Columns

Nuclear Power

By Tony Noerpel

As the memories of the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl nuclear power plant accidents recede and as the price of oil rises, interest in nuclear power rekindles. Understandably, there is considerable and well justified opposition to this technology based on safety concerns and additionally after September 11, 2001, concern that radioactive waste might fall… »

Our Economy

By Tony Noerpel

“I’m more worried than I have ever been about the future of the U.S. economy. The challenge is unique: poor and diminishing growth, a sticky unemployment rate, sky-high deficits and a sovereign debt that makes us one of the most fiscally irresponsible countries in the world.” Allen Sinai, co-founder of the consulting firm Decision… »

Why Are They Going……

By Contributor

…….. I for one have been born and bred to honor the oath of the great Cairn terriers and that is to honor and defend all poultry and fowl from all enemies fox or not to our death. So here and now I tip my hat and soul to the duties that lay before me… »

Entropy

By Tony Noerpel

“What an organism feeds on is negative entropy.” Erwin Schrodinger, What is Life (1956)
“The law that entropy always increases holds, I think, the supreme position among the laws of Nature. If someone points out to you that your pet theory of the universe is in disagreement with Maxwell’s equations — then so much the worse… »

I’m a Napping Fool …

By Contributor

Ha haaa … as soon as I wrote about the toughest winter and driest summer last week doesn’t Mother Nature turn the tables! How about those rain storms Thursday?
I have to tell you not only did we get a much needed reprieve in the landscape for moisture, but we also got a good nap… »

Look’in Good!

By Contributor

Hello my good friends!
Last time we talked I was giving you the wrap up on the wonderful Loudoun County Fair.
I know that now many of you are off on your last family vacation before the new school year begins. How do I know these things you ask? Because I have missed many of… »

Peer-Review

By Tony Noerpel

“Science is what we do to keep from lying to ourselves.” Richard Feynman.
I assume that everybody knows at least what I know. I talk about entropy, not to show off but simply with profound humility. If I know the importance of the Entropy Law then surely everybody else must know as well. … »

Nothing

By Blue Ridge Leader

“Reagan proved deficits don’t matter.” Dick Cheney to Paul O’Neill, November 15, 2002, (Ron Suskind, The Price of Loyalty, 2004).
“… a philosophy is influenced by facts. So there is a constant interplay between what do I think and why do I think it….Now, if you gather more facts and have more experience,… »

America’s Economy and Open Decision Making

By Contributor

From Forbes: “The top six bank holding companies earned an aggregate of $51 billion in pretax income in 2009. We’re talking about JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and Wells Fargo. All of this pretax income can be attributed to their trading revenues of $59.7 billion. The proprietary trading operations… »

Storm’n on Through!

By Contributor

Well here I am, back in the saddle again. This week I am diverging from my story book (which I hope to have in real print later this year … so you will just have to wait to read “The Rest of The Tails” (as the great Paul Harvey would say).
But right here, right now… »

Surveying the Damage

By Contributor

So … last time I wrote to you I was talking about the ferocious dark of night fight that we had had with the sly ones, the foxes …
It’s the next morning now and on Mr. B’s instructions Bernie, Laino, LuLu Belle and me are going down to the barn yard to check on the… »

Missing Mysterious Negative Feedback

By Tony Noerpel

Click here to read the newest column Missing Mysterious Negative… »

Sushi’s Adventure Continues

By Contributor

That evening;
“You are the bravest and mightiest Cairn Terrier ever” was still singing in my ears.
The girls ascended the farmhouse stairs, taking Tiki and me with them. We all curled up together in bed, thanking God for each other and our wonderful Lulu Belle. I was one worn - out little pup. Quite frankly… »

My First Hunt continued

By Contributor

It was in the early hours just before dawn. Tiki had silently hopped from the bed upstairs, and then I heard her yip, “Sushi! Little man! Little man! Something bad is outside. Don’t you hear Lulu Belle barking?”
I thought that Lulu Belle must be very big by the size of that bark. I uncurled myself… »

Open Letter Request for Information

By Tony Noerpel
Surface Temperature

“To talk about global cooling at the end of the hottest decade the planet has experienced in many thousands of years is ridiculous.” Ken Caldeira, Climate Scientist [1]
“You’ve all seen articles saying that global warming stopped in 1998. With all due respect, that’s being a little bit unfair to the data.” Pat… »

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State of the Towns talk at the Carver Center by Philip Denino with guest speaker Donovan Rypkema. Philip Denino is Community Development Manager with the Department of Economic Development. "When thinking of the downtown area parking should not be a priority, pedestrians are the priority," Mr. Rypkema said. "Governments are supposed to think about the whole."