NOTES TO CARL | LESSONS IN MEDIOCRITY
Randy Seaver, a grumpy old guy, offers advice to his grandson and howls at the moon
Commentary that has not been published elsewhere.
Fifteen years ago, what happened in Biddeford on Tuesday would have been unimaginable . . . but in the context of today’s Biddeford, Roch Angers’ brutal defeat for a seat on the York County Commissioners board was quite predictable.
God smiled upon me, and I was able to cap off my much-ballyhooed, mini vacation in the best way possible last night, spending time with my good friend Parke Burmeister.
An aging news editor still enjoys writing about the young punks who are now taking over his hometown of Biddeford It’s really very cool being the editor of a community newspaper in a small town like Amity, Mass. - - oops . . . strike that . . . Amity (which means friendship) was a … Continue reading All The Young Dudes, Redux
I am feeling so sad. I just learned from a reading a story in Saco Bay News that Bill Johnson – a former mayor and city councilor -- recently passed away at the age of 92. This news leaves a hole. I regret losing touch will Bill. He was such a kind and wise man, … Continue reading Reporters are not supposed to be friends with the people they cover — especially government officials . . . I broke that rule
March 15, 2026 Dearest Marlee, There is an old saying in journalism that you should never bury the Lede (lead). You should always say the most important stuff at the top. I have broken that rule time and time again, most notably -- and regretfully -- when it comes to my communication with you. I … Continue reading An Open Letter to My Daughter
Cutis Robinson | Aspen Daily News photo I did not know Curtis Robinson. He was only a few years older than me, but he was a notable, old-school journalist who got to hang around with my idol Hunter S. Thompson. According to a recent feature story in the Aspen Daily News, Robinson was a journalist’s journalist: “dogged … Continue reading We’ve lost a journalist’s journalist
Although I am no longer working as a political/PR consultant (Thank Christ), I still find the subject matter intriguing, especially when it's literally taking place in my own back yard. Today, I am pretty much consumed with running the Biddeford Gazette, a non-profit media outlet hyper-focused on covering the city of Biddeford. As part of … Continue reading Unsolicited advice for a young candidate
Dammit! Feeling devastated. I just learned (via social media) that my best friend in Oregon, Tim "Nooner" has died. This one really hurts It was the early 1990s. I lived alone in Portland, and often felt isolated, nearly 3,000 miles away from my family and friends. Tim and I were co-workers, he was a semi-reformed … Continue reading ‘Nooner’ sleeps with the fishes
To say that I was less than impressed with many of the ads featured during Sunday’s Superbowl matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots would be a gross understatement. But there was one ad that stuck out as especially insipid, defying common sense and serving only to bolster one of our nation’s … Continue reading The NFL lied. You’re not special
The Christmas holiday is right around the corner. What does that mean? For a lot of people, it means stress, extra work and financial strains. For others, it means awkward obligations to attend family events. On the other end of the spectrum, many people are facing the prospect of being alone with no place to … Continue reading Christmas Chaos 2025: You’re Invited!
NOTES TO CARL | LESSONS IN MEDIOCRITY 