Columns

Are college entrance exams a dying breed?

My son Gideon has now finished both his ACT and SAT college entrance exams (scoring at an impressive percentile somewhere between “It’s …it’s…go ask my wife” and “Never you MIND what his father’s score was”), but I wonder if the tests will still be relevant when HIS hypothetical kids reach college...

No undecided voters at this Trump town hall

I do not believe that there are any undecided voters left in Pennsylvania. I say this after watching the recent Town Hall in Philadelphia, where some allegedly “undecided” voters gathered to ask questions of Donald Trump at the Constitution Center.

Capitalism and religion

Of all the economic systems that have developed over the last two centuries, none has created so much wealth as Capitalism. With that wealth has come the lengthening of the life span, the increased possibility of eliminating poverty and famine, and the expansion of the range of human choices.

Juan Williams: Black jobs don’t matter

With less than two months until Election Day 2020, more and more news stories are focused on the pivotal African-American vote. In a New York Times op-ed written by Fox News contributor Juan Williams, the author boldly wrote that “the black vote now defines American politics.”

America’s foundation based on morality, religion

America was founded based on religion and morality as the essential pillars. John Adams stated, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.” George Washington said that he hoped the new nation “would acknowledge the providence of the Almighty God and obey his will.”

Masks and other academic adjustments in a COVID-19 world

Relax. This is not a column on the efficacy of wearing masks. Who has the energy anymore? I’m wearing one in case it prevents me or someone else from getting sick. That’s pretty much it. If it turns out that it didn’t do any good, so be it.

Change voting age to 16? Try 80!

San Francisco residents will vote on a measure in November to allow teenagers as young as 16 to vote in local elections. That’s according to The Hill, which also reports that in recent years, two women in Congress introduced measures to lower the voting age nationwide to 16.

The Captain and the Germans

A good part of Laura’s damage in Lake Charles was in a part of town still sometimes called Goosport. It was named for Captain Daniel Johannes Goos, who was one of the pioneers of the southwest Louisiana lumber industry.

Our lives were changed by 9/11

“I have watched through a window a world that has fallen.” — W. H. Auden . The date, 9/11, turned into the frantic dialing of 911 nineteen years ago. A surreal feeling of shock and helplessness enveloped all Americans as we watched that day’s events unfold.

Who can turn the world on with her anniversary?

What were you doing the night of Saturday, March 19, 1977? Like 21.2 million other Americans, I was watching the final episode of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” Watching it and making a nerdy audio recording of it for posterity.