Articles written by Howard Nichols

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About me - Howard Nichols

Hi all! I'm Howard, a 46 year-old jack of all trades from Maine. I've done many different jobs in my life, including MSN tech support specialist, customer service rep for L.L. Bean, Navy jet mechanic, TSA airport security screener, painter, carpenter, boatyard

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Politics, News & Issues > People in the News Michael Vick: Is he a criminal for promoting dog fighting?: 10 of 111
Of course he's a criminal! Even if it wasn't prohibited by law, only a... a... (I'm sorry, but I can find no word to describe such a "man" that doesn't involve profanity) would put poor dogs into battle just for their own entertainment and profit. If he was standing in front of me I'd knock him on his ass, pro quarterback or ... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Your true self: 2 of 17
JailbreakA life sentence without paroleThat's how I was livingResigned to itA ten-foot cell of lonelinessI convinced myself I deserved itI was doing the timeI must have done the crimeNot designed for friendshipMissing some crucial human qualityEverything confirmed itEveryone confirmed itOnce in a while I heard footstepsThe ji... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Presidential Elections 2008 Does John Edwards' personal wealth make him seem insincere in his commitment to end poverty?: 1 of 8
Wealth by itself does not necessarily equate to insincerity. In John Edwards' case however, several aspects of his wealth and how it was acquired make it tough to believe that he sincerely understands or cares about the common man, and that his claims to the contrary are anything more than campaign speeches.His rich, pampered... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Lonely: 36 of 199
I look through the window.I see the light, and wish I could feelthe warmth of the fire, and hear the music.I want to go inside.But it's a building with no doorsI scrape the frostfrom the window to get a better lookat what I can't comprehend.But I can't learn the truth.You see, there are no doors.Walking. I trudge mindlessly,b... More..
Creative Writing > Songs Songs: Breaking up: 59 of 240
BoomerangYour sweaty hands can grip me no longerYour aim no longer hits my markThe light I thought that you were shiningIs black light, and it just makes my world more darkYou're tryin' to keep too many balls in the airAnd losing them all, one by oneSoon you'll just be standing there, waving your armsIn an empty theater, on s... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Economic News Assessing Pepsi's selling tap water as spring water in Aquafina: 5 of 18
That doesn't surprise me at all, coming from a giant like Pepsico. But some companies actually do sell real spring water. On the Poland Spring bottle ("division of Nestle Waters") it says: "Natural Spring Water", and lists as sources 5 named springs in Maine. It used to be only one, Poland Spring (been there), but once Nestle... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Music: 67 of 153
The song is dying, from neglectNo one will play it any moreNow nothing but paper with meaningless marksStuck in the bottom of a drawerIt used to be Number 1 on the chartsGot listened to day after dayBy fanatical fans who couldn't get enoughNo there's no one who wants to play itAnd all of the beautiful phrasingThe perfect chan... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Nighttime blues: 77 of 159
Walking up Lambert Road in the DarkWalking up Lambert Road, in the dark, on the come-latelies' shiny new blacktopWhere they pamper their Benzes and Beemers and Hummers (You believe it? there's Hummers on Lambert!)Hallowe'en is but three weeks away, and the moon slashes jack o'lantern shapes from the treesWalked this road for ... More..
Arts & Humanities > Awareness & Reality Philosophy: Which came first, the chicken or the egg?: 33 of 67
This is one of those questions meant to introduce people to philosophy, and to inspire debate. Another is the "if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it still make a sound?". Still another is "what is the sound of one hand clapping?" All pointless debates in my book, much like one my philosophy-maj... More..
Creative Writing > Songs Songs: A sailor's ballad: 7 of 14
Neptune's SongI need to go back to sea againI've lingered in port for too longThere's nothing to keep me here any longerIt's time to sing Neptune's songThe relief when I first sighted land was intenseThe delights of the shore were alluringBut as always the draw of the land was illusionCome the dawn I'll be slipping my mooring... More..