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Religion

Why Don't People Go to Church Anymore?

Why Don't People Go to Church Anymore?

Religion is not a priority as it was in previous generations. In a secular world, the movement has been away from the church. Some people have felt abused in a variety of ways, found it boring, not spiritually stimulating, or has too much emphasis on dogma, etc. A lot has to do with a person’s mindset. Do they reach out to others, or do they focus primarily on themselves...?

Public Policy

Immigration Reform Now

The Immigration Crisis Keeps Growing

Immigration Reform has been a political football for 40 years, and there seems to be no solution in sight. That’s why it was a surprise when the U.S. Senate proposed non-partisan legislation this month. Its chances looked good until Trump threw a firebomb, and the Speaker of the House caved and said he wouldn’t even put a bill up for a vote. The Senate quit. The Republican strategy has been to stall until Trump takes office again. Immigration on the southern border is no longer an issue of Mexican migrants crossing the border for seasonal agricultural work. It involves millions of people from Central and South American, particularly from the failed states....

Politics

Politics in a Cracker Barrel

Politics in a Cracker Barrel

The primaries in North Carolina will be March 5th. No real contest on the Presidential candidates. The Governor’s race is tighter with the Democrats having two leading candidates that may run to the wire. ... The Democrats also appear to have a contest for Attorney General, and they may take back the Insurance Commissioner’s slot. The Gerrymandering of legislative districts is still being contested, but the ballots in the NC primaries follow the new alignments. Speculation is that the GOP will gain more seats from NC in the Congress. They already hold a majority in the House & Senate in the NC General Assembly....

LGBTQ+

Love Only Knows Equality

Too Many LGBTQ+ Organizations to be Effective?

Having 47 active national LGBTQ+ organizations ... seems too fractured when trying to present a unified front on anything. That number does not include state or local organizations. How can we get or reject legislation at any level or counter the extreme media coverage by the Republican Party that casts us as evil. Before I retired 30 years ago, I was a member of the National Lesbian Gay Journalists Association. We got a small group of the national leaders at that time together for the first time at a gathering at the National Press Club....

Travel

Red Bridge at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham

Spring is Here When the Tulips Bloom!

Towards the end of March or the first week in April, the tulips bloom on the terrace in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham NC. Located near the entrance and below the road leading to the Chapel at Duke University, the 55 acres and four gardens include a wide variety of landscape styles and plants. Although the camelias and azaleas are beautiful, the tulips steal the show. The gardens opened in 1939.... I’ve seen special displays of orchids, camelias, and mums.

General

Streaming Services on Television

Streaming Services on Television

With more than 200 services, making a decision of which to choose is difficult. Most services have different tier levels with pricing and content. All new TVs come with an Internet card so they can access the Internet. The options are usually already installed on the TV: Android, Roku, Google.... Most people start with the content they think is essential, and then they look for what services offer that content. There is a wide range in pricing from the basic content to the premium content. Note that most services do not include local broadcast stations. You will need an external antenna for that unless you also have a cable service....