Political Cartoon



Middle class aided its own decline



This was the Year of the Middle Class — as in, its falling incomes, loss of job security and anger. The global economic forces fueling the decline, such as foreign competition and computers, have been well reported. But what about cultural factors? Is the middle class going down partly because it stopped acting middle class? For those who remember the […]

Obama: The conservative in 2012



WASHINGTON At a moment when the nation wonders whether politicians can agree on anything, here is something that unites the Republican presidential candidates — and all of them with President Obama: Everyone agrees that the 2012 election will be a turning point involving one of the most momentous choices in American history. True, candidates (and columnists) regularly cast the impending […]

The poor rich



It’s at this time of the year that generous, big-hearted Americans have been reaching out to aid the less fortunate among us — like those who’ve recently been knocked down by the recession and seen their incomes plummet. I speak, of course, about our nati on’s severely squeezed millionaires. Yes, many in the infamous 1 percent class are no longer […]

Car Talk

Higher rpms definitely are less efficient

Dear Tom and Ray: A friend and I are having a running debate that I was hoping you two would be able to settle. We each recently bought ourselves pre-owned vehicles, and we both are members of the dying breed of drivers who love to drive cars with manual transmissions. Both cars are in stellar shape, both have fewer than […]

BOWLING TEAM —



My kidney stones



This morning I had an ultrasound of my kidneys. I’ve had kidney stones most of my adult life. I’ve had three operations and one basket catch, and have passed many stones over the years. In the late ‘50s, I had my first kidney stone attack. I was driving to work from my quarters on Travis Air Force Base, Calif., and […]

The way we were



Clips from Mountain Eagle front pages over the past 50 years December 28, 1961 A new group of county officials is to take over the Letcher County courthouse this week. They include County Judge James M. Caudill, County Court Clerk Charlie Wright (reelected), County Atty. Stanley Hogg, Sheriff Lewis Hall, Tax Commissioner Sam Webb, County Commissioners Beckham Bates, John Skaggs […]

Speaking of Soaps



RECAPS – 12/26-30 THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL . Thomas came to the realization of why Brooke disapproved of his relationship with Hope. Taylor urged Brooke to let Hope move on with Thomas. Rick and Beverly got to know each other and Amber was jealous. Steffy flipped out when she discovered that Hope and Thomas were at the same resort […]

Salome Stars



ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A hectic period begins to wind down. Take time to draw some deep breaths and relax before getting into your next project. A long-absent family member makes contact. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You’re eager to move forward with a new challenge that suddenly dropped in your lap. But you’d be wise to […]