We in our society have been having a lot of really interesting conversations of late. At the core of some of the most important is the notion of “cultural competency.” According to the American Psychological Association, cultural competency may be “loosely defined as the ability to understand, appreciate and interact with people from cultures or […]
Mainewhile
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: Grammatically speaking
I was raised by a strict grammarian. If, for example, at the dinner table I were to ask “Could you please pass me the salt?,” my mother would dutifully hand the salt over to just beyond my grasp, then return it to its original space and reply, “Why, yes. I could.” With a smile no […]
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Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: A nickname honoring everything left behind in Armenia
Every family has its favorites. In mine, there is Uncle Armen. Call to mind Alan Arkin. In any movie, ever, but let’s say “Little Miss Sunshine” because that’s my favorite. OK, got it? Great. That’s my Uncle Armen. Seriously, they could be identical twins, and the voice and accent? Same. Which isn’t really shocking given […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: An apology would go a long way
At our house, the radio is often on in the background, especially out in the barn. I like to listen and catch up on the news as I go about the chores. This past weekend, there was a really interesting piece airing about the art of the apology. I don’t know if it is COVID […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: Should 16-year-olds vote?
Usually when I write my thoughts here to share with you I live up to the “Opinion” title of the section. I come in with an experience, or a memory, or an idea, and I mold it and shape it until at the end: ta-da! There it is, my formed little notion. This week is […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: High school sports should be open to all kids
I did not play sports in school. In fact, I hated them. I was the kid who always dropped the ball; I was the one picked last. So it is odd for me to do what I am about to do: advocate passionately for more inclusive school sports teams with opportunities for all to play. […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: A healthy state of mind
Before I moved down the coast to this part of the state I was a trifle spoiled. I had Acadia National Park pretty much in my backyard. In fact, in one house I lived in, that was the literal truth. I hiked a lot. Leaving all that behind was the hardest adjustment of the move. […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: The end may be near for daylight saving time
“Beware the Ides of March” warned the soothsayer in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. For ancient Romans, the Ides (the 15th on the calendar) was bad luck because it was the day for paying off debts. For Caesar, it was a reckoning of another sort: he was assassinated. Changing up the clocks might not exactly equal Caesar’s […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: Exploring the joy of reading exceptional books
My big sisters took my education very seriously. They made sure I could identify every single Beatles song, taught me the proper way to talk mom and dad into keeping a stray pet, and kept my shelves full of really good books. I was a fortunate child. What’s more, although I certainly had the staples […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: Be the change you want to see
Full disclaimer: I am not Danish. Not even a little bit. In fact, if the genetic profile company is to be believed, the closest I get is a small bit of Dutch on my mother’s side. (In all honesty, the coolest thing from that profile is that I am also a higher-than-average percentage of Neanderthal! […]