‘Guest column’ Archives
Message: Bake a bigger Occu(pie)
By Carlo Filice With the various Occupy Wall Street demonstrations, talk of economic and social fairness is in the air. Demonstrators are complaining about the vast inequalities in wealth and political influence between the rich 1 percent or so and the remaining 99 percent. Are the complaints morally legitimate? A key point must be made. Wealth (and influence) inequality per se does not mean unfairness. One analogy is the classroom. Inequality of grades does not ... Full Story
Why defense spending should be cut
Why defense spending should be cut By Fareed Zakaria Published: August 3 The scary aspect of the debt deal meant to force all of Washington to its senses is the threatened cut to defense spending. If the congressional “super-committee” cannot agree on cutbacks of $1.5 trillion, the guillotine will fall and half of those cuts will have to come from expenditures on national security. As with so much Washington accounting, there is lots of ... Full Story
Rick Perry, God and Me: When I Got the Call
Political satire by Katha Pollitt, Trying to find humor in politics Rick Perry, God and Me: When I Got the Call By Katha Pollitt God called me a couple of months ago and told me to run for president. It was late at night, and he had this weird voice. It sounded like he’d been drinking, so I hung up on him He called me back a few nights later. He explained that he’d been experimenting with a new voice—instead of deep and gravelly, nudgy and insinuating, ... Full Story
Texas executes, and executes and …
The following article looks at the emotional involvement of Texas prosecutors in the executions of their defendants. The next to the last paragraph compares their commitment to getting the execution over to Calaphas, the prosecutor of Christ. Oddly, the prosecutors in this state display similar properties. Calaphas is no hero to Christians, yet, ironically, Bible-belt Texans would condemn Calaphas behavior while apparently approving it in their state prosecutors. It appears that they ... Full Story
How can we keep our pets safe during the holidays?
Veterinarian reveals hidden dangers to avoid to prevent potentially disastrous pet problems As the pages of the calendar flip and we move closer to the holiday season, pet owners should be aware of common – but hidden – dangers to their pets as we transform our homes for the celebrations to come. “The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy for our families, but in preparing for the season, many pet owners run the risk of exposing their pets to household dangers ... Full Story
Visiting my family is a relative experience
By Rev. James L. Snyder I was reminded recently that the only thing growing in my family tree are fruits and nuts. Personally, I am not sure if I am a fruit or a nut. Just do not ask my wife. I had been away for so long I had forgotten many things about my family. My recent visit served as a refresher course reminding me why I had moved away in the first place. Memory sometimes pays little tricks causing us to remember the "good old days" and forgetting that sprinkled in among ... Full Story
DV Victims need a safe place
Group seeks to keep help close to home By Lynda M. Nielsen Posted: 11/01/2011 11:06:23 PM MDT Alternatives to Violence (ATV) is in its 29th year of serving victims of crime in Southern Larimer County. October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Our small, but mighty agency has been very, very busy with a 36 percent increase in clients needing services and unfortunately a 35 percent decrease in donations. ... Full Story
Occupy America and Friendly Fascism
Occupy America and Friendly Fascism: Life in the Corporate Police State October 31, 2011 By John Whitehead "Law is no longer what it was intended to be - a set of rules equally binding everyone to ensure that outcome inequalities are at least legitimate - and instead has become the opposite: a tool used by the politically and financially powerful to entrench their own power and control the society. That's how and why the law now destroys equality and protects ... Full Story
Why I Am A Teacher
By Daris Howard It was summer graduation day at the university where I work and a beautiful day it was, unlike the first graduation I attended as a young professor. That one was in April and the cold south wind had swirled the snow around us. On that day, as we watched the students file past, one of my more seasoned colleagues, who was also my mentor, turned to me and said, “Graduation will be one of the happiest and one of the saddest times of your life.” When I asked ... Full Story
Corporations manufacture scientific doubt
Corporate campaigns manufacture scientific doubt by David Michaels From the September 27, 2008 issue of Science News In Doubt Is Their Product, published in April, epidemiologist David Michaels describes the growing corporate practice of “manufacturing” scientific uncertainty to thwart regulation of products that appear to pose risks. Michaels encountered the practice firsthand with beryllium, a metal used at U.S. nuclear weapons facilities, while he was ... Full Story
