Teen Talk: Weekend Reviews: ’Potter’ better as book, again
OK, Summer’s nearing its close, and despite the rage over movies such as "Transformers" (excellent, by the way), and "Pirates of the Caribbean 3" (ditto), you’ve really been focusing on one thing _ Harry Potter. With the fifth installment of the movie series premiering days before the seventh, and final book, Potter mania has definately been at it’s highest.
Tech GP: Setting up home network not difficult
As I write this I’m working as part of a project team installing a large wireless network at a 100-plus year-old prep school in the Adirondacks, and it was suggested that I write about wireless networking for home users, since I’ve never really approached that topic before.
Tech GP: Setting up home network not difficult
As I write this I’m working as part of a project team installing a large wireless network at a 100-plus year-old prep school in the Adirondacks, and it was suggested that I write about wireless networking for home users, since I’ve never really approached that topic before.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Stay sane during shopping season
The National Retail Foundation’s 2007 Consumer Intentions and Actions Back-to-School survey reports that the average American family will spend more than $500 on back-to-school merchandise this year, for a total of about $18 billion nationwide.
Teen Talk: Dear Dina: Try to get to know stepdad’s children
My mom is getting married again in about a month. The guy she is marrying has two kids. I’m 14, his daughter is 12, and his son is 8. Even though my mom has been with him for two years I never really spent much time with his kids because they lived with his ex-wife.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Follow a mellow flick road: Movie time can be family time
One of my fondest childhood memories is watching "The Wizard of Oz" every year with my mom. We’d sit on the couch together, snuggled up under a blanket. I’d hide my face whenever the flying monkeys made an appearance. They _ along with Wonka’s Oompa Loompas _ creep me out even now.
Teen Talk: On the go: Jobs today can teach lifelong lessons
We all need money to survive. Well, not money exactly, but the provisions that money allows us to have. I’ve always sort of had a problem with money. I strongly dislike it and the effects it has on people. Some people spend their whole lives to make as much of it as they can. Some people waste all they have and live their lives with nothing, barely surviving.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Librarians give their picks for summer
Summer is traditionally the favorite season of book-lovers because books can be enjoyed in a variety of outdoor locales.
Teen Talk: Weekend reviews: A little bit of something for all types
I have come to realize that this is my last column and that there are so many bands out there that people to know about. I have decided that I want to review bands themselves and some new music that is out there
Senior Scene: About your health: Get clear view of cataracts
By age 65, one in three Americans has some form of vision-impairing eye disease. Most do not know it because there are often no warning symptoms or they assume poor sight is a natural part of growing older. By detecting and treating eye disease early through annual, dilated eye exams, seniors can preserve their sight. The most common cause of poor vision in seniors is cataracts.
Around the arts: Internship is much more than a job
It is 10:30 at night, and I am driving along state Route 357 on my way to the Franklin Stage Company. My 14-year-old daughter is volunteering as a stage-hand at the theater, working on their production of "Midsummer Night’s Dream."
Monday, July 30, 2007
Many non-baseball-related events set across the area this weekend
Tens of thousands of tourists and locals are expect to converge on Cooperstown this weekend for the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. Without a doubt, Cooperstown will be abuzz from sun-up to sun-down.
Senior Scene: As Time Goes By: Beauty of summer in city, country
"Summertime and the living is easy, fish are jumping and the cotton is high." Why is it that when I ask for a mint julep or a frozen daiquiri I always get a can of beer _ whatever is on sale at six cans for a dollar? I try to be a classy guy.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Many non-baseball-related events set across the area this weekend
Tens of thousands of tourists and locals are expect to converge on Cooperstown this weekend for the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. Without a doubt, Cooperstown will be abuzz from sun-up to sun-down.
Senior Scene: As Time Goes By: Beauty of summer in city, country
"Summertime and the living is easy, fish are jumping and the cotton is high." Why is it that when I ask for a mint julep or a frozen daiquiri I always get a can of beer _ whatever is on sale at six cans for a dollar? I try to be a classy guy.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Arts activities keep kids busy on break
Opportunities abound for children and teens to be involved in summer arts and theater programs in this area. Summer is the time to stretch those creative wings and try things there isn’t time for during the school year.
