What a hoot it was – hoot is the mildest word I can conjure – to hear House Speaker Mike Johnson insist on “Meet the Press” that he is master of his domain. When asked whether America’s most detestable criminal defendant is pulling his strings, Johnson said: “He’s not calling the shots. I am calling […]

With all the changes modern life is bringing us, here’s one that makes me sad: romance is dying. Here are some interesting romance trends, as reported in CNN health: – The percentage of Americans who don’t have a steady partner is up 50% since 1986. – Americans are less likely to have sex than at […]

THE CONVERSATION — What is love? Could those feelings you label as love be something else? What about infatuation? Obsession? A passing fancy? Being smitten? Enthrallment? Beguilement? Lust? A crush? A squish? Platonic admiration? Why do people categorize some attachments as romantic love but not others? Suppose Holly meets someone on vacation. They quickly become […]

Can Colorado disqualify former President Trump from the state’s primary ballot? That’s the momentous question the U.S. Supreme Court will consider in Trump v. Anderson, a case argued before the justices on Feb. 8. The case involves the justices wading into the unfamiliar waters of the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause. Legal experts on both sides of the political aisle filed amicus briefs to […]

There are a number of things we can do to help us get through painfully boring meetings. You probably know most of them, if meetings are your forte, or if your continued employment depends on your having to attend lots of them. You know, there is a population of folks out there who actually love […]

Winter always brings its challenges: increased fuel costs, the hassle and expense of snow removal, a mood-affecting lack of sunlight — but this year, Maine was dealt a harsher blow than usual, with devastating back-to-back-to-back storms walloping communities across the state. Here on the coast, we barely had time to pick up the pieces between […]

Last week, I got an email from a long-time friend, Hugh Hardcastle. The person who will be speaking at his church on February 11 wanted members of the congregation to write a poem about love, and Hugh shared his offering: Journey of Love In the beginning all excitement and starry eyes Boundless joy and wonder […]

“It’s like déjà vu all over again.” These memorable words, attributed to the great Yogi Berra, fit the attempts to come up with an immigration policy. In 2013, a bipartisan group of senators developed a comprehensive package on immigration policy reforms. It could pass the Senate, but the House Republicans refused to consider it and […]