People often say we need to think outside the box.

So we give credit to Rumford for coming up with a unique idea designed to bring outsiders into the community.

It’s a proposed attraction called “Threading the Needle” and it involves constructing zip lines above the town’s famous waterfalls and running them beneath the Memorial Bridge to two landing sites, one near the snow dump and the other in town.

The group’s goal is to eventually build seven world-class zip lines totalling 14,000 feet, launching riders from towers high along the river banks and taking advantage of the town’s great geologic resource: the falls.

The organizers one day hope to have a ropes course and whitewater kayaking park to attract even more thrill-seekers.

If the zip line sounds dangerous, be assured it will require approval from both the Maine Department of Transportation and the state Fire Marshal’s Office, which is charged with ensuring the safety of amusement rides.

The goal of such thrill rides is to give the appearance of danger while ensuring the reality of safety. Millions of people ride what appear to be death-defying thrill rides at the nation’s big theme parks each year with relatively few injuries.

The key to safe operation is having responsible employees and making sure they follow safety procedures religiously. That’s the way the big amusement parks minimize risk and liability.

The Rumford area has, like many paper towns, suffered over the years from a declining number of well-paying manufacturing jobs and gradual loss of population.

This is a great way to possibly kick-start a revival.

Despite flaws, Richard III

led troops by example

Monday, scientists announced they had rescued the remains of Richard III from beneath a parking lot in Leicester, England.

Richard only spent two years on the throne before dying while leading a cavalry charge at the Battle of Bosworth Field.

Wrote Shakespeare:

Rescue, my Lord of Norfolk, rescue, rescue!

The king enacts more wonders than a man,

Daring an opposite to every danger:

His horse is slain, and all on foot he fights…

It’s hard to imagine either Barack Obama or George W. Bush mixing it up with al-Qaida like that. 

We have been nursing a grudge against the British ever since Bunker Hill, so it is difficult for us to understand the global fascination with British royalty.

But we have to admire Richard for leading by example.

When did kings and commanders-in-chief stop commanding troops in battle? 

Think how many fewer wars we might have if our leaders had to accompany troops in combat before they sent other people to do so.

It’s said that “politics ain’t beanbag,” but it is a lot closer to beanbag than being shot at.

Far fewer of our national decision-makers even have military experience today.

In 1977, 80 percent of the 535 members of Congress had served on active duty. Today it’s 17 percent.

Now, former Sen. Chuck Hagel, a former enlisted man in Vietnam, is being opposed as secretary of defense in part because he has been more reluctant than others to commit U.S. troops to land wars in remote countries.

Hagel is also opposed because he believes there is too much inefficiency and redundancy in the U.S. military.

Maybe it’s wise to have a person who has been there and done that leading our military.

[email protected]