A religious dispute with political overtones is making monkeys of a well-intentioned but misguided public zoo board in Tulsa, Okla.The board, which includes the mayor, has decided that the Genesis account of creation should be represented by a zoo display. After receiving a barrage of complaints, the board revised that plan. Now there will be […]

With a secret vote, the International Olympic Committee has shunned two popular sports. Baseball and softball have been dropped from the lineup for the 2012 Olympics, which will be held in London.We don’t want to argue the merits of baseball and softball by disparaging other sports. But, come on, baseball and softball are at least […]

Opponents of Maine’s new anti-discrimination law have collected more signatures than their cause deserves.Late in June, supporters of a people’s veto attempting to stop legislation that would prevent discrimination based upon sexual orientation submitted more than 57,000 signatures to the secretary of state. If the signatures are validated, the state’s anti-discrimination law will be placed […]

The jailing of a New York Times reporter on contempt charges for failing to identify a confidential source is a terrible blow to the ability of an independent press to do its job.Judith Miller is being punished because she has refused to testify before a grand jury about information she may have been given regarding […]

By Michael Kinsley,Los Angeles Times God works in mysterious ways, but his or her decision to acquit Richard Scrushy, former CEO of HealthSouth, on all charges of financial fraud is especially inscrutable. Five consecutive HealthSouth chief financial officers admitted to cooking the books and copped pleas. They all fingered Scrushy. But jurors chose to believe […]

Retired Vice Adm. James Stockdale deserves a better fate than to be remembered by many just for his role as Ross Perot’s running mate in 1992. Stockdale died Tuesday. He was 81.During the campaign, the retired military man became a punch line, fueled by his own idiosyncrasies and poor performance during that year’s vice presidential […]

In too many minds, cell phones are merely a convenience.Until they’re not.When you really need one, all the stereotypes about distracted drivers, useless conversations and “Can you hear me now?” disappear into frantic calls and deep frustration, extending beyond missed conversations into missed opportunities for the state and its residents.Gov. Baldacci’s initiative, called Connect ME, […]

Perhaps we’re missing something.Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr. is receiving much-deserved criticism for holding a $100,000 fund-raiser at an all-white country club. Such a flub should be a major stain on the Republican’s resume.But his mistake speaks for its insensitive self. What’s more amazing is that today, in 2005, there are still private clubs around […]

There is strength in numbers.That’s the motivation behind Time Warner’s acquisition of Adelphia Communications cable franchises in Maine. And it’s the motivation for efforts by Auburn City Manager Pat Finnigan to bring together municipalities to discuss the Time Warner deal.For Time Warner, the deal has obvious advantages. The company will buy back its stock that […]

The talk coming out of the United Kingdom should be focused on three things: debt relief for developing countries, global climate change and London’s success in its bid to host the 2012 Olympic games.Instead, there is tragedy, death and destruction.Just as Great Britain stood beside the United States in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 […]