Serious outdoors types don’t hesitate to over-pack with safety gear these days: Climbers use ropes strong enough to wrangle a mammoth, cyclists carry enough agua to water-board Poseidon, and who knows what hikers tote around in their packs. The horror: Writer Jonathan Poston’s simple problem became a major debacle. Don’t let it happen to you. … Read more
I suspect Sunday would still arrive if the New York Times suspended publication and the nation suffered a bagel shortage. As I recall from my time spent at sea and in the rural Deep South, the week rolls around even without such necessities. The best in town?: The bagels and lox at Over Easy Cafe, … Read more
The sport that drought couldn’t kill: While cactuses sprout and bleached cow skulls appear in spades around Western North Carolina, this year’s lack of rain won’t impede snow-making operations at area resorts. As the region gears up for the press of holiday snow bunnies, resort managers are sounding an optimistic note. More than one, it … Read more
Here’s a New Year’s resolution that’s easy to keep: Ensure a year’s worth of good luck by munching on Vasilopita, or sweet Basil’s Bread. The traditional Greek Orthodox bread (which is sometimes sweet enough to be called a cake) dates back to the fourth century, when Saint Basil the Great hit upon the idea of … Read more
My most exciting memories of life along the French Broad River in my very early teens were of my surreptitious forays to the Asheville stockyard, which was then on Riverside Drive near Day’s Tobacco Warehouse. I would wait till my dad left for his regular Friday buying trip and then jump off the back rail … Read more
Last spring, an institute that specializes in higher education set out to determine whether faculty of the University of North Carolina system are adequately compensated. This is a subject that stirs up heated debate in university communities: Are UNC campuses experiencing a brain drain because higher salaries outside the university system are drawing away top … Read more
What is the main reason our health-care system is failing us? A for-profit system of health care. By definition, private insurance makes money by charging high premiums, denying care and eliminating those with pre-existing conditions—those who need care the most. What do the presidential candidates propose? Their proposals are basically a reshuffling of the deck, … Read more
I was very interested in the article on Dunkin Donuts but puzzled by the title, “Going Cuckoo over DoDos” [The Biz, Nov. 20]. I grew up in Massachusetts, the birthplace and Mecca of Dunks. So Millard’s following statement got me to scratch my head with bewilderment: “The Massuchusetts-based chain … is drawing … gobs of … Read more
I’m writing in response to Ken Hanke’s side-splitting review [Nov. 20 Xpress] of Robert Zemeckis’ new film Beowulf. While I have no bones to pick with his panning of this latest Hollywood blockbuster, I would like to clarify a point in defense of the original Beowulf. Mr. Hanke writes: “As far as I’m concerned Beowulf … Read more
