At the opening of a documentary on the life of Jimmy Lai, pronounced “Lie,” we hear words from a Chinese proverb. “If you are a bird, you would rather die singing than living a quiet life.”

Lai was never destined to live a quiet life, as we learn in “The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai’s Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom,” released in 2022 by Acton Films. He was born in China in 1948, the son of a successful businessman. The next year, the Communists under Mao Zedong overthrew the government.

Residents, business owners and community leaders of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Swain County are invited to attend a pair of public open house meetings.

The Swain County open house will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, in the Community Room of the Swain County Administration Building in Bryson City. The EBCI open house will be held from 3-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Yellowhill Community Building in Cherokee. 

On the outskirts of downtown Old Fort, along the quaint Curtis Creek Road, is the entrance to Wunderland Resort — a brand new “immersive nature retreat” for folks passionate about the outdoors and wellness. 

Jackson County’s parks and recreation system is in solid condition overall but faces notable shortfalls in land, staffing and key recreational offerings, according to a recent report by McGill Associates. 

Framing local park systems on a spectrum between “expense” and “investment,” the report shows that communities treating recreation as an investment tend to enjoy economic dividends through higher property values, visitor spending and improved quality of life. 

When I heard British writer and philosopher Nina Power interviewed recently, I ordered her book. I was interested in her ideas, but also in her. I liked her curiosity and intellect, her attitude of respect and her low-key sense of humor.

By Daley Hooten • Rumble Contributor | Everyone! Mitski is back! I repeat, Mitski is back!

After a 3 year hiatus, singer-songwriter Mitski Miyawaki returned on October 5th with a new single and the exciting announcement of her U.S. tour. “Working for the Knife”' is the title of this new single and it's the perfect song to return with.