I can not tell a lie. Although fireworks are dangerous, they can also be an endless form of entertainment. Something I take advantage of whenever I can. Summer to me is a lawn chair, an ice cold beer, and some idiot trying to light the wrong end of a /"Roman Candle". I'll tell you, you can't get that in any theater. I realize fireworks are banned in L/A, but as long as they still sell booze, fireworks will never go away. I never get enough of people who couldn't find the ground if they fell over, but they can find that little fuse at the end of a firecracker. Welcome to Summer in L/A....
The government in Maine, and many other states, seem to think any money that comes into the state, is fair game. They seem to think its free money, and we can spend it any way we please.
I remember when this lawsuit was decided. I remember thinking how are they going to make this money available to present and former smokers. A lot of people were sure it would never get to where it belonged, and they were right.Almost every state that received money from the lawsuit, misused the funds to a certain degree. I was a smoker and was curious how it could help me. I was able to get nicotine patches, but I don't remember any help being offered when I was hospitalized with smoking related illness.
Politicians don't care what the money was earmarked for, only that they get their fair share. The health of the people doesn't even register with LePage. Anyone who would take away prescription coverage for seniors, would take candy from a child. I gave up on the whole mess years ago. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I'm not alone.
As a former truck driver, I can tell you how scarey that bridge is. In twenty years or so, I've only met another truck on that bridge once. We both slowed down pretty quick, I thought sure I would lose my mirror. Even cars made that bridge seem very narrow. This isn't the only, or narrowest bridge in the state, which needs replacing, I guess we'll take it one bridge at a time.
Mr Moulton, I was able to retire from one industry at forty four years of age, with plenty of savings and stock options. I then went back to school and earned my second college degree. I went back to work and made a very good income right here in Auburn. Its been six years since I became disabled, and I'm still quite comfortable.
I never said I couldn't find work, I'm just very picky about having an income.
I understand the fact that these plans will create jobs. Jobs however aren't worth anything if you can't earn a living without working three jobs. I've done it, it sucks. That's what has to change, the assumption that a job, where ever its at, is something you can live on. I knew several union hotel workers from New York city who were not making a livable wage. My own daughter works in the restaurant industry, she now lives in N Carolina, it doesn't pay any better but it costs less to live there.
Every time I've attempted to work in this state, I've been offered eight or nine dollars per hour. Hell, that's what I made back in the seventies. If a person is going to be able to live on his or her own, they need to make a livable income. Employers know that they will get people to accept these jobs eventually, but they end up with what they pay for. Your not going to find livable wages and benefits, at a fast food restaurant or a hotel.
The only way anything is going to change the economic disaster in this state and anywhere for that matter, is first get educated. It doesn't need to be a degree, even a good trade school will help. You then need the infrastructure to attract industry to the area. The days of coming in off the street, looking to get a job are over. Unless you have something to offer an employer. Your going to end up in the same rut as alot of people.
Tune in next week when I describe what happens when your working for eight dollars an hour, with no benefits, and then have a major medical problem. It ain't pretty.
All I've heard in the past year or so is the complaints of too much noise from windmill's. I'm sorry, but you haven't lived with noise, unless you grew up in a house with a six lane highway in your back yard.
I'm not sure exactly when the "Southeast Expressway" was opened in Massachusetts, But it was just about the time I was born. I grew up with a highway three hundred feet from my house. It was so loud that no one noticed. People would come over, and the first words out of their mouth were, how can you live with this noise? I never really noticed it because I pretty much grew up with it. The only time I noticed was when the steady smooth sounds of traffic was interrupted with the screeching skids and metal crunching. There's nothing quite like it at two in the morning. So you'll have to excuse me, I doubt a windmill could compare to that. And by the way, everyone fought like hell to keep that project from happening too.
Unless the other new hotels are regularly turning away guests due to its capacity's. I don't think we need more hotels,and restaurants. Something in town to provide livable wages would be a better rout to take.
I'm going to make a very unpopular statement, much the same as many years ago people swore they would never be caught dead ever using a "personal computer". I am not on Facebook.
At least I don't think I am. I was, but after about two weeks I began the backbreaking task of cancelling my Facebook account. To me it's nothing but a bragg-athon, I refuse to believe that all those people I grew up with ever became that successful.I couldn't believe it, profile after profile, of people who"made it". According to what I've read, every single person I ever knew, has gone on to become a corporate CEO, and that was just the beginning.
What really gets me is that where ever you look, what ever you do on line, some company or person is inviting me to see them on Facebook. I'm sick of seeing anything on Facebook. Unless someone comes up with an honesty app, its just a waste of my time. Not that I have anything else to do, I mean this CEO stuff takes up enough of my time. I have to go now, its been awhile since I've checked my Swiss Bank accounts. I wonder if I can do that on Facebook.
About seven years ago. I was invited to apply for a position at a large company in Portland. They Kept bragging about the fact that they have never laid anyone off. About every six weeks there would be a so called meeting / Power point presentation. They would emphasize the strength of the company and what a great job we were all doing.
I guess some people actually believe these ridiculous attempts to boost moral or what ever their trying to boost. This B.S. went on for a year, until one particular night. We had a pre-shift staff meeting as they were called. All the upper management stood up there and pretty much put us to sleep with all their claims at how good of a job we"re doing. Well after an hour and a half of that, I finally went to work. one hour later I was laid off. There were about ten of us, just the first of about a thousand company wide. The only regret I have with this company is making me sit through an hour and a half of telling me how strong the company was. I would have rather have just gone home when I first got there. So there you have it. Don't ever believe what the boss tells you. Its been proven to me, they will lie through their teeth.
Its a speed bump put in place for a reason. That reason was to maintain slow traffic in a posted school zone. Outside a school zone, speed bumps belong in parking lots only. Speed bumps on a public way create dangerous situations to unsuspecting drivers. Even at the posted speed limit, that bump will startle most anyone not familiar with it. That means an accident waiting to happen. Its simple, no school zone, no speed bump. If you let the neighbors decide they'll be speed bumps in every neighborhood in town. Think about it the next time you need an alignment job done on your car.
But they had to be at work. What a joke. These people throw that word around like it really means what it used to. WORK, that used to mean earning a living and supporting a family. You can do that in other states but not in Maine.
There are so many people working two or three jobs, and still can just barely pay the rent.
People aren't making any money because Maine employers know they don't have to offer a livable wage. I've lived in this state for thirty years, I've only worked in this state for about six years. during that time I have lost a house. been evicted from apartments, and had just about every utility shut off at one time or another. Fortunately I had the ability to work out of state, and still live in the state. Those are what I called my recovery jobs. I had to get two more college degrees to finally earn close to a livable wage in this state.
Until the pay scale meets the needs of the people. Its going to be business as usual. People going to "work" but not earning anything. For that reason alone, the state will remain broke.
"Along party lines", I no longer have to complain about the republicans. They themselves have shown what they are. I'm just curious how many elderly folks are going to die because the republicans are so out of touch with reality, they actually think killing people is worth saving a few bucks. People will die. Between LePage and his republican cronies, people will die because republicans don't have the ability to think for themselves, their just robots, programed by LePage. That in itself is scary.
Years ago I decided I needed to quit smoking. Actually my doctor decided for me. I went to my health insurance for help. No way, they refused to pay for smoking secession products. That was the end of that plan. (I don't think I was ready to quit anyway).
The point is if I had really been ready to quit. You would think of all things , they would want to Pay probably a couple of hundred dollars to help me quit.
Instead, six months later they were glad to pay for five days in the hospital and an ambulance ride. I had pneumonia, I probably wouldn't have gotten it if I had quit smoking. It just makes you wonder how they come to these policies.
I have since quit on my own, five years ago. No more ambulance rides.
Paul LePage just doesn't get it. He kind of reminds me of that guy everyone knows. He has one small clump of hair left, so he keeps combing it every which way to make it appear he has more. That's exactly whats happening with what little money we have left. He;s trying to, as he calls it, cut funding to balance the budget. That's B.S.Taking money from one department and putting it in another isn't cutting or saving anything. it's just moving it. At the end of the day there will still be the same amount of money.
Granted the previous administration and probably many before it, screwed up. They did what they thought was right. Problem is, LePage thinks that doing the opposite is the answer. He thinks he's cleaning house, when actually he's just moving around the furniture. What we need is jobs. Not the jobs we're getting from all the building going on in Auburn, How many jobs there pay between fifteen to twenty dollars per hour. That is just about a livable wage. Not to mention the increase in tax revenue. We need new money. Taking money from Peter to pay Paul won't fix the problem. What would work to a certain degree would be to cut taxes across the board for new industry to come to Maine.We don't need any more fast food restaurants, we need good paying industry. He must make the state more friendly to attract industry. Anything less is just putting off the inevitable.
Actually "middle management" is a relatively new description of an old and popular position. I've dealt with them in just about every industry you can think of, all over the country.
Even though I'm retired from that industry now, when I hear those words four names immediately pop into my mind. When I say dealt with them I think I really think I mean fought with them. One fired me five times from the same company. I think the one thing I've noticed is that in almost every case. The middle manager, was not qualified for the job he held. In the trucking industry, if you have someone making major decisions that affect the operation of a forty ton vehicle on public roadways, you want someone who knows what their doing. Although Federal laws have made companies and middle managers(dispatchers) accountable. Now they face huge fines and jail time, for doing what used to be business as usual in the past.
Don't get me wrong. I've known some great dispatchers, people I trusted with my life. I think if you ask anyone in any industry, you'll find fumbling fools in every capacity. They have worked in the trenches, and now they've tasted management. Problem is they'll do anything they have to to stay there, or advance. That's when they become dangerous.
Fortunately I don't have to deal with them ever again. However I strongly sympathize with anyone who does.
I'm not concerned about my father, he lives in a state that treats its residents like humans. My concern is for the ones who can't afford to pay a few bucks. They have very few options, yet their being treated like collateral damage. When you have a governor who treats a very poor and needy segment of the community like excess baggage and just throws them out like trash. What really needs to be done come election day is some trash being thrown out of the state house, starting at the top. Don't give me that crap about him doing such a good job for the state. He can't balance the budget the way he's going. He needs jobs that pay livable wages. Anything else is a waste. There's no cash coming in because so many people are unable to find a job, and the ones who have jobs aren't being paid enough to put any money back into the system. How are children supposed to help their aging parents, when they can't even afford the rent. I guess you could call it a vicious circle, no money coming in, no money going out. Hold on its going to get a lot worse until we get someone in office who has a clue. From what I've seen in the coral to choose from, it's going to be a long wait.
I am getting so sick of hearing that on just about every vote that comes up. These people have to realize we have more than one party, and just because we now have a governor who dictates what he wants the outcome to be on everything, doesn't make it right.
We need to use different ideologies, and insight, right or wrong, to compromise on a final decision. Republicans ,contrary to any republican, don't know whats best for the people of Maine. They just happen, now, to have enough votes to carry any vote that comes up. A governor who likes to try to intimidate people into voting his way.
Now that idiot is going to take prescription drug coverage away from the elderly. I'd be willing to bet that his next fiasco will be taking artificial limbs away from children. He's already shown that he would harm the elderly to save a few bucks, what won't he do?
I have an elderly Father who takes numerous medications. Thank God he doesn't live in Maine. Without them he would be dead within a week. How many people out there are Republicans, with elderly parents, who live with medical problems can honestly say "I feel that saving a few bucks is worth endangering my Mothers life". You have to start using the brains you were born with, and when LePage says he wants a particular outcome on something, Tell him to go to hell. If you act like robots, your not doing anyone any good.
Don't bother trashing me about this post, for two reasons. One: I don't give a damn,Two: Its my opinion and I'm sticking with it.
These new smart meters CMP is installing give off periodic mostly short signals. I believe their digital signals. Now if you happen to be near the frequency and are in close proximity with an analog radio, The digital signal could block your signal for a few minutes. It sounds almost like electronic feed back. with whistles and beeps. Once the message is sent it stops. You can't trace it after it stops.
If anyone wants to try it, in the Lewiston Auburn area. They use digital radios for the police in both towns. If you tune in their frequency, using an analog scanner, when someones close enough you get the same kind of feed back.I'm probably wrong, but since I got my new meter my scanner goes nuts twice a day. I've had scanners for a long time.
Its no different than those law suits against cigaret companies for getting lung cancer, or suing McDonalds because the coffee was too hot when you spilled it on yourself. nothing surprises me any more.
Contrary to popular belief, Medicare isn't free. I am permanently disabled and receive Social Security, with that comes Medicare. I used to think Medicare was free. "wrong".
Every month before I ever see anything I pay my medicare health premium, my prescription provider, my supplemental insurance, then I get whats left. I'm actually paying more than I did for my employer provided health insurance when I could work.
Just something to look forward to....
Is it any wonder that I have nothing but total disgust for all politicians. For all the ones that get caught, there are a dozen more getting away with it.
I came here from New Hampshire,after growing up in Massachusetts. I came hear because I enjoyed the way of life. I have nothing against jobs or development as long as its done with some responsibility. What I see happening in Auburn is totally irresponsible. You wouldn't understand it unless you actually witness the total trashing of cities and towns I see in the name of progress. If you like all the crammed development take it. There is a responsible way to develop a city. Seeing how much junk stores you can fit inside a square mile isn't the way.
At one point I was afraid of it. Carbon monoxide, unexpected explosions ect. However I have learned over the years, it was the equipment in some of the buildings I lived in in Lewiston that I was afraid of. Some of the gas heaters I saw were pretty grungy.
I've had Natural gas now for about thirteen years and wouldn't live anywhere it wasn't available. especially after the "ice storm". It is important to have good, well maintained equipment. No matter what happens I always have heat and hot water, and the cost isn't bad either.
I can't believe it, some one actually thinks what we need near the Auburn Mall is more construction. Brilliant. Give it a few more years and all those transplants from Massachusetts, who miss home can drive to Auburn. They'll no doubt feel right at home. I understand the need for tax revenue, more money in the pockets of George Schott, and more jobs. However is destroying the city of Auburn worth all this. Trust me, go to just about any town or city in Massachusetts, and you will see what I'm talking about. I used to live there(thirty years ago) when it was a pleasant place to live. I went down there a few years ago and it made me sick. Total greed, I don't need to describe it any further just wait a few years and a trip to Auburn will enlighten you.
I hope I'm wrong, but from the looks of things its already to late.
Just what were the Paul supporters trying to accomplish. Other than make Maine another laughing stock nationally. Even I know Ron Paul has a snowballs chance in hell of ever winning.
My observation is this. The Republicans can't even get along amongst themselves, yet we expect them to work with the democrats. Its never going to happen with the people in office now.
A real pet, be it rescued or just adopted at the shelter, finds you. You have no say in it. My land lord and I were sitting out at the side of our building, watching a group of men attempt to paint a building. They weren't very good, but it was funny. All of a sudden a small, I mean real small kitten just appeared out of nowhere. This kitten fit in the palm of my hand with room to spare. I have no idea where she came from, but I live on a fairly busy street, so it wasn't likely she came from to far away.
She found me. that was six years ago, Now she goes out of her way to team up with my other two cats to irritate the daylights out of me.
Sierra, I hope you two give each other as much enjoyment as my kitten has given me, not to mention my other two, both rescues. Good luck.
Ever since I was about five years old I've been fascinated with driving. I went through your typical drivers ed class to get my drivers license as soon as I could. That wasn't enough. At eighteen I got my commercial drivers license. At that age I couldn't drive out of state, but I got a good bit of life training in those years.
When I first received my class one. I had an instructor tell me you can legally drive a truck but you won't be a truck driver for at least five years. So I took those four years of instate driving to learn as much as I could.
I ended up driving for twenty two years with out so much as a moving violation or at fault accident. That was no accident.
Kids today need to be taught real life driving situations that need to be properly corrected. Driving shouldn't be an on the job training sort of experience. How many kids are trained what to do when they drift onto the soft shoulder. That and black ice are two of the biggest killers of kids today. When I was in tractor trailer school I was actually told to drive onto the soft shoulder to learn how to safely handle that sometimes overwhelming experience. I also spent many hours on a skid pad to learn all the particulars of skidding with a forty five foot trailer.
I just feel that today's drivers ed doesn't cut it. No more old crash movies. Take them out and drive off the road onto the soft shoulder. If possible get them some ice time. Knowing all this ahead of time might just save more lives than increasing the number of laws.
Thank you for your post. In response to your particular situation, I feel its two fold. First, like I said in my post, I moved here from out of state. I used to drive a truck here every night and come up on week ends, but that's about it. I was probably twenty four years old or so, I also lived in New Hampshire for awhile. I never experienced what I did in Maine. I never heard of AFDC or any other assistance program. I was either lucky or nieve. It was just something that although it shocked the hell out of me when I saw fathers acting the way they did, I just never experienced it before.
The other half is DHS, (I keep calling it that because that's what it was called back then). What can I say about an organization that turned a situation that could have been taken care of in the time it takes to write a check, into a twenty four year drawn out battle. Thats what I call state government at its best. The problem you describe has been going on for generations. Its passed down . DHS knows this , they just don't have the training and flexibility as an organization to battle it. What they do is grab onto what is easily accessible, like me. then they celebrate like they actually accomplished something. Unfortunately for them in the middle of that celebration they sometimes get kicked in the ass. As far as actually being able to go out and find someone, well that's why so many people get away with not having to pay what they owe. I knew people who didn't or wouldn't pay what they owed, I was as frustrated as you are. The total all consuming anger I feel for DHS, frustrated me even more. It still does to this day. Unless there is a total overhaul of the entire system, the people who work there given the ability to make day to day decisions. And maybe somewhere along the line try to have a little compassion for people who are trying to work with them, nothing is ever going to change.
I won't go into many details because there too painful for me to relive. I just think its important for the state to revamp, if they haven't already, their treatment of what they used to refer to as the delinquent parent.
That one aspect has a huge effect on the eventual relationship between father and child and possibly father and mother.
Twenty seven years ago, I had a daughter. Twenty six years ago I met my daughter for the first time.
I had just moved here from out of state and heard for the first time about something called "AFDC" I didn't know what it was or what I was about to get myself into.
My daughters mother found out about the pregnancy after we had stopped seeing each other. She and I were young, and she did what she had to do to get by. Here's we're my biggest mistake of my life occurred.
I went down to the DHS building in Lewiston, and informed them that I think I owe you some money I had just found out about. I have never in my life seen such an unorganized, untrained bunch of idiots in my life.
They had no idea how to, or should I say, what to do with me. You see people don't usually come to them. The only method of treatment was criminal. I was a criminal who just turned himself in.
After several hours of being transferred from one empty brain to another. I finally learned what I owed. This included my daughters living expenses, as well as the medical bills from when she was born. Now the fun really begins. They send me to Support Enforcement Department. I thought the first group of people were stupid, now I know where they were trained.
Now I don't need to go on all day so I'll get to my point. This all could have been taken care of in a few minutes, It was only, at that point about eight thousand dollars. I kept asking them why I couldn't just pay the bill, set up a child support payment schedule and everyone's happy. That wasn't something that was possible. All I needed to do was write a check and everyone would be happy. They had no idea how to, or what to do with collected money. Now I knew a battle of wits was out of the question, this group was totally unarmed. They totally insulted me in the coming weeks. This started a twenty four year war with DHS. Numerous support officers left their jobs as did numerous DHS case workers over the years.
Long story short, I paid back a total of about twelve thousand dollars. I made it as slow and painful as possible for them to get a penny. All because they weren't trained to treat a parent with a little respect especially when that parent came to them. Its almost like they go out of their way to discourage parents even un married ones, from working together to raise a child. And they still wonder why there are so many single mothers out there.
In my case they lost. I now have a very happy and successful twenty seven year old daughter, with a mother and father who both work for her well being, It wasn't easy. I hope someone in Augusta reads this.
I suspect that the reason a lot of people are not taking advantage of this program. Is due to the fact that when their children reach college age, no one will be able to afford to send their kids to college. Great they may have enough to buy books, but that's like being able to afford the water, but can't quite swing the cost of the swimming pool.
Does the restraining order require one of them to become a republican so they can argue as usual, without it becoming a news story but just business as usual.
The climate on earth is always changing. It has since long before humans even existed. In the large scope of things. The nice climate conditions we have experienced, or should I say the earth has experienced for the past ten thousand years was a fluke, it never should of happened. The temperature now has been rising since the mid nineteenth century, Its not like some one has a thermostat to control the weather. Sure carbon and other pollutants have an effect on the UV rays that reach the earth. The climate is going to change, just as it has for millions of years. All the protests in the world can't stop it. Its basically one big coincidence.
Brace yourself, its going to be a bumpy ride.
I went to CMMC, when I fell and injured my shoulder. That was when I had no health insurance about a year ago. They took an x-ray, informed me nothing was broken then put me in one of those cloth slings and sent me on my way.
I paid for the medical and x-ray out of pocket as I expected. Then I got a second bill from a private company that supplies CMMC with medical supplies. They are based in Massachusetts, but have an office in Bangor. They tried charging me 107.00 for a six dollar item. I had already bought a new one at CVS, because the hospital sling was a piece of crap. CVS's cost 6.95. They called me and wrote me when I refused to pay the bill. Finally I told them in Bangor. They could send anyone they want to my house and I'll pay what they deserve. Its been a year or so now and haven't heard from them again.
I would be happy if just two members of the house or two members of the senate could just sit down and agree on something.Anyone with half a brain, house and senate excluded, knows that having everyone purchase their own health insurance, will do one thing. Open the floodgates for insurance fraud, these guys will promise you anything and everything. Its all about commission. I recently shopped around for supplemental health insurance for my Part B medicare coverage. Once I made my choice, The onslaught began. You can't stop it. I even had one guy try to invite himself into my house to sell me life insurance. I told all these guys the same thing.
I'm on a fixed income, I spend over three thousand dollars, per year for all my Medicare, supplemental and prescription coverage. On top of that I already have four life insurance policies. I'm only fifty four, and live alone. That should have been the end of it. Not likely. I dread going to the mailbox every day.
Once they get their talons into you, they won't let go. The last insurance company I complained to apologized. Then informed me that I should see their particular unsolicited offers, start to slow down in ninety days. You can irritate a lot of people in ninety days. Its going to be a feeding frenzy when everyone has to start shopping for insurance from these vultures.
Just my humble opinion....
I agree one hundred percent. There is a need for partial prescriptions. I have a permanent degenerative disease. There is no prescribed treatment for it so there is a lot of trial and error. Many times I have had to try certain medications, only to find out that it either didn't work or made me ill. Now I have three weeks worth of the medication left. I feel that better communication between pharmacist and patient is essential. I have learned over the years that you can request a partial filling of a prescription.
Another place to be more aggressive is the emergency room. They love giving out prescriptions especially pain medications. A couple of years ago I had to visit the emergency room for an injury totally unrelated to my medical condition, I slipped on ice. They handled it very well then came time to go home. I actually got into an argument with a nurse practitioner over whether or not I needed oxicontin. Even though I was already on oxicontin, they were hell bent on giving me a months supply to take home with me. These are some of the reasons you end up with a medicine cabinet full of useless medications. Be proactive in your health care, medications are part of that.
Personal responsibility, now there's a real possible solution to this whole mess. Problem is it will never work. there are far to many people out there that lack "personal responsibility". Now you may think that these people will fall into the category called addicts. Its not difficult to spot these people, and yes some of these people will become addicts. Now here's a little bit of information that's going to blow the lid off all these so called experts opinions.
Not all addicts lack "personal responsibility". I am probably the most responsible person in the world when it comes to taking my medications, and I take a bunch of them. I work very closely with my doctors and pharmacist. I thoroughly research every medication I take or have taken over the years. I am very careful about when I take certain medications and when its safe to drive.Still I have become addicted to several medications. Medications I had to take and was totally aware that I would become addicted. Right now I'm in my third week of gradually weening myself off a medication I've been taking for years but unfortunately has run its course. Weening is the safest way to gradually remove a medication from your system without going through withdrawal. Its difficult at times but necessary some times.
I guess what I'm getting to is that yes some people out there need help. There is a large group that don't need any help. I'm just afraid that some yahoo is going to pass a dumb feel good law, that's going to take the responsibility out of my hands and put it with the state or worse. In all the articles I've read in recent weeks, everyone is being put into one group. There is more than one group out there. I guess being called an addict should make me feel worse than I do. Instead I consider it an insult to my inelegance. Long term health care is totally different from a broken leg. I just hope these so called experts will start to see that. If anyone is going to be my own worst enemy, let it be me.
You think the DEA won't do a thorough investigation, and punish those responsible?
I don't even think they'll get that slap on the wrist, and not only that, Chong will not only be found somehow responsible. They will make him pay for the damage he did to the cell.
One thing I read in this story bought back tragic memories from my past. I had worked for a large national company in Massachusetts. They also have an office here in several locations in Maine as well, so I won't mention the name.
In the trucking business, you have a dispatcher. This person is literally responsible for every move those trucks make. This person is literally responsible for their lives.
Well our dispatcher of several years resigned. Now there were three guys out on permanent disability, they could no longer drive trucks but would have made great dispatchers. Between the three of them they probably had a total of forty years experience. They all applied for the dispatch job.They were all denied due to their lack of a college degree. It wouldn't have mattered what the degree was for, but the company had this new policy. To make a long story short, the Job went to the twenty four year old nephew of the district manager. The guy had never even been in a truck never mind driven one. His winning requirement, he had an associate degree in liberal arts. He had that degree so he was the most qualified.
He only lasted six months , unfortunately two divers didn't survive the companies new policy. But he had his degree.
I just learned from the Medical review department of the Motor Vehicle department. that supposedly all a police officer can do if he sees an "M" on your license is ask if your taking your medications as prescribed.
If you answer yes sir , no problems. You should be sent on your way.
How ever, if you are asked about your prescriptions, and your answer is" Yes, but I sometimes use crack, it helps them last longer". A positive outcome should not be expected. That said, if you are asked if you are properly taking your prescriptions. And your answer is" You mean the ones I actually have a prescription for" Your in for a very long afternoon.
Now 99% of those questioned will answer correctly. There will always be that one percent that for what ever reason (Drugs), will screw it up. We can see these people just by tuning into any episode of COPS.
The question, I'm pursuing the answer to is this. What gives the motor vehicle department the right to collect this information, which under Federal Law they can't do a single thing with. Just remember, give the right answer. No one has to know the truth.
Its only a matter of time before the state sets up a kiosk at these prescription pick up locations. They will make sure your not in that group of Mainers who for what ever reason take prescription medication. At which point you will be notified that you need to supply the state with all your medical information. Then you will receive your new license with a big "M" on it indicating medication.
Upon researching this total waste of taxpayer money. I contacted numerous workers in the motor vehicle department.General rank and file workers, including those in the Medical review Department think this rule is a pain in the backside. (not the words they used). The closer I got to the Secretary of states office. People started getting a little more dedicated to the law.
Upon speaking to a woman in the Secretary of States office, She emphasized how safe and secure all information is and that no one has access to it. Then based just on my word that I was who I said I was, she gave me all my medical information on file. Not just medications but my disabilities etc. Now that's what I call secure. What I would really like to know is how many other people especially disabled people have the "M" restriction on their license.
I heard United Ambulance transporting two firefighters in one unit to CMMC. One had heat related problems no smoke inhalation. The second firefighter had some sort of minor chest pain. I'm not sure which fire they were coming from.
After reading the comments regarding drug screening and pill counts to reduce prescription misuse, I have a couple of questions. I understand that you can get some sort of buzz or high from drugs like opiates. In fact when I received my handicapped plates, I also had to get a new drivers license two weeks after renewing my regular one. The difference? The new license has a new restriction on it "M" for medication. That's all it said, no explanation or anything. I'm just curious how many other people have this restriction, and more importantly ,what gives them the right?
I see people everyday being arrested for possession of all sorts of drugs, do they have to get that restriction? I read about people driving with cold medications or any medication and causing accidents, do they get the big "M"? I've been disabled for six years, granted I take a ton of medications, since when does being sick put you in a category that allows police or anyone else, who needs to see your drivers license to abuse your privacy? Unless I've done something to deserve it, I was under the impression that my medical information was private. Not accessible without my permission or a court order. I guess the Department of Motor Vehicles, doesn't have to follow the rules everyone else has to. Does having that restriction create more scrutiny during a traffic stop? Am I going to be required to take a blood test at the whim of any officer who looks at my silence? One other thing I no longer take opiates, but I still have the license.
I call this article unfair because in my opinion its totally one sided. Its the type of rhetoric that ties the hands of legitimate health care providers from doing their job, with out feeling like their under a microscope.
I don't know how long you need to take opiates to become addicted, but I do know that if you need to take it you don't get all the jolly's that seem to be all the rage.
I have been diagnosed by several Neurologist and numerous other doctors both in Maine and Boston of a condition that is the cause for my chronic pain. It's in both my feet and its at times almost unbearable. It makes no difference if I'm walking, sitting, or lying down. The pain is still there.
I work closely with my doctor, to try and get as much relief as I can. the best I've been able to accomplish is four hours at a time. Three times a day. I took Hydrocodine and Oxycontin at varying dosages for three an a half years three times a day. I had to switch off of opiates for other than addictive reasons. I went from opiates one day to another class of medication in just one day. No withdrawal and the new medication wouldn't have helped withdrawal if I did experience it.
What bothers me with the article and the way its written Is that it "Demonizes anyone who needs pain medication" All the article reflects is the harm, the crime, and those terrible doctors who are aiding the druggies. According to this article that's what I am, a druggie. I don't remember one mention of people with serious illnesses that require life long pain relief.
If your going to write a story, research all the facts, not just the ones that glamorize addiction. That sell news papers. Either explore both sides or don't write anything. You would think as a reporter you would realize there are always two sides to every story.
Just my humble opinion....
All I seem to hear, or should I say what I hear the most is that the state has no money left to do anything.
Now, If someone was to give you ten dollars, then say that with this ten dollars you can buy one hundred dollars. Sounds like a no brainer doesn't it? There are so many people out of work, the state is not only not getting tax and other revenue from these people. The state has to support them.
Now you take a bond package that for ninty five million dollars, earmarked for infrastructure. One that even local employers say will create jobs, Jobs for those laid off workers to pay taxes and return that money to the state in the form of sales tax, income tax etc. Now lets see how much we can buy with that ninty five million dollar bond package. Don't take the opportunity away.
The attackers were Somali, however would it have been just fine if everyone was white. No, it makes no difference black or white. Not every confrontation between them means racial conflict. When I was in high school, I belonged to a group of other students, we all rode Harley Davidson. We didn't wear colors or pick fights with anyone, we just had a love for Harley s. Unfortunately that one distinction that set us apart from everyone else made us trouble makers. I had to work two jobs just to afford my bike. Still, if one of us got into a fight with anyone else say in the cafeteria, it was always " one of the bikers attacked so and so." Even when the "biker" was attacked. And that happened quite a bit. I think it was quite racial for the Sun Journal to even print that line about who attacked who. I guess unless you can put a title to at least one side of the skirmish its not news worthy, actually it isn't anyway. But hell we got to keep it going....
I guess you didn't understand my comment. What I meant was that these skirmishes have been going on long before the Somalis arrived. It has nothing to do with EL verses Lewiston, it just that this activity went on at both schools. Its nothing new. Hell this stuff went on in my own high school and that was thirty five years ago. I wish there was an easy answer to this but there isn't. Maybe I'm wrong, but when did the Somalis enter into this situation in the first place.
This has been going on since long before the Somalis got here. My daughter transferred From Lewiston to EL when she was in tenth grade. Due mostly to the immature actions of several groups of kids. She found the same problem at EL and eventually just graduated a year early and joined the Army. This was ten or eleven years ago. Nothings going stop it.
I just don't feel that the seat to represent the people should go to the highest spender.
You could have the biggest a hole on the face of the planet, and he'll be the one with the silver tongue. He's going to get thousands of people to donate just by telling them what they want to hear. Knowing full well that once elected those promises are out the window.
Then you have a relatively unknown running. The guy or woman is a virtual genius, and truly cares about the people. He doesn't stand a chance. You see in this system, money talks, ethics walk. And people wonder why I have no confidence in the government.
One other thing, I wish some politician could help with what is a very daunting battle, these now twenty year olds have to go through to clear their name. Hell I couldn't imagine having to go through this at that age. Whatever happens the father should be held responsible for all expenses, and there will be expenses.
Try going north on RT1 in the summer. Get behind a tourist from out of state. Now your traveling along at say forty or fifty miles per hour. Their in their car or small camper, and all of a sudden someone spots a treasure at one of the hundreds of flee markets up there. They literally forget where they are and stop, meanwhile I'm trying to stop forty tons at the same time. Is it any wonder that my blood pressure is so high? There is an industry up their. It may not be what you might think of as industry, but a lot of cash is exchanged.
Some chronic pain is impossible to treat. These boards can say anything they want, urine tests,pill counts, proper documentation. Its all BS. They're just trying to protect themselves from government regulations on the distribution of controlled substances.
Until you've experienced the pain, in my case neuropathic pain. you have no right to persecute a guy for trying. Ever since kids and adults started overdosing on prescription drugs, the government in their infinite wisdom, have gone to war with people who really need the help. These people according to them are the reason for the epidemic of overdoses.
Leave us alone, go after the real problem, and let us get, at the most a few hours of some relief. Please quit scaring doctors to the point that they can't do their job. Trying to get pain medication or an increase in doses is getting impossible.
To the board members, I want you to spend a week on the couch unable to walk. Then tell me all about your dumb rules.
Having driven trucks for twenty two years, I have known a lot of guys who have experienced medical problems. Fortunately not as serious as this. I will never know for sure, but I'd be willing to bet he was unconscious long before that truck came to a stop. His last act was aiming that truck into an unpopulated area and avoiding a major problem. In my opinion he's a hero...
He not only defrauded the state in his name but then to obtain more benefits he actually used his child's social security number.
Although this sounds totally disgusting, it happens quite frequently. I can remember going through the paperwork for my then twenty year old daughter for college loans. You would not believe how many kids found out then, that ten or fifteen years ago a mother or father or even a boyfriend of the mother, whose own credit was destroyed, used a little child's SS number to destroy their credit also, without their knowledge. Its quite obvious that a five year old didn't buy a pair of jet skies, a boat or a car. However the long over due balance is still there, destroying the child's chances of ever getting a college loan or even being able to buy a car. ( that's where most of the fraud is found out about ). The problem is that banks only see numbers not people. As far as their concerned that five year old bought all that stuff. And that now twenty year old has to clear this up themselves, and that will take years.
I say put this guy in jail for thirty years, and any other adult who ruins a young child's credit.
Could someone please explain what good a five foot wide shoulder would be. Shoulders are there for more than decoration. Just ask any trucker who ever lost a radiator hose going up a long hill. Trying to put an eleven foot wide trick into a five foot space, and there will most likely be a drainage ditch right there, is just plain short sighted. I would definitely reconsider that center turn lane.
I never new Renee, but from your description of her I wish I did.
I to suffer from a cronic debilitating disease so I know how easy it is to give up. Renee never gave up, that says a lot about her spirit. She kept her seance of humor, the best medicine you can have. Again I'm sorry for your loss, and good luck with your advocacy project in the future.
First of all they don't typically hold these demonstrations on public roads, Second if a couple of other posters on this subject have drivers licenses, I think North Jay is about as close to Farmington as I would want to get.
I'm sort of torn on this one,however the facts speak for themselves. I don't think industry took into account of what adding total robotics to their manufacturing process would produce.
I'm torn because I kind of slipped into the back door of the robotics industry. Yes I helped produce these total robotic systems in manufacturing.
When I say total robotics. That doesn't mean a company may have a robot or two in the manufacturing process. I'm talking about total production, Raw materials go in one end, then machines do all the work to actually loading the truck.
Those kind of automated lines eliminate the need for a lot of people. These are not your fathers assembly line, this is total high tech.
Just a couple of days ago Barbor Foods laid off seventy-two employees, they actually admitted robotics as one of the reasons for the need for fewer people.
This is just the beginning, after all, robots work around the clock and never take breaks. To top administrators this looks great for the bottom line. unfortunately it not only takes peoples jobs, but eliminates the possible need for new people in the future.
I feel its only fair that as more and more companies take this rout, they should be obligated to help the people their displacing. Job retraining doesn't help as there won't be any more jobs with livable wages out there. The state,as we all have heard about extensively can't help, the towns have no options left for people. I feel that if these companies are making huge profits, by eliminating jobs they should play a larger role in helping out of work people.
Just my humble opinion.
I think I figured out what he meant by that statement. Say he doesn't like Obama, that's his right. Say if Obama gets elected he decides to drink enough to forget Obama's victory, it will either kill him or get him arrested for something. I did that once at the bike rally in Laconia, I just can't remember what I was trying to forget.
I think we should hang these guys by a rope and let a few hungry bobcats loose on them. This one incident has diminished the respect I had for every Maine Guide out there.
Usually this happens in the summer when the grass is so high you can't see the ditch.
These trucks pay thousands of dollars to operate in the State of Maine every year, You would think that all roadways would have a shoulder to at least get off the road. As you can clearly see, the truck is just barley onto the shoulder but its way to narrow to accommodate it. The guys from out of state, how was he supposed to know the highway dept. foreman lost his measuring tape.
I can remember back in the early eighties I'd spend all night delivering auto parts all over Maine and New Hampshire. If I got hungry the best I could hope for after 9:00 pm, would be the trusty convenience store sandwich, that's been on the shelf since FDR, was in office.
Good post. I too got caught up in the frey when I first started posting. Man, I thought the S/J staff was pissed at me. Turns out everyone was complaining to them about me. Call it a learning experience.
Enjoy the fire, probably the first time in a while you don't have to worry about sparks setting everything on fire. I know the Lewiston Auburn fire departments have been strait out this past week. Have a good one. Frank
Maybe some day you may witness me getting out of my car. I don't walk I stumble. my whole life is one big balancing act. The real funny one though, is when some doctor demands I get on a treadmill. Shoots me across the room like a pin ball bouncing off all the other equipment. I've never had a doctor have me try that twice.
One other problem which I feel would take an act of Congress to resolve.
Although I have permanent handicapped plates on my car, I also have a couple of placards left over from when I used them. The Problem with those, just a quick look will tell you if its still valid. It doesn't say who its valid for. For that a computer check would be needed. As with many other things people don't see any problem offering to lend their extra placard. Now this car looks legitimate., but is just as phoney as the people driving it. I know a lot of people swap placards, but until they identify a placard with a particular person and vehicle, My battle goes on....
I'm sorry if I insulted you with my line about the pins, I am after all on a first name basis with everyone in the lab at CMMC. I'm sorry to hear about your unfortunate medical problems. If you've read most of my posts you should have noticed that I am on the side of genuinely disabled or down on their luck individuals. Its something I'm very passionate about.
When I hear someone say that someone looks like they should be able to work, I take that personally. There's been a lot of trash talk about people scamming the system, unfortunately some people have been including everyone into that category. I take a dim view of people who scam the system, I take a really dim view of those who falsely accuse someone of scamming the system.
