I know there are a lot of ballot questions out there and you may not know how you want to vote on all of them. Well I thought I would put down my take and it may help.

QUESTION 1: People's Veto
Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?

My take: Yes. For many reasons really. How about the fact that as a society we should be focusing on why people are gay. This is a more compassionate approach to the situation of human homosexuality. How about the fact that the legislature rushed this through with almost no public input. There were 5 public forums all around the state regarding Plum Creek wanting to add a golf course to their plans. There was one regarding same sex marriage. How about the fact that gay marriage is one of the most significant cultural changes in American history and should be widely discussed and debated. How about the fact that as a nation we should try to be Godly and gay marriage is not allowed according to the Bible. Gay marriage is a significant cultural change. It is a debate that should be held at the national level. Highly trained, battled seasoned and paid activists are descending on to states like Maine with huge blitz style campaign designed to change the laws and move on to the next target. Local people who have strong feelings on these issues have few resources to fight back. You can say what you want about out of state resources on the traditional marriage side but the fact remains that the gay marriage activists bused in paid supporters to work phone banks and to do community activism here in Maine. The traditional marriage side got out of state money too but the ground troops were almost entirely grassroots local people. Everything about the way the pro-gay people operated stunk and it really isn't the way I think democracy should be. There are more reasons I won't go into because there are more questions.

QUESTION 2: Citizen Initiative
Do you want to cut the rate of the municipal excise tax by an average of 55% on motor vehicles less than six years old and exempt hybrid and other alternative-energy and highly fuel-efficient motor vehicles from sales tax and three years of excise tax?

My take: Yes. I am not crazy about the second part of this because I hate behavior taxes. Even so the first part is strong enough to vote yes on this. You may be interested to know that many states got rid of this tax decades ago. This is an old tax still on the books here in Maine because we love to tax and spend. It is just another tax that keeps Maine in the dark to business and investment. This is the first step to getting rid of it.

QUESTION 3: Citizen Initiative
Do you want to repeal the 2007 law on school district consolidation and restore the laws previously in effect?

My take: No for now. I do believe in consolidating school districts and having fewer six figure salary superintendents in Maine. This is one thing Baldacci did that I liked. It isn't perfect but it is a start and we have to start somewhere.

QUESTION 4: Citizen Initiative
Do you want to change the existing formulas that limit state and local government spending and require voter approval by referendum for spending over those limits and for increases in state taxes?

My take: YES! TABOR is badly needed here in Maine. We have a state government that just can't stop spending. Like a teenager with a credit card at the mall we need to stop this insanity. This may be the most important question on the ballot this year. For those that are interested TABOR simply keeps spending under control. It doesn't cut spending it just means voters must decide on increases. Most of the time in Maine we do vote to spend money. I have no idea what the anti TABOR people are worried about. If we can stop the growth of government in Maine we will go a long way to restoring Maine as a positive place to do business.

QUESTION 5: Citizen Initiative
Do you want to change the medical marijuana laws to allow treatment of more medical conditions and to create a regulated system of distribution?

My take: No I am not a medical marijuana supporter. I think systems like this have too much at stake. It is just a way to scam drugs for people. Does it help some people? I am sure it does. I have read that there are other drugs that can help people as an alternative to this. I say keep it illegal.

QUESTION 6: Bond Issue
Do you favor a $71,250,000 bond issue for improvements to highways and bridges, airports, public transit facilities, ferry and port facilities, including port and harbor structures, as well as funds for the LifeFlight Foundation that will make the State eligible for over $148,000,000 in federal and other matching funds?

My take: No Maine doesn't need to spend more money right now. Maine should make road improvements part of the general fund. Instead we float bonds (loans) to pay for everything. Can you imagine how much money we are paying in interest at the state level every year. What a waste of money. If we budgeted properly there would be no need to float all these bonds.

QUESTION 7: Constitutional Amendment
Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to increase the amount of time that local officials have to certify the signatures on direct initiative petitions?

My take: No This is just an attempt to thwart the initiative process. That process is a way for the unrepresented to have a voice in Maine. Something we need badly. Giving them more time to certify the signatures gives the campaigners less time to organize. While I might be in favor of a better process to certify signatures I think cutting the amount of time a campaign has to organize and inform voters is not my choice.

I know I haven't updated in a long time but that certainly doesn't mean there hasn't been a lot to update about.  There has been tons.  I just haven't had any time. Well now I will take a little time to catch some of you up if you hadn't heard.

