Remember when canceling cable was supposed to save us money? This week’s cartoon takes a playful jab at the modern household budget, where the “Streaming Services” column somehow rivals the mortgage. With platforms multiplying faster than passwords can be remembered, viewers may be wondering if they traded one big bill for five smaller ones that add up even faster. It’s a lighthearted look at subscription overload in the age of endless content — and endless monthly charges.

Well, here we go again! Only a month and a half into the new year and controversy prevails in the bass tournament world. After a 2025 season full of controversy and one disqualification after another, in the first tournament of the year on Sam Rayburn, once again we have another disqualified winner. As a tournament angler myself, I’m not even sure I can put this into words. 

Are you kidding me? Why and how does the BFL (Cowboy Division) season start off with someone breaking the rules? I would say I’m surprised, but with so many disqualifications this past season, I’m not. 

I’m beyond the shock value of someone getting caught cheating or failing a polygraph. This was something that basically never happened from when I started tournament fishing (1990) till 2020. But over the last six years, it’s becoming the norm, especially in 2025. 

So many anglers today either can’t read or they’re just plain dumb. Tournament bass fishing is not a difficult sport to understand. It’s really quite simple; as an angler all you have to do is READ THE RULES! 

I have been a part of the tournament bass fishing world for over 30 years and never have I seen so many rule breakers and cheaters! Anglers who are willing to do whatever it takes to get into the winner’s circle or cash a check.

The sport has acquired a “win at all costs” mentality. But what’s making me nervous is there seems to be a trend that’s taking place in ALL bass tournament circuits nationwide. Is this a reflection on our society or just the fact that so many anglers feel the odds are in their favor when it comes to NOT getting caught?

Some bass fishing trails offer random polygraphs to a handful of anglers in the tournament no matter what their place of finish. It’s normal for the first-place angler to take a polygraph while other anglers are selected at random by computer. 

There are some organizations that don’t offer polygraph testing due to the cost involved with paying an examiner. These are events that I tend to shy away from, as I’ve seen first-hand that there are anglers out there that will cheat even on a local weeknight three-hour tournament for a $200 first place prize. 

On a sadder note, one angler this past year got caught cheating in a Fisher’s of Men tournament! An organization that is basically an outreach program to bring anglers closer to Christ. 

If you asked those who have cheated why they did it, if they’re honest, I’ll bet it wasn’t just about the money, but more about being recognized as one of the best anglers in their region. Like so many other athletes in sports, it’s all about their ego!

Now understand this, there is a difference between a cheater and rule breaker. Not all violations fall under the category of cheaters. For example, all anglers are required to wear a lifejacket when the big engine is running or the boat is on plane so, if an angler forgets to put on his lifejacket while running from point A to point B, he’s not cheating, but rather he has broken a rule. 

Webster defines a “cheater” as someone who violates rules dishonestly. Bass tournament organizations define it as someone who knowingly decided to break a rule on purpose with the intent of gaining a competitive advantage.  

So, where are we in terms of getting rid of the cheaters in a bass tournament?  First, there must be severe consequences for those that choose to cheat instead of playing by the rules. 

Second, tournament organizations and judges must make examples out of these low-lifes by prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law. After all, once they walk across that stage and receive a check, they’ve just committed fraud.   

It’s also up the anglers themselves to help police these bass tournaments by reporting anything they see that would be considered breaking a rule or cheating during the tournament. 

If you see suspicious activity like an angler putting fish in a basket under a dock or you find bass that have been tied to a stump on a shallow flat, make sure to report all suspicious activity to the tournament director immediately. 

We can only hope that one day anglers will show more integrity and honesty by following the rules. After all, it’s only a bass tournament, not a matter of life and death.

This winter has been a banner season for the dogs digging holes in the yard. With no grass to slow them down, they’ve taken to excavation like they’re auditioning for a canine episode of Gold Rush. They dig with abandon—pure, unfiltered joy. They’ve discovered a corner of the yard where two fences meet, a natural low spot that practically whispers, “Come on boys… dig here.” And they have obeyed that whisper with religious devotion.

Their digging has become a daily game: they dig, and I fill. They dig again, and I fill again. It’s our own little liturgy of futility. The hole is impressive—honestly, at this point I think the city should consider it for historical landmark status. They’ve even tunneled under the fencepost. Every day I stand there with my shovel, muttering, “Surely this time I’ve filled it,” and every day the dogs look back at me like, “Bless your heart.”

The other day, while filling the hole for the 47th time (give or take), I noticed it seemed to stretch out into the field behind the house. That was odd. I tried to imagine the position the dog must have been in to dig beyond the fence—some kind of canine yoga pose, no doubt.

Curiosity got the best of me, so I walked around to the other side. And there it was: a matching hole. My dogs weren’t just digging a hole—they were digging a two-sided hole. A collaborative, multi-campus excavation project. Most dogs dig under a fence to escape the yard. Mine? They dig under the fence and then keep digging on the other side, not to escape, but because the hole itself is the joy. They could have run free, explored the world, chased squirrels in new zip codes… but no. They stayed focused on digging the best hole ever dug in that backyard.

They are on a perfect hole-digging mission.

And it makes me wonder: what about your life? Do you have that kind of focus and tenacity as you try to live out your purpose?

Or—and let’s be honest here—are you more like the rest of us, digging a hole on one side of the fence, then walking around and digging the same hole from the other side? We don’t always need help escaping our problems. Sometimes we need help stopping the digging.

That raises the real question: what is your purpose in living? There’s a place called the church, and on Sunday mornings we help you wrestle with that question. We help you find direction, hope, and meaning. And yes—many times—we help you climb out of the very hole you’ve dug for yourself.

Because unlike my dogs, you don’t have to keep digging. You really can step into a bigger world.

And we’d love to help you do it.

February 18 marks the birthday of Toni Morrison, one of the most influential literary figures in American history and a towering voice in African American culture. Born in 1931, Morrison reshaped how Black stories were told, studied, and valued, leaving a permanent mark not only on literature but on pop culture, education, and national conversations about race and identity.

Morrison’s novels centered Black life with depth, complexity, and honesty at a time when those perspectives were often marginalized or excluded altogether. Works such as Beloved, The Bluest Eye, and Song of Solomon explored themes of history, trauma, love, and resilience, challenging readers to confront uncomfortable truths about America’s past and present.

While Morrison’s work is frequently studied in academic settings, her cultural influence extends far beyond classrooms. Her storytelling style, which blended folklore, realism, and lyrical prose, has inspired filmmakers, musicians, and writers across genres. References to her work appear in song lyrics, visual art, and modern television narratives that focus on generational memory and identity.

February 18 offers a moment to reflect on how Morrison helped redefine whose stories mattered. In 1993, she became the first Black woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, a milestone that elevated African American voices on the global stage. Her achievement wasn’t just personal — it signaled a broader recognition of Black literature as essential to understanding the human experience.

Morrison was also deeply engaged in popular discourse. Her interviews, essays, and public speeches were widely shared and quoted, especially during periods of heightened racial tension in the United States. She had a rare ability to speak with clarity and authority while remaining accessible, making her a cultural figure whose influence reached well beyond literary circles.

Even after her passing in 2019, Morrison’s presence in pop culture continues to grow. Book clubs, social media discussions, and film adaptations have introduced her work to new generations of readers. Quotes from her novels regularly circulate online, often used to frame conversations about justice, beauty, and self-worth.

As Black History Month continues, February 18 stands as a reminder of the power of storytelling — and of Toni Morrison’s role in ensuring African American stories were not only told, but honored.