Once again a poorly written news story from the Sun Journal. Once again the Sun Journal is okay with not putting the responsibility of an adverse situation where it belongs, with a careless individual. How in the world can a candle "start a fire". This fire was not started by a candle, it was started by Terry Cady.
Terry Cady's poor judgement and careless placement of the candle was the reason for the fire that has unfortunately left her homeless and an insurance company to pay for her carelessness. It surely won't be long before insurance companies are allowed to void someone's coverage if a fire is determined to be the result of a porrly placed or watched candle.
Come on Sun Journal write the news. Put the blame where it belongs. Too often this paper finds a way to phrase a story allowing for candles, ice, rain, sun, alchohol, thin ice, speed and so on as the "cause" of an accident or death. The truth is poor judgement, a blatant disregard for safety precautions, inexperience and so on are the primary causes of most so called accidents and accidental deaths.
It’s time to take of the kid gloves. There is no doubt that a large number of Somali’s in this Country arrived as refugees. Those days are over. They are no longer refugees. They are members of the community and need to start acting like it. There seems to be a disconnect between respect for the community and law and a sense of entitlement. I have a great deal of empathy for the atrocities that brought many Somali’s to our shores. However, my empathy is fading and I am now expecting that they assimilate into THEIR new Country of choice.
Hold onto your Somali identity and religious beliefs but join the rest of us in a show of community. I see the words “racism” and “racist” being tossed around far too freely. This is no way appears to be “racist”. It feels more like a group of people have decided that the rules the rest of the neighborhood live by don’t apply to them. They do. They apply to all of us.
I love the idea of the infusion of culture and color into our communities. I love the idea of the expanding world exposure we get with each growth spurt of immigrants and non WASP residents to our area. It betters us all.
Part of the problem in my estimation is the unwillingness of the new arrivals to assimilate and adapt their culture into our existing culture and the overwhelming willingness for the natives to give up the existing culture as to pacify the new arrivals. Not allowing school kids to have a Halloween or Christmas party is obscene. I am not a practicing Christian but would not ever advocate the elimination of the grade school Christmas party. People who don’t know to shut their mouths when the National Anthem is playing or being performed is obscene. Referring to The President of The United States of America by his surname only, instead of as President Obama or President Bush is obscene.
It is not okay to be politically correct for the sake of being politically correct. We are America. We are Americans. This is how it is done here. If doing it the Somali way was superior it wouldn’t be a Country of tribes and tribal wars with a near complete lack of law and order and respect for the human condition. It is time for our Somali neighbors to start adapting their traditional lifestyles into the existing community. It is what our grandparents did, it is what their parents did, it is what some of our parents did and some of us had to do. We brought our baggage with us, we adapted what made sense to adapt and we adopted new ideals and practices and we left a lot behind. That’s life. That’s why we are successful as a Nation.
It’s not a mistake that we are the youngest Nation on the planet but yet the most powerful. Even now, as we muddle through high unemployment, financial adversity, housing busts, and so on is there a place on earth that any of us would rather be? It is the commitment to the idea of the USA that has made it possible. Even during these adverse times we are united as one.
We are one Nation acting in unison represented by a bevy of nationalities and religions. We cannot be a bevy of nationalities and religions all going in their own direction acting in their own interest and still expect to reach our common goal. It is time to start expecting the Somali members of our community to start acting like they are members of the community at large. Enough quarter has been given. It’s time for the rubber to hit the road and for the immigrants to adopt us as we have adopted them.
There is no surprise that that the gambling control board's role would increase and that new hire's would be necessary. It is common sense. At first I was thinking that $900,000 of additional expenses per year was high but it seems reasonable when considering the task at hand.
What I am most baffled about is why it's going to take 8 weeks to right the rules for a few gaming table games. If it were embarking on a new venture I would talk to a close friend or neighbor that had experience and get their input. That said, wouldn't it make sense to sit down with the folks from Atlantic City, or Connecticut with their rules and bang out our own using theirs as the foundation. I think in most cases regular folk could sit down with the Atlantic City or Connecticut rules and in about a day or two bang out what we would need. We are late comers to this and there are tried and true rules already in place in much larger establishments than we will be seeing that would work for Maine just fine.
Let's stop trying to reinvent the wheel. Will Maine gambling be so unique that it needs to formulate a whole new system? Doubtful. Does the Maine legislature see the opportunity to be greedy, even as they protest something as vile as a casino? Probably. Hence, let's reinvent the wheel and skim as much cream off the top as possible.
The greedy suits in Augusta are no doubt plotting and scheming this very minute, behind closed doors and in clandestine meetings on how they are going to get their hands on the piles of cash the Casino will generate. The Casino has never been the problem. The problem has always been the greed of those for and against the Casino and of the parasites at the fringes of the process.