If you can look at a woman, who looks about thirty, and is probably from Africa or someplace, she may even have credit cards. Hell my cat could get a credit card. And heaven forbid she's on Mainecare, you can tell just from standing next to her, she should be working and not receiving any benefits. Now I'm not going to do something else you don't like. I'm not going to use the word " I ". How about everyone? Everyone has a story. you have no way of knowing her story from standing next to her making observations. You don't like it when I spout off about people I've never met, why not offer her the same respect. Don't forget I didn't know your story until I got you all rialled up. Finally the reason I speak in the singular is I'm all I got. It would sound kind of dumb if I spoke as a group.
Its incredible that you can look at a person and decide on the spot whether that person is disabled or not.
I worked for a large corporation when I got sick. I kept trying to go back to work but I kept being sent home. I was told by the medical staff at the plant that they thought I had a particular condition and I needed to get it checked out.
To make a long story short, I did in fact have this condition which has no treatment, and no cure. Its only going to get worse. Upon applying for long term disability through the company they Had me seen by a company from Ohio, who's only purpose is to weed out false disability claims. I spent almost two years going from one doctor to another both here in Maine and Boston. I had more needles stuck in me than you will see in a lifetime. After all that a Neurosurgeon in Portland finally made the final determination. I am totally disabled.
If you were standing next to me, you couldn't tell I'm disabled. And I know you wouldn't have the kahunas to tell me I'm not disabled. You see disabled people come in many forms, many shapes and sizes. Not every disabled person uses crutches or wheelchairs.
I certainly hope you have the brains to educate yourself to what physical and mental disabilities are before you continue to spout your garbage. And one other thing, I've been disabled for almost six years, I live in a very nice apartment, and I don't get a single penny from the state, wouldn't accept it if I could.
My father is a veteran, he deserves and receives the help he needs. He's fortunate that the veterans hospital is fairly close to his house. He lives out of state. Up until about five years ago, he was very active for years in the retrieval, and restoration of the last Navel LST still functional in the world. I'm not totally sure but I think its on display as a museum in Alabama. The History Channel did a special on it. Most of the guys that accomplished this incredible feat, were ww2 vets themselves.
I think that more than shows the pride and determination these guys, most of which were in their late seventies to early eighties, have for their service.
I just feel that for any government board or State politician to deny these guys easy access to all the benefits they need is totally wrong. A lot of these guys did their time and then some, they've earned it.
Although I doubt very much someones going to punch me in the nose, I stopped dealing with difficult people with violence when I stopped getting paid for it. Their vehicles however are still fair game.
I don't care what it takes I'm still going to fight for the struggling and disabled people. Until I became one, I never realized how invisible you become. Handicapped parking is very difficult, not only from the idiots parking there illegally, but the fact that there just aren't enough of them. That's just one of many problems encounted daily, that most people will never know about unless someone brings it to their attention.
Just let me emphasize one thing. I support people who are genuine. Its just that for some reason right now we're getting bombarded from every direction, I just want to deflect a few of those bombs.
My father is getting up there in age. One thing I can say unequivocally, As he got older his hearing started to go and although he had eye problems all his life, like a lot of us will find out. with age comes more eye problems.
Notice I said eye problems as apposed to vision problems. Well also with age came the problem of keeping his glasses in one piece.
He had problems, especially with talking on the phone. Sometimes it was like we were having two different conversations at the same time.
At the age of eighty five or so he was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. That greatly diminished his mobility.
He lives out of state, but within fairly easy driving distance for his wife to get him there. They provided surgery to correct his vision, for the first time in his life,and also worked with him to come up with hearing aids that worked best for his particular situation.
Proximity is everything. no one like my father should have to travel an hour plus to get help, especially if numerous return visits are needed. I think its very unfair to change the rules in the middle of the game. This also show a huge lack of forethought and planning.
All these students learned a horrible lesson that night. Unfortunately it was probably predictable. Their at risk for three reasons, their in that age group that unfortunately claims a lot of lives. Their inexperienced , and they feel invincible.
When I was eighteen I completed tractor trailer school, I took the road test, I had my license to go. One of the last things said to me when we were leaving that last day, was from a much older instructor. I think it applies to everyone who drives anything, because he was right on. He said, you have a card that says you know how to drive a truck. You won't be a truck driver for several years yet. I feel that should apply to everyone. Maybe tragedies like this one might be avoided. slow down.
I remember when I worked for the bakery, every year they would drain the canals to clean them. How'd you like that job?
If memory serves me, shopping carts used to be the choice of trashers. followed closely by bicycles.
I'm sure if someone were to dig in the mud they'd find numerous treasures. I think the biggest problem would be finding someone who wants to dig in the mud....
Lower the speed limit to twenty five, reduce it to one lane. That cross walk, if its the same one I'm thinking about, needs to go anyway. Loaded trucks and hills don't mix. All the studies in the world won't change that. Many years ago probably before most of these bicyclists were born, that hill was one lane. As were a hundred other hills in Maine.
What happened on these hills, loaded trucks would get bogged down to ten to fifteen miles per hour. There's no getting around it. Traffic would build up behind the trucks, yes there would be several in a row. Than as sure as the sun comes up in the morning someone couldn't wait. Twice I have watched a car pull out in frustration and haul ass up the hill to get by the trucks. Both times they didn't make it. Has anyone watched a head on collision in the making and there isn't anything you can do but watch. Fortunately in both instances no one was killed, but everyone was pretty badly hurt. That's not counting the hundreds that made it.
They had the exact same types of meetings, Selectman needed to do something to quell the public outrage. They had DOT and Highway department studies. They also assigned selectman to decide on matters they have absolutely no knowledge of. Late at night, I would hit that particular hill at about fifty to fifty five at the bottom so I could be going fifteen to twenty at the top, and hopefully avoid company in the back seat if you know what I mean.
Well all those studies and selectman meetings all over the state resulted in a solution that has proven to save lives and reduce blood pressure in truck drivers. They added passing lanes. It has proven to reduce accidents everywhere, If you decide to take out that particular passing lane, just stack the body bags right at the crown if the hill, your going to need them. High speed head on collisions can get pretty messy.
It would appear that you are one of those people that are hell bent on the idea that people who don't work, can work but choose not to. I agree those people need to be "purged".
His line item veto, which he snuck in when no one was watching, is going to hurt a lot more than just the people who need help. Yes, there are people who really do need help. It puts the cities and towns in a position that they need to make up for the cut. That's increased property taxes. People can't afford more taxes as many are laid off or working reduced hours. Rents will go up to cover the increase.
Personally I have nothing against the guy, he may be the nicest person in the world, but he's hurting poor people. Some like me who will never be able to work again. He has to learn how to separate those in need and those not. that his job. As long as the best he can do is scrap everyone in spite of a few, I'll Fight his methods tooth and nail. I don't care how many people don't agree with me. I'm still going to speak for those who can't or are afraid to speak for themselves. I know he really thinks he knows what he wants to do, but unfortunately he's way off base.
Anew facility is needed, there would be so much to gain from enlarging the whole place.
I guess being a former swimmer I'm kind of more partial to a new regulation pool. I don't think a lot of people realize the importance to the community of a good pool.
I was a varsity swimmer in high school and also competed with the New England Barracudas. My varsity coach had to be the younger brother of the devil. We got out of school at 2:15, he had us doing warmup laps by 2:30. Practice actually started at 4:00. I did a lot of laps over the years. I was also on the diving team. that was fun. We had two 1 meter boards, but we had to time our practice dives to land between people doing laps. Many people don't realize that if you do some of these dives right, you can't see the water through most of the dive. We did have some close calls.
While every ones at school, the pool can be used for therapeutic purposes, its the greatest all over cardio tools available for any age. On weekends, swimming lessons for the little ones.
The pool has to be able to accommodate everyone and a twenty yard pool won't cut it.
By the way this was thirty five years ago. So you see not a whole lot changes. And I'm still good friends with my coach.
I wish for just one week when I can read the paper without seeing that ugly smile on the front page exalting his most recent act of stupidity. Once again Lepage has dealt a blow to what little chance of bipartisan cooperation there was.
What really gets me is this almost insane attack on the poor. At first he was all fed up with cheats, which he should be. But his constant attack on poor people is nothing short of cruel. That's right cruel. Some of these people, by no fault of their own are scraping by on whatever they can get. To listen to Lepage, their living high on the hog at his personal expense. I'm talking homeless mothers with children. Perfectly good people, who just happen to have been caught up in this down turned economy.
Now I've seen some really dumb politicians in my time all over the country. I just haven't seen one flaunt his obvious lack for intelligence as Lepage has. Its time to stop this idiot from putting the fear of God into every less fortunate person in the state. He doesn't have to fill up the car everyday, he doesn't have to choose between rent or heat. He doesn't have to worry about anything. Its about time he stars treating those that do, with the respect they deserve. And Pauly, one other thing to keep in mind. There is a huge population of people who need help now or in the future. In Maine and every other state, these people are swept aside. Just remember one thing, their voters. That should put the fear of God in you.
No one is denying that the system is constantly exploited, has been for decades its nothing new. Lewiston, Auburn or any other city or town anywhere has this problem. Unfortunately there's a simple but not very affective temporary fix to the problem. Its called YES or NO. I don't know anyone, who doesn't know someone who isn't making a living trying to beat the system. I can remember the last time I was in Alaska, I had just finished delivering my load and was getting ready to return to California.I drove down a street (just barely) they called the gallows. It was lined with mostly men just drinking themselves to death.This was back in the eighties and these guys were the result of promises of easy money with the pipe line. Well the jobs dried up, unlike the men. That's all they did in between checks. I couldn't help thinking that for every one of those guys, there was a wife and kids down in the forty eight also trying to scrape up a living.
Poverty comes from a lot of directions, some people deserve what they get, a lot don't. All I'm saying is Mr. Macdonald ought to choose his words carefully. Some day he may be insulting himself.
With regards to what you said, its epidemic. Because most parking lots are on private property, there's very little if any enforcement. What got me to write this letter was the fact that this past Saturday, I ended up going home instead of shopping. Pretty sad don't you think? By the way the fines for abusing a handicapped spot if caught is measured in the hundreds of dollars.
I would like to create a scenario for Mr Macdonald to think about.
A person retires at an early age, after twenty two years driving trucks. Making pretty good money, but very hard conditions. (I hated driving in snow).
He decides to advance his education after researching what companies are looking for. Some companies you need a certain degree just to use the mens room. So he goes back to school. He enrolls
in accelerated degree programs, going to school year round for almost three years.
Fast forward a little. He's got two degrees, and is making more money than he knows what to do with. Good insurance, everything is great.
Now, could Mr. Macdonald ever imagine that when this person was writing all those checks to the school, the seemingly bigger checks to buy books. He ever imagined that one little germ that he never heard of would make all those checks useless. That in four and a half years he would be sitting on his couch, never to work again, living on next to nothing. The pay by the way went from everything to nothing in just a week.
That happens to more people than you might think. Was it their fault? Try to imagine what you would do Mr Macdonald, before you criticize poor people. This could very easily happen to you or anyone.
Just something to think about....
I don't know, but it just seems someones dragging their feet on this one. As far as the audiology and vision checking goes, why don't they improvise.
When I was working , it was in a very noisy location and we had to wear safety glasses. Once a year the company arranged for a truck , fully setup to test the hearing of several people at a time. We also had the Vision Van, visit on a regular basis. Granted the Vision Van I'm not sure does vision testing, but like my father, a Veteran, he seems to have more problems with his gasses as he gets older. Things that could be fixed as apposed to traveling to Bangor. The hearing tests I know are done completely. These may not solve all the problems to the directors liking but I think if a Veteran could have a small problem settled here, It could save an expensive trip to Bangor. I'm sure these companies would welcome the new business, and possibly add a few new jobs for someone.
These of course would just be screenings. If someone is ok, than no problem . If more extensive treatment is determined to be needed, then they could go to Bangor. I just think this could save a lot of unnecessary trips to Bangor, which a lot of folks would have a hard time affording.
Legalize pot. It would save so much wasted time and money.
If pot were legal you could tax it, and Medically it would help a lot of people.
It would also clear up a lot of jail space. I hate the thought of some kid being locked up, housed and fed daily because he was caught with pot. Talk about a waste of resources. If he has glaucoma, he could get out after serving his time. Walk up the street and buy it legally. Makes sense to me.
Just my humble opinion....
Quite a while ago I lived in an apartment near the Sabatus line. The owner I rented from lost the building to the bank due to illness. Once the bank has possession of the mortgage The information is loaded into a computer just to keep track of rent payment. They purchase bundles of these notes at a time and could care less about the building itself. Do you really think that a Wall St. mortgage company is going to have any interest in 10 College St.
Now back to my apartment on Sabatus St. After the bank took over all maintenance stopped.The grass got to be four feet high. We ended up paying for snowplowing out of our own pockets. We got tired of this so we all got together and opened an account, sort of an escrow account at the bank. We started putting our rent into that account. If there's one thing that will set off bells and whistles at a bank is no rent coming in.We couldn't call them because we didn't know which bank owned us.
To make a long story short, after three months we started getting warnings in the mail, now we new who owned us and invited them to visit if they wanted their rent. Come to find out their own lawyer informed the bank representative, that because we did everything right, the bank had to start maintaining the building or we had the right to keep an escrow account going until they did. our case would hold up in court. Amazingly within two weeks we had a maintenance company taking care of the building. You can fight a bank, but have the advice of a lawyer just for protection.
P.S. We all had leases from the original owner which clearly stated that building maintenance was included in the rent. That helped.
I know just from trying to turn left out of that lot just how dangerous that spot is. There's no crosswalk there but there is one with a crossing light just up the street at the church. That entire street is an accident waiting to happen.
Again, just my humble opinion....
I'm sorry , this note has nothing to do with this letter, but I would really be curious with an answer.
Yesterday afternoon in Auburn there were two possibly three structure fires and a major accident on Rt. 4 (they needed five ambulances plus turner rescue).
Now I just assumed I'd be reading about at least one of those stories this morning. No, the only local story to make the paper was a drunk idiot punching out a window. I heard that story too. He cut an artery and almost died. Good job SJ. right on top of things. I guess its true, all news stops on weekends. Unless the news contains a stupid film festival, now there's headline news.
A real long time ago, I too was on several swim teams, I don't know if you ever heard of the New England Barracudas. I was also on my varsity team at Westwood High School in Massachusetts. I swam the hundred yard free style, fifty yard free style and I was on the diving team.
The important word in my last sentence is yards. Every competition must be held in at least a twenty five yard pool. Although fifty meter pools are very common in most colleges and of course the Olympics.Having eight lanes is the norm, although there are some schools with six lanes due to space restrictions.
I can tell you one thing. If we had a letter writing project like you do, My complaint would have been, having the diving competition right after the fifty free. There's nothing like trying to dive and catch your breath at the same time.
Keep up the fight, twenty yard pools are pretty useless in competitions. For one thing you can not claim a record in a twenty yard pool. Your project worked, I never knew that pool was to short. I hope someone in power hears you.
Mr. Macdonald, with all due respect, that statement of yours strongly indicates your a jack ass. I will be the first to admit that I was not the greatest student in the world, when I was in high school. I graduated, but I think that was just to get rid of me.
Not everyone learns, or wants to learn at the same rate. I consider myself lucky in that I worked a less than white collar job for many years. I got more education in those twenty years than any amount of schooling could have taught me. Its called street smarts.
I finally decided at the tender age of forty four, to finally continue my education. I guess you could say I went overboard, and received two degrees through accelerated degree programs which required going to school year round for two years or so. I ended up making a lot more money than you do.
You see, not everyone chooses the same course of life that you did. Sometimes a little later in life a person says, hey I think I'll get my GED, or try to better myself to advance at work and maybe make a little more money. Having the guts to make that decision, requires the ability to fulfill those dreams. Don't deny them that chance.
The battle is being fought. Its just that its such a multi layered crime that stopping it is all but impossible. You have to look at this from two directions. One is the seller on the street. you could arrest him and he's replaced within an hour. Another is the never ending supply of buyers. You can never arrest them.
The economy is having a big affect on the buyers, this is evident by the huge increase of home burglaries and car break ins. I never keep anything of value in my car so I don't lock it. It saves on window replacement. There's no end to it, its been like this for decades. It never ceases to amaze me how many purses, wallets, IPods and even guns people leave in cars. Trust me if its there they'll find it.
You almost have to learn to keep an eye on the side of the turnpike at all times. You don't have to actually watch, but scan for any motion even during the day.
There are literally hundreds of small streams and bogs along the highway. Many of which you may not have ever noticed. As the weather warms up and the black flies start to torment them they will seek the shelter water gives them. You would drive right by a moose in a bog unless it moves. I've seen them go from bog to road in four steps. Just get used to looking for any kind of movement along the side of the road.
Zwicker is no animal control officer. She should be fired immediately if not yesterday. Anyone that stupid has no business having any authority to do anything for any town. Furthermore she should have to retrieve those dogs now. If they were my dogs I would have lawyers all over her. She or the town says the dogs can't be retrieved, that just shows you how dumb she is. All I can say politely is sue her backside for everything she has, I've seen two other animal control officers destroyed that way. There are two types of animal control officers. One truly cares for animals and will stop at nothing to find the right home for a lost animal. Then there are people just looking for a job, they have no experience in animal control , guess which one you have.
Your comment Is wrong from two aspects.
One: the Government ,nor the drug makers are purposely keeping any one on medication unnecessarily. The fact is its very difficult
to obtain certain medications
Two: You can't put a time limit on the use of any medication. This may be hard to swallow, but some medical conditions have no
cure.They never go away. I know this first hand.
One other thing, I would be willing to challenge you or anyone else to a driving safety and skills test. I will drive proverbial circles around you. We could use two wheelers, four wheelers, or eighteen wheelers, your choice.
I know I'm not from the area but I'm sorry. I've been following this gravel pit story right along.
It just amazes me how a small government in a small town can somehow turn a very small issue into a huge obsticle, taking up taxpayers money. I'm sorry but your town government is very entertaining.
When I received my handicapped license plates I was asked if I take medications. I said I did and was promptly handed a form which was to be filled out by my doctor and returned. About two weeks after returning the form I was told I needed a new license. Even though the one I had I had just renewed within the past month.
I take fourteen pills a day, some may make me drowsy I don't take opiates any more. I am however very careful about driving while medicated I have for years. I never got so much as a parking ticket.
Now I have a license which promanatly proclaims to any officer looking at my license. I take medications. Maybe that should be expanded to anyone who drives while prescribed to medications. It makes you pay very close attention to when you took the meds, and when you drive. A lot of people don't see medications as impairing.
I respect your belief that the path to the Supreme Court is a time honored process. And its just those people I'm talking about.
My little brother graduated from one of the very schools you mention. He took his path I took mine. I'll admit he's doing quite well for himself accept in the marrage dept. I did very well realativly in my persuits.
The difference between the two of us is pretty simple. He demands respect and loyalty just by being in his presence. I once drove to my parents house, un announced in Massacheussetts. Unnown to me he was having a party with all his fellow graduates (my parents had a huge house with an olympic sized pool). I squeezed my 78 chevy pick up between all the BMW's corvetts ect. Then I made the mistake of going in. I have never been treated with such disrespect and ridicule, right in my own parents house. Noone knew who I was,and they made it clear I wasn't welcome.
With myself I only expect the respect I earn. I treat everyone just the same, I always have. Some people fall into disrepaire intentionally some by no fault of their own. However they do it, their still people and deserve to be treated like people. Just because some one goes to some high palutin Ivory league College, doesn't make them any better than anyone else. I'm just saying that if some of these judges would climb down from thier high horse and respect the average person, maybe they could make more educated decisions.
Fight this, its so frustrating having to explain to people what your going through. Many so called intelligent people can't fathom what your going through. They now nothing about what cronic neuropathic pain is like, and what it does to you over time.
Have them walk a mile in your shoes. If your neuropathy is anything like mine they'll only make it about a hundred yards and then call the ambulance.
I just want to let you know your not alone. There's at least one person who doesn't need a long explanation of whats wrong with you.
Keep fighting the AHA. with a little luck someday they'll know what their talking about, but it won't happen overnight.
Mr. Kennedy is a perfect example of just how out of touch the Supreme Court judges are with normal people. They are so high up in the clouds with their superior mentalities, I honestly don't think they could find the ground if they fell out of an airplane.
I think its time to get all the judges still living in the nineteenth or twentieth century out of here and replace them with real people. Maybe then we wouldn't be reading about this stupidity.
I'm not sure what the laws are anymore. I've been told so many different things I don't know whats law and whats emotional response. I was told many years ago by a member of our law enforcement community that If I was to shoot someone breaking into my house, make sure I drag whats left of him indoors before calling police. What if the offense starts outside the home, are my hands tied because he has access to escape?
As much as I hate trying to read this mumbo jumbo legal talk, I guess its time to read it. Then find someone qualified in translating it into english. I wouldn't want to drag someone into the house, if I didn't need to.
I'm sorry, but this subject I am an expert on. I have spent my entire life driving every imaginable motor vehicle you can think of. I have more mileage logged, on paper, than most people will drive in a lifetime.
I have heard this same combination of malfunctions at the scene of accidents hundreds of times. I have even been the victim twice of being rear ended by someone who mysteriously lost their brakes or their accelerator stuck. Because a woman was injured in Ohio in one of these accidents, a vehicle autopsy was performed on the two year old suv. It was determined there were no mechanical defects with the vehicle, even though the driver swore up and down that he had no brakes and a stuck accelerator.
The brakes on any vehicle won't work if you hit the accelerator, and visa versa. These people may actually think that their vehicle completely malfunctioned all at once. Fact is ninety nine point nine nine nine percent.of the time, its driver error. There just can't be that many cars losing brakes.
I had an accelerator stick once on North Hill Road in Buckfield, I had to floor it to make the hill and it stayed there. This was caused by gunk built up in the throttle housing in a Toyota with 225000 miles on it. What can you do when that happens? Turn the car off. Suck it up, trust me the insurance company won't believe you either.
I have no doubt that Lewiston Auburn accounts for a large portion of inmates at the county jail. There may be a lot more people in the L/A area but the total number of idiots are pretty much spread out. Some are considerate enough to drive into town from someplace like Hebron to get arrested, saving all that gas money.
However deputies are still going to be run ragged trying to keep up with the rush on Friday night. Say a cruiser has to drive about as far out of town as possible and still be in the county, just because someone got drunk and tried to beat up his fireplace. I say when he goes to court, whether he's found guilty or not. He should have to pay for the call.There's no denying the cruiser had to go there. If he's found guilty he pays the going fine, then tack on another hundred to cover expenses.
If Its done that way for everyone who attracts a cruiser. Then eventually the idiots are paying their own way. I'm probably way out of line here, I mean actually punishing those responsible, it probably wouldn't be legal. Also don't forget, there are fire and rescue calls also.
Its a fact that any higher education is essential. Something I learned realitivly late in life. That's not to say I wasn't making good money in my original career choice, and I tried quite a few over the years. essentially I was a truck driver. Its a good job, its very dangerous, and the hours are outrageous. The money wasn't bad though.
Eventually though I came to the realization, at the ripe old age of 44, that after twenty plus years, I wanted to work in doors, and have normal hours. Thus the higher education. I had money saved so I didn't have to borrow anything the first time around.
I found decent work doing something I enjoyed. Then came the realization that I had to continue my education to keep up with the technology. That's when I realized I just couldn't do it without putting myself into debt.Here's just one example.
I took a preparatory course for my first Microsoft A+ certification. That was maybe three to four hundred dollars plus books. The test itself was about one hundred thirty or so.
One year later I went to take the same class to prepare for the A+ test, the cost jumped to twenty one hundred dollars plus books. I ended up just buying the books and studying on my own. Upgrading my degrees was totally out of the question due to expenses. I had to live.
My idea is a collaboration of schools in one facility that would strictly be for upgrading previous training. and make the hours job friendly. and of course at an affordable rate. Unfortunately I can't work any more and will never be able to. How ever if I had been working I would have needed almost continuous education just to stay current not to mention get ahead. Even though I cant work anymore I still study computers and networking because I do love it, I just wish I could afford it.
Just a little tidbit about the frozen Thames River. I think it was in the early eighteenth century when it froze solid enough to support a horse for the first time(how'd you like to have been the first person to ride a horse onto the ice?). It was so new and unusual to people that whole towns and cities would have celebrations on the ice , for no other reason than they could. I don't remember ever reading about anyone ice fishing or not.
Also, I think you might have gotten my post confused with another somehow. I love Maine winters. If the gulf stream gets disturbed in our life time we'll be seeing much more severe winters.
I agree the best use of the property is to tear down #5, I just hope they do an extensive search for old unused gas lines that may be long forgotten in there like the one that blew up the Holly. I'd hate to see something nice built only to have it go boom.
This is just a relatively short history of the more recent climate changes and what caused them.
The best way to explain how and why climate change occurs, as I mentioned before
was the Little Ice Age. It's also the only real climatic disaster which actually has written history about it.
First of all no one can actually acknowledge when the LIA began. Sometime in twelfth or thirteenth century, there was an increase in global temperature of about 1 degree Celsius. That may not sound like a lot but it was. It caused (much like now) the northern ice caps to melt causing a huge amount of fresh water into the ocean,again much like now.
What a lot of people don't realize is that a good portion of our warm weather does not come directly from the sun beating down on us. It does come from the sun beating down on the oceans of the southern hemisphere. Once the water is warmed up it heads north via the Gulf Stream until it reaches the most northern points where its cooled and sinks and is returned to the south.
With all the fresh water which is more dense than salt water, the previously warm salt water can't sink into the fresh water, thus disturbing the flow of things. Our warm climate primarily comes from the ocean IE the Gulf Stream. When that gets disturbed, our weather gets disturbed. All that fresh water slowed everything down. It affected the temperatures in N America and Europe from some time around the thirteen hundreds until the mid eighteen hundreds.
There's a lot more to it than that, but at least the Little Ice Age, has some documentation of things freezing. It also caused famines, wars you name it because no one new what was going on or what was causing it. Again much like today.
In my late teens I worked for a few years at a place which would open the eyes of any politician who wants to deny in home help to families of physically or mentally challenged handicapped children or adults.
Its in Greenfield New Hamshire. Its called Crotched Mountain Rehab Center. I worked in the respite care center. It was like a dual vacation site. We gave our guests a chance to experience things they may not have ever seen. We gave their families and care givers a break to relax a little.
Although I really enjoyed my job, unless you experience it you have no idea of how much work is involved at providing, or attempting to provide as close to a normal life as possible. Its also very dangerous for the care givers. I believe being a CNA is considered a very dangerous job just by the nature of the work. Well my job was very similar.
I think a tour of that facility would be an eye opener for anyone who wants to cut service help to these people.
Maybe not your children but perhaps your great grand children may have problems. The weird weather patterns we're having now is nothing new. Its happened many times in the past. Long before there were governments to stop it, or governments for that matter.
The weather and climate we've been enjoying for the past thousand years or so is a fluke, it wasn't normal. What may be happening now is we're returning to the correct climate. We are after all, relatively speaking, at the tail end of a mini ice age.
I'm not saying we're not doing things which may affect the climate, and we're not going to change much by stopping it. The climate has been changing for millions of years . We just happen to be in a nice climate for now but that could change. A thousand years or two is just the blink of the eye in the whole scheme of things.
I could never imagine a better way of conveying to people that if or when something happens that drastically affects your ability to care for your pet, do the right thing.
A lot of humane societies have changed. They are a place where your pet will be treated very well. Everything will be done to find him or her a new home.
Right now there are 150 pets sleeping in the kitchen next to the stove with a big bowl of food waiting. Those same pets could have been scratching out a life in an abandoned building, burnt out building any where they can to get out of the elements. worst of all a lot of them are alone.
I used to have a male tabby. who at one time was abandoned in an old apartment building. It took me three days of gradually trying to gain his trust, mostly by just sitting there and talking to him. He was about as borderline Farrel that you could get. I finally coaxed him into a carrier and bought him home then to the vet. he was surprisingly in pretty good health. I had everything done, shots ect. and bought him home.
Didn't even see him for a week. Then there was the expected hissing and howling. with my other two cats. He eventually fit right in, he was a happy camper.
He did however come up with a really annoying habit. Sneaking out(he was strictly an indoor cat). Petingal Park is my back yard, so naturally that's where I'd go looking for him. That's when I found out something I didn't know. There were many ferrol cats living down there. Obviously cats abandoned over the years by people who couldn't take the time to take them to the shelter.
This is something I can't over emphasize. No matter how bad things get in your life, you don't have to compound it be throwing away your pet like yesterdays trash.Physically I can't do much to help, so I'll just make this plea. Take the time to take your pet to the shelter . They'll be comfortable and well fed until he can find a new home.
Just a quick note. Max is no longer with me. like all of us age caught up with him, but he had twelve years of happiness I don't think he ever would of had.
Bringing new business into the city is fine. Please do it right. There should be space between buildings, maybe some grass with a bench and, heaven forbid, a tree or two. Cut back on the neon signs. If I pull into a driveway, I'd like to arrive at my destination the first time.
Just do whatever you have to do to avoid the mess schott has created up at the mall.
Also no more of those stupid mini rotaries, before someone is killed. To this day a lot of people still don't know what the center turn lanes on major roads are for. Those mini rotaries scare the daylights out of me. I'm going to be in that rotary with the same person I had passed waiting to turn left into Mc donalds on Center St. from the left travel lane.
I hope common sense rules. But I doubt it will.
Why is the city of Auburn letting Schott destroy this town. I know someones going to argue that we need jobs and tax revenue, but at what expense? A lot of people have never seen the kind of thoughtless construction by people like Schott, but trust me you will regret the end results.
I've seen this in other states, it does nothing but look disgusting. on a recent trip to Massachusetts, I wanted to get some KFC. I could see the restaurant, but getting to it was a different story, I had to try four different driveways before I found the right one. I'd be willing to bet there were twenty five establishments, some looked like they were on top of other buildings, in an eight hundred foot stretch.
That's exactly whats happening now at the intersection of Mt.Auburn and Turner St. How many more businesses can fit in that small area. Schott needs to go back and play with his army trucks, that would be the best thing he could do for the city.
What you are describing is a viscous circle.
The poor can't afford health care, and they are the ones most likely to need it. They use it for everything. Just yesterday I heard on the scanner an ambulance run from Poland to CMMC, for, you ready for this? a hyper extended little finger on a 46 year old guy. I once drove a tractor trailer from Boston to Auburn Maine two days in a row before my boss made me go to a hospital(He got tired of me falling out of the truck). During a period where I had no insurance I needed an ambulance from my doctors office. 497.00, I paid it but did a lot of crawling to the hospital after that.
What I'm saying is its a cycle. People can't pay their bills. Rates increase because of that. Insurance rates go up .More people cant afford insurance. It keeps going non stop. Until the cycle is broken somehow I guess everyone is screwed. I don't have any answers.
After about two weeks the four mailboxes were overflowing with mail. Almost entirely from the State of Maine. all the envelopes had the lower corners ripped away, some one looking for checks. I finally caught up with the mail carrier and informed him that the building was empty, and he used a box to take all the mail away and stopped mail delivery to the building.
I can tell from looking at certain things that at some point in time, someone actually took care of that building. They don't give away those fire escapes, there are much cheaper ways to construct a fire escape. The windows don't look that bad, however you cant tell a book by its cover.
Once a building is empty, it becomes a play ground for neighborhood kids, and adults.
I live next to a vacant building. This is a particularly sad story. In the past twelve years or so, that building has been renovated four times. I'm not sure of the ownership history of the building, but I do know its been owned at least three times.
All the land lords were out of state, property management companies were responsible for renting and maintaining the building.
Four times the building was fixed up, four times the four apartments were rented. Mostly to people who to me had no means of income. They did however have about two hundred children it seemed every time.
Every time they lasted about one year, I actually think they were working together. What ever the case, by the time the management company checked on anything, it was to late. The building was unlivable. Everyone was evicted , and the whole thing started over again.
Its a nice building in a nice neighborhood, unfortunately I think this last group went to far. Not being able to afford the oil to heat the place, they all used their ovens or space heaters to heat their individual apartments. Not having a management company that regularly checked the building, the plumbing took a beating. Oven heat doesn't reach the basement where all the plumbing is. I once called the fire department less than a week after the last tenant had been evicted. I just didn't think that water pouring from the second floor into the center of the kitchen looked normal. I entered the building, with a police officer before the fire dept. got there. We not only determined the water was from a broken water pipe in the ceiling from the washing machine. We also found the first floor bathroom bathtub running full blast due to the results from frozen pipes,who knows haw long that had been going on. That one took me all of six minutes to find the shut off for the bathtub.
Every single door in the building was kicked in, every apartment was trashed. The basement apartment was nearly unidentifiable except for a stove and refrigerator.After the city shut the water off I think they condemned the building. This is less than two years after someone put some serious money and extensive renovations into this building. I don't even know if it can be fixed now. I have to look at this disaster zone every day as its only fifteen feet from my home.
Something must be done...
I have been totally disabled due to a disease I never even heard of until I got it. I worked twenty two years as an over the road truck diver, I retired at the age of forty four. I went back to school and started a new career, For years I wanted an indoor job with regular hours.That lasted four years and nine months. Now that last part is important.
After about five years or so they asked me to switch from the company's long term disability to Social Security Disability.So while I was going through all the paper work with SSDI, on December twenty ninth
two thousand eleven I found out that the company had out sourced to India to save money. on that day I received a letter in broken english that as of 12/31/2011 My health insurance ends. The reason, I haven't worked a full five years. I was three months short. They gave me two days to make alternate plans. I took 14 pills a day, I was seeing my doctor at least every other week.
I couldn't see any point in wasting valuable resources fighting a group of people who couldn't even speak english. Instead I went to work and found alternative help, believe it or not its out there. You have to work to find it, they don't make it easy.
I had to cut back on a few things, I was able to find most prescriptions (generic) for three month supply at four dollars a month several I had to pay full price for.
Then finally in October I received my medicare card, and prescription coverage.
What I'm saying is try not to worry about it because there is help available without going through the state. Maybe if your really worried you might start looking now, so you have something set up if the worse happens. No matter how much you worry about it, whats going to happen is going to happen. Its best to be prepared.
I used to joke with people that I grew up in a kennel,some might agree I still belong in one.
Actually from a very young age, my family had a boarding facility primarily for dogs. As us kids got older,my sister began breeding Irish setters. She showed them professionally,but also sold them. This was no pet store. She would actually go to the prospective buyers home and inspect the property, how many children were in the home and other pets. She always made sure there was a bond with the new owner before the sale was finalized.
She went on to breed Arabian horses and Persian cats (my favorite). She had two national champions and even won best of breed (Irish setter) at the Westminster Dog Show in New York. She went on to become an animal control officer, finally ending up in Alabama, with a large farm/grooming facility/boarding facility and home for any animal that ever needed one, from gerbils to horses. Until the day she died. She would never give away, or adopt out any animal without physically checking out every prospective home in person, making sure that both animal and owner were happy. She also never turned any animal away no matter what medical condition was involved. You'll have to admit, she fit a lot into 56 years, I just wish there were more people like her out there, there sure would be a lot more people and very happy pets out there.
I feel that animals to a certain extent, even more than people, end up in very bad situations by no fault of their own.
Now if your a person who has not had or wanted a pet, and have no interest in this. Stop reading this right here. You probably won't get the rest of what I have to say.
Although there are many people who would argue to the contrary, pets are as important to you as you are to your pet.
I know what everyone thinks is coming next, they offer unconditional love. Well they do, but they are so much more to a lot of people.
They offer companionship to shut ins, but most of all they become almost like children. That's why the Humane Society goes to such lengths to match the right pet to the right person or family.
I am disabled, I have to spend up to eighty percent of every day in my apartment. Most of my friends from work have gone on with their lives years ago. I do however have three friends who have never faltered.They constantly put a smile on my face, and they know the days I'm to sick to do much of anything. their right there at my side. I've heard people say cats aren't much good for anything. Let me tell you, cats,dogs,gerbils, or what ever is your choice, are good for much more than their given credit for.
If your thinking of adopting a pet. Don't look at it as just adopting a cat or dog. Think about it as who your adopting, because in a very short period of time your going to have a friend for life. unconditionally.
I was just reminded of a really good lawyer.
You see back in my younger years, I had this minor little transgression with the Lewistn Police. Most of them actually. I had the right to a lawyer. I also had the right to remain silent, which was good because I don't think I could have come up with two words in a row that would have made any sense. Now Back to my smart lawyer. That guy managed to get me to pay him five hundred dollars so he could plead guilty on my behalf. I can't help but wonder if I had a degree in law I could have done that myself. Just wondering...
FOR SALE: 2 college degrees, obtained in 1999,2000.
1 is in computer electronics
1 is for computer network technology
2 or 3 A+ Certifications
Combined value, 4 pieces of paper and fifty cents
might get you a cup of coffee.
Schools are more than anxious to take your money, but somehow they fail to provide the ability to keep up to date at a reasonable cost. Those degrees were obsolete before I got home from graduation. The A+ certifications were out of date before I got to the last question on the test.They failed to inform me the need to constantly upgrade my knowledge, as the technology changes from day to day. When you try to return to school the costs are so astronomical. Totally out of my reach. Sort of like printer ink. The printer cost next to nothing, buy go and replace the ink, I'll hold my tongue at this point.
I feel that instead of selling degrees, they should be selling an ongoing education. I don't mind paying ,but lets be reasonable.
A degree is literally worth the paper its printed on.
When I lived in Lewiston, we had bulk waste pick up every year. Now I realize the city counselors don't feel spending the money now to pick up the trash is good fiscal planning.
I can remember going down Bartlet St. and the trash was literally piled up eight to ten feet on both sides of the road. This being the result of people coming and going,leaving behind a lot of stuff because they had no way to move it. This creates a huge burden to the landlord, as well as safety problems to the tenants. Where do you think that crap is before its on the street. Its blocking exits stairways and fire escapes.
Opening the dump so tenants can bring their own bulk trash is plain stupid. A lot of people don't even have cars that run never mind a truck, or access to one. That trash is just going to build up to the point that the landlord has to take care of the problem. And he's probably going to have to hire someone to help, at least the dump is free(for a while).
I think if you take all the intelligentsia in the world and put them together, they will never be able to agree on the answer to a very simple question. Why doesn't marriage, gay or conventional work very well.
Oh there will be all sorts of theories and ideas, charts and graphs, but I wonder if anyone will hit on what I feel is the correct answer.
You see no matter how much you try to hide it, its so obvious.
Every single person on the face of the earth, gay or otherwise, has one fatal flaw. Everyone is different. No one has ever been able to come up with a machine that can match people together and guarantee it will work for life. With the way the world is changing, almost on a daily basis, how can anyone expect two totally different people being able to stay together for ever.
There are no guarantees in this life, hell, you don't even know if you'll still be alive tomorrow at this time, why should marriage be any different? Take what you have now, enjoy it now, because tomorrow it could all be gone.
I am getting so sick of hearing this gay marriage argument. If two guys want to get married, go for it.
I know that in no way shape or form will it ever have any effect on my life. We all know of course how well conventional marriage is working. I don't know a single person male or female that hasn't been divorced at least once. Then there's the argument that everyone is spouting that anything but a marriage between a man and woman is wrong in the eyes of whatever god you represent. I have chosen to remain single, I'm happy, I enjoy a lot of things married folks can't. Does that make me wrong.
