Ah, Black Friday rears its ugly head once again. The real question this year will be if shoppers are digging even deeper to find better bargains, or if we’ll just pass on Black Friday altogether.

The nation’s unemployment rate topped 10 percent last month, the highest level in a generation.

Northwestern University journalism students and their professor are getting a taste of “the Chicago Way,” courtesy of the Cook County prosecutor’s office.

We could live in peace with the vast bulk of Muslims, but there are millions of jihadist Muslims, like American-born Hasan, embedded in nations all around the world who want to remove from us the choice of peace.

This month, Americans are giving thanks; and as a leadup to Turkey Day, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to truly be thankful.

“It’s about time.” I’m referring to the new rules that are being (and in some cases have been) imposed on some levels of the so-called “sports” activities across the land.

My truck may be a time machine. Whatever you do, don’t tell any shadowy government agencies. I don’t want square-jawed men in suits and sunglasses with tiny wires coming out of their ears whisking us away to an undisclosed location to kick the tires, check under the hood and interrogate me using “persuasive methods” previously awarded the Dick Cheney Seal of Approval.

As the only girl in a farming family with two brothers, my dad and my older brother taught this old gal a thing or two when I was growing up.

Three years ago this month through the mist of the fall in Piedmont I wandered into fair Culpeper to claim it as my new home.

At the risk of sounding like Lou Dobbs, much Cain is raised these days over income inequalities.

Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the 39-year-old Virginia-born psychiatrist who opened fire on his fellow soldiers at Fort Hood, started his holy war preparation in September when he bought a Belgian-made FN Herstal Five-Seven tactical pistol and a .357 Magnum with a laser sight.

As this paper hit your porch, my wife was starting another day of work at an annual conference. And if all goes well this week, no one will ever know she was there.

Over the years I have written a number of articles that have been critical of the global oil industry and the “Seven Sisters” in particular. I have been especially concerned with what I consider to be their predatory pricing policies.

It was a good day at work. I wasn’t eaten by a lion.

As I stepped outside to begin my trek home to Orange, the scent of french fries reached out, as if to hook its magical McFingers under my nostrils. This is the struggle I face every day in my quest to continue losing weight and getting healthy.

Not so long ago, when people “bounced” a check, the bank refused it and the store to which it was written had to find the check writer to get paid.

An intervention may be necessary; I believe I am a Facebook addict.

The secret to the landslide success of the three statewide candidates on the 2009 Virginia Republican ticket may also be that they are simply plain, honest men.

Halloween may be over, but in Virginia (and elsewhere), politics and sports continue the masquerade as each attempts to look more and more like the other.

Editor’s note: Jim Bayne’s column will return next week.

Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part column by Culpeper’s town manager. The first installment ran Oct. 24.

Yes, Culpeper, I am one of those annoying grownups who still dresses up for Halloween. This year, I will represent a throwback to the ’80s, complete with big hair and fluorescent fishnets. But a large part of my Halloween is always the “cinematic experience.”

Are we proper stewards of our community? Of Culpeper, our people, our resources?

Round and round we go, where it stops no one knows.

It is not McDonnell vs. Obama. It is McDonnell vs. Deeds.

It’s that time of year again: Time to decorate the house with cobwebs and creatures, time to invest a small fortune to keep the candy kitty full, and time for me to write my annual admonishment of the Halloween night routine in Culpeper.

The cost involved in seeking elective office at the congressional and presidential levels has risen to the point where it is unrealistic for most worthy citizens in this country to aspire for high public office.

Editor’s note: This is the first in a two-part column by Culpeper Town Manager. The final installment is scheduled to appear next Saturday.

With all the hubbub over “balloon boy” this past week, I would be remiss if I did not give you (or force-feed you) my thoughts.

Virginia voters have long been kind to gubernatorial candidates who were not members of the party of the sitting president.