New genetics information law undercuts our right to privacy
Justice William O. Douglas once wrote, "The American government is premised on the theory that if the mind of man is to be free, his ideas, his beliefs, his ideology, his philosophy must be placed beyond the reach of government." Unfortunately, like everyone from the founders of this nation to its greatest jurists, Douglas never imagined how much deeper into the most intimate recesses of a person's nature it would someday be possible for the government to reach.

Increased demands threaten to keep food from the hungry of the world
Gardening is a completely different experience when you really don't need the food. In fact, the same thing could be said about free markets, biofuels, emerging economies and global warming. How you feel about them depends almost entirely on how much you need the food.

It's not easy being green, even before Earth Day
When she started to turn green, I wondered if my wife had decided to celebrate Earth Day a little early. She didn't turn green all over, like Marta the Orion slave girl from Star Trek who was played by Taylorville's Yvonne Craig (yes of course I had to look it up), but just on the backs of her fingers. It became more puzzling when we realized that you don't actually do much with the backs of your fingers. They're mostly there to give the fronts something to stick on to.

Community concert center needs washrooms, benches
When the first of the benches in Central Park were purchased, Hitler was occupying the Rhineland and Cooperstown was dedicating the Baseball Hall of Fame. Since the city refused to pay, Municipal Band members had to buy them. I've often wondered how many people have been sitting in them for the entire 72 backbreaking years. There ought to be a T-shirt for that.

Up to us to decide right time for redeploying troops in Iraq
The big event this week has been the testimony before Congress of Gen. David Howell Petraeus, commanding general of the Multinational Force - Iraq.