by Jonathan Reisman

August arrived Downeast with fog, unusually high temperatures, and thunderstorms in terms of both weather and politics. 

by Jonathan Reisman

President Biden’s selfless and noble passing of the torch to Kamala (or Obama/Pelosi orchestrated coup, depending on which tribe you belong to) left me marveling at our polarized and post-modern understanding of “Democracy.” “Democracy” is a system of government where the people rule, either directly (like Town Meeting) or through elected representatives (a Republic). Democracy is rule of the many, as opposed to rule of the few (oligarchy) or the one (tyranny). 

by Jonathan Reisman

One of my favorite courses was demography, the study of human populations. Demographers draw on statistics and a broad swath of both the natural and social sciences, including economics, sociology, geography, political science, biology, psychology, and medicine. Demography starts with a deceptively simple mathematical identity: Change in Population= Births-Deaths+ Net Migration. Therein lie some of the most sensitive and freedom consequential policy areas: fertility, mortality, and immigration/emigration.

The story of one Israeli hostage and his 3-year-old granddaughter

By Anav Silverman Peretz

A few weeks ago, I was sitting with my family at McDonald's on the way back home to our home in the Negev desert after a visit with our in-laws in Raanana. Our kids were munching on French fries, while my husband went to get our order. I watched Israelis, young and old, sitting together in the American fast food chain, quite popular in Israel.

Editorial by Pierre Little

by Jonathan Reisman

Americans are grappling with an unappealing Presidential choice, an underperforming economy, an untrustworthy media, and an unclear path forward. Early summer has brought fog, thunderstorms, and drama to our political community theatre.

by Jonathan Reisman

I spent our 248th birthday in Cooper, eschewing parades and politics to marinate in memories, both happy and haunting. This past year of personal bereavement, filial weddings, and political angst has left me both pensive and emotional, occasionally even teary-eyed. I cycled through many years of July 4th memories, searching for solace and optimism.

by Jonathan Reisman

I stayed up way past my usual bedtime to watch the Presidential debate and take in the reaction and the spin.  One good friend, aware of my angst over this election and the polarized state of the country, asked me as the debate concluded, “Were you impressed?” to which I responded, “Not with anyone there actually.” Perhaps that was a little (but only a little) bit unfair. They all actually exceeded my low expectations.

by Jonathan Reisman

In the early sixties, I watched a Cold War pseudo-sci-fi drama series on our black-and-white TV. The Outer Limits opened with the following: 

by Jonathan Reisman