June 25, 2015

Please explain Confederate pride to me

I am a 60-something Caucasian Yankee, born and raised in Michigan.  My mother was British.  My father was the first in his Canadian-immigrant family born in the USA.  I have lived in North Carolina for almost 40 years, longer than my n...

January 1, 2013

Stockholm Syndrome

Stockholm Syndrome, otherwise known as "capture bonding," is a psychological phenomenon in which hostages express empathy, sympathy, and have positive feelings towards their captors. The syndrome was made famous in the 1970s when wealthy heiress Patt...

December 25, 2012

Children's letters to Santa

I always look forward to the Christmas edition of the bi-weekly newspaper in our little southern, rural town (pop 8500 and home to an orphanage). The paper publishes local children's letters to Santa. I enjoy reading through these letters and even li...

December 2, 2012

End Runs Could Tame Obama

After four years of Barack Obama's presidency, we well know what to expect from the next four years. We know how he "governs," to the extent that he governs at all: When he's in Washington and not otherwise engaged on the golf course, he invites his ...