What I'm trying to say is get over it, we all have things we're upset about. I was really pissed off because Mopar built a 318, instead of putting the 383 in everything. I got over it. I didn't make signs and protest all over the place. Mostly because it really didn't matter that much to anyone else. Get my point?
We all know all parties have super P.A.C.'s. Lets back up a bit. That money doesn't just magically appear.
If by some bizarre reason, I responded to one of those idiots that come to my door looking for money for the next super human in the world. I might be able to swing fifty bucks or so. For a major political campaign that's a drop in the bucket. Presidential candidates have very little to do with their political contributions. No, for that job they hire these little insects called lobbyists. These people lobby (beg), every large corporation in the country. that's what their occupation is. Now getting back to my fifty bucks. That wouldn't get me an autographed photo. The lobbiest get these large corporations to contribute huge sums of money to a particular politician, millions. Some times these corporations contribute to both sides so no matter what, their a winner. And what is the prize? Favors.
Now my fifty bucks was pretty much thrown away, A couple of hundred grand goes a lot further when unforeseen problems arise, and a corporation needs help. In most cases they make back a lot more than what they contributed. So the bottom line, P.A.C. or not. this country is run by corporations, we little people just live here.
Granted the number of truly ethical politicians in this state is slim pickins, but this continuing fight between democrats and republicans, or should I say armchair politicians, has to stop. I think they thrive on this. it takes the focus off whats really going on. Unless you can all stand together and tell Augusta, no more bickering and get to work, nothings going to change. Not that I hold out to much hope of anything changing soon anyway. This back and forth blaming amongst the people does nothing. I think if you all want to push for something, how about " no results, no pay". It works in the private sector.
When I was younger, sixteen or seventeen, I pretty much hung out in three towns in Massachusetts.Norwood , Westwood, and Dedham. I had a job for awhile at a place called Building 19, it was a lot like Mardens. At the time this store stood all by itself ,with nothing but bogs and woods as far as you could see in either direction.
Down town Norwood consisted pretty much of a large green in the center of town, I think they might have had a Civil War cannon. Four roads went around the green, all the merchants were lined up around it. Dedham for the most part was the same.
Three years ago I went down there to visit with some old friends.
Now don't get me wrong I have nothing against development, especially if it brings in the jobs. What I saw down there totally disgusted me.I actually couldn't find my way from one side of the down town area to the other. And I'm an ex trucker. I can't believe they could put that many fast food restaurants, and small store,big stores and traffic lights in such a small space.
I had to travel Rout One to find my hotel. What they allowed with that road made me sick. It was like they built on top of each other just to be on Rt.1. For nine miles on both sides you would be hard pressed to find a blade of grass. If you needed fast food, your more than all set. I saw a Macdonalds with a twin drive thru. right next to the Building 19 I used to work at, but that's nothing. I think Ernie Boch, owns every inch of property to the Walpole line on the south side I've never seen so many new and used cars, it was disgusting to me that these towns let this happen for the sake of money. I not only would never live there again, I will not even visit the area again.
This is already happening to a smaller degree here in Auburn. Lets see how many restaurants stores office space,hotels, banks and who knows what else we can fit in a small little section of Auburn. It's only a matter of time before he starts buying up other tracts of land to destroy more of the town. I hope, no I wish the town of Lisbon remains the town of Lisbon. Expansion can occur ,but it should be done in moderation. I think planning boards should take a road trip to towns like Norwood MA, So they can see what happens when contractors want to build way to many buildings for a small piece of land. Trust me, its an eye opener.
I guess like others, I have a soft spot in my heart for Bates Mill #5.
I know in the past My recommendation has been to bring it down.
However after reading today's article, I had a thought.
What if they left enough of the old mill standing, to move Museum L/A into it. It would be like moving a museum into a museum.Lets face it twenty years from now kids are going to be asking "what was the big deal with the bates mill #5?". Just as kids now are curious about other things like how and why was Little Canada built, lets face it, it does stand out from the rest of the city. Many people are unaware of how that whole area, including the merchants that used to be there, played a huge role in the mills history. Some day people can look at pictures of #5 in the museum and ask where was that building? wouldn't it be fun to say your standing in it.
Just another one of my rambling thoughts....
I'd be curious how the U.S. Census tabulates their results. Are they based on the actual crime committed, or the conviction rate.
Any one who follows the local court proceedings can see that most cases are dismissed. You see a lot of people in District Court, opting for jury trials. There's more than one reason for that. I've seen one individual with five or six separate arrests for moter vehicle burglary. all charges dismissed. Why? The arresting officer couldn't or wouldn't make the court appearance. Everyone you talk to knows that you have a much better chance of an acquittal in Superior Court. You can read it when ever the sj prints the various court results. Also just what category do they put armed home invasions or CVS robberies in. Not to mention the increase of home burglaries where nothing but controlled prescriptions are stolen. We may have a smaller crime rate then other states, but we have a lot less people than a lot of states. I feel we have just as much crime.
I don't feel this really has anything to do with what hangs on the wall at the Dept. of Labor.
People today don't know what the unions did. To young people its just a word, something they had many years ago.
I'll be the first to admit, the unions weren't perfect. Far from it. I was twenty one years old when I was FORCED to join the Teamsters in Boston. I still have my card in my wallet. I can't speak for every company, but I can speak of one, with close ties to Auburn.
All our factories were unionized. jobs were safe. WRONG...
Some new executive, obviously trying to make points, single hand-idly figured out how to break the union and save the company tons of money. Shut most of the domestic factories, and move to Haiti. There they could work the people twelve hour days for less than a dollar a day.
That was back in the seventies.
That room in Augusta isn't there to hang a mural, Its there to hopefully prevent travesties like the one I just described from happening. Unfortunately its to late. More and more companies are coming up with ways to make more money with less workforce. The word Union is gone. It has been replaced with new politically correct terms such as down sizing and out sourcing.
The bottom line is that if you have been with a company thirty years, and expect to retire in a couple of years. Don't count on it. They'll down size you, hire a twenty five year old. They will change the new guys job description, saying your old job has been eliminated. They have effectively fired you, saved having to pay a retirement pension,and pay the new guy a fraction of what you were making. And its all totally legal. Is it any wonder no one can find work?
Like I said everyone has a right to their opinion. I have mine you have yours.
I'm not sure which group I fit into. I worked hard for thirty plus years, payed taxes, and moved to Maine almost thirty years ago for no other reason than I fell in love with it.
Then, as happens to most people I was blind sided. I was like a cat hit by a car trying like the devil to make it but couldn't. I went from making a lot more than most people I know makes, to making next to nothing in five days. You ought to try it sometime. I'm not complaining though. I get by, with no help from the state.
So now I have nothing better to do than sit around and read Dan's comments. Occasionally I'll make some of my own. I desperately try to avoid politics if I can sometimes I can't. But everyone's entitled to their opinions
I got stuck behind a dump truck with a full rotating brush mounted to the front. I had to stop in the middle of the road It was worse than a white-out. by the way this was in New Glouster.
I know you've heard this before, but I can't emphasize enough my disillusion of the political system in general. I spend a lot of time studying people. It started many years ago. First watching the general differences of people from different parts of the country as well as internationally. While living my life as a trucker, I got a chance to interact with all sorts of people, on all levels of so called management. How some people allow it to go to their head, and some emphasize on the responsibility of the task at hand. My favorite has always been the individual who gets a job, usually in small town politics, and over night becomes an "authority". As in " we need to check with the authorities". Nine out of ten times that person knows squat.
Having said that, I come to the point of all this blabbering. Governor Paul Le Page. Usually someone has to do something to catch my attention. He's done it.
Now all you Le page fans,stand down. I have as much right to my opinion as you do.
I observe several different things, I refer to as the "W's". What they do,Why they do it, Where they do it,When they do it, and Who they do it to. I'm going to keep this short, so I can make my point.
Granted Le Page had a hard life. A lot of us do. I'm sure when he was growing up on the streets, he had to put up with the abuse of not just the residents of the city, but the other homeless people. As he grew older he faced further hardships in that he wasn't fluent in english. That at first affected his schooling. With help he was able to get over that.
He did however aspire to help other people to avoid the type of life he had. His terms as councilman and then becoming Mayor of Waterville indicates that. I don't Know anyone from Waterville so I don't know what kind of mayor he was, and I'm not going to make an assumption.
I do know what kind of Governor he's become. Its very easy to see his life in his style of governing. He's a one man show. Much as he was as a child, he fought for everything he got, and kept it close. His support of Domestic Violence, I feel goes directly back to his experience of Domestic Violence in his own home.
Unfortunately, I feel his wish to balance the states financial problems is clouding his decisions with what he didn't have and desperately needed as a child. Health care and domestic assistance. Probably because it wasn't available or not within his reach.
As a result you can see the extremely negative decisions he's making regarding those particular programs. If He couldn't have it no one needs it. I feel that his negative affect on peoples medical or domestic needs is subconsciously blocked out, whether he wants to admit it or not. I guess what I'm trying to say is that mixing political life with personal life can lead to some extremely poor choices You can Like him or dislike him that's your choice, I don't like him, however I will still watch every move he makes.His choice to cut help to cities and towns, speaks for itself. No one helped him.
This is just my opinion, so don't jump all over me for it.
You would think the Governor would want to be here to explain his stupidity, but he's not. He's in Jamaica. That s OK, this timely trip and many other dumb things he's doing should guarantee he won't be re elected. That after all is what I want, I can't stand wanna be tough guys.
If there was ever a cause for the community to come together to help this poor guy out. I feel that just getting his scooter back, is only part of the solution. He needs to have some sort of enclosure to lock up his chair. Just something big enough to hold the scooter, nothing fancy, and a big pad lock.
It says a lot about our society today when a guys wheel chair gets stolen. People are going to steal anything that's not nailed down. So much for the good old days.
I can remember back to the big strike at the Jay mill. One night I had just left my house at about two in the morning driving north on Rt. 4 in N. Turner. I was driving a tractor trailer.
I don't know if it's still there, but there used to be a small motel up in Livermore near the lake.
Evidently some drunk protester thought the road crew that was staying there were actually scabs taking their jobs. He of course did the mature thing and took a few pot shots at the building, not hitting anything of course.
The reason I told this story is because of the response of the State Police. Like I said it was two in the morning, and this sea of blue lights were approaching from the rear. I didn't think the state had that many cruisers. They were passing me on the left the right I'm surprised they didn't try going under me. I actually stopped in the middle of the road. To make matters worse by the time I got to the scene of the shooting, they had the road closed, air space over head restricted you name it.I sat there for two and a half hours before they let me sneak by.
You see over reaction is nothing new.
Let me reiterate, I have no love loss for Democrats, Republicans and Independents. I do however observe them. Its almost comical.Personally I could care less if they all beat each other to death right there in the state house.
What gets me is their mentalities. The Republicans seem to think their the cavalry, coming to solve every problem since the Civil War. Well they can't do it, simple as that.
The Democrats don't have anyone with the Kahona's to stand up to the Republicans. Which is exactly what the Republicans need. They need to be put in function mode, and taken out of attack mode.
It just seems to me that if everyone took the energy it takes to fight the other party, and put it into working on what needs to be done. Something positive could be accomplished by the end of the session.
If that can't be accomplished, by all means keep going the way your going. It saves me time. I don't need to read the comics.
Every apartment in town has people living there. These people acquire guite a bit of , for lack of a better word, junk.It makes no difference if your rich or don't have two nickles to rub together. Every year Everyone somehow acquires stuff that needs to go to the dump.
I have a wrecked canoe that needs to go, but I refuse to register the trailer just to haul the canoe to the dump. That's like registering the car just to use up all the gas in it. Lets face it no matter who you are you get these weird things that need to be dumped , is to big for trash collection, and won't fit in the trunk.
Now for some of us its just a matter of a phone call and what I call the most important tool in my tool box, the check book. Not everyone can do that. It can affect a lot more than just the ones that have the junk. You have to put it someplace, preferably out of the way. To way to many people that means the hallway, the front yard the back porch. This creates a problem. Fire departments routinely inspect apartment buildings. What they find is this junk. Blocking hallways, stairways, and emergency exits. Those are just the ones they find. These people have no other means of ridding themselves of this junk. A once a year chance to get rid of this stuff could save lives, not to mention a lot of head aches for landlords. I don't feel it would be a waste of money.
Do you think that maybe someone told(I emphasize the word told)Peter Rogers to say how well qualified Ledoux is? After all didn't we learn our lessons with his first relative?
Unfortunately there is nothing humanly possible that can be done to slow people down. Its a mentality thing. Having driven professionally for over twenty years all over this country and Canada, I can say its the same everywhere. Just Yesterday I almost got picked off pulling out of Walmart. I had a green arrow and this woman was maybe three feet in front of me, running a red light, with that dam phone plastered to her ear.There was a time I would never suggest this but some strategically placed cameras would catch a few, then put fake lookalikes all over. No one would know the real from the fakes and well I guess that would be their chance to take.
Down in Georgia, They place State police cruisers in the median with dummies at the wheel, I heard that sometimes they use manicans too.
When purchasing insurance, the question should not be "if I need it", but when will I need it. Granted I've paid way more than my car is worth, in car insurance over the years. I've been lucky I haven't needed it. I'm Irish I couldn't take this chance, but if I were to cancel my insurance. Within the hour I'd be rear ended by another uninsured driver, no doubt coming from a St. Patty's day party.
I learned at an early age, insure yourself to the hilt.
There are way to many people who are convinced that it couldn't happen to them. That being said, it couldn't happen to anyone else.
These people are making decisions based on their gross lack of experience.
If a test could have saved my mother or sister, no price would have been to much. If you have never experienced the pain personally, your clueless. And we all know how much help a clueless person is.
I have experienced problems having tests or screenings covered by Medicare. Sometimes you have to stand up to them. You do have rights no matter what you have for insurance. There is even help out there if you have no insurance.
No one should die just because some politician or even a doctor doesn't feel a screening or test is necessary. And they should be available to everyone.
Just my humble opinion...
If they want drug and alcohol testing,I'll be first in line. As long as that line also contains Senators Congressman and the Governor.
I used to party, I'll admit as I got older it took longer to recuperate from these parties than it used to. Hell, one night when I was in my twenties, and living in New Hampshire, I actually lost my Harley. We would travel from one party to the next in the back of a pickup truck. I just woke up the next morning unable to remember where I left my bike.
We all have or had bad life styles . I would like to think that as you mature you make better decisions. Granted not everyone does. When I got sick, I quit smoking and drinking. especially with all the medications I take, I wouldn't take the chance.
As far as drug tests, I can guarantee I have taken more tests over the years than anyone here. I've had to take them on the side of the road in Connecticut, at three in the morning. Tell me that's not demoralizing. I have nothing against them as I have never taken a recreational drug in my life, I couldn't I was to busy taking tests in Connecticut.
I do feel however that if I have to take one, everyone has to take one . Not just certain groups for certain reasons.I'll bet the test results from the State House alone would be very interesting.
That's my opinion on government enforced drug testing.
Oh, I'm going to take a beating on this one...
Just about one year ago I lost my older sister. She was only fifty seven. She had never been sick a day in her life, until that fateful day.
Research in cancer isn't going to find cures for every form of cancer. One thing you never hear about is that research helps with treatment as well as cures. If you look back through history, you'll see many forms of cancer that were once death sentences, have become more and more treatable. First a two year extension then five ,ten and even longer. You hear about a lot of different types of medical research. Its so common that you probably don't even notice it when you hear it. Just keep in mind that these programs are looking for a cure, but in the process they come up with very good effective treatments that could mean the difference of living one month or living one decade. Granted its not working for everyone yet. It didn't work for my sister. But without cancer research or medical research in general, it won't work for anyone.
I sat and pondered those same possibilities one night, and probably would have come to the same conclusion, but I ran out of beer...
P>S> Lynne: you ought to try pulling an empty boat trailer down Park Ave. I never thought a trailer could bounce that high.
There is always going to be certain individuals out there who are committed to coming up with new rules to protect the system. There's no way around it. You see it at work , you see it at city hall (Dept. of motor vehicles),everywhere.
Having to prove who you are has become a way of life. In the seven years I've been unable to work I'll bet I've given the last four of my social security as proof of who I am two thousand times. Its not something unique to DHHS. Although I'll admit they do tend to go a little overboard.
Having to prove who you are, shouldn't diminish in any way, who you are.
Now this is solely my opinion, but I think everyone has a place deep down inside them that gives them self worth. I feel it has a lot to do with people doing the right thing. If working to aid in your assistance makes you feel good, that adds to your self worth. Maybe you could volunteer at the food bank or the humane society if that makes you feel good its adding to your self worth. The bottom line is that everyone ,no matter their circumstances has self worth. Having to show an ID or answer questions should never deter from your self worth. You need it to survive.
When I was working, the company would hire many Somali immigrants as temps. I was fortunate to become friends with a lot of them. Their dedication to work is incredible. I'll admit , at first I was a little perplexed with some of their traditions. After taking the time to learn about their traditions. I became aware of how strange some of our way of life was to them. It made for some great late night conversations when things were slow.
Some of them went on to become full time company employees strictly on their ability to do the work, and do it well. I'm sorry to see a successful family business close just because of politics.
Good luck to the family
There is one other ,what I consider a major flaw in the system. Yes I'll admit, I worked many years. I paid taxes,I paid into all the Social security and FICA. I made lots of money. That's great when your healthy.
The flaw I'm speaking of comes into play when for whatever reason, your not able to make that money any more. Its not your fault, but a lot of people find themselves in this situation.
Like you mentioned, if you work a full time job at minimum wage you don't qualify for help. Even though most everyone knows that's not a livable wage, but its an easy out.
I'm totally disabled, making a fraction of my original pay, however their still making their decisions partially based on what I earned when I could work. Unfortunately I worked and was able to retire at an early age, go back to school (with out student loans).. I went back to work and made good money again. Then I got sick.
It seems the more you make ,the more is contributed into Social security. The mathematics of the system is to complicated to go into here, but the bottom line is , I get a pretty good check every month. Problem is I'm just over the limit to receive help, because I worked hard all my life. The fact that I'm totally disabled doesn't matter to them. Its the numbers,that's all that matters.
I know I've been spouting off about this for several weeks now in these posts, Its just that I'm passionate about everyone being treated fairly based on their needs. Not on the numbers.
I agree with most of what Ms Thomas said, there's just one thing I don't get. How do they do it?
I know for a fact that if I was to spend so much as one illegally obtained one dollar food stamp. I would walk out of Hannafords, and the entire Auburn police, half the DHHS staff, and hell they'll probably have the support enforcement there just for old time sake , waiting to arrest me.
I guess I'm just paranoid.
I love it when these topics come up. I enjoy reading the posts, especially the ones demoralizing the poor for not working.
Don't get me wrong. I feel everyone has a right to their opinion. Its just that people can be so cruel without even knowing it. I know they don't mean it. It would be like me posting the proper way to restore an antique car. I don't know the first thing about antique cars.
I am poor though. I cancelled my Facebook account because its nothing but a bragathon. How would you like to impress all those people you went to school with, with a post like this:
I was able to retire at forty six years old. I then returned to school got two more degrees in three years through accelerated coarse programs. Then I landed a job making more money than I knew what to do with.
I was unfortunate enough to become ill. I tied to continue to work, but was forced to take disability by the company. I was fortunate that I had the company disability to fall back on. Problem is the monthly pay is a fraction of what I was making. Hope all is well with you guys.
I'm lucky, yes I'm poor, but to me being poor is relative. You have to make what you have work. Its one of the hardest jobs I've ever had.
Just remember the next time your going to give someone a hard time for being poor. You don't know the whole story. And the most important thing to keep in mind.
Every one of us is just one little virus away from being rich to being poor.
Robert hit the nail on the head. Politicians see the same problem,their just stuck with a dilema.
On one side ,If they blame this problem on the huge influx of welfare seeking people moving into the state. They can blame someone else. the republicans can blame the democrats and visa-versa.
However if they were to see the real problem for what it is, Long time residents losing their jobs, their homes everything. Then someone is going to have to realize that someone in this state, both sides, are not doing their jobs. Trying to get a politician to admit he's made a mistake, is harder than getting a cat to lick mustard
I'll admit I have no clue on how to fix this problem, But half the solution is understanding what the problem is.
It wasn't so much an interview as it was a tirade. a totally disgusting, for lack of a bunch of words I can't use here, pile of crap.
Having been a long haul trucker I've listened to a lot of talk radio. One thing a huge group of people fail to realize is that Limbaugh is an entertainer nothing else. That doesn't excuse his total disregard for decency. Personally I think he's a blowhard. There are people out there that live by every word he says. That scares me. I've listened to talk radio from Boston to LosAngelous. They all have their gimmicks. Limbaugh's is to rub people the wrong way. He's losing so much advertising over this I wouldn't be surprised to see him gone, However as long as people still listen to him he'll survive. Just remember he and others like him are just entertainers nothing more.
I'm not sure but, I'd be willing to bet the cause of the accident was lack of attention to one thing. Its that big red eight sided thing in the center of the picture. That poor sign is so often ignored.
DHS as I new them back along time ago. Was a total mess back then is a total mess now. I'm not talking about this computer glitch, but the entire system. The computer glitch just happens to be something they got caught at. Their kind of like the IRS. They can do whatever they want until someone really screws up. That's when damage control starts.
DHHS is in damage control. I will say one thing. Ms. Mayhew is a master at spin. You ask her a question and her answers will include everything imaginable except what you asked her about. I think after she's thrown out of DHHS, she has a future in politics.
They turned, what has become an eye sore, into a beautiful place. My concern lies in the location. That's a pretty tough neighborhood, with a lot of buildings that don't exactly look well cared for. I just hope the city leaders have taken that into account. It wouldn't take long for it to return to its former glory. This new place should be a hub. A place to begin cleaning up the rest of the area. If for nothing else but for the safety of the future new residents.
I don't live to far from there, I hope it kick starts a clean-up of the area.
I am also disabled. I will never be able to work again. Since moving to Maine some thirty years ago I have acquired three college degrees, a very good living for twenty three years, and an incurable disease.
I like the way the Mayor emphasized going out and getting the help that's out there. Trust me it won't come knocking on your door.
I am not a veteran, however I've found enough support out there to live quite comfortably. I get Social security, and I get Medicare which I pay a monthly premium plus I am responsible for twenty percent of my medical coverage.
The trick is learning to manage your money no matter how much you have. Search for programs that are available, not just state help. I've said this before, but I'll say it again. Its not easy. To me its just as much a job as I had when I could work. I guess the bottom line is your only as disabled as you want to be.
If you keep it large enough for tractor trailers, you would have a gold mine.
Like scales for weighing their trucks, drivers will search for an automated truck wash. If you've ever washed your car by hand, imagine trying the same thing with something the size of a single story house.
Drivers like clean trucks, some of them are really proud of their home on wheels and would be willing to pay to keep it clean. I've been out of the business for a while so I'm not familiar with what the going rate is for a complete truck wash, but I'm willing to bet its a lot more than what it cost at the local car wash. At least investigate the idea. Just keep it near a turnpike exit, word of mouth will take care of the rest.
" We share your frustration, but we're not in the majority". That says so much about whats wrong with this state and this country.
Like I mentioned in an earlier post last week, not enough toy soldiers on our side. Evidently the Republicans have more toy soldiers on their side so its their way or the highway.
I always thought that everyone had an equal say, yet evidently you have no say unless your lucky enough to be on the winning side. Its called " Government by the people for the Republicans ", or Democrats, I don't ever remember reading that in any history books I've read, and I've read a lot of history books.
Maybe we should get rid of the two party system. appoint, not elect, a single group of people whose sole purpose is solving the problems of day to day living. That almost sounds to simple. The fact is we already have this group. Unfortunately they can't work together. Its them or us, or us and them. However you put it, whether your Republican or Democrat, it doesn't matter. Until someone can break this mentality nothing constructive will ever get done. Just pass it on to the people. Sometimes I think these politicians gauge success by how many people their hurting.
Does anyone know of any company,job or position ,anywhere in this country that allows employees to:
!- set their own pay, with no oversight.
2- pay for the gas needed to drive to work every day
3- Pay up to fifty dollars a day for meals.
I'm sure there's more I'm not aware of but think of how that adds up day to day. When was the last time you paid fifty dollars for lunch?
If they expand it a bit to include the washing of trucks as well, something very popular in other parts of the country. Then not only would the buses get cleaned but you could charge trucks to run through it. They're normally associated with truck stops but we don't have them in this part of Maine. I know it was always something I was looking for. Then you might really clean up, and make your money back.
Just a thought.
Along time ago, maybe thirty years, I drove trucks for the old StrideRite plant in Auburn. several years before I moved here.
Every night I would take the same rout to the plant. Washington St. make the turn at Miami Rd. and head for Rodman Rd.
One night as I was turning from Miami Rd. to Washington St. south, with a forty eight foot trailer, I heard the skid start. I felt like it went on for ever. I couldn't see the vehicle but I was just waiting for the crash. I even stopped to brace myself for the impact. Then it just stopped. When I straitened out the truck I could see the vehicle that had to be doing at least a hundred MPH. He left over six hundred feet of skid marks. It was a blue volvo with blue lights on top. Sideways in the middle of the road. He ended up following me, right on my back bumper all the way to the plant on Hotel Rd. I think he was trying to intimidate me, like I did something wrong. This really could have turned into a Smokey and the Bandit moment. Twenty years later I got rear ended on Center St by an Auburn Fire truck. Yup the more things change the more they stay the same.
At least I'm honest about this. I have no loyalty to Democrats, Republicans, or Independents. ( Its a long story ). I do however observe whats going on and whose doing what.
I listened to Senator Snowes remarks about her leaving. I honestly can't say that I blame her. Frustration has a way of building up in a person and at some point you have to say enough is enough.
What I hear coming out of Augusta, amounts to the same things that are going on in Washington. Is it any wonder nothing important is ever accomplished.
Its like a children's game of toy solders. Who ever has the most toy solders on their side wins.
Its just my feeling that until both Augusta and Washington players can get together and work for the people and not so much for their next election, maybe then things might start moving forward.
I can't believe that in today's world, there are still people who deny the fact that computers have taken over most of our lives.
I have been to seminars where I have mingled with people who have been in this field for longer than I've been alive. Even they agree that without constant updates to their computer skills, they'll be left in the dust. Every year more and more paper is not being used, and it has nothing to do with protecting trees.
Anyone who thinks twelve years of education will be a waste due to computers, doesn't get it.
Have you noticed all the book stores closing, all the talk of closing post offices. How about the last time you were offered a discount for using paperless billing. At some point paper is going to become obsolete.
In no way do I think children shouldn't be taught to do math learn to write, learn history,geography and everything else the traditional way. I did. However times have changed. Just to get into college you need a laptop. Once in college you need computers because teachers don't accept paper anymore. Trust me. I learned these things the hard way after I retired. I went back to school and received two more degrees, and that's when laptops cost four grand.
Don't forget, we still dial the phone. Try getting an explanation of that term from most fourteen year olds, and they'll look at you like you have three heads. It doesn't hurt that much to change.
First of all I in no way approve of school kids surfing for porn as acceptable. I do however say it happens whether you approve or not. I have repaired hundreds of computers. I'll fill you in on a little secret, kids aren't the only ones surfing for porn. You would not believe what I found on "family" computers. I'm still trying to figure out were your coming from. Whether someone has a computer in the home has nothing to do with my point, nor does surfing for porn. My point ( which went right over your head ), is that today's kids need to be prepared for the real world. That world runs almost entirely on computers. My last job before I became disabled didn't have time cards. Everything was done on computers. when I was working in the Semi-Conductor industry, there was no such thing as pens. everything was recorded on computer. Even in college, I couldn't turn in a paper or any assignment on paper, you guessed it, floppy disc. And you still think having a computer is a status symbol only for the rich. As far as computer competency is concerned, before I lost the feeling in my fingers. I could build a computer from scratch in less than two hours. I took the time to learn to be able to compete in this world. I feel kids deserve the same chance.
One more thing, South East Asia, where do you think most components and software for computers comes from? It aint Best Buy.
Dave, you can make it. there is help out there. Don't count on the state, you'll be living on the street so fast you won't know what hit you.
You need to research what you need then go out and get it. Go to the Library, they have computers you can use. You also sound like you may qualify for Social Security Disability.This can be acquired via computer. Hospitals have programs for low income. You mentioned you fought in Vietnam, there are growing numbers of veterans groups, If you've had a hard time in the past with the VA, you just haven't reached the right person yet. The state will get you nothing, you need to think outside the box.
I'm totally disabled. I went from making gobs of money to practically nothing. Most people don't realize that their just one little illness away from disaster. What I've learned over the past ten years is that if you want something you can get it, but your going to have to fight for it. Give it a shot, and get on those computers.
If its going to take extra state police to solve computer crimes, or so called crimes among our school children. It only shows one thing, the kids are learning how to use computers.
Like it or not kids are going to look at areas we may find objective. since entering the manufacturing industry. I saw how important general computer knowledge is. Computers are used in every aspect of any workplace. Without at least the basics of computers, your lost. You also will not be at the top of the hiring list. Yah kids are going to be kids. In the real world their going to be prepared. Trust me its easier than having to catch up.
Mary, I agree with you. However if we put everyone in jail that deserves to be in jail there wouldn't be anyone left to complain about. I can hear the crickets now. Mr Obama would be addressing an empty room. He would have to give his State of the Union address on visiting day.
If there going to have rules that go along with the sale of fire works, which I have nothing against. I think there should be one more. No one under the influence should be allowed to handle fireworks.I realize how hard that would be to enforce, but I've seen it at campgrounds etc. Guys who can hardly stand up setting off rockets. About half of them going sideways.
Cathy I can sympathize with you, I agree 100%. I not only drove school buses in Massachusetts but also in New Hampshire. I also drove tractor trailers for twenty plus years. I used to tell people that when I retire, the first thing I'm going to do is rent the biggest motor home I can find, just to drive on the interstate at forty-five miles per hour. That was my pet peeve. Unfortunately I ended up going back to school instead. I promise I'll do my best not to be a "mass hole", trust me. I know just who your talking about.
I'm not ashamed of being a flatlander, even after thirty something years. Roger seems more exited about it than I do. I think Cathy just hates Massachusetts. Well so do I.
I'm on Medicare. I pay 148.00 right off the top of my benefits every month . I also am responsible for 20% of any treatment I receive. I have a medical issue so it can get expensive for me.
I feel educating folks on how to take what you get and make it work. Its not easy and really takes planning as well as education on how to shop for groceries. Ramon noodles and macaroni and cheese are not the answer.
I know everyone's going to say "ya easier said than done". Believe me it can be done and its not easy. I wish the state would consider this as an option, as apposed to just giving out money and saying, go have fun.
Yes its true that prices go up just before every election. If you notice, they go up every year at this time. It has nothing to do with politics. it has to do with weather.
You see, the refineries have to shut down and change their production to so called summer gas. Yes we have two types of gas in Maine. Without the winter mix, if we got a real cold snap or extended cold period, our cars and trucks (especially diesel) wouldn't run.
What I'd like to know is, we can put a man on the moon. Yet we can't come up with a fuel mixture that would work year round. This would reduce all the refineries closing this time of year, thus not creating such high demand due to short supplies.
Just my humble opinion.
Like I've said before. Gay marriage in no way will ever affect my life in any way. Strait people get married then divorced then marry again. Now there's a long term or should I say a sort of long term commitment if I ever saw one.Let the gay and lesbians marry. Who knows maybe they'll show the strait people a thing or two on how to do it right.
I'm a life long single person by choice, everyone I know is either divorced or in the middle of getting divorced. I don't need the headaches.
First of all, I in no way condone the illegal use of drugs. However alcohol and cigarets are perfectly legal. What these politicians are trying to do is criminalize alcohol and cigarets to a certain group of people.
I'll be honest I used to drink a few beers, and smoke. I wasn't breaking any laws, I dare anyone to say I was. Or deny me anything for doing something that is perfectly legal.
This is just the beginning. We are dealing with desperate people who are so blinded by their fear, they can't see the constitution anymore. Whats going to be next. They say a mind is a terrible thing to waste. A feeble mind is a dangerous thing to have in the state house.
I once ,shortly after losing my private company health insurance, while still on full long term disability, had the audacity to apply for Mainecare. That was back at the beginning of 2011. I was only making 55% of my income at the time.
To make a long story short, I was turned down for every possible benefit the state offered (even though I didn't apply for anything else), I'm surprised they didn't revoke my BJ's card.
About eight months later I started receiving Social Security. several months later I qualified for Medicare. I do however have to pay a monthly premium, as well as paying for prescription coverage. On top of that, I'm responsible for 20% of all treatment. It aint free.
I came to the conclusion that in order to qualify for Maincare you have to be dead. As far as everything else goes I guess its who you know. If that weren't bad enough the state keeps sending me a notice telling me I don't qualify for anything.
Being poor isn't a whole lot of fun, but being reminded of it every few months by the state is like salt in the wound. Not to mention a huge waste of resources of DHHS.
Again let me acknowledge one thing, I"m non-political. I have no preference either way to Republicans or Democrats, Independents. I do however pay attention to whats going on. I read a lot. I make a lot of observations.
Reducing the size of government is long overdue. Unfortunately convincing a person, or group of people. Capable of voting their own pay increases, enjoying all the totally unnecessary perks that go along with the job, to vote on an article that very well will put a good number of them out of work, will never happen. Unless their forced to. A state wide referendum is needed to reach this goal, unfortunately it would never get through the senate. Its a vicious circle.
Just an observation, so don't bother jumping all over me. like most everything else, I don't give a damn.
You see these people bounce. Just ask the Lewiston officer who was t-boned with his lights and siren going, the other driver didn't see him coming out of Bartlet St.Lets not forget the Auburn cop who got his clock cleaned at Court and Minot Ave. Not to mention the emt, who died in Turner after being hit broadside at a high rate of speed. Don't forget there is usually at least one person totally unsecured in any ambulance at any given time.
These are just a few examples of something not a lot of people think about. These are human beings. They are just as capable as any of us of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Their bodies break just as easy as anyone.
Now these examples I mentioned may or may not have had anything to do with texting, just imagine what will happen if their allowed to text.
No one allowed to text should mean NO ONE, Their job is dangerous enough don't let it become deadly.
LePage is upset that way to many low income people are signing up for medicaid. His solution is to deny these people health and other coverages.Over the years, on more than one occasion I decided to just quit. stop trucking and making good money with full benefits. I went out and tried to find work which would allow me to be home every day at some point.
I wasn't alone. Many drivers I new, did the same thing at some point or other. There was just one problem. Employers in the L/A area new they didn't have to pay anything or offer benefits, Back in the eighties there was a large work force, most of whom had at the most high school diplomas, workers were disposable. How many of you have been told ,if you don't like it go home, there's plenty more where you came from.
I couldn't find a livable wage anywhere, and I had a college degree. This same problem existed in the trucking industry as well. At least with the trucking companies it came back to bite them in the ass.
After deregulation in the seventies, there were trucking companies popping up everywhere. There were more drivers than jobs. Eventually experienced drivers got sick of the constant harassment, and retired including myself. I got another degree and was able to find a decent job with benefits. Now all these companies can get are driving school graduates, and once they get the trucks out of the ditches and pay the increased insurance, experienced drivers suddenly started getting respect. Two months after I retired I was offered six figures to go to work for a large national company as an instructor, I turned it down.
Now the real root of the medicaid problem. LePage is right, there are way to many people who need help. The problem, as far as I'm concerned, isn't too many people needing help. It the fact that the State Of Maine has created an entire generation of grossly underpaid people. People who never had the opportunity to advance their education because they were just trying to exist. Now that's come back to bite the state in the ass. Le Page must have seen this and probably contributed to this problem at Mardens. I don't see a whole lot of people leaving mardens with a nest egg to live on, security and the ability to purchase health insurance. No they could be in their seventies and they'll be looking for another job.
That is what this whole state is about going from one job to the next. Is it any wonder that their only chance of help is from the same state that put them in the situation there in now.
I don't see a solution to this problem, other than to offer a livable wage. I don't see that happening, but until it does. The only help is the state. I feel LePage is looking at the wrong end of the problem. Again just an observation.
Over the years I got to know alot of toll booth collectors from the old days when you actuslly had to stop and either pay cash or use the turnpike card. I had a stack of toll cards an inch thick just to get to PA.
Every collector in Maine thought the idea of a toll booth in New Glouster, was dumb and dangerous. They built that toll booth so they could remove the Auburn and Lewiston toll booths. In doing so increased the tolls in both directions. You think its expensive in a car, try five axles. I usually got off at exit 11, had a strait shot to Auburn for free.
Problem is That practice caught on. Now in the summer I've seen it backed up almost a mile. and thats just because of the rediculas traffic pattern in Grey. More than once I've had a car get tired of waiting in line and just pull out into traffic from a complete stop 100 feet in frount of me going 60 mph, weighing in at forty tons or so. Is it any wonder I need blood pressure medicine to this day.
You have to give the State credit. Its a perfect spot for revenue collection from speeding cars. Not to mention what they get for commercial truck violations, yah thats one of thier faverite spots.
You see there's a lot more than just tolls being collected there.
I say tear down the New Gloucester booth open the road up again. replace Auburn and Lewiston toll booths, Free to get off fiftey cents to get on like every other exit, well most of them anyway.
Just my humble opinion.
If I go into Walmart and pick up so much as a two pack of aaa bateries. If I pay for them at the frount cash register, and the cashier doesn't clear what ever it is they clear. The minite I head to the door an alarm goes off and the greeter all be tackles me, and we have to go through all my stuff to find tha offending product, then check my receipt to make sure I paid for it. Then they smile and send you on your way.
How in the world do you get out with two thousand dollars worth of stuff, there must have been at least one pack of batteries. I guess I'm not cut out for crime.
This is also a safety issue. You take a toll booth like York, just past the toll its about a mile up hill. Sure there's a truck lane, but to alot of tourists its just a right lane. I can tell you, when you have to get forty tons moving even from ten miles per hour. Thirteen speeds takes awhile to get back to speed on a hill. I've had more than one close call of company in the back seat at that toll booth. We've been talking about full speed toll booths since the seventies. I for one am glad its finally happening. Course now that I'm retired, I can't enjoy it. Oh well...
I quess the answere to your question of more than one way to identify low income. Maybe refering to people as resposible low income until they prove you wrong.
Enough of that, as far as a resturant or cafe at that site I don't know. I never thought a bowling alley was a good choise.
As for the housing, I feel landlord resposibility is very important. Its not the answere to all problems but it is a problem. I live in a nice nieghbohood. Right next to a very nice looking building. The landlord lives somewhere out or state. noone can even identify him let alone find him. The building is totally destroyed inside. There is so much water damage from broken pipes, its going to have to be completely gutted.
Now those were not low income units. A management company was incharge of it after many thousands of dollars of work was done to the interior,as well as the exterior. Now its in ruins. There's four really good family units gone and thats just one case. I hate living next to a vacant building.
I think your idea of mixed usage downtown makes alot of sence. I feel its important for someone to moniter a building closely. As far as the bowling alley goes. I think alot of traffic studies need to be done before anything is built on either side of that street. There's not a whole lot of room on that road and there's alot of traffic.