Married,
Yes I got married.  The date was June 14th and I married the love of my life Janine Waugh.  We were married in Michigan and had our honeymoon there at a lake house.  Only my immediate family came with one exception of my best man Bill Batty who traveled out there on his own dime to be there for me.  What a guy.  I am still speechless when I think about it.  I will never be able to do anything for him to repay him for that act.  Her family came too and some of her extended family were able to make it.  A good friend of hers who acted as her bridesmaid also came.  We only had one best man and one bridesmaid.  We were married on Thumb Lake in Northern Michigan at a beautiful rustic log chapel.  It really was perfect.

With marriage came a move,
Yes I had lived in one location for pretty much my whole life and I moved in with my new wife.  We had previously chosen the apartment with the idea that it was ours.  I just wasn't living there yet because we were not married.  In a way it was a big adjustment and in a way it wasn't too bad.  I had been spending most of my time there for half a year anyway.  I had
a lot of my stuff already there.  It wasn't as bit a deal as I thought it would be.  

Her parents came for three weeks,
This summer shortly after we were married her parents came and stayed with us for three weeks.  They are really wonderful people and we had a wonderful time with them.  Some thought it was strange that we would have them with us so soon after being married but honestly it worked out fine.  In fact we were both sad to see them go.  They really made life a bit easier for a few weeks.  It was like a vacation for us because they kept the house.  We came home and could relax.  We didn't have to make dinner, clean up or do laundry.  They did it for us!  That was certainly nice of them and it allowed us to spend the maximum time with them.  While they were here we took a trip to Moosehead and saw 7 moose.  We also went to the White Mountains in New Hampshire.  While over there we went to the Flume Gorge which was amazing.  The only bad part of their visit was the fact that it rained almost the entire time they were here.  The weather this summer was just horrible as most people here will tell you.  We didn't get any really decent weather till August.  What kind of summer is that!  

We went back out there for a week,
We did our annual trek to Northern Michigan and had a great time.  We hung out at the lake most days but got into some of the local towns a few times.  We walked the breakwater in Petoskey and took a day to do Mackinac Island.  One of my personal highlights was the afternoon when I went over to Horton Bay.  I not only saw the Inn and Store that Ernest Hemingway visited but also met a younger man who ran the Inn with his dad.  His grandfather was Ernest Hemingway's fishing buddy and this guy's name was Ernest.  Wonder where he got that name?  The front room of the Inn was like a museum dedicated to Ernest Hemingway.  It was pretty neat and I must admit I could have talked to the guy all afternoon.  We were there with her parents and her brother and his kids.  It was a fun time.  On the way up there from the Detroit area we visited with her brother.  He went to Frankenmuth with us and had one of their famous chicken dinners.  It was a wonderful dinner but I forgot how expensive they are.  It was over $20 a person for the dinner.  Granted it was all you can eat and they gave you a lot of sides with it.  Even so I recall thinking it was really too much.  Even so you can't go to Frankenmuth without having a chicken dinner.  I don't even think there is another restaurant in that town.  It is THE thing to do there.  For those that don't know that is a town that is basically all Bavarian looking.  It is a bit like stepping into a village in Bavaria Germany.  It is pretty nice there really.  The town also happens to have the largest Christmas store in the world.  I have yet to really see that.  While in the Detroit area out there I got to have dinner at Buddy's Pizza which is probably one of my favorite pizza places.  It is in the top five for sure.  It isn't number one but it is two or three for sure.  

The family home is gone,
The last big thing that happened was actually a negative one in my mind.  That is my parents sold the house I grew up in.  They had owned it for 36 years and bought it six weeks before I was born.  My first steps, my first Christmas, my first birthday party, my first words, my first bike ride.... it all happened there.  I know most people can't relate to having that strong of a connection to a place but I certainly did.  I told my parents that it was the 5th member of the family before Janine came along.  I know my sister Carol was very saddened by this too.  I will admit I still get upset about it at least once a week.  Sometimes I can't sleep or I wake up in the night thinking about it.  I still have lots of dreams that take place there just like we still owned it.  I would really like to now build a house that will by my last house.  The place I live for the rest of my life.  I really want to regain that connection.  I certainly feel I have lost that because not only am I only living in an apartment but my parents also don't own their new place.  My sister also rents.  We are an all rental family.  How did that happen?  I believe very much in home ownership and very much want to own a home.  Janine has told me that as long as it is in an area she likes she wouldn't mind the LV Home that I love so much.  I have even recently discussed that house with a friend of mine who is a builder.  The house is a prefab that comes in a kit.  The kit contains the walls and roof along with the plans for the rest of it.  The exterior siding is included.  You just have to finish it.  You supply the slab or basement as well as the windows.  Not to mention the finish work inside.  I am told you can build one for about $100,000.  It would be basic at that price but it would get it done.  Then you can upgrade it from there.  I think I would do that.  Then I can take my time and really consider how we want to finish it.  I visited one in Southern Maine that had been built and it was over $300,000 the way they had it.  I think doing some of it myself and having my friend work on it is a cheaper way to do it.  My glass guy already told me if I help him do the glass he will give me a break on the price.  So it is doable.  

