Latest blog entries
The Gain of Southern Prosperity
On Dec. 8, 1765, Eli Whitney was born in Westborough, Mass. He was a teacher turned inventor; the cotton gin was one of his inventions.
Help us donate 25,000 cans of food to the Food Bank and area animal groups!
First Casualty Insurance Group (FCIG) of Southern Pines is holding its second annual Gimme Five Matching Canned Food Drive starting November 12th and continuing through December 19th. FCIG will match every can received with a goal of *25,000 total cans! All donations will benefit: The Sandhills Branch of the Food ...
The Killing of Fred Hampton, 1969
On Dec. 4, 1969, a tactical squad from the Cook Co. State’s Attorney’ Office, with support from Chicago police and the FBI, killed Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton, severely wounded his pregnant girl friend, and also killed Mike Clark.
The First Heart Transplant
On Dec. 3, 1967, Christian Barnard and a team of 30 people performed the first human heart transplant in South Africa.
The Oxymoronic Nature of Being Human.
It is interesting the choices our public servants choose to make, to observe how they interpret honor, integrity and responsibility. As the longshoreman philosopher Eric Hoffer wrote, “There would be no society if living together depended upon understanding each other.” "My past imperfections have been well documented and discussed during ...
No One Wanted to Win This Lottery
On Dec. 1, 1969, the Selective Service conducted its first lottery to determine the order of call to military service in the Vietnam War; the lottery was for men born between 1944 and 1950.
Gas Taxes
It would help me a whole lot to support changes in the tax code if I knew how this money is used and is proposed to be used. What percent of this tax is going to roads? Did I see electric car recharging stations being built using some of the ...
Reuben's 2012 High School Football Predictions -- The Final Wrap
Well, Scotland and Albemarle ended their seasons last Friday night on a low note, thus, ending my 2012 season of prognostications season on a low note as well. This is probably the first time I've pulled a zero on a week of high school football predictions, although there were only ...
Alcott Harvested the Fruits of Friendship
On Nov. 29, 1799, Amos Bronson Alcott was born in Wolcott, Connecticut; though he became well known as education reformer and teacher, it is the many lives that intersected with his that make his story fascinating.
The Interesting Mythology of William Blake
On Nov. 28, 1757, William Blake was born in London, England. His poetry, criticism and engraving revealed a penetrating vision of religious and personal mythology.
Sketches to help the Moore Humane Society
Sketches to benefit Moore Humane Society until Nov. 30th
New England Artist, ShawnaLee, will sketch your pet to help the Moore Humane Society until Nov. 30th.
Freezing to Boiling in 100 Steps
On Nov. 27, 1701, Anders Celsius was born in Uppsala, Sweden; the astronomer proposed the centigrade temperature scale that the international standard is based on.
NHL's Birthday: Who Can Celebrate?
On Nov. 26, 1917, the owners of four hockey teams in Montreal, Quebec and Ottawa organized the National Hockey League.
Origins of Evolutionary Biology
On Nov. 24, 1859, John Murray published “On The Origin of Species, by Means of Natural Selection,” by Charles Darwin.
Battle of the Pines
On November 29th the Vikings (2012 3A State Championship Runners Up) host the defending 4A State Champions, the Pinecrest Patriots, in dual meet at Bob Ward Gymnasium, Union Pines High School. Join us at 6:30 pm for a fantastic event which will introduce the Viking Wrestling Team's Blue Man to ...
Acting Began in Tragedies
Perhaps on Nov. 23, 534 BCE, Thespis of Icaria eschewed the tradition of the Greek stage; wearing a mask, he spoke as Dionysus not himself. Two hundred years later, Aristotle calls it the first acting performance.
Reuben's 2012 High School Football Predictions -- Regional Finals
In 1977, rock singer Meat Loaf came out with his hit single, "Two Out of Thee Ain't Bad". In 2012, high school football prognosticator Reuben Davis, threw a radio against the wall after hearing the song and having went two out of three (66.7%) in his high weekly predictions. The ...
Our Traditions Free Us to Celebrate Thanks in our Own Ways
Thanksgiving, a time to recall the deliverances and bounties of our lives.
The Voice of the Enlightenment
On Nov. 21, 1694, Voltaire, the name that François-Marie Arouet published under, was born in Paris. He rejected the law for a chance to write, and became one of the most successful, and influential authors in history.
The Gettysburg Address
On Nov. 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln consecrated the Soldiers’ National Cemetery at Gettysburg, where 3,155 Union soldiers died in a three-day battle, with one of America’s most memorable speeches.
