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		<title>Editorials and commentary</title>
		<link>http://www.fairfieldcitizenonline.com/home/collectionRss/Homepage-Hcat-Opinion-wide-9352.php</link>
		<description><![CDATA[  The latest news from our opinion section.  ]]></description>
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								<![CDATA[ Editorial / Arrogance, secrecy no way run fire commission ]]>
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							<link>http://www.fairfieldcitizenonline.com/news/article/Editorial-Arrogance-secrecy-no-way-run-fire-4523134.php</link>
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								<![CDATA[ How long will Fairfield put up with Fire Commission Chairman Richard Popilowski's attempts to bully people and his dismissive attitude about public accountability?

Two more examples of Popilowski's arrogance emerged recently -- one involved a clear conflict of interest between his private-sector job and his role as a fire commissioner; the other his insolent attempt last week to illegally bar the public from a commission meeting.

A day later he replied, saying, the United Way appreciated the opportunity to talk with town employees "but would never want to put anyone in an uncomfortable position."

Last week, Popilowski arrogantly insisted he could take the commission into private session to discuss controversial provisional promotions -- over the objections of reporters who said he did not have cause and even after Selectman Cristin McCarthy Vahey told him it would violate the state's Freedom of Information Act.

Controversy over the provisional promotion of firefighters just before they retired first flared last year when the Board of Finance received an anonymous letter complaining about it.

When Fire Chief Richard Felner last year was accused of slapping a subordinate at fire headquarters, Popilowski's commission hunkered down secretly behind closed doors for hours on end. ]]>
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							<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2013 19:50:54 UT</pubDate>
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								<![CDATA[ EarthTalk / Right A/C saves power and environment ]]>
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							<link>http://www.fairfieldcitizenonline.com/opinion/article/EarthTalk-Right-A-C-saves-power-and-environment-4515464.php</link>
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								<![CDATA[ According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, energy consumption for home air conditioning units accounts for more than 8 percent of all the electricity produced in the U.S., at a cost to homeowners of $15 billion annually.

Besides the cost, this cooling leads to annual emissions of about 195 million tons of CO2 -- or two tons per year for each American home with A/C.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, national appliance standards require room air conditioners to have an EER of 8.0 to 9.8 or more, depending on type and capacity.

Central A/C is more efficient overall at keeping a whole house cool, and will also do a better job at reducing household humidity than even several individual room units -- and will save more money faster on electricity bills.

Improving insulation, sealing air gaps, getting rid of old appliances and light bulbs that give off lots of heat, running fans, using cooler colors on exterior roofing and paint, and other strategies. ]]>
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							<pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2013 19:22:10 UT</pubDate>
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								<![CDATA[ A Father's Journal / The real reasons why most men don't cheat on their wives ]]>
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							<link>http://www.fairfieldcitizenonline.com/opinion/article/A-Father-s-Journal-The-real-reasons-why-most-4514057.php</link>
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                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Thomas Lawlor ]]></dc:creator>
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								<![CDATA[ A Father's Journal / The real reasons why most men don't cheat on their wives

[...] I've never cheated on my wife.

Kind of a weird confession to make.

[...] it intrigued me when I spotted on MSN.com "Qualities all faithful men have."

On another website I'd read that more than two-thirds of men are faithful.

What do each of those faithful men on this planet share?

According to the MSN relationship column:

"Who writes this slush?" Two-thirds of men are great communicators?

Most days when I get home from work, I am monosyllabic.

Again, two-thirds of men? I don't know what is going on emotionally with my wife and daughters.

Whoever wrote this crap could never have been in a relationship for more than a weekend.

The writer was assigning superman attributes to more than two-thirds of the male population.

To commit a crime you need motive and opportunity.

No opportunity, no crime.

Thomas Lawlor lives in Southport with his wife and two daughters. ]]>
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							<pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2013 11:58:55 UT</pubDate>
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								<![CDATA[ Hines Sight / Do something nice for Mom ]]>
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							<link>http://www.fairfieldcitizenonline.com/opinion/article/Hines-Sight-Do-something-nice-for-Mom-4509145.php</link>
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                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Patricia A. Hines ]]></dc:creator>
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								<![CDATA[ [...] the origin of Mother's Day is an interesting story.

The modern American Mother's Day pre-dates the Civil War.

In 1868, Jarvis organized "Mothers' Friendship Day," when "mothers gathered with former Union and Confederate soldiers to promote reconciliation."

Following the success of her first Mother's Day, Jarvis -- who remained unmarried and childless her whole life -- resolved to see her holiday added to the national calendar. ...

By 1920, after the holiday started to become commercialized, she publicly "denounced the transformation and urged people to stop buying Mother's Day flowers, cards and candies."

When I was a teenager, Mom avoided my bedroom -- unmade bed, clothes everywhere -- except for those times when she would throw my belongings, usually left all over the house, into my room and then quickly shut the door.

No point in sitting down for a three-course meal when Mom was just as happy having scrambled eggs or a cheese pie. ]]>
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							<pubDate>Sun, 12 May 2013 13:44:56 UT</pubDate>
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