I think those are all the major updates lately.  Now that I am all moved and things are settling down for the winter I hope to get in here to update things more often.  

Assuming you must pick one:

1) Motorcycle or Jet Ski? Why?

I would pick a jet ski. The reasons are many but a few of them include the fact that I think (think that is) they are safer. You aren't dealing with constant oncoming traffic and people who don't see you. I also think that speed on the water can be more exhilerating and that means the jet ski would be more fun there too. I have a car I can drive on the road for road excitement. I have nothing for the lake or ocean. I also know Janine loves to go to the lake and while she swims the jet ski would give me something to do. I like to swim but not like she does. It is an easy choice. Ideally it would be able to fit two people.

2) Fruit pie or cream pie? Which kind? Why?

I would pick fruit. I don't know of a cream pie I actually like. I love lots of fruit pies. I love the seasonal aspect of fruit pies as well. It is one thing that makes the warmer months special. I love many kinds of fruit pies. Everything from strawberry to pumpkin.

3) Book or magazine? How come?

I don't have time to really read a book the way I want to. Not to mention many of my interests tend to lead more toward magazine reading. Having said that there are many magazines that aren't worth the outhouse if you get my drift.

4) Hot beverage or cool drink? What’s your fav?

I rarely drink hot beverages and don't get into it that much. I don't like coffee at all. So I basically drink tea and hot cocoa as hot beverages. I much prefer a nice cold glass of water and anyone who knows me well knows I love diet coke.

5) What’s on the grill on Monday–beef, pork, or fowl? What’s the specifics?

I am not sure if this was meant for Memorial Day or not but I would say normally I like a good old fashoned barbeque with hamburgers and hot dogs on that day. In fact I had such a hankering for hot dogs on Memorial Day that I went to Wasses only to find them closed. So while driving by on main st. I saw this new place had gone in where Freddie's used to be. It is Linda Bean's great lobster roll or something like that. She also has "maine hot dogs". I got a few. Not bad at all but they did put on way way too much relish. My mouth was so sour with relish I could barely taste the dog! Gotta ask them to go light. They were steamed dog with a very lightly toasted roll. Just enough to make the outside a bit crispy. The roll toasting was perfect. The dog was really good too. Just cut the mountain of condiments. I like ketchup mustard and relish to compliment my dog. Not overpower it. It wasn't better than wasses but it would do. The price was a dollar more than wasses which I thought was unfortunate. It wasn't THAT good. I also bought a whoopie pie for $2. When I got it I found out it was actually a mini whoopie pie that was literally bite sized. Two bucks? It was very tasty but should have been like $.75.

So if this question mean't what do I like to cook on the grill then the answer is beef. I love cooking steaks and beef grill stuff. I also like doing barbeque chicken on the grill but beef is where it is at. I occasionally do spare ribs on the grill too. I have a good recepie.

A friend sent me this little exchange and while the format is a bit made up the points made in this are really good. As humans we wrap our minds around ideas and think of things a certain way but sometimes that just isn't the cold hard facts of life. This little story offers some very compelling thoughts in my opinion.

God – vs – Science

The science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students, 'Let me explain the problem science has with religion' The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'

'Yes sir,' the student says.

'So you believe in God?'

'Absolutely.'

'Is God good?'

Sure! God's good.'

'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'

'Yes.'

'Are you good or evil?'

'The Bible says I'm evil.'

The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!' He considers for a moment.

'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'

'Yes sir, I would.'

'So you're good...!'

'I wouldn't say that.'

'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal

him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?'

The student remains silent.

'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

'Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?'

'Er...yes,' the student says.

'Is Satan good?'

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'

'Then where does Satan come from?

The student falters. 'From God'

'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'

'Yes.'