Teen Talk: Dear Dina: Get rid of boyfriend, best friend
My best friend just stole my boyfriend! I had recently noticed that they had been talking more and hanging out more, but I didn’t think anything was really going on between them. I found out though when I went to the mall yesterday and saw them together.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Functional folk arts offer connection with history
Hear the words "folk art," and you might think only of decorative knick-knacks in a souvenir shop For those who practice traditional arts, the term means a lot more.
Teen Talk: On the Go: Find what makes you come alive
A blank page stares back at me. An empty canvas craves a painter’s touch. The strings of a violin wait for the bow to be drawn across them. The forlorn road wants a traveler to share it’s beauty with. The world longs for you to leave something beautiful behind.
disABILITY: It’s fine to be imperfect and unique
Don’t sweat it. Nobody asked us to be perfect here, although, now that I think about it, nobody ever asked us to be unique either, so perhaps we do have a reason to be concerned.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Couples gamble on triple 7s: 7/7/07 popular day for weddings
It’s hard to say where humankind’s superstitions about numbers came from but it would be equally hard to deny its impact. A fair number of hotels omit numbering the 13th floor. Friday the 13th has long been viewed with caution or with horror, thanks to a popular series of slasher flicks. Our aversion to 13 is so well established that there is even a name _ triskaidekaphobia _ for an extreme reaction to it.
Teen Talk: Weekend Reviews: Player making a Ruckus on campus
For a change, I decided to try to have my mom’s input on this review. I had a wide variety of new music for her to listen to and see if I should do my review on this album or that album. Let’s just say that my mom and I do not have common music tastes. We sat in the kitchen on my one day offm and I started to play some music, hoping she could help me out.
Senior Scene: About your health: Exercise, eat right to stay healthy
Healthy aging? It sounds like a contradiction in terms. But for older Americans it means exercising and eating right _ plus a whole lot more. There are four keys to aging with style: physical fitness, social wellness, mental wellness and financial fitness.
Music Beat: Band without a plan showing success
Are you a fan of classic country/folk and tunes from the ’70s? If so, you may already know about Just Throw Money, a local band with a large and loyal following.
Teen Talk: Teenhood Today: Like it or not, guns serve vital purpose
At last, the end has come _ the world’s end, if you care to know. Funeral pyres are being lit across the nation in mourning, while improvised newspaper captain’s hats drift across kiddie pools like viking death ships loosed across the seas; the reign of Captain Jack Sparrow is over at last. Let us grieve.
Senior Scene: As Time Goes By: ’The Secret of Mocking Laughter"
The other day I got very excited. Excitement is very important for seasoned citizens because it may be the only time they exhibit life. My excitement came from the announcement that a movie about Nancy Drew was opening in Oneonta.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
The Gap: A working holiday, an educational side trip
This is not about a trip to a retail clothing store _ although that trip may be part of the process. "The gap year" is the international phrase used to describe a break from formal education between high school and college.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
The making of a #1 Dad: Readers share views on their fathers
Last month, we asked our readers to tell us what made them admire their dads. It could have been their favorite memories, the best advice their fathers ever gave them, whatever their dads did to make their children think their father is a No. 1 dad.
Senior Scene: Looking back: Chickens stayed even after farm gone
The year was 1972, and, sad to say, the bottom fell out of the wholesale egg business. How can a farmer make any money on glutinous chickens, the high price of feed, and medium-sized eggs selling for only 39 cents a dozen? So on we moved to greener pastures. (No pun intended).
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Mac vs. PC: Users divided over best platform
There is a bitter divide in the heart of my household. No, it is not about politics. No, it is not about discipline or food or money, which is usually what parents with kids argue about. No, my husband and I can’t agree on computers.
Admittedly, it’s a small conflict. But like so many issues that divide this globe, our conflict is bipolar, where each party thinks his or her position is the only way to live.
Senior Scene: About your health: Take steps to fight bladder cancer
Considered a cancer of the aging population, bladder cancer is not commonly recognized in the younger population. In the elderly, bladder cancer is most often found in men and it is often directly associated with a history of smoking.
Around the Arts: Art can bring out one’s true voice
The Kubiak Gallery at Wilber Mansion recently exhibited work by French artist Raymond Verdeguer. His thought-provoking block prints are deeply political, commenting upon a variety of global, economic and social issues.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Day Trippin’: Short trips can offer lots of fun
Ahhh, here we are on the brink of summer _ a welcome time of year in upstate New York. During this season many people are eager to step out and enjoy the lazy, hazy days of the season. Whether it be in caverns, well below the ground, stepping back in time, fishing and swimming, or dancing the night away to the blues _ take a look at what Otsego, Delaware, Schoharie and Chenango counties all have to offer.
