Hi neighbors. This is the first combined Herald Tribune Sunday newspaper from Nevada, Mo. and Fort Scott, Kan. Hopefully that means more readers from both communities.

As an informal introduction -- I have been a Nevada resident for more than 30 years. However, I did spend 10 years in Kansas. Knowing that Missouri and Kansas are getting along so well here by the border gives me a great sense of relief. Finally, years of confused loyalties can be dissolved.

This column has appeared in the Nevada Sunday Herald since 1997. Although my intent is often entertainment, I occasionally use the forum to address odd happenings, observations about my fellow humans, or my own opinion about current events.

My intention has never been to sway anyone to my opinion. Instead I have tried to stimulate conversation among my readers about their own opinions, ideas, concerns and hopes. It's always been my thoughts that people can communicate if given a topic to start with.

I like to imagine my readers sitting around their tables, sipping their first cup of coffee for the day. They are trying to find something to think about beyond the grocery list, the weekend chores, etc. They are eagerly passing out various sections of the newspaper to family members and reading aloud to each other the parts that catch their attention.

Hopefully, at least some part of my column (or so I picture in my mind) will be mentioned and a conversation will follow long past the second cup of coffee. So, to improve my chances of touching on at least one topic readers might enjoy, I'm going to ramble a bit .Recently a person wrote a letter to the editor complaining about the daily content of the newspaper lacking some things she thought it should contain.

It's always good when readers write in. After all, they have to be reading the paper to find some reason to complain don't they? When it comes to local news or buying clothes for your children, I've found you can't completely please any of the people most of the time. So if you can pretty much please even some of the people part of the time you're beating the averages.

American credit card debt -- would you go to your local bank and expect to get a $5,000 signature-only loan within ten minutes? Would you raise your eyebrows at a 20 to 25 percent interest rate? Would you think your banker was more crook than financial advisor if they called you at home out of the blue, let's say during dinner, and asked you to hurry on in and sign such a loan? Banks don't do that on regular loans. Why do they (and other vendors) offer unsecured credit card loans to people they know little about? Maybe instead of large financial institutions lobbying the government to pass laws that prevent credit card bankruptcy, they should start a program to limit unsolicited credit card mailings to people who can actually afford their outlandish interest. If Al Quada wants to take over the world, they would do better to save their pennies and buy a couple of banks. It wouldn't take long to finance an entire army on credit card interest.

On television this week there was a special on about the woes and tribulations George Lucas faced in filming the first Star Wars. I found out that Kurt Russell had tried out for the role of Han Solo. After all this time it's hard to imagine anyone besides Harrison Ford playing that role.

Cindy Williams was screen tested for the role of Princess Leia. That seems too weird doesn't it? Do you remember the television series "The Greatest American Hero?" William Katt played the title role. He had tried out for the part of Luke Skywalker.

Until the next time friends remember, in the family that talks to each other, at least everyone always knows everyone else's opinion.