I want to read a biography, not of Robin Williams, the talented actor, or Thomas Edison, the famous inventor (seen as a child at left). I want to read a biography of their mothers. How did they ever manage to cope? How did they avoid premature gray hair with their talented, unconventional, more-than-a-handful children? How did they survive their child’s childhood? And what tips do they have for me? (more…)

Josh Van De Riet, a denizen of Radford, is blessed with a musical inclination. Van De Riet recently published recordings of his instrumentals on MySpace. He’ll soon be netting listeners with live performances and an album of original material.

He’s also my neighbor. I’ve given him toilet paper.

Yes, I am attempting to ride my talented neighbor’s coattails by playing the proximity angle. However, being the misanthrope that I am, I wouldn’t just ride any coattails. Van De Riet is a hell of a musician. I didn’t just loan anyone toilet paper: I loaned toilet paper to a resonant, new musical presence in the NRV. (more…)

Many people think of volunteers as people who spend countless hours of their time helping others or donating thousands to a charity, they are right … and wrong. Here in the New River Valley you can volunteer or donate in a variety of ways depending on your free time and financial situation. Did you know even your empty printer cartridges and extra change could help save an animal in the NRV? (more…)

Are you an animal lover? Have you thought about purchasing that cute little puppy that looks up at you with those heart-wrenching eyes at the pet store? Have you ever made some sort of connection with an animal and you just had to get it? Before you reach for your wallet, here’s a list of the top nine things you should consider before buying the animal version of your soul-mate.

1. The first and most obvious thing to consider before purchasing your pet is the cost of the initial purchase or adoption fee. Some popular pets (like pure-bred dogs and cats) can be pretty expensive to purchase, and it may be easier and certainly cheaper to get your pet from a rescue or animal shelter. Research all of your options either online or through veterinary clinics before you pay for your new pet. (more…)

Springtime is finally here, and with the warmer weather we will soon start to see lots of bugs—icky, stinky, stinging, and biting insects! And you may notice that the swarms of these bugs seem to be denser the closer you get to water, such as the New River. That is because many of these organisms have been living in the water, growing as larva and then pupa over the past year, until they hatch out as winged adults in the spring to live out the remainder of their lives. But as you swat that mosquito, shoe away that black fly, or close your eyes when you walk through a swarm of mayflies, do you ever wonder if these bugs might be telling you something about their environment?  (more…)

Yes, there is an element of self-righteousness, of holier-than-thou, for which I have a genetic predisposition. But I truly do see this as a path, a path I am continually remaking as I walk it, a path not a destination, a path that, like religion, is one of many paths. I believe that we are in a crisis, one that stems from our use of resources. We use too much, more than our share. For me, this is an ethical and spiritual issue: How can I justify what amounts to stealing resources from others, other people and other species, and from our children and their children? (more…)