Sorry if I seemed to take things to personally, sometimes I just have bad days. Then again on those days I should stick to the comics page.
If your poor your not welcome in Auburn. That fact was made quite obviouse yesterday by quite a few of you.
I'd be willing to bet alot of you are "small buisness owners". Wilma, you take the cake.
First of all I've been living at the same location for fourteen years. I shop in downtown Auburn I pay all my bills, I worked two jobs for twenty plus years, retired went back to school, got a degree, and went back to work. making alot more than alot of you, but thats not important.
My Social securaty is such that I don't even qualify for mainecare, food stamps heating assistance or anything else from the state, not that I would take it if I could.
Yes I got sick and as a result I became pemanatly disabled. I make less than one half of one paycheck I was used to. Yes, I am poor, and I will not stand by and let anyone say I'm not good enough to please you small buisness owners.
I have seen examples of other low,or no income people and they make me sick. They literally destroy buildings. Not just in downtowm either. What really hurts me personally is that I am lumped into that group. When I hear someone say we can't use anymore low income people, I take that personally. If a low income person knows how to handle money and live off a budget, you may not even know there low income.
Its bad enough to be disabled, unfourtunatly very low income comes with that. I challenge anyone out there to try to live on my income, using your own financial knowledge, for one month. You wouldn't be able to do it.
I'm only 53 years old, hopefully I have a few years left in me. I would never discriminate against anyone just because of thier income. As long as they contribute to the comunity as best they can, I say welcome. If thier going to destroy buildings and live off the state, I feel the same as anyone else. Just don't put me in the same group as those people. I worked hard to be where I am now.
I'll be glad to hold a workshop for them to help them learn how the rest of us live.
On day one we'll go over RAMON noodles. They should pick that up in a couple of days. Then we'll move on to Sunday dinner, a big bowl of "macaroni and cheese" for dad and all the kids.
I just want them to start off on the right foot.
Mr. Joshua Shea, you have such a way with words.
" I as a small buisness owner would not want to move in next to that kind of disposible income", Lets redifine that.
I don't want to move in next door to those people who can't afford to spend money in my buisness. That pretty much says it all.
I live on sociel security, not by choice, because of illness. I pay all my own bills, I even pay for my health insuranse and prescription coverage every month. I don't have alot of disposable income. I don't even know if I could afford these so called low income units.
Mr. Shea, If by some miricle my illness disappeared tomorrow, I would go back to work in a minite. then I would have tons of "disposable income".
Your statement says it all. No poor people in my neighborhood. get the hell out of here and go somewhere that tolerates people like you. There are plenty of them, thats why I live in Maine.
Many years ago I lived in Greenfield New Hampshire. A friend of mine was on the fire department, and they were going to have a meeting to address proper street names.
This meeting was about the best entertainment you could get for free on a cold winter night.
Noone wanted to give up thier particular name for thier roads. Most of which had three or more names. this caused problems for the local dispatch, not to mention a new driver of only two weeks.
A week or so earlier he was the first to arrive at the station, not to mention the only one, as most everyone else responded directly to the scene.
The dispatcher tried giving him directions to the fire as he was new to the area. I swear this really happened (about thirty years ago).
Dispatcher: All units respond to the Farm road about one half mile from Sam Perkins house.
New driver: Where the hell does Sam Perkins live?
Dispatcher: Any Damb fool knows he lives right across the street from the big chicken barn that burnt down last year.
New driver: I wasn't here last year.
Dispatcher: Oh, I'm sorry I'll give you directions. Go south out of town on rt 31 about two two and a half miles and look for a dirt road on the right. Take that right, keep driving until you see a huge hole in the ground, thats right across from Sam Perkins place . Continue about a half mile and your there.
He said the hell with it and went home, thus prompting the meeting.
So you see, towns have been having dispatch problems for years.
Unfourtunatley everyone is in a hurry. Thats just as true in Maine as it is in California and everywhere inbetween.
That being said you have to pay much more attention to whats going on around you at all times, on the move or stopped.
I could write a list a mile long of all the stupid things people do that you may have seen but not noticed.
I'll keep it to the two most annoying and dangerous infractions I see quite abit in the L/A area
(1) And this may be what Mr Webber has witnessed. Concider all the cars stopped at a major intersection, the frount line in a football game. The other side is going to try to draww you off sides. Some people are so wound up and ready to go, that the green left turn arrow is enough to draw them offsides. All they see is green, thier not paying attention to what its telling them. Always wait three seconds before acting.
(2) This is one that's especially personal to me. I see this all the time on Minot Ave. Tractor trailers arn't able to stop on a dime. Even though they should always approach a green light,assuming its going to turn red. People who ride with me in my car can't figure out why I slow down at green lights, it really drives them nuts. Twenty plus years of doing something is hard to change. First of all assume that approaching truck will not be able to stop in time. NEVER pull out in frount of a moving truck just because you have the right of way. Also there is going to be two to three sragalers. Those are cars or trucks who can not see even the overhead lights because thier too close. So now you have a truck or two and a couple of cars going through a red light, totally oblivious.
The moral to this story is stay aware of whats going on infrount of you as well as behind you at all times. Also never mess with trucks, give them all the room they want. I'm not saying that as a retired trucker, I'm saying two thousand pounds isn't going to hold up to well against forty tons moving at any speed.
Just a few thoughts...
I remember years ago I was the yard man for Country Kitchen ( I drove that funny looking truck that moved trailers around). There used to be one of those green storage mailboxes the post office uses right on the corner of Park and Birch. on the first of the month you would think it was a ticket window at a sold out concert. Then about a block up the street was a mail man scared to death.
AH, Thoae were the good old days
As I've mentioned a couple of times in these forums. I at the tender age of eighteen drove a wrecker for the local police in my town. I learned very well the art of pushing just the right buttons to keep us on an even keel.
I would get calls at one in the morning telling me there's a car sticking out the side of the church and we can't get at the occupants. You would think I had the upper hand, as They needed my special talents to accomplish thier objective.
Wrong, If I wasn't there ten minites ago there was a cruiser at my house. You see back then we didn't have the jaws of life, we had wreckers. I was part wrecker opperator, part emt, and part coroner. I was still in highschool.
I learned over time to gain the upper hand. You had to show them who was boss. Our downtown beat cop, took my car from behind the shop I was working at, because I left the keys in it. (they were having a big anti-car theft program at the time). He left it behind a local resterant frequented by the cops. It took me three hours to find it.
About three weeks later, I along with two friends pulled into a little variety store, right next to a cruiser that was left running just to grab a quick pack of smokes. To make a long story short I stole the cruiser. I drove it comletly through downtown ,and left it right in the same spot they left my car. With that little stunt I gained the respect of most of the cops I worked with. There was however one cop who is probably still pissed at me to this day.
Life went on and I still got those three am calls for a roll over or whatever. There were many days you would see a wrecker with a wrecked vehicle attached parked in the student parking lot. I did however keep the keys with me.
I don't look at this from a political point of view, I am not a democrat , republican or independant. I'm like an outsider looking in the window.
What I would expect to see, would be a governor working together with everyone to solve a problem that will eventually affect everyone. Someone willing to bend one way or the other. He was elected to serve the people.
What I see is a fool, his mouth is ten steps ahead of his brain. He's a thug wanna be. I've worked and lived all over the country, and I have never seen a governor use so many threats to get his way. He makes threats he knows are illegle. He is so afraid of the next round of elections for a reason. He's going to be the last one standing, and its his fault.
I am so glad my daughter had the brains to move out of state. At least she has health insurance.
Again I'm looking at this with absolutly no polotical concideration. What I see is the schoolyard bully trying to get as many lackys on his side as possible. Unfortunatly thats how the rest of the country sees the state. Kind of makes you proud, doesn't it?
Hey legislators, listen up. There are real issues that need to be taken care of, that affect HUMANS. Is it any wonder noone has any confidence in government?
These out of state executives must think we're pretty stupid, or thier incredibly stupid themselves.
What are they going to do when all this training is done, fire the experienced help?
They should be hireing teachers. Someone who would work in a modified classroom, and teach what needs to be taught. The Career centers do it all the time. When I went to work for a high tech company in Portland, even though I had two degrees in the field I still had to go through two weeks in the classroom.
Thier not looking for teachers, thier looking for permanent help.
Anyone in the Oxford area, unless you know your way around a blackjack table can look forward to low paying jobs in the concession stands or janitorial work. Don,t fall for thier lies.
First of all its knob a tube (kt) wiring. second of all probably eighty percent of three story structurs have this " LEGAL " type of wireing on at least the middle floor of the building.
You can replace the top floor wireing through the attic access. The first floor from the basement. The second floor usually doesn't have easy access to the wiring, and usually would require demolition to some degree to replace the wiring, thats why its been grandfathered.
If the first and third floor need rewiring, it can be done with minamal disruption to the tennants. Sounds to me someone has a vendeta. Electritions and contractors, before you start screaming about how wrong I am, save your time. Like I've mentioned before , I don't give a damm
I'm just sick of constantly hearing about who is and isn't in favoor of gay marrige. I don't care. If two guys or two women want to get married, I say go for it. I can say that because no way in this lifetime will it ever affect me.
I'm single by choise, isn't that just as much an insult to the sanctity of marrage. Most of the people I know including my own two brothers have gotten married had a couple of kids bought expensive homes, then peoceded to get divorced. Then because they didn't learn thier lesson the first time, they got married again. This is what the powers that be are fighting for. Is this the sanctity of marrage? I say if men and women can constantly screw it up, give the gays a chance maybe someone will learn something from them.
Like I said, I'm single. I will always be single. If gays get married, great they cant be worse at it than anyone else. Just stop trying to tell me who is trying the hardest to prevent something that will never have any affect on my life. I know alot of people are going to tell me how wrong I am. Save your time, like most everything else, I don't give a damm.
That had a very pleasant Sunday morning feel to it, didn't it.
Ther's one thing I don't understand, among many things I don't understand (hey at least I'm honest)
The record keeping has been done the same way for lets say a decade. Noone ten years ago new that certain information would need to be presented to someone for whatever. Unfourtunatly there are laws in place protecting certain privacy. In order to make everyone happy. Names and other personal information, which was recorded with everything else, needs to be manualy removed or blacked out. Thats hundreds of thousands of files. Thats going to take a very long time and they can't be rushed.
What I'm thinking is that all that money should be going into a recording file system that separates this information now. Then when this information is needed its readily available.
Those ten years of records will take along time and money, we don't have, to complete. Let at least create a system that won't repeat this in the future.
If the powers that be are so hell bent on fireing a few people. Just fire them its unfair I know, but we can't afford this waste of money and time.
Sure I could go out and climb up on a soap box and spout whatever it is that I spout (I would need someone to lift me up onto that box) This just makes it easier. I enjoy reading all the back and fourth that goes on hear. I don't see where knowing who is saying what really matters. The funny thing is , that alot of people on this forum and thousands more in the Lewiston Auburn area already know me, and have known me for years and don't even know it. Fourtunatly for everyone I'm terrible with names. I may recognize your face, but names forget it.
The bottom line is , its not who's saying something, its what your saying.
Back in 2004 I bought a new car. I had just sold my old car with 300,000 plus miles on it ,not so much as a scratch.
I had to go to Augusta to get a duplicate title for my daughters car. I stopped at the Mcdonalds on Lisbon St. turned left onto lisbon st. then went up the ramp to the turnpike. This is seven days after getting my new car, I rear ended a pickup truck from out of state at the top of that ramp. He stopped at the stop sign then realized he couldn't see what was coming so he pulled up and stopped a second time. I wasn't expecting that. I was told by the responding Lewiston cop that this spot is one of the most accident prone spots in town because of the extremely poor visability. I say re do the entire interchange. and lower the hieght of the cement barriers so you can see over them from a car. Also I won't miss the Chalet that much.
In years past the state of Maine has raised the taxes on tobaco many times, I used to smoke and I felt the pinch. Maine also recieved millions in the tobaco settlment several years back.This may not have been alot or enough, but it was earmarked to assist smoking related problems. That money went everywhere else but. Once these polititions get thier hands on any amount of money, no matter what its for, they start spending. They keep spending until its gone, no smokers got any help, dhhs got no help. money is money. Until we get someone to stop this, quit wasting our time with how much we're helping the people everytime they raise the tobaco tax. Its all a lie.
I guess I picked the right time to retire from trucking. I was only 44, but twenty plus years was enough. Damm there were so many other things going on, all the things you heard about that people were doing to get killed. They didn't even have cell phones in 99. Who knows what they'll have twenty years from now.
I wouldn't know how to text if I was drowning i n quicksand. I sure as hell wouldn't try learning behind the wheel of a car. I hope at least a few people get the message from these presentations. There not going to end it, but hopfully they'll slow it down a bit.
When you go to a hospital ,any hospital, most of the people you see don't work for the hospital. There outside contractors. They come up with thier own bills totally seperate from the hospital. Here's a typacal example. I won't name the hospital but this happened to me.
Last February, I fell in my livingroom. I landid square on my right shoulder. It hurt like hell, being a saturday my pcp was not available to me. I spent alot of time thinking about this as I had no insurance but the pain forced me to go to the emergency department. Now the fun begins. There's noone else in the entire waiting room yet I still had to wait an hour. I saw this doctor who was about fourteen. He took a good look at my shoulder, he never had me try moving it or lift something, nothing there was no contact at all with the doctor, he decided I needed an x-ray. So far I'm into this for two hours before they decide I need an x-ray, which I new before I left the house. The x-ray showed no broken bones, they must not realize tendons muscals etc don't show up on x-rays.
This is where it gets really good. this doctor says I need a sling to imobalize my shoulder. Another bit of totally surprizing information. He disappears for twenty minites and comes back whith a small box with a cloth sling in it. He had no clue how to put it on me and I ended up doing it myself. Then I went home. absolutly nothing accomplished other than to know I have no broken bones, I still can't use my arm.
Fast forward a few weeks. The bills start coming in. Thank God I'm already on high blood preasure medication. the doctor 593.00, the x-ray 275.00, plus 47.00 for someone to read the x-ray before they give it to the doctor to read.
The sling they gave me at the hospital didn't work right. I couldn't get it to sit right or something. so I just tossed it and went to CVS and bought another sling. It cost 6.79, then I got the bill, from a seperate company somewhere in mass. for the hospital sling 107.00.
1022.00 just to tell me there really isn't anything wrong with my shoulder. I called the company that supplied the sling and offered 10.00 for the sling or nothing at all. they threatened to sue, but a letter from my lawyer seemed to change thier mind. I have no idea what he wrote, but most of the time I don't want to know.
This is just my story of one simple case. Imagine how many other times this happens daily. Do I think health care costs are to high. No I think there a crime, the whole thing is a scam. Just my thoughts
I'll bet thier going to put it back in the same spot.
Thats been a pet peeve of mine for thiry years of trucking. They always put telephone poles as close to the street as possibl. at corners. Then they scratch thier head when it gets knocked over. the same goes for fire hydrants, mail boxes and all sorts of other things.
Sometimes you can't help going up on a curb, usually only by a couple of feet. Alot of roads arn't built for 53ft trailers. Check out those dumb traffic circles they put in on Turner st in Auburn. You might as well drive strait across those, forty feet of your trailer is going to be on the island anyway.
I'm ranting now, just move the hydrant back three feet. You'll avoid alot of headaches.
I guess now you can see what happens to a teenager who gets behind the wheel and does stupid things, but somehow survives to adulthood. Some people never learn.
The reason the players get rediculasly high pay is because they bring in people who will pay several hundred dollars per ticket.
You ask how anyone can afford to attend a game at those prices. Thats the relative part.
You live in Maine as do I. we're used to the prices we pay and the saleries we make around here. The fact is thats a local problem. I'll give you an example. I've been living in Maine for thirty years now, for the past twentynine years my relatives have asked , when are you going to move back to Mass. I tell them never. If I got the same apartment in Mass that I have here in Auburn , it would cost me at least six times what I'm paying now. Its not because I have some sort of mantion of an apartment. Its just thats what thier used to be paying down there. So they go to ball games, we sit here and wonder where the next oil payment is coming from. Thats life.
If you have a wireless internet connection to your computer, use a cell phone use cordless phones in your house a remote conrol for your tv, even a remote car starter. You are using more RF's than a smart meter would ever produse.
I wonder how many rf's are generated everyday by two way radios. There are already so many rf's out there, it boggles the mind not fry the brain.
Its almost sad. We have alot of problems in this state. These problems have been around since I moved to Maine thirty years ago. Education is one of the largest problems we face. With out it or enough of it will be disasterous.Maine already has a huge dropout rate. That mentality goes back to the days when kids dropped out of school and went to work in the mills. Good pay, several generations of relatives already working there was an automatic job.
Well the mills are gone, and like it or not so are the jobs. Higher more workforce orientated education is needed.
So when I hear our illustrious govoner declare that he will close the schools to pay for his pipe dreams, it makes me sick. I guess it reflects his educational mentality.
First they want to take away health insurance from those who can't afford to pay for it. Now thier going to force thousands of people who are paying for insurance to give it up. Why?
Because they dare to live in rural and northern areas. These are people who need the insurance the most, and can least afford to pay for it. Many of these people will stop seeing thier doctors and put off medical treatment until things get unbearable then hopefully they can get to a hospital. Unfortunatly for some it will be to late. I'm sorry, but killing the most at risk people in the state is something that gets my blood boiling, it should get everyones boiling.
I have to stop now before I get in trouble. Whoever the rocket scientist is that thought up this program needs to get out of politics.
About two years ago I was in a local conveniance store during a snowstom to get three cans of cat food. Just as I got to the checkout counter the electricity died. I told this very nice girl of maybe sixteen or so, no problem I have the exact change for my purchase. She then informed me that it would be impossible to do that. Why I asked. She responded that she had no idea of what the total would be. Without the cash register, all life on earth comes to a stand still.
I then did something that truly amazed her, and possibly showed her that older people are good for something afterall. Using a pencil and piece of paper, I added up the three items ,then showed her how to multiply the sales tax into the mix and there it was "my total" without the use of all that machinery.
She was totally impressed, and I was a little depressed. Don't get me wrong I'm all for new technoligy,it makes life so much easier,but math has to be taught without the help of calculators and cash registers. Sooner or later the lights are going to go out again.
I havn't heard anyone talking about all the other mill buildings very closely entwined with #5. I haven't been inside them in quite a few years, but they weren't much to look at then. those are all brick structures, and atleast one has been heavily damaged by fire. The area they cover I believe out does #5.
The only building I've seen demolished down town was near the old Hill mill. It was taken apart one brick at a time, I remember sitting there watching those kids palitize all those bricks for reuse. At least there is a market for those older bricks. Just wondering
The first time I wanted to quit smoking in 2000, I was told my insurance company at the time would not cover any smoking cesasion supplies. This was a major company. My company changed companies the following year. Again to a large national company. You want to quit smoking your on your own. They had no problem paying the ambulance cost and the five days I spent in the hospital with pnumonia. I eventually quit on my own with help from Maines quit smoking hotline. kind of makes you wonder what thier mindset was.
When I was eighteen that was the drinking age, it only made it easier for younger kids to get booze. when they changed it to twentyone it made no real differance. I don't know what the answere is, or if there is one.
I mentioned earlier this week that when I was in highschool I drove a tow truck for the local police in another state.
We would save up the most mangled cars we could find. Several other towns also worked with us.
Come prom and graduation time we would deliver these cars to local highschools. I even delivered the one in frount of my own school a 1967 chevy impala that wrapped around a tree, there was even part of the tree still in it.
We had the lectures in the auditorium, We had the wreck out frount, but it didn't help much.
I'm sure maybe one or two kids got the point, but your always going to have that attitude of invinsability, it wouldn't happen to me. I've had to use my tow truck to pull whats left of those invinsable human beings out of thier cars (back then there was no jaws of life). It aint pretty
Teens lack the ability to fore thought. That has been scientifically proven.
We've been trying things for forty years that I know of to scare teens to stop this behavior.
When I was in highschool I drove a towtruck for the local police down south of here. Every year around prom time and graduation we would tow seriosly damaged cars and just leave them on the frount lawns of highschools. I know what the message was,but you have to remember teens are invincible.
Back then we didn't have the jaws of life. So when someone needed to be extricated from a mangled car we got the call with our tow trucks. Prom nights were particually busy, and alot of them were kids I new from school.
We had the demonstrations and the shock of the mangled car out frount, but I really don't think many if any will get the message. I'm talking thirty eight years ago, how many proms have been destroyed in all those years. Its not from lack of trying to end the carnage.
When I was 42 or 43 I got sick. I was working for a very good company. I tried for six months to work but was sent home time and again by my supervisors, I can't blame them.
I was lucky I had full health insurance, so being a noncatagorial didn't mean anything to me. If I was I would have been screwed. If I had no insurance one of two things would have happened. I would have died, or I would have accumulated more medical bills than I could have ever paid back. You see, in the beginning you have to see many doctors each of them require a slew if tests. I'm not talking about that guy who has a back ache that won;t go away. If they do have the ache, a cause can usually be found, or pain relief can be accomplished.
I had an unknown disease at least at that time but it took me five years of surgery and numerous specialists to finally diagnose my condition. Its degenerative incurable and there is no treatment for it.
I know I'm babbaling on here but remember one thing, I was only 42. If I had no insurance I would be in a nursing home now, only because my enormouse debt that I owe the medical industry. Nursing homes don't give thier servises away. Just think of how many people the state would be covering without some sort of help. I've paid taxes all my life I don't mind it going to help people.
I'm living comfortly now, I'll never be able to work again. I get Social securaty disability, I pay my own medical insurance and presciptions, as well as all my bills.
I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm not a drain on the state, I very easily could have been. Health insurance made the differance.
Whenever something like this happens, emotions run wild,as they should. Everyone has to wiegh in on what should be done. Those responsible are tormented and told how many years they deserve in prison. Everyone calls for laws to be enacted to prevent this, we now know that has no effect, as texting became illeagle a few weeks ago. And everyone heard about it nomatter where you were.
In three weeks very few people will even remember this incident. Thats the real problem. We need to keep the memory alive to educate the younger kids coming along. Two young people died the other night, lets not let thier deaths go in vain. I'll admitt it won't work on alot of kids but if just one life can be saved its all worth it.
I don't think the driver should go to jail. Thats not going to accomplish anything. She should go from one school to the next all over the state and lecture other kids. also use blown up photos of the actual accident itself. The torment of having to relive this tragidy will punish more than any jail can . the most important thing is keeping the memory alive. And if just one kid, in some small school, in some small town, thinks before getting behind that wheel after drinking,than potentially numerouse lives have been saved. doesn't that make more sense than a jail cell. I know everyones emotions are high right now, but lets not waste an opertunity to have something good come out of this for those two kids, otherwise its just another accident.
Back in the eighties and early ninties,I used to pull alot of loads out of that building.
Alot of times if I arrived at like one or two in the morning. I had to go searching for a fork lift driver to load my truck. It was a scary place at night, especially the upper floors. I don't know if there still there but the forklifts had to drive on steel plating,used to reenforce the floors. I was afraid to step off that plating. If the forktruck was on the floor above you, you could follow its movements from the floor creeking.
Unfourtunatly I don't think the old place has the access it used to have. I really can't see any real use for it now. Accept maybe a Haunted House on steroids at halloween time. I think the land can be better used for new project designed for the land around it now, it has changed alot.
First of all let me make perfectly clear, I feel that food stamp fraud is akin to stealing from all of us one way or another. I personally reported a "family", who were combining thier numerouse food stamps together. I reported this in person ,on Main St. They were bying more beer and cigaretts than I coul afford and I was working.Nothing was ever done about it and most of them are dead now. That was thirty years ago so you must know this is nothing new. I detest any kind of stealing, especially from folks who really need the help.
Thats not why I'm writing today. I just found out in my e-mail that I'm an independant. I caught hell for it to. I want to set the record strait once and for all. I am not an independant, I'm not a democrat, and I'm not a republican. I hate them all, I'm an equal opertunity don't give a shit. So please don't unfairly affiliate me with any group. Thank you. I can't wait to see the crap I catch for this one.
I sit here and read the petty bickering that goes on.
My republicans have outdone your democrats. Yah but my democrats have all the answeres. My republicans will put a man on the moon during this session.
I have to sit here and laugh. If all you idiots, and you know who you are, would put half that energy toward solving the real problems through constructive conversation, who knows maybe the people in Augusta will notice and catch on. Bickering like five year olds won't ever accomplish anything, unless of course your running for office.
I'll probably get slammed for this comment but I don't really give a rats ass. Think about it.
As a retired truck driver I've hauled alot of loads in and out of no.5 and alot of other of the mill system which through the 90's was mostly warehousing.
You havn't had fun until you've wandered the top floor of no.5 at two o-clock in the morning, talk about spooky.
Lets face it I hate the guy.I'm not democrat or republican. He's nothing but a wanabe. He wants to rub elbows with the big boys, that would explaine his removal of the mural in the department of labor. He needs to go back to his flee market on steroids where he can't hurt anyone. Other wise the only thing this idiot is going to do is turn this state into the biggest laughing stock in the nation.
You can not ignore the dhhs problems. they have been going on for alot longer than Baldacci. I was dealing with them thirty years ago and nothing has changed since then.
Lepage may have all the answeres in his head but he has no way of effectivly activateing those answeres. If he were to back up, sit down and work with people who know what thier doing I feel that misstakes can be rectifide fat can be cut and waste in the system can be identified. I'm sure the waste alone would balance the budget. Threatening people with thier medical needs is the most cruel thing he or anyone could do. When your sick, the last thing you need is the extra stress of medical coverage being withheld. You can say ya thats easy for you to say, well guess what it is easy for me to say. I'm totally disabled and lost my medical coverage last Jan. 1st. I'v been there.
This is aimed at Democrats and republicans, I agree with Claire.
If any one of us performed our jobs the way these idiots do, they would be canned. End of problem, get someone else who can do the job. Thats thier problem,they can not perform thier job. 100 days thats all they have to work. Can't get the job done.
I say no pay, as would happen to anyone else, no health insurance. Fire the whole mess of them. Anyone could do a better job than they are.
I realize they have crafted laws protecting them and thier jobs and pay. But its time to ignore these so called laws and get rid of them, I'm sick of reading about them.
PUT HIM IN JAIL, a whole lot of people would be alive one year from now If he's not allowed to continue this idiotic plan of his.
How did he ever get elected, He needs to be recalled.
Hey douglas. I don't usually wish ill will on anyone. When anyone makes a statement like yours, you insult me and thousands of other people who find themselves at a disadvantage at no fault of thier own.
Go to work, you will be laid off , its only a matter of time. I can't wait.
As a former truck driver, All I can say is that is one of the most dangerous intersections in this area.
When your driving a tractor trailer ,by the time you get to lake shore drive, your going about 50 mph.Thats over two thirds of a football field per second. If your fully loaded and you suddenly see a stopped vehicle in frount of you you have to do three things all at once . Look for traffic to your right, slow down and gently move to the other lane, if you jerk it your going into a house.Personally I would always stay in the right lane, unfourtunatly four wheels or eighteen wheels someone is always in a hurry.
I think there should be a turning lane there as well as blinking yellow light.After thirty years of driving past that spot I've seen alot of close calls,usually because I was in the right lane and being passed. Theres a lesson in there
Wallstreet was bailed out by the taxpayers. Now thier hemeraging money in part from all the other companies that the taxpayers bailed out.
These millionares are now refusing to pay thier income taxes due to a policy enacted by an idiot from texass.As a result of that ,we the middle and lower class are suffering. Most if not all polititions are out of touch with the average person. They have one job and one job only. That is to be reelected, at any cost.
I'm not sure but I think that is what all this occupy this and that is all about. thier doing a terrible job at getting thier point across. They need to organize, and redefine thier reasons for this protest. Instead thier starting to resemble a nation wide "WOODSTOCK".
Olympia Snowe isn't going to make that much of a difference.
The biggest problem with truck accidents, is the total ignorance of the general motoring public. and the public in general.
There are reasons a loaded chip truck would exceed the speed limit, personally 11 miles over is nothing. As far as the driver losing control, that issue was decided by the MDOT cmmertial truck investigation.
Some time, try driving a loaded truck,(80,000) pound from rt 95 and rt.201 in Winslow to the Canadian border ,driving only the speed limit. It would take you a week. Not to mention the 15 miles of cars stuck behind you. All I'm saying is that there is reason for thier actions you just can't understand unless you've done it.
I to am an Auburn resident. I also had a doctors appointment in Turner at nine o-clock.I seem to remember reading a story outlining how the plowing would be done this year.
Main roads based on traffic use would be done first. then secondary roads like park ave or hotel road.Finally when the rush was over all the back roads would be done.
Personally at 7:45 am on that morning I was on outer Center st. and it was almost impasible.
You have to remember,there are two departments plowing the roads in town. Niether one has much money to work with. You have the state plowing state roads and the city doing thier roads.
Just thank God you don't live in Turner.
I could be wrong about that story,but I swear I read it.
When I suddenly found myself with no health insurance,being totally disabled with a ton of medical issues. After I got done throwing things all over the house (didn't see my cats for a week). I went to work.
You don't need DHHS or Mainecare. If you know where to look,help is out there.
I once had a college professor tell me, its not that you know the answere, I'ts your ability to find those answeres.
Most hospitals offer some sort of help,and I don't mean er's, there really very good about it. also call around to pharmasutical companies as alot of them offer help and in some cases free medications. Its not a cureall but it some of the help thats out there. The more you look the more you'll find
Mark, just a short note. I am totally disabled,with an incurable medical problem.
On Jan 1st 2011 I lost all my health insurance without warning.I had to pay my own medical bills as well as prescriptions for almost a full year until I finally got new insurance. I know what its like, I've been there
Once again our illustrious govenor has jumped into the swimming pool, but forgot to fill it.
I've seen the problems with "Mainecare" coming full speed from day one. It was not well thought out back then, and everyone is paying for it now.
I feel that what needs to be done is a surgical disection of the whole program. I agree with the higher copays and generic drugs only, If a person is paying copays and can't afford the whole amount at once, he's more likly to set up a payment plan with the medical facility. An emergency room visit won't result in anything.
I can almost guarentee there are many thousands of dollars that can be saved in administative costs. A responsible review of medical spending would also result in millions of dollars of savings. Unfoutunatly it will take time, time the govenor doesn't seem to have.
When the first person dies because they lost thier health insurance. We'll all have to ask ourselves, was it worth it. I think you know what the answere to that question is.
old trucker
PEOPLE, i CAN NOT EMPHISIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING YOUR PETS CLOSE TO HOME. THEY WON'T HATE YOU. They may thank you in the long run.
I have four cats, they all get along, and they all live indoors. I've seen to many pets that don't survive outdoors. I buried one this morning, a nine month old calico kitten. nuff said.
old trucker
I don't give a rats ass about gay marrage I don;t ev en believe in strait marrige
But thats not why I'm here. I'm here to help pets, DONT LET THEM RUN LOOSE. Its not fair to them.
This morning I had to dispose of a beutaful calico kitten. She died right in frount of my kitchen window. She was a ferrol, but she would approach you. I can't descibe the pain I felt, but even though she was ferral. I'm going to love her, she deservs that.
Now try telling me that truckers have no feelings. nuff said
old trucker
People take care of your pets. DO NOT LET THEM RUN LOOSE, I'm upset.
At six o clock this morning, outside my kitchen window was a beautafull callico kitten, dead...
This morning I had to dispose of a very cute calico kitten. I can't begin to describe how painfull that was for me. people pay more attention to your pets. Remember they need you as much, as much as you need them. I just wish there was someone for the little cat I found this morning. If it makes any difference, I will love this kitten even though she's gone. she deserves as much. nuff said
old trucker
I'm going to as many stories as I can. I need to relay one message. DONT LET YOUR PETS RUN LOOSE.
At six o=clock this morning I found an eight month old kitten/ dead. She was a ferrel but she would aproach you.
People take care of your pets, protect your pets and get them fixed.
This morning I had to dispose of a beataful calico kitten. Maybe if someone had taken care of her she would be asleep on a couch right now, not in a trash bag. nuff said
old trucker
I'm hijacking a site to get my point accross. People who let thier pets roam free. Don't do it... Cats can adapt very easily to being indoors. Dogs must be kept indoors or on a leash. I hate the results of letting pets run free.
At six o-clock this morning I was getting ready for breakfast. One of my cats was looking down in a way I've never seen her act before. I followed her gaze. There was a very dead eight month old kitten. I have seen her running around in the last few months, she was ferrel. she came from Petingil park. There are quite a few ferrel cats down there, they come up here because my neighbors have no cocept of trash control. They are as much to blame as whoever allowed this kitten to be born.
At six o-clock this morning, I had to dispose of a beautiful young cat. It hurt me like nothing I can describe.
If noone ever reads this blog I wouldn't be surprised, but if anyone does, please remember. Your pets depend on you, you need to not only take care of them, but protect them. Noone was there for this poor kitten this morning, maybe if there was she would be lying on a couch right now, not a trash bag.
old trucker
Why should this matter to anyone. I don't believe in conventional marrage. Noone is accusing me of imorality
I have two brothers, they both did the so called right thing. Graduated college, got married, bought extremely expencive homes. I didn't.
Now I have two divorced brothers. Is any type of marrage fool proof, I don't think so give everyone a chance. If something works its worth it. I was married to a Peterbuilt for many years. unfortunatlly My fuel pump and oil pump went on the same day. After thirty years I decided on divorce.
I'm not saying this to be funny. I'm saying this because I feel everyone has a right to be happy. I'm not saying I agree or disagree with this, but I think its something everyone needs to analize.
I say nuke affganastan, Iran, and Pakistan. They have already shown that the civilians are to ignoremt to realize what is being done to them. That ignorence is killing US solderes. Ignorence is no excuse for innocence. The only way to remove the problem is to remove the problem. That means getting rid of alquida stong holds. those are mixed with normal citizens. Kill everyone.
Old trucker
Nothing is ever going to stop spending in Augusta. Once polititions have thier hands on your money, there going to spend it. It will be to thier advantage not ours. They feel entitled to your hard earned money.
See how many of them have to live in trailers, Then figure out how they can afford 200.00 dollar suits. I worked hard for thirty-five years, I can't afford those suits.
Recent Comments
They are dangerous but....
I can not tell a lie. Although fireworks are dangerous, they can also be an endless form of entertainment. Something I take advantage of whenever I can. Summer to me is a lawn chair, an ice cold beer, and some idiot trying to light the wrong end of a /"Roman Candle". I'll tell you, you can't get that in any theater. I realize fireworks are banned in L/A, but as long as they still sell booze, fireworks will never go away. I never get enough of people who couldn't find the ground if they fell over, but they can find that little fuse at the end of a firecracker. Welcome to Summer in L/A....
LePage isn't the problem...
The government in Maine, and many other states, seem to think any money that comes into the state, is fair game. They seem to think its free money, and we can spend it any way we please.
I remember when this lawsuit was decided. I remember thinking how are they going to make this money available to present and former smokers. A lot of people were sure it would never get to where it belonged, and they were right.Almost every state that received money from the lawsuit, misused the funds to a certain degree. I was a smoker and was curious how it could help me. I was able to get nicotine patches, but I don't remember any help being offered when I was hospitalized with smoking related illness.
Politicians don't care what the money was earmarked for, only that they get their fair share. The health of the people doesn't even register with LePage. Anyone who would take away prescription coverage for seniors, would take candy from a child. I gave up on the whole mess years ago. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I'm not alone.
I wish they did this earlier....
As a former truck driver, I can tell you how scarey that bridge is. In twenty years or so, I've only met another truck on that bridge once. We both slowed down pretty quick, I thought sure I would lose my mirror. Even cars made that bridge seem very narrow. This isn't the only, or narrowest bridge in the state, which needs replacing, I guess we'll take it one bridge at a time.
I wasn't going to reply but...
Mr Moulton, I was able to retire from one industry at forty four years of age, with plenty of savings and stock options. I then went back to school and earned my second college degree. I went back to work and made a very good income right here in Auburn. Its been six years since I became disabled, and I'm still quite comfortable.
I never said I couldn't find work, I'm just very picky about having an income.
Carefull Mr.Dosh
Sounds like Mr. Moulton is getting a little frazelled....
I'll tell you who I am...
I am a resident with as much right to my opinion as anyone else. If you don't agree with it to bad. Just don't tell me I'm not entitled to it.
I see your point, but...
I understand the fact that these plans will create jobs. Jobs however aren't worth anything if you can't earn a living without working three jobs. I've done it, it sucks. That's what has to change, the assumption that a job, where ever its at, is something you can live on. I knew several union hotel workers from New York city who were not making a livable wage. My own daughter works in the restaurant industry, she now lives in N Carolina, it doesn't pay any better but it costs less to live there.
Every time I've attempted to work in this state, I've been offered eight or nine dollars per hour. Hell, that's what I made back in the seventies. If a person is going to be able to live on his or her own, they need to make a livable income. Employers know that they will get people to accept these jobs eventually, but they end up with what they pay for. Your not going to find livable wages and benefits, at a fast food restaurant or a hotel.
The only way anything is going to change the economic disaster in this state and anywhere for that matter, is first get educated. It doesn't need to be a degree, even a good trade school will help. You then need the infrastructure to attract industry to the area. The days of coming in off the street, looking to get a job are over. Unless you have something to offer an employer. Your going to end up in the same rut as alot of people.
Tune in next week when I describe what happens when your working for eight dollars an hour, with no benefits, and then have a major medical problem. It ain't pretty.
How much noise can a windmill make?
All I've heard in the past year or so is the complaints of too much noise from windmill's. I'm sorry, but you haven't lived with noise, unless you grew up in a house with a six lane highway in your back yard.
I'm not sure exactly when the "Southeast Expressway" was opened in Massachusetts, But it was just about the time I was born. I grew up with a highway three hundred feet from my house. It was so loud that no one noticed. People would come over, and the first words out of their mouth were, how can you live with this noise? I never really noticed it because I pretty much grew up with it. The only time I noticed was when the steady smooth sounds of traffic was interrupted with the screeching skids and metal crunching. There's nothing quite like it at two in the morning. So you'll have to excuse me, I doubt a windmill could compare to that. And by the way, everyone fought like hell to keep that project from happening too.
Does the city need another hotel?
Unless the other new hotels are regularly turning away guests due to its capacity's. I don't think we need more hotels,and restaurants. Something in town to provide livable wages would be a better rout to take.
Society feeds the need...
I'm going to make a very unpopular statement, much the same as many years ago people swore they would never be caught dead ever using a "personal computer". I am not on Facebook.
At least I don't think I am. I was, but after about two weeks I began the backbreaking task of cancelling my Facebook account. To me it's nothing but a bragg-athon, I refuse to believe that all those people I grew up with ever became that successful.I couldn't believe it, profile after profile, of people who"made it". According to what I've read, every single person I ever knew, has gone on to become a corporate CEO, and that was just the beginning.
What really gets me is that where ever you look, what ever you do on line, some company or person is inviting me to see them on Facebook. I'm sick of seeing anything on Facebook. Unless someone comes up with an honesty app, its just a waste of my time. Not that I have anything else to do, I mean this CEO stuff takes up enough of my time. I have to go now, its been awhile since I've checked my Swiss Bank accounts. I wonder if I can do that on Facebook.