Senior Scene: As Time Goes By: Too many rutabagas? When pigs start to fly!
Some people claim they have green thumbs and use no Miracle-Gro to make gardens so bountiful that the veggies fall from the vine and march right into the kitchen. My gardens are noteworthy because if planted on coal-black soil there would be a desert in three weeks and the oasis will have run dry.
Teen Talk: Teenhood Today: ’Diversity’ push left out sexual identity
Come on now, be reasonable; move the lighter away from the newspaper. All the readers who have patiently endured my past expressions of genius must have realized somewhere between the inane pop culture references and the cheerful, consistent assaults on hippies worldwide that it would someday come to this _ the demon spawn with the face of an onion and the editorial depth of The Onion that insists on popping up in their Lifestyle sections once a month has finally done a column on homosexulaity. Help us Jesus; help us Tom Cruise.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
No such thing as ’typical’ canoe
Perhaps no other style boat has the elegance and grace of the simple canoe, and yet no other style boat has as long and storied history as the canoe for both functional and recreational purposes, either; indeed, the basic canoe design can be traced as far back as ancient Greece.
Senior Scene: From the Office: Choices help make healthier futures
May is Older American’s Month and a good time to talk about issues affecting older adults, including the focus of Older American’s Month and changes coming soon to New York States Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage, or EPIC.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Words of wisdom for college grads
May is the month when the cycle of life begins anew, and college seniors graduate from the realm of academia into the wider world.
Teen Talk: On the Go: Prom is what you make of it
I want to tell you a story about a friend of mine who attended a larger public school’s prom this year. Here’s a little taste of her night. She and her date rode in a stretch limo to the site of the grand march. Now the scene is a school gym and the bleachers are full of parents and other spectators. But the sport is not the usual one tonight.
Senior Scene: Looking back: Arnold always in trouble on farm
Along came a new boarder on the chicken farm. His name was Arnold, and Arnold was a Yorkshire pig. Yes, he was just like his counterpart on the long-ago TV program "Green Acres." At first he was cute, but as he got bigger, Arnold became a No. 1 menace.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Local older moms say age
has advantages, disadvantages
Mothers, mothers-to-be, stepmothers, those with natural motherly instincts, foster mothers, home-away-from-home mothers and grandmothers, all deserve to put their feet up on Sunday. Mother’s Day honors women as life-givers, caregivers, teachers and protectors.
Senior Scene: About Your Health: Unneeded tests waste your money
Many people in our community "of a certain age" (including this author) have recently received direct mail solicitation from a company advertising "We can help you avoid a stroke ... four tests in less than 1 hour."
Music Beat: Virtual world can help grow careers
Students in the State University College at Oneonta’s music industry program recently presented a most unusual concert. The concert had music, but no musicians were on stage. Audience members were encouraged to walk around and talk during the concert and to look at artwork on display on the wall. The audience asked enthusiastic questions after the first two pieces of music had been played.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Getting to ’I do’ without disaster
When it comes to planning a wedding, the advice is always the same: start early and be organized. But this is usually easier said than done.
Tech GP: Learning never stops in computer world
About 20 years ago, a man named Robert Fulghum wrote ``All I Really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten." My wife being a kindergarten teacher, we of course had a good chuckle when we heard about it. The book went on to dominate the New York Times’ bestseller list for more than a year.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Digging into genealogy: Family histories tell more than names
Anyone can become a private detective who unearths nuggets of history. All you really need is a whiff of curiosity, a couple of documents and an ample supply of patience. According to some armchair genealogists, a little bit of madness doesn’t hurt, either. It’s an addictive hobby and one that frequently turns in to an obsession.
Teen Talk: Dear Dina: Dating not just physical aspects
I’ve been going out with this boy for 2½ months, and we’re still in "the holding hands and a little kiss" on the cheek stage. I want to get further with him, but I don’t think he’s ready to go any faster then we are right now. I really like him, but if he is not willing to move any faster, and I am, I don’t know what to do. I’m helpless, what should I do?
