Archive for ‘Opinion’

  • Earth Notes: Thy Kingdom come; our stuff be gone

    By Rev. Robert Plaisted Guest Columnist It’s time for another Earth Notes column. You may have heard of the Anthropocene Epoch. The International Union of Geological Sciences is debating which geological indicators would be appropriate for the boundary between the current Holocene Epoch and the incoming Anthropocene. Discussion focuses on the first appearance of man-made […]

  • In Ye Olden Times: Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

    By Mike Davis BN Columnist Howdy neighbor! If you couldn’t tell already, I do a lot of reading in antique newspapers. It’s a big part of my job, and is the first resource I turn to for any local historical research; but it’s also something I do for fun most evenings — I know, what […]

  • Earth Notes: I’m dreaming of a last Christmas

    By Rev. Robert Plaisted Guest Columnist Seeing today’s title, some readers might say, “Whaaaat? Christmas will go on forever.” No, it won’t. Nothing goes on forever, no matter how beloved it may be to us. Humans once celebrated Christmas for the first time and, one day, humans will celebrate Christmas for the last time. Now, […]

  • In Ye Olden Times: The case of Bridgton’s stolen Boston Post Cane

    By Michael Davis Guest Columnist Howdy neighbor! In our last issue, I was pleased to see featured as a front-page story the recent transferal of the town of Brownfield’s Boston Post Cane to Mrs. Della Smith, who at 95 years of age is the oldest legal citizen of that town. And as this story involves […]

  • Earth Notes: Gratitude for all that is around us

    By Megan-Mack Nicholson Guest Columnist Sitting at my computer, waiting for the inspiration of what I’m going to write about, I realize I keep going back to the knee-jerk reaction to write about “gratitude” and all the things we have in nature to be grateful for. I mean, let’s be honest, I would say (as […]

  • Independent Thought

    Gun Rights? Enough, already! By Rev. Robert Plaisted Guest Columnist This column began as my thoughts on the Israeli-Hamas war — an example of the madness of warfare and terrorist violence.  I never intended to write back-to-back columns on America’s homicidal obsession with guns. Then, another form of madness exploded right in my own Maine […]

  • My Irish Up

    By Mike Corrigan BN Columnist Television was invented for Cro-Magnon man, and the Internet for Neanderthals. On television, your typical Cro-Magnon can click, and be entertained, or not. Whatever. Bottom line, Television Man knows he’s being coddled and often lied to, but he’s kind of soothed by the process. He’s used to it. It’s entertainment. […]

  • Independent Thought — Ban books, not guns

    By Rev. Robert Plaisted Guest Columnist Some critics may have done a double-take when they noticed the title of this column. They might have wondered if that “commie-pinko” Rev. finally had abandoned the dark side and come over into the glorious light of “conservative” truth. Nah! Cease your heart palpitations, fellas. My views haven’t changed. […]

  • My Irish Up — Out running Bruiser

    By Mike Corrigan BN Columnist In the manner that some lucky rich children have valets, in the sixth grade I had my own bully. Bullying then wasn’t the crime against schoolchildren it’s considered today. Other people hardly noticed. I noticed, though. I never quite figured out the dynamics of the thing, but I see now […]

  • Earth Notes: Everything old stays old forever

    By Rev. Robert Plaisted Guest Columnist Did you hear the one about the folks who went through the desert on a horse with no name, because they wanted to get out of the rain? Bad decision. They went looking for a burning man, but they found a torrential downpour and a big mud hole, courtesy […]