Thumbs up, thumbs down

Thumbs up

to the many organizations and communities throughout the state that organized meaningful events to honor the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day on Sunday, which marked the end of World War I. It is sad to note that the optimism of the “war to end all wars” ultimately was unfounded as nations continue to fight long wars and conflicts. Still, that does not diminish the sacrifices veterans make in service to our country nor our gratitude.

Thumbs up

to everyone who voted in Connecticut last week, all 1.3 million of you. Whether they were driven to the polls by the governor’s race, the national schism between political parties or simply because they cherish the right to vote, it was inspiring to see a turnout that was the highest since 1990 for a midterm election. Poll workers who patiently assisted voters deserve kudos as well.

Thumbs down,

though, to the 800,000 eligible voters in Connecticut who gave Democracy a day off. If this year didn’t offer reasons to show up at the polls, we suspect nothing could. Sure, voting could be an easier process, but it’s hardly a difficult one. Plenty of opinions about candidates and elected officials are expressed every day on social media, but too many people are silent at the polls.

Thumbs up

to Dr. John Martignetti and his teams at Western Connecticut Health Network’s Rudy L. Ruggles Biomedial Research Institute in Danbury for their discovery of an early detection tool for diagnosing ovarian cancers, called the “silent killer” because they often are found too late for effective treatment. Along with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, the team developed a molecular level screening tool that can detect ovarian cancers 10 months earlier than previously. More research is needed, but the results so far hold much promise.

Thumbs up

to malls in the region showing signs of survival in the internet age. Competition that inspires creativity, variety and, yes, bargains should be welcome. While malls across the country continue to see rises in vacancy rates, experts cite affluence and — surprise — high population as contributing to the continued success of malls. The massive SoNo Collection Mall project in Norwalk will test the Connecticut market even further, but currently busy parking lots are preferable to vacancy signs.

Thumbs up

to David Blight, professor of American history at Yale University, who has written a new biography, “Frederick Douglass: Prophet of of Freedom,” which is shining new light on a man who overcame huge obstacles to become one of the most important figures of American history. Douglass is “getting a lot of attention because his ideas, his writings, are timely. We’re having an enormous racial reckoning,” according to Blight, professor of American history at Yale and director of the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition at Yale.