What is that word?

When you get a couple or more people together, what would you say is the word that always is the topic of conversation -- at least the word often heard at the start of the conversation or that at least gets a mention?

How about "sports," whether it's about the Bulldogs, the Pioneers or the Lions ... or how about those Razorbacks, the OC Thunder or Tiger Woods getting back in the groove, or about that favorite team in the region in umpteen years gone by, the Cardinals. Oh yes, I didn't forget the Lady Lions and Bulldogs and Pioneers.

In Benton County could the topic be that long-discussed "courthouse" that keeps going up in price, or the proposed chicken plant which is on the minds and tongues of many in the area? Or how about the upcoming primary elections, or seeking millage increases or sales taxes? The list could, and does, go on and on and on.

But considering everything going on in our deeply-divided country, there is one other word that invariably comes up. Did you say it? Yep, that's right, "the weather." Two words but that's close enough. It's close enough to bring memories of the weather during the past two or three weeks -- the weather has been and still is on everybody's mind and tongue.

This really has been a mixed up bunch of weather topics, rain and more rain, a couple of spring-like days, turn-on-the-furnace cold, windy, frosty, foggy, more clouds and more rain. As this is being written, there was even the mention of snow flurries. Whether (not weather) this has occurred by the time you read this 'cuff will be history. Now, this 'Cuff can drift off in the "CCCCC" yonder as a conglomeration column.

But first, to answer one question that was bounced my way recently concerning how those trance-induced predictions for 2018 are faring. It took a quick return to a trance to find out I had missed the sub-zero temps in January. However, half of that prediction is bound to be fulfilled; there will be lots of chiggers this summer. I just flat missed the weather-related school closing in February which was to give kids a vacation. Sorry, kids, I tried. The biggest failure -- make that a searing failure -- is the fact an NOAA weather balloon landed near Gentry. Could it be the balloon actually was found by a Pioneer who is keeping it a secret? I tried again ... so now let's get away from weather-related topics. The "fact of the matter is ..." that New Year's Eve trance was a little(?) off.

Did you catch the phrase, "The fact of the matter is ...?" which is constantly in use on those so-called news shows' self-appointed experts who introduce any topic with this phrase, "The fact of the matter is ..." Whoa! Have you ever heard so many contradictory so-called facts expressed by the talking heads on these shows? And that's really what they seem to be: shows. If they would just stick to reporting the news as it happens, from both sides of the coin, and leave it to the listener and watcher to determine what the news really is. Bring back a Cronkite.

If these talking heads, instead of saying "the fact is" would just honestly and courteously say, "In my opinion ..." perhaps these shows could be renamed Cable Opinion News or CON. Isn't that really what they are trying to do, con the listener and viewer to believe their take on the news rather than the news itself.

The fact of the matter is the best place to get honest reporting is in that dependable daily newspaper which gives each person a chance to sit down to read and reread a much more careful and honest report of the events of the day. And if there is an error called to attention, there will be a correction published in black and white, not lost somewhere in the 24/7 wasteland of the airways. Who was that man who called it a wasteland decades ago when there were very few channels? Who knows how many and how much gobbly-gook is available for watching? And what happened to censorship? What's censorship? Not just here? Everywhere?

But back to newspapers. What about their editorials and cartoons which try to convey a point on a particular subject? And what about those letters to the editor which so often go off in unbelievable directions? And then there are the various columnists who write under their names and whose opinions are sharp and frank and oftentimes unbelievably harsh toward their topic? Remember they are on an opinion page. The news pages are carefully written, even the stories by wire services, which can be watched by the area newspaper's eyes.

Newspapers have continued to undergo changes, some not of their liking, but necessary in our fast-moving culture. If a person can afford a cup of coffee a day (how much are those fancy coffees?), the daily delivery of the news in comprehensive and as-factual-as-possible type is a dollar well spent.

Remember? It was newspapers in those early days of our nation which played a great role in the formation of our republic. Please note, we live in a republic, not a democracy... that latter name can be considered the first step toward a different form of government, be it socialism, anarchy, dictatorship and any other internal collapse which would see the freedom we value so much become a thing of the past. Our children and grands deserve better than that!

Finally, one last note that sort of involves weather: In the next 'Cuff you'll probably be treated to the solving of my question about how many hundreds of miles I've traveled during the 40 years I've checked the local NOAA weather station. The answer was supplied by a friend, an answer I have questioned. Make that modified. Tune in -- you'll get "the word."

Dodie Evans is the former owner and long-time editor of the Gravette News Herald. Opinions expressed are those of the author.