MORGANTOWN, WV (AP)– It just goes to show that a roaring economy and an educated workforce are not necessarily good for everyone. With unemployment rates at near-historic lows and a reputation for being exploitative, America's service industry is faced with labor shortages that threaten to slow the red-hot growth the sector has enjoyed over the past decade. Restaurants, hotels, and institutional employers are having more trouble filling openings than ever before as workers take advantage of ...

The Several Kevins Part 2 If there's one word which sums up a person's existence, one word which clearly and succinctly defines the reason they get out of bed and go to work, it's this: vacation. Forget all that claptrap about work ethics and responsibilities and a job well done. People work so they can take time off from work. They plan their vacations. They save for them. They daydream about places they want to go and things they want to do. Spending time with family and friends. Going to e...

MORGANTOWN, WV (AP)– It just goes to show that a roaring economy and an educated workforce are not necessarily good for everyone. With unemployment rates at near-historic lows, combined with a reputation for being exploitative, America's service industry is faced with labor shortages that threaten to slow the red-hot growth the sector has enjoyed over the past decade. Restaurants, hotels, and institutional employers are having more trouble filling openings than ever before, as workers take a...

I read with interest your interview in People Magazine, in which you admitted that you’re gay. I applaud your decision, and I know it wasn’t easy to make. As I’m sure you know, your experience is mirrored in most of us who’ve made the choice to “come out." For that reason, you have both the public and private support of uncounted millions in this country and around the world who know what you’re going through. Growing up, I struggled for years with the knowledge that I was very different fro...

My name has been classified for purposes of NATIONAL SECURITY. Any attempts to question this classification are unpatriotic, serve only to help the terrorists, and may cause the questioner to be declared an "Unlawful Enemy Combatant" under the Military Commissions Act of 2006, with all the scrupulous attention to human rights which such a designation implies. So there!

I read of your intention to return to West Virginia for the funerals of two more miners who were killed in another mine tragedy, just as you did for the memorial service for the Sago miners, held in Buckhannon on January 15. I won't waste time telling you all the reasons why that's not wise. You won't listen because you seem to revel in the anger you engender. What I will do is take this opportunity to ask you some of the things I wanted to ask you in Buckhannon, but wasn't able. You view it...

Forgiveness does NOT preclude a good ass-kicking!

A couple weeks ago, I had an enlightening experience while enjoying a night out. As usually happens, the enjoyment was immediate, and the enlightenment came later. When I thought about the evening the next day, it occurred to me that the whole thing reminded me of the closing monologue to one of my favorite comedy videos: Bill Hicks' Revelations. "The world is like a ride at an amusement park. And when you choose to go on it, you think it's real because that's how powerful our minds are. An...

Dr. Kenneth Hutcherson Senior Pastor, Antioch Bible Church 8434-154th Avenue NE Redmond, Washington 98052 Dear Dr. Hutcherson, To be honest, until just recently, I had very little idea of who you were, other than what I'd heard on the radio. I remember hearing you on Rush Limbaugh’s show, the former pro football player who was humorously incapable of predicting the outcomes of pro football games. Listening to your good-natured banter, I assumed you were simply a former athlete who had “heeded...

The Several Kevins Part 2 If there's one word which sums up a person's existence, one word which clearly and succinctly defines the reason they get out of bed and go to work, it's this: vacation. Forget all that claptrap about work ethics and responsibilities and a job well done. People work so they can take time off from work. They plan their vacations. They save for them. They daydream about places they want to go and things they want to do. Spending time with family and friends. Going to e...