Sounds familiar to me....
About seven years ago. I was invited to apply for a position at a large company in Portland. They Kept bragging about the fact that they have never laid anyone off. About every six weeks there would be a so called meeting / Power point presentation. They would emphasize the strength of the company and what a great job we were all doing.
I guess some people actually believe these ridiculous attempts to boost moral or what ever their trying to boost. This B.S. went on for a year, until one particular night. We had a pre-shift staff meeting as they were called. All the upper management stood up there and pretty much put us to sleep with all their claims at how good of a job we"re doing. Well after an hour and a half of that, I finally went to work. one hour later I was laid off. There were about ten of us, just the first of about a thousand company wide. The only regret I have with this company is making me sit through an hour and a half of telling me how strong the company was. I would have rather have just gone home when I first got there. So there you have it. Don't ever believe what the boss tells you. Its been proven to me, they will lie through their teeth.
Its a speed bump
Its a speed bump put in place for a reason. That reason was to maintain slow traffic in a posted school zone. Outside a school zone, speed bumps belong in parking lots only. Speed bumps on a public way create dangerous situations to unsuspecting drivers. Even at the posted speed limit, that bump will startle most anyone not familiar with it. That means an accident waiting to happen. Its simple, no school zone, no speed bump. If you let the neighbors decide they'll be speed bumps in every neighborhood in town. Think about it the next time you need an alignment job done on your car.
Supporters would have been there to!!
But they had to be at work. What a joke. These people throw that word around like it really means what it used to. WORK, that used to mean earning a living and supporting a family. You can do that in other states but not in Maine.
There are so many people working two or three jobs, and still can just barely pay the rent.
People aren't making any money because Maine employers know they don't have to offer a livable wage. I've lived in this state for thirty years, I've only worked in this state for about six years. during that time I have lost a house. been evicted from apartments, and had just about every utility shut off at one time or another. Fortunately I had the ability to work out of state, and still live in the state. Those are what I called my recovery jobs. I had to get two more college degrees to finally earn close to a livable wage in this state.
Until the pay scale meets the needs of the people. Its going to be business as usual. People going to "work" but not earning anything. For that reason alone, the state will remain broke.
There's that phrase again
"Along party lines", I no longer have to complain about the republicans. They themselves have shown what they are. I'm just curious how many elderly folks are going to die because the republicans are so out of touch with reality, they actually think killing people is worth saving a few bucks. People will die. Between LePage and his republican cronies, people will die because republicans don't have the ability to think for themselves, their just robots, programed by LePage. That in itself is scary.
Not everyone gets the point
Years ago I decided I needed to quit smoking. Actually my doctor decided for me. I went to my health insurance for help. No way, they refused to pay for smoking secession products. That was the end of that plan. (I don't think I was ready to quit anyway).
The point is if I had really been ready to quit. You would think of all things , they would want to Pay probably a couple of hundred dollars to help me quit.
Instead, six months later they were glad to pay for five days in the hospital and an ambulance ride. I had pneumonia, I probably wouldn't have gotten it if I had quit smoking. It just makes you wonder how they come to these policies.
I have since quit on my own, five years ago. No more ambulance rides.
LePage doesn't get it
Paul LePage just doesn't get it. He kind of reminds me of that guy everyone knows. He has one small clump of hair left, so he keeps combing it every which way to make it appear he has more. That's exactly whats happening with what little money we have left. He;s trying to, as he calls it, cut funding to balance the budget. That's B.S.Taking money from one department and putting it in another isn't cutting or saving anything. it's just moving it. At the end of the day there will still be the same amount of money.
Granted the previous administration and probably many before it, screwed up. They did what they thought was right. Problem is, LePage thinks that doing the opposite is the answer. He thinks he's cleaning house, when actually he's just moving around the furniture. What we need is jobs. Not the jobs we're getting from all the building going on in Auburn, How many jobs there pay between fifteen to twenty dollars per hour. That is just about a livable wage. Not to mention the increase in tax revenue. We need new money. Taking money from Peter to pay Paul won't fix the problem. What would work to a certain degree would be to cut taxes across the board for new industry to come to Maine.We don't need any more fast food restaurants, we need good paying industry. He must make the state more friendly to attract industry. Anything less is just putting off the inevitable.
"Ahh Middle management", my favorite topic...
Actually "middle management" is a relatively new description of an old and popular position. I've dealt with them in just about every industry you can think of, all over the country.
Even though I'm retired from that industry now, when I hear those words four names immediately pop into my mind. When I say dealt with them I think I really think I mean fought with them. One fired me five times from the same company. I think the one thing I've noticed is that in almost every case. The middle manager, was not qualified for the job he held. In the trucking industry, if you have someone making major decisions that affect the operation of a forty ton vehicle on public roadways, you want someone who knows what their doing. Although Federal laws have made companies and middle managers(dispatchers) accountable. Now they face huge fines and jail time, for doing what used to be business as usual in the past.
Don't get me wrong. I've known some great dispatchers, people I trusted with my life. I think if you ask anyone in any industry, you'll find fumbling fools in every capacity. They have worked in the trenches, and now they've tasted management. Problem is they'll do anything they have to to stay there, or advance. That's when they become dangerous.
Fortunately I don't have to deal with them ever again. However I strongly sympathize with anyone who does.
The prescription coverage is just the beginning
I'm not concerned about my father, he lives in a state that treats its residents like humans. My concern is for the ones who can't afford to pay a few bucks. They have very few options, yet their being treated like collateral damage. When you have a governor who treats a very poor and needy segment of the community like excess baggage and just throws them out like trash. What really needs to be done come election day is some trash being thrown out of the state house, starting at the top. Don't give me that crap about him doing such a good job for the state. He can't balance the budget the way he's going. He needs jobs that pay livable wages. Anything else is a waste. There's no cash coming in because so many people are unable to find a job, and the ones who have jobs aren't being paid enough to put any money back into the system. How are children supposed to help their aging parents, when they can't even afford the rent. I guess you could call it a vicious circle, no money coming in, no money going out. Hold on its going to get a lot worse until we get someone in office who has a clue. From what I've seen in the coral to choose from, it's going to be a long wait.
I know this doesn't apply here
I realize this doesn't apply here, but .04 percent would get a commercial driver arrested.
Along party lines....
I am getting so sick of hearing that on just about every vote that comes up. These people have to realize we have more than one party, and just because we now have a governor who dictates what he wants the outcome to be on everything, doesn't make it right.
We need to use different ideologies, and insight, right or wrong, to compromise on a final decision. Republicans ,contrary to any republican, don't know whats best for the people of Maine. They just happen, now, to have enough votes to carry any vote that comes up. A governor who likes to try to intimidate people into voting his way.
Now that idiot is going to take prescription drug coverage away from the elderly. I'd be willing to bet that his next fiasco will be taking artificial limbs away from children. He's already shown that he would harm the elderly to save a few bucks, what won't he do?
I have an elderly Father who takes numerous medications. Thank God he doesn't live in Maine. Without them he would be dead within a week. How many people out there are Republicans, with elderly parents, who live with medical problems can honestly say "I feel that saving a few bucks is worth endangering my Mothers life". You have to start using the brains you were born with, and when LePage says he wants a particular outcome on something, Tell him to go to hell. If you act like robots, your not doing anyone any good.
Don't bother trashing me about this post, for two reasons. One: I don't give a damn,Two: Its my opinion and I'm sticking with it.
just a thought
These new smart meters CMP is installing give off periodic mostly short signals. I believe their digital signals. Now if you happen to be near the frequency and are in close proximity with an analog radio, The digital signal could block your signal for a few minutes. It sounds almost like electronic feed back. with whistles and beeps. Once the message is sent it stops. You can't trace it after it stops.
If anyone wants to try it, in the Lewiston Auburn area. They use digital radios for the police in both towns. If you tune in their frequency, using an analog scanner, when someones close enough you get the same kind of feed back.I'm probably wrong, but since I got my new meter my scanner goes nuts twice a day. I've had scanners for a long time.
Nothing new
Its no different than those law suits against cigaret companies for getting lung cancer, or suing McDonalds because the coffee was too hot when you spilled it on yourself. nothing surprises me any more.
contrary to popular belief
Contrary to popular belief, Medicare isn't free. I am permanently disabled and receive Social Security, with that comes Medicare. I used to think Medicare was free. "wrong".
Every month before I ever see anything I pay my medicare health premium, my prescription provider, my supplemental insurance, then I get whats left. I'm actually paying more than I did for my employer provided health insurance when I could work.
Just something to look forward to....
We need protection from
We need protection from a lot of Maine people. Its getting crazy here. I guess that's why my daughter moved to Maui.
Is it any wonder
Is it any wonder that I have nothing but total disgust for all politicians. For all the ones that get caught, there are a dozen more getting away with it.
I give up
I think its wrong , you don't. Time will be the final judge. You go there and find a job which will support a small family.
yes I am a transplant
I came here from New Hampshire,after growing up in Massachusetts. I came hear because I enjoyed the way of life. I have nothing against jobs or development as long as its done with some responsibility. What I see happening in Auburn is totally irresponsible. You wouldn't understand it unless you actually witness the total trashing of cities and towns I see in the name of progress. If you like all the crammed development take it. There is a responsible way to develop a city. Seeing how much junk stores you can fit inside a square mile isn't the way.
I love Natural Gas
At one point I was afraid of it. Carbon monoxide, unexpected explosions ect. However I have learned over the years, it was the equipment in some of the buildings I lived in in Lewiston that I was afraid of. Some of the gas heaters I saw were pretty grungy.
I've had Natural gas now for about thirteen years and wouldn't live anywhere it wasn't available. especially after the "ice storm". It is important to have good, well maintained equipment. No matter what happens I always have heat and hot water, and the cost isn't bad either.
Just what we need
I can't believe it, some one actually thinks what we need near the Auburn Mall is more construction. Brilliant. Give it a few more years and all those transplants from Massachusetts, who miss home can drive to Auburn. They'll no doubt feel right at home. I understand the need for tax revenue, more money in the pockets of George Schott, and more jobs. However is destroying the city of Auburn worth all this. Trust me, go to just about any town or city in Massachusetts, and you will see what I'm talking about. I used to live there(thirty years ago) when it was a pleasant place to live. I went down there a few years ago and it made me sick. Total greed, I don't need to describe it any further just wait a few years and a trip to Auburn will enlighten you.
I hope I'm wrong, but from the looks of things its already to late.
Just a question from an outside observer...
Just what were the Paul supporters trying to accomplish. Other than make Maine another laughing stock nationally. Even I know Ron Paul has a snowballs chance in hell of ever winning.
My observation is this. The Republicans can't even get along amongst themselves, yet we expect them to work with the democrats. Its never going to happen with the people in office now.
I've said it before and I'll say it again
A real pet, be it rescued or just adopted at the shelter, finds you. You have no say in it. My land lord and I were sitting out at the side of our building, watching a group of men attempt to paint a building. They weren't very good, but it was funny. All of a sudden a small, I mean real small kitten just appeared out of nowhere. This kitten fit in the palm of my hand with room to spare. I have no idea where she came from, but I live on a fairly busy street, so it wasn't likely she came from to far away.
She found me. that was six years ago, Now she goes out of her way to team up with my other two cats to irritate the daylights out of me.
Sierra, I hope you two give each other as much enjoyment as my kitten has given me, not to mention my other two, both rescues. Good luck.
There is some what of a solution..
Ever since I was about five years old I've been fascinated with driving. I went through your typical drivers ed class to get my drivers license as soon as I could. That wasn't enough. At eighteen I got my commercial drivers license. At that age I couldn't drive out of state, but I got a good bit of life training in those years.
When I first received my class one. I had an instructor tell me you can legally drive a truck but you won't be a truck driver for at least five years. So I took those four years of instate driving to learn as much as I could.
I ended up driving for twenty two years with out so much as a moving violation or at fault accident. That was no accident.
Kids today need to be taught real life driving situations that need to be properly corrected. Driving shouldn't be an on the job training sort of experience. How many kids are trained what to do when they drift onto the soft shoulder. That and black ice are two of the biggest killers of kids today. When I was in tractor trailer school I was actually told to drive onto the soft shoulder to learn how to safely handle that sometimes overwhelming experience. I also spent many hours on a skid pad to learn all the particulars of skidding with a forty five foot trailer.
I just feel that today's drivers ed doesn't cut it. No more old crash movies. Take them out and drive off the road onto the soft shoulder. If possible get them some ice time. Knowing all this ahead of time might just save more lives than increasing the number of laws.
What a waste
Talk about a total waste of money.....
Linda
Thank you for your post. In response to your particular situation, I feel its two fold. First, like I said in my post, I moved here from out of state. I used to drive a truck here every night and come up on week ends, but that's about it. I was probably twenty four years old or so, I also lived in New Hampshire for awhile. I never experienced what I did in Maine. I never heard of AFDC or any other assistance program. I was either lucky or nieve. It was just something that although it shocked the hell out of me when I saw fathers acting the way they did, I just never experienced it before.
The other half is DHS, (I keep calling it that because that's what it was called back then). What can I say about an organization that turned a situation that could have been taken care of in the time it takes to write a check, into a twenty four year drawn out battle. Thats what I call state government at its best. The problem you describe has been going on for generations. Its passed down . DHS knows this , they just don't have the training and flexibility as an organization to battle it. What they do is grab onto what is easily accessible, like me. then they celebrate like they actually accomplished something. Unfortunately for them in the middle of that celebration they sometimes get kicked in the ass. As far as actually being able to go out and find someone, well that's why so many people get away with not having to pay what they owe. I knew people who didn't or wouldn't pay what they owed, I was as frustrated as you are. The total all consuming anger I feel for DHS, frustrated me even more. It still does to this day. Unless there is a total overhaul of the entire system, the people who work there given the ability to make day to day decisions. And maybe somewhere along the line try to have a little compassion for people who are trying to work with them, nothing is ever going to change.
Might I make a small suggestion.
I won't go into many details because there too painful for me to relive. I just think its important for the state to revamp, if they haven't already, their treatment of what they used to refer to as the delinquent parent.
That one aspect has a huge effect on the eventual relationship between father and child and possibly father and mother.
Twenty seven years ago, I had a daughter. Twenty six years ago I met my daughter for the first time.
I had just moved here from out of state and heard for the first time about something called "AFDC" I didn't know what it was or what I was about to get myself into.
My daughters mother found out about the pregnancy after we had stopped seeing each other. She and I were young, and she did what she had to do to get by. Here's we're my biggest mistake of my life occurred.
I went down to the DHS building in Lewiston, and informed them that I think I owe you some money I had just found out about. I have never in my life seen such an unorganized, untrained bunch of idiots in my life.
They had no idea how to, or should I say, what to do with me. You see people don't usually come to them. The only method of treatment was criminal. I was a criminal who just turned himself in.
After several hours of being transferred from one empty brain to another. I finally learned what I owed. This included my daughters living expenses, as well as the medical bills from when she was born. Now the fun really begins. They send me to Support Enforcement Department. I thought the first group of people were stupid, now I know where they were trained.
Now I don't need to go on all day so I'll get to my point. This all could have been taken care of in a few minutes, It was only, at that point about eight thousand dollars. I kept asking them why I couldn't just pay the bill, set up a child support payment schedule and everyone's happy. That wasn't something that was possible. All I needed to do was write a check and everyone would be happy. They had no idea how to, or what to do with collected money. Now I knew a battle of wits was out of the question, this group was totally unarmed. They totally insulted me in the coming weeks. This started a twenty four year war with DHS. Numerous support officers left their jobs as did numerous DHS case workers over the years.
Long story short, I paid back a total of about twelve thousand dollars. I made it as slow and painful as possible for them to get a penny. All because they weren't trained to treat a parent with a little respect especially when that parent came to them. Its almost like they go out of their way to discourage parents even un married ones, from working together to raise a child. And they still wonder why there are so many single mothers out there.
In my case they lost. I now have a very happy and successful twenty seven year old daughter, with a mother and father who both work for her well being, It wasn't easy. I hope someone in Augusta reads this.
Coollege money
I suspect that the reason a lot of people are not taking advantage of this program. Is due to the fact that when their children reach college age, no one will be able to afford to send their kids to college. Great they may have enough to buy books, but that's like being able to afford the water, but can't quite swing the cost of the swimming pool.
I wonder
Does the restraining order require one of them to become a republican so they can argue as usual, without it becoming a news story but just business as usual.
When will they get it
The climate on earth is always changing. It has since long before humans even existed. In the large scope of things. The nice climate conditions we have experienced, or should I say the earth has experienced for the past ten thousand years was a fluke, it never should of happened. The temperature now has been rising since the mid nineteenth century, Its not like some one has a thermostat to control the weather. Sure carbon and other pollutants have an effect on the UV rays that reach the earth. The climate is going to change, just as it has for millions of years. All the protests in the world can't stop it. Its basically one big coincidence.
Brace yourself, its going to be a bumpy ride.
Hey Claire here's a good one for you.
I went to CMMC, when I fell and injured my shoulder. That was when I had no health insurance about a year ago. They took an x-ray, informed me nothing was broken then put me in one of those cloth slings and sent me on my way.
I paid for the medical and x-ray out of pocket as I expected. Then I got a second bill from a private company that supplies CMMC with medical supplies. They are based in Massachusetts, but have an office in Bangor. They tried charging me 107.00 for a six dollar item. I had already bought a new one at CVS, because the hospital sling was a piece of crap. CVS's cost 6.95. They called me and wrote me when I refused to pay the bill. Finally I told them in Bangor. They could send anyone they want to my house and I'll pay what they deserve. Its been a year or so now and haven't heard from them again.
I would settle for one thing
I would be happy if just two members of the house or two members of the senate could just sit down and agree on something.Anyone with half a brain, house and senate excluded, knows that having everyone purchase their own health insurance, will do one thing. Open the floodgates for insurance fraud, these guys will promise you anything and everything. Its all about commission. I recently shopped around for supplemental health insurance for my Part B medicare coverage. Once I made my choice, The onslaught began. You can't stop it. I even had one guy try to invite himself into my house to sell me life insurance. I told all these guys the same thing.
I'm on a fixed income, I spend over three thousand dollars, per year for all my Medicare, supplemental and prescription coverage. On top of that I already have four life insurance policies. I'm only fifty four, and live alone. That should have been the end of it. Not likely. I dread going to the mailbox every day.
Once they get their talons into you, they won't let go. The last insurance company I complained to apologized. Then informed me that I should see their particular unsolicited offers, start to slow down in ninety days. You can irritate a lot of people in ninety days. Its going to be a feeding frenzy when everyone has to start shopping for insurance from these vultures.
Just my humble opinion....
Think of the fun
Just think of the fun late night comedians Leno, and Lettermen would have with him if only he was a national figure.
This could be a start.
I agree one hundred percent. There is a need for partial prescriptions. I have a permanent degenerative disease. There is no prescribed treatment for it so there is a lot of trial and error. Many times I have had to try certain medications, only to find out that it either didn't work or made me ill. Now I have three weeks worth of the medication left. I feel that better communication between pharmacist and patient is essential. I have learned over the years that you can request a partial filling of a prescription.
Another place to be more aggressive is the emergency room. They love giving out prescriptions especially pain medications. A couple of years ago I had to visit the emergency room for an injury totally unrelated to my medical condition, I slipped on ice. They handled it very well then came time to go home. I actually got into an argument with a nurse practitioner over whether or not I needed oxicontin. Even though I was already on oxicontin, they were hell bent on giving me a months supply to take home with me. These are some of the reasons you end up with a medicine cabinet full of useless medications. Be proactive in your health care, medications are part of that.
Of all the words to misspell
Inelegance should be intelligence.
Personal responsibility
Personal responsibility, now there's a real possible solution to this whole mess. Problem is it will never work. there are far to many people out there that lack "personal responsibility". Now you may think that these people will fall into the category called addicts. Its not difficult to spot these people, and yes some of these people will become addicts. Now here's a little bit of information that's going to blow the lid off all these so called experts opinions.
Not all addicts lack "personal responsibility". I am probably the most responsible person in the world when it comes to taking my medications, and I take a bunch of them. I work very closely with my doctors and pharmacist. I thoroughly research every medication I take or have taken over the years. I am very careful about when I take certain medications and when its safe to drive.Still I have become addicted to several medications. Medications I had to take and was totally aware that I would become addicted. Right now I'm in my third week of gradually weening myself off a medication I've been taking for years but unfortunately has run its course. Weening is the safest way to gradually remove a medication from your system without going through withdrawal. Its difficult at times but necessary some times.
I guess what I'm getting to is that yes some people out there need help. There is a large group that don't need any help. I'm just afraid that some yahoo is going to pass a dumb feel good law, that's going to take the responsibility out of my hands and put it with the state or worse. In all the articles I've read in recent weeks, everyone is being put into one group. There is more than one group out there. I guess being called an addict should make me feel worse than I do. Instead I consider it an insult to my inelegance. Long term health care is totally different from a broken leg. I just hope these so called experts will start to see that. If anyone is going to be my own worst enemy, let it be me.
I'm appalled.
You think the DEA won't do a thorough investigation, and punish those responsible?
I don't even think they'll get that slap on the wrist, and not only that, Chong will not only be found somehow responsible. They will make him pay for the damage he did to the cell.
Degree's versus experience.
One thing I read in this story bought back tragic memories from my past. I had worked for a large national company in Massachusetts. They also have an office here in several locations in Maine as well, so I won't mention the name.
In the trucking business, you have a dispatcher. This person is literally responsible for every move those trucks make. This person is literally responsible for their lives.
Well our dispatcher of several years resigned. Now there were three guys out on permanent disability, they could no longer drive trucks but would have made great dispatchers. Between the three of them they probably had a total of forty years experience. They all applied for the dispatch job.They were all denied due to their lack of a college degree. It wouldn't have mattered what the degree was for, but the company had this new policy. To make a long story short, the Job went to the twenty four year old nephew of the district manager. The guy had never even been in a truck never mind driven one. His winning requirement, he had an associate degree in liberal arts. He had that degree so he was the most qualified.
He only lasted six months , unfortunately two divers didn't survive the companies new policy. But he had his degree.
Watch what you say!!!
I just learned from the Medical review department of the Motor Vehicle department. that supposedly all a police officer can do if he sees an "M" on your license is ask if your taking your medications as prescribed.
If you answer yes sir , no problems. You should be sent on your way.
How ever, if you are asked about your prescriptions, and your answer is" Yes, but I sometimes use crack, it helps them last longer". A positive outcome should not be expected. That said, if you are asked if you are properly taking your prescriptions. And your answer is" You mean the ones I actually have a prescription for" Your in for a very long afternoon.
Now 99% of those questioned will answer correctly. There will always be that one percent that for what ever reason (Drugs), will screw it up. We can see these people just by tuning into any episode of COPS.
The question, I'm pursuing the answer to is this. What gives the motor vehicle department the right to collect this information, which under Federal Law they can't do a single thing with. Just remember, give the right answer. No one has to know the truth.
Its only a matter of time
Its only a matter of time before the state sets up a kiosk at these prescription pick up locations. They will make sure your not in that group of Mainers who for what ever reason take prescription medication. At which point you will be notified that you need to supply the state with all your medical information. Then you will receive your new license with a big "M" on it indicating medication.
Upon researching this total waste of taxpayer money. I contacted numerous workers in the motor vehicle department.General rank and file workers, including those in the Medical review Department think this rule is a pain in the backside. (not the words they used). The closer I got to the Secretary of states office. People started getting a little more dedicated to the law.
Upon speaking to a woman in the Secretary of States office, She emphasized how safe and secure all information is and that no one has access to it. Then based just on my word that I was who I said I was, she gave me all my medical information on file. Not just medications but my disabilities etc. Now that's what I call secure. What I would really like to know is how many other people especially disabled people have the "M" restriction on their license.
From what I could hear
I heard United Ambulance transporting two firefighters in one unit to CMMC. One had heat related problems no smoke inhalation. The second firefighter had some sort of minor chest pain. I'm not sure which fire they were coming from.
This is getting embarrassing
That line toward the end is supposed to read " any officer who looks at my license", must be the drugs.
Just a couple of other thoughts
After reading the comments regarding drug screening and pill counts to reduce prescription misuse, I have a couple of questions. I understand that you can get some sort of buzz or high from drugs like opiates. In fact when I received my handicapped plates, I also had to get a new drivers license two weeks after renewing my regular one. The difference? The new license has a new restriction on it "M" for medication. That's all it said, no explanation or anything. I'm just curious how many other people have this restriction, and more importantly ,what gives them the right?
I see people everyday being arrested for possession of all sorts of drugs, do they have to get that restriction? I read about people driving with cold medications or any medication and causing accidents, do they get the big "M"? I've been disabled for six years, granted I take a ton of medications, since when does being sick put you in a category that allows police or anyone else, who needs to see your drivers license to abuse your privacy? Unless I've done something to deserve it, I was under the impression that my medical information was private. Not accessible without my permission or a court order. I guess the Department of Motor Vehicles, doesn't have to follow the rules everyone else has to. Does having that restriction create more scrutiny during a traffic stop? Am I going to be required to take a blood test at the whim of any officer who looks at my silence? One other thing I no longer take opiates, but I still have the license.
come to think of it
Either way it still works for me....
Sorry
I mean incident, spell check hasn't had enough coffee yet.
I'm sorry, this almost requires a comment
This latest foot in mouth indecent will go a long way toward the results of his re election...
Very unfair article
I call this article unfair because in my opinion its totally one sided. Its the type of rhetoric that ties the hands of legitimate health care providers from doing their job, with out feeling like their under a microscope.
I don't know how long you need to take opiates to become addicted, but I do know that if you need to take it you don't get all the jolly's that seem to be all the rage.
I have been diagnosed by several Neurologist and numerous other doctors both in Maine and Boston of a condition that is the cause for my chronic pain. It's in both my feet and its at times almost unbearable. It makes no difference if I'm walking, sitting, or lying down. The pain is still there.
I work closely with my doctor, to try and get as much relief as I can. the best I've been able to accomplish is four hours at a time. Three times a day. I took Hydrocodine and Oxycontin at varying dosages for three an a half years three times a day. I had to switch off of opiates for other than addictive reasons. I went from opiates one day to another class of medication in just one day. No withdrawal and the new medication wouldn't have helped withdrawal if I did experience it.
What bothers me with the article and the way its written Is that it "Demonizes anyone who needs pain medication" All the article reflects is the harm, the crime, and those terrible doctors who are aiding the druggies. According to this article that's what I am, a druggie. I don't remember one mention of people with serious illnesses that require life long pain relief.
If your going to write a story, research all the facts, not just the ones that glamorize addiction. That sell news papers. Either explore both sides or don't write anything. You would think as a reporter you would realize there are always two sides to every story.
Just my humble opinion....
I may be way off base here, but
All I seem to hear, or should I say what I hear the most is that the state has no money left to do anything.
Now, If someone was to give you ten dollars, then say that with this ten dollars you can buy one hundred dollars. Sounds like a no brainer doesn't it? There are so many people out of work, the state is not only not getting tax and other revenue from these people. The state has to support them.
Now you take a bond package that for ninty five million dollars, earmarked for infrastructure. One that even local employers say will create jobs, Jobs for those laid off workers to pay taxes and return that money to the state in the form of sales tax, income tax etc. Now lets see how much we can buy with that ninty five million dollar bond package. Don't take the opportunity away.
I stand corrected.
The attackers were Somali, however would it have been just fine if everyone was white. No, it makes no difference black or white. Not every confrontation between them means racial conflict. When I was in high school, I belonged to a group of other students, we all rode Harley Davidson. We didn't wear colors or pick fights with anyone, we just had a love for Harley s. Unfortunately that one distinction that set us apart from everyone else made us trouble makers. I had to work two jobs just to afford my bike. Still, if one of us got into a fight with anyone else say in the cafeteria, it was always " one of the bikers attacked so and so." Even when the "biker" was attacked. And that happened quite a bit. I think it was quite racial for the Sun Journal to even print that line about who attacked who. I guess unless you can put a title to at least one side of the skirmish its not news worthy, actually it isn't anyway. But hell we got to keep it going....
Ernest
I guess you didn't understand my comment. What I meant was that these skirmishes have been going on long before the Somalis arrived. It has nothing to do with EL verses Lewiston, it just that this activity went on at both schools. Its nothing new. Hell this stuff went on in my own high school and that was thirty five years ago. I wish there was an easy answer to this but there isn't. Maybe I'm wrong, but when did the Somalis enter into this situation in the first place.
Nice try, but the racial angle won't cut it
This has been going on since long before the Somalis got here. My daughter transferred From Lewiston to EL when she was in tenth grade. Due mostly to the immature actions of several groups of kids. She found the same problem at EL and eventually just graduated a year early and joined the Army. This was ten or eleven years ago. Nothings going stop it.
The hell with insufficient evidence
The guy deserves ten years just for being a jerk. Not to mention stupid.
It makes no sence.
I just don't feel that the seat to represent the people should go to the highest spender.
You could have the biggest a hole on the face of the planet, and he'll be the one with the silver tongue. He's going to get thousands of people to donate just by telling them what they want to hear. Knowing full well that once elected those promises are out the window.
Then you have a relatively unknown running. The guy or woman is a virtual genius, and truly cares about the people. He doesn't stand a chance. You see in this system, money talks, ethics walk. And people wonder why I have no confidence in the government.
Heather, I hope more people feel as we do
One other thing, I wish some politician could help with what is a very daunting battle, these now twenty year olds have to go through to clear their name. Hell I couldn't imagine having to go through this at that age. Whatever happens the father should be held responsible for all expenses, and there will be expenses.
No industry on RT1?
Try going north on RT1 in the summer. Get behind a tourist from out of state. Now your traveling along at say forty or fifty miles per hour. Their in their car or small camper, and all of a sudden someone spots a treasure at one of the hundreds of flee markets up there. They literally forget where they are and stop, meanwhile I'm trying to stop forty tons at the same time. Is it any wonder that my blood pressure is so high? There is an industry up their. It may not be what you might think of as industry, but a lot of cash is exchanged.
Cronic pain is just that cronic pain
Some chronic pain is impossible to treat. These boards can say anything they want, urine tests,pill counts, proper documentation. Its all BS. They're just trying to protect themselves from government regulations on the distribution of controlled substances.
Until you've experienced the pain, in my case neuropathic pain. you have no right to persecute a guy for trying. Ever since kids and adults started overdosing on prescription drugs, the government in their infinite wisdom, have gone to war with people who really need the help. These people according to them are the reason for the epidemic of overdoses.
Leave us alone, go after the real problem, and let us get, at the most a few hours of some relief. Please quit scaring doctors to the point that they can't do their job. Trying to get pain medication or an increase in doses is getting impossible.
To the board members, I want you to spend a week on the couch unable to walk. Then tell me all about your dumb rules.
A definite hero
Having driven trucks for twenty two years, I have known a lot of guys who have experienced medical problems. Fortunately not as serious as this. I will never know for sure, but I'd be willing to bet he was unconscious long before that truck came to a stop. His last act was aiming that truck into an unpopulated area and avoiding a major problem. In my opinion he's a hero...
OK this guy takes the cake.
He not only defrauded the state in his name but then to obtain more benefits he actually used his child's social security number.
Although this sounds totally disgusting, it happens quite frequently. I can remember going through the paperwork for my then twenty year old daughter for college loans. You would not believe how many kids found out then, that ten or fifteen years ago a mother or father or even a boyfriend of the mother, whose own credit was destroyed, used a little child's SS number to destroy their credit also, without their knowledge. Its quite obvious that a five year old didn't buy a pair of jet skies, a boat or a car. However the long over due balance is still there, destroying the child's chances of ever getting a college loan or even being able to buy a car. ( that's where most of the fraud is found out about ). The problem is that banks only see numbers not people. As far as their concerned that five year old bought all that stuff. And that now twenty year old has to clear this up themselves, and that will take years.
I say put this guy in jail for thirty years, and any other adult who ruins a young child's credit.
Just a small obsevation.
Could someone please explain what good a five foot wide shoulder would be. Shoulders are there for more than decoration. Just ask any trucker who ever lost a radiator hose going up a long hill. Trying to put an eleven foot wide trick into a five foot space, and there will most likely be a drainage ditch right there, is just plain short sighted. I would definitely reconsider that center turn lane.
I'm so sorry for your loss
I never new Renee, but from your description of her I wish I did.
I to suffer from a cronic debilitating disease so I know how easy it is to give up. Renee never gave up, that says a lot about her spirit. She kept her seance of humor, the best medicine you can have. Again I'm sorry for your loss, and good luck with your advocacy project in the future.
Man am I staying the hell away from Farmington
First of all they don't typically hold these demonstrations on public roads, Second if a couple of other posters on this subject have drivers licenses, I think North Jay is about as close to Farmington as I would want to get.
Just an idea based on an observation.
I'm sort of torn on this one,however the facts speak for themselves. I don't think industry took into account of what adding total robotics to their manufacturing process would produce.
I'm torn because I kind of slipped into the back door of the robotics industry. Yes I helped produce these total robotic systems in manufacturing.
When I say total robotics. That doesn't mean a company may have a robot or two in the manufacturing process. I'm talking about total production, Raw materials go in one end, then machines do all the work to actually loading the truck.
Those kind of automated lines eliminate the need for a lot of people. These are not your fathers assembly line, this is total high tech.
Just a couple of days ago Barbor Foods laid off seventy-two employees, they actually admitted robotics as one of the reasons for the need for fewer people.
This is just the beginning, after all, robots work around the clock and never take breaks. To top administrators this looks great for the bottom line. unfortunately it not only takes peoples jobs, but eliminates the possible need for new people in the future.
I feel its only fair that as more and more companies take this rout, they should be obligated to help the people their displacing. Job retraining doesn't help as there won't be any more jobs with livable wages out there. The state,as we all have heard about extensively can't help, the towns have no options left for people. I feel that if these companies are making huge profits, by eliminating jobs they should play a larger role in helping out of work people.
Just my humble opinion.
I think I figured it out
I think I figured out what he meant by that statement. Say he doesn't like Obama, that's his right. Say if Obama gets elected he decides to drink enough to forget Obama's victory, it will either kill him or get him arrested for something. I did that once at the bike rally in Laconia, I just can't remember what I was trying to forget.
What a jerk
I think we should hang these guys by a rope and let a few hungry bobcats loose on them. This one incident has diminished the respect I had for every Maine Guide out there.
This is usually a summer problem
Usually this happens in the summer when the grass is so high you can't see the ditch.
These trucks pay thousands of dollars to operate in the State of Maine every year, You would think that all roadways would have a shoulder to at least get off the road. As you can clearly see, the truck is just barley onto the shoulder but its way to narrow to accommodate it. The guys from out of state, how was he supposed to know the highway dept. foreman lost his measuring tape.
Has anyone checked
Has anyone checked the three vandals earlier that morning at the same McDonalds. sounds like they were looking for trouble.
Since when can you find a McDonalds open at 3 AM
I can remember back in the early eighties I'd spend all night delivering auto parts all over Maine and New Hampshire. If I got hungry the best I could hope for after 9:00 pm, would be the trusty convenience store sandwich, that's been on the shelf since FDR, was in office.
I agree
I agree 100%, then they run for office.
Richard
Good post. I too got caught up in the frey when I first started posting. Man, I thought the S/J staff was pissed at me. Turns out everyone was complaining to them about me. Call it a learning experience.
Enjoy the fire, probably the first time in a while you don't have to worry about sparks setting everything on fire. I know the Lewiston Auburn fire departments have been strait out this past week. Have a good one. Frank
Hey
Hey at least I got top billing
Thanx, you want to see a limp?
Maybe some day you may witness me getting out of my car. I don't walk I stumble. my whole life is one big balancing act. The real funny one though, is when some doctor demands I get on a treadmill. Shoots me across the room like a pin ball bouncing off all the other equipment. I've never had a doctor have me try that twice.
thanx for your support, one other problem
One other problem which I feel would take an act of Congress to resolve.
Although I have permanent handicapped plates on my car, I also have a couple of placards left over from when I used them. The Problem with those, just a quick look will tell you if its still valid. It doesn't say who its valid for. For that a computer check would be needed. As with many other things people don't see any problem offering to lend their extra placard. Now this car looks legitimate., but is just as phoney as the people driving it. I know a lot of people swap placards, but until they identify a placard with a particular person and vehicle, My battle goes on....
Mr. Begin
I'm sorry if I insulted you with my line about the pins, I am after all on a first name basis with everyone in the lab at CMMC. I'm sorry to hear about your unfortunate medical problems. If you've read most of my posts you should have noticed that I am on the side of genuinely disabled or down on their luck individuals. Its something I'm very passionate about.
When I hear someone say that someone looks like they should be able to work, I take that personally. There's been a lot of trash talk about people scamming the system, unfortunately some people have been including everyone into that category. I take a dim view of people who scam the system, I take a really dim view of those who falsely accuse someone of scamming the system.
If you can look at a woman, who looks about thirty, and is probably from Africa or someplace, she may even have credit cards. Hell my cat could get a credit card. And heaven forbid she's on Mainecare, you can tell just from standing next to her, she should be working and not receiving any benefits. Now I'm not going to do something else you don't like. I'm not going to use the word " I ". How about everyone? Everyone has a story. you have no way of knowing her story from standing next to her making observations. You don't like it when I spout off about people I've never met, why not offer her the same respect. Don't forget I didn't know your story until I got you all rialled up. Finally the reason I speak in the singular is I'm all I got. It would sound kind of dumb if I spoke as a group.
I'm amazed at your super human abilities
Its incredible that you can look at a person and decide on the spot whether that person is disabled or not.
I worked for a large corporation when I got sick. I kept trying to go back to work but I kept being sent home. I was told by the medical staff at the plant that they thought I had a particular condition and I needed to get it checked out.
To make a long story short, I did in fact have this condition which has no treatment, and no cure. Its only going to get worse. Upon applying for long term disability through the company they Had me seen by a company from Ohio, who's only purpose is to weed out false disability claims. I spent almost two years going from one doctor to another both here in Maine and Boston. I had more needles stuck in me than you will see in a lifetime. After all that a Neurosurgeon in Portland finally made the final determination. I am totally disabled.
If you were standing next to me, you couldn't tell I'm disabled. And I know you wouldn't have the kahunas to tell me I'm not disabled. You see disabled people come in many forms, many shapes and sizes. Not every disabled person uses crutches or wheelchairs.
I certainly hope you have the brains to educate yourself to what physical and mental disabilities are before you continue to spout your garbage. And one other thing, I've been disabled for almost six years, I live in a very nice apartment, and I don't get a single penny from the state, wouldn't accept it if I could.
I hope they will finally get the message
My father is a veteran, he deserves and receives the help he needs. He's fortunate that the veterans hospital is fairly close to his house. He lives out of state. Up until about five years ago, he was very active for years in the retrieval, and restoration of the last Navel LST still functional in the world. I'm not totally sure but I think its on display as a museum in Alabama. The History Channel did a special on it. Most of the guys that accomplished this incredible feat, were ww2 vets themselves.
I think that more than shows the pride and determination these guys, most of which were in their late seventies to early eighties, have for their service.
