It’s never too soon to start talking about the next presidential election — and never too soon to start parsing possible candidates. Let’s face it: There are some folks, regardless of their credentials or suitability, who will never be the leader of the free world, for various reasons.

PsychoAlfred Hitchcock was the master of capturing the terror of everyday life. Fifty years after its release in 1960, Psycho still sets the standard for psychological terror. The famous shower scene

October is the perfect time of year to get out and hike, and judging by the gridlock on the road ascending Pilot Mountain last weekend, lots of people in the Piedmont Triad know it. A couple reasons: The leaves begin to turn colors from a field of green to a brilliant kaleidoscope of yellows, oranges, crimsons and purples.

Author Naomi Klein said, You watch US media and the question is, Why are they protesting? where, everywhere else in the world, the question is, What took them so long? Millions of people have been negatively affected by our economic system since 2008, but many more have always been marginalized by the nations staggering inequalities.

The primary sponsor of North Carolinas Defense of Marriage Act, Sen. Jim Forrester (R-Gaston County), recently called Asheville a cesspool of sin. He later explained his reasoning, saying, They have a lot of very liberal people. They have a lot of homosexuals that live in the Asheville area.

Four candidates for mayor of Greensboro Robbie Perkins, Tom Phillips, Bradford Cone and Tom Phillips took questions in the Haywood Duke Room at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church during a lunch-hour candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad last week.

Councilwoman Mary Rakestraw read a resolution honoring the memory of the late Wally Harrelson, who was appointed chief public defender for Guilford County by then- Gov. Bob Scott in 1970, and was continually reappointed to the position over the next four decades.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances, states the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

As we hit the 10-year anniversary of 9-11 this week, I am struck by how much has changed and how much has not. I still think about the people from my hometown we lost that day: John Murphy, Mike Edwards, Ryan Kohart, Tom Brennan, Rob McLaughlin, Bobby Ferris dad.

As an 18-year-old pilgrim to San Francisco, I stumbled on to St. John Coltrane Orthodox Church, a storefront worship center a short six blocks from my dingy basement apartment at the corner of Fillmore and Hayes streets. A young man in search of experience though not particularly religious at the time, I attended a Sunday morning service.

Like most classics about high school, this movie is all about an oppressive school administration, but in this case the students have some unusual allies: the Ramones. The most memorable scene is at the end (spoiler alert) when the students blow up the school as the Ramones play out front.

Golf is hard, or so my grandfather told me when he was teaching me the game many, many years ago. Ive lost my taste for chasing the little white ball, but the advice he gave me about the game has stayed with me. For starters, learn what you can do with each club by practicing on the driving range; it will improve your fairway play.

When it comes to first dates, the traditional choice is having dinner at a fine restaurant. Guys are encouraged to take their dates to a classy place with excellent food, and to be on their best behavior throughout the evening.

There is nothing better than homegrown tomatoes, and my family was the beneficiary of fresh tomatoes when I house-sat for friends in Julian last week. Irregularly shaped, cracked and featuring concentric stretch marks around their tops, they are no beauties.

Stir in 3 Tbsp. of all-purpose flour and 3 Tbsp. of curry powder until smooth and the mixture bubbles some. Whisk in 4 cups of vegetable broth, 30 oz. of pumpkin (two cans at 15 oz. each) and 1 cups of half-and-half. Then add 2 Tbsp. of soy sauce, 1 Tbsp. of sugar, and some salt and pepper.

Bo, the first Portuguese water dog in the White House, came loping onto the White House lawn just months after the inauguration of President Obama. After a flurry of media attention and suggestions made by Malia and Sasha Obama, the family selected Bo who sports formal attire at all times a black-and-white tuxedo.

Last week in Orlando, Fla. Anthony stood accused of the murder of her daughter, 2-yearold Caylee. A jury acquitted her of all charges.

Almost everyone I know who rides a bike regularly in this city has been hit by a car. The layout of Greensboro is car-centric, but more bike lanes could help improve cyclist safety and encourage more people to ditch their cars, helping alleviate a perceived parking problem and decrease vehicle traffic.

Due to the fact AMC and Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner could not reach an agreement on his contract, the fifth season of the Emmy Award-winning show was postponed until March 2012. Since 2007, Mad Men has been the perfect cure for the summer entertainment blues and a Sunday night staple for millions of loyal viewers.

Consider an overnight stay at the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro. Its luxe, for certain, but also named the greenest hotel in America by the 2009 North Carolina Travel Guide. The attached Printworks Bistro is also an elegant hideaway close to home.