My brother Steve was 40 when he finally won custody of his teenage son. After years of legal wrangling, the victory came as a huge relief. Steve was convinced that my mother knew in advance of the verdict, and was somehow behind it; she should, therefore, be the first to know. Unable to reach her, […]

This past week, a ban went into effect, making it against the law to text while driving. A $100 fine is attached as a penalty for the offense if caught. The key concept is “if caught.” Tell that to the truck driver in North Berwick who, accordingly to police reports, became distracted with a cell […]

Potatoes are under attack from all sides, with the nation’s obesity epidemic leading health advocates to single out the vegetable for its sins ”“ namely, in its most fatty and popular form: French fries. The government has already taken one step in opposing spuds by cutting it from the list of grocery items covered by […]

Republicans are accusing President Obama of waging class warfare, which is a little like the Japanese complaining about the time Pearl Harbor attacked them in 1941. Still, that’s the Republican Party’s role in life. It’s the defender of the rich and powerful and a friend to those who can afford them. It’s a dirty job […]

As Biddeford High School grapples with how to improve test scores, one thing is clear: A new approach is needed. School administrators were hoping a glitch in reporting would mean an increase in the high schools’ overall scores, but after the final numbers were released recently, the results remained dismal. According to the numbers, nearly […]

The Republican presidential candidate debate last week was troubling to many swing voters. The rhetoric indicated that the campaign will be harsh and long until it is resolved at the Republican convention in 2012. More credible positions need to be stated by the Republican presidential candidates, if voters are to have confidence in their ability […]

Sharing a border with Canada, we rarely have to deal with immigration issues in the public eye, as there is no line of Canadians eager to get into Maine. Some businesses, however, bring the issue to Maine ”“ along with the problems that accompany it. The illegal immigration debate hit home last week as the […]

[T]he animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours, they move finished and complete, gifted with extension of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren; they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with […]

As Maine continues to crack down on bath salts, the federal government should send a message by making the substance illegal throughout the country. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe announced last week that she is co-sponsoring legislation that would amend the Controlled Substances Act to make bath salts illegal in the United States. […]

There is madness in the collegiate athletic landscape and we’re not talking about the annual National Collegiate Athletic Association’s college basketball tournament that is lovingly referred to as March Madness. No, this madness is of a serious nature and it doesn’t appear that anything can be done to stop it. We are referring to the […]