I have an ongoing adversarial relationship with gravity. I’m not talking about aging and the attendant humiliations, like the visitation from the Jowl Fairy, or any of the other droopy phenomena. No, it is more diabolical than those commonplace and expected changes. Those are just part of the price for living longer. I consider this a fair price. My issue comes with those little things that sneak up on me as I go about my business.

Like the man on an iceberg says of the secret of the rising water as the ice melts (“The Great Race” with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemon), “When it reaches my bottom lip, then I’ll tell somebody!” I felt it was time to speak out. “Uppity” was defined in 1952 in the Oxford English Dictionary and in 1958 in Merriam Webster – both definitions attached to the “n” word. It has been, for most of 60 years, a deeply-rooted racial slur.

Rising food prices hurt
Dutchess County residents are feeling the impact of rising food prices along with the rest of the country. Low-income families spend a higher percentage of their incomes on groceries and have been hit hardest by soaring gasoline and heating costs and jumps in the price of staples like milk, eggs and bread. These families in our community may soon be facing a “Heat or Eat” dilemma — choosing between food and fuel.

Dear EarthTalk: How clear (or not) are the links between the rising incidents of cancers around the world and the prevalence of synthetic chemicals in modern society?

— Alberto Buono, Lee, MA

With the World Health Organization hinting that cancer could unseat heart disease as the leading cause of death around the world, it’s no surprise that per capita cancer incidence is on the rise globally. In fact, cancer is the only major cause of death that has continued to rise since 1900.

‘You just keep thinkin’, Butch. That’s what you’re good at.’

— Sundance Kid to Butch Cassidy (from the movie of nearly the same name)

I’ve got another million dollar idea! A Canadian cuisine restaurant! The food would be very similar to American, just more expensive — or maybe less, depending on the current exchange rate.

OK, this is an over simplification. After all, there is back bacon and Molson beer. Actually, there would be quite a few things to give it that special ambience, and I think I would choose the ’70s as a theme.

The holidays are here, the perfect opportunity for families and friends to share their time, thoughts and memories with one another. Thanksgiving, especially, is the ideal occasion to consider all there is to be grateful for, despite the stress, challenges and hardships of life in today’s chaotic world. It’s essential to do so because no matter how difficult one’s day-to-day routine may be, things could always be worse — which is really important to remember.

The media is always harping on about the public. They say “the public feels” or “the public wants,” and prove it in survey after survey. And yet, when repeatedly interviewed, 72 percent of this American public cannot tell you when World War II began; multiply 23 times 13; tell you where Greece or Afghanistan are located; name the first president of the United States; remember who wrote the Gettysburg address; tell you what year a man landed on the moon; and on and on.