From the day my very first car heaved and groaned and hitched its way out of the driveway, I have dreaded turning to an auto mechanic for help. For one thing, when you bring your car to a professional for repairs, you’re conceding that you’re not man enough to do the work yourself. That’s not […]
Mark LaFlamme
Posted inMark LaFlamme, sj-web
Talk of the town: You're not from around here, are you?
Hot, ain’t it? Whenever I find myself cussing over hot and humid weather, I close my eyes and try to imagine being out in my driveway shoveling four feet of fresh snow while an icy wind blows down my neck and up the legs of my pantaloons. I imagine the back-busting weight of the slush […]
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Posted inbPlus, sj-web
Stephen King’s Maine: 17 curious things about Lewiston, Durham and other King haunts
The Worumbo Mill in Lisbon, as seen in 2013 before the building was torn down. Working here inspired Stephen King’s “Night Shift.” (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal file photo) Harmony Grove Cemetery was the inspiration for a scene in Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal) West Durham United Methodist Church was the location of a real world […]
Posted inMark LaFlamme, sj-web
Talk of the town: You're not going out in THAT, are you?
Pick a card, any card Auburn’s Dan Cunliffe continued his weird adventures last week when he traveled to California where he showed Denzel Washington a card trick. No, really. There’s video and everything. Cunliffe has the weirdest bucket list ever. I hear next, he’s off to tickle Cloris Leachman and play Connect Four with Charles […]
Posted inMark LaFlamme, sj-web
Mark LaFlamme: Have a right cross with that banana split
Scratch that Saw a shirtless man in a big hat the other day treating himself to what appeared to be a tick check on Pine Street in Lewiston. I suppose he could have been giving himself the once over for other reasons, but since it’s Pine Street, I’d rather not speculate. Crime and pewnishment In […]
Posted inMark LaFlamme, sj-web
Mark LaFlamme: Roll that beautiful bean footage
Embarrassment pro tip If you buy a GoPro adventure camera through a private seller, place it in your backpack and then walk into Walmart. It WILL set off the alarms at the doors on your way in and then again on your way out. The alarms that go WONK! WONK! WONK! And everyone will stop […]
Posted inbPlus, sj-web
With recycled phone numbers, you never know who has your number
The many woes of getting someone’s recycled phone number, and tips on dialing down the harassment. There’s a story out of Hollywood in which a rap star named Lil Jon got himself a new cellphone and almost immediately started getting strange calls and text messages. “CONGRATULATIONS ON TEEN VOGUE!” screamed one text message. This was […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Mark LaFlamme
Street Talk: The fight club ain't what it used to be
The brawl didn’t last any more than 20 seconds. That’s all it took for the handsome young athlete, Matt, to succumb to the hard-driving fists, elbows and knees of the brawny street punk, Steve-O, who lived in the city’s seedy south end. When it was over, Steve-O helped Matt to his feet and the two […]
Posted inMark LaFlamme, sj-web
Talk of the town: Does this look infected to you?
You gonna eat that? Somewhere in the Twin Cities early in the week, a dude called police to report finding a piece of plastic in his box of cereal. My friend, if that hunk of plastic turns out to be the Honeycomb Cereal baking soda submarine, I will gladly trade you a Kellogg’s vintage stretchy […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Mark LaFlamme
Street Talk: Looking for a graduation do-over
At every high school graduation I cover for the paper, I meet that same kid. He’s the handsome guy, chronically smiling in his cap and gown, who always has a perfect answer at the ready when I ask about his plans. “Well, tonight a bunch of us are heading to Old Orchard Beach, where we […]