'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'

Again, the student has no answer. 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these Terrible things, do they exist in this world?'

The student squirms on his feet. 'Yes'

'So who created them?'

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them?' There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. 'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. 'Yes, professor, I do.'

The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'

'No sir. I've never seen Him.'

'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'

'No, sir, I have not.'

'Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'

'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'

'Yet you still believe in him?'

'Yes.'

'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?'

'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.'

'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'

'Yes,' the professor replies. 'There's heat.'

'And is there such a thing as cold?'

'Yes, son, there's cold too.'

'No sir, there isn't.'

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. 'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can reach up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees..'

'Everybody or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe The absence of heat. We cannot measure cold; Heat we can measure in thermal Units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just The absence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'

'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'

'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can Have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no

Light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's The meaning we use to define the word.'

'In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'

'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so Your conclusion must also be flawed.'

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'

'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought.'

'It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.'

'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'

'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.'

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that This process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are

You now not a scientist, but a preacher?'

The class is inuproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.'

The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter.

'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, Touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain; with all due respect, sir.'

'So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I guess you'll have to take them on faith.'

'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'

Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it every day. It is in The daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'

To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a Word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'

I haven't done one of these in a while so I figured why not.

Friday night I was pretty exhausted from the week. We spent several nights up till nearly midnight working on wedding stuff. We made a lot of progress though. Got our wedding bands done as well as got our registries started and our invitations all done. That was last week though. So Friday night I took a nap at the apartment till Janine showed up which was about 7pmish.

Saturday I worked in the morning and then headed to the apartment. The plans were to go to Augusta for the day to work on some of our registry shopping. As a side note I wanted to mention that a wedding registry is not something we really wanted to do but people have been asking us to do that and as we already have most of what we need at the apartment now we figured it was just easier for people. If we got nothing at all that would be fine with us. We just want people to enjoy our special day with us. Getting gifts is nice but honestly it isn't what it is about. Back to the story.... By the time I got to the apartment we looked at the clock and decided that we would skip Augusta for saturday. The reason being is that we wanted to go to a concert in Camden that evening that started at 6pm. It didn't make sense to us to head out only to have very limited time and possibly have to go back the next day. So that was off. Instead we worked on our Walmart registry. Oh we registered three places thinking that would make it easier for people and also considering we have people in two states. In the metro Detroit area where much of Janine's family lives there are very few Walmarts around but they do have a lot of Target stores as well as Bed Bath and Beyond. So those are the three places we are registered at. So we worked on our WalMart registry Saturday afternoon. While there we ran into several people we knew including Sue and Julia Batty.

From there we went to dinner at Zaddicks in Camden. We both had the Nachos which were pretty good. They were not Sunfire Grill at all but they were not bad. Unlike the Sunfire Grill they gave you a ton of them though. We both got one and honestly we could have easily split one. I didn't come anywhere close to finishing mine and Janine didn't come as close as I did. From there we went to a new church housed in the old MBNA building. They hosted a concert by Aaron Shust with Andrew Carlton as an opening act. They are both national recording acts on a tour up here. I had never been to a concert like that but it was not bad at all. He did some songs I didn't care for and some I really liked a lot. That went for both of them actually. The whole thing was very much oriented towards the 20s to 40s crowd. As such it was energetic and modern as is this whole church. I talked to the pastor and he seemed really nice. It reminded me of the big contemporary churches out in the midwest I have seen. I know New England is very slow to adopt these things but it looks like it is starting to come to this area. I know a lot of people who dislike the litergy and boring aspect of church that would love going to a place like that. People who don't go to church now. This area could really use more diversity in worship.

Sunday we went to Littlefield in the morning and we started a new new series on peacemaking which looks quite good. He is getting several Sunday school classes together to put this on and it is a video and workbook series. After church we headed to Augusta and did some shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond and then headed to Ruby Tuesday for dinner. After that we spent a little time at Target too and then headed home. I was in bed by 11pm I think. A tiring weekend for sure.

Billy Bob Thorton shows us his true colors. I wish I could shake this interviewers hand and say I am sorry from America.

This is about 13 mins

Name five things you keep in your:

1) Glove box
Insurance card, owners manual, tire gauge, aspirin and my car has a built in regargable flashlight that charges in a socket in the glove box. It is pretty cool. My sister also gave me the tire gauge. It is really nice analog needle style. It wasn't cheap.

