Category Archives: Uncategorized

A school system in southern Virginia, near the North Carolina border, announced last week that it has received a $200,000 award to set up “gunshot detection” systems in all of its buildings. This is in addition to $100,000 it got … Continue reading →

Watching events like today’s celebrations in China of the Communist Party’s 70th anniversary, it’s hard not to wonder if the tens thousands of soldiers marching by the reviewing stand — with resolute, almost rapturous stares in support of their institutions … Continue reading →

The U.S. Federal Reserve (Central Bank) has issued a 64-page report that challenges assumptions about the economy that it consistently gives high grades to.  Even though “many families have achieved substantial gains” since 2013, the survey found that 39 percent … Continue reading →

Today’s Martin Luther King’s birthday (would have been his 90th) — a good time to reflect on perceptions of the sort of civil disobedience that he (and others) espoused. A columnist in the New York Times yesterday praised the efforts … Continue reading →

How blissfully we would jump into ponds and lakes as kids and swim, splash, swallow, and blow out water that got into our noses. I remember one particular pond where friends and I swam that had mud so mushy and … Continue reading →

The Atlantic ran a long article in its December issue about “The Sex Recession” — asserting that sexual activity among younger people is either declining or less fulfilling or just less fun. Some of the reasons she identifies, I understand, … Continue reading →

Oregon last week joined about 20 other states in allowing people to pick up roadkill and eat it. The state legislature in Salem passed — unanimously — a bill legalizing the consumption of deer and elk found on state roads … Continue reading →

The United States bombarded, invaded, and began the occupation of Afghanistan 17 years ago. The war has cost Americans the lives of more than 2,200 fighters and support personnel as well as more than $840 billion. U.S. government “experts” claim … Continue reading →

Route 66, about a mile from here, this morning started charging tolls during rush hour for vehicles not meeting HOV requirements (currently driver plus one, but soon to be driver plus two).  The price for the 10-mile trip from the … Continue reading →

The U.S. House of Representatives has made payments totaling $359,000 to settle six claims brought against Members of that institution, including for sexual harassment.  One such payout, reported this week, was for $84,000 paid to a former employee of Texas … Continue reading →