The latest effort to broker a Mideast peace seems to be in jeopardy, but the U.S. administration may be able to keep the talks going. Negotiations between the Israeli government and Palestinian leadership have not been called off, and U.S. envoy George Mitchell continues to seek support in the region. The current setback over Israeli […]

NASA’s new mission ”“ as outlined in President Obama’s budget request ”“ has apparently survived its encounter with Congress. Just before adjournment last week, the House authorized $58 billion for the space agency over the next three years. This bill, a compromise that passed earlier in the Senate, accepts the space policy outlined earlier this […]

“”¦ in any true sense there is no such thing as ownership of the earth and the shadow of any man is but for a time cast upon the grass of any field.” — Henry Beston, Northern Farm It would be all too easy for me to fall into the trap of thinking that I […]

Thumbs up to Biddeford Mayor Joanne Twomey and other city officials for taking a recent tour of Hollywood Slots in Bangor. Though some residents have opposed the use of taxpayer money for this trip, we believe it was a good investment. The visit gave officials the chance to see for themselves how this racino is […]

Biddeford city councilors who opposed the closing of Bradbury Street Extension to through traffic have a good point. Blocking this shortcut only addresses a symptom of an underlying traffic problem. Getting to downtown Biddeford can be a test of patience. Traveling via Elm Street ”“ Route 1 ”“ is a often frustrating slog. The shortcut […]

How many electricians does it take to screw in a lightbulb? That’s the question I asked myself last week after the electricians left my house. One of the frustrations of electrical work, and of contracting, in general, is the inherent vagueness that accompanies so much of it. It’s a truism with systems of any kind […]

Among the campaign posters blanketing the roadsides are a multitude of small signs urging “Vote Yes on 1.” That’s all they say, but for voters needing more information, the signs list a website address, www.takechargemaine.org. Not surprisingly, the site belongs to the entrepreneurs behind Question 1, who hope to win voter approval for a casino […]

Law enforcement and Homeland Security officials are asking for new surveillance tools to help them override e-mail encryption and other electronic security measures. The administration wants the authority to demand keys allowing agents to read encrypted e-mails, and use back doors to bypass security measures at Facebook and other social networking sites. Providers of such […]

Most organizations can survive in good or in bad times, if they have well-thought-out business strategy plans. But it takes more than plans to really succeed. It takes leadership, which includes bold decision-making, and management skills to motivate people to work to build an organization or to use its products or services. What determines leadership […]

For a projected cost of $50 million, Regional School Unit 21 hopes to renovate its older schools and consolidate operations. The question is whether such a plan is politically possible in Arundel, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport. The cost alone will raise concern, and reorganization is inherently controversial. The plan now on the table was drafted in […]