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Truth Has Two Faces

Truth comes in two flavors. One is the measurable, touchable, physically-manipulable world outside of me, as an individual. It is the world of physics, biology, gravity, and rocket science. Even those who say they live their own truth expect the lights to go on when they flip the switch, and call an electrician or do some type of trouble-shooting when they don’t. They turn the key for their car’s ignition and expect it to start and to go forward when they put it in gear and press the accelerator. They take it to a mechanic if it doesn’t, because reality is real. Effects do have ...

Whitaker Should Look At Preventative Action At JPS

“The potential trajectory of the district is what excites me,” said Jamestown’s new superintendent of schools. “We have incredibly talented kids, we have incredibly talented staff, we have a supportive community, we have foundations, the community college and the opportunities those things all allow and bring. It means that the sky is the limit.” Of course, these are words the community is eager to hear. Not so fast, though. We have been here before. Each newly-hired superintendent made similar, seemingly obligatory, statements, most without fulfillment. Although Geneva is ...

Vaccinations Aid Herd Immunity

There was an alarming report recently out of California from San Quentin Prison. Out of a population of 3,260, there have been 2,200 infections and 25 deaths — the latest being a guard at the prison. About two-thirds of the prison population has been infected but the prison still hasn’t reached “herd immunity.” The mortality rate at the prison translates to 767 deaths per 100,000. Were that rate to be applied to the entire country, we would be looking at 2.5 million deaths from COVID-19 in the United States vs. current deaths of 163,000. According to an epidemiologist ...

Trump Is The Real Threat To Our Democracy

On Aug. 13th, President Trump admitted that he is intentionally and knowingly opposing the funding that the USPS needs to ensure that mail-in votes will be received, on time, to be counted in the November elections. He claims baselessly that mail-in voting is a threat to our democracy, because it will result in massive, nationwide voter-fraud not reflective of the people’s voice. Under Trump’s postmaster general‘s watch mail collection boxes and high-speed mail-sorting machines have been selectively removed from postal facilities across the U.S. These actions create obstacles to ...

Every Groom Should Be This Lucky

LOS ANGELES — Marital vows often include commitments “for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health.” Long-married couples can assure newlyweds that many surprises come along. They’re fun when they involve the better, richer, or health part, yet other surprises can strengthen a marriage too. It’s common, for example, for couples to be apart for an extended time. Modern, instantaneous communication makes that less difficult than it once was. It’s also common for couples to face serious illnesses. In these respects, the experience of a couple ...

The Day The Dinosaur Ate Me

How old was I when the dinosaur ate me? I must have been about nine years old. I dimly recall holding Dad’s hand as he walked me up the steps of the massive original entrance to Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museum of Natural History. I remember looking up, up and further up at the huge bronze door, one of a triad. “Imposing” is an understatement. The facade could have been the home of “Conan the Barbarian” for all its dark gray mythic splendor. To a kid of nine, it was just b-i-g. We had not come to Pittsburgh to see the museum. Back in probably 1952, Dad and his two ...