Ever since the Iowa Caucus, when Barack Obama began his march to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., he ran on the theme of “change.”

Here’s what I learned this week in my day job as a small-town newspaper editor: Never, ever, under any circumstances, ever — I repeat, ever — accidentally leave the comics out of the newspaper.

Alexander Hamilton was, in my opinion, the founding father who contributed the most to the long-term development of the United States. Many will argue that George Washington or Thomas Jefferson contributed more. Although they contributed much toward American ideals and setting precedents for all presidents, Hamilton had a larger impact on the practical side of government.

I was thrilled to learn elephants are now dwelling atop a former landfill in Waynesboro.  Yes, they are made of fiberglass, but they are life-size, and I can visit them throughout April.  I am superstitious.  I expect the city to have good fortune during the month.  Citizens of Waynesboro, now is the time to launch those projects you have been dreaming about!  The elephants are bringing favorable conditions our way. 

If there is one question I am asked more than, “How on God’s green Earth do you still have a newspaper column?” it is, “Why no recent monkey news?”

Jake DeSantis, executive vice president of the American International Group’s financial products unit, quit his job.

Our house burned down.

One Thursday morning in December seven people showed up for their jobs in Richmond just as they always did.

My hound Oscar is no more.

A recent career change has proved enlightening. A past opinion has been altered, another reaffirmed and an analogy discovered.

As a media superstar, I believe I have an opportunity – no, an obligation — to offer the young people of this great nation some sound advice, such as “stay out of my yard, whippersnapper” or “get a haircut, you darn hippy.”

If I were Sir Fred Goodwin, I would be spending some of my considerable wealth on bodyguards.

In a Washington Irving short story, Rip Van Winkle was a man who fell asleep under a tree and awakened 20 years later to discover that things around him have changed greatly.

I am very grateful for my unemployed friends.

Newly appointed Attorney General Eric Holder recently stated that, in his opinion, when it comes to talking about racial matters in America that there is a reluctance to do so because we are a nation of cowards.

More than 400 television stations across the nation switched from analog to digital signals on Feb. 17, and hundreds more will make the transition on June 12, leaving millions of bewildered viewers asking what happened to their “Matlock” reruns.

When I was a little girl, my family had an old 78 rpm record player.

By now, anyone who has kept up with the news has heard of Bernard Madoff. And each week, another swindler (sorry, alleged swindler) is made known to the public.

Heard about scientists decoding subjective preference from single-trial near-infrared spectroscopy signals?

Some people blame Tom Daschle’s problems on his failure to pay taxes.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were picked to win the 44th Super Bowl because of a young quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, and a tenacious defense.

The clock on the wall says it’s February — and, yes, I’ve got a very detailed clock — so it’s time once again for me to adopt the lovable persona of Mr. Romance, your expert guide to matters of the heart.

I have an infrastructure problem.

Two recent recommendations and the response each drew brought back memories of times long ago.

The big question is, who gets the $35,000 commode?

No one knows if our economic downturn is temporary or if lasting changes are being made in the way we live. What will life look like in five or 10 years?

Last July I complained about three local newspapers, The Daily Record, The News Leader and The News Virginian. All committed what I felt was a disservice to Barack Obama, who had just won the nomination of a major American political party. If you don’t remember, I wrote that all three had overlooked or ignored an opportunity to recognize history in the making.

What may look to some like an isolated incident involving a rogue cow and an unlucky bicyclist is, to this dogged and determined reporter, another piece of mounting evidence of an organized global bovine conspiracy against the human race.

We have become a nation of gamblers.

You cannot imagine the elation I get from being able to say these three words – President Barack Obama.