Archive By Section - Columns
A complaint too far
NEW YORK -- It is almost clockwork: As a new presidential cycle winds around, the early primary state of South Carolina provides a defining issue for Americans and candidates to chew over.
The horror, the horror
Ah, holiday travel! During Easter weekend, it seemed I heard a lot about things like hope and glory, the renewal of life and the triumph of good over evil. Or something like that. Mostly what I got out of it was a mild euphoria associated with carbon monoxide poisoning from sitting in standstill traffic for several hours on the interstate. I can now do a variation on the old Henny Youngman joke: ...
How we still fight the Civil War
Fort Sumter surrendered to the rebels again last week with what one observer called "measured enthusiasm," compared to the Civil War centennial celebration 50 years earlier. For that, South Carolina, a grateful war-weary nation thanks you.
J. Hoke Murphree and FFA influences
With the creation of five new rural high schools in Kershaw County in 1923 came new learning experiences for these new high school students. Antioch, Blaney, Charlotte Thompson, Midway, and Mt. Pisgah not only offered the basic courses of English, Math, Science and Social Studies but soon offered such vocational subjects as Agriculture and Home Economics.
A well-deserved Pulitzer Prize
It's rare for a reporter from one newspaper to congratulate those from another, but that's exactly what I want to do.
Give William and Kate a chance
Seriously, who bets on a marriage? I'm sure I can't be the only person who thinks betting that the "Wedding/Marriage of the Millennium" will end in divorce is both tacky and mean-spirited. But apparently, that's what seems to be going on in a few British circles as the countdown to Prince William and Kate Middleton's multi-million-dollar wedding prepares to come to a grinding halt next Friday. Sure, some bets surrounding the ...
Brotherhood of baseball
The recent announcement that a statue of Camden native Larry Doby (along with Bernard Baruch) will grace the grounds of the Camden Archives and Museum came soon after the death of Duke Snider, one of the great baseball players of all time and one of the "Boys of Summer" as immortalized in the book by Roger Kahn.
Obama's re-election budget
After hearing President Barack Obama's robust response to their budget-cutting proposals, Republican leaders sounded shocked to hear that the president sounds like -- Gasp! -- a Democrat.
Trump card
NEW YORK -- As the number of Republicans declaring themselves potential presidential candidates has begun to look like a conga line without music, hope lingered that somewhere unnoticed was a brilliant dark horse biding his sweet time.
NAACP, Right Wing foes get friendly
Can prominent right-wingers like Newt Gingrich and Grover Norquist get along with the very liberal NAACP? Yes, they can, at least on the high cost of prisons.
A movie in my mind
For a total of 20 hours over the past several weeks -- and thanks to the Friends of the Kershaw County Library's recent book sale -- I played a movie in my car.
NAACP, Right Wing foes get friendly
Can prominent right-wingers like Newt Gingrich and Grover Norquist get along with the very liberal NAACP? Yes, they can, at least on the high cost of prisons.
Giving old electronics new life
Unwanted computers, printers, televisions, and other devices comprise one of the nation's fastest-growing waste streams. Inspired by the concerns of several constituents, I advocated and sponsored legislation over the course of several years to address this problem. Through collaboration with other legislators, manufacturers, recyclers, and the environmental community this effort culminated in the passage of legislation in 2010 that makes South Carolina a leader in responsibly managing this waste while protecting our environment and ...
Budget reflects where city is headed
It's budget season at City Hall. This is the time of year that we review our previous budget and formulate a new one. I'm proud to say that our 2010-2011 numbers are projected to come in under budget, and our new budget will pass without requiring any tax increases.
Coffee has come a long way
Someone sent me an Internet video of two soldiers in Afghanistan demonstrating how to make coffee using a device called a heat pack. It was entertaining though the language was pretty salty, as soldiers' language can be.
Articles by Section - Columns
Don’t shoot the messenger
I've always heard the phrase "don't shoot the messenger" throughout my life. I somewhat understood what it meant -- don't take your anger out on someone who is simply relaying unwanted information. It wasn't until I started my career as a reporter that I developed a deeper and more meaningful relationship with this quote. Being a journalist means that not only do I get to be the bearer of ...
Googling ourselves to death
WASHINGTON -- At a party a few years ago, a young reporter bounded over to my cluster of social nodders and, with the breathlessness of a born tweeter, chirped: "What's the new hot thing?!"
Statehouse ethics: just tell the truth
When I was a young boy growing up and my mother confronted me with something that I knew I had done wrong, I often stammered around, making excuses and trying to avoid fessing up. My mom's response was always the same: "Let's begin by just telling the truth."
Noted and passed
** A new Gallup poll indicates that Americans rank the performance of Congress at the lowest level since polling on the subject began. Only 10 percent of citizens say they have confidence in Congress, with no discernible difference among those who call themselves Democrats and those who say they're Republicans. Congress rates last on a list of 16 institutions, with the American military ranking first. The Gallup organization has been asking opinions of Congress ...
Crisis of faith in government
WASHINGTON -- It is reassuring that in the midst of so much government dysfunction, the IRS has resolved the question of when and whether to tax tanning beds under the Affordable Care Act. Do not be concerned about that giddiness you feel. You are not having a nervous breakdown but are suffering a symptom commonly associated with recognition that the absurd has become the accepted norm -- and that you are, in fact, alone. ...
KCSD has had a one terrific school year
The end of the school is a veritable kaleidoscope of activities and excitement, with happiness and even a little relief thrown in for good measure. For me, it's also a time to reflect on the school district's many accomplishments over the past year. To say the least, it's been one terrific year! This month, I wanted to review just a few of the many highlights of 2012-13:
Game of Thrones is good, but tough TV
Back in March 2012, I wrote about my newfound love of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series. I mentioned -- almost as a side note -- the brilliant HBO television series based on the books (and named after the first novel) Game of Thrones.
Game of Thrones is good, but tough TV
Back in March 2012, I wrote about my newfound love of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series. I mentioned -- almost as a side note -- the brilliant HBO television series based on the books (and named after the first novel) Game of Thrones.
Welcome to the good life
Were talking coffee and burgers today, folks.
Secrecy scandal? Not so much
When is a scandal not really a scandal? Many are shocked to hear that the government, in its pursuit of terrorists as relentlessly as Wile E. Coyote chases the Road Runner, is massively snooping into our phone records and popular social networks without search warrants.
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