DURHAM DISPATCH : U.S. not at war

By Budd Saunders

Editor’s note: This column first ran in the White River Valley News on Dec. 20, 2007. The first message she sent me from Iraq was, “This is a damn mess.” She was a major in a reserve mobile medical unit. She wrote that they couldn’t get parts for their humvees or flak jackets and other equipment. The messages were rather light until after “Mission accomplished” announced the end of the war. Then, as the war dragged on, the messages got heavier and ended with, “Dirt washes off easier than blood.” We still communicated by email. Hers is a sad story that happens so often when vets return from a war. She was getting a divorce and the Army had filed charges against her for insubordination and conduct unbecoming of an officer. She had sent five of her men back to the states because she felt they were suicidal. One of them committed suicide shortly after he returned. Later another had eaten a bullet in front of his wife and children. She turned to the only person who would understand her dilemma. She called me. She - Thursday, November 20, 2008

VIEW FROM THE CHEAP SEATS : Symbolism, racism, and the inability to think

By Steve Foster

The story broke last week that a couple owning a motel in Huntsville, Ark., had taken down the Stars and Stripes and replaced it with the flag of the Confederacy. The resulting backlash came almost immediately. Many who saw the changing of the colors wondered what it could have meant. While the owners took pains to explain, in a carefully worded statement to the media, was that it wasn’t about racism, but about our president-elect being of the Marxist persuasion, his perceived hatred of the Constitution, and his vow(?) of taking guns away from the average citizen. We can, and should look with a skeptical eye towards any pronouncement such as this, to see what is really been said. The statement released by the owners of the inn was clearly a cut and paste job courtesy of the Fixed News channel, Rush Limbaugh, and a smattering of our white sheeted friends. As the vast majority of Americans expressed their opinions on Nov. 4 there can be seen another division that has served to place us in the predicament we are - Thursday, November 20, 2008

Letters to the Editor

Thanks for successful event To the Editor, The Friends of the Elkins Public Library want to thank everyone who donated and attended our Mingle for the Move fundraiser at Terra Studios. The event was successful beyond our expectations and puts the library that much closer to being able to provide improved educational, recreational and informational services to our community. Special thanks go to Lyn and Jamie Ulick at Terra Studios for allowing us to use their beautiful facility, to Bob Holland and Dennis Collins for their music, and to Dusty Richards for auctioneering. We also to thank the following individuals and businesses who donated goods and services - Arsaga’s Espresso Café , Eastside Liquor, Guy & Ellen Brown, Harps, Home & Garden Parties - LaFonda Robbins, Judy’s Beauty Salon, Justus Cabinets & Home Center, Ladybug Floral & Finds, Liquor Cabinet, Liquor Mart, Lucky Star Video, Maguire House Bed and Breakfast, Marvin’s IGA, Massage Office of Abby Curlee, Medicine Man, Odyssey Salon, Ozark Natural Food - Thursday, November 20, 2008

Much chocolate isn't really chocolate

BY JIM HIGHTOWER Minuteman Media

Be careful out there. The corporate powers are messing with us again. Here comes Hershey, the iconic candy company that claims to be “committed to making the world’s best chocolate.” For example, such brands as Mr. Goodbar, Milk Duds, and Take Five brag right on the label that they’re “made with chocolate.” Only they’re not. Chocolate, as you probably know, is made of cocoa butter. It’s yummy stuff. But get out your magnifying glass to read the labels of the Hershey bars that claim to be “made with chocolate,” and you’ll find oils from palm kernels, soybeans, sunflower, and safflower listed – but no cocoa butter. None. How can this be? Trying to find the logic of it will cause your brain to explode, but here is the essence of the deception. The Food and Drug Administration, which regulates candy contents, says flatly that cocoa butter is the required fat for chocolate. However - under pressure from most of the industry’s big players, the FDA allows the use of such tricky phrases as “made with chocolate,” “cho - Thursday, November 20, 2008