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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Wednesday Guthrie kicks off fundraising drive 10 things to know for Tuesday Four premieres and five Bard plays to highlight Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2016 season Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Education Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Rotary Club of Ashland names Riley O'Sullivan as Student of the Month Teacher's Tips: Who gets to teach history? Northwest Pizza to raise money for Ashland Schools Foundation Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Business Test Drive: 2015 Honda Accord Cars We Remember: The original Candymatic Ramchargers Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Ashland's Standing Stone brew pub joins green beer coalition Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Norman Christlieb Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Sports Latest Stories Guthrie kicks off fundraising drive Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizz bats heat up in Bend Kansas City Royals star pitcher Jeremy Guthrie visits Ashland to kickoff fundraising campaign Ducks enjoy the challenge High school Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizzlies rally past GP, to 2-0 start Ashland boys capture another Sato Cup snowboard title at Mt. Bachelor Fredrickson leads Grizzlies to season-opening romp Grizz alpine skiers finish strong at state Southern Oregon University Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Oregon State women come up short in second-round loss to Gonzaga Raiders roughed up at Corban Voices Latest Stories Granlund cartoon: Kraft and Heinz merger Landgren cartoon: Muddy baseball fields Our View: How it should work Letters to the Editor, March 25 Rick Holmes: What addicts say about getting high and getting better Editorial Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Our View: Tuition trauma Our View: SOU's economic clout Our view: Keep it simple in developing marijuana rules Letters Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Letters to the Editor, March 18 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Columns Council Corner: Getting to yes or no — or maybe Chris Honoré: 'Like a ghastly rapid river, through the pale door, a hideous throng rush out ...' Herb Rothschild: Donating with care Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Matthew T. Mangino: When is a confession not a confession? Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright 4 Things To Do This Week Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Best bets for entertainment around Ashland, March 19 Theater The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Ticket Availability Camelot Theatre in Talent: This 'Sunset' is not as dark Ticket availability Ticket availability Music Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center The Farr Side: Madonna — ever the trendsetter Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Movie listings: March 20-26 More wonderful wrinkles at 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' 8 must-see spring films Movie review: ‘Wrecking Crew’ is a look at the people who really put the bomp Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Page Onorato: Cranky old winter may finally come to an end Garden Cameos: Welcome spring to the garden Page Onorato: Come grow old along with me, someday Tammy Kelly: Lighten up traditional Easter desserts Test Drive: 2015 Honda Accord Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: How it should work ... Four premieres and five Bard plays to highlight Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2016 season ... Southern Oregon University names director of marketing ... Our View: How it should work ... Four premieres and five Bard plays to highlight Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2016 season ... Southern Oregon University names director of marketing ... Neal Simon: I'm finally ready to roll Comment By Neal Simon More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Neal Simon More Content Now Posted Mar. 23, 2015 at 8:34 AM By Neal Simon More Content Now Posted Mar. 23, 2015 at 8:34 AM » Social News I never run out of column ideas, which is a comforting realization for a weekly opinion scribe. Regrettably, after many hours of intense self examination, four cups of coffee and a half-dozen trips to the bathroom, I had an epiphany. I realized that for all my good intentions, I’ll use almost any excuse to avoid actually sitting down at the computer keys and pounding out a column. Here are the top 10 things that kept my column from getting written this week: 10. It was Thursday. I have not written a column on Thursday since the Republicans shut the government down in the last Congress. Besides, the Dr. Answer-Expert column usually runs on Thursdays, and A-E’s talent is so massive, his piece usually leaves me too drained and depressed to be creative. 9. I have never eaten lobster, seen the Pacific Ocean in daylight, visited New York City, attended a Grateful Dead concert or kissed a Norwegian. None of that is particularly writing-related, but I feel like it needed to be shared. I feel much better now. 8. It’s Friday night. The Bonnies are playing Dayton in the A-10 quarterfinals, and UB is taking on Akron in the Mid-American Conference semis. March Madness is one giant distraction. Both games are intense, drawing all of my interest. Way too nervous to write, although I am not big fan of either school. The Bonnies lost (NIT bound?), Buffalo won. I’m good to go … 7. … Right after me and a close friend watch the special holiday episode of “Adventure Time” on Amazon Instant Video. “Adventure Time” is a bizarre, subversive, hilarious Cartoon Network show featuring Jake the human, Finn the dog, Princess Bubblegum, the Ice King, a penguin named Gunther, and too many other odd ball characters to name. After the final credits rolled by, I felt both rejuvenated and inspired. 6. Unfortunately, I also felt sleepy, seeing that it was 1 a.m. I don’t write well at all when I am asleep, although I have been told that my columns, when read aloud, will often induce sleep in listeners. 5. I can’t write when there is a parade marching down the street a few blocks away. In this case, it was the St. Patrick’s Day extravaganza in Hornell. All of the top movers and shakers in the Maple City were there: Mayor Hogan, Fire Chief Smith, Spock and that guy who plays the guitar in front of the United Presbyterian Church on Sundays. It was a great parade by the way, and a big thank you to everyone who participated. 4. I never write when I’m angry, and the Rich Lowry column on this page left me furious. There is just something about Iraq war-promoting, weapons of mass destruction-lying, unapologetic chicken-hawks like Cheney, Giuliani, Limbaugh and Lowry that gets me going. They are men who never miss an opportunity to promote American intervention while remaining a safe distance from the battlefields where young Americans will be maimed or killed. 3. (and 2.) I combined these because they both involve a long list of lame excuses that are really nothing more than delaying tactics: I’m out of soda, I swallowed my gum, I lost a contact lens, it’s raining, it’s too sunny, my feet hurt, there’s dirty dishes in the sink, SportsCenter is on. 1. I am afraid of success. Not exactly like the way I’m afraid of Michele Bachmann, my ninth-grade English teacher, Donald Trump’s haircut, mimes, silhouette lawn ornaments, olive loaf, sea turtles and purple balloons, but nevertheless, the prospect of genuine success is frightening. I am happy enough when a column I write generates some mild appreciation. Wonderful. Now all of that is out of the way. I am ready to write. Neal Simon is the city editor of the The Hornell Evening Tribune. By Neal Simon More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Neal Simon More Content Now Posted Mar. 23, 2015 at 8:34 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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