Columns

The rock-ribbed coast of Maine is not noted for many products — timber and paper wood, potatoes, seafood, and L. L. Bean apparel being the principal ones.

But far and away the most important thing that has sprung from that rocky soil may well be its womenfolk.

This thought comes to mind in view of the announcement last week that Olympia Snowe, three-term Republican senator for Maine will not seek re-election this year, thus ending more than thirty years in the Congress, both House and Senate.

Recently, the Chattanooga Times Free-Press took steps to shut down anonymous comment on stories it posts online.

The newspaper is still allowing comment on opinion pieces — editorials, letters, editorial cartoons — posted online.

Managing editor Alison Gerber made this point:

By Ken Paulson, First Amendment Center
The Supreme Court just put a price tag on some formerly free speech.

In a 6-2 vote on Jan. 18, the Court upheld a 1994 law that extended copyright protection to foreign films, books, paintings and other art that had previously been in the public domain and available free to U.S. residents.

When I was a junior in high school, my family moved from the community I had grown up in to a new place an hour and a half away.

Being the new kid in a new school was difficult, but things got worse when a story appeared in the local newspaper.

Our newly constructed house was on a country lane just outside of town. It had a septic tank, which a neighbor contended had been incorrectly installed. I assume she watched the work being done from her house, although there were indications she just didn’t want the lot beside her developed.