Category Archives: Opinions
How does your hospital stack up?
Just because your local hospital received a good rating in the past doesn’t mean the rating has stayed the same. Things change, for good 
and for bad. If you’re about to have surgery or need to pick out a new medical facility, check online sites to see what the latest scores are for hospitals near you.
Leapfrog Group is one of the organizations that collects data and reports hospital performance
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Paying the price for upsetting the apple cart
Did you know that the Earth is round? Well, when this was first revealed, Galileo, whose findings were declared false, went through an inquisition by the Catholic church and spent the last decade of his life 
under house arrest. For publishing his studies and discoveries in book form, he was declared a heretic and lost his freedom.
It was not just because he believed the Earth was round, but because he believed Earth was not the center of the universe. He believed the planets revolved around the sun, not the other way around.
It was once a widely held belief that if a ship on the ocean sailed too far
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Letters to the Editor
Scared of parents and media uproar
Dear Editor,
I’m sure most read about and saw the video of the Anderson School District 1 teacher, Lisa Houston, and the student falling asleep in class.
Clearly the teacher exercised bad judgement. As well intentioned as she was, putting your feet on anyone and tugging at their hair, even in a playful way, is not a good idea. However, I would not have fired her. Plus, she had an excellent record for 28 years.
You say to the teacher, we can see you were well intentioned, and you like to engage the students in a fun and playful way, and we love that about you, but this was a step too far. And I’m sure she sees that. The administration then writes her up a warning, it goes in her file, and she
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More than a headstone
Twice a year in national cemeteries across the country, veterans are honored with ceremonies and visits. Memorial Day has long been the 
day to honor those who died in service to our country. Now, with the generous donations of Worcester Wreath and the non-profit Wreaths Across America, tens of thousands of veterans’ graves also are decorated at Christmas … as they should be.
But I have a challenge for you.
We all live near a cemetery or two. Small cemeteries dot communities across the country, and many of them don’t get the attention they
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The graceful exercise
Tai chi, an exercise regimen from China, has been found to be an effective technique for relaxation and a generally safe method to encourage older people to get up and move around. But before I list the possible benefits you may derive from tai chi, let me remind you to check with your doctor before you begin any type of exercise program.
According to a number of studies, tai chi’s choreographed exercises promote flexibility. It may help promote recovery from falls, an all-too-common problem for older people. And since it can enhance balance and coordination, those who are trained in the practice may find themselves less likely to experience falling.
Tai chi movements help strengthen and tone the muscles in the lower
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Courier Letters to the Editor
Giving away more money to Easley
Dear Editor,
The school board has raised property taxes three times in a row. The county council is discussing two tax increases, one of 3.3 mills and another of 1.3 mills.
Annual revenue of the school district and county government is the highest it has been, a record. Yet both the school board and county council are outspending this new revenue, so they have to raise property tax rates to balance their books.
After reading the Pickens County Courier article about the renewal of the Easley TIF, naturally I asked why is the board and council giving away more money to the city of Easley?
The city of Easley is planning to spend $1.5 million on six city projects. These projects include things like landscaping for Market Square, upgrading signage for the downtown farmers market, new trash
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The inherent risk of sport specialization
One of the responsibilities that parents take most seriously is protecting their children from injury, whether it is buckling seatbelts 
in a car or wearing a helmet while riding a bike. And when their kids become teenagers and want to participate in sports or other activities, parents do everything they can to keep their sons and daughters from getting hurt.
But not all injuries are caused by a twist, fall, collision or accident. Many are caused when young athletes repeat the same athletic activity
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Know the signs of senior abuse
Sometimes it takes watchful eyes to keep seniors safe. Whether it’s physical, emotional or financial abuse, or any other kind, those who come in contact with seniors can look for signs that all is not well.
In banking, if you spot a senior who seems distressed and who repeatedly takes large sums of money out of an account (or changes his or her routine), that senior might be a victim of abuse or a scam. (Seniors, don’t use the drive-up teller window. Go inside so staff can get to know you. Sign a new signature
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Are we as superior as we think?
Last week a group of baboons escaped from a fenced testing facility. They were all male, four in number and were living — apparently 
unhappily — with a large group of other males. Sealed barrels were placed in the enclosure for the baboons’ entertainment, but this quartet found another use for the barrels.
They worked together as a team to roll a barrel against the fence, then stood it on its end, climbed up and escaped over the fence.
Once over, three continued on their journey to freedom, but one
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Courier Letters to the Editor 4-25-18
Everything has an opposite
Dear Editor,
Everything has an opposite
If for down there is up, darkness, light, ignorance, wisdom — then for there to be atheists, God must exist. If no God, then no atheist. Simple math.
If God doesn’t exist, atheism would have no reason to exist. No one would or should come against the truly non existent. It would be pure foolishness to do so.
If God doesn’t exist as the atheist claims, why should there be any
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