Archive By Section - Columns
We need an energy solution ... fast
Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi is screaming bloody murder and vowing to be a martyr.
A personal recollection
As South Carolinians continue their celebration of Black History Month, I am today even more uplifted than ever by the profound contributions of African-Americans to the never-ending challenge to improve our communities, our state and our nation.
County sets efficiency, prosperity as targets
The 2011 Kershaw County Council is off to a quick start. First, we were faced with the resignation of the county administrator. Fortunately, Frank Broom, a seasoned county and city administrator, stepped forward. The Council unanimously voted for Mr. Broom to become the interim county administrator. Mr. Broom has wasted no time in demonstrating his exceptional leadership skills in the public arena. Many lingering issues were immediately resolved and many new initiatives were suggested. ...
Thumb-twiddling no option
WASHINGTON -- Procrastination is rarely a cost-free strategy. That is true when it comes to fixing Social Security -- as much as the Obama administration and, even more forcefully, its allies on the left may wish to believe otherwise. Their "what's the big rush?" message goes like this: The retirement program isn't really contributing to deficits in the short run. Indeed, its finances are healthy enough so that it can continue paying all promised ...
Gardens and guns
NEW YORK -- Now would be a very good time to be a cartoonist. Or perhaps not. As the late cartoonist Doug Marlette frequently lamented, "How do you cartoon a cartoon? We're living in ÎToon Town.'"
How to make a city special
Asheville, N.C. – I dig red leather chairs. You know what else I dig? Of course you do -- I dig champagne. Now, granted, after a glass or two of bubbles, my eyes stray to the reds list, my real poison of choice, but there is still an unparalleled sensation to taking in some champagne. You can't be in a bad mood with champagne in hand. Then there are books. I especially ...
Restructuring efforts moving in the House
Accomplishing more with less is a critical challenge facing the state in 2011. In order to help meet this challenge, lawmakers are considering a variety of government restructuring proposals. Restructuring government is a positive investment in the future of South Carolina.
Regretting the errors with a smile
Today, you'll find a correction and clarification to a story I wrote recently about a pair of neighboring home invasions.
A star blogger's hard-learned lessons
If a courtroom trial is a contest between dueling narratives, Shirley Sherrod's lawsuit against Andrew Breitbart reads like Little Nell taking on Snidely Whiplash.
The leadership vacuum
WASHINGTON -- Failure of political leadership knows no party. The past few days have offered an unfortunate demonstration of this sad maxim: House Speaker John Boehner ducking his appropriate role in countering the belief that President Obama is a Muslim, and the president himself, once again ducking a leadership role in dealing with the nation's fiscal crisis.
Mandela's lesson for Egypt
Egypt's latest pharaoh has surrendered his crown. He was booted from his throne not by armies but through a groundswell of Twitter Age popular will. Let Egyptians celebrate. They've earned it. And let tyrants elsewhere tremble. They deserve to. But, even as Egyptians celebrate, they would be wise to remember that their biggest challenges are only beginning. The same holds true for the Obama administration. As the participants in Egypt's remarkably ...
A veteran's story
The grizzled veteran Marine pilot from Cassatt watched as Chinese fishing boat crews fought fiercely with their 18- to 20-foot oars for position to be first in line in order to save the airplane crew which had gone down in the South China Sea. The fishing boat which brought in the U.S. crew received a financial reward. Those who finished second wasted a lot of time and effort.
All facts, no feelings
If you're a fan of the television quiz show "Jeopardy!" you probably already know that a computer named Watson waxed superstar champions Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter in a three-game competition that ended Wednesday night.
First, they were people like you and me
If someone would have told me 15 years ago that Michael Jordan didn't make the varsity basketball team when he was in high school, I probably would have fallen out of my chair in disbelief.
Take a step in history today
There have been many important days in Camden's history, and today will be another one.
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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