I just feel that for any government board or State politician to deny these guys easy access to all the benefits they need is totally wrong. A lot of these guys did their time and then some, they've earned it.
Thanx for your support.
Although I doubt very much someones going to punch me in the nose, I stopped dealing with difficult people with violence when I stopped getting paid for it. Their vehicles however are still fair game.
I don't care what it takes I'm still going to fight for the struggling and disabled people. Until I became one, I never realized how invisible you become. Handicapped parking is very difficult, not only from the idiots parking there illegally, but the fact that there just aren't enough of them. That's just one of many problems encounted daily, that most people will never know about unless someone brings it to their attention.
Just let me emphasize one thing. I support people who are genuine. Its just that for some reason right now we're getting bombarded from every direction, I just want to deflect a few of those bombs.
I'm sorry
I can't believe alligator sounds and anatomy differ from humans, I just don't see it.
Give it a little time
Once people start dying, they'll be plenty of stories. Problem is all the stories in the world won't change anything.
My fathers a veteran
My father is getting up there in age. One thing I can say unequivocally, As he got older his hearing started to go and although he had eye problems all his life, like a lot of us will find out. with age comes more eye problems.
Notice I said eye problems as apposed to vision problems. Well also with age came the problem of keeping his glasses in one piece.
He had problems, especially with talking on the phone. Sometimes it was like we were having two different conversations at the same time.
At the age of eighty five or so he was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. That greatly diminished his mobility.
He lives out of state, but within fairly easy driving distance for his wife to get him there. They provided surgery to correct his vision, for the first time in his life,and also worked with him to come up with hearing aids that worked best for his particular situation.
Proximity is everything. no one like my father should have to travel an hour plus to get help, especially if numerous return visits are needed. I think its very unfair to change the rules in the middle of the game. This also show a huge lack of forethought and planning.
I think
I think he's pissed!!!
Someone finally shut me up
This letter is so wrong ,no comment can justify it.
Its sad
All these students learned a horrible lesson that night. Unfortunately it was probably predictable. Their at risk for three reasons, their in that age group that unfortunately claims a lot of lives. Their inexperienced , and they feel invincible.
When I was eighteen I completed tractor trailer school, I took the road test, I had my license to go. One of the last things said to me when we were leaving that last day, was from a much older instructor. I think it applies to everyone who drives anything, because he was right on. He said, you have a card that says you know how to drive a truck. You won't be a truck driver for several years yet. I feel that should apply to everyone. Maybe tragedies like this one might be avoided. slow down.
Do they still clean the canals?
I remember when I worked for the bakery, every year they would drain the canals to clean them. How'd you like that job?
If memory serves me, shopping carts used to be the choice of trashers. followed closely by bicycles.
I'm sure if someone were to dig in the mud they'd find numerous treasures. I think the biggest problem would be finding someone who wants to dig in the mud....
Someone needs a physics lesson
Lower the speed limit to twenty five, reduce it to one lane. That cross walk, if its the same one I'm thinking about, needs to go anyway. Loaded trucks and hills don't mix. All the studies in the world won't change that. Many years ago probably before most of these bicyclists were born, that hill was one lane. As were a hundred other hills in Maine.
What happened on these hills, loaded trucks would get bogged down to ten to fifteen miles per hour. There's no getting around it. Traffic would build up behind the trucks, yes there would be several in a row. Than as sure as the sun comes up in the morning someone couldn't wait. Twice I have watched a car pull out in frustration and haul ass up the hill to get by the trucks. Both times they didn't make it. Has anyone watched a head on collision in the making and there isn't anything you can do but watch. Fortunately in both instances no one was killed, but everyone was pretty badly hurt. That's not counting the hundreds that made it.
They had the exact same types of meetings, Selectman needed to do something to quell the public outrage. They had DOT and Highway department studies. They also assigned selectman to decide on matters they have absolutely no knowledge of. Late at night, I would hit that particular hill at about fifty to fifty five at the bottom so I could be going fifteen to twenty at the top, and hopefully avoid company in the back seat if you know what I mean.
Well all those studies and selectman meetings all over the state resulted in a solution that has proven to save lives and reduce blood pressure in truck drivers. They added passing lanes. It has proven to reduce accidents everywhere, If you decide to take out that particular passing lane, just stack the body bags right at the crown if the hill, your going to need them. High speed head on collisions can get pretty messy.
I will citisize the man
It would appear that you are one of those people that are hell bent on the idea that people who don't work, can work but choose not to. I agree those people need to be "purged".
His line item veto, which he snuck in when no one was watching, is going to hurt a lot more than just the people who need help. Yes, there are people who really do need help. It puts the cities and towns in a position that they need to make up for the cut. That's increased property taxes. People can't afford more taxes as many are laid off or working reduced hours. Rents will go up to cover the increase.
Personally I have nothing against the guy, he may be the nicest person in the world, but he's hurting poor people. Some like me who will never be able to work again. He has to learn how to separate those in need and those not. that his job. As long as the best he can do is scrap everyone in spite of a few, I'll Fight his methods tooth and nail. I don't care how many people don't agree with me. I'm still going to speak for those who can't or are afraid to speak for themselves. I know he really thinks he knows what he wants to do, but unfortunately he's way off base.
Again I agree
Anew facility is needed, there would be so much to gain from enlarging the whole place.
I guess being a former swimmer I'm kind of more partial to a new regulation pool. I don't think a lot of people realize the importance to the community of a good pool.
I was a varsity swimmer in high school and also competed with the New England Barracudas. My varsity coach had to be the younger brother of the devil. We got out of school at 2:15, he had us doing warmup laps by 2:30. Practice actually started at 4:00. I did a lot of laps over the years. I was also on the diving team. that was fun. We had two 1 meter boards, but we had to time our practice dives to land between people doing laps. Many people don't realize that if you do some of these dives right, you can't see the water through most of the dive. We did have some close calls.
While every ones at school, the pool can be used for therapeutic purposes, its the greatest all over cardio tools available for any age. On weekends, swimming lessons for the little ones.
The pool has to be able to accommodate everyone and a twenty yard pool won't cut it.
By the way this was thirty five years ago. So you see not a whole lot changes. And I'm still good friends with my coach.
I wish for just one week
I wish for just one week when I can read the paper without seeing that ugly smile on the front page exalting his most recent act of stupidity. Once again Lepage has dealt a blow to what little chance of bipartisan cooperation there was.
What really gets me is this almost insane attack on the poor. At first he was all fed up with cheats, which he should be. But his constant attack on poor people is nothing short of cruel. That's right cruel. Some of these people, by no fault of their own are scraping by on whatever they can get. To listen to Lepage, their living high on the hog at his personal expense. I'm talking homeless mothers with children. Perfectly good people, who just happen to have been caught up in this down turned economy.
Now I've seen some really dumb politicians in my time all over the country. I just haven't seen one flaunt his obvious lack for intelligence as Lepage has. Its time to stop this idiot from putting the fear of God into every less fortunate person in the state. He doesn't have to fill up the car everyday, he doesn't have to choose between rent or heat. He doesn't have to worry about anything. Its about time he stars treating those that do, with the respect they deserve. And Pauly, one other thing to keep in mind. There is a huge population of people who need help now or in the future. In Maine and every other state, these people are swept aside. Just remember one thing, their voters. That should put the fear of God in you.
Gary
No one is denying that the system is constantly exploited, has been for decades its nothing new. Lewiston, Auburn or any other city or town anywhere has this problem. Unfortunately there's a simple but not very affective temporary fix to the problem. Its called YES or NO. I don't know anyone, who doesn't know someone who isn't making a living trying to beat the system. I can remember the last time I was in Alaska, I had just finished delivering my load and was getting ready to return to California.I drove down a street (just barely) they called the gallows. It was lined with mostly men just drinking themselves to death.This was back in the eighties and these guys were the result of promises of easy money with the pipe line. Well the jobs dried up, unlike the men. That's all they did in between checks. I couldn't help thinking that for every one of those guys, there was a wife and kids down in the forty eight also trying to scrape up a living.
Poverty comes from a lot of directions, some people deserve what they get, a lot don't. All I'm saying is Mr. Macdonald ought to choose his words carefully. Some day he may be insulting himself.
Thanx for the post
With regards to what you said, its epidemic. Because most parking lots are on private property, there's very little if any enforcement. What got me to write this letter was the fact that this past Saturday, I ended up going home instead of shopping. Pretty sad don't you think? By the way the fines for abusing a handicapped spot if caught is measured in the hundreds of dollars.
Very well put...
I would like to create a scenario for Mr Macdonald to think about.
A person retires at an early age, after twenty two years driving trucks. Making pretty good money, but very hard conditions. (I hated driving in snow).
He decides to advance his education after researching what companies are looking for. Some companies you need a certain degree just to use the mens room. So he goes back to school. He enrolls
in accelerated degree programs, going to school year round for almost three years.
Fast forward a little. He's got two degrees, and is making more money than he knows what to do with. Good insurance, everything is great.
Now, could Mr. Macdonald ever imagine that when this person was writing all those checks to the school, the seemingly bigger checks to buy books. He ever imagined that one little germ that he never heard of would make all those checks useless. That in four and a half years he would be sitting on his couch, never to work again, living on next to nothing. The pay by the way went from everything to nothing in just a week.
That happens to more people than you might think. Was it their fault? Try to imagine what you would do Mr Macdonald, before you criticize poor people. This could very easily happen to you or anyone.
Just something to think about....
Everyone should be in recess...
If everyone else is in recess, Lepage should be in recess. When everyone else comes back from recess, leave Lepage out.
I don't know
I don't know, but it just seems someones dragging their feet on this one. As far as the audiology and vision checking goes, why don't they improvise.
When I was working , it was in a very noisy location and we had to wear safety glasses. Once a year the company arranged for a truck , fully setup to test the hearing of several people at a time. We also had the Vision Van, visit on a regular basis. Granted the Vision Van I'm not sure does vision testing, but like my father, a Veteran, he seems to have more problems with his gasses as he gets older. Things that could be fixed as apposed to traveling to Bangor. The hearing tests I know are done completely. These may not solve all the problems to the directors liking but I think if a Veteran could have a small problem settled here, It could save an expensive trip to Bangor. I'm sure these companies would welcome the new business, and possibly add a few new jobs for someone.
These of course would just be screenings. If someone is ok, than no problem . If more extensive treatment is determined to be needed, then they could go to Bangor. I just think this could save a lot of unnecessary trips to Bangor, which a lot of folks would have a hard time affording.
I agree for two reasons
Legalize pot. It would save so much wasted time and money.
If pot were legal you could tax it, and Medically it would help a lot of people.
It would also clear up a lot of jail space. I hate the thought of some kid being locked up, housed and fed daily because he was caught with pot. Talk about a waste of resources. If he has glaucoma, he could get out after serving his time. Walk up the street and buy it legally. Makes sense to me.
Just my humble opinion....
Banks don't care
Quite a while ago I lived in an apartment near the Sabatus line. The owner I rented from lost the building to the bank due to illness. Once the bank has possession of the mortgage The information is loaded into a computer just to keep track of rent payment. They purchase bundles of these notes at a time and could care less about the building itself. Do you really think that a Wall St. mortgage company is going to have any interest in 10 College St.
Now back to my apartment on Sabatus St. After the bank took over all maintenance stopped.The grass got to be four feet high. We ended up paying for snowplowing out of our own pockets. We got tired of this so we all got together and opened an account, sort of an escrow account at the bank. We started putting our rent into that account. If there's one thing that will set off bells and whistles at a bank is no rent coming in.We couldn't call them because we didn't know which bank owned us.
To make a long story short, after three months we started getting warnings in the mail, now we new who owned us and invited them to visit if they wanted their rent. Come to find out their own lawyer informed the bank representative, that because we did everything right, the bank had to start maintaining the building or we had the right to keep an escrow account going until they did. our case would hold up in court. Amazingly within two weeks we had a maintenance company taking care of the building. You can fight a bank, but have the advice of a lawyer just for protection.
P.S. We all had leases from the original owner which clearly stated that building maintenance was included in the rent. That helped.
Not good
I know just from trying to turn left out of that lot just how dangerous that spot is. There's no crosswalk there but there is one with a crossing light just up the street at the church. That entire street is an accident waiting to happen.
Again, just my humble opinion....
Hears a question with no answers
I'm sorry , this note has nothing to do with this letter, but I would really be curious with an answer.
Yesterday afternoon in Auburn there were two possibly three structure fires and a major accident on Rt. 4 (they needed five ambulances plus turner rescue).
Now I just assumed I'd be reading about at least one of those stories this morning. No, the only local story to make the paper was a drunk idiot punching out a window. I heard that story too. He cut an artery and almost died. Good job SJ. right on top of things. I guess its true, all news stops on weekends. Unless the news contains a stupid film festival, now there's headline news.
I couldn't agree more
A real long time ago, I too was on several swim teams, I don't know if you ever heard of the New England Barracudas. I was also on my varsity team at Westwood High School in Massachusetts. I swam the hundred yard free style, fifty yard free style and I was on the diving team.
The important word in my last sentence is yards. Every competition must be held in at least a twenty five yard pool. Although fifty meter pools are very common in most colleges and of course the Olympics.Having eight lanes is the norm, although there are some schools with six lanes due to space restrictions.
I can tell you one thing. If we had a letter writing project like you do, My complaint would have been, having the diving competition right after the fifty free. There's nothing like trying to dive and catch your breath at the same time.
Keep up the fight, twenty yard pools are pretty useless in competitions. For one thing you can not claim a record in a twenty yard pool. Your project worked, I never knew that pool was to short. I hope someone in power hears you.
Mr Macdonald
Mr. Macdonald, with all due respect, that statement of yours strongly indicates your a jack ass. I will be the first to admit that I was not the greatest student in the world, when I was in high school. I graduated, but I think that was just to get rid of me.
Not everyone learns, or wants to learn at the same rate. I consider myself lucky in that I worked a less than white collar job for many years. I got more education in those twenty years than any amount of schooling could have taught me. Its called street smarts.
I finally decided at the tender age of forty four, to finally continue my education. I guess you could say I went overboard, and received two degrees through accelerated degree programs which required going to school year round for two years or so. I ended up making a lot more money than you do.
You see, not everyone chooses the same course of life that you did. Sometimes a little later in life a person says, hey I think I'll get my GED, or try to better myself to advance at work and maybe make a little more money. Having the guts to make that decision, requires the ability to fulfill those dreams. Don't deny them that chance.
Ther's only so much you can do
The battle is being fought. Its just that its such a multi layered crime that stopping it is all but impossible. You have to look at this from two directions. One is the seller on the street. you could arrest him and he's replaced within an hour. Another is the never ending supply of buyers. You can never arrest them.
The economy is having a big affect on the buyers, this is evident by the huge increase of home burglaries and car break ins. I never keep anything of value in my car so I don't lock it. It saves on window replacement. There's no end to it, its been like this for decades. It never ceases to amaze me how many purses, wallets, IPods and even guns people leave in cars. Trust me if its there they'll find it.
I think
I think if I had porcupine quills sticking out of my face, I wouldn't be in the best of moods either.
You almost have to learn
You almost have to learn to keep an eye on the side of the turnpike at all times. You don't have to actually watch, but scan for any motion even during the day.
There are literally hundreds of small streams and bogs along the highway. Many of which you may not have ever noticed. As the weather warms up and the black flies start to torment them they will seek the shelter water gives them. You would drive right by a moose in a bog unless it moves. I've seen them go from bog to road in four steps. Just get used to looking for any kind of movement along the side of the road.
I think
I think someones been watching to many old Cheech and Chong movies
Kind of looks like
Kind of looks like a less submerged version of the Uss Choctaw from the Civil War
Zwicker is a lazy bum
Zwicker is no animal control officer. She should be fired immediately if not yesterday. Anyone that stupid has no business having any authority to do anything for any town. Furthermore she should have to retrieve those dogs now. If they were my dogs I would have lawyers all over her. She or the town says the dogs can't be retrieved, that just shows you how dumb she is. All I can say politely is sue her backside for everything she has, I've seen two other animal control officers destroyed that way. There are two types of animal control officers. One truly cares for animals and will stop at nothing to find the right home for a lost animal. Then there are people just looking for a job, they have no experience in animal control , guess which one you have.
Mr. Phillips
Your comment Is wrong from two aspects.
One: the Government ,nor the drug makers are purposely keeping any one on medication unnecessarily. The fact is its very difficult
to obtain certain medications
Two: You can't put a time limit on the use of any medication. This may be hard to swallow, but some medical conditions have no
cure.They never go away. I know this first hand.
One other thing, I would be willing to challenge you or anyone else to a driving safety and skills test. I will drive proverbial circles around you. We could use two wheelers, four wheelers, or eighteen wheelers, your choice.
I know I'm not from the area
I know I'm not from the area but I'm sorry. I've been following this gravel pit story right along.
It just amazes me how a small government in a small town can somehow turn a very small issue into a huge obsticle, taking up taxpayers money. I'm sorry but your town government is very entertaining.
Maine has a special liscense restriction
When I received my handicapped license plates I was asked if I take medications. I said I did and was promptly handed a form which was to be filled out by my doctor and returned. About two weeks after returning the form I was told I needed a new license. Even though the one I had I had just renewed within the past month.
I take fourteen pills a day, some may make me drowsy I don't take opiates any more. I am however very careful about driving while medicated I have for years. I never got so much as a parking ticket.
Now I have a license which promanatly proclaims to any officer looking at my license. I take medications. Maybe that should be expanded to anyone who drives while prescribed to medications. It makes you pay very close attention to when you took the meds, and when you drive. A lot of people don't see medications as impairing.
What real people?
I respect your belief that the path to the Supreme Court is a time honored process. And its just those people I'm talking about.
My little brother graduated from one of the very schools you mention. He took his path I took mine. I'll admit he's doing quite well for himself accept in the marrage dept. I did very well realativly in my persuits.
The difference between the two of us is pretty simple. He demands respect and loyalty just by being in his presence. I once drove to my parents house, un announced in Massacheussetts. Unnown to me he was having a party with all his fellow graduates (my parents had a huge house with an olympic sized pool). I squeezed my 78 chevy pick up between all the BMW's corvetts ect. Then I made the mistake of going in. I have never been treated with such disrespect and ridicule, right in my own parents house. Noone knew who I was,and they made it clear I wasn't welcome.
With myself I only expect the respect I earn. I treat everyone just the same, I always have. Some people fall into disrepaire intentionally some by no fault of their own. However they do it, their still people and deserve to be treated like people. Just because some one goes to some high palutin Ivory league College, doesn't make them any better than anyone else. I'm just saying that if some of these judges would climb down from thier high horse and respect the average person, maybe they could make more educated decisions.
Pamela
Fight this, its so frustrating having to explain to people what your going through. Many so called intelligent people can't fathom what your going through. They now nothing about what cronic neuropathic pain is like, and what it does to you over time.
Have them walk a mile in your shoes. If your neuropathy is anything like mine they'll only make it about a hundred yards and then call the ambulance.
I just want to let you know your not alone. There's at least one person who doesn't need a long explanation of whats wrong with you.
Keep fighting the AHA. with a little luck someday they'll know what their talking about, but it won't happen overnight.
Mr. Kennedy is a perfect example
Mr. Kennedy is a perfect example of just how out of touch the Supreme Court judges are with normal people. They are so high up in the clouds with their superior mentalities, I honestly don't think they could find the ground if they fell out of an airplane.
I think its time to get all the judges still living in the nineteenth or twentieth century out of here and replace them with real people. Maybe then we wouldn't be reading about this stupidity.
I need to read the laws...
I'm not sure what the laws are anymore. I've been told so many different things I don't know whats law and whats emotional response. I was told many years ago by a member of our law enforcement community that If I was to shoot someone breaking into my house, make sure I drag whats left of him indoors before calling police. What if the offense starts outside the home, are my hands tied because he has access to escape?
As much as I hate trying to read this mumbo jumbo legal talk, I guess its time to read it. Then find someone qualified in translating it into english. I wouldn't want to drag someone into the house, if I didn't need to.
Be strong!!!
Don't ever forget. Sometimes it takes the darkest night, to see the brightest sunrise.
I'm sorry
I'm sorry, but this subject I am an expert on. I have spent my entire life driving every imaginable motor vehicle you can think of. I have more mileage logged, on paper, than most people will drive in a lifetime.
I have heard this same combination of malfunctions at the scene of accidents hundreds of times. I have even been the victim twice of being rear ended by someone who mysteriously lost their brakes or their accelerator stuck. Because a woman was injured in Ohio in one of these accidents, a vehicle autopsy was performed on the two year old suv. It was determined there were no mechanical defects with the vehicle, even though the driver swore up and down that he had no brakes and a stuck accelerator.
The brakes on any vehicle won't work if you hit the accelerator, and visa versa. These people may actually think that their vehicle completely malfunctioned all at once. Fact is ninety nine point nine nine nine percent.of the time, its driver error. There just can't be that many cars losing brakes.
I had an accelerator stick once on North Hill Road in Buckfield, I had to floor it to make the hill and it stayed there. This was caused by gunk built up in the throttle housing in a Toyota with 225000 miles on it. What can you do when that happens? Turn the car off. Suck it up, trust me the insurance company won't believe you either.
Hows this for an idea.....
I have no doubt that Lewiston Auburn accounts for a large portion of inmates at the county jail. There may be a lot more people in the L/A area but the total number of idiots are pretty much spread out. Some are considerate enough to drive into town from someplace like Hebron to get arrested, saving all that gas money.
However deputies are still going to be run ragged trying to keep up with the rush on Friday night. Say a cruiser has to drive about as far out of town as possible and still be in the county, just because someone got drunk and tried to beat up his fireplace. I say when he goes to court, whether he's found guilty or not. He should have to pay for the call.There's no denying the cruiser had to go there. If he's found guilty he pays the going fine, then tack on another hundred to cover expenses.
If Its done that way for everyone who attracts a cruiser. Then eventually the idiots are paying their own way. I'm probably way out of line here, I mean actually punishing those responsible, it probably wouldn't be legal. Also don't forget, there are fire and rescue calls also.
big problems this morning
It took me forever to reset my password, then have the system remember it for ten minites
Maybe there could be a compromise.
Its a fact that any higher education is essential. Something I learned realitivly late in life. That's not to say I wasn't making good money in my original career choice, and I tried quite a few over the years. essentially I was a truck driver. Its a good job, its very dangerous, and the hours are outrageous. The money wasn't bad though.
Eventually though I came to the realization, at the ripe old age of 44, that after twenty plus years, I wanted to work in doors, and have normal hours. Thus the higher education. I had money saved so I didn't have to borrow anything the first time around.
I found decent work doing something I enjoyed. Then came the realization that I had to continue my education to keep up with the technology. That's when I realized I just couldn't do it without putting myself into debt.Here's just one example.
I took a preparatory course for my first Microsoft A+ certification. That was maybe three to four hundred dollars plus books. The test itself was about one hundred thirty or so.
One year later I went to take the same class to prepare for the A+ test, the cost jumped to twenty one hundred dollars plus books. I ended up just buying the books and studying on my own. Upgrading my degrees was totally out of the question due to expenses. I had to live.
My idea is a collaboration of schools in one facility that would strictly be for upgrading previous training. and make the hours job friendly. and of course at an affordable rate. Unfortunately I can't work any more and will never be able to. How ever if I had been working I would have needed almost continuous education just to stay current not to mention get ahead. Even though I cant work anymore I still study computers and networking because I do love it, I just wish I could afford it.
Joanne
Just a little tidbit about the frozen Thames River. I think it was in the early eighteenth century when it froze solid enough to support a horse for the first time(how'd you like to have been the first person to ride a horse onto the ice?). It was so new and unusual to people that whole towns and cities would have celebrations on the ice , for no other reason than they could. I don't remember ever reading about anyone ice fishing or not.
Also, I think you might have gotten my post confused with another somehow. I love Maine winters. If the gulf stream gets disturbed in our life time we'll be seeing much more severe winters.
it is
If you turn the map upside down...
I agree
I agree the best use of the property is to tear down #5, I just hope they do an extensive search for old unused gas lines that may be long forgotten in there like the one that blew up the Holly. I'd hate to see something nice built only to have it go boom.
Mark, I'm not Ken but maybe this could help
This is just a relatively short history of the more recent climate changes and what caused them.
The best way to explain how and why climate change occurs, as I mentioned before
was the Little Ice Age. It's also the only real climatic disaster which actually has written history about it.
First of all no one can actually acknowledge when the LIA began. Sometime in twelfth or thirteenth century, there was an increase in global temperature of about 1 degree Celsius. That may not sound like a lot but it was. It caused (much like now) the northern ice caps to melt causing a huge amount of fresh water into the ocean,again much like now.
What a lot of people don't realize is that a good portion of our warm weather does not come directly from the sun beating down on us. It does come from the sun beating down on the oceans of the southern hemisphere. Once the water is warmed up it heads north via the Gulf Stream until it reaches the most northern points where its cooled and sinks and is returned to the south.
With all the fresh water which is more dense than salt water, the previously warm salt water can't sink into the fresh water, thus disturbing the flow of things. Our warm climate primarily comes from the ocean IE the Gulf Stream. When that gets disturbed, our weather gets disturbed. All that fresh water slowed everything down. It affected the temperatures in N America and Europe from some time around the thirteen hundreds until the mid eighteen hundreds.
There's a lot more to it than that, but at least the Little Ice Age, has some documentation of things freezing. It also caused famines, wars you name it because no one new what was going on or what was causing it. Again much like today.
I have an idea
In my late teens I worked for a few years at a place which would open the eyes of any politician who wants to deny in home help to families of physically or mentally challenged handicapped children or adults.
Its in Greenfield New Hamshire. Its called Crotched Mountain Rehab Center. I worked in the respite care center. It was like a dual vacation site. We gave our guests a chance to experience things they may not have ever seen. We gave their families and care givers a break to relax a little.
Although I really enjoyed my job, unless you experience it you have no idea of how much work is involved at providing, or attempting to provide as close to a normal life as possible. Its also very dangerous for the care givers. I believe being a CNA is considered a very dangerous job just by the nature of the work. Well my job was very similar.
I think a tour of that facility would be an eye opener for anyone who wants to cut service help to these people.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news
Maybe not your children but perhaps your great grand children may have problems. The weird weather patterns we're having now is nothing new. Its happened many times in the past. Long before there were governments to stop it, or governments for that matter.
The weather and climate we've been enjoying for the past thousand years or so is a fluke, it wasn't normal. What may be happening now is we're returning to the correct climate. We are after all, relatively speaking, at the tail end of a mini ice age.
I'm not saying we're not doing things which may affect the climate, and we're not going to change much by stopping it. The climate has been changing for millions of years . We just happen to be in a nice climate for now but that could change. A thousand years or two is just the blink of the eye in the whole scheme of things.
Thats fine
I'd be curious to hear your alternative plan. As if I didn't know already
WOW
I could never imagine a better way of conveying to people that if or when something happens that drastically affects your ability to care for your pet, do the right thing.
A lot of humane societies have changed. They are a place where your pet will be treated very well. Everything will be done to find him or her a new home.
Right now there are 150 pets sleeping in the kitchen next to the stove with a big bowl of food waiting. Those same pets could have been scratching out a life in an abandoned building, burnt out building any where they can to get out of the elements. worst of all a lot of them are alone.
I used to have a male tabby. who at one time was abandoned in an old apartment building. It took me three days of gradually trying to gain his trust, mostly by just sitting there and talking to him. He was about as borderline Farrel that you could get. I finally coaxed him into a carrier and bought him home then to the vet. he was surprisingly in pretty good health. I had everything done, shots ect. and bought him home.
Didn't even see him for a week. Then there was the expected hissing and howling. with my other two cats. He eventually fit right in, he was a happy camper.
He did however come up with a really annoying habit. Sneaking out(he was strictly an indoor cat). Petingal Park is my back yard, so naturally that's where I'd go looking for him. That's when I found out something I didn't know. There were many ferrol cats living down there. Obviously cats abandoned over the years by people who couldn't take the time to take them to the shelter.
This is something I can't over emphasize. No matter how bad things get in your life, you don't have to compound it be throwing away your pet like yesterdays trash.Physically I can't do much to help, so I'll just make this plea. Take the time to take your pet to the shelter . They'll be comfortable and well fed until he can find a new home.
Just a quick note. Max is no longer with me. like all of us age caught up with him, but he had twelve years of happiness I don't think he ever would of had.
do it right...
Bringing new business into the city is fine. Please do it right. There should be space between buildings, maybe some grass with a bench and, heaven forbid, a tree or two. Cut back on the neon signs. If I pull into a driveway, I'd like to arrive at my destination the first time.
Just do whatever you have to do to avoid the mess schott has created up at the mall.
Also no more of those stupid mini rotaries, before someone is killed. To this day a lot of people still don't know what the center turn lanes on major roads are for. Those mini rotaries scare the daylights out of me. I'm going to be in that rotary with the same person I had passed waiting to turn left into Mc donalds on Center St. from the left travel lane.
I hope common sense rules. But I doubt it will.
Why
Why is the city of Auburn letting Schott destroy this town. I know someones going to argue that we need jobs and tax revenue, but at what expense? A lot of people have never seen the kind of thoughtless construction by people like Schott, but trust me you will regret the end results.
I've seen this in other states, it does nothing but look disgusting. on a recent trip to Massachusetts, I wanted to get some KFC. I could see the restaurant, but getting to it was a different story, I had to try four different driveways before I found the right one. I'd be willing to bet there were twenty five establishments, some looked like they were on top of other buildings, in an eight hundred foot stretch.
That's exactly whats happening now at the intersection of Mt.Auburn and Turner St. How many more businesses can fit in that small area. Schott needs to go back and play with his army trucks, that would be the best thing he could do for the city.
left out one little tid bit
Those two days I drove to Maine, I had a broken left leg.
I hope you enjoyed your meal...
What you are describing is a viscous circle.
The poor can't afford health care, and they are the ones most likely to need it. They use it for everything. Just yesterday I heard on the scanner an ambulance run from Poland to CMMC, for, you ready for this? a hyper extended little finger on a 46 year old guy. I once drove a tractor trailer from Boston to Auburn Maine two days in a row before my boss made me go to a hospital(He got tired of me falling out of the truck). During a period where I had no insurance I needed an ambulance from my doctors office. 497.00, I paid it but did a lot of crawling to the hospital after that.
What I'm saying is its a cycle. People can't pay their bills. Rates increase because of that. Insurance rates go up .More people cant afford insurance. It keeps going non stop. Until the cycle is broken somehow I guess everyone is screwed. I don't have any answers.
One more thing.
After about two weeks the four mailboxes were overflowing with mail. Almost entirely from the State of Maine. all the envelopes had the lower corners ripped away, some one looking for checks. I finally caught up with the mail carrier and informed him that the building was empty, and he used a box to take all the mail away and stopped mail delivery to the building.
That is one sad picture.
I can tell from looking at certain things that at some point in time, someone actually took care of that building. They don't give away those fire escapes, there are much cheaper ways to construct a fire escape. The windows don't look that bad, however you cant tell a book by its cover.
Once a building is empty, it becomes a play ground for neighborhood kids, and adults.
I live next to a vacant building. This is a particularly sad story. In the past twelve years or so, that building has been renovated four times. I'm not sure of the ownership history of the building, but I do know its been owned at least three times.
All the land lords were out of state, property management companies were responsible for renting and maintaining the building.
Four times the building was fixed up, four times the four apartments were rented. Mostly to people who to me had no means of income. They did however have about two hundred children it seemed every time.
Every time they lasted about one year, I actually think they were working together. What ever the case, by the time the management company checked on anything, it was to late. The building was unlivable. Everyone was evicted , and the whole thing started over again.
Its a nice building in a nice neighborhood, unfortunately I think this last group went to far. Not being able to afford the oil to heat the place, they all used their ovens or space heaters to heat their individual apartments. Not having a management company that regularly checked the building, the plumbing took a beating. Oven heat doesn't reach the basement where all the plumbing is. I once called the fire department less than a week after the last tenant had been evicted. I just didn't think that water pouring from the second floor into the center of the kitchen looked normal. I entered the building, with a police officer before the fire dept. got there. We not only determined the water was from a broken water pipe in the ceiling from the washing machine. We also found the first floor bathroom bathtub running full blast due to the results from frozen pipes,who knows haw long that had been going on. That one took me all of six minutes to find the shut off for the bathtub.
Every single door in the building was kicked in, every apartment was trashed. The basement apartment was nearly unidentifiable except for a stove and refrigerator.After the city shut the water off I think they condemned the building. This is less than two years after someone put some serious money and extensive renovations into this building. I don't even know if it can be fixed now. I have to look at this disaster zone every day as its only fifteen feet from my home.
Something must be done...
I feel your fear
I have been totally disabled due to a disease I never even heard of until I got it. I worked twenty two years as an over the road truck diver, I retired at the age of forty four. I went back to school and started a new career, For years I wanted an indoor job with regular hours.That lasted four years and nine months. Now that last part is important.
After about five years or so they asked me to switch from the company's long term disability to Social Security Disability.So while I was going through all the paper work with SSDI, on December twenty ninth
two thousand eleven I found out that the company had out sourced to India to save money. on that day I received a letter in broken english that as of 12/31/2011 My health insurance ends. The reason, I haven't worked a full five years. I was three months short. They gave me two days to make alternate plans. I took 14 pills a day, I was seeing my doctor at least every other week.
I couldn't see any point in wasting valuable resources fighting a group of people who couldn't even speak english. Instead I went to work and found alternative help, believe it or not its out there. You have to work to find it, they don't make it easy.
I had to cut back on a few things, I was able to find most prescriptions (generic) for three month supply at four dollars a month several I had to pay full price for.
Then finally in October I received my medicare card, and prescription coverage.
What I'm saying is try not to worry about it because there is help available without going through the state. Maybe if your really worried you might start looking now, so you have something set up if the worse happens. No matter how much you worry about it, whats going to happen is going to happen. Its best to be prepared.
Its close
That little arrow on the map is awful close to the little island. Maybe we should start calling it Dresden Island.
Talk about adoption policies
I used to joke with people that I grew up in a kennel,some might agree I still belong in one.
Actually from a very young age, my family had a boarding facility primarily for dogs. As us kids got older,my sister began breeding Irish setters. She showed them professionally,but also sold them. This was no pet store. She would actually go to the prospective buyers home and inspect the property, how many children were in the home and other pets. She always made sure there was a bond with the new owner before the sale was finalized.
She went on to breed Arabian horses and Persian cats (my favorite). She had two national champions and even won best of breed (Irish setter) at the Westminster Dog Show in New York. She went on to become an animal control officer, finally ending up in Alabama, with a large farm/grooming facility/boarding facility and home for any animal that ever needed one, from gerbils to horses. Until the day she died. She would never give away, or adopt out any animal without physically checking out every prospective home in person, making sure that both animal and owner were happy. She also never turned any animal away no matter what medical condition was involved. You'll have to admit, she fit a lot into 56 years, I just wish there were more people like her out there, there sure would be a lot more people and very happy pets out there.
I think this is great
I feel that animals to a certain extent, even more than people, end up in very bad situations by no fault of their own.
Now if your a person who has not had or wanted a pet, and have no interest in this. Stop reading this right here. You probably won't get the rest of what I have to say.
Although there are many people who would argue to the contrary, pets are as important to you as you are to your pet.
I know what everyone thinks is coming next, they offer unconditional love. Well they do, but they are so much more to a lot of people.
They offer companionship to shut ins, but most of all they become almost like children. That's why the Humane Society goes to such lengths to match the right pet to the right person or family.
I am disabled, I have to spend up to eighty percent of every day in my apartment. Most of my friends from work have gone on with their lives years ago. I do however have three friends who have never faltered.They constantly put a smile on my face, and they know the days I'm to sick to do much of anything. their right there at my side. I've heard people say cats aren't much good for anything. Let me tell you, cats,dogs,gerbils, or what ever is your choice, are good for much more than their given credit for.
If your thinking of adopting a pet. Don't look at it as just adopting a cat or dog. Think about it as who your adopting, because in a very short period of time your going to have a friend for life. unconditionally.
I knew a real good lawyer
I was just reminded of a really good lawyer.
You see back in my younger years, I had this minor little transgression with the Lewistn Police. Most of them actually. I had the right to a lawyer. I also had the right to remain silent, which was good because I don't think I could have come up with two words in a row that would have made any sense. Now Back to my smart lawyer. That guy managed to get me to pay him five hundred dollars so he could plead guilty on my behalf. I can't help but wonder if I had a degree in law I could have done that myself. Just wondering...
I don't whine...
I have never whined about anything!!!
Mine are useless...
FOR SALE: 2 college degrees, obtained in 1999,2000.
1 is in computer electronics
1 is for computer network technology
2 or 3 A+ Certifications
Combined value, 4 pieces of paper and fifty cents
might get you a cup of coffee.
Schools are more than anxious to take your money, but somehow they fail to provide the ability to keep up to date at a reasonable cost. Those degrees were obsolete before I got home from graduation. The A+ certifications were out of date before I got to the last question on the test.They failed to inform me the need to constantly upgrade my knowledge, as the technology changes from day to day. When you try to return to school the costs are so astronomical. Totally out of my reach. Sort of like printer ink. The printer cost next to nothing, buy go and replace the ink, I'll hold my tongue at this point.
I feel that instead of selling degrees, they should be selling an ongoing education. I don't mind paying ,but lets be reasonable.
A degree is literally worth the paper its printed on.
Thats real big of you...
When I lived in Lewiston, we had bulk waste pick up every year. Now I realize the city counselors don't feel spending the money now to pick up the trash is good fiscal planning.
I can remember going down Bartlet St. and the trash was literally piled up eight to ten feet on both sides of the road. This being the result of people coming and going,leaving behind a lot of stuff because they had no way to move it. This creates a huge burden to the landlord, as well as safety problems to the tenants. Where do you think that crap is before its on the street. Its blocking exits stairways and fire escapes.
Opening the dump so tenants can bring their own bulk trash is plain stupid. A lot of people don't even have cars that run never mind a truck, or access to one. That trash is just going to build up to the point that the landlord has to take care of the problem. And he's probably going to have to hire someone to help, at least the dump is free(for a while).
I wonder...
Whats going to be the big Headline when they start furnishing the mens room.
We'll probably find out
I think if you take all the intelligentsia in the world and put them together, they will never be able to agree on the answer to a very simple question. Why doesn't marriage, gay or conventional work very well.
Oh there will be all sorts of theories and ideas, charts and graphs, but I wonder if anyone will hit on what I feel is the correct answer.
You see no matter how much you try to hide it, its so obvious.
Every single person on the face of the earth, gay or otherwise, has one fatal flaw. Everyone is different. No one has ever been able to come up with a machine that can match people together and guarantee it will work for life. With the way the world is changing, almost on a daily basis, how can anyone expect two totally different people being able to stay together for ever.
There are no guarantees in this life, hell, you don't even know if you'll still be alive tomorrow at this time, why should marriage be any different? Take what you have now, enjoy it now, because tomorrow it could all be gone.
I've said it before I'llsay it again
I am getting so sick of hearing this gay marriage argument. If two guys want to get married, go for it.
