Goose that laid -- what?
There's a chronic problem with telling a great story. At some point, somebody will say, "Aw, I don't believe that" -- which is your cue to either prove its truth or admit that you made it up.
Comics jar this reader
On that list of life's annoyances -- IRS audits, telemarketers, car troubles, condescending store clerks, cold sores, etc. -- I'll now add this item: socially relevant comic strips.
Middle ground erodes
If my theory is true -- that anyone's life can be boiled down to a gravestone inscription -- these words could well appear on Juan Williams' marker: "Here lies the man who introduced Clarence Thomas to the world."
Trick will be on us for cause
Local illusionist Jim Passe has two big tricks planned for the future. The first falls into the category of don't-believe-what-you-see. The second is one that I'll believe only when I see it.
This time, straight talk
I should have known better. I'm a professional, but last week I made an amateur's mistake: I trafficked in irony.
Liberal radio has its charm
I think I'm going to love Air America Radio, the liberal broadcast network that cranked up for business last week.
Why writers say yes
In 1998, Margot Lester -- divorced and in a professional rut -- left Chapel Hill and moved to Los Angeles for a fresh start in life. She returned several months ago with a new entry on her resume: "sex writer."
Fishel's fixation irks some
Spring is finally here, which means it'll be eight months or so before I have to listen again to Greg Fishel rhapsodize about the glories of snow.
Stories you can believe
I've always had a fondness for tales, especially those that are stretched to the boundary of believability. Give me a good story and as a courtesy I'll overlook the minor inconsistencies.
History, football tango
This Super Bowl is about something more than football. It's about two states that have somehow become locked in a weird tango of antagonism and similarity. Think about it for a moment: North Carolina's team, the Panthers, is playing Massachusetts' team, the Patriots, for the championship of professional football in Super Bowl XXXVIII. At the same time, a North Carolina senator is facing off against a Massachusetts senator to see who will become the Democratic nominee for president.
Protest and pay the price
Protesters acknowledged that they deliberately chose to interrupt a basketball game so TV cameras would capture the event.
Paranoia comes in handy
I like hanging around with paranoid people. That way, I get the benefit of their constant state of high alert.
How sex should be taught
I think sex education is best handled by the people most qualified to communicate with teenagers: other teenagers.
The other stories now in print
The word always gets out, one way or another. And starting Thursday, N&O readers will have a new place to learn about all those smart, funny, ironic, sharp-edged, knowing and ego-deflating stories that are shared at the water cooler or over lunch. "Unfiltered," a new column by G.D. Gearino, will appear on the front of the Life, etc. section every week. Read it and spread the word.
More Stories
From the Wire
Entertainment
- Dessay takes on Verdi's Violetta for 1st time
- NY congressman blasts Michael Jackson as 'pervert'
- Singer's luxe lifestyle aided by Wall Street firms
- Jayhawks reunite with classic lineup
- Britons turn living statues atop London column
- En Vogue marks 20 years with Essence Fest concert
- More stories
Travel
- Sarah Pardee Winchester turned a California farmhouse into a mystery
- The moonbow connection: Cumberland Falls unique in U.S. for phenomenon
- Just Ask Gemalto: Tips on how to bank online safely
- The arts are alive and thriving at the Bascom in western North Carolina
- New land of Lincoln: Sacramento scores prestigious With Malice Toward None' exhibit
- Who's winning the late-night matchup? It's a split decision
- More stories
Home & Garden
- Corralling collections: The things you save and show can quickly become clutter and chaos
- Fixit: Stinky hot water
- Home energy Q&A
- Factors to consider in choosing a clothes dryer
- Freshening up with fabrics
- Home and garden news and notes
- More stories
Religion
- A Christian mother comes to terms with her teenage son's coming out
- Pastor Rick Warren to address American Muslims
- Religion News in Brief
- Voices of faith: How can we keep thinking good when so much bad is happening?
- Skateboard ministry spreads the word
- Family tradition ends as Oral Roberts U. revamps
- More stories
Food & Wine
Family
- A Christian mother comes to terms with her teenage son's coming out
- Frumpy Middle-Aged Mom: What's your name again?
- Lullabies by Queen?
- Namberry: Just look around you this summer for baby name inspiration
- Helping adult children face the recession
- Silicon Valley Moms: The force is strong with these twins
- More stories
Seniors
- Our Health: Old age isn't as bad as you think
- Our Time: Whose grandkids are best? Mine, of course
- Social Security Q&A
- He's no social climber: Oldest American to scale Mount Everest recounts climb
- The Mangia' garden
- Our Health: A new deal to get in shape
- More stories
Weird News
- Wallet stolen in 1982 found in NYC tree; $20 gone
- Maine pound shows off rare orange, live lobsters
- Turtle named for Obama freed on Independence Day
- Cops in Michigan protect _ and serve doughnuts
- Pachyderms outdo people in cross-species chow bout
- New Zealand airline issues nude safety video
- More stories



