http://www.thedailystar.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:16:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_318041502.html http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_318041502.html More than three years ago, I said energy production was becoming the overriding issue of the early 21st century, and that this region was smack-dab in the middle of the battleground. And that was before drilling for natural gas in Marcellus shale surfaced as perhaps the biggest bout yet between energy producers, state regulators and the people. Sat, 24 Oct 2009 08:59:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_297041506.html http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_297041506.html I don't care what anybody says; when I read a book I want to hold cardboard and paper, and turn pages. I want to use a bookmark and lay the book on the table when I take a break. Sat, 03 Oct 2009 08:44:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_276041507.html http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_276041507.html With Iran, it's starting to sound awfully like seven years ago, when Bush and Cheney were waving their swords at Iraq as their campaign of lies and deceit was under way leading up to the invasion. It seems the only phrase we're not hearing is WMD for weapons of mass destruction. Sat, 12 Sep 2009 06:49:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_255041505.html http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_255041505.html Do you know The Daily Star is probably the only newspaper in the world that has had a front-page photograph carrying a Bruce Springsteen photo credit? And I'm the one responsible for it. Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:06:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_234041518.html http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_234041518.html It is hard to believe that the national debate over health-care reform has become so nasty. Our invasion of Iraq didn't create such a stir _ as if that, too, didn't affect everybody in some way. Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:07:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_215140020.html http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_215140020.html Does Mud Lake really exist? We found ourselves asking that question a lot during a recent hike that was supposed to go there and back. Sat, 11 Jul 2009 08:09:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_192083038.html http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_192083038.html I crossed the U.S.-Canadian border a few times last week and there was a profound change at the crossings in the manner and temper of the border guards. Sat, 13 Jun 2009 08:15:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_164041514.html http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_164041514.html Who would have thought my boyhood fascination and handling of toads, frogs and other amphibians would predetermine my so-called liberal beliefs later in life? Some recent studies allegedly show just that. Sat, 23 May 2009 08:20:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_143080004.html http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_143080004.html Memorial Days are never joyous times, for obvious reasons. And this year, the occasion is especially dour for those of us who supported Barack Obama, not only for all the other reasons, but because we thought he was a peace candidate who would put an end to our misguided wars. Sat, 02 May 2009 08:43:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_122043019.html http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_122043019.html You know, in many ways it all comes down to the way we raise our critters for food. We should realize that the animals might come back to haunt us somehow. Now it's swine flu. Why not just call it pig flu; do they think swine makes people feel any better? And the pigs surely think they're getting a bad rap, since they got it from chickens or some other fowl. Sat, 11 Apr 2009 22:28:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_101043004.html http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_101043004.html Do you realize that now there's double-digit unemployment in this area to go along with the longtime poverty rate in double figures? Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:12:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_080043004.html http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_080043004.html Now that a state commission has called on Albany to push _ if not force _ schools to merge, the fiscal crisis surely will put the merger issue on the table again during the next few years. Sat, 28 Feb 2009 09:02:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_059044523.html http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_059044523.html As usual when it comes to the economy, nobody knows exactly what to do about it. This time, let's turn that to our advantage. Sat, 07 Feb 2009 10:27:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_038091621.html http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_038091621.html She'd been checking around about getting organic, unpasteurized whole milk (you know, from the cow to you), wanting to find a source a bit closer to Oneonta. Finally, she heard back from a farmer not far away. Sat, 17 Jan 2009 07:36:00 +0000 http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_019041503.html http://www.thedailystar.com/carycolumn/local_story_019041503.html It's hard to believe, but it's true. After eight years and dozens of these columns critical of the president, Bush finally is leaving office Tuesday.