Articles
Mainland Security
The Constitution of the United States contains no provision for its arbitrary modification. Fortunately, however, the Framers, apparently recognizing the value of a little interpretive latitude, inserted occasional language allowing for the exercise of broad license now and then. Specifically, for example, the Fourth Amendment guarantees our right to be secure against search, but only
I Have Mail
I Live, That I May Serve A Madame Umynmee Ofabozo, describing herself as the wife of the deposed leader of Equatorial Guinea, has contacted me personally asking if I would help facilitate the removal of $760,000,000 from her Swiss bank account to the United States. She has asked, with disquieting humility, if she might use
Caucusin’ Collectively
Unique is an overused word. It should only be used to describe things like Vinalhaven’s political caucusing because this island community caucuses Republicans and Democrats together, simultaneously, in the same room, and has for nearly a decade. That’s unique! Admittedly the Democrats are much more organized and energized, particularly this year, and so they kind
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
In 1952 Santa came to Vinalhaven, to the church, as he did and still does every year, to separate the worthy from the unworthy. ‘Stubby’ Seawell and ‘Free Throw’ Buteau would be found worthy, as would all the girls except Lillian ‘Treetop’ Roberts. ‘Goober’ Pazaloma, who’d been chewing tobacco since the first grade, and ‘Shoal
Taking Care
Last April, a month or so before heading up here for the summer, Rutherford Lodge, aged 99, of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, settled down in his study to reflect on the passing of Hannibal Brown, who had died during the winter at age 101, and on the long history Hannibal and his descendants shared with Rutherford
Service
Early in a budding romance, I called my intended to offer reassurance and encouragement at just the right moment. Since every moment in the budding stage is the right moment I could hardly go wrong and I didn’t. It was nervy of me, though. Her boyfriend, slow to exit, might have answered and that would
The wedding planner
There’s much to be said for versatility and Jeff has it in spades. He came here fifteen years ago claiming he could do anything and the truth has borne him out. He can’t do anything for long but he can, if fact, do anything. Right now it’s summer and Jeff has become, with the same
No-see-ums
Unlikely though it may seem, Vinalhaven, an island no less, is home to a band of car thieves who strike with impunity. Impunity is that characteristic which, in the face of what passes for police protection but is in fact only the Knox County Sheriff, so typifies both our mischief-makers (like ATV riders) and our
It’s all in a name
You’d think with a last name of Roberts that Robert would be a poor choice for a first. And you’d think too that Robert Roberts might have chosen a name other than Really for his own boy. But that was it, the boy’s name was Really Roberts. The story that went around most of course
In Service to the Cat and a Lasting Relationship
My wife can do almost anything, really – almost anything. I mean mechanical stuff, electronic stuff, and carpentry stuff, plus all sorts of things that involve thinking, like philosophical and spiritual stuff. She also knows (she reminds me now and then) what’s best for me, which is a real plus since I have no concept