Though it is good to see the State finally on the offensive in this arena it seems to make more sense to (quoting that great American Barney Fife) "nip it in the bud". In my estimation it makes more fiscal sense for the State to spend a couple million dollars a year hiring the personnel it would take to ensure recipients of various programs are not only in need but are also using the funding as described and intended. If you are in receipt of State monies for housing, heating assistance, food stamps, TANF, ASPIRE, etc..., it should be completely expected that a State DHHS program funding enforcement agent will be visiting you, without prior notice, to ensure you are in compliance.
Those against such an assurance policy will certainly argue that it violates a person's right to privacy to just show up on their door and request entry. Hogwash, if you agree to accept money from the State you need to accept some conditions and among the first is you agree to allow the State DHHS funding agency entry to your home not just to ensure that monies aren't being misused but to also educate recipients in areas that they need education; areas like, meal planning, budgeting, parenting and so on.
While we are on the subject, wouldn’t it be nice to see a workfare project instituted? Parks need cleaning, pot holes need filling, culverts need cleaning, schools need painting and so much more and the State has a fully paid workforce collecting a paycheck while they sit at home. Not everyone but a good percentage sit at home collecting. Let’s put them to work. You want the money then do what the people paying into the system are doing, work. Not slave labor or endless hours, just something that gives a sense of earning instead of entitlement. Something that boosts one’s self worth and feels more like earning than taking.
I own some rental units and recently had a tenant who leave because she was going to (these are her words) "get my welfare". She quit college, quit work, moved in with her boyfriend who had just secured a section 8 voucher though a transfer from a parent that moved out of State, and she "got her welfare", like it was owed to her. A perfectly capable 23 year old woman quit bettering her life because it was work in favor of welfare.
Welfare is no bargain. I don't think for one minute people are living high on the hog while on welfare (assistance). But, there sure are a large percentage of recipients on assistance abusing the system and the programs to the detriment of individuals and families that are in actual need. There needs to be checks and balances. The State has to be proactive. Instead of chasing after spent money and hoping to get paid back make sure the money is going to the people who should be getting it in the first place.
There is a fantastic movie from the 70's that highlights this very situation. The movie is called Claudine, starring James Earl Jones and Diahann Carrol. You can watch it in section on youtube if you can't find it at the video store or through an online streaming service.
Ares's Comments
Candles don't "CAUSE" fires
Once again a poorly written news story from the Sun Journal. Once again the Sun Journal is okay with not putting the responsibility of an adverse situation where it belongs, with a careless individual. How in the world can a candle "start a fire". This fire was not started by a candle, it was started by Terry Cady.
Terry Cady's poor judgement and careless placement of the candle was the reason for the fire that has unfortunately left her homeless and an insurance company to pay for her carelessness. It surely won't be long before insurance companies are allowed to void someone's coverage if a fire is determined to be the result of a porrly placed or watched candle.
Come on Sun Journal write the news. Put the blame where it belongs. Too often this paper finds a way to phrase a story allowing for candles, ice, rain, sun, alchohol, thin ice, speed and so on as the "cause" of an accident or death. The truth is poor judgement, a blatant disregard for safety precautions, inexperience and so on are the primary causes of most so called accidents and accidental deaths.
It's time for the immigrants to adopt us as we have adopted them
It’s time to take of the kid gloves. There is no doubt that a large number of Somali’s in this Country arrived as refugees. Those days are over. They are no longer refugees. They are members of the community and need to start acting like it. There seems to be a disconnect between respect for the community and law and a sense of entitlement. I have a great deal of empathy for the atrocities that brought many Somali’s to our shores. However, my empathy is fading and I am now expecting that they assimilate into THEIR new Country of choice.
Hold onto your Somali identity and religious beliefs but join the rest of us in a show of community. I see the words “racism” and “racist” being tossed around far too freely. This is no way appears to be “racist”. It feels more like a group of people have decided that the rules the rest of the neighborhood live by don’t apply to them. They do. They apply to all of us.
I love the idea of the infusion of culture and color into our communities. I love the idea of the expanding world exposure we get with each growth spurt of immigrants and non WASP residents to our area. It betters us all.
Part of the problem in my estimation is the unwillingness of the new arrivals to assimilate and adapt their culture into our existing culture and the overwhelming willingness for the natives to give up the existing culture as to pacify the new arrivals. Not allowing school kids to have a Halloween or Christmas party is obscene. I am not a practicing Christian but would not ever advocate the elimination of the grade school Christmas party. People who don’t know to shut their mouths when the National Anthem is playing or being performed is obscene. Referring to The President of The United States of America by his surname only, instead of as President Obama or President Bush is obscene.