2) Medicine cabinet
Razor, head shaver, electric tooth brush, dental pick and a mug shaving kit. At one tme I was going to learn the art of strait razor shaving. I bought everything but the razor and never did it. I would still like to try it. My barber told me I would cut myself a lot at first. Oh joy.

3) Refrigerator
diet coke, brita water jug, butter, Saunders hot fudge and sometimes some Vernors. The last two items are for Janine. Vernors is a Michigan staple and it is the oldest bottled soda in the USA. Yes even older than Dr. Pepper. They often call it ginger ale but it really isn't. It is a ginger soda. It has a sweet flavor that takes some getting used to. I am not a fan.

4) Wallet/purse
Cards, cash, debit card receipts, drivers license and health insurance card. I used to keep pictures in there too but I learned after my wallet got washed the first few times. Now I keep nothing in there that the washer will ruin that I really really have to have. My big loss would be the debit card receipts and I would see that stuff on my statement.

5) Desk drawer
Geesh which one. I have a few between home and work. Let's do home as that is where I am. Well the first thing I saw when I opened it is a can of snuff that my friend Petra in Germany sent me. It is apparently popular over there. My grandfathers old watch. My bike computer which I didn't know was in there. An energy bar I have saved from my first time meeting Janine. She gave it to me when I left to have something to eat on the plane. I have kept it and never eaten it. A beautiful solid brass engineers compass that my father gave me.

The office drawers at home have lots of cool stuff. A few other things. A ruger sticker Paddy gave me. Some cards from Janine. A cigar cutter. My excalibur letter opener from Collecters Armory. A roll of undeveloped film that I have no idea what is on it. The more I dig the more I find. Time for bed.

I was watching a special on the Presidents today and they said something I totally agree with. They said that a particular President in our past was not popular but that really doesn't make a great President. I guess the part I agree with is the last part. I don't think popularity makes you good or great. I think that is where I differ from a lot of the people who are critical of our last President and fans of our new one. Bush wasn't that popular and that is pretty much agreed on by most I think. Although he was liked by his base. Even so I think he was President during a very tumultious time in our nations's history. People say that every President has challenges and that is true but the severity, scope and frequency of problems that Bush had to deal with is something we haven't seen in a while. Everything from 9/11 to Katrina, to fighting two wars and finally dealing with all the economic issues and that is just the start. He certainly didn't have it easy. I think history will treat Bush much better than he has been treated so far.

I would also like to point out the incredible contrast in comments with Obama's start compared to Bush's start. When Bush started all we heard was that he was stupid and a drug user. The drug stuff was never proven but the alcohol stuff was. Bush himself admitted it. Even so Bush was a big cocaine user and the stupidest man alive. Obama admitted drug use and has also admitted to being a chronic smoker. Have we heard word one on that? The media didn't touch that even though he admitted the drug use in his book. The media has also avoided talking about the health risks of his smoking. There is a huge double standard here. You also don't see republicans running around saying Obama is dumb or that he is a moron. Sure they might disagree but they disagree with class. The worst I have heard from anyone is that they hope his plan fails because they feel it is the wrong answer. Heck I think it is the wrong answer too! Most say they are praying he can do good for the country. The irony of all this is that Bush promised a White House that was not going to be corrupt and he really did deliever. Obama in his first month hasn't done as well as Bush did in 8 years on that front.

I think Obama's lack of executive experience (he has zero) is a real problem for him and I think we have already seen it play out a lot. The appointments to his cabinet that have backed out and some of them that haven't. The level of tax issues and legal issues with the people he is appointing. Kinda makes you wonder why the coach can't get his team on top of things. Passing the biggest bill of his Presidency in the first 30 days and letting someone else craft the whole thing. Wow what a disaster. Obama is a great speaker. A wonderful orator. He knows how to speak to the crowd. Now is the time for action though and I fear his horrible lack of any executive experience is going to hurt our nation badly. I hope he learns fast because this on the job training stuff stinks.

1. Other than the usual “crunch”, what one word best describes the sound when you walk in snow? Tell us about a time you had with/in snow.

I guess sometimes it makes a slosh. The only thing that comes to mind is a time when I had to pick my mom up at her hairdresser who has a salon in her house and a large drivway out back. It was a snow storm so I went over to get her and of course had my studded snows on. I was able to plow in no problem. As I turned around I got onto a huge ice patch under the snow I didn't know was there. That was the end of it. It was so slippery you couldn't do anything. You couldn't even stand on it and I couldn't get enough purchase on it with my ice studs to get ahead due to the deep snow. A very frustrating situation. I shoveled for 45 mins and finally got out. Oh even the old floor mat trick didn't work. Later the people there told me they get stuck over on that side all the time and avoid it in the winter. Gee thanks for telling me.

