Archive for ‘Opinion’

  • Small World: A hollow or high-principled presidency?

    By Henry Precht BN Columnist Let us give some thought to the ruckus involving Russians and Republicans and their opponents among Democrats and the media. At first glance, it appears that a case of hypocrisy is the correct diagnosis. Or is it simply the classic Greek curse of hubris or over-weaning pride in operation? I […]

  • It Dawned on Me: How dare anyone call Maine dysfunctional?

    By Dawn De Busk BN Columnist How dare anyone call Maine dysfunctional? I saw a TV news segment about the lift of the government shutdown last week. The captions said Maine was dysfunctional. Did I hear the word dysfunctional associated with my fair Maine? Did my favorite TV news anchors just say “dysfunctional” in the […]

  • Small World: Keeping our powder dry and locked up

    By Henry Precht BN Columnist “Try diplomacy.” That’s what the experts tell us needs to be done when the country confronts a particularly onerous problem overseas. It’s funny how members of Congress, journalists, and college professors all come up with the same vague prescription when war trumpets are being sounded. What exactly do they mean? […]

  • Small World: The message from Trumpland

    By Henry Precht BN Columnist Until a recent evening, I had never met a self-described Trump supporter. Maybe it is because I move in excessively liberal circles — but I have lots of self-described conservative friends who eschew the Trump label. Or maybe it is because hidden or secret Trumpites of my acquaintance simply wanted […]

  • It Dawned on Me: The gang (of fireworks stand bandits) is all here

    By Dawn De Busk BN Columnist Some of my favorite Fourth of July memories are when my Aunt Loretta and my cousins Todd and Troy would come to visit my family in North Kenai, Alaska. Back then, in the ‘70s, the fireworks regulations were fairly lax and hand-built fireworks stands popped up along the road […]

  • Small World: War without end or authorization

    By Henry Precht BN Columnist You would have to be pretty well along in years to remember a time when our country was not at war. There were, of course, months when our forces were only conducting something like a “police action” — Grenada, Somalia, the ex-Yugoslavia. By war, however, I mean a fully engaged […]

  • Small World: Trial and verdict by fire

      By Henry Precht BN Columnist Our daughter Katherine once lived in London in a block of garden apartments not too far from the swish London neighborhoods of Notting Hill and Kensington. She made good friends there, professionals for the most part, like her, one of whom she married and another with whom she often […]

  • Earth Notes: Power to decide

    By Rev. Robert Plaisted “Once there were trees and a river. Once there was grass where you stand. Once there were songs about rights instead of wrongs. Once was the time of man.” That song has haunted me since I first heard it about 50 years ago. It was written by the late Travis Edmonson […]

  • Small World: Seeming to snore, but never sleeping

      By Henry Precht BN Columnist Down here in Maryland we are experiencing a phenomenon that has, so far, defied agreed explanation — 17-year cicadas are appearing after only 13 years under the earth. We hear their song (male mating calls or intermittent snoring?) in the evening, espy their holes in the unpaved ground, and […]

  • Earth Notes: Quiet paddling in western Maine

    By Jen Deraspe My all-time favorite mode of transportation is by canoe. This ancient way of travel leaves me feeling peaceful and present in no time as I leave work-a-day details behind with a few short paddle strokes. Experiencing the floating support, being suspended on water, another body holding me up and carrying me along, […]