Advertisement
May 10, 2009
J. Todd Foster Column: They Are Women; Let Them Roar From High Court
There’s a way for President Barack Obama to use merit and gender equality to find a successor to retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter and give Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg a female peer.
May 05, 2009
One Nurse’s View on Patient Care
Do you want an 18-year-old with only a year of experience and less than two weeks of education administering medication to you in a nursing home or assisted care living facility?
May 03, 2009
Rock Star of Science Draws Overflow Crowd for Kingsport Library Talk
World-renowned forensic scientist Dr. Bill Bass - who founded the University of Tennessee’s Anthropology Research Facility, also known as the Body Farm - drew throngs of people to the Kingsport Public Library to hear him speak.
J. TODD FOSTER: Beware of the Cloven-Hooved-Animals-With-Curly-Tails Flu
The 1918 swine flu pandemic killed at least 20 million people worldwide and up to 100 million. It affected a third of the world’s population. It was the H1N1 strain. It appears to be back. Let’s not sugarcoat it with euphemisms or feed at the trough of political correctness. Let’s deal with it.
April 26, 2009
FOSTER COLUMN: They Use Live Dogs for Shark Bait and Other Tidbits
For years, I resisted joining the online social networking site Facebook. Such a public site isn’t usually a good idea for newspaper editors and other people who don’t want to be found, including those relocated through federal witness-protection programs.
April 20, 2009
Gobble The S’mores, But Be Careful With The Raisins
Wondering how the big spring break camping trip went? Here’s a recap of our visit to the Sugar Hollow campground in Bristol, Va., and a few lessons.
April 15, 2009
Could Chicken Save Old Hotel?
I can remember looking out the car windows at such landmarks as the Virginia Military Institute campus passing through Lexington, Va., the huge refinery in Roanoke, Va., and, closer to our destination, such things as the Moonlite Drive-in theater, Howard Johnson’s Restaurant, Helm’s Candy Factory, Kern’s Bakery, and the Robert E. Lee Motel.
April 12, 2009
Sugar Hollow Comes Alive As Weather Turns Warmer
What a difference a week makes.
While spending more than an hour at the Sugar Hollow picnic area in Bristol, Va., two Sundays ago, we could have streaked through the park the entire time without shaming ourselves.
March 22, 2009
J. TODD FOSTER: Newspapers’ Death Would Kill Investigative Reporting
While many of us get our first dose of breaking news on the Internet, the Web rarely reports, edits and produces that news.
March 15, 2009
SUZANNE TATE: Bowling Excursion Fun, But Smoky Air Ran Us Off
My family spent a little more than an hour bowling two quick rounds in Bristol last week. It was all my teenage daughter could stomach.
J. TODD FOSTER: When Newspapers Die, So Does An American Linchpin
The year will be 2039 and my 10-year-old grandson will climb onto the porch swing and sit next to me. He’ll be holding a yellowed newspaper – one of many that he found boxed in my attic.
March 01, 2009
Time To Quit Squinting And Get First Pair Of Glasses
I was trying to fake my way through Monopoly on a recent Saturday night, but I got busted when I couldn’t read the rent amounts for my own properties.
February 22, 2009
SUZANNE TATE: Cartier Show Is A Testament To Local Artistic Talent
For the William King Regional Arts Center, Leila Cartier is a homegrown celebrity.
February 19, 2009
Virginia Tech: Painful Day Without A Script
For the longest time I couldn’t put my finger on it, but this is what has made me so uncomfortable about recent scrutiny of the Virginia Tech tragedy, now approaching its second anniversary.
February 15, 2009
J. TODD FOSTER: No News Is Bad News From Newspaper Readers
I get lots of fan mail, but my all-time favorite remains a 2006 letter I received at my last editor’s job.
February 08, 2009
J. TODD FOSTER: Sons Are Asking Age-Old Question: Can We Get A Dog?
If you reduce the world to dog or cat people, I guess I’m a dog person.
February 01, 2009
SUZANNE TATE: Even Smallest Of Gardens Can Teach Large Lessons
In the middle of a long and rainy winter, it just feels good to get garden catalogs in the mail. It’s spring and summer in all its glossy glory.
January 25, 2009
J. TODD FOSTER: BHC Circulators Turn Inaugural Section Into Treasure
Since newspapers are an endangered species, victories these days are rare. But one came Wednesday when we published a 12-page special section on the Obama inauguration.
SUZANNE TATE: Even In Tight Times, Everyone Can Find Small Ways To Save
So we’ve been asked to be of greater service to our country. We’re supposed to stop putting off hard decisions.
January 18, 2009
J. TODD FOSTER: Bush Worked Hard To Earn Title Of Worst President
Two days from now, America will breathe a collective sigh of relief. The worst presidency in modern history – possibly U.S. history – mercifully will be over.
January 11, 2009
J. TODD FOSTER: Plenty Of Pain To Go Around With Recent Power Bills
Judging by my latest utility bill, my home must be warm and toasty, right?
SUZANNE TATE: New Members Sought For Our Readers Advisory Panel
Despite the fact that some critics think we do this work in the dark and alone, truly we don’t.
January 04, 2009
Resolve To Be Prepared For Change
You’ve no doubt started to hear about $800 billion economic stimulus package headed into America, but have you stopped to contemplate what it really means?
Peres Statement Powerful To All
Israeli President Shimon Peres has made a statement on “Operation Cast Lead,” Israel’s attack on the Hamas terror infrastructure in Gaza, and the ongoing Palestinian rocket fire on civilian areas of southern Israel.
December 21, 2008
FOSTER: Deep Pangs But No Regrets About Deep Throat
The New York Times breaking-news alert flashed over my Blackberry 11 minutes after midnight Friday morning. Then the nausea returned: “W. Mark Felt, Deep Throat of Watergate, Dies at 95.”
TATE: If You Can’t Eat Your Fill, Want Some Fast Food Cologne?
Have you seen the Arby’s television ad where the husband is asking his wife to fulfill one of his fantasies?
December 16, 2008
SUZANNE TATE:‘Real Men’ Love To Go Ice Skating; Hot Chocolate Helps, Too
They begged and pleaded and begged some more. “Speedway in Fights,” as some might have called the backseat skirmishes that happened Saturday before we ate lunch near the Bristol Motor Speedway, became “Speedway in Contrite Children Who Promised to Behave and Needed to Go Ice Skating.”
J. TODD FOSTER: Our Area Is Not A Freak Show For National Media
The national media have developed quite a fascination with Southwest Virginia of late. It’s akin to the curiosity inspired by the Bearded Woman, Sword Swallower or Fire Eater of the old circus freak shows.
December 07, 2008
J. TODD FOSTER: Bargers Take Attempted Pirate Attack With Humor
I’ve often wondered who the principal was behind the acclaimed regional hamburger chain Pal’s Sudden Service.
SUZANNE TATE: Christmas Sweater Offers Memories, Varied Holiday List
I was on the second story of a glitzy mall in Chattanooga, Tenn., when I saw it – an embroidered Christmas sweater costing too much money and calling my name.
