Author: Erik Williams

Today started out somewhat gloomy and overcast and not just because of the weather here in the Raleigh area. Today would have been my father's 75th birthday and there's no getting round the fact that ever since he passed away four years ago, words just cannot properly express just how terribly I miss him. Sometimes it's something really stupid that takes my breath away. When I would ring him up on his birthday to wish…

Over the years, I've been learning a bit here and there about Puerto Rican culture from my wonderful neighbours Miguel and Jessica. A couple of days ago, a small tub of homemade sofrito came my way and last night it came together with some Polska kielbasa and olive oil. Wow. Seriously…WOW! Combined with a bit of "káposzta és tészta" (cabbage and noodles) which was done with the hot Hungarian paprika…dinner was not for the faint…

No matter what one might think of the President, or his administration’s policies…you’ve got to admit that getting his signature on the legislation raising the purchasing age to 21 for tobacco and e-cigarette products can’t reasonably be seen as anything other than a GOOD THING. Would I prefer an outright ban? Yes…even knowing it would likely suffer the same fate Prohibition did…bootlegging and the black market will get round the government ban. But the difference…

As the House eventually gets round to debating and voting on the two Articles of Impeachment, you may well notice that curiously time seems to dilate in much the same way as it does round a massive black hole…particularly when votes are called. Long time CSPAN viewers know that when the person in the Speaker’s chair announces a recorded vote and gives a time limit of five or fifteen minutes, it is very rare that…

Sometimes HealthCare.gov and the insurance companies providing the data gets the messaging totally spot-on when it comes to the health care plans on offer on the exchange in NC… :(

The Tories are set to win a massive majority in the general election but for me, the most interesting contest is the one in Bolsover which has been held by the “Beast of Bolsover” Dennis Skinner of the Labour Party since 1970. Skinner is famous for heckling Black Rod when they come into the Commons to summon them to attend Her Majesty in the House of Lords for the State Opening of Parliament. Tory frontbenchers…