Senior Scene: From the Office: Volunteering empowers all of us in many ways
You hear it more and more. The numbers of volunteers are shrinking. At least that’s what they say. "They" being that invisible group of experts who always seem to know everything about everything. If indeed, they are correct on this issue, and since this is National Volunteerism Month, I thought I’d share a few ideas on why I think everyone of us should be volunteering somewhere.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Earth Day: Everyday actions can help, locals say
This year marks the 37th anniversary of the first Earth Day in 1970. Earth Day was established by Sen. Gaylord Nelson, who passed away in 2005 at the age of 89, and others because they were troubled that the state of our environment was a non-issue in politics.
disABILITY: Positive thinking alone won’t work
Positive thinking, visioning and sending "good vibes" into the world doesn’t necessarily guarantee a thing if you don’t take the right action steps and work hard. Good execution is just as important as having a positive vision.
Teen Talk: On the Go: For new experience, join, listen to orchestra
The lights become dim, an audience sits in hushed anticipation waiting for sound to fill the silence; a man steps to center stage and raises his arms; then as he lowers them the music fills the, room swooping low and soaring high on the mountains of a song. The musicians dressed in black move as one caught up in the tide of the harmonies.
This is how my sister, April, and I both view an orchestral performance even though we see it from two different viewpoints; she from the house, and I from the stage.
Senior Scene: About your health: Skilled nursing facility can help
I consider myself a fairly healthy person, but recently I spent nearly a month in a skilled nursing facility recuperating and receiving rehabilitative services for what was a severely fractured and repaired leg. I was also one of the attending physicians at the same skilled nursing facility.
Around the Arts: Oneonta needs to focus on the arts
When I was a little girl, I had a Fisher-Price Play Family Village.
My "village" was a Main Street, complete with its own traffic light and telephone booth, a movie theater, a barber shop, police and fire stations, and a doctor’s office. There was also a studio loft on the second floor, with shag green carpeting and an outdoor patio.
Fisher-Price may have called it a Play Family Village, but looking back, I was the 7-year-old mayor of a quasi-SoHo/Greenwich Village.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Easter Bunny’s helpers
Everybody knows that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole and the elves help him make all those toys. But where does the Easter Bunny live? Who helps him make all the yummy chocolate eggs and bunnies that he fills our baskets with?
Teen Talk: Teenhood Today: In U.S., we have right to offend
Ever since we became old enough to spell out our first naughty words in alphabet soup noodles, every American has had it drummed into her dear little ear: "The First Amendment gives you freedom of religion, free speech, and freedom of the press."
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Easter Bunny’s helpers
Everybody knows that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole and the elves help him make all those toys. But where does the Easter Bunny live? Who helps him make all the yummy chocolate eggs and bunnies that he fills our baskets with?
Teen Talk: Teenhood Today: In U.S., we have right to offend
Ever since we became old enough to spell out our first naughty words in alphabet soup noodles, every American has had it drummed into her dear little ear: "The First Amendment gives you freedom of religion, free speech, and freedom of the press."
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Not-so-Serious look at history of humor
Deep within the bowels of an Oneonta college campus _ the exact name of which is being withheld to protect the project _ scientists are tinkering away at crafting a unified theory of funny. The door to this secret laboratory is marked only with a rubber chicken.
Teen Talk: Dear Dina: Don’t stay with cheating boyfriend
I have been dating this boy for about three years. Last weekend, I went away with my family. I came back and everything between my boyfriend and I seemed fine. The other day he came to me and confessed that he had cheated on me while I was away. I really like him and now I don’t know what to do.
Senior Scene: From the Office: Thoughts on fading heroes
One of my mother’s earliest childhood recollections was that of observing the servicemen in uniforms as they mounted the troop trains that led them to foreign battlefields during World War I. It must have been quite a sight for a young girl with an active imagination. From New York they would board steamships that would take them to Europe and then to the muddy trenches where they would brave mustard gas, machine gun fire and influenza.
Parenting Imperfect: Lowered expectations get better results
You go into this parenting gig with such high expectations. My baby, you think, will cure cancer, solve the Middle East peace conundrum and adopt every infant in Malawi before Madonna can get her hands on it.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Not-so-Serious look at history of humor
Deep within the bowels of an Oneonta college campus _ the exact name of which is being withheld to protect the project _ scientists are tinkering away at crafting a unified theory of funny. The door to this secret laboratory is marked only with a rubber chicken.
