When my high school buddies Roland and Earl and I go out to lunch each week, we keep a photograph of our late, great friend Christopher clipped to the passenger side visor. Chris may be gone, but he is with us always. We even pretend that he didn’t die, feigning indignation that he hasn’t been […]
Forecaster opinion
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Here’s Something: Journalists should follow Lehrer’s ‘Nine Rules’
If there’s one thing liberals and conservatives can agree on, it’s the need for unbiased, independent and fact-based journalism. We may feel more comfortable consuming news, analysis and opinion that fits our political worldview, but that’s not what we need. To know the truth, we require both sides of the story. Unfortunately, as we all […]
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Posted inForecaster Opinion
Life Unwound: Grief is past, present and future
I’d rather skip writing about grief. I’d rather write like poet Ross Gay in “The Book of Delights.” I smile as I read how he felt “delighted and compelled to both wonder and share that delight.” What comes as I write is not, as Gay called his essays, “something delightful.” Rather grief stories flow, broken […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
The Universal Notebook: CMP project supported by old guard ‘environmentalists’
Ten “Maine environmental leaders” signed on to a full-page ad last week endorsing the New England Clean Energy Connect project, Central Maine Power’s bid to transfer Hydro-Quebec electricity from Canada through Maine to Boston. Like everyone who opposes NECEC, I was deeply saddened to see these former leaders attach their names to such a problematic […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Here’s Something: Boos and Bravos
Welcome to another edition of Boos and Bravos, the catchall column of Here’s Something. Bravo to Sen. Susan Collins for demonstrating true stateswoman-like demeanor in the impeachment trial of President Trump. Collins, who’s represented Maine for 24 years in the Senate, recently said she’ll likely support a motion to call witnesses only after each side has […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Mainewhile: Everyone needs to engage with the art community
If you choose to share your life with an artist, as I do, the odds are good you are going to spend a fair amount of your leisure time popping into galleries, strolling through museums and scanning the cheese platter at art openings. Fortunately, I happen to like these spaces. I like them so much […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Forecaster Opinion
Over Easy: History of Shopping, part II
Ever wonder why the clothes that fit you so well 20 years ago are too small today? Has your size gone from medium to large without you knowing how or why? Well, here is a cockamamie theory to explain such a phenomenon. A theory that makes about as much sense as showing up at one […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Letter: Don’t repeal mandatory vaccination law
In less than two months we will be voting on the question of repealing the law passed last year concerning the mandatory vaccinations of all Maine students. l urge people to reject the people’s veto so that the state can continue to require all students to be protected against harmful diseases. The World Health Organization […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Letter: Three energy sources for carbon-free future
We want to make the world better and to diminish carbon emissions, which are destroying our atmosphere and causing climate change. The three energy sources that will take Maine into the carbon-free future are hydroelectric power, biomass and wind. We need these energy sources. Our world is being destroyed by this horrible byproduct. Biomass is […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
The Universal Notebook: Foreign policy follies
The media is saturated these days with know-nothing talking heads pontificating about the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani. So let’s start by stipulating that most of us know little or nothing about foreign policy … and that includes Donald J. Trump. As private citizens, we want to believe that those in […]