The 126th Maine Legislature received a rude interruption to its first regular session this week as Gov. Paul LePage ordered a reduction in state spending of $35.5 million in order to balance the budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. The reduction, known as a curtailment order, serves as a temporary cut to […]
American Journal Opinion
Posted inAmerican Journal, Current, Lakes Region Weekly, Northern Forecaster
QUINN'S CORNER – Some stats to ponder
Facebook explained: Researchers studying the brain have discovered that the area of the brain that indicates pleasure during sex, eating or making money also glows brightly when people are talking about themselves. Depends on where you stand: When running for Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney said, “I’m a businessman. I know how to create jobs.” During […]
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Posted inAmerican Journal, Current, Lakes Region Weekly
EDITORIAL – Expert predictions are mixed, at best
With the Mayan apocalypse now proved a bust, we know we now have to deal with 2013. Each year at this time, we turn to a Current Publishing tradition in using the most sophisticated technology available in the newsroom for predicting events in the coming year – the Magic 8 Ball. It’s proven to be […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Current, Lakes Region Weekly
DOWN THE ROAD A PIECE – These beans count only slightly
Family gatherings can be tricky things to navigate any time of year, but they get a tad riskier and fraught with danger this time of year. Why is that? At a recent Thanksgiving get-together, it was decided, for obvious reasons, that we wouldn’t talk about the Red Sox. What’s the point? It was also decided […]
Posted inAmerican Journal
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR – Loud surprise
The Dec. 13 American Journal had an extensive, detailed story on the continuing discussion between Pike Industries and its neighbors around the Spring Street quarry. On Page 6 of the AJ, the sixth paragraph describes an “inconsistency cited by Chief Justice Humphrey … the consent agreement that requires Pike to use synthetic screens and a […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Current, Lakes Region Weekly
EDITORIAL – In tragedy’s aftermath, some rational strategies
Everyone has been to a place like Sandy Hook Elementary. Every day, countless parents drop children off at school and take their safe return as a given. That illusion of safety was broken last Friday. That the victims were so young is almost unbearably heartbreaking. That the site was an elementary school, a place so […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Current, Lakes Region Weekly
EDITORIAL – In tragedy’s aftermath, some rational strategies
Everyone has been to a place like Sandy Hook Elementary. Every day, countless parents drop children off at school and take their safe return as a given. That illusion of safety was broken last Friday. That the victims were so young is almost unbearably heartbreaking. That the site was an elementary school, a place so […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Current, Lakes Region Weekly
POLITICS AND OTHER MISTAKES – Last of the dinosaurs
Maybe those nutballs who claim dinosaurs and cavemen existed at the same time aren’t quite as batty as the scientific evidence indicates. In the past month, there have been at least two dinosaur sightings right here in Maine. The first incident occurred in Augusta, near the tar pit that is the state Legislature. Democrats, newly […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Current, Lakes Region Weekly
GUEST COLUMN – In their memory, a gift of books
The tragedy of the fallen innocents in the recent Connecticut school shooting is difficult to come to grips with. It’s rough terrain for parents, teachers and friends. It’s especially rough for those who have experienced the loss of a child. I have this unenviable distinction, having lost a son some 14 years ago. If you […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Current, Lakes Region Weekly
DOWN THE ROAD A PIECE – Beans count only slightly
Family gatherings can be tricky things to navigate any time of year, but they get a tad riskier and fraught with danger this time of year. Why is that?? At a recent Thanksgiving get-together, it was decided, for obvious reasons, that we wouldn’t talk about the Red Sox. What’s the point? It was also decided […]