Better known by his pen name, Mark Twain, renowned humorist Samuel Clemens (born Nov. 30, 1835) didn’t just write classic novels like “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and ”Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” His observations on life in general and human beings in particular are still widely cited. Two of Twain’s acerbic gems, “All you need […]

This autumn, everybody’s talking about the drones and flat-screen televisions that were predicted in the 1989 film “Back to the Future Part II” – and the hoverboards and flying cars that haven’t yet materialized. Together those predictions tell us a lot about the peril of imagining the future. But if we engage in a brief […]

Question 1 is a proposal to strengthen the Maine Clean Election Act, improve disclosure, and make other changes to the campaign finance laws. The campaign in support of the initiative is being led by Maine Citizens for Clean Elections. The text of the measure is as follows: Do you want to change Maine law to […]

It’s not uncommon for Mainers to visit a doctor or even undergo surgery without having any idea the cost of their care. Unfortunately, the cost of treatment is often the furthest thing from our minds when we need to see a doctor. Emergency needs or sudden illnesses make a trip to the doctor necessary regardless […]

Candidates seem increasingly to give themselves the right to say something not “politically correct.” “So what,” they say in effect, “I call them as I see them and I don’t care if that meets the standards of the current political debate.” It’s a way of appearing bold, appealing to some supporters without worrying about the […]

My face was sweating. Splotches of red paint speckled my hands and legs, giving my throbbing digits the look of a faded checkerboard tablecloth. My breath came in tearing rasps, and joints popped as I arched my back, happy to be done with the day’s handiwork. Time to reward myself with one of those hairy […]