The breakdown of Mideast peace talks this month showed that the U.S. does not have the leverage to arrange face-to-face negotiations. The administration was forced to face the reality that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not halt construction in Jewish settlements in the West Bank ”“ an essential condition for direct Isreali-Palestinian talks. It […]

Christmas is a joyful day, a time to reflect and plan for a New Year. A friend once said that Christmas was his time to buy holiday gifts, with next year’s money. His thoughts have changed today, though. The recession has affected his way of living and planning for the future. Christmas is only two […]

Generations of farmers, mill workers, loggers and fishermen set a standard for toil that Mainers continue to achieve. If job opportunities here ever match the work ethic, wage earners could lead us to prosperity. Unfortunately, good opportunities are scarce today. A recent census report confirms that earnings in Maine remain the lowest in the region, […]

I can never find time to write during the week before Christmas, but apparently others can. The thoughtful responses to last week’s column questioning the role(s) of technology in education were in many cases far more eloquent than the essay that prompted them. What follows are a few of the highlights. These thoughts need to […]

Here in this wooded place, winter is the only time I am able to see the sunrises and sunsets. As of this writing, the sky starts to lighten around 6 a.m., but it isn’t until well after 7 that the sun makes its presence once again known to me. And there is nothing quite like […]

The repeal of the policy known as “don’t ask, don’t tell” will soon bring to a close an era of confusion and inconsistency over the status of gay and lesbian service members. President Obama was due to sign the repeal today, but it may take as along as a year before the military fully implements […]

Thumbs up to the Sanford School Committee for agreeing to at least consider the Maine Indian Tribal State Commission’s complaint about the school’s use of the team name “Redskins.” Though the school has largely separated itself from the name, by dropping it from jerseys in favor of the letter “S,” it is still the official […]

Negotiations and global cooperation may yet avert some of the dangers of climate change. That is the optimistic note on which the U.N. climate conference in Cancun ended. The conference agreed to move forward on the development of a new treaty to succeed the Kyoto Protocol. It also called for a global climate fund for […]

One of the greatest joys of the Christmas season is seeing a loved one’s eyes light up as they unwrap that perfect present that was carefully chosen for them. This is especially true of children, who find excitement in the simple act of opening a gift and often delight the giver with shouts of exclamation […]

The tax cut compromise that passed in the Senate Wednesday may be a bitter pill for many, but the smart advice on all sides appears to be the same: Take the deal while it lasts. The agreement between President Obama and Republican leaders preserves tax breaks for the wealthy, but it also keeps tax provisions […]