Guest Column

Careful, All of Us Live in Glass Houses

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A lot of finger pointing takes place in this community and state regarding individuals taking advantage of or abusing benefits that government programs make available to them. And, as you read or listen to this column, please understand that I am not a big fan of these unlawful acts either. But I think we should all keep in mind that many of us need to do a little self-examination of our own actions as we raise an index or middle finger at the people among us that “get around the law.” I readily admit that I too fall into this category myself from time to time. That is some glass house we all have to admit we live in. For starters, look around your neighborhood here in Massachusetts and see how many people live here but have New Hampshire license plates on their trucks and cars.

Local Columnists

Your Opinion on Political Comments and Commentaries?

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Anonymous commenting has riled some WHAV.net readers. WHAV does not have a political opinion of its own. A big question of late though is whether it should allow anyone else—in comments or commentaries—to voice a political opinion on the air or online. This radio station has been attacked by both left- and right-leaning individuals. On the left, readers have said WHAV should prohibit anonymous commenting, saying those who are forced to use real names are less likely to engage in “noxious,” “rude,” “angry” or “hateful” speech, among other terms.

“I won’t be sharing anything you publish until you do away with the anonymous garbage,” said one resident in an email to WHAV.

Local Columnists

A Cheerful Life

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I think writers generally write about things that are important to them; thoughts that make a lasting impression. Sometimes these obsessions may come from stories they carry around inside waiting for opportunities to release them. This is what I think anyway. Sitting here struggling to come up with an idea for a new article I happened to reflect on a recent conversation I had with a business person. Our talk brought to mind a story I carry around in me that speaks to a great mystery of life.

Guest Column

You Too Can Lend A Hand

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One of the great privileges I have had since I started volunteering at WHAV has been the chance to research, produce, and air some of the “Community Spotlight” segments that are heard at 15 past the hour every day. These segments inform the listeners about non-profit fund raising events that either benefit members of our community, or highlight the work that these organizations undertake to better the community, the institutions that exist within it, and the people who rely on us to help them in their hour of need. Some of these organizations reach out to WHAV asking to help them get the word out for them. Other times, many organizations that are doing amazing work are not aware of the this station’s efforts to promote them for free. It’s nice to know that the phrase “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t” does not apply to “Community Spotlight.”

I have been retired for a little over five years now, and because of that, I have had the opportunity to lend a hand a bit.

Local Columnists

Why We Just Know Things

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Srinivasa Ramanujan. In 1913, Srinivasa Ramanujan a 25-year-old Indian accounting clerk and self-taught mathematician wrote a letter to the leading British mathematician of his time Godfrey Harold Hardy. In it, he asked Hardy’s opinion regarding equations and ideas he had about numbers. This letter led to Ramanujan coming to Cambridge University in England in 1914 and set in motion an extraordinary series of events in mathematical history. Srinivasa Ramanujan’s life is documented in a movie titled, “The Man Who Knew Infinity,” which I watched with my wife last weekend.

Guest Column

Differences of Opinion Bolster Our Democracy

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I have a hunch that no sooner will I finish posting this column, then someone will post a comment about socialistic leanings that I supposedly hold, or that of the media that carries this column. But, that’s what democracy is all about. Over the course of time leading up to the recent presidential election and for the four months since, a lot of opinions have been shared by some individuals. It seems that the comments made by the president’s tweets have emboldened a number of people to come front and center with their feelings. Since this is a democracy, everyone has the right to an opinion, whether anyone else agrees with it or not.

Local Columnists

AFL-CIO Joins Boycott Against Mexican Made Nabisco Products

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By Doug Cunningham

The AFL-CIO is joining the boycott of Nabisco products made in Mexico. Mondolez International makes Nabisco products. The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union is already boycotting Oreos and other Mexican made Nabisco products because U.S. jobs were wiped out in order to pay low wages and ship the product back from Mexico for sale in the U.S.

The AFL-CIO is also planning to use the campaign as a model for other “Good Jobs” solidarity campaigns when corporations ship jobs out of the U.S.
17,000 CWA Workers in California And Nevada Strike AT&T
The Communications Workers of America say 11 of its AT&T locals in California and Nevada—some 17,000 workers—went on strike Wednesday. The union says they are on a grievance strike due to AT&T violations of previously negotiated job duties of technicians. These are landline AT&T workers.

Local Columnists

Pondering Reliable Wisdom

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 J.K. Rowling reads from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone at the Easter Egg Roll at White House. (Photograph by Daniel Ogren. Creative Commons.)

I recently began writing and publishing weekly articles about work, life and success principles. For me this work continues to be very meaningful. Writing is not easy, it takes time and it is not like most of the work I do as a professional that makes me money, at the moment anyway.