Columns

The telegraph and climate change

We’ve blamed unseasonable weather on all sorts of things over the years. When I was growing up in the Cold War years of the 1950s there was a persistent rumor that the Soviets were manipulating the weather.

A problem with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s comments

Sexual abuse is devastating. It cuts across and demolishes every single line of demarcation that we recognize in society, because it is one of the things that attack the foundations of society: Respect for the dignity of the individual person.

Getting kids back to school shouldn’t be this difficult

Kids need to be in school. This seems to be an epiphany for some who, a year ago, suggested sending a teacher into a classroom was the equivalent of landing on the beach at Normandy. This is the problem in a world of extremes where every issue, no matter how fundamental, is politically charged.

Piano keys from rice?

Rice farming was well established in Louisiana but was just getting started in east Texas in 1900, when Texas Farm and Ranch magazine sent W. C. Moore to get some tips on how it should be done.

It’s a scary time for conservatives

We had President Trump for four years. I already feel like we’ve had President Biden for eight. There were many reasons for not liking Trump or the way he did things. But at least he was an optimist. At least he saw the sun coming up every morning.

Valentine dilemma: ‘Baby,’ you’re not the greatest!

Although the bar has been set remarkably low during some epochs (“Dearest, you’ve survived to produce seven more viable male heirs than my second wife”), society has always expected couples to use terms of endearment to grease the wheels of their relationships.

A true political hero for our times

Alexei Navalny is what we need — but no longer have — in the United States: A political hero. We have politicians, some better than others.

Pigeons covered the cold sky

January 1940 was the coldest month of record in south Louisiana, but there were some pretty chilly precedents. The winter of 1822-1823 was remarkable to one planter not only for its frigid weather but also for an incredible flight of pigeons.

There is no middle ground on this issue

There’s no middle ground with middle names. You either love them or hate them.

With President Joe, It’s divided we stand

Everyone agreed the inauguration ceremony was nice. Lady Gaga was Lady Gaga. Garth Brooks was Garth Brooks. Everyone also agreed President Joe Biden’s speech was nice. Nothing plagiarized. Nothing too fancy. Nothing that presidential historians will be quoting a month from now.