America is suffering from a sickness that has the potential to forever change the way we live. No, I’m not talking about the coronavirus. That’s a natural occurrence. I’m talking about the Trump virus. That’s not. Watching the nightly pandemic briefings on television I get the sense that there is a huge and potentially fatal […]
Forecaster opinion
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Here’s Something: Signs of the times are everywhere
Housebound Mainers may not know it, but there are plenty of signs of hope out there. While many have been held prisoner in their own homes under threat of $1,000 fines and six months of imprisonment by Gov. Janet Mills’ executive order banning all “non-essential” work and travel, there have been many encouraging signs – […]
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Posted inForecaster Opinion
Superintendent’s Notebook: We empathize with families on remote learning challenges
As you now know, the Portland Public Schools won’t be reopening our buildings for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Instead, we’ll continue to deliver learning remotely through the end of the year. We based our decision on a recommendation by Maine’s education commissioner that school districts should continue remote learning to keep students […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Letter: Why does Collins keep giving Trump a pass?
Why does Susan Collins keep making excuses for Trump? “I think in the beginning there were times when he was speaking about what he hoped would happen rather than relying on the data and information of his experts.” She excused Trump’s ineptitude when people desperately needed correct, up-to-date scientific information. Lives are at stake! Collins […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Over Easy: Maine in the time of COVID-19
After weeks of shelter-in-place quarantine I imagine a lot of married couples will be taking separate vacations this summer, if summer is not canceled. The photos on the news emphasize the far-reaching nature of the pandemic – Paris abandoned, Times Square dark, China closed down, empty streets a testament to hard times still to come. […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Superintendent’s Notebook: Learning together from a distance
Three weeks ago, I made the excruciating decision to switch to remote learning for what we hoped would only be two weeks to help “flatten the curve” or “Falcon the curve” as we say at Freeport High School. Now the time has stretched to seven weeks, with no guarantee our students will return to our […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
The Universal Notebook: Fear itself
For reasons having to do with both inherent skepticism and defiant denial, I have been slow to embrace social distancing as anything more than mass hysteria. Over the past two weeks, however, I have evolved from “This is way overblown” to “This could kill me.” I have had this gradual change of heart as people […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Here’s Something: We can only panic for so long
The Greek god Pan must be rubbing his hands and licking his lips in perverse delight watching Americans respond to COVID-19. While the word “pandemic” isn’t derived from Pan (it comes from the Greek words “pan” meaning “all” and “demos” for “people”), the word “panic” does originate from Pan, who caused frightened humans to “flee […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Life Unwound: Handwashing can be a time to pause and breathe
Have you noticed all the noise telling us to quiet? I’ve followed virtual busy-ness ideas like online yoga classes, Zoom sessions for writers and meditation in chat groups. I know. Weird and wonderful. Yet, I also like the advice meant not to keep us busy but rather to keep us safe. Hand washing, hand sanitizer. […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Letter: Here’s why we’re panicking, Mr. Beem
Edgar Beem wants to know why we’re panicking over the Covid-19 pandemic and compares the incidence of deaths attributed to it to deaths from sleeping sickness. (“Will the panic be worse than the virus?” 3/18/20) It’s simple Mr. Beem. The Covid-19 virus is completely new to the human family. No one is immune. Yes, the […]