. Sometimes our advertising customers win. Sometimes they don’t. Sometimes our event sponsors win. Sometimes they don’t. That can create awkward situations for us, at times, but the votes are our readers, and they are what they are. I assure you of this: We will not do anything to compromise the validity of this poll or your trust. 

So, what does it mean to be “the best”? Certainly, the answer is a matter of opinion. In fact, it is 100% opinion. Even so, being “the best,” by definition, means “excelling above all others in a particular area, offering the greatest advantage or satisfaction.” It often refers to “achieving the highest level of quality or performance compared to others.”

I can’t argue with that. 

We are pleased to share the results with each of you now, too. They will publish as our cover stories in the September issues of Lake Panorama Times, Guthrie Center Times and Panora Times, and you can view them online right now from this link as well.

When you get a chance, I ask that you not only congratulate the winners of our 2025 Best of Guthrie County poll but also seek out their products or services and buy locally whenever you can. Then, you, too, will understand why they are the best.

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

Have you noticed how most everything seems to have an expiration date these days? Some are certainly for good reason. Meat. Dairy. Bread. I don’t want to eat or drink those things when they have gone bad. Even so, I am not sure I need a date stamp to help me out. Nature has a way of letting know when meat is rotten, milk is sour or bread is moldy. I doubt if my grandmother ever felt a need for expiration dates on her food items. 

Well, times have changed, and maybe our senses are not as good as generations prior. Maybe. If I do check the expiration date on the carton of milk, I still smell it before I decide whether to pour it on my cereal or down the drain. My olfactory seems to be working just fine. And if I am in doubt, I throw it out.

But, alas, the marketers of the world have discovered our apparent fears of consuming anything that might be considered “old.” We now have expiration dates for beer and soda and even bottled water. Yes, bottled water can expire.  

I had this discussion with some co-workers the other day. I searched up and down a bottle of water for this so-called expiration date, and I proudly showed the bottle and pointed out that it wasn’t there. An observant co-worker then succinctly showed me the fine print that my expiring eyes couldn’t see. I chugged down that bottle of water out of pure vengeance. 

OK, so maybe you agree with the need for expiration dates on bottled or canned drinks, but prepare yourself for these non-food items that we are to believe can also expire and should be replaced:

Toothbrush? Just in case you can’t tell when the bristles fall out in your mouth, the American Dental Association suggests you replace this every three to four months. 

Bath towels? Home health experts say you should replace your towels at least once every two years or when they lose their fluffiness, start to smell or stop absorbing.

Pillows or mattress? Experts recommend replacing your pillows every two years or when they begin to lose shape. And plan to buy a new mattress in six to eight years, or if you notice it is sagging, or if it begins to squeak or make other noises. If you suffer from allergies, you may want to do this even sooner.

Sunscreen? Three years. Sunscreens are required by the FDA to remain at their original strengths for at least that long. Many sunscreens now have an expiration date on the bottle.

Slippers? Six months to a year, depending on how much you wear them. They apparently may be a breeding ground for bacteria, especially if you wear them outside at all and don’t wash them. 

So, my motto of “If in doubt, throw it out” still seems to apply. Meanwhile, let me know of other products with expiration dates that I failed to mention. 

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707