All in Columns
The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China, and its subsequent spread around the globe, have produced serious consequences — medical, social, and economic. Thousands have already died, including dozens in the United States. Many more are seeking testing and treatment, putting tremendous strain on hospitals and clinics. Responding to such events is a core function of government in a free society.
At this point, even the nuttiest cashew in the jar would have immediately given up their quest for a Varsity hot dog, no matter how great Lewis Grizzard made them sound. But not Earl.
For the first time in 10 years, the annual Freedom Classic baseball competition between teams from the U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Air Force Academy had to be canceled in Kinston. Mother Nature played a mean trick by dumping the only snow we are likely to see this season on our area the evening of Thursday, Feb. 20. The coaches from Navy and Air Force moved this year’s competition to the home field of the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. But what about the preparations and sponsorships of this year’s Freedom Classic? Will sponsors get their money back?
I know someone is thinking about the popular argument “If you went to visit the president of the United States or the Queen of England, don’t you think you’d wear a suit and tie?” Maybe so, but not if the POTUS was my dad or the Queen was my mom. When Christians are gathering to worship, we gather to worship our Heavenly Father. We are not meeting with a strange dignitary. We are meeting with someone we have a loving relationship with. He knows our every thought. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and His concern is not your clothing. His concern is with your heart.
I have been a basic country music fan all my life, but some music is just simply GOOD music. The success of a song is often determined, not just by who performs it, but who wrote it. There is power in music, folks, especially when it comes from the heart.
On Saturday I received a letter that had the potential to change the course of my life, the lives of my loved ones, and the lives of those freeloading, barnacle-like friends of mine who are always asking me to cosign for them.
We Americans seem given to overreaction. The recent coronavirus is a perfect example of how some in our news media, bent on sensationalizing every “crisis,” can strike fear even into the hearts of supposedly stalwart Wall Street Traders.
There are many who maintain that since there are so many different kinds of weapons among the populace that we should just use the term "Sword" to bring them all into the discussion arena. Let's do that now: There is nothing inherently good or bad about a sword. The quality of sharpened steel may be determined by whether it's in the hands of a surgeon or a bandit.
I approached Today Show weatherman Al Roker at an outdoor taping and asked if it was true that he owned stock in Sunbeam bread and Maola milk. Within seconds, Al's security team escorted me to the NBC gift shop. I was coerced into signing a non-disclosure agreement and given a free "juice" flask bearing the likeness of Kathie Lee and Hoda.
For those of you who think that cauliflower is only delicious if eaten under a blanket of cheese, think again! Cauliflower has made a comeback on the menus of family-style restaurants and favorite eateries as an alternative to the higher-carb potato.
The Front Porch is an artistic depiction of the place where much oral history was transmitted in the South, a project funded through the Z Smith Reynolds Inclusive Public Art Grant. From 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, you can share in the Front Porch experience at the 1901 Building, located at 129 N. Queen Street. Earl Ijames of the North Carolina Museum of History will host the event, and he will be a presenter, as well.
The confusing jumble that was the 2020 Iowa caucuses proved to be a very public disaster for Hawkeye State Democrats, national party leaders, and the campaign of former Vice President Joe Biden. It was also a disaster, although not yet as public a disaster, for another group: North Carolina Democrats such as Gov. Roy Cooper.
Sometimes we aspire to things we are not prepared to handle, but which very well might come into fruition for us later. How Jack Hankins (eventually) hired me.
I was drawn into Tar Heel basketball at an early age through the Voice of the Tar Heels Woody Durham. As many of you may know, Durham could make drying paint sound compelling. I'm also a fan of his successor Jones Angell, who along with his partner Eric Montross has made even this abysmal season nearly digestible.
For the 10th straight year, Historic Grainger Stadium will host one of the fiercest battles of the 2020 baseball season as baseball teams from the United States Naval Academy and the United States Air Force Academy face each other in a three-game competition for bragging rights.
To my knowledge we do not actually produce any avocado in Eastern North Carolina, but during the winter months it is a great option for adding some health benefits to your winter menus.
In the past few years, the Internet has moved beyond being simply a resource for leisure activities or research to becoming an essential part of daily life. In 2020, individuals are required to use the internet to look for and apply for jobs, seek educational opportunities, access government services, and do many other essential things that were previously done offline.
Elections are not the main focus of my Column today, but I do want to highlight the fact that One Stop Early Voting begins on Thursday, Feb. 13, and will run until Saturday, Feb. 29, with Primary Election Day falling on Tuesday, March 3.
TD#1 has been harping on the pet duck thing for about a year now. We have a beautiful dog named Lucille that is quite loving to people and joyously homicidal to any series of critters she discovers invading our yard. I'm not sure what function the duck would serve that Lucille isn't already serving, as she loves the water and after eating too quickly is known to quack like a Gatling gun for several minutes.
