THE CONVERSATION — Much of the news coverage of the discussions and negotiations aimed at averting a government shutdown on Nov. 17, 2023, relies on pundits and their unnamed sources, on leaks, speculation, wishful thinking and maybe even the reading of tea leaves. The Conversation tapped an expert on congressional behavior, Northwestern University political scientist Laurel Harbridge-Yong, […]

Do you enjoy chewing gum? One doesn’t see people chewing it so much anymore, but it was sort of a life staple when I was growing up. There was lots of it out there — and even down there, the sides of the streets of NYC were like reverse leopard pelts. There were flat white […]

Get ready for snow. Before long, the 2024 election campaign will be covered in a thick blanket of speculation. It will be about as difficult to see through as the blizzard of punditry that blows it in. Of course, political speculation is likely no better than most 10-day forecasts of the actual weather. Before I […]

Last Monday, it was confusing at first to witness Andrea Meadows, Tedford’s special projects and administrative assistant, carry and cram what looked like way too many totes and packaged housewares into her car at Tedford’s offices on Middle Street. Surely nobody could need all this stuff at once, I thought. Finally, the minivan was filled […]

Ten years ago some good friends suggested I write about Bill De La Rosa, who was a first-year Bowdoin student at the time. They said he’d probably be president of United States some day. I interviewed Bill, and they were absolutely right about this amazing young man. As a teenager, Bill had to take care […]