Category – Columns

Columns
“Amber Mist” by James Meehan
Latest posts in Columns
On the Food Scene: Favorite Recipes for the Grill
Connecticut food writer Stephen Fries shares grilling recipes for bacon-wrapped asparagus, Buffalo chicken kebabs, ribeye steaks and an elevated burger in this “taste of summer.”
Talking Transportation: Is it Time to Tax Electric Vehicles?
The hypothetical “average driver” in CT pays about $209 a year in gas tax while EV drivers pay nothing, according to Jim Cameron. Is that fair?
Talking Transportation: P.T. Barnum’s Bridgeport Was No Circus
Barnum’s genius wasn’t just in filling circus tents. The showman and Bridgeport mayor also understood logistics: how to move goods, people and opportunity efficiently.
The Movie Man: Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ is worth the wait
Christopher Nolan’s epic delivers memorable performances and breathtaking practical effects, making it well worth seeing in IMAX.
Talking Transportation: Hot & Bothered – Summer’s Transportation Meltdown
Extreme heat and wildfire smoke are disrupting trains, planes and roads, revealing how vulnerable Connecticut’s transportation systems are to increasingly severe summer conditions.
Talking Transportation: Airlines’ Windowless Window Seats
A pair of lawsuits, one of which got the go-ahead to proceed last week, claim passengers were duped when they paid for window seats and ended up with no windows.
The Movie Man: ‘Toy Story 5’ Tackles Screen Time With Pixar’s Signature Heart
By turning screen time into its central conflict, the latest Toy Story sequel gives Woody and friends a mission for the new generation – and all of us.
Talking Transportation: Two Railroad Giants at War – And Riders Pay the Price
Amid rising rail fares and suffering service, Jim Cameron says state leaders bear responsibility for not adequately funding Connecticut’s transportation system.
The Movie Man: Spielberg Delivers Awe and Suspense in Must-See ‘Disclosure Day’
What makes Steven Spielberg’s movies special is that he always manages to capture a sense of wonder for the audience.
Talking Transportation: Shapiro’s Folly, Part Deux – The Bridge That Won’t Die
A bridge from Bridgeport to Long Island is a bridge too far, according to transportation columnist Jim Cameron.
A View from My Porch: America’s Quarter Millennium – The Breaking Point
In the second part of this America 250-inspired series, Thomas D. Gotowka examines how Henry Knox’s “Noble Train of Artillery” changed the course of the Revolutionary War.
Talking Transportation: Confessions of a Kid Who Played With (Real) Trains
Jim Cameron recounts the ingenuity of the railroad air brake system through a don’t-try-this-at-home childhood adventure involving a parked freight train.
‘Pressure’ a Worthwhile Addition to the World War II Canon … and Another Win for the ‘Brenaissance’
Brendan Fraser leads a strong cast in this understated World War II drama about the weather forecasts, command decisions and mounting uncertainty behind the Allied invasion of Normandy.
Talking Transportation: We Built Transportation’s Future, Then Got Stuck in Traffic
Jim Cameron looks at Connecticut’s history of pioneering submarines, aircraft engines and the nation’s first statewide speed limit (because “we do enjoy a good rule”).
The Movie Man: ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ Delivers Spectacle, but Little Urgency
This review argues that while it is great to see this duo together again, this big screen release is lacking the hook that made them so popular to begin with.
The Movie Man: When Streaming Gets Complicated, Maybe It’s Time to Return to DVDs
In a departure from movie reviews, Kevin Ganey makes the case for DVDs in a world where new tech has not necessarily made entertainment easier to enjoy.
Talking Transportation: The Speed Camera Revolt
The challenge isn’t proving that speeding is dangerous, according to columnist Jim Cameron. It’s convincing drivers that speed cameras are truly about safety.
A View from My Porch: America’s Quarter Millennium – From Whence We Came
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Thomas Gotowka looks back on the American Revolution and the ideals that shaped the nation.
Talking Transportation: Could Metro-North Be Next for a Strike?
The LIRR strike should be considered a warning for Connecticut commuters in a system where one rail shutdown could trigger regional traffic chaos.
Guest Perspective: I Visited 95 CT Libraries In 4 Weeks – Here’s What I Learned
This guest columnist, who describes library joy as contagious, recalled one young patron who walked through the door, put his arms in the air and shouted, “Yes! We’re here!”