Teen Talk: Dear Dina: Don’t stay with cheating boyfriend
I have been dating this boy for about three years. Last weekend, I went away with my family. I came back and everything between my boyfriend and I seemed fine. The other day he came to me and confessed that he had cheated on me while I was away. I really like him and now I don’t know what to do.
Senior Scene: From the Office: Thoughts on fading heroes
One of my mother’s earliest childhood recollections was that of observing the servicemen in uniforms as they mounted the troop trains that led them to foreign battlefields during World War I. It must have been quite a sight for a young girl with an active imagination. From New York they would board steamships that would take them to Europe and then to the muddy trenches where they would brave mustard gas, machine gun fire and influenza.
Parenting Imperfect: Lowered expectations get better results
You go into this parenting gig with such high expectations. My baby, you think, will cure cancer, solve the Middle East peace conundrum and adopt every infant in Malawi before Madonna can get her hands on it.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Dressing it up ... and down for spring
To paraphrase an old expression, in spring, a young woman’s fancy turns lightly to thoughts of ... dresses. And open-toed shoes. And anything but hats, scarves, coats, wool socks and boots. This spring, women craving a change from winter’s drab duds have a lot to look forward to. Here’s a guide to navigating some of the foremost trends for spring and summer fashion, with some help from local retailers.
Teen Talk: On the go: Leaving U.S. can open eyes of teens
Have any of you teens out there had the amazing opportunity of traveling to another country? I got back from Nicaragua about three weeks ago and this was my first time to leave the U.S.
Senior Scene: Looking back: Life on chicken farm hard for dog
It was back in the early 1970s, when I married a chicken farmer and had quits an education. But this experience is not about me, per se, but instead pertains to our adorable black cocker spaniel named Georgie-Porgie.
Teen Talk: Weekend reviews: Fall Out Boy falling out of favor
Since the first time I heard Fall Out Boy, I have loved the group. My favorite album by it is its second release, "Take This To Your Grave." I have bought every Fall Out Boy album, and I think I only listen because of Pete Wentz, anymore.
Around the Arts: We mustn’t lose theater experience
Three times a year, the Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts screens a series of independent and foreign films at the Oneonta Theatre 1&2. The film series is one of our most popular programs, with a loyal audience that is versed in film history and passionate about cinema as art.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
For women only: Local gym members say comfortable, noncompetitive nature appealing
Nationwide, women of all ages are discovering the benefits of exercise. Studies have been conducted finding that regular exercise can decrease a women’s chance of certain types of cancer and is vital in maintaining bone density, which is essential in preventing osteoporosis.
Teen Talk: Teenhood today: Alcohol, dances mix much too often
Today’s typical high school dance is a far cry from the waltz-ridden, brightly costumed affairs of preteen yore. Every seventh-grade girl is expected, no, obligated to spend at least three anxious hours in front of her mirror before her first dance, preening and pondering. Will he be there? Will he ask me to dance? Will I be pretty, oh so pretty? Why am I talking to myself in such a high voice? It doesn’t make sense.
Senior Scene: As Time Goes By: Number please? Can you hear me?
How did we ever manage to live before the invention of the cell phone? I don’t care where you might be, Timbuktu or Cooperstown, no matter where you look there will be somebody standing with this thing pressed to the sides of his heads talking, seemingly to no one nearby.
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Alternative healing gaining ground
When we get sick, most of us run straight to our doctor or to the drug store for medicine. But more and more people are experimenting with alternative healing methods to deal with their ailments, or to simply to maintain a healthy body, mind and spirit. Many of these procedures have been around for a long time but have only recently become accepted by segments of Western society.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Internships: Getting your foot in the door: Real-world experience a plus for students
In 1985, the year that a majority of today’s college seniors were born, the percentage of people age 25 years and older who obtained a bachelor’s degree was around 20 percent; today that number has climbed to nearly 30 percent. With more people graduating from college, students are left searching for alternative ways to stand out to employers.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
The best and worst: Readers tell their picks of presidents
On Monday, the nation will celebrate Washington’s Birthday, which is usually referred to as Presidents Day. We thought this weekend would be a good time to look back at our presidents.
