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Race And Riots

“No justice, no peace!” they shout. Then they break windows. It makes me furious. But then I watch the video of the Minneapolis cop kneeling on George Floyd’s neck, while Floyd repeatedly says, “I can’t breathe,” and three other officers just watch. Then I see the video of the woman in Central Park calling 911, claiming, “An African-American man is threatening me!” But that was a racist lie. Christian Cooper just asked her to leash her dog. We’re supposed to leash our dogs in that section of Central Park. But Amy Cooper didn’t leash her dog. She ...

The Good Life: If You Pay Taxes, Why Can’t You Cast A Vote?

“I am sorry, sir, but you cannot buy a drink here. This is a private club. You must be a member to buy a drink.” That statement is sensible. I have heard it being spoken to people at the Brookville Firemen’s Club.” Ah, but what if the reply is, “I am a member!” Upon verifying that, the bartender will serve the drink, all other things (age, sobriety, etc.) being equal. But what happened at voting precincts last Tuesday? “I am sorry, sir, but you cannot vote here. This is a closed primary election. Only those who have registered as Democrats or Republicans can vote ...

This Couple Could Be Your Neighbors

You wouldn’t think a two-hour movie that is largely an interview with a husband and wife would be this engaging. But it is. The movie, called “Created Equal,” is largely a biography of him. In his life, she has played no small role. Her upbringing was far different from his. She tells the story of when she first went to his hometown, she could hardly understand anyone. So she just smiled. He’s from the low country of Georgia — Pin Point to be exact — and is a descendant of west African slaves who lived in the coastal communities of South Carolina, Georgia, and ...

Emotion Comes Alive

We met Bernie whose cursory description of a marriage in conflict. He was rigid both physically and emotionally as he sat in his initial session. Before I could customarily get some biographical items such as date of birth, wife’s name, address, place of work, medical information for starters, Bernie expressed how “strange and weird” he felt. I sensed a deeper meaning than merely being in my office. I sensed a disturbance percolating deep within Bernie’s psyche. He expressed a profound sense of power that he acquired to originating from his wife. Bernie had called me to schedule ...

Athenex May Be Barometer For Rebound

How our local economies bounce back in the coming months as the reopening phases continue to ramp up remains an uncertainty. Judging from the recent summerlike days, there is a strong sentiment from residents who have been stuck indoors over the last three months due to the COVID-19 pandemic to get outside and seek a return to what were once the usual things. Car and foot traffic, for the most part, appears to be on the uptick. In addition, it seems more consumers are looking to shop. Whether it is for the outdoor amenities or something personal, many are itching to purchase goods ...

Will Farming Survive A Vaccine?

Farm-to-table refers to freshly grown produce — that is, fruits and vegetables not transported from some distant time zone or even hemisphere but recently harvested on boutique acreage just outside town. The foodie media trumpet the virtues of local food sources, and their cosmopolitan audience tries to honor them when they visit farmer’s markets or read menus. But first, apologies to country people who’ve been planting their own food forever without fanfare or trend attached. There’s no shorter distance to the table than one’s own property. The coronavirus-imposed home ...