Freedom Studies - AI on My Mind

Jon Reisman If you had asked me about “AI” a decade ago, I probably would have responded with something about Bradypus tridactylus, the very slow-moving, three-toed, arboreal, pale-throated sloth native to South American rain forests in Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, and Brazil. (Forgive me, one of the courses I often taught

Eyes Wide Open: Iran War Experiences from a Mom’s Perspective

Anav Silverman Peretz My three kids have been building bomb shelters for their stuffed animals out of magnetic blocks at least once a day during the recent Iran war. They’ve also built bomb shelters for the ants outside in our yard. Sometimes, they’ll imitate the siren sounds and

Freedom Studies - Systemic Racism

“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating based on race.”- Chief Justice John Roberts, 2007 Jon Reisman The Supreme Court weighed in on the constitutionality of gerrymandering based on race, and the race hustlers in the Democratic Party and the Diversity, Equity,

Freedom Studies - Mud Season

Jon Reisman Between April showers and the upcoming June primaries, Maine is in for a likely record- breaking mud season. A post-tax-day survey of the garden suggests that tilling and planting will not be happening til after the Republican convention, and maybe not til May Day. Bug Baffler suits will

Babel and Walter Cronkite

Jon Reisman As a young boy growing up in the ‘60s and ‘70s, I distinctly remember watching and listening to Walter Cronkite on our bulky black-and-white TV. His coverage and commentary on JFK’s assassination, Vietnam, Watergate, and the associated political and social unrest remain vivid in my memory. I

Freedom Studies - The Platner Price

Jon Reisman I attended a Graham Platner Town Hall at Centre Street Church in Machias with some 200-plus mostly gray Downeasters as the Ides of March approached. It was the first time I’d been in Centre Street since my late wife Ernie’s memorial service almost two years ago.

Freedom Studies - Fraud

Jon Reisman The Federal Government — actually the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Director/Wizard Dr. Oz — has informed Gov. Janet Mills that her request to delay the investigation into the millions of MaineCare dollars that appear to have been stolen by the Somali/Democratic Party nonprofit/nongovernmental organization

Freedom Studies - Short Takes

Jon Reisman State of Delusion... ...is the phrase Chuck Schumer (D-AOC’s Senate Seat) used to describe the nearly two-hour State of the Union Address, President Trump used to troll the Democrats. I’m surprised that members of the Squad haven’t sued for relief from the cruel and unusual

Freedom Studies - A House Divided

Jon Reisman I attended a Town Hall in Machias for Democratic Congressional candidate Jordan Wood last week. Some 20 mostly gray Downeasters joined me in listening to and questioning the 36-year-old gay leftist. Wood railed against Trump, Jan. 6 insurrectionists, Trump, greed, Trump, transphobia, Trump, ICE, and Trump. Wood advocated

Red Lines Crossed: China and Iran