Senior Scene: About your Health: Don’t let glaucoma steal sight
In the beginning, you don’t notice any symptoms. In time, though, your peripheral vision gradually worsens. Your field of vision eventually narrows so much that you seem to be looking through a tunnel. Because the signs appear so gradually, you don’t realize you have developed glaucoma. Unfortunately, there is no cure for glaucoma and vision lost is vision lost forever.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Make Valentine’s Day HIS day: Treat your man to gifts on Feb. 14
Only two holidays on the average American calendar are gender specific: Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Other than that, all other special days _ such as Hanukkah, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter or the Fourth of July _ are celebrated based on a person’s tradition rather than on a person’s unmentionables.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Gridiron Grub: Liven up Super Bowl party with readers’ recipes
People across the Heartland of New York will be huddled around their televisions Sunday, as the Chicago Bears face the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI. Close by, in many cases, will be pizza, subs, beer, chips and dip.
Teen Talk: Dear Dina: First steps are to eat healthier, get active
This year I made a resolution to become fit and lose some weight. I don’t really know what steps I should take to attain my goals. I don’t like going to the gym and working out for hours. It seems too boring for me. What should I do?
Parenting Imperfect: Mooching some lessons from the cat
I’d like to think that my children have learned every good thing they know from either my husband or me. It would be such a shame if all of our spectacular parenting tricks went completely unnoticed.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Dine and Dash: How fast is fast food? Speedy service the norm locally
Time is precious to everyone. Like money, we "save" time in various ways, only to turn around and "spend" it on something else. In an age when speed and efficiency are highly prized, the fast-food restaurant drive-through is a perfect example of this save-and-spend mentality.
Teen Talk: On the Go: Big Apple can offer excitement and beauty
Don’t you love when you tell people you live in New York, and they assume New York City at first? The grand and glamorous "Big Apple" is an alluring city of art, celebrities, culture, bustling businesses and people. This huge conglomeration of excitement that is the city often overshadows the rest of our state!
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Plan now for college: De-stress application process
One of the most exciting times in a person’s life is finishing high school and moving on to college. It is the age and opportunity for independence and personal responsibility.
Teen Talk: Weekend Reviews: Teenagers can relate to Boys Like Girls
I was sitting in one of the dining halls with my friend Nick. There are exactly four televisions in the dining hall we were sitting in. On at least two, the channel is MTV U, the college music channel. I actually think that the televisions were donated by the channel.
Music Beat: ’Waiters’ serve Southern gospel message
Six years ago, a small group of men hosting their wives at a church dinner thought it would be nice if the men served the meal dressed as waiters and then sang to their wives. Bill Eckardt, the group’s organizer, said, "We wore white shirts and black trousers and bow ties, the sort of dress you might see on some one serving in a decent restaurant. Over the years, we’ve kept the same dress style, even though we’ve greatly expanded our audience.
Senior Scene: As Time Goes By: My flights: One fancy, one not so much
If you recall the first flight of Orville and Wilbur Wright then you are much older than I. But I do recall pictures of one of the Wright brothers stretched over the wing of the plane with all of the room in the world.
Parenting Imperfect: ’Listening’ came too early on my list
"Listening" was a stupid idea. This year turned out to be a silly time to try to listen. In fact, my New Year’s resolution for 2007 is to spend 365 days plugging my ears and shouting "la, la, la" loudly enough that the neighbors call the cops.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Predicting ’07: Local officials look toward future
The new year is almost upon us, and with any beginnings, there is anticipation, expectations and hopes that accompany the resolutions and commitments, in addition to the reflection on the past year.
Senior scene: Looking back: Radio let our minds run wild
Back in the late 1930s, Saturday evening was highlighted by entertainment on the radio. We were very young then and TV was a long way off. Radio had some spooky programs that we just couldn’t miss. Two of our favorites were "I Love A Mystery" and "Inner Sanctum." The introduction with the squeaky door opening always got us into the mood for suspense and our imaginations ran rampant.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Don’t Panic, There’s still time to `wrap up’ your shopping
It’s the day before Christmas and you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping. You still have people to buy things for. The clock is ticking. Ticking. Ticking. What will you do? What WILL you do?
Teen Talk: Weekend Reviews: Brand New has new maturity and depth
When my friend Donny came back from Columbus Day break, he brought with him a CD that contained unreleased songs by the band Brand New. I was ecstatic when he let me listen. Some how a friend of his got some of the demos from the group’s new album. They were obvious demos because the music was definitely not final.
