Congress

Special to The Herald-Mail "In painting the Grand Canyon ... I have to be full of my subject," the famous American landscapist Thomas Moran (1837-1926) told reporters in 1912. Something of a character but a learned one, Moran went on to reassure his fans that he was a scientist. He knew the geology of the canyon, the atmosphere that hovered over it, the torrents of the Colorado River far below and even the wildlife that inhabited the area. Tourism to the famous landmark had come into its own by the turn of the century, and Moran was the artist who assisted it. Born into a family of painters in Philadelphia, he fell in love with the American West after his first trip across the Mississippi in 1871.

That giant whooshing sound you heard Friday afternoon around 3 was American productivity going right up the flume. All at the same time, millions of normally hard-working office employees turned their backs on their computer solitaire games and tried to be among the first to log on to the Starr Report - the long-awaited document that was to tell all about Whitewater, Filegate Travelgate, Vince Foster, Clinton's drug dealings and all...

With Kennedy's death, a voice for justice is lost To the editor: Before the letters start coming in about Sen. Ted Kennedy's human shortfalls, I would like to say we have lost a great advocate for American justice. A man who had great shoes to fill and burdens to carry that most of us would crumble under. Kennedy could have, at any time, abandoned his fight to raise the standard of living for the working man. He could have cowered under the hate and the many death threats and hidden behind bodyguards, but he chose to put his faith in his God and in his fellow man. For those who will criticize his heritage, I ask you, what have you done to promote the welfare of your neighbor?

Editor's note: Each week, The Herald-Mail invites readers to answer poll questions on its Web site, www.herald-mail.com. Readers also may submit comments about the poll question when voting. Each Sunday, a sampling of edited reader comments will run in The Herald-Mail. Last week there were three poll questions. The first question was: Do you think steps being taken to stabilize the U.S. financial system will succeed? "The taxpayers (now or our grandchildren) will be paying for a long time to try to reimburse banks, etc., for losses they incurred because they issued loans that they knew wouldn't be repaid.

Several years back, a Boonsboro woman published a newsletter titled The Western Maryland Voice. Its purpose was to export fine values and common sense of this area down state when things seemed to be spinning out of control. The Voice was well received, and she enjoyed writing it. In time, a federal group called the BRAC Commission began looking to close "unnecessary" military bases. Fort Ritchie was among those slated for a BRAC look-see. Fort Detrick in Frederick appeared safe.

As I sit here writing this Tuesday morning, Nov. 7, on a little thing I like to call Election Day, my thoughts - as with all pundits worth their salt - turn to projections of the outcome, of peering into my "crystal ball" of knowledge to tap into my great newspaper columnist's storehouse of wisdom to glean trends and outcomes that the "common man on the street" is not for availed of. It is a skill, a talent really, that we spend many years perfecting...

Nothing in this column should be construed to disparage the Viking gas grill corporation, which makes a truly fine product. The 150,000 BTUs, infrared rotisserie motor, heavy duty porcelain-coated cooking grates and complete double-walled stainless steel construction all add up to one fine product. But still. If someone in Congress is going to sell out, you kind of like to think it's going to be for more than an outdoor-cooking appliance. And to be fair, Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, who was indicted this week for secretly taking gifts, did allegedly receive something along the lines of $250,000 in home remodeling too, from an oil/construction company.

“I would like to know how there could be a $5 parking fee at Paramount Elementary during the Mile-Long Yard Sale, when it is not considered a school activity.” — Leitersburg “Well, another phone book arrived; thick and heavy, and the print is so fine that you can — you have to use a magnifying glass. Also, if they made just one nice telephone book like they used to years ago and it took care of everything, we wouldn’t have so many phone books landing in the landfill.” — Mount Lena “This is to the class of 1981 in Williamsport High School.