by Max Hammonds, MD What disease affects 23.5 million Americans? This disease affects 2.5 times more people than cancer, costs $100 billion in direct expenses (2 times as much as cancer), receives 1/12 of the research funding ($594 million) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as cancer ($6.1 billion),Continue Reading
by Peter Loewer “I am mad as hell,” said the Curmudgeon as he walked into the dark interior (Storekeep was changing the overhead fluorescent lights) of the General Store, his complexion edging up to the danger point as, apparently, his blood pressure moved into the realm of the higher digit.Continue Reading
Musings From Your Sci-Fi Loving Shut-In by Greg Vineyard As a fan of Earth Day (April 22, www.earthday.org), one of my favorite bumper stickers reads: EARTH with ART highlighted in a different color, thereby communicating two relevant topics in a simple yet impactful way. Which makes me think about howContinue Reading
by James Cassara Spring has arrived along with a sprightly batch of new discs. What better way to celebrate than relaxing on a hammock with music to love? Just be sure to legally purchase this music at any one of our excellent locally owned record stores. They are the folksContinue Reading
by Bill Walz “Problems cannot be solved with the same consciousness that created the problems.” ~ Albert Einstein Zen teaches us to release grasping, to live life with a metaphorical open-hand. Of course it is also speaking of an open-mind, a non-grasping-mind. Unfortunately, the truth is that we live withContinue Reading
by Carol Pearce Bjorlie Celebrate National Poetry Month all month long! Cut loose, man/woman up, dare, blare, revel in words. Buy a copy of the 2012 Asheville Poetry Review. Editor, Keith Flynn, has assembled a remarkable selection of poems ranging from Sam Hamill, R.T. Smith, Pablo Neruda, Tu Fu, greatContinue Reading
by Max Hammonds, MD Read it again carefully: Aspirin is not a miracle drug. Recent international news flashes are touting the “protective effect” of aspirin against melanoma in females. Aspirin has previously been announced as “preventative” in breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. Please note again: Aspirin is NOTContinue Reading
by Peter Loewer Last week on Friday, the Curmudgeon came into the General Store, and greeted Mr and Mrs Storekeep, their daughter Tiffinie, not to mention Newsman, Milkman, and arranging greeting cards, the new agent from Atlanta Greetings. “Curmudge,” they said, “where’ve you been?” “I flew off to Zanesville, Ohio,Continue Reading
What Gets Your Creative Juices Flowing? by Greg Vineyard I often finish my columns mentioning “inspiration,” an ever-present theme throughout my day-to-day living. Sure, I have some typical influences, like yellow, my cat, sci-fi movies (both good and not-so-much, even though both ends of the spectrum are equally satisfying toContinue Reading
