Silver rose more than 6% Wednesday, rising above $90 an ounce and is up 29% this year.

That’s a stunning gain, especially considering silver prices surged 141% in 2025 for their best performance since 1979.

Gold is up nearly 1% Wednesday, well above $4,600 a troy ounce, and it has gained 22% this year. Like silver, gold also posted its best year since 1979 in 2025, jumping 65%.

Tin, copper, aluminum, lithium and zinc prices are also on the rise in 2026. (CNN)

Brad Riesenberg has worked in the winter sports industry for more than 20 years, and he’s never seen a winter with such paltry snowfall and mild temperatures as he has this season.

Riesenberg, who is an owner at Backcountry Snowmobiling in Park City, Utah, said customers have been canceling their tours due to a lack of snow.

Snowmobiling requires a thick snowpack at lower elevations in order to be viable, Riesenberg pointed out.

“We’ve lost lots and lots of money and it’s been pretty tough,” he said.

\“This is up there with some of the worst winters] if not the worst.” (CNN)

This will also cause a water shortage in the Spring.

A definition of a family: A group united by blood, marriage and/or adoption providing mutual love, support and a sense of belonging.

Today the word family has a broader, less structured meaning to include people who support and love you.

I think the commonality both definitions share is LOVE.

A GREAT family constantly aims to practice UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.!

It’s sometimes hard to do, but is the CORNERSTONE.

In order for the family to continue to be great, there is no room for hypocrisy.

The leader(s) cannot preach something, but do the opposite.

Those who lead a family have a grave responsibility to consistently adhere to their family’s values!

This is especially important in the midst of today’s societal chaos!

Her name was Anne Cogan, the oldest of three sisters.

The photo is of her hometown, Sligo, Ireland.

She was pulled out of the third grade in order to take care of a dying aunt.

She never returned to school.

Later on, she was sent to St. Charles Illinois to take care of a relative who was a Catholic priest.

She and her two sisters took a subsequent voyage to the U.S. during which one of her sisters.passed away.

Anne eventually settled on the South side of Chicago which was a large Irish immigrant community.

There, she met and married Timothy Dillon a fireman from County Cork.

Our mom, Paula Dillon had a stepsister, Loretta.

Timothy was a Battalion Chief in the Chicago Fire Department.

He passed away when our mom was 22 years old in 1937.

Living alone the rest of her life, Anne died at the age of 94 in 1969.

Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears rallied past Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers 31-27 to advance in the NFC playoffs on Saturday.

Chicago erupted for 25 points in the fourth quarter after being held to just 6 points through three periods, punctuated by a go-ahead touchdown with 1:43 remaining to secure the home victory and keep its postseason run alive. (CNN)

So, I told you so!

Another dramatic, come from behind–NEVER GIVE UP story.

If you want to do something that is a passion of yours, DON’T QUIT, DON’T QUIT, DON’T QUIT!

Let me repeat: Don’t quit!

(Al Fracassa, 9 times a winner of state football championships as Brother Rice head coach)

Yes it’s true.

An unusual man.

Very few highly successful men live their daily lives with humility.

He chose, however, not to be a victim of the male ego.

He chose instead to serve God by instilling the proper values in young men.

The world has lost a great coach, but a better teacher.

May he rest in peace!

Healthy food products have the fastest growing sales in most grocery categories, according to Neilsen IQ and Food Health Co., which tracked more than 300,000 grocery store receipts.

PepsiCo revealed in July it plans to release products boosted with fiber or protein after changing consumer preferences weakened demand for its drinks and snacks.

It also revamped marketing of its Lay’s chips to highlight that product is made with real potatoes.

Kraft-Heinz announced in September it would split into two companies after marquee products like Kraft Mac & Cheese, Lunchables and Velveeta stalled with customers looking for healthier options.

In June, the company said it would remove all artificial colors from its brands. (CNN)

So, you see, when consumers show preference for healthier foods, some companies are responding to your better buying habits!

The CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen was asked to break down the five practical, evidence-based actions that can make a real difference in 2026 and beyond.

Wen is an emergency physician and adjunct associate professor at George Washington University.

She previously served as Baltimore’s health commissioner.

The 5 simple steps to getting and keeping good health are:

REGULAR EXERCISE-Of course, you knew this would be at the top of the list.

PERIODIC CHECKUPS-You must how your body is behaving in numerous important categories.

ADEQUATE SLEEP- Adequate sleep means 7 to 9 hours per night. Your body needs time to rebuild during sleep time.

DIET QUALITY-This means no ultra processed foods.

SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS-We are designed to be social and interact with others.

Now you know!

It’s quite a dilemma.

Grocery and electricity prices are going up for everyone.

And for parents needing a larger home, the size they need is out of reach.

Also, working parents have found that child care is very expensive.

The reason is that there is a nationwide shortage in the child care business.

So, it seems that everywhere you turn, there are no easy answers.

Successful earners still feel poor!

We never know what the future holds.

The photo is of Nicolas Maduro arriving by helicopter on the roof of the courthouse.

Notoriety is a fleeting thing!

Power and influence are temporary even though people seek them out.

Forget all those shallow, temporary goals.

Choose those real things in life to cling to.

“Make someone happy–Make just one someone happy–And then you’ll be happy too!”

If not today, when?