And so it was --- amidst all this talk of a government shut down, an "unfair" system of health care delivery and a skyrocketing national debt --- that my youngest son was assigned to read Animal Farm. As so many of us learned in high school, George Orwell wrote Animal Farm as an allegorical reference to … Continue reading If you believe in forever
Category: BLOG POSTS
Commentary that has not been published elsewhere.
Let’s give ’em something to talk about
Many years ago, when I was still a teenager, my mother gave me one of those funny key chains that featured a picture of a gorilla and the following text: "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit." That message seems to encapsulate the rather recent drive to create a Utopian society … Continue reading Let’s give ’em something to talk about
Obamacare: Myths and Facts, Part I
Some say that the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act ( aka Obamacare) will provide the final nail in an already sluggish national economy, cost millions of jobs and further entrench every American into greater government dependence. Others say the new law is a landmark piece of legislation that will literally save thousands of lives … Continue reading Obamacare: Myths and Facts, Part I
A boy named Sue or a girl named Frank
I suck at baseball. I also suck at football, basketball, hockey, golf, bowling or pretty much anything that involves hand-eye coordination. Although publicly admitting that I am the last guy you want on your sports team does not threaten my masculinity, I do hesitate to offer the next line: I don't like sports. That, dear … Continue reading A boy named Sue or a girl named Frank
Talking in your sleep
Susan Dench of Falmouth is my newest heroine. Her essay in today's Bangor Daily News is perhaps one of the clearest and most concise pieces that dares to tackle the soft and fuzzy slush associated with "politically correct" speech. An excerpt: Politically correct linguistic gymnastics is part of our everyday conversation. As panderers promote victimhood, multiculturalism and … Continue reading Talking in your sleep
The kids are alright
I remember it like it happened yesterday, but actually it took place a little more than two years ago. I was standing in my back yard, practically screaming into my cell phone and more than annoyed with the obnoxious punk on the other end of the line. I'll get more into the substance of that conversation … Continue reading The kids are alright
Puttin’ on the Ritz
I don't always agree with Oralndo Delogu, but when I do - - - I shout it from the rooftop. Delogu is an emeritus professor of law at the University of Maine School of Law and a well-known policy wonk. He is also a frequent contributor to the Forecaster group of weekly newspapers in southern Maine. With … Continue reading Puttin’ on the Ritz
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
Every voice matters. Even the voices that have a hard time crafting their message. As my hometown of Biddeford braces for another political season, one of our city's mayoral candidates has opted to take his message to cyberspace by starting a blog. The blog seems intended as a platform to champion the plight of the … Continue reading Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
Lie to me. I’m not that strong
My wife had to buy a cane yesterday. It's taken almost five years to get to this point - - and try as I might -- I can no longer ignore the impact that MS is taking on her body, her spirit. Worse yet, there is not a goddamn thing I can do to stop … Continue reading Lie to me. I’m not that strong
AT&T: Dirty deeds, done dirt cheap
My nightmare started less than 24 hours ago. Spend just a few moments on the blogosphere and you will find a lot of stories just like mine. On Google, Facebook and Twitter, these dark tales of woe, deceit and theft abound. But my story is a tad different. And this, my friends, is the first warning shot across the … Continue reading AT&T: Dirty deeds, done dirt cheap
NOTES TO CARL | LESSONS IN MEDIOCRITY 