Let’s spare few words for the circulators of the “Mohammed the lost dog” posters in downtown Lewiston. Unless the words are simple, short, contain few syllables and are probably misspelled, it’s likely those folks wouldn’t understand what they say anyway.The posters are humorous for the “Beavis and Butthead” crowd. They show a basic understanding of […]

It’s now hard to believe John F. Kennedy waited until Jan. 2, 1960, to announce he was running for U.S. president.Of course, the New Hampshire primary, then the first test of candidates, wasn’t until March, leaving him what was then considered plenty of time to campaign.How things have changed.Today’s pack of presidential aspirants – with […]

SPECIAL REPORT: PICTURING THE PAST Total recall – A power that haunts and intrigues Brad Williams closes his eyes and tastes the memory. Frosted Flakes. Dec. 26, 1962.“We were at my grandparents’ farm. It was cold on the tile floor and you could smell the wood-burning stove. Grandma had all the sugary cereals ready.”Something strange […]

Subjective, personal and highly vulnerable to disruption, autobiographical memory has proven unusually intractable for researchers.Nonetheless, a handful of people have tried to systematize its study.In 1879 Englishman Francis Galton, a half-cousin of Charles Darwin, attempted an empirical description by creating a list of 75 words and then, using a timer, recording the associations that came […]

Perhaps you have had this unnerving experience. You’re humming along the Maine Turnpike or some other highway, obeying the speed limit or something resembling it, and you suddenly run up on the rear end of a car going 15 or 20 mph slower than other traffic.Whoa. Tap the brakes.Maybe an elderly person. Hey, that’s cool. […]

We encourage you, our readers, to get organized and lighten up.Specifically, to organize teams of friends, family and co-workers and participate in Maine’s Lighten ME! program, a 102-day Web-based statewide wellness competition.OK. OK. You’ve seen and heard enough reminders about fitness.This is not just another “get fit” program, though. It’s pure competition. A bona fide […]

Justin Hart of Litchfield viewed as many as 28 pornographic photos of children under the age of 12 while taking a break from his job cleaning a local pediatrician’s office. He didn’t download or send anything. He just looked at the images and, for punishment, he is going to jail for two years.Regis Lepage of […]

Municipal governments on both sides of the river were really hitting the books, studying hard and participating in class, earning them an A grade for the last half of 2007 in Consolidation 101.Lewiston and Auburn made remarkable progress in 2007 toward finding ways to work together to save money.In a report issued Dec. 27, Joint […]

Within minutes of the Patriots beating the Giants, the diminishing process had begun and it didn’t let up through Sunday’s games and recap shows.They looked beatable in four of their games.You know, they were just lucky to survive two of their games.Hey, the really hard part, the playoffs, hasn’t even started yet.Their “perfect season” will […]

We resolve to spend more time with our families.We resolve to lose weight.We resolve to quit smoking.Every year it’s the same resolutions. Some resolutions stick for some of us, but too many wane as the year unfolds.Let’s all resolve to do something different this year, something for the community good.Here are some of our suggestions:Let’s […]