It is not okay to be politically correct for the sake of being politically correct. We are America. We are Americans. This is how it is done here. If doing it the Somali way was superior it wouldn’t be a Country of tribes and tribal wars with a near complete lack of law and order and respect for the human condition. It is time for our Somali neighbors to start adapting their traditional lifestyles into the existing community. It is what our grandparents did, it is what their parents did, it is what some of our parents did and some of us had to do. We brought our baggage with us, we adapted what made sense to adapt and we adopted new ideals and practices and we left a lot behind. That’s life. That’s why we are successful as a Nation.
It’s not a mistake that we are the youngest Nation on the planet but yet the most powerful. Even now, as we muddle through high unemployment, financial adversity, housing busts, and so on is there a place on earth that any of us would rather be? It is the commitment to the idea of the USA that has made it possible. Even during these adverse times we are united as one.
We are one Nation acting in unison represented by a bevy of nationalities and religions. We cannot be a bevy of nationalities and religions all going in their own direction acting in their own interest and still expect to reach our common goal. It is time to start expecting the Somali members of our community to start acting like they are members of the community at large. Enough quarter has been given. It’s time for the rubber to hit the road and for the immigrants to adopt us as we have adopted them.
Paris Town Curfew
Well in the words of Jack Nicholson as "The Joker"..."This town could use an enema”. How ridiculous, a curfew.
Leave it to Maine to re-invent the wheel
There is no surprise that that the gambling control board's role would increase and that new hire's would be necessary. It is common sense. At first I was thinking that $900,000 of additional expenses per year was high but it seems reasonable when considering the task at hand.
What I am most baffled about is why it's going to take 8 weeks to right the rules for a few gaming table games. If it were embarking on a new venture I would talk to a close friend or neighbor that had experience and get their input. That said, wouldn't it make sense to sit down with the folks from Atlantic City, or Connecticut with their rules and bang out our own using theirs as the foundation. I think in most cases regular folk could sit down with the Atlantic City or Connecticut rules and in about a day or two bang out what we would need. We are late comers to this and there are tried and true rules already in place in much larger establishments than we will be seeing that would work for Maine just fine.
Let's stop trying to reinvent the wheel. Will Maine gambling be so unique that it needs to formulate a whole new system? Doubtful. Does the Maine legislature see the opportunity to be greedy, even as they protest something as vile as a casino? Probably. Hence, let's reinvent the wheel and skim as much cream off the top as possible.
The greedy suits in Augusta are no doubt plotting and scheming this very minute, behind closed doors and in clandestine meetings on how they are going to get their hands on the piles of cash the Casino will generate. The Casino has never been the problem. The problem has always been the greed of those for and against the Casino and of the parasites at the fringes of the process.
Be proactive...
Though it is good to see the State finally on the offensive in this arena it seems to make more sense to (quoting that great American Barney Fife) "nip it in the bud". In my estimation it makes more fiscal sense for the State to spend a couple million dollars a year hiring the personnel it would take to ensure recipients of various programs are not only in need but are also using the funding as described and intended. If you are in receipt of State monies for housing, heating assistance, food stamps, TANF, ASPIRE, etc..., it should be completely expected that a State DHHS program funding enforcement agent will be visiting you, without prior notice, to ensure you are in compliance.
Those against such an assurance policy will certainly argue that it violates a person's right to privacy to just show up on their door and request entry. Hogwash, if you agree to accept money from the State you need to accept some conditions and among the first is you agree to allow the State DHHS funding agency entry to your home not just to ensure that monies aren't being misused but to also educate recipients in areas that they need education; areas like, meal planning, budgeting, parenting and so on.
While we are on the subject, wouldn’t it be nice to see a workfare project instituted? Parks need cleaning, pot holes need filling, culverts need cleaning, schools need painting and so much more and the State has a fully paid workforce collecting a paycheck while they sit at home. Not everyone but a good percentage sit at home collecting. Let’s put them to work. You want the money then do what the people paying into the system are doing, work. Not slave labor or endless hours, just something that gives a sense of earning instead of entitlement. Something that boosts one’s self worth and feels more like earning than taking.
I own some rental units and recently had a tenant who leave because she was going to (these are her words) "get my welfare". She quit college, quit work, moved in with her boyfriend who had just secured a section 8 voucher though a transfer from a parent that moved out of State, and she "got her welfare", like it was owed to her. A perfectly capable 23 year old woman quit bettering her life because it was work in favor of welfare.
Welfare is no bargain. I don't think for one minute people are living high on the hog while on welfare (assistance). But, there sure are a large percentage of recipients on assistance abusing the system and the programs to the detriment of individuals and families that are in actual need. There needs to be checks and balances. The State has to be proactive. Instead of chasing after spent money and hoping to get paid back make sure the money is going to the people who should be getting it in the first place.
There is a fantastic movie from the 70's that highlights this very situation. The movie is called Claudine, starring James Earl Jones and Diahann Carrol. You can watch it in section on youtube if you can't find it at the video store or through an online streaming service.