By Shawn Dell Joyce
Hard to believe that we are descended from settler’s children who rejoiced at receiving a penny and a stick of candy as their main holiday gifts. In the 1800’s, our kin earned $1,500 per year, and would have had one nice set of clothes for church, and one shabby set for daily life. We worked twice as hard for a simple diet because we had to grown most of what we ate ourselves. Over the course of two hundred years, we have grown an average of 4 inches taller and 20 pounds heavier, our houses have more than doubled in square footage, and we no longer find joy in a penny and a stick of candy

By Jeffrey Page
When it came to Obama and Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell there always seemed to be a reason to slow down.

I hope that you all stumble on treasures in this new year.

By Michael Kaufman
Amazon.com thinks they know me but they’re wrong. Or are they?

By Michael Kaufman
Vincent Ferri was outraged as he listened to President Obama’s explanation of the tax bill he negotiated with the Republicans. Ferri and others will voice their anger Saturday at 2 p.m. outside the Galleria in Middletown.

By Jeffrey Page
Nixon was holding court with Charles Colson when the conversation turned to the “traits” of various ethnic groups. Nixon proved he didn’t know much.

By Shawn Dell Joyce

It’s hard not to feel Grinch-green during the holidays because of the rampant consumerism, waste, and emissions generated by all that shopping and gift giving. Here’s a few ways to green your holidays without being a Scrooge or Grinch.

Like a skim of ice building on an inlet, aging can freeze us.

Sunset Stroll – San Francisco China Beach is a small cove located in the sea-cliff neighborhood. San Francisco is known for its fog, and that fog comes in through the ocean so that even on the warmest days of the year, a chill can usually be felt in the ocean air as you stroll along the beach.

By Carrie Jacobson
We must never lose our hope, our faith, our belief that dawn will come.