And another thing …

Another successful Common Ground Country Fair, another weekend of healthful living. Hold the pesticides, the genetically engineered foods, the suspect coffee, the artificial sweeteners – and pass the cigarettes. Seems that the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, a leading group in fighting the spread of theoretically dangerous genetically engineered foods, welcomes the use of the nation’s undisputed No. 1 killer to its annual shindig, second-hand smoke and all. “Hey, Marlboro Man. Those organic?”

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So presidential candidates now must get on the TV talk shows to get elected. Just try imagining Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower or Franklin D. Roosevelt chatting and smooching with Oprah Winfrey. Talk about a loss of dignity – talk-show host once was an honored profession.

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Olympic coaches, athletes and even a few officials admit that the drug problem at the Sydney Games has gone beyond the ability of the International Olympic Committee to catch those with chemically enhanced performances. What to do? The answer’s obvious. Strip a 16-year-old Romanian gymnast of her gold medal because she took a banned cold medicine on the advice of her doctor. That ought to scare off the nasally congested for many Olympics to come.

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The reading public sometimes – all right, always – dislikes the smug, privileged tone that creeps into reporters’ stories after they have traveled for months with the presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Now it has something else to resent: Marcia Lieberman’s goodies. The mother of the Democratic vice-presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman has been sending care packages to reporters covering her son. The boxes include tissues, lip balm, bagel chips, plastic sunglasses and post cards so they could write to their own mothers. It’s a nice gesture, Mrs. Lieberman, but next time how about some stamps?