I know that in no way shape or form will it ever have any effect on my life. We all know of course how well conventional marriage is working. I don't know a single person male or female that hasn't been divorced at least once. Then there's the argument that everyone is spouting that anything but a marriage between a man and woman is wrong in the eyes of whatever god you represent. I have chosen to remain single, I'm happy, I enjoy a lot of things married folks can't. Does that make me wrong.
What I'm trying to say is get over it, we all have things we're upset about. I was really pissed off because Mopar built a 318, instead of putting the 383 in everything. I got over it. I didn't make signs and protest all over the place. Mostly because it really didn't matter that much to anyone else. Get my point?
Who needs it the most
We all know all parties have super P.A.C.'s. Lets back up a bit. That money doesn't just magically appear.
If by some bizarre reason, I responded to one of those idiots that come to my door looking for money for the next super human in the world. I might be able to swing fifty bucks or so. For a major political campaign that's a drop in the bucket. Presidential candidates have very little to do with their political contributions. No, for that job they hire these little insects called lobbyists. These people lobby (beg), every large corporation in the country. that's what their occupation is. Now getting back to my fifty bucks. That wouldn't get me an autographed photo. The lobbiest get these large corporations to contribute huge sums of money to a particular politician, millions. Some times these corporations contribute to both sides so no matter what, their a winner. And what is the prize? Favors.
Now my fifty bucks was pretty much thrown away, A couple of hundred grand goes a lot further when unforeseen problems arise, and a corporation needs help. In most cases they make back a lot more than what they contributed. So the bottom line, P.A.C. or not. this country is run by corporations, we little people just live here.
They can call me...
Even if a real relative called me for bail, unfortunately I'd have to wish him luck and hope he likes the food.
Stop fighting
Granted the number of truly ethical politicians in this state is slim pickins, but this continuing fight between democrats and republicans, or should I say armchair politicians, has to stop. I think they thrive on this. it takes the focus off whats really going on. Unless you can all stand together and tell Augusta, no more bickering and get to work, nothings going to change. Not that I hold out to much hope of anything changing soon anyway. This back and forth blaming amongst the people does nothing. I think if you all want to push for something, how about " no results, no pay". It works in the private sector.
Be Careful
When I was younger, sixteen or seventeen, I pretty much hung out in three towns in Massachusetts.Norwood , Westwood, and Dedham. I had a job for awhile at a place called Building 19, it was a lot like Mardens. At the time this store stood all by itself ,with nothing but bogs and woods as far as you could see in either direction.
Down town Norwood consisted pretty much of a large green in the center of town, I think they might have had a Civil War cannon. Four roads went around the green, all the merchants were lined up around it. Dedham for the most part was the same.
Three years ago I went down there to visit with some old friends.
Now don't get me wrong I have nothing against development, especially if it brings in the jobs. What I saw down there totally disgusted me.I actually couldn't find my way from one side of the down town area to the other. And I'm an ex trucker. I can't believe they could put that many fast food restaurants, and small store,big stores and traffic lights in such a small space.
I had to travel Rout One to find my hotel. What they allowed with that road made me sick. It was like they built on top of each other just to be on Rt.1. For nine miles on both sides you would be hard pressed to find a blade of grass. If you needed fast food, your more than all set. I saw a Macdonalds with a twin drive thru. right next to the Building 19 I used to work at, but that's nothing. I think Ernie Boch, owns every inch of property to the Walpole line on the south side I've never seen so many new and used cars, it was disgusting to me that these towns let this happen for the sake of money. I not only would never live there again, I will not even visit the area again.
This is already happening to a smaller degree here in Auburn. Lets see how many restaurants stores office space,hotels, banks and who knows what else we can fit in a small little section of Auburn. It's only a matter of time before he starts buying up other tracts of land to destroy more of the town. I hope, no I wish the town of Lisbon remains the town of Lisbon. Expansion can occur ,but it should be done in moderation. I think planning boards should take a road trip to towns like Norwood MA, So they can see what happens when contractors want to build way to many buildings for a small piece of land. Trust me, its an eye opener.
Here's something to consider
I guess like others, I have a soft spot in my heart for Bates Mill #5.
I know in the past My recommendation has been to bring it down.
However after reading today's article, I had a thought.
What if they left enough of the old mill standing, to move Museum L/A into it. It would be like moving a museum into a museum.Lets face it twenty years from now kids are going to be asking "what was the big deal with the bates mill #5?". Just as kids now are curious about other things like how and why was Little Canada built, lets face it, it does stand out from the rest of the city. Many people are unaware of how that whole area, including the merchants that used to be there, played a huge role in the mills history. Some day people can look at pictures of #5 in the museum and ask where was that building? wouldn't it be fun to say your standing in it.
Just another one of my rambling thoughts....
I just can't believe it
I'd be curious how the U.S. Census tabulates their results. Are they based on the actual crime committed, or the conviction rate.
Any one who follows the local court proceedings can see that most cases are dismissed. You see a lot of people in District Court, opting for jury trials. There's more than one reason for that. I've seen one individual with five or six separate arrests for moter vehicle burglary. all charges dismissed. Why? The arresting officer couldn't or wouldn't make the court appearance. Everyone you talk to knows that you have a much better chance of an acquittal in Superior Court. You can read it when ever the sj prints the various court results. Also just what category do they put armed home invasions or CVS robberies in. Not to mention the increase of home burglaries where nothing but controlled prescriptions are stolen. We may have a smaller crime rate then other states, but we have a lot less people than a lot of states. I feel we have just as much crime.
Its not the mural
I don't feel this really has anything to do with what hangs on the wall at the Dept. of Labor.
People today don't know what the unions did. To young people its just a word, something they had many years ago.
I'll be the first to admit, the unions weren't perfect. Far from it. I was twenty one years old when I was FORCED to join the Teamsters in Boston. I still have my card in my wallet. I can't speak for every company, but I can speak of one, with close ties to Auburn.
All our factories were unionized. jobs were safe. WRONG...
Some new executive, obviously trying to make points, single hand-idly figured out how to break the union and save the company tons of money. Shut most of the domestic factories, and move to Haiti. There they could work the people twelve hour days for less than a dollar a day.
That was back in the seventies.
That room in Augusta isn't there to hang a mural, Its there to hopefully prevent travesties like the one I just described from happening. Unfortunately its to late. More and more companies are coming up with ways to make more money with less workforce. The word Union is gone. It has been replaced with new politically correct terms such as down sizing and out sourcing.
The bottom line is that if you have been with a company thirty years, and expect to retire in a couple of years. Don't count on it. They'll down size you, hire a twenty five year old. They will change the new guys job description, saying your old job has been eliminated. They have effectively fired you, saved having to pay a retirement pension,and pay the new guy a fraction of what you were making. And its all totally legal. Is it any wonder no one can find work?
Come to think of it
Now that you mention it. I do have a do nothing job...
Then How
Then how did it end up in my e-mail
Like I said
Like I said everyone has a right to their opinion. I have mine you have yours.
I'm not sure which group I fit into. I worked hard for thirty plus years, payed taxes, and moved to Maine almost thirty years ago for no other reason than I fell in love with it.
Then, as happens to most people I was blind sided. I was like a cat hit by a car trying like the devil to make it but couldn't. I went from making a lot more than most people I know makes, to making next to nothing in five days. You ought to try it sometime. I'm not complaining though. I get by, with no help from the state.
So now I have nothing better to do than sit around and read Dan's comments. Occasionally I'll make some of my own. I desperately try to avoid politics if I can sometimes I can't. But everyone's entitled to their opinions
Nice try
I don't have a job
street sweeping
I got stuck behind a dump truck with a full rotating brush mounted to the front. I had to stop in the middle of the road It was worse than a white-out. by the way this was in New Glouster.
Politacally I don't care
I know you've heard this before, but I can't emphasize enough my disillusion of the political system in general. I spend a lot of time studying people. It started many years ago. First watching the general differences of people from different parts of the country as well as internationally. While living my life as a trucker, I got a chance to interact with all sorts of people, on all levels of so called management. How some people allow it to go to their head, and some emphasize on the responsibility of the task at hand. My favorite has always been the individual who gets a job, usually in small town politics, and over night becomes an "authority". As in " we need to check with the authorities". Nine out of ten times that person knows squat.
Having said that, I come to the point of all this blabbering. Governor Paul Le Page. Usually someone has to do something to catch my attention. He's done it.
Now all you Le page fans,stand down. I have as much right to my opinion as you do.
I observe several different things, I refer to as the "W's". What they do,Why they do it, Where they do it,When they do it, and Who they do it to. I'm going to keep this short, so I can make my point.
Granted Le Page had a hard life. A lot of us do. I'm sure when he was growing up on the streets, he had to put up with the abuse of not just the residents of the city, but the other homeless people. As he grew older he faced further hardships in that he wasn't fluent in english. That at first affected his schooling. With help he was able to get over that.
He did however aspire to help other people to avoid the type of life he had. His terms as councilman and then becoming Mayor of Waterville indicates that. I don't Know anyone from Waterville so I don't know what kind of mayor he was, and I'm not going to make an assumption.
I do know what kind of Governor he's become. Its very easy to see his life in his style of governing. He's a one man show. Much as he was as a child, he fought for everything he got, and kept it close. His support of Domestic Violence, I feel goes directly back to his experience of Domestic Violence in his own home.
Unfortunately, I feel his wish to balance the states financial problems is clouding his decisions with what he didn't have and desperately needed as a child. Health care and domestic assistance. Probably because it wasn't available or not within his reach.
As a result you can see the extremely negative decisions he's making regarding those particular programs. If He couldn't have it no one needs it. I feel that his negative affect on peoples medical or domestic needs is subconsciously blocked out, whether he wants to admit it or not. I guess what I'm trying to say is that mixing political life with personal life can lead to some extremely poor choices You can Like him or dislike him that's your choice, I don't like him, however I will still watch every move he makes.His choice to cut help to cities and towns, speaks for itself. No one helped him.
This is just my opinion, so don't jump all over me for it.
I'm glad the govenor is he!! Oh wait a minite
You would think the Governor would want to be here to explain his stupidity, but he's not. He's in Jamaica. That s OK, this timely trip and many other dumb things he's doing should guarantee he won't be re elected. That after all is what I want, I can't stand wanna be tough guys.
If there was ever a cause...
If there was ever a cause for the community to come together to help this poor guy out. I feel that just getting his scooter back, is only part of the solution. He needs to have some sort of enclosure to lock up his chair. Just something big enough to hold the scooter, nothing fancy, and a big pad lock.
It says a lot about our society today when a guys wheel chair gets stolen. People are going to steal anything that's not nailed down. So much for the good old days.
I can remember
I can remember back to the big strike at the Jay mill. One night I had just left my house at about two in the morning driving north on Rt. 4 in N. Turner. I was driving a tractor trailer.
I don't know if it's still there, but there used to be a small motel up in Livermore near the lake.
Evidently some drunk protester thought the road crew that was staying there were actually scabs taking their jobs. He of course did the mature thing and took a few pot shots at the building, not hitting anything of course.
The reason I told this story is because of the response of the State Police. Like I said it was two in the morning, and this sea of blue lights were approaching from the rear. I didn't think the state had that many cruisers. They were passing me on the left the right I'm surprised they didn't try going under me. I actually stopped in the middle of the road. To make matters worse by the time I got to the scene of the shooting, they had the road closed, air space over head restricted you name it.I sat there for two and a half hours before they let me sneak by.
You see over reaction is nothing new.
Here they go again...
Let me reiterate, I have no love loss for Democrats, Republicans and Independents. I do however observe them. Its almost comical.Personally I could care less if they all beat each other to death right there in the state house.
What gets me is their mentalities. The Republicans seem to think their the cavalry, coming to solve every problem since the Civil War. Well they can't do it, simple as that.
The Democrats don't have anyone with the Kahona's to stand up to the Republicans. Which is exactly what the Republicans need. They need to be put in function mode, and taken out of attack mode.
It just seems to me that if everyone took the energy it takes to fight the other party, and put it into working on what needs to be done. Something positive could be accomplished by the end of the session.
If that can't be accomplished, by all means keep going the way your going. It saves me time. I don't need to read the comics.
Its something everyone needs
Every apartment in town has people living there. These people acquire guite a bit of , for lack of a better word, junk.It makes no difference if your rich or don't have two nickles to rub together. Every year Everyone somehow acquires stuff that needs to go to the dump.
I have a wrecked canoe that needs to go, but I refuse to register the trailer just to haul the canoe to the dump. That's like registering the car just to use up all the gas in it. Lets face it no matter who you are you get these weird things that need to be dumped , is to big for trash collection, and won't fit in the trunk.
Now for some of us its just a matter of a phone call and what I call the most important tool in my tool box, the check book. Not everyone can do that. It can affect a lot more than just the ones that have the junk. You have to put it someplace, preferably out of the way. To way to many people that means the hallway, the front yard the back porch. This creates a problem. Fire departments routinely inspect apartment buildings. What they find is this junk. Blocking hallways, stairways, and emergency exits. Those are just the ones they find. These people have no other means of ridding themselves of this junk. A once a year chance to get rid of this stuff could save lives, not to mention a lot of head aches for landlords. I don't feel it would be a waste of money.
Do you think...
Do you think that maybe someone told(I emphasize the word told)Peter Rogers to say how well qualified Ledoux is? After all didn't we learn our lessons with his first relative?
I can sympathize with you
Unfortunately there is nothing humanly possible that can be done to slow people down. Its a mentality thing. Having driven professionally for over twenty years all over this country and Canada, I can say its the same everywhere. Just Yesterday I almost got picked off pulling out of Walmart. I had a green arrow and this woman was maybe three feet in front of me, running a red light, with that dam phone plastered to her ear.There was a time I would never suggest this but some strategically placed cameras would catch a few, then put fake lookalikes all over. No one would know the real from the fakes and well I guess that would be their chance to take.
Down in Georgia, They place State police cruisers in the median with dummies at the wheel, I heard that sometimes they use manicans too.
Insurance is a crap shoot
When purchasing insurance, the question should not be "if I need it", but when will I need it. Granted I've paid way more than my car is worth, in car insurance over the years. I've been lucky I haven't needed it. I'm Irish I couldn't take this chance, but if I were to cancel my insurance. Within the hour I'd be rear ended by another uninsured driver, no doubt coming from a St. Patty's day party.
I learned at an early age, insure yourself to the hilt.
There are to many people
There are way to many people who are convinced that it couldn't happen to them. That being said, it couldn't happen to anyone else.
These people are making decisions based on their gross lack of experience.
If a test could have saved my mother or sister, no price would have been to much. If you have never experienced the pain personally, your clueless. And we all know how much help a clueless person is.
I have experienced problems having tests or screenings covered by Medicare. Sometimes you have to stand up to them. You do have rights no matter what you have for insurance. There is even help out there if you have no insurance.
No one should die just because some politician or even a doctor doesn't feel a screening or test is necessary. And they should be available to everyone.
Just my humble opinion...
I used to party
If they want drug and alcohol testing,I'll be first in line. As long as that line also contains Senators Congressman and the Governor.
I used to party, I'll admit as I got older it took longer to recuperate from these parties than it used to. Hell, one night when I was in my twenties, and living in New Hampshire, I actually lost my Harley. We would travel from one party to the next in the back of a pickup truck. I just woke up the next morning unable to remember where I left my bike.
We all have or had bad life styles . I would like to think that as you mature you make better decisions. Granted not everyone does. When I got sick, I quit smoking and drinking. especially with all the medications I take, I wouldn't take the chance.
As far as drug tests, I can guarantee I have taken more tests over the years than anyone here. I've had to take them on the side of the road in Connecticut, at three in the morning. Tell me that's not demoralizing. I have nothing against them as I have never taken a recreational drug in my life, I couldn't I was to busy taking tests in Connecticut.
I do feel however that if I have to take one, everyone has to take one . Not just certain groups for certain reasons.I'll bet the test results from the State House alone would be very interesting.
That's my opinion on government enforced drug testing.
Oh, I'm going to take a beating on this one...
Keep the finatial support
Just about one year ago I lost my older sister. She was only fifty seven. She had never been sick a day in her life, until that fateful day.
Research in cancer isn't going to find cures for every form of cancer. One thing you never hear about is that research helps with treatment as well as cures. If you look back through history, you'll see many forms of cancer that were once death sentences, have become more and more treatable. First a two year extension then five ,ten and even longer. You hear about a lot of different types of medical research. Its so common that you probably don't even notice it when you hear it. Just keep in mind that these programs are looking for a cure, but in the process they come up with very good effective treatments that could mean the difference of living one month or living one decade. Granted its not working for everyone yet. It didn't work for my sister. But without cancer research or medical research in general, it won't work for anyone.
I used to
I sat and pondered those same possibilities one night, and probably would have come to the same conclusion, but I ran out of beer...
P>S> Lynne: you ought to try pulling an empty boat trailer down Park Ave. I never thought a trailer could bounce that high.
Been there a few times
I used to live right behind the store, at least it was near Luigi's. Fortunately that was quite awhile ago.
Rules,
There is always going to be certain individuals out there who are committed to coming up with new rules to protect the system. There's no way around it. You see it at work , you see it at city hall (Dept. of motor vehicles),everywhere.
Having to prove who you are has become a way of life. In the seven years I've been unable to work I'll bet I've given the last four of my social security as proof of who I am two thousand times. Its not something unique to DHHS. Although I'll admit they do tend to go a little overboard.
Having to prove who you are, shouldn't diminish in any way, who you are.
Now this is solely my opinion, but I think everyone has a place deep down inside them that gives them self worth. I feel it has a lot to do with people doing the right thing. If working to aid in your assistance makes you feel good, that adds to your self worth. Maybe you could volunteer at the food bank or the humane society if that makes you feel good its adding to your self worth. The bottom line is that everyone ,no matter their circumstances has self worth. Having to show an ID or answer questions should never deter from your self worth. You need it to survive.
Somali work ethics
When I was working, the company would hire many Somali immigrants as temps. I was fortunate to become friends with a lot of them. Their dedication to work is incredible. I'll admit , at first I was a little perplexed with some of their traditions. After taking the time to learn about their traditions. I became aware of how strange some of our way of life was to them. It made for some great late night conversations when things were slow.
Some of them went on to become full time company employees strictly on their ability to do the work, and do it well. I'm sorry to see a successful family business close just because of politics.
Good luck to the family
Jillian you've got most of it.
There is one other ,what I consider a major flaw in the system. Yes I'll admit, I worked many years. I paid taxes,I paid into all the Social security and FICA. I made lots of money. That's great when your healthy.
The flaw I'm speaking of comes into play when for whatever reason, your not able to make that money any more. Its not your fault, but a lot of people find themselves in this situation.
Like you mentioned, if you work a full time job at minimum wage you don't qualify for help. Even though most everyone knows that's not a livable wage, but its an easy out.
I'm totally disabled, making a fraction of my original pay, however their still making their decisions partially based on what I earned when I could work. Unfortunately I worked and was able to retire at an early age, go back to school (with out student loans).. I went back to work and made good money again. Then I got sick.
It seems the more you make ,the more is contributed into Social security. The mathematics of the system is to complicated to go into here, but the bottom line is , I get a pretty good check every month. Problem is I'm just over the limit to receive help, because I worked hard all my life. The fact that I'm totally disabled doesn't matter to them. Its the numbers,that's all that matters.
I know I've been spouting off about this for several weeks now in these posts, Its just that I'm passionate about everyone being treated fairly based on their needs. Not on the numbers.
I agree
I agree with most of what Ms Thomas said, there's just one thing I don't get. How do they do it?
I know for a fact that if I was to spend so much as one illegally obtained one dollar food stamp. I would walk out of Hannafords, and the entire Auburn police, half the DHHS staff, and hell they'll probably have the support enforcement there just for old time sake , waiting to arrest me.
I guess I'm just paranoid.
I love it...
I love it when these topics come up. I enjoy reading the posts, especially the ones demoralizing the poor for not working.
Don't get me wrong. I feel everyone has a right to their opinion. Its just that people can be so cruel without even knowing it. I know they don't mean it. It would be like me posting the proper way to restore an antique car. I don't know the first thing about antique cars.
I am poor though. I cancelled my Facebook account because its nothing but a bragathon. How would you like to impress all those people you went to school with, with a post like this:
I was able to retire at forty six years old. I then returned to school got two more degrees in three years through accelerated coarse programs. Then I landed a job making more money than I knew what to do with.
I was unfortunate enough to become ill. I tied to continue to work, but was forced to take disability by the company. I was fortunate that I had the company disability to fall back on. Problem is the monthly pay is a fraction of what I was making. Hope all is well with you guys.
I'm lucky, yes I'm poor, but to me being poor is relative. You have to make what you have work. Its one of the hardest jobs I've ever had.
Just remember the next time your going to give someone a hard time for being poor. You don't know the whole story. And the most important thing to keep in mind.
Every one of us is just one little virus away from being rich to being poor.
Finally someone who can see the problem for what it is.
Robert hit the nail on the head. Politicians see the same problem,their just stuck with a dilema.
On one side ,If they blame this problem on the huge influx of welfare seeking people moving into the state. They can blame someone else. the republicans can blame the democrats and visa-versa.
However if they were to see the real problem for what it is, Long time residents losing their jobs, their homes everything. Then someone is going to have to realize that someone in this state, both sides, are not doing their jobs. Trying to get a politician to admit he's made a mistake, is harder than getting a cat to lick mustard
I'll admit I have no clue on how to fix this problem, But half the solution is understanding what the problem is.
oops
Will you be having fries with that fence?
I have heared the so called interview.
It wasn't so much an interview as it was a tirade. a totally disgusting, for lack of a bunch of words I can't use here, pile of crap.
Having been a long haul trucker I've listened to a lot of talk radio. One thing a huge group of people fail to realize is that Limbaugh is an entertainer nothing else. That doesn't excuse his total disregard for decency. Personally I think he's a blowhard. There are people out there that live by every word he says. That scares me. I've listened to talk radio from Boston to LosAngelous. They all have their gimmicks. Limbaugh's is to rub people the wrong way. He's losing so much advertising over this I wouldn't be surprised to see him gone, However as long as people still listen to him he'll survive. Just remember he and others like him are just entertainers nothing more.
I'm not sure but...
I'm not sure but, I'd be willing to bet the cause of the accident was lack of attention to one thing. Its that big red eight sided thing in the center of the picture. That poor sign is so often ignored.
Dhhs is a lost cause
DHS as I new them back along time ago. Was a total mess back then is a total mess now. I'm not talking about this computer glitch, but the entire system. The computer glitch just happens to be something they got caught at. Their kind of like the IRS. They can do whatever they want until someone really screws up. That's when damage control starts.
DHHS is in damage control. I will say one thing. Ms. Mayhew is a master at spin. You ask her a question and her answers will include everything imaginable except what you asked her about. I think after she's thrown out of DHHS, she has a future in politics.
Just my humble opinion...
I think it looks great
They turned, what has become an eye sore, into a beautiful place. My concern lies in the location. That's a pretty tough neighborhood, with a lot of buildings that don't exactly look well cared for. I just hope the city leaders have taken that into account. It wouldn't take long for it to return to its former glory. This new place should be a hub. A place to begin cleaning up the rest of the area. If for nothing else but for the safety of the future new residents.
I don't live to far from there, I hope it kick starts a clean-up of the area.
who cares
Does that make any difference, evidently it didn't.
Just a clarification
Parity is what is needed for two computers to communicate with each other
keep the faith
I am also disabled. I will never be able to work again. Since moving to Maine some thirty years ago I have acquired three college degrees, a very good living for twenty three years, and an incurable disease.
I like the way the Mayor emphasized going out and getting the help that's out there. Trust me it won't come knocking on your door.
I am not a veteran, however I've found enough support out there to live quite comfortably. I get Social security, and I get Medicare which I pay a monthly premium plus I am responsible for twenty percent of my medical coverage.
The trick is learning to manage your money no matter how much you have. Search for programs that are available, not just state help. I've said this before, but I'll say it again. Its not easy. To me its just as much a job as I had when I could work. I guess the bottom line is your only as disabled as you want to be.
Oh what a problem
Oh what a problem we have with clarity
When we use old computers with no paraty
just one more thought
Just off the Lewiston exit, just make sure its between the exit and Walmarts distribution center. Lots of owner operators.
Keep it large
If you keep it large enough for tractor trailers, you would have a gold mine.
Like scales for weighing their trucks, drivers will search for an automated truck wash. If you've ever washed your car by hand, imagine trying the same thing with something the size of a single story house.
Drivers like clean trucks, some of them are really proud of their home on wheels and would be willing to pay to keep it clean. I've been out of the business for a while so I'm not familiar with what the going rate is for a complete truck wash, but I'm willing to bet its a lot more than what it cost at the local car wash. At least investigate the idea. Just keep it near a turnpike exit, word of mouth will take care of the rest.
Wow what an eye opener.
" We share your frustration, but we're not in the majority". That says so much about whats wrong with this state and this country.
Like I mentioned in an earlier post last week, not enough toy soldiers on our side. Evidently the Republicans have more toy soldiers on their side so its their way or the highway.
I always thought that everyone had an equal say, yet evidently you have no say unless your lucky enough to be on the winning side. Its called " Government by the people for the Republicans ", or Democrats, I don't ever remember reading that in any history books I've read, and I've read a lot of history books.
Maybe we should get rid of the two party system. appoint, not elect, a single group of people whose sole purpose is solving the problems of day to day living. That almost sounds to simple. The fact is we already have this group. Unfortunately they can't work together. Its them or us, or us and them. However you put it, whether your Republican or Democrat, it doesn't matter. Until someone can break this mentality nothing constructive will ever get done. Just pass it on to the people. Sometimes I think these politicians gauge success by how many people their hurting.
Just curiouse
Does anyone know of any company,job or position ,anywhere in this country that allows employees to:
!- set their own pay, with no oversight.
2- pay for the gas needed to drive to work every day
3- Pay up to fifty dollars a day for meals.
I'm sure there's more I'm not aware of but think of how that adds up day to day. When was the last time you paid fifty dollars for lunch?
I'm sorry
I couldn't resist the "you might really clean up" part.
This could be a great idea
If they expand it a bit to include the washing of trucks as well, something very popular in other parts of the country. Then not only would the buses get cleaned but you could charge trucks to run through it. They're normally associated with truck stops but we don't have them in this part of Maine. I know it was always something I was looking for. Then you might really clean up, and make your money back.
Just a thought.
I almost got nailed
Along time ago, maybe thirty years, I drove trucks for the old StrideRite plant in Auburn. several years before I moved here.
Every night I would take the same rout to the plant. Washington St. make the turn at Miami Rd. and head for Rodman Rd.
One night as I was turning from Miami Rd. to Washington St. south, with a forty eight foot trailer, I heard the skid start. I felt like it went on for ever. I couldn't see the vehicle but I was just waiting for the crash. I even stopped to brace myself for the impact. Then it just stopped. When I straitened out the truck I could see the vehicle that had to be doing at least a hundred MPH. He left over six hundred feet of skid marks. It was a blue volvo with blue lights on top. Sideways in the middle of the road. He ended up following me, right on my back bumper all the way to the plant on Hotel Rd. I think he was trying to intimidate me, like I did something wrong. This really could have turned into a Smokey and the Bandit moment. Twenty years later I got rear ended on Center St by an Auburn Fire truck. Yup the more things change the more they stay the same.
Just my humble opinion
At least I'm honest about this. I have no loyalty to Democrats, Republicans, or Independents. ( Its a long story ). I do however observe whats going on and whose doing what.
I listened to Senator Snowes remarks about her leaving. I honestly can't say that I blame her. Frustration has a way of building up in a person and at some point you have to say enough is enough.
What I hear coming out of Augusta, amounts to the same things that are going on in Washington. Is it any wonder nothing important is ever accomplished.
Its like a children's game of toy solders. Who ever has the most toy solders on their side wins.
Its just my feeling that until both Augusta and Washington players can get together and work for the people and not so much for their next election, maybe then things might start moving forward.
The times they are-a changin
I can't believe that in today's world, there are still people who deny the fact that computers have taken over most of our lives.
I have been to seminars where I have mingled with people who have been in this field for longer than I've been alive. Even they agree that without constant updates to their computer skills, they'll be left in the dust. Every year more and more paper is not being used, and it has nothing to do with protecting trees.
Anyone who thinks twelve years of education will be a waste due to computers, doesn't get it.
Have you noticed all the book stores closing, all the talk of closing post offices. How about the last time you were offered a discount for using paperless billing. At some point paper is going to become obsolete.
In no way do I think children shouldn't be taught to do math learn to write, learn history,geography and everything else the traditional way. I did. However times have changed. Just to get into college you need a laptop. Once in college you need computers because teachers don't accept paper anymore. Trust me. I learned these things the hard way after I retired. I went back to school and received two more degrees, and that's when laptops cost four grand.
Don't forget, we still dial the phone. Try getting an explanation of that term from most fourteen year olds, and they'll look at you like you have three heads. It doesn't hurt that much to change.
Mark you are so off base its comical
First of all I in no way approve of school kids surfing for porn as acceptable. I do however say it happens whether you approve or not. I have repaired hundreds of computers. I'll fill you in on a little secret, kids aren't the only ones surfing for porn. You would not believe what I found on "family" computers. I'm still trying to figure out were your coming from. Whether someone has a computer in the home has nothing to do with my point, nor does surfing for porn. My point ( which went right over your head ), is that today's kids need to be prepared for the real world. That world runs almost entirely on computers. My last job before I became disabled didn't have time cards. Everything was done on computers. when I was working in the Semi-Conductor industry, there was no such thing as pens. everything was recorded on computer. Even in college, I couldn't turn in a paper or any assignment on paper, you guessed it, floppy disc. And you still think having a computer is a status symbol only for the rich. As far as computer competency is concerned, before I lost the feeling in my fingers. I could build a computer from scratch in less than two hours. I took the time to learn to be able to compete in this world. I feel kids deserve the same chance.
One more thing, South East Asia, where do you think most components and software for computers comes from? It aint Best Buy.
Dave you can make it
Dave, you can make it. there is help out there. Don't count on the state, you'll be living on the street so fast you won't know what hit you.
You need to research what you need then go out and get it. Go to the Library, they have computers you can use. You also sound like you may qualify for Social Security Disability.This can be acquired via computer. Hospitals have programs for low income. You mentioned you fought in Vietnam, there are growing numbers of veterans groups, If you've had a hard time in the past with the VA, you just haven't reached the right person yet. The state will get you nothing, you need to think outside the box.
I'm totally disabled. I went from making gobs of money to practically nothing. Most people don't realize that their just one little illness away from disaster. What I've learned over the past ten years is that if you want something you can get it, but your going to have to fight for it. Give it a shot, and get on those computers.
You have no choise
If its going to take extra state police to solve computer crimes, or so called crimes among our school children. It only shows one thing, the kids are learning how to use computers.
Like it or not kids are going to look at areas we may find objective. since entering the manufacturing industry. I saw how important general computer knowledge is. Computers are used in every aspect of any workplace. Without at least the basics of computers, your lost. You also will not be at the top of the hiring list. Yah kids are going to be kids. In the real world their going to be prepared. Trust me its easier than having to catch up.
Thats a good idea but...
Mary, I agree with you. However if we put everyone in jail that deserves to be in jail there wouldn't be anyone left to complain about. I can hear the crickets now. Mr Obama would be addressing an empty room. He would have to give his State of the Union address on visiting day.
I think there's one regulation missing
If there going to have rules that go along with the sale of fire works, which I have nothing against. I think there should be one more. No one under the influence should be allowed to handle fireworks.I realize how hard that would be to enforce, but I've seen it at campgrounds etc. Guys who can hardly stand up setting off rockets. About half of them going sideways.
Just my humble opinion.
I think you replied to the wrong person
I never insulted anyone. I was the one who was insulted.
Cathy I agree with you
Cathy I can sympathize with you, I agree 100%. I not only drove school buses in Massachusetts but also in New Hampshire. I also drove tractor trailers for twenty plus years. I used to tell people that when I retire, the first thing I'm going to do is rent the biggest motor home I can find, just to drive on the interstate at forty-five miles per hour. That was my pet peeve. Unfortunately I ended up going back to school instead. I promise I'll do my best not to be a "mass hole", trust me. I know just who your talking about.
I don't care
I'm not ashamed of being a flatlander, even after thirty something years. Roger seems more exited about it than I do. I think Cathy just hates Massachusetts. Well so do I.
Medicare works
I'm on Medicare. I pay 148.00 right off the top of my benefits every month . I also am responsible for 20% of any treatment I receive. I have a medical issue so it can get expensive for me.
I feel educating folks on how to take what you get and make it work. Its not easy and really takes planning as well as education on how to shop for groceries. Ramon noodles and macaroni and cheese are not the answer.
I know everyone's going to say "ya easier said than done". Believe me it can be done and its not easy. I wish the state would consider this as an option, as apposed to just giving out money and saying, go have fun.
Is it any wonder
Is it any wonder I don't tell people I'm originally from Massachusetts.
"STUPID"
Clair your sort of right
Yes its true that prices go up just before every election. If you notice, they go up every year at this time. It has nothing to do with politics. it has to do with weather.
You see, the refineries have to shut down and change their production to so called summer gas. Yes we have two types of gas in Maine. Without the winter mix, if we got a real cold snap or extended cold period, our cars and trucks (especially diesel) wouldn't run.
What I'd like to know is, we can put a man on the moon. Yet we can't come up with a fuel mixture that would work year round. This would reduce all the refineries closing this time of year, thus not creating such high demand due to short supplies.
Just my humble opinion.
Who cares
Like I've said before. Gay marriage in no way will ever affect my life in any way. Strait people get married then divorced then marry again. Now there's a long term or should I say a sort of long term commitment if I ever saw one.Let the gay and lesbians marry. Who knows maybe they'll show the strait people a thing or two on how to do it right.
I'm a life long single person by choice, everyone I know is either divorced or in the middle of getting divorced. I don't need the headaches.
This is just the beginning
First of all, I in no way condone the illegal use of drugs. However alcohol and cigarets are perfectly legal. What these politicians are trying to do is criminalize alcohol and cigarets to a certain group of people.
I'll be honest I used to drink a few beers, and smoke. I wasn't breaking any laws, I dare anyone to say I was. Or deny me anything for doing something that is perfectly legal.
This is just the beginning. We are dealing with desperate people who are so blinded by their fear, they can't see the constitution anymore. Whats going to be next. They say a mind is a terrible thing to waste. A feeble mind is a dangerous thing to have in the state house.
Correction
The previous header should have read just one little statement, to be honest I forgot to ask the question, sorry
Just one little question
I once ,shortly after losing my private company health insurance, while still on full long term disability, had the audacity to apply for Mainecare. That was back at the beginning of 2011. I was only making 55% of my income at the time.
To make a long story short, I was turned down for every possible benefit the state offered (even though I didn't apply for anything else), I'm surprised they didn't revoke my BJ's card.
About eight months later I started receiving Social Security. several months later I qualified for Medicare. I do however have to pay a monthly premium, as well as paying for prescription coverage. On top of that, I'm responsible for 20% of all treatment. It aint free.
I came to the conclusion that in order to qualify for Maincare you have to be dead. As far as everything else goes I guess its who you know. If that weren't bad enough the state keeps sending me a notice telling me I don't qualify for anything.
Being poor isn't a whole lot of fun, but being reminded of it every few months by the state is like salt in the wound. Not to mention a huge waste of resources of DHHS.
It definatly sounds right
Again let me acknowledge one thing, I"m non-political. I have no preference either way to Republicans or Democrats, Independents. I do however pay attention to whats going on. I read a lot. I make a lot of observations.
Reducing the size of government is long overdue. Unfortunately convincing a person, or group of people. Capable of voting their own pay increases, enjoying all the totally unnecessary perks that go along with the job, to vote on an article that very well will put a good number of them out of work, will never happen. Unless their forced to. A state wide referendum is needed to reach this goal, unfortunately it would never get through the senate. Its a vicious circle.
Just an observation, so don't bother jumping all over me. like most everything else, I don't give a damn.
You people don't understand
You see these people bounce. Just ask the Lewiston officer who was t-boned with his lights and siren going, the other driver didn't see him coming out of Bartlet St.Lets not forget the Auburn cop who got his clock cleaned at Court and Minot Ave. Not to mention the emt, who died in Turner after being hit broadside at a high rate of speed. Don't forget there is usually at least one person totally unsecured in any ambulance at any given time.
These are just a few examples of something not a lot of people think about. These are human beings. They are just as capable as any of us of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Their bodies break just as easy as anyone.
Now these examples I mentioned may or may not have had anything to do with texting, just imagine what will happen if their allowed to text.
No one allowed to text should mean NO ONE, Their job is dangerous enough don't let it become deadly.
This is just an observation, don't jump all over me
LePage is upset that way to many low income people are signing up for medicaid. His solution is to deny these people health and other coverages.Over the years, on more than one occasion I decided to just quit. stop trucking and making good money with full benefits. I went out and tried to find work which would allow me to be home every day at some point.
I wasn't alone. Many drivers I new, did the same thing at some point or other. There was just one problem. Employers in the L/A area new they didn't have to pay anything or offer benefits, Back in the eighties there was a large work force, most of whom had at the most high school diplomas, workers were disposable. How many of you have been told ,if you don't like it go home, there's plenty more where you came from.
I couldn't find a livable wage anywhere, and I had a college degree. This same problem existed in the trucking industry as well. At least with the trucking companies it came back to bite them in the ass.
After deregulation in the seventies, there were trucking companies popping up everywhere. There were more drivers than jobs. Eventually experienced drivers got sick of the constant harassment, and retired including myself. I got another degree and was able to find a decent job with benefits. Now all these companies can get are driving school graduates, and once they get the trucks out of the ditches and pay the increased insurance, experienced drivers suddenly started getting respect. Two months after I retired I was offered six figures to go to work for a large national company as an instructor, I turned it down.
Now the real root of the medicaid problem. LePage is right, there are way to many people who need help. The problem, as far as I'm concerned, isn't too many people needing help. It the fact that the State Of Maine has created an entire generation of grossly underpaid people. People who never had the opportunity to advance their education because they were just trying to exist. Now that's come back to bite the state in the ass. Le Page must have seen this and probably contributed to this problem at Mardens. I don't see a whole lot of people leaving mardens with a nest egg to live on, security and the ability to purchase health insurance. No they could be in their seventies and they'll be looking for another job.
That is what this whole state is about going from one job to the next. Is it any wonder that their only chance of help is from the same state that put them in the situation there in now.
I don't see a solution to this problem, other than to offer a livable wage. I don't see that happening, but until it does. The only help is the state. I feel LePage is looking at the wrong end of the problem. Again just an observation.
real bad idea from the beginning
Over the years I got to know alot of toll booth collectors from the old days when you actuslly had to stop and either pay cash or use the turnpike card. I had a stack of toll cards an inch thick just to get to PA.
Every collector in Maine thought the idea of a toll booth in New Glouster, was dumb and dangerous. They built that toll booth so they could remove the Auburn and Lewiston toll booths. In doing so increased the tolls in both directions. You think its expensive in a car, try five axles. I usually got off at exit 11, had a strait shot to Auburn for free.