Senior Scene: About your health: Treatment of aortic aneurysms possible
Although 15,000 people die each year from ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms, most of these deaths can be prevented with adequate screening and repair. Abdominal aortic aneurysms affect approximately 5 percent of the United States population greater than 65 years of age.
Around the Arts: Jurors see artwork in different ways
During this holiday season, theUpper Catskill Community Council of the Arts staff has been asked to jury several community arts events, including parade floats, performances, gingerbread houses and Christmas trees.
Teen Talk: Teenhood today: No one cares to stop cheaters
As we crossed into the age of the 21st century, many of the problems in American society seem to have reflected over this boundary and reappeared as mirror opposites of themselves.
Tech G.P.: Protection only as good as your update
Here was an accident waiting to happen. Or, more properly, a computer waiting to be infected. Like the proverbial lamb waiting for the slaughter, it would only be a matter of time. Probably a short time.
Saturday, December 2, 2006
Cooler weather no reason to be still
Even though we all knew it was coming, it’s hard to not be a little surprised by how quickly winter pounces on you. The cold and the snow does make us all dream of holidays and hot cocoa. The gray skies and howling winds make us focus our energies indoors, bundled up against the elements with our nearest and dearest.
Start, or continue, tradition this season
Cinnamon, pine, green-bean casserole, Chex mix, candles, apple pie, brisk air, hot chocolate _ those are all aromas that remind me of the holiday season. They bring me back to a quiet and fantastic place full of memories.
Family outing became comedy
It was in the 1970s and the children were young, energetic and raring to go. We, too, were young-er _ and were eager for a family outing (and something relaxing).
Being positive can make big difference
We all face challenges at one time or another, but that doesn’t mean we can’t stay in control of our own lives.
As human beings we are naturally inclined to be in charge of ourselves and our environment. If we think we don’t have control of our lives because we see our obstacles as insurmountable, we stay where we are. And, that kind of complacency guarantees that our problems will become steady companions.
Music Beat: Young composer shows lots of talent
Last week, I was a member of a group of professional musicians from throughout the state who gathered together in the State University College at Oneonta’s state-of-the-art recording studio to work under the direction of Hartwick Assistant Professor Alejandro Rutty.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
What are you thankful for this year?
Thanksgiving is a time for all of us to make note of what we are thankful for. In honor of Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, we asked our readers to let us know what they give thanks for this year.
Current events not only for adults
Current events. It’s probably not the first concept that springs to mind when you think of issues among American teens, but then lots of things aren’t; for example gangs or gambling or Paris Hilton within certain regions of California.
Pills can’t always fix all our ills
I never thought so many people would be interested my experience with pills. For all of you who contacted me, "thank you" _ sometimes I wonder if I’m the only one reading the column. I guess taking pills is a large part of the life of a seasoned citizen.
Christmas ideas for geeks on list
It’s almost Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. Then, after Thanksgiving, comes the beginning of the craziness of holiday shopping.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Striking the perfect balance
It’s after 5 o’clock on a Saturday night, and Bruce Stratton is just finishing polishing the bowling alleys at the Hi-Skor Lanes in Earlville. By 6 p.m. the couples league arrives, many with their children in tow, and the once-quietness of this small-town bowling alley is shattered by the clickity-clack-clatter of falling bowling pins.
Saturday, November 4, 2006
First-time voters: Political choices important to all
What was the first thing on which you had to make a choice? Juice or milk? Potatoes baked or fried? Coffee or tea? Paper or plastic? Purchase or lease?
Saturday, October 28, 2006
A BATtle of Wits: The stuff nightmares are made of
The night was neither dark nor stormy; it wasn’t Friday the 13th, nor Halloween. No mirrors had been broken or ladders walked under. It was, in fact, a perfectly lovely, breezy, summer evening. Everything seemed normal _ until the creature arrived.
Teen Talk: Weekend Reviews: New Found Glory has found hot, new sound
Well, I am now in college. New people, new places and new things to do. One night, I was hanging out with my friends Kristen and Kayla when one of the RAs was making his last rounds at midnight. Little did I know that we would soon be friends. I was walking back to my room, my roommate had some of her friends over and Matt (the RA) decided to walk into our room to say hi.
