Who eats horse meat in New Jersey? Maybe nobody does, but soon it could be illegal just in case somebody gets a craving for a pony burger or a Clydesdale sandwich. The General Assembly has approved bipartisan legislation that would ban the slaughter or sale of horses for human consumption. Assemblyman Ron Dancer introduced the bill after a federal ban was lifted last fall that reverses a 2006 decision by Congress to withdraw funding to inspect plants that butchered horses – effectively banning horse consumption. Dancer says, “New Jersey does not eat horse meat and our horses will not be taken from the stable to a table. The horse is New Jersey’s state animal and we appreciate these magnificent animals for their grace and beauty. ... Continue reading →
Republican file photo Northampton’s historic Pleasant Street Theater, an iconic destination for art house film since the mid-1970s, will close on June 8. “This was not a decision we came to lightly, or without sadness,” said Carol Johnson, executive director of the Amherst Cinema Arts Center. In a release to news media on the morning of May 25, Johnson said, “And it was not a decision about the future of independent film and world cinema in our Valley. “Our Valley loves film! This decision was about how best to fulfill our mission and how to use our future resources to meet the growing needs of an expanding regional audience.” After the Pleasant Street Theater closed in 2007, the Amherst Cinema Arts Center — a member-supported ... Continue reading →
Our world is saturated in color, from soft hues to violent stains. How does something so intangible pack such a visceral punch? This hour, in the name of science and poetry, Jad and Robert tear the rainbow to pieces. To what extent is color a physical thing in the physical world, and to what extent is it created in our minds? We start with Sir Isaac Newton, who was so eager to solve this very mystery, he stuck a knife in his eye to pinpoint the answer. Then, we meet a sea creature that sees a rainbow way beyond anything humans can experience, and we track down a woman who we're pretty sure can see thousands (maybe even millions) more colors than the rest of ... Continue reading →