News + Opinion
Fear/Guns
People are afraid. And guns are easy to get here, which means there are a lot of them. I've never liked guns, but I decided to confront my fear.
Anthony Foxx to run for mayor in 2009
"Our future, especially in these times, will be dependent upon our ability to build regional strength, protect our environment, support critical infrastructure including roads and transit, work harder than ever to improve public safety, and point a way out for…
One Philadelphian feels no sympathy for Charlotte
I am a native of Philadelphia and felt little sympathy for Charlotte during the interview your Editor had with Here and Now on NPR on October 14. First Union Bank underhandedly purchased a Philadelphia Institution, CoreStates Bank, about ten years…
Wachovia, We Miss You Already
I was down at the beach with my family in 1981 when my father started searching for a pay phone to call back home to Hickory. He wanted to know the outcome of an important election: the shareholders of First…
Worst Month Ever
Friday the 5th: United Way of the Central Carolinas kicks off workplace fundraising campaign in the wake of controversy over executive pay. Pass the pledge cards Monday the 8th: City Council is shocked to learn of millions in cost overruns…
Seeking Refuge
Parvez lost his job as Manager of Corporate Planning for a subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company in 1980 for being Baha'i. He was a member of the elected assembly (now illegal) of his state capitol, and was therefore…
Night Shift
There are few things more exhausting than an infant's frequent, abrupt, witching-hour outbursts and feedings—that is, unless you're like Janet Wheeler Gilani, who had a secret weapon that kept her from falling apart or asleep on her feet.That weapon? A…
One Last Roar
It's officially called the Bank of America 500. But in these parts, it's referred to simply as "the October race," and it's very different from the two races held in May at Lowe's Motor Speedway. When fans arrive at the…
Well, at least the Panthers won
Nancy Bush, an analyst with NAB Research, says she believes Wachovia came under government pressure because the company could no longer access the debt markets and was turning to the Federal Reserve “excessively” for funding needs. “History is going to…
Tryon Street: The new Wall Street?
Not in real dollars, of course. But BofA has already bought one of the nation's largest mortgage lenders (Countrywide) and one of the largest investment banks, assuming that deal works out. Now Wachovia, which at is current valuation would be…
Yes We Can't
It was a hot July morning, a month after the Democratic primaries ended. Barack Obama hadn't set foot in North Carolina since his blowout win over Hillary Clinton here in May. At James Martin Middle School in northeast Charlotte, the…
Urban Expansion
A few Sundays ago, my wife and I rode the LYNX from our South End studio apartment to Sunday brunch at the Westin, chilled for a while, then caught the train back one stop to work off the calories at…
My Painful, Wonderful Year at Culinary School
Last August, I walked into my first college class since graduating from Queens University in 1993. This time, instead of sandals and jeans, I wore a full uniform and carried a bag of knives. I looked around the Intro to…
