Archive By Section - Columns
Citizen Cain, rhymes with 'pain'
To all of those readers who say I should pay more attention to the rising presidential campaign of Republican Herman Cain, I am happy to announce that he has it.
Defunding defense
Can America's defense budget be cut? Yes. Unfortunately, President Obama is going about it exactly backwards.
Graduating seniors reminisce
One of the groups I meet with on a regular basis is Student Cabinet, which is made up of student leaders from each of our three high schools. It's always energizing and informative for me to hear the insights, opinions and perspectives from this very impressive group of young people.
Getting America back in the space race
Fifty years ago in April, Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human being to be launched into space. Twenty-three days later, American Astronaut Alan Shepard became the second.
Julie Andrews still the real deal
I have a friend who works in the television business out in Los Angeles. She's employed by the host of a late-night talk show, so meeting celebrities is an everyday occurrence for her as she deals with them on matters regarding the program.
The Poppy Red
I recently learned of another attribute of being the middle child -- family historian. How wonderful, I thought; I've been looking for more to do in my day. Besides, I'm the sibling in the middle; you know, the pleaser, the inventive one. I suppose this could be fun, maybe rather interesting, I announced with the slightest of sarcasm. So I accepted the 15-plus boxes with a smile.
Why libraries are still important
When discussing whether libraries will weather shifts in technology, librarians who have been on the scene longer (OK, only slightly longer) than I have like to mention how everyone was predicting our demise when the Internet came along in the '90s Instead, libraries added free access to the Internet to their missions, and in the process have helped millions bridge the digital divide. Anyone who's been in a library recently will likely attest that they ...
Bringing back the lash
When Peter Moskos' new book landed on my desk, I wasn't sure if it was going to be a treatise on crime and punishment or some sort of kinky sex manual.
Entitled to be a cad
WASHINGTON -- I write often about the problem of entitlement spending. Today's topic is the problem of entitlement behavior.
Flushing New York
NEW YORK -- In a slender essay titled "Here Is New York," E.B. White wrote about the implausibility of the great city, mentioning among other things the millions of gallons of water needed each day just so people could brush their teeth.
Don't count Federer out
No athlete can outrun the aging process as even the greatest of stars succumb to worn-out knees or a broken-down back or any of the other ailments that can sideline a player.
Make college worth the cost
It's hard to say which is more remarkable about Kayla Heard, that she is graduating this spring from Washington State University at age 16 or that she earned her degree without ever entering a classroom.
Back to the real world...
Well, we made it back. My Beloved and I and our two four-legged children just got back from several days in the North Carolina mountains, right in the heart of the Yadkin Valley wine country, and within easy striking distance of everything from the Blue Ridge Parkway to the town of Mayberry -- or rather, its inspiration. In case you were wondering, there really is a Floyd's Barbershop -- two chairs, no ...
Squeaky gets the blues
Yea, Squeaky's got 'em all right; any red-blooded American knows "The Blues" denote rhyme, rhythm, lyrics and notes picked, strummed, sung or whined, and in a minor key if possible. Squeaky, alias William H. VanDeaver the IV, Yankee panhandler come lately to Edisto Beach, saved from hunger and heat stroke by a single mom, waitress Cindy who was working at Whalen's restaurant and bar. If you read the local papers, you may remember Squeaky ...
'Health care reform'
Welcome to "Health Care Reform" at our community level. Recently announced changes in how KershawHealth will be doing business in the future stems from the perfect storm of a depressed state economy, proposed federal Medicare payment rules, and a disconnected community/government to local health care resources. The State of South Carolina cannot afford the Medicaid budget so they've cut it. If KershawHealth has annual net patient revenue of $100 million and suffers ...
Articles by Section - Columns
New York, New York!
I'm planning my first trip to New York in June and I am so excited!
On press freedoms, Obama races Nixon to bottom
Despite what you may hear from some of his more fevered critics, President Barack Obama's recent scandal-quakes don't appear to fall anywhere near the level of Richard Nixon's Watergate disaster. But by another Nixonian yardstick, trying to put a muzzle on press freedoms, Team Obama appears to have surged into the lead.
Moment of Nature - May 24, 2013
In countries around the world, the oak tree is the symbol of strength, fortitude and endurance. In the U.S., the oak was designated in 2004 as our national tree. Despite this status as a stalwart of the forest and city alike, oaks in our native and urban ecosystems face tremendous challenges from diseases, insect pests and human-caused disorders.
Life and death with the eagles
Last year about this time, I talked with you about how technology is bringing the magic of nature -- specifically, the majesty of American's symbol, the bald eagle – into our living rooms.
A trifecta with little payout
WASHINGTON -- Folks, deep breath time. This is not the end of the Obama presidency. It's a bad stretch with an unfortunate confluence of unfortunate events. None of which will make the first paragraph -- not even the first page -- of the account of the Obama administration in the history books. Let's tick through the trifecta of scandals and what they tell ...
A short vocabulary lesson
This past weekend, I had the rare, but always enjoyable, visit from my grandparents. I don't know about you, but anytime I have the opportunity to spend time with them I learn something new; sometimes about myself, sometimes about life, but always it's something.
Landscape, architectural history professor visits Camden
Camden welcomed an extraordinary visitor and new friend last week: Nina Antonetti, an "urbanist." She's been teaching about cities at Smith College in Northampton, Mass., for the last 15 years.
Not such strange bedfellows
WASHINGTON -- Breaking news: Conservative organizations suddenly have found common cause with one of their favorite objects of contempt -- the benighted Mainstream Media.
Seniors reflect
I meet with a lot of groups and committees over the course of the year, and I think it's important for me to do so. One of my favorite groups is Student Cabinet, which is comprised of student government leaders from each of our high schools. We meet four times a year over lunch. What I love and value about students is that they don't hesitate to tell you what's ...
A matter of conscience:
In 1929, my family moved from Chesterfield County to a farm adjoining the farm of Donald Holland's parents in the Cassatt community. I was a year old at the time but before many years passed, Donald and I established a friendship lasting until Donald's passing in 2003.
When DOJ targets press, we all lose
To say I was stunned was putting it mildly. I was shocked to learn about the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) decision to seize phone records belonging to the Associated Press (AP). The C-I does not belong to the AP; I have never written for the service. That doesn't negate my outrage at DOJ's actions.
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