Distiller talks about nurturing communities through art, sharing as ABC reform bill moves through legislature

A form of art, growing and nurturing communities. A block on which to build neighborhoods, relationships.  Simple phrases, lacking description but begging for illustration, detailed, contextual description. What’s coming is a common refrain from me, used many times in myriad fashions. Yet it’s always true. Places such as breweries, distilleries, wineries have taken the point...

Melting

The new free speech bullies

As an academic dean of library services for the past 40 years, I think I have a good eye for what constitutes censorship. Cancel culture, a new term for an old and deadly form of silencing your enemies has recently shown its ugly face and has unmistakably assumed the role of free speech bullies. Not...

Left behind

Biden and Walter Jones offer striking contrast on Afghanistan

The late U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, a N.C. Republican, ended his speeches on the House floor about the pitfalls of Afghanistan by asking God’s blessing and protection for our service members. After 20 years in the war-torn country, U.S involvement in Afghanistan ends just as Jones predicted. Yet, one wonders if even he could have...

Jefferson neighbors seek liberty

The travails of Albemarle County Baptists and other religious dissenters during the 1760s and 1770s had a strong impression on Thomas Jefferson.