Editor’s Note: Can you even imagine a world without the arts? No writing, no music, no movies, only factory work and no play? “Without the arts life would not be worth living.” You can quote me on that. Perhaps the saddest thing in the world today, now that we are all dealing with the novel…
States Reopen Some Businesses AnywayBy Glynn Wilson – BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS, N.C. — As people all over America prepare to celebrate the unofficial beginning of summer on Memorial Day weekend, the federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning members of the military who died while serving in the armed forces to fight…
The Big Picture – By Glynn Wilson – BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS, N.C. – In all my travels, with the exception of Yellowstone, this view looking west toward Mount Mitchell is the best spot I’ve found. In some ways, however, it inspires sitting in a comfortable camp chair, staring off into space and doing nothing. But…
By Glynn Wilson – While members of the Trump administration continue to send mixed signals to people around the country and the world about the novel coronavirus, the amount of testing going on and its economic impacts, at least one moderate Senator from a very conservative state in the Deep South continues to send the…
Even While Social Distancing Apart“Instead of complaining that the rose bush is full of thorns, be happy the thorn bush has roses.” – Buddhist Proverb The Big Picture – By Glynn Wilson – BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS, N.C. — The polar vortex swooped down into the Southland this Mother’s Day weekend and not only froze the…
By Doug Jones – U.S. Senator – This is a difficult day for all of us. New unemployment numbers released this morning, some of the worst in our nation’s history, paint a grim picture of the economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The official U.S. unemployment rate hit 14.7 percent, and the Labor Department…
The Big Picture – By Glynn Wilson – MARION, N.C. — If May flowers spring from April showers, and adversity is followed by good fortune, then maybe the month of May in the year of the Big C might be a harbinger of better days ahead. We could all use the scent of some flowers…
By Glynn Wilson – LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ala. — For nearly half a century, Dekalb County in the mountainous northeastern region of Alabama along the Georgia line really was the sock capital of the world. It wasn’t just a slogan like some places have, where the chamber of commerce makes something up and struggles to make…
The Big Picture – By Glynn Wilson – LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ala. — The whole world is in shock. If the coronavirus doesn’t kill you, the stress from the economic collapse may. What to do about it? Maybe look on the bright side? This will probably be the coolest summer in a couple of decades. It’s…
By Robert Reich – Both our economy and the environment are in crisis. Wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few while the majority of Americans struggle to get by. The climate crisis is worsening inequality, as those who are most economically vulnerable bear the brunt of flooding, fires, and disruptions of supplies of…
Staff report… U.S. Senator Doug Jones urges Alabama Governor Kay Ivey to establish a health care manufacturing task force to explore ways to move the state to the forefront of health care manufacturing in the United States. In a letter to Governor Ivey on Thursday, the Birmingham Democrat suggested utilizing existing infrastructure across the state,…
By Glynn Wilson – On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the 10th anniversary of the BP oil disaster, and a couple of months into the coronavirus pandemic and economic collapse, I’m not feeling so well or very optimistic about the future of human life on planet Earth. It’s similar to how I feel about…
The Big Picture – By Glynn Wilson – At this sobering time in Earth history, perhaps we should take a moment on this milestone 50th anniversary of Earth Day to reflect a little on where we are as a people in our relationship to the planet. (Earth Day is April 22. We are posting this…
By Michele Harmon – Ten years ago this month, our community experienced the worst environmental disaster in the history of our country. In fact, the spill was 30 percent larger than originally calculated, and deadlier. Below the surface, “invisible oil” was hidden from view of satellites that were intended to capture the extent of the…
The Big Picture – By Glynn Wilson – LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ala. — Are you getting your affairs in order? I know I am. If this is not the end of the world as we know it, I don’t know what else that could go wrong to make it so. Yellowstone could blow and we would…
The Big Picture – By Glynn Wilson – LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ala. – It’s a tough business always being brutally honest. But somebody has to do it, right? Sorry in advance. There’s no funny little ditty to sing you this morning. This is just not funny anymore. As I sit here isolated and alone on the…
By Trace Thompson – I grew up in a small conservative town in northwest Alabama. In high school, I played football, drove a truck, and wore my favorite pair of blue jeans day after day. Most importantly I attended church my entire life. I read and studied the Bible and, to this day, live by…
By Glynn Wilson with Trace Thompson – LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ala. — One month ago, the president of the United States declared a national emergency because of the coronavirus pandemic, setting off an economic panic. On Easter Weekend, the number of cases and deaths in the U.S. surpassed Italy, with 528,735 confirmed cases and more than…
Editor’s Note: Back in January 2019, I put out the call for writers to help us cover the Democratic Party’s 2020 primary, since I didn’t think I could do it with so many friends on Facebook on all sides. Julie Slama answered the call, and got things started by profiling the amazingly large and diverse…
The Big Picture – By Glynn Wilson – LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ala. — The dots on the coronavirus map and the color representing the Republican Party are not the only bright red things around here right now. In the mountain woods of North Alabama, the pollen count is on “Very High.” So your runny nose, sneezing…
