You probably heard that CVS, one of the nation's largest drugstore chains, made news by announcing it will no longer sell cigarettes. While a majority of pundits and health advocates were quick to heap praise upon the retail giant for its "bold and principled" move, some lingering questions remain about the decision and its fallout. … Continue reading Hair of the dog
Conscience doth make Cowards of us all
Several months ago, I posted a blog entry that compared how people react to physical illnesses versus mental illnesses. In that post, I detailed the overwhelming support I received after breaking my arm in two places. I also bragged about how I refused to let it slow me down. Using only one arm, over a … Continue reading Conscience doth make Cowards of us all
Sand in the Vaseline
This blog is on equal footing with the New York Times. No, I am not having a Richard Sherman moment. I am simply stating a fact. A fact that should give all of us pause as we contemplate the marvels of technology What I write on these pages is instantly available to billions of people, … Continue reading Sand in the Vaseline
Thinking Politics
A few weeks ago, I decided to try an experiment. As Maine Goes (AMG), one of Maine's most popular and controversial political websites, had gone dark after a 16-year run that allowed verified members to post and comment on a wide range of political issues. Admittedly, AMG was a conservative site, but it was well-moderated, … Continue reading Thinking Politics
Bridge over troubled water
By comparison, guys like Gary Hart and Bill Clinton had it easy. Sex scandal? No big deal. Traffic jam in New Jersey? Now that's how you infuriate people. It remains to be seen exactly how the controversy surrounding "bridge-gate" will impact Christie's dreams of a 2016 presidential bid, but watching the news this morning it … Continue reading Bridge over troubled water
Just like a prayer
Biddeford City Councilor Bobby Mills has a lesson for all of us who use social media. It doesn't matter much if the NSA has tapped your phone or if Google is using your online data to create a psychological profile, you have a responsibility to be careful about what you share on social media outlets. … Continue reading Just like a prayer
Take the money and run
Like a lot of other people, President Barack Obama has a New Year's resolution. This week Obama pledge to return his focus to the subject of "income inequality." According to a story in the Washington Post, the president was a bit short on specifics about how he might achieve his long-sought economic goals. Instead, the speech … Continue reading Take the money and run
Middle of the road
I remember when we got our first color television. It was 1973. My parents purchased the house two years prior, and that television was a refurbished Zenith console model. I was the remote control. From his favorite chair, my father would bark at me: "Turn to Channel 13! I want to see Walter Cronkite." Growing … Continue reading Middle of the road
The (not so) usual suspects
Another Biddeford politician has thrown his hat into the ring to replace State Rep. Paulette Beaudoin in the Maine Legislature. While some observers were thinking that newcomer Ryan Fecteau has all but clinched the June 2014 Democratic primary for the District 11 seat, it looks like voters could have several choices. Former Biddeford city councilor and … Continue reading The (not so) usual suspects
With a little help from my friends
A few weeks ago I decided to try a social media experiment. Given that many of my Facebook friends are fellow political junkies who cross the full spectrum of political affiliation, and given that discussions about "income equality" and minimum wage standards are becoming more frequent, I decided to sample my friends' opinions in an amateur … Continue reading With a little help from my friends
NOTES TO CARL | LESSONS IN MEDIOCRITY 