The 1980s was a triumphant decade for America. It was the height of hope and optimism. Ronald Reagan brought pride to all except the most partisan. We won the Cold War and defeated communism. Media and politics were professional and cordial. Never could we have foreseen what America would become just a generation later. In […]
Lakes Region Weekly opinion
Posted inForecaster Opinion
The Universal Notebook: Writing as an art is too politically correct
As a white Anglo-Saxon protestant heterosexual male I understand that I am the oppressor. Being an unrepentant liberal, I therefore do my best to support non-white, LGBTQ people and women and try to be sensitive to the issues they face. I do my best to be tolerant of all but the most intolerant, but I […]
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Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
The Universal Notebook: USM lives in the shadow of UNE and now Northeastern
A who’s who of Maine business, education and political leaders gathered at the Ocean Gateway terminal in Portland Jan. 27 for the announcement that Lewiston native and hi tech entrepreneur David Roux and his wife Barbara are donating $100 million to create the Roux Institute at Northeastern University, a graduate and research program in Portland […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Here’s Something: Drone surveillance law needed in Maine
Our government should do something about drones. While Maine’s federal representatives drone on (pun intended) about impeachment and our state government spends us into oblivion, they should instead do something useful by outlawing drone surveillance. Currently, there is no law regulating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveillance in Maine. Someone could fly a drone over your […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Letter: Is Edgar off the beam on NECEC?
Why do we support the New England Clean Energy Connect project? Because today’s climate crisis is the greatest threat to the health of the planet. If we do not take sensible and sometimes controversial action, it will soon be too late to avoid catastrophic impacts to the natural world that we have spent our careers protecting. […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
The Universal Notebook: Living among the dead
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]