We’ve had a mini-explosion lately of local Web-enabled groups claiming to speak for one cause or another. Other than anonymity, a common factor is their general negativity.

One such group, in fact, even embraces the name of C.A.V.E. people – Citizens Against Virtually Everything – apparently failing to understand that the title is a public dunce cap for the willfully ignorant.

With so much crime drama inexplicably taking place this past week in Columbia County, the Feb. 24 conviction and subsequent life sentence of Thomas Bradford for the murder of Raymond Lee might seem like ancient history.

Sure, there’s still a multi-million-dollar civil suit pending in the case. And no one would be surprised if appeals of Bradford’s murder conviction are forthcoming. But before the dust settles, there’s one nagging aspect of the case that shouldn’t escape comment.

I was sitting outside on my deck the other day, wondering why there are so many things in this world we don’t quite understand.

First of all, the sun was shining full blast but it was as cold as the dickens (whatever that means). How can that be? When I think of sunshine, I think of bright warm places, like the beach or the Caribbean. The sun can’t possibly be putting out “cold rays.” Of course, I’m not a meteorologist, and I’m sure they have a perfectly scientific explanation, but not one I would understand.