Archive for ‘Opinion’

  • Small World: A man’s fancy turns

    By Henry Precht BN Columnist Too little attention has been paid, perhaps, to the role that women play in the lives of our presidents. (On the other hand, virtually no attention has been paid to the reverse, i.e., the masculine role in the lives of our feminine rulers for the obvious reason that there haven’t […]

  • The Right Angle: Politics or principle

      By Rich Cebra (Naples) State Representative Politics or principle? It is the challenge facing elected people daily, and more often than not, the vast majority fail the test. Such was the case on March 1 at the Maine State House in Augusta. Speaker of the House Sara Gideon headlined an anti-gun rally at the […]

  • Earth Notes: Ruminations on food

    By Sally Chappell Lately I’ve been ruminating on the ethics of eating. Our vegan friends point out the misery inflicted on countless chickens, cows, pigs, etc. from being confined in crowded conditions (Confined Animal Feeding Operations —CAFOs) with slaughter as the ultimate end. Vegans separate themselves from this abuse by avoiding consumption of animals as […]

  • Small World: A holiday of hearts, flowers and suspicions

    By Henry Precht BN Columnist I write these words on Valentine’s Day. Almost everybody has in mind on this date flowery cards, rich chocolates, and bunches of roses. I have a dear wife well deserving of such tributes, but my thoughts inevitably turn back to this date — a grim one — in 1979. I […]

  • On my Corner: Chatter in the brush

    By Bob Casimiro BN Columnist Chiapas is the southernmost state in Mexico, close to 2,000 miles from southwest Arizona, where I have been making frequent treks for border watch activities. It is largely indigenous and, also, very poor, having the lowest per capita GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of all 31 Mexican states. Chiapas is also […]

  • Small World: Two tales of winter

    By Henry Precht BN Columnist This past week witnessed two events that merit examination both from behind and from the front: the President’s State of the Union address and the Super Bowl. Let’s take the second first. The most impressive feature of the game for me was the enormous bulk and evident great strength of […]

  • Earth Notes: U.S. losing 40 acres per hour

      By Bob Casimiro Guest Columnist I wish to thank Sally Chappell for permitting me to be a guest columnist for Earth Notes. I wanted the opportunity to acknowledge the contributions made to the column by Ken Roy, who recently relocated to South Carolina. Ken and Diane put their 73-acre property in Center Lovell into […]

  • Small World: War as a way of life

    By Henry Precht BN Columnist Over 100 people were killed and another 150 badly wounded in a Taliban suicide attack in the Afghan capital Kabul last week. A terrible toll, but not surprising in one of the longest, deadliest, costliest wars the United States has ever engaged in. So far, the 16-year, undeclared conflict has […]

  • Small World: Life-shaping influences

    By Henry Precht BN Columnist Most of us, at least those of us with still-functioning memory cells, can recall those voices from the past whose warnings, instructions, or unique behavior are still with us, still working their effects. With some of us these influences are benign, but I suppose there are others who came under […]

  • The Black Side: A little more consideration, pleaser

    By Perri Black BN Columnist I heard that, in addition to the standard New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, get in shape, and save more money, this year many people were expressing the intention to “become a better person.” I’m not sure what has prompted this — perhaps the political situation, climate change, or any […]