A couple of months ago, The Atlantic published an article written by staff writer David A. Graham that explores the surge of violence the United States experienced in 2020. Overall the article, which analyzes findings from the FBI’s “Uniform Crime Report,” is quite good. It effectively breaks down what we know and—more importantly—what we don’t
READ MOREReading through online headlines I often see a story entitled, “Demi Moore at 58 Hasn’t Aged Well.” Though I’ve never clicked on that link, I did google “Demi Moore at 58” and thought she looked pretty darn good. Sure, she’s probably gone under the plastic surgeon’s knife a few times—those high cheek bones seem a
READ MOREWhen a friend challenged me to a reading contest on Goodreads a couple of years ago, I was reluctant. Did I really want my reading selections broadcast on the internet for friends and strangers to see? Despite this qualm, my arm was twisted, and I began recording the books I read, often giving them a
READ MOREGood grief! What has happened to me? In the past week, I read A Christmas Courtship, by Shelly Shepard Gray, intending to review this romantic holiday novel for the Smoky Mountain News before realizing it would be too late for the holiday shopping season. Not only that, but in some fit
READ MOREAs President Joe Biden’s poll numbers sank this fall, and the presidentially ambitious in his party began to stir, the White House put out the word. Forget all that 2020 campaign chatter about Biden being a “transitional president.” He intends to run and win a second term. Well, perhaps. Yet, skepticism abounds. First, if Biden
READ MOREIn all the brouhaha about diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, and woke politics, the fact that there are real, observable differences between the sexes is often overlooked. This is particularly the case when it comes to the “intelligence quotient” or IQ. Everything else under the sun has been mentioned, over and over again, as an
READ MOREAs Pontius Pilate nears the end of his interrogation in the most fateful trial in history, Jesus says, “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” To which Pilate replies, “What is truth?” Or as some might say today, “I have my truth, you have your
READ MOREToday’s world is so full of fools who have turned the world into a chaotic mess, that the most basic, common-sense statements become nuggets of profound wisdom. I almost stood up and cheered when I came across one of these the other day. The statement in question was made by Abigail Shrier, an Oxford and
READ MOREIn mid-November, students at Eastern Illinois University took two days off from their rigid academic schedules for R&R. University administrators and faculty members provided their young adults with a festival of ice cream, cocoa and cookies, coloring books, yoga, affirmation cards, and yes, trikes and LEGOS. All this, writes Alex Parker
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