“Do you hear what I hear?” is one of three questions posed in the 1962 holiday song by Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne. I paraphrase that inquiry to “Did you hear what I heard?” or “You should have heard what I heard.

Given the proximity to Election Day, I should be ruminating about that aspect of our enfranchisement, but I am drawn to another part of citizenship: Jury duty.

I have survived jury duty in Trumbull County three times. I am joking.

Some of the most gratifying hours of my time at Youngstown State each week are spent in Stambaugh Stadium. No, it is not cheering the Penguins on to another victory, although that is an enjoyable Saturday afternoon diversion.

Gov. Ted Strickland has taken excellent, effective action to deal with Ohio government budget shortfalls. But the need for prudence has exceeded the governor’s ability to respond realistically. State legislators need to get into the act quickly.

Irony as a literary element in fiction can be fascinating. However, irony as an element in real life can be downright disconcerting.