Mash Notes, Hate Mail & Other Correspondence

The Portsmouth Brewery credits its longevity to a community-minded approach and an ability to innovate [Normally we jettison all press releases for being irrelevant, unreadable, or ads in disguise. Frequently they meet all three of these criteria. We are pleased to publish this—an exception on all counts. Longtime readers will know that the Portsmouth Brewery played a critical role in supporting this newspaper for many years. We send our heartfelt congratulations and sincere thanks to Peter, Joanne, Maxine, and the entire staff of the Brewery, current and former, on this auspicious occasion. — The Ed.] Portsmouth, New Hampshire—The Portsmouth Brewery, New Hampshire’s first licensed craft …

Read moreNew Hampshire’s Original Craft Brewery Celebrates 30 Years

To the Editor: As a concerned human being and a Jew who also lives in Portsmouth, I can certainly sympathize with Ari Alexenberg and his family on their recent trip to Israel, as Mr. Alexenberg described in his guest column on May 30th in the Portsmouth Herald. My life was not in danger on my visit to Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza border on a visit a year ago. We related to average citizens, not terrorists. I’m afraid that my experience and beliefs do not align with Mr. Alexenberg’s. For example, I do not believe that the dispute in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood …

Read moreThe Anti-Semitism Slur

To the Editor, There are few things Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan could support that would do more to reduce suffering in this world than federal funding for cultured-meat research. For those who don’t know, cultured meat is grown from cells, without slaughter. This revolutionary technology will help usher in a more compassionate future. We kill over a trillion aquatic and land animals every year for food. The amount of suffering this represents is impossible to comprehend. While the field of cellular agriculture has made significant strides, more open-access research is needed to reach price parity and develop whole-cut meats. I hope Congress will …

Read moreThere Are Worse Ways to Spend Money

To the Editor: We all want a clean, healthy environment. We all want the inexpensive and reliable energy, from whatever source, that enables us to prosper, have a healthy environment, and live healthy lives. And, we want these for ourselves and for future generations. Energy sources like solar, wind, and biomass have been promoted as solutions to the alleged Man-Made Climate Change problem that I, and some others, believe is overstated, if not enormously inflated. This has, perhaps, not enabled an adequate independent consideration of solar, wind, and biomass (green) energy production, without being influenced by considerations of climate change. Michael Moore is very concerned …

Read moreDon Ewing Goes Green…ish

Dear Editor, Our country’s Capitol was attacked January 6th. Far worse than the attack on our embassy in Benghazi, this was an insurrection against our democracy. Republicans mounted six Congressional investigations into Benghazi. A majority of 54 Senators voted yes to investigate the Capitol attack. A Republican minority voted against investigating. The Senate’s filibuster rule requires a 60-vote majority. Fifty-one Democratic votes could rescind the filibuster, but Senators Manchin and Sinema are holding out for “bipartisanship.” The truth about January 6 must come out. The truth must identify those responsible for the attack. Truth must counter those Republican liars claiming the Capitol terrorists were merely …

Read moreHolding Out for a Mirage

Dear Editor, May 1, 2021—News has reached me from friends in Groton, Mass., that their hummingbirds have arrived! I keep track of their arrival date here. In 2011 I had mine in the yard on April 30th. In 2012 it was May 1st. Other years, later. May 18th in 2013. Most years somewhere in between, with its being closer to the start of May. Time to put out the feeders. We have no black flies for them yet, nor their favorite flowers. Ours fly more than 3,000 miles from their winter habitat in Mexico, at 30 miles per hour! Let’s be ready for them. Lynn …

Read moreHummingbirds!