Columns Archives - Page 300 of 319

Dual Language: More Than One Option

Posted by The Commentators | May 15, 2012 | The Commentators

This is Andrew Davidson and I’m a member of the School Improvement Team at Frank Porter Graham Elementary School, where I have a second grader and a rising kindergartener. The revised Dual-Language proposal put before our...

How did God vote on Amendment 1?

Posted by D.G. Martin | May 14, 2012 | D.G. Martin

Where was God in all this, really? North Carolinians heard God speaking in contradictory voices during the weeks leading up to the vote on May 8 when voters approved Amendment 1, which added to the state constitution a provision...

Yes This Really is a Column About Phosphorous

Posted by Jeff Danner | May 14, 2012 | Common Science

I cannot overemphasize the importance of phosphorus not only to agriculture and soil conservation but also to the physical health and economic security of the people of the Nation. Many of our soil types are deficient in...

Chapel Hill 2020 Just Might Be Truly Democratic

Posted by The Commentators | May 10, 2012 | The Commentators

I am suspicious of towns that claim to be “truly democratic.” In my experience that means that the influential people get to negotiate how they’ll use everyone’s resources. Sure, there is “input” from the public, but...

Bad For Business

Posted by The Commentators | May 8, 2012 | The Commentators

Today, North Carolinians go to the polls to vote in a primary election. You may never have voted in a primary before, or maybe never voted in any election, or maybe you don’t claim any political party. But today all North...

Ben Fountain's long wait brings us the "Catch-22" of the Iraq War

Posted by D.G. Martin | May 8, 2012 | D.G. Martin

What is really going on inside their minds when the soldiers come home? Before they can tell us, the call comes to go back to the Middle East for another long tour. In North Carolina, such brave soldiers and their families...

Getting Ready for the Summer with SPF

Posted by Jeff Danner | May 7, 2012 | Common Science

With summer weather and abundant sunshine looming, I thought I’d delve into the mysteries of the sun protection factor (SPF) which appears on all bottles of sunscreen. Before I get into the details, I’d like to share my...

The last three inhabitants of Yaupon Island

Posted by D.G. Martin | May 3, 2012 | D.G. Martin

What do North Carolina pirates and the daughter of Thomas Jefferson’s vice president have in common? They are both an important part of North Carolina author Michael Parker’s recent book, “The Watery Part of the World.” Aaron...

Everything Changes Next Week…Unless We Stop Amendment One

Posted by The Commentators | May 3, 2012 | The Commentators

I’m a Chapel Hill resident, and I’ve got something to say. Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham, and a number of other towns around the state offer domestic partnerships. That ends next week. Unmarried heterosexual couples, and...

Amendment One to Obama's rescue

Posted by D.G. Martin | Apr 30, 2012 | D.G. Martin

Amendment One. Whether it wins or loses, the effort to defeat it could be a crucial factor in a successful outcome for the Obama campaign in North Carolina this fall. Prospects for the effort to defeat the proposed marriage...

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