Problem is That practice caught on. Now in the summer I've seen it backed up almost a mile. and thats just because of the rediculas traffic pattern in Grey. More than once I've had a car get tired of waiting in line and just pull out into traffic from a complete stop 100 feet in frount of me going 60 mph, weighing in at forty tons or so. Is it any wonder I need blood pressure medicine to this day.
You have to give the State credit. Its a perfect spot for revenue collection from speeding cars. Not to mention what they get for commercial truck violations, yah thats one of thier faverite spots.
You see there's a lot more than just tolls being collected there.
I say tear down the New Gloucester booth open the road up again. replace Auburn and Lewiston toll booths, Free to get off fiftey cents to get on like every other exit, well most of them anyway.
Just my humble opinion.
I don't know how thier doing it.
If I go into Walmart and pick up so much as a two pack of aaa bateries. If I pay for them at the frount cash register, and the cashier doesn't clear what ever it is they clear. The minite I head to the door an alarm goes off and the greeter all be tackles me, and we have to go through all my stuff to find tha offending product, then check my receipt to make sure I paid for it. Then they smile and send you on your way.
How in the world do you get out with two thousand dollars worth of stuff, there must have been at least one pack of batteries. I guess I'm not cut out for crime.
Gary you hit the nail on the head
This is also a safety issue. You take a toll booth like York, just past the toll its about a mile up hill. Sure there's a truck lane, but to alot of tourists its just a right lane. I can tell you, when you have to get forty tons moving even from ten miles per hour. Thirteen speeds takes awhile to get back to speed on a hill. I've had more than one close call of company in the back seat at that toll booth. We've been talking about full speed toll booths since the seventies. I for one am glad its finally happening. Course now that I'm retired, I can't enjoy it. Oh well...
just curious
Ok call me stupid, but what is 50% average of mediam income mean?
Joe I completely understand where your coming from
I quess the answere to your question of more than one way to identify low income. Maybe refering to people as resposible low income until they prove you wrong.
Enough of that, as far as a resturant or cafe at that site I don't know. I never thought a bowling alley was a good choise.
As for the housing, I feel landlord resposibility is very important. Its not the answere to all problems but it is a problem. I live in a nice nieghbohood. Right next to a very nice looking building. The landlord lives somewhere out or state. noone can even identify him let alone find him. The building is totally destroyed inside. There is so much water damage from broken pipes, its going to have to be completely gutted.
Now those were not low income units. A management company was incharge of it after many thousands of dollars of work was done to the interior,as well as the exterior. Now its in ruins. There's four really good family units gone and thats just one case. I hate living next to a vacant building.
I think your idea of mixed usage downtown makes alot of sence. I feel its important for someone to moniter a building closely. As far as the bowling alley goes. I think alot of traffic studies need to be done before anything is built on either side of that street. There's not a whole lot of room on that road and there's alot of traffic.
Sorry if I seemed to take things to personally, sometimes I just have bad days. Then again on those days I should stick to the comics page.
Frank
Get the word out...
If your poor your not welcome in Auburn. That fact was made quite obviouse yesterday by quite a few of you.
I'd be willing to bet alot of you are "small buisness owners". Wilma, you take the cake.
First of all I've been living at the same location for fourteen years. I shop in downtown Auburn I pay all my bills, I worked two jobs for twenty plus years, retired went back to school, got a degree, and went back to work. making alot more than alot of you, but thats not important.
My Social securaty is such that I don't even qualify for mainecare, food stamps heating assistance or anything else from the state, not that I would take it if I could.
Yes I got sick and as a result I became pemanatly disabled. I make less than one half of one paycheck I was used to. Yes, I am poor, and I will not stand by and let anyone say I'm not good enough to please you small buisness owners.
I have seen examples of other low,or no income people and they make me sick. They literally destroy buildings. Not just in downtowm either. What really hurts me personally is that I am lumped into that group. When I hear someone say we can't use anymore low income people, I take that personally. If a low income person knows how to handle money and live off a budget, you may not even know there low income.
Its bad enough to be disabled, unfourtunatly very low income comes with that. I challenge anyone out there to try to live on my income, using your own financial knowledge, for one month. You wouldn't be able to do it.
I'm only 53 years old, hopefully I have a few years left in me. I would never discriminate against anyone just because of thier income. As long as they contribute to the comunity as best they can, I say welcome. If thier going to destroy buildings and live off the state, I feel the same as anyone else. Just don't put me in the same group as those people. I worked hard to be where I am now.
If they do lose thier income
I'll be glad to hold a workshop for them to help them learn how the rest of us live.
On day one we'll go over RAMON noodles. They should pick that up in a couple of days. Then we'll move on to Sunday dinner, a big bowl of "macaroni and cheese" for dad and all the kids.
I just want them to start off on the right foot.
Now I've heard everything
Mr. Joshua Shea, you have such a way with words.
" I as a small buisness owner would not want to move in next to that kind of disposible income", Lets redifine that.
I don't want to move in next door to those people who can't afford to spend money in my buisness. That pretty much says it all.
I live on sociel security, not by choice, because of illness. I pay all my own bills, I even pay for my health insuranse and prescription coverage every month. I don't have alot of disposable income. I don't even know if I could afford these so called low income units.
Mr. Shea, If by some miricle my illness disappeared tomorrow, I would go back to work in a minite. then I would have tons of "disposable income".
Your statement says it all. No poor people in my neighborhood. get the hell out of here and go somewhere that tolerates people like you. There are plenty of them, thats why I live in Maine.
Its an old problem
Many years ago I lived in Greenfield New Hampshire. A friend of mine was on the fire department, and they were going to have a meeting to address proper street names.
This meeting was about the best entertainment you could get for free on a cold winter night.
Noone wanted to give up thier particular name for thier roads. Most of which had three or more names. this caused problems for the local dispatch, not to mention a new driver of only two weeks.
A week or so earlier he was the first to arrive at the station, not to mention the only one, as most everyone else responded directly to the scene.
The dispatcher tried giving him directions to the fire as he was new to the area. I swear this really happened (about thirty years ago).
Dispatcher: All units respond to the Farm road about one half mile from Sam Perkins house.
New driver: Where the hell does Sam Perkins live?
Dispatcher: Any Damb fool knows he lives right across the street from the big chicken barn that burnt down last year.
New driver: I wasn't here last year.
Dispatcher: Oh, I'm sorry I'll give you directions. Go south out of town on rt 31 about two two and a half miles and look for a dirt road on the right. Take that right, keep driving until you see a huge hole in the ground, thats right across from Sam Perkins place . Continue about a half mile and your there.
He said the hell with it and went home, thus prompting the meeting.
So you see, towns have been having dispatch problems for years.
There are two examples to watch out for.
Unfourtunatley everyone is in a hurry. Thats just as true in Maine as it is in California and everywhere inbetween.
That being said you have to pay much more attention to whats going on around you at all times, on the move or stopped.
I could write a list a mile long of all the stupid things people do that you may have seen but not noticed.
I'll keep it to the two most annoying and dangerous infractions I see quite abit in the L/A area
(1) And this may be what Mr Webber has witnessed. Concider all the cars stopped at a major intersection, the frount line in a football game. The other side is going to try to draww you off sides. Some people are so wound up and ready to go, that the green left turn arrow is enough to draw them offsides. All they see is green, thier not paying attention to what its telling them. Always wait three seconds before acting.
(2) This is one that's especially personal to me. I see this all the time on Minot Ave. Tractor trailers arn't able to stop on a dime. Even though they should always approach a green light,assuming its going to turn red. People who ride with me in my car can't figure out why I slow down at green lights, it really drives them nuts. Twenty plus years of doing something is hard to change. First of all assume that approaching truck will not be able to stop in time. NEVER pull out in frount of a moving truck just because you have the right of way. Also there is going to be two to three sragalers. Those are cars or trucks who can not see even the overhead lights because thier too close. So now you have a truck or two and a couple of cars going through a red light, totally oblivious.
The moral to this story is stay aware of whats going on infrount of you as well as behind you at all times. Also never mess with trucks, give them all the room they want. I'm not saying that as a retired trucker, I'm saying two thousand pounds isn't going to hold up to well against forty tons moving at any speed.
Just a few thoughts...
Thats nothing
I remember years ago I was the yard man for Country Kitchen ( I drove that funny looking truck that moved trailers around). There used to be one of those green storage mailboxes the post office uses right on the corner of Park and Birch. on the first of the month you would think it was a ticket window at a sold out concert. Then about a block up the street was a mail man scared to death.
AH, Thoae were the good old days
I have a taste of what your saying
As I've mentioned a couple of times in these forums. I at the tender age of eighteen drove a wrecker for the local police in my town. I learned very well the art of pushing just the right buttons to keep us on an even keel.
I would get calls at one in the morning telling me there's a car sticking out the side of the church and we can't get at the occupants. You would think I had the upper hand, as They needed my special talents to accomplish thier objective.
Wrong, If I wasn't there ten minites ago there was a cruiser at my house. You see back then we didn't have the jaws of life, we had wreckers. I was part wrecker opperator, part emt, and part coroner. I was still in highschool.
I learned over time to gain the upper hand. You had to show them who was boss. Our downtown beat cop, took my car from behind the shop I was working at, because I left the keys in it. (they were having a big anti-car theft program at the time). He left it behind a local resterant frequented by the cops. It took me three hours to find it.
About three weeks later, I along with two friends pulled into a little variety store, right next to a cruiser that was left running just to grab a quick pack of smokes. To make a long story short I stole the cruiser. I drove it comletly through downtown ,and left it right in the same spot they left my car. With that little stunt I gained the respect of most of the cops I worked with. There was however one cop who is probably still pissed at me to this day.
Life went on and I still got those three am calls for a roll over or whatever. There were many days you would see a wrecker with a wrecked vehicle attached parked in the student parking lot. I did however keep the keys with me.
This guy has to go back to mardens
I don't look at this from a political point of view, I am not a democrat , republican or independant. I'm like an outsider looking in the window.
What I would expect to see, would be a governor working together with everyone to solve a problem that will eventually affect everyone. Someone willing to bend one way or the other. He was elected to serve the people.
What I see is a fool, his mouth is ten steps ahead of his brain. He's a thug wanna be. I've worked and lived all over the country, and I have never seen a governor use so many threats to get his way. He makes threats he knows are illegle. He is so afraid of the next round of elections for a reason. He's going to be the last one standing, and its his fault.
I am so glad my daughter had the brains to move out of state. At least she has health insurance.
Again I'm looking at this with absolutly no polotical concideration. What I see is the schoolyard bully trying to get as many lackys on his side as possible. Unfortunatly thats how the rest of the country sees the state. Kind of makes you proud, doesn't it?
I'm glad thats settled
Hey legislators, listen up. There are real issues that need to be taken care of, that affect HUMANS. Is it any wonder noone has any confidence in government?
Instead of hireing people towork and train
These out of state executives must think we're pretty stupid, or thier incredibly stupid themselves.
What are they going to do when all this training is done, fire the experienced help?
They should be hireing teachers. Someone who would work in a modified classroom, and teach what needs to be taught. The Career centers do it all the time. When I went to work for a high tech company in Portland, even though I had two degrees in the field I still had to go through two weeks in the classroom.
Thier not looking for teachers, thier looking for permanent help.
Anyone in the Oxford area, unless you know your way around a blackjack table can look forward to low paying jobs in the concession stands or janitorial work. Don,t fall for thier lies.
Its more common than you think
First of all its knob a tube (kt) wiring. second of all probably eighty percent of three story structurs have this " LEGAL " type of wireing on at least the middle floor of the building.
You can replace the top floor wireing through the attic access. The first floor from the basement. The second floor usually doesn't have easy access to the wiring, and usually would require demolition to some degree to replace the wiring, thats why its been grandfathered.
If the first and third floor need rewiring, it can be done with minamal disruption to the tennants. Sounds to me someone has a vendeta. Electritions and contractors, before you start screaming about how wrong I am, save your time. Like I've mentioned before , I don't give a damm
I'm sick of all of it
I'm just sick of constantly hearing about who is and isn't in favoor of gay marrige. I don't care. If two guys or two women want to get married, I say go for it. I can say that because no way in this lifetime will it ever affect me.
I'm single by choise, isn't that just as much an insult to the sanctity of marrage. Most of the people I know including my own two brothers have gotten married had a couple of kids bought expensive homes, then peoceded to get divorced. Then because they didn't learn thier lesson the first time, they got married again. This is what the powers that be are fighting for. Is this the sanctity of marrage? I say if men and women can constantly screw it up, give the gays a chance maybe someone will learn something from them.
Like I said, I'm single. I will always be single. If gays get married, great they cant be worse at it than anyone else. Just stop trying to tell me who is trying the hardest to prevent something that will never have any affect on my life. I know alot of people are going to tell me how wrong I am. Save your time, like most everything else, I don't give a damm.
That had a very pleasant Sunday morning feel to it, didn't it.
Totall ingenious
I'll bet alot of time and money went into that name. I feel they should have weeved in the road its on, something like
THE OXFORD CASINO ON RT.26
At least it would make it easier for out of town folks to find it.
There's one thing I don't understand
Ther's one thing I don't understand, among many things I don't understand (hey at least I'm honest)
The record keeping has been done the same way for lets say a decade. Noone ten years ago new that certain information would need to be presented to someone for whatever. Unfourtunatly there are laws in place protecting certain privacy. In order to make everyone happy. Names and other personal information, which was recorded with everything else, needs to be manualy removed or blacked out. Thats hundreds of thousands of files. Thats going to take a very long time and they can't be rushed.
What I'm thinking is that all that money should be going into a recording file system that separates this information now. Then when this information is needed its readily available.
Those ten years of records will take along time and money, we don't have, to complete. Let at least create a system that won't repeat this in the future.
If the powers that be are so hell bent on fireing a few people. Just fire them its unfair I know, but we can't afford this waste of money and time.
I have no problem with it.
Sure I could go out and climb up on a soap box and spout whatever it is that I spout (I would need someone to lift me up onto that box) This just makes it easier. I enjoy reading all the back and fourth that goes on hear. I don't see where knowing who is saying what really matters. The funny thing is , that alot of people on this forum and thousands more in the Lewiston Auburn area already know me, and have known me for years and don't even know it. Fourtunatly for everyone I'm terrible with names. I may recognize your face, but names forget it.
The bottom line is , its not who's saying something, its what your saying.
I agree 100%
Back in 2004 I bought a new car. I had just sold my old car with 300,000 plus miles on it ,not so much as a scratch.
I had to go to Augusta to get a duplicate title for my daughters car. I stopped at the Mcdonalds on Lisbon St. turned left onto lisbon st. then went up the ramp to the turnpike. This is seven days after getting my new car, I rear ended a pickup truck from out of state at the top of that ramp. He stopped at the stop sign then realized he couldn't see what was coming so he pulled up and stopped a second time. I wasn't expecting that. I was told by the responding Lewiston cop that this spot is one of the most accident prone spots in town because of the extremely poor visability. I say re do the entire interchange. and lower the hieght of the cement barriers so you can see over them from a car. Also I won't miss the Chalet that much.
Raising the taxes a waste of time
In years past the state of Maine has raised the taxes on tobaco many times, I used to smoke and I felt the pinch. Maine also recieved millions in the tobaco settlment several years back.This may not have been alot or enough, but it was earmarked to assist smoking related problems. That money went everywhere else but. Once these polititions get thier hands on any amount of money, no matter what its for, they start spending. They keep spending until its gone, no smokers got any help, dhhs got no help. money is money. Until we get someone to stop this, quit wasting our time with how much we're helping the people everytime they raise the tobaco tax. Its all a lie.
Its not
Its not the liberals, its the politically correct. They've been ruining this country for years
I guess I picked the right time
I guess I picked the right time to retire from trucking. I was only 44, but twenty plus years was enough. Damm there were so many other things going on, all the things you heard about that people were doing to get killed. They didn't even have cell phones in 99. Who knows what they'll have twenty years from now.
I wouldn't know how to text if I was drowning i n quicksand. I sure as hell wouldn't try learning behind the wheel of a car. I hope at least a few people get the message from these presentations. There not going to end it, but hopfully they'll slow it down a bit.
Just by the tone of his address
Sounds like he's in the middle of a mental breakdown
its not the administrators , exactly
When you go to a hospital ,any hospital, most of the people you see don't work for the hospital. There outside contractors. They come up with thier own bills totally seperate from the hospital. Here's a typacal example. I won't name the hospital but this happened to me.
Last February, I fell in my livingroom. I landid square on my right shoulder. It hurt like hell, being a saturday my pcp was not available to me. I spent alot of time thinking about this as I had no insurance but the pain forced me to go to the emergency department. Now the fun begins. There's noone else in the entire waiting room yet I still had to wait an hour. I saw this doctor who was about fourteen. He took a good look at my shoulder, he never had me try moving it or lift something, nothing there was no contact at all with the doctor, he decided I needed an x-ray. So far I'm into this for two hours before they decide I need an x-ray, which I new before I left the house. The x-ray showed no broken bones, they must not realize tendons muscals etc don't show up on x-rays.
This is where it gets really good. this doctor says I need a sling to imobalize my shoulder. Another bit of totally surprizing information. He disappears for twenty minites and comes back whith a small box with a cloth sling in it. He had no clue how to put it on me and I ended up doing it myself. Then I went home. absolutly nothing accomplished other than to know I have no broken bones, I still can't use my arm.
Fast forward a few weeks. The bills start coming in. Thank God I'm already on high blood preasure medication. the doctor 593.00, the x-ray 275.00, plus 47.00 for someone to read the x-ray before they give it to the doctor to read.
The sling they gave me at the hospital didn't work right. I couldn't get it to sit right or something. so I just tossed it and went to CVS and bought another sling. It cost 6.79, then I got the bill, from a seperate company somewhere in mass. for the hospital sling 107.00.
1022.00 just to tell me there really isn't anything wrong with my shoulder. I called the company that supplied the sling and offered 10.00 for the sling or nothing at all. they threatened to sue, but a letter from my lawyer seemed to change thier mind. I have no idea what he wrote, but most of the time I don't want to know.
This is just my story of one simple case. Imagine how many other times this happens daily. Do I think health care costs are to high. No I think there a crime, the whole thing is a scam. Just my thoughts
And I'll bet
I'll bet thier going to put it back in the same spot.
Thats been a pet peeve of mine for thiry years of trucking. They always put telephone poles as close to the street as possibl. at corners. Then they scratch thier head when it gets knocked over. the same goes for fire hydrants, mail boxes and all sorts of other things.
Sometimes you can't help going up on a curb, usually only by a couple of feet. Alot of roads arn't built for 53ft trailers. Check out those dumb traffic circles they put in on Turner st in Auburn. You might as well drive strait across those, forty feet of your trailer is going to be on the island anyway.
I'm ranting now, just move the hydrant back three feet. You'll avoid alot of headaches.
Now you know
I guess now you can see what happens to a teenager who gets behind the wheel and does stupid things, but somehow survives to adulthood. Some people never learn.
Its all relative
The reason the players get rediculasly high pay is because they bring in people who will pay several hundred dollars per ticket.
You ask how anyone can afford to attend a game at those prices. Thats the relative part.
You live in Maine as do I. we're used to the prices we pay and the saleries we make around here. The fact is thats a local problem. I'll give you an example. I've been living in Maine for thirty years now, for the past twentynine years my relatives have asked , when are you going to move back to Mass. I tell them never. If I got the same apartment in Mass that I have here in Auburn , it would cost me at least six times what I'm paying now. Its not because I have some sort of mantion of an apartment. Its just thats what thier used to be paying down there. So they go to ball games, we sit here and wonder where the next oil payment is coming from. Thats life.
Just a comment from a dumb old trucker
FIX THE DAMB PORCH !!!
Go ahead scare yourself silly
If you have a wireless internet connection to your computer, use a cell phone use cordless phones in your house a remote conrol for your tv, even a remote car starter. You are using more RF's than a smart meter would ever produse.
I wonder how many rf's are generated everyday by two way radios. There are already so many rf's out there, it boggles the mind not fry the brain.
Unbelievable
Its almost sad. We have alot of problems in this state. These problems have been around since I moved to Maine thirty years ago. Education is one of the largest problems we face. With out it or enough of it will be disasterous.Maine already has a huge dropout rate. That mentality goes back to the days when kids dropped out of school and went to work in the mills. Good pay, several generations of relatives already working there was an automatic job.
Well the mills are gone, and like it or not so are the jobs. Higher more workforce orientated education is needed.
So when I hear our illustrious govoner declare that he will close the schools to pay for his pipe dreams, it makes me sick. I guess it reflects his educational mentality.
I'm going to try and be nice here
First they want to take away health insurance from those who can't afford to pay for it. Now thier going to force thousands of people who are paying for insurance to give it up. Why?
Because they dare to live in rural and northern areas. These are people who need the insurance the most, and can least afford to pay for it. Many of these people will stop seeing thier doctors and put off medical treatment until things get unbearable then hopefully they can get to a hospital. Unfortunatly for some it will be to late. I'm sorry, but killing the most at risk people in the state is something that gets my blood boiling, it should get everyones boiling.
I have to stop now before I get in trouble. Whoever the rocket scientist is that thought up this program needs to get out of politics.
What happens when the lights go out
About two years ago I was in a local conveniance store during a snowstom to get three cans of cat food. Just as I got to the checkout counter the electricity died. I told this very nice girl of maybe sixteen or so, no problem I have the exact change for my purchase. She then informed me that it would be impossible to do that. Why I asked. She responded that she had no idea of what the total would be. Without the cash register, all life on earth comes to a stand still.
I then did something that truly amazed her, and possibly showed her that older people are good for something afterall. Using a pencil and piece of paper, I added up the three items ,then showed her how to multiply the sales tax into the mix and there it was "my total" without the use of all that machinery.
She was totally impressed, and I was a little depressed. Don't get me wrong I'm all for new technoligy,it makes life so much easier,but math has to be taught without the help of calculators and cash registers. Sooner or later the lights are going to go out again.
What about the rest of the buildings
I havn't heard anyone talking about all the other mill buildings very closely entwined with #5. I haven't been inside them in quite a few years, but they weren't much to look at then. those are all brick structures, and atleast one has been heavily damaged by fire. The area they cover I believe out does #5.
The only building I've seen demolished down town was near the old Hill mill. It was taken apart one brick at a time, I remember sitting there watching those kids palitize all those bricks for reuse. At least there is a market for those older bricks. Just wondering
Insurance companies don't want to hear about it
The first time I wanted to quit smoking in 2000, I was told my insurance company at the time would not cover any smoking cesasion supplies. This was a major company. My company changed companies the following year. Again to a large national company. You want to quit smoking your on your own. They had no problem paying the ambulance cost and the five days I spent in the hospital with pnumonia. I eventually quit on my own with help from Maines quit smoking hotline. kind of makes you wonder what thier mindset was.
What differance would the drinking age make
When I was eighteen that was the drinking age, it only made it easier for younger kids to get booze. when they changed it to twentyone it made no real differance. I don't know what the answere is, or if there is one.
Its been tried
I mentioned earlier this week that when I was in highschool I drove a tow truck for the local police in another state.
We would save up the most mangled cars we could find. Several other towns also worked with us.
Come prom and graduation time we would deliver these cars to local highschools. I even delivered the one in frount of my own school a 1967 chevy impala that wrapped around a tree, there was even part of the tree still in it.
We had the lectures in the auditorium, We had the wreck out frount, but it didn't help much.
I'm sure maybe one or two kids got the point, but your always going to have that attitude of invinsability, it wouldn't happen to me. I've had to use my tow truck to pull whats left of those invinsable human beings out of thier cars (back then there was no jaws of life). It aint pretty
I'm sorry, but I don't see any end to it.
Teens lack the ability to fore thought. That has been scientifically proven.
We've been trying things for forty years that I know of to scare teens to stop this behavior.
When I was in highschool I drove a towtruck for the local police down south of here. Every year around prom time and graduation we would tow seriosly damaged cars and just leave them on the frount lawns of highschools. I know what the message was,but you have to remember teens are invincible.
Back then we didn't have the jaws of life. So when someone needed to be extricated from a mangled car we got the call with our tow trucks. Prom nights were particually busy, and alot of them were kids I new from school.
We had the demonstrations and the shock of the mangled car out frount, but I really don't think many if any will get the message. I'm talking thirty eight years ago, how many proms have been destroyed in all those years. Its not from lack of trying to end the carnage.
I'll let the courts
I'll let the courts figure out his criminal guilt, but I would say he's not the sharpest knife in the draw
I was a noncatagorial
When I was 42 or 43 I got sick. I was working for a very good company. I tried for six months to work but was sent home time and again by my supervisors, I can't blame them.
I was lucky I had full health insurance, so being a noncatagorial didn't mean anything to me. If I was I would have been screwed. If I had no insurance one of two things would have happened. I would have died, or I would have accumulated more medical bills than I could have ever paid back. You see, in the beginning you have to see many doctors each of them require a slew if tests. I'm not talking about that guy who has a back ache that won;t go away. If they do have the ache, a cause can usually be found, or pain relief can be accomplished.
I had an unknown disease at least at that time but it took me five years of surgery and numerous specialists to finally diagnose my condition. Its degenerative incurable and there is no treatment for it.
I know I'm babbaling on here but remember one thing, I was only 42. If I had no insurance I would be in a nursing home now, only because my enormouse debt that I owe the medical industry. Nursing homes don't give thier servises away. Just think of how many people the state would be covering without some sort of help. I've paid taxes all my life I don't mind it going to help people.
I'm living comfortly now, I'll never be able to work again. I get Social securaty disability, I pay my own medical insurance and presciptions, as well as all my bills.
I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm not a drain on the state, I very easily could have been. Health insurance made the differance.
David Coty
WHAT THE HELL DIFFERANCE WOULD THAT MAKE MORON
We can't forget
Whenever something like this happens, emotions run wild,as they should. Everyone has to wiegh in on what should be done. Those responsible are tormented and told how many years they deserve in prison. Everyone calls for laws to be enacted to prevent this, we now know that has no effect, as texting became illeagle a few weeks ago. And everyone heard about it nomatter where you were.
In three weeks very few people will even remember this incident. Thats the real problem. We need to keep the memory alive to educate the younger kids coming along. Two young people died the other night, lets not let thier deaths go in vain. I'll admitt it won't work on alot of kids but if just one life can be saved its all worth it.
I don't think the driver should go to jail. Thats not going to accomplish anything. She should go from one school to the next all over the state and lecture other kids. also use blown up photos of the actual accident itself. The torment of having to relive this tragidy will punish more than any jail can . the most important thing is keeping the memory alive. And if just one kid, in some small school, in some small town, thinks before getting behind that wheel after drinking,than potentially numerouse lives have been saved. doesn't that make more sense than a jail cell. I know everyones emotions are high right now, but lets not waste an opertunity to have something good come out of this for those two kids, otherwise its just another accident.
I like the building, but!!
Back in the eighties and early ninties,I used to pull alot of loads out of that building.
Alot of times if I arrived at like one or two in the morning. I had to go searching for a fork lift driver to load my truck. It was a scary place at night, especially the upper floors. I don't know if there still there but the forklifts had to drive on steel plating,used to reenforce the floors. I was afraid to step off that plating. If the forktruck was on the floor above you, you could follow its movements from the floor creeking.
Unfourtunatly I don't think the old place has the access it used to have. I really can't see any real use for it now. Accept maybe a Haunted House on steroids at halloween time. I think the land can be better used for new project designed for the land around it now, it has changed alot.
I know this will ruffle a few feathers
First of all let me make perfectly clear, I feel that food stamp fraud is akin to stealing from all of us one way or another. I personally reported a "family", who were combining thier numerouse food stamps together. I reported this in person ,on Main St. They were bying more beer and cigaretts than I coul afford and I was working.Nothing was ever done about it and most of them are dead now. That was thirty years ago so you must know this is nothing new. I detest any kind of stealing, especially from folks who really need the help.
Thats not why I'm writing today. I just found out in my e-mail that I'm an independant. I caught hell for it to. I want to set the record strait once and for all. I am not an independant, I'm not a democrat, and I'm not a republican. I hate them all, I'm an equal opertunity don't give a shit. So please don't unfairly affiliate me with any group. Thank you. I can't wait to see the crap I catch for this one.
I didn't do it you did
I sit here and read the petty bickering that goes on.
My republicans have outdone your democrats. Yah but my democrats have all the answeres. My republicans will put a man on the moon during this session.
I have to sit here and laugh. If all you idiots, and you know who you are, would put half that energy toward solving the real problems through constructive conversation, who knows maybe the people in Augusta will notice and catch on. Bickering like five year olds won't ever accomplish anything, unless of course your running for office.
I'll probably get slammed for this comment but I don't really give a rats ass. Think about it.
I like the old place
As a retired truck driver I've hauled alot of loads in and out of no.5 and alot of other of the mill system which through the 90's was mostly warehousing.
You havn't had fun until you've wandered the top floor of no.5 at two o-clock in the morning, talk about spooky.
DON'T DO IT
anyone who accepts an appointment from lepage needs thier head examined.
I meant Bob
sorry Dan
Dan
I think Dan should take all his numbers and crawl back under his rock, oh and take your pal Lepage with you.
Lepage
Lets face it I hate the guy.I'm not democrat or republican. He's nothing but a wanabe. He wants to rub elbows with the big boys, that would explaine his removal of the mural in the department of labor. He needs to go back to his flee market on steroids where he can't hurt anyone. Other wise the only thing this idiot is going to do is turn this state into the biggest laughing stock in the nation.
Go ahead and build the dam
The hell with the DEP, by the time thier done you'll need an installed diving board and slide.
One more thing
I get absolutly no assistance from the state, thank god.
No you can't ignore the problem
You can not ignore the dhhs problems. they have been going on for alot longer than Baldacci. I was dealing with them thirty years ago and nothing has changed since then.
Lepage may have all the answeres in his head but he has no way of effectivly activateing those answeres. If he were to back up, sit down and work with people who know what thier doing I feel that misstakes can be rectifide fat can be cut and waste in the system can be identified. I'm sure the waste alone would balance the budget. Threatening people with thier medical needs is the most cruel thing he or anyone could do. When your sick, the last thing you need is the extra stress of medical coverage being withheld. You can say ya thats easy for you to say, well guess what it is easy for me to say. I'm totally disabled and lost my medical coverage last Jan. 1st. I'v been there.
Why
This is aimed at Democrats and republicans, I agree with Claire.
If any one of us performed our jobs the way these idiots do, they would be canned. End of problem, get someone else who can do the job. Thats thier problem,they can not perform thier job. 100 days thats all they have to work. Can't get the job done.
I say no pay, as would happen to anyone else, no health insurance. Fire the whole mess of them. Anyone could do a better job than they are.
I realize they have crafted laws protecting them and thier jobs and pay. But its time to ignore these so called laws and get rid of them, I'm sick of reading about them.
He finally said something I agree with
PUT HIM IN JAIL, a whole lot of people would be alive one year from now If he's not allowed to continue this idiotic plan of his.
How did he ever get elected, He needs to be recalled.
Can't work
Hey douglas. I don't usually wish ill will on anyone. When anyone makes a statement like yours, you insult me and thousands of other people who find themselves at a disadvantage at no fault of thier own.
Go to work, you will be laid off , its only a matter of time. I can't wait.
Lake shore drive
As a former truck driver, All I can say is that is one of the most dangerous intersections in this area.
When your driving a tractor trailer ,by the time you get to lake shore drive, your going about 50 mph.Thats over two thirds of a football field per second. If your fully loaded and you suddenly see a stopped vehicle in frount of you you have to do three things all at once . Look for traffic to your right, slow down and gently move to the other lane, if you jerk it your going into a house.Personally I would always stay in the right lane, unfourtunatly four wheels or eighteen wheels someone is always in a hurry.
I think there should be a turning lane there as well as blinking yellow light.After thirty years of driving past that spot I've seen alot of close calls,usually because I was in the right lane and being passed. Theres a lesson in there
wallstreet
Wallstreet was bailed out by the taxpayers. Now thier hemeraging money in part from all the other companies that the taxpayers bailed out.
These millionares are now refusing to pay thier income taxes due to a policy enacted by an idiot from texass.As a result of that ,we the middle and lower class are suffering. Most if not all polititions are out of touch with the average person. They have one job and one job only. That is to be reelected, at any cost.
I'm not sure but I think that is what all this occupy this and that is all about. thier doing a terrible job at getting thier point across. They need to organize, and redefine thier reasons for this protest. Instead thier starting to resemble a nation wide "WOODSTOCK".
Olympia Snowe isn't going to make that much of a difference.
Trucks
The biggest problem with truck accidents, is the total ignorance of the general motoring public. and the public in general.
There are reasons a loaded chip truck would exceed the speed limit, personally 11 miles over is nothing. As far as the driver losing control, that issue was decided by the MDOT cmmertial truck investigation.
Some time, try driving a loaded truck,(80,000) pound from rt 95 and rt.201 in Winslow to the Canadian border ,driving only the speed limit. It would take you a week. Not to mention the 15 miles of cars stuck behind you. All I'm saying is that there is reason for thier actions you just can't understand unless you've done it.
They do have a cost cutting program in place now
I to am an Auburn resident. I also had a doctors appointment in Turner at nine o-clock.I seem to remember reading a story outlining how the plowing would be done this year.
Main roads based on traffic use would be done first. then secondary roads like park ave or hotel road.Finally when the rush was over all the back roads would be done.
Personally at 7:45 am on that morning I was on outer Center st. and it was almost impasible.
You have to remember,there are two departments plowing the roads in town. Niether one has much money to work with. You have the state plowing state roads and the city doing thier roads.
Just thank God you don't live in Turner.
I could be wrong about that story,but I swear I read it.
There is help out there
When I suddenly found myself with no health insurance,being totally disabled with a ton of medical issues. After I got done throwing things all over the house (didn't see my cats for a week). I went to work.
You don't need DHHS or Mainecare. If you know where to look,help is out there.
I once had a college professor tell me, its not that you know the answere, I'ts your ability to find those answeres.
Most hospitals offer some sort of help,and I don't mean er's, there really very good about it. also call around to pharmasutical companies as alot of them offer help and in some cases free medications. Its not a cureall but it some of the help thats out there. The more you look the more you'll find
been there
Mark, just a short note. I am totally disabled,with an incurable medical problem.
On Jan 1st 2011 I lost all my health insurance without warning.I had to pay my own medical bills as well as prescriptions for almost a full year until I finally got new insurance. I know what its like, I've been there
P.S.
I have nothing to do with Mainecare
Mainecare
Once again our illustrious govenor has jumped into the swimming pool, but forgot to fill it.
I've seen the problems with "Mainecare" coming full speed from day one. It was not well thought out back then, and everyone is paying for it now.
I feel that what needs to be done is a surgical disection of the whole program. I agree with the higher copays and generic drugs only, If a person is paying copays and can't afford the whole amount at once, he's more likly to set up a payment plan with the medical facility. An emergency room visit won't result in anything.
I can almost guarentee there are many thousands of dollars that can be saved in administative costs. A responsible review of medical spending would also result in millions of dollars of savings. Unfoutunatly it will take time, time the govenor doesn't seem to have.
When the first person dies because they lost thier health insurance. We'll all have to ask ourselves, was it worth it. I think you know what the answere to that question is.
old trucker 82 hell his
old trucker
82 hell his father probably got bailed last week. crime keeps you young
old trucker PEOPLE, i
old trucker
PEOPLE, i CAN NOT EMPHISIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING YOUR PETS CLOSE TO HOME. THEY WON'T HATE YOU. They may thank you in the long run.
I have four cats, they all get along, and they all live indoors. I've seen to many pets that don't survive outdoors. I buried one this morning, a nine month old calico kitten. nuff said.
old trucker I don't
old trucker
I don't give a rats ass about gay marrage I don;t ev en believe in strait marrige
But thats not why I'm here. I'm here to help pets, DONT LET THEM RUN LOOSE. Its not fair to them.
This morning I had to dispose of a beutaful calico kitten. She died right in frount of my kitchen window. She was a ferrol, but she would approach you. I can't descibe the pain I felt, but even though she was ferral. I'm going to love her, she deservs that.
Now try telling me that truckers have no feelings. nuff said
old trucker People take
old trucker
People take care of your pets. DO NOT LET THEM RUN LOOSE, I'm upset.
At six o clock this morning, outside my kitchen window was a beautafull callico kitten, dead...
This morning I had to dispose of a very cute calico kitten. I can't begin to describe how painfull that was for me. people pay more attention to your pets. Remember they need you as much, as much as you need them. I just wish there was someone for the little cat I found this morning. If it makes any difference, I will love this kitten even though she's gone. she deserves as much. nuff said
old trucker I'm going to
old trucker
I'm going to as many stories as I can. I need to relay one message. DONT LET YOUR PETS RUN LOOSE.
At six o=clock this morning I found an eight month old kitten/ dead. She was a ferrel but she would aproach you.
People take care of your pets, protect your pets and get them fixed.
This morning I had to dispose of a beataful calico kitten. Maybe if someone had taken care of her she would be asleep on a couch right now, not in a trash bag. nuff said
old trucker I'm
old trucker
I'm hijacking a site to get my point accross. People who let thier pets roam free. Don't do it... Cats can adapt very easily to being indoors. Dogs must be kept indoors or on a leash. I hate the results of letting pets run free.
At six o-clock this morning I was getting ready for breakfast. One of my cats was looking down in a way I've never seen her act before. I followed her gaze. There was a very dead eight month old kitten. I have seen her running around in the last few months, she was ferrel. she came from Petingil park. There are quite a few ferrel cats down there, they come up here because my neighbors have no cocept of trash control. They are as much to blame as whoever allowed this kitten to be born.
At six o-clock this morning, I had to dispose of a beautiful young cat. It hurt me like nothing I can describe.
If noone ever reads this blog I wouldn't be surprised, but if anyone does, please remember. Your pets depend on you, you need to not only take care of them, but protect them. Noone was there for this poor kitten this morning, maybe if there was she would be lying on a couch right now, not a trash bag.
old trucker Why should
old trucker
Why should this matter to anyone. I don't believe in conventional marrage. Noone is accusing me of imorality
I have two brothers, they both did the so called right thing. Graduated college, got married, bought extremely expencive homes. I didn't.
Now I have two divorced brothers. Is any type of marrage fool proof, I don't think so give everyone a chance. If something works its worth it. I was married to a Peterbuilt for many years. unfortunatlly My fuel pump and oil pump went on the same day. After thirty years I decided on divorce.
I'm not saying this to be funny. I'm saying this because I feel everyone has a right to be happy. I'm not saying I agree or disagree with this, but I think its something everyone needs to analize.
old trucker I say nuke
old trucker
I say nuke affganastan, Iran, and Pakistan. They have already shown that the civilians are to ignoremt to realize what is being done to them. That ignorence is killing US solderes. Ignorence is no excuse for innocence. The only way to remove the problem is to remove the problem. That means getting rid of alquida stong holds. those are mixed with normal citizens. Kill everyone.
Old trucker Nothing is
Old trucker
Nothing is ever going to stop spending in Augusta. Once polititions have thier hands on your money, there going to spend it. It will be to thier advantage not ours. They feel entitled to your hard earned money.
See how many of them have to live in trailers, Then figure out how they can afford 200.00 dollar suits. I worked hard for thirty-five years, I can't afford those suits.