Senior Scene: About Your Health: Alzheimer’s disease: Good news, bad news
The good news may be that if you are reading this, you probably don’t have it. If you are like most people, you worry about losing your memory. Maybe you misplace your keys more often, or names of acquaintances don’t come to you easily. Perhaps you arrive in a room in your house only to discover you have no idea why you went there. This is not likely the start of Alzheimer’s disease.
Around the Arts: Art not always about the end result
Art is a discipline that is highly demanding and requires enormous dedication in the quest for perfection. Audiences assess artistry by a standard of impeccability. Thousands of hours of rehearsal and planning and creating go into the goal of flawlessly executing the artist’s vision.
Teen Talk: Dear Dina: Tell right away about dangerous situation
Dear Dina,
I started college this fall. Overall, the experience has been amazing. I have made some really great friends, and my classes are going really well. However, the other night I was walking back from the library around 9:30 p.m. by myself, after typing up some assignments.
Saturday, October 7, 2006
Teen Talk: On the Go: Fall into autumn with many activities
Fall has fallen. That saying is one of those classic sayings we hear during this season. But it's fairly true. This season creeps up on you, then lazily pours out all at once.
disABILITY: Being blind is not my biggest hurdle
For me, the last six weeks have been packed with new challenges and plenty of discouragement. Despite it all, though, I have truly found a deep sense of hope to help me through.
Group celebrates Italian heritage
Sitting at the Corfu Diner on Main Street in Oneonta, across from Joseph Fioravanti, past president of the Oneonta Italian American Club, and listening to Fioravanti relate the history of his family and families of other Italian-Americans in Oneonta, one is reminded of the power of the American Dream.
Thursday, October 5, 2006
Library Corner
Dr. Charles Hartley will present a program titled "Electric Power, Global Warming, the Carbon Cycle and Biomass" at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, at Huntington Memorial Library.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
The Colors of Autumn
What color can't you see at this time of year? While indigo is not part of the color spectrum, it still cannot be left out of the fall foliage spectrum.
Teen Talk: Weekend Reviews: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus not faking it
Occasionally in the mornings, I will flip through the music channels to find something to listen to while I am getting ready for the day. About a month ago, I was doing exactly this. Every channel seemed to have a commercial; it was driving me nuts. So I settled on MTV2. It seemed to be showing the best videos this particular morning.
Music Beat: Hometown boy making good in NYC
A few weeks ago, I received what the music business calls an "unsolicited" CD in the mail. An unsolicited CD, as you might imagine, is a free sample from a band that hopes you'll like their music and want to hear more.
Tech G.P.: Wikipedia.org an incredible website
Back in pre-Internet days, I used to chuckle to myself when in a movie, or on TV, some high-profile crime fighter or international spy had an underling who could _ with only a few keystrokes _ bring up any requested information about anything on an old-fashioned computer terminal.
Teen Talk: Teenhood Today: No wonder teens don't like to read
Books and teenagers. For as long as anyone who wasn't around during the days when a "teenager" was defined as, "overgrown son or daughter too ugly to be married off at age 12 in exchange for a far-more-becoming Clydesdale cross" can remember, the two words have repelled one another like hippie stoners and all understanding of the word hygiene.
Fall fashion loves the '80s
Anyone over the age of 25 will probably recognize a lot of the trends being touted as fall's hottest: many of them appear to be ripped straight from the 1980s, minus the acid-washed denim and big hair.
Longtime program encouraged children to save
Nowadays, we hear so much about people being deeply in debt, and consumer credit counseling companies seeking their business. Meanwhile, college freshmen are being offered credit cards.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Say Cheese: Local producers create their own dairy delicacies
One of the current hot phrases is the culinary world is "eat the view." Literalists may wonder how they are supposed to consume their lawn furniture or their neighbor’s house. Those with more imagination and love of food and the environment know that "eat the view" is more about snacking on what is local.
Senior Scene: From the Office: Program helps track wanderers in Otsego
A countywide partnership of law enforcement, emergency services, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Office for the Aging has launched a rapid response program to protect people who wander and bring peace of mind to their families, caregivers and communities.
Parenting imperfect: Bandages can ease pain, cause headaches
Soon, my 4-year old girl will no longer have to be concerned about smearing on sunscreen. Our little Diva will still be going outside, of course, but there won’t be one square inch of her skin exposed to the sun. If her latest phase continues, adhesive bandages, many of which have princesses on them, will cover her entire body by this time next week.
