Patience Merriman

Breed bias

This dog is sweet and deserves to be adopted

Nestle's a great dog. He's smart, affectionate, and fun. He loves playing and hanging out with people, and he's a great kisser (if you like dog kisses).

But in the many months since Nestle came to the Windham County Humane Society's shelter in Brattleboro, he's had no takers. Nobody in Windham County wants to give Nestle a home.

Clearly, it's a case of breed discrimination. Because, you see, Nestle is a pit-bull mix. And we all know what pit bulls are like, right? They're snarly, vicious, and mean.

Except Nestle isn't any of these things.

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Checkout-counter politics

How is it a good business decision for my drugstore to alienate half of its customers?

In February, while standing in the checkout line at Rite Aid in Wilmington, I spotted a magazine I'd never seen before: a glossy publication celebrating the growth and success of the Tea Party. I picked it up and started flipping pages. Every single story appeared to be either a...

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