2. What one word best describes the sound of leaves as you walk through them. Try not to use the word “rustle, rustling”. Share a story having to do with you and leaves.

When they are very dry they crunch. A story with leaves. Well I used to have a rabbit in an elevated cage outside so in the fall I would gather leaves and put them on the ground under his cage. In the winter they would decompose and make his cage nice and warm even though it was cold outside. I might add I had his cage all covered in plastic with a few little areas for fresh air.

3. Choosing another word besides the word “slosh”, give us your best (one) word for walking through rain and puddles. We’d love to read a story about you and the rain and/or puddles.

I can only think of the word splash. No too good there. I recall the day that Rockland got 11 inches of rain. Our basement was flooded as were lots of other people's. I remember driving along Broadway and seeing the water shoot out manholes like guysers. One of them was literally 3 feet high. Probably the most rain I have ever seen.

4. Yes, there’s sweltering. But pick one other word to describe the humid summer heat. If you’re able, tell us a funny story related to you and the summer heat. If nothing comes to mind, tell us what you do to beat the heat.

I would say sticky. I just stay by the A/C and drink lots of cold drinks. I try to stay out of the sun because my head will burn easily. Too many burned heads in my life.

5. Halloween is fast approaching. Other than the word “spooky”, choose one word that describes the Halloween atmosphere. Share with us a favorite Halloween costume you wore. If you’ve never participated by wearing a costume, let us know the wildest costume you’ve ever seen.

Scary. Not because of the holiday but due to the kids in dark clothing walking around. I dressed as a gangster once and it came out pretty good. I wanted to be like a modern (80s) gangster with leather coat and stuff but instead my parents thought I meant like Al Capone. Even so it came out pretty good.

1. Would you rather have one great friend or 5 pals?

One great friend and I am lucky because I have a few great friends and one who is really great and he reads this which is cool.

2. Are you better at remembering names or faces?

Faces for sure. If I am out running errands or doing something I can usually remember nearly everyone I see. I will often comment to Janine "those people were at.... with us". I should have been a detective or something like that. I think I can honestly say I have a gift in this area. I have been told so enough.

3. What books on your shelf are begging to be read?

A book about Bible study by Bob Shirock called Transformed. It is about a method of Bible study where you read a book of the Bible every day for 50 days strait.
Another is a relationship book by Gary Chapman that has been hugely helpful in my current relationship. Ok that one is mostly done.
The Bible is always wanting to be read.

4. Will the world be better or worse in 100 years?

If we are still here than definately worse. I can't beleive how much worse it has gotten in 20 years.

5. Is your best friend now anything like your best friend from childhood?

Not really. I think my best friend now is much more like me. The irony is that I just found my childhood friend on facebook a few weeks ago. I can honestly say we have very little on common but even so I really want to meet him in person. I want to be friends again even though it will never be like childhood. The best friend slot is well filled by someone else these days.

I was inspired by an article in SELF magazine for this week's MI-5. The article was called "Create Your Happy-Life List" and this list is derived from the little workbook box in the article. That box gave room for four answers in each of six boxes. I only used four of the boxes and added my own question to the list. Feel free to give as many or as few answers to each question as you like.

1. Every day I would like to: (examples given were: get my heart rate up, sleep for 15 more minutes, be loving to my partner)

Read in my Bible.

2. Every week, I would like to: (examples given were: cook a meal from scratch, pamper myself, spend time alone)

Go for a nice drive and then wash the car doing any cleanup needed like leather care the seats etc...

3. Before next year, I would like to: (examples given were: clean out my closets, take a class, track my spending, plant an herb garden)

Get to a great jazz show in Boston. I haven't done that in a few years.

4. Before I die, I would like to: (examples given were: start a business, try skydiving, go skinny-dipping, make a difference in the world)

Travel around the world.

5: How likely do you think you will be to complete any of these goals? Which will be the easiest? Which will be the hardest?

I could probably do all of them but 1 and 4 are the hardest. 4 simply because of money and 1 because of time but I am most determined to do 1.

I am still here folks. Things have been very busy over the last few months between two weeks of being sick, holidays, travel and the like. I anticipate some updates this week. Thanks for staying tuned.

This Five is not so much concerned with what kind of movies you like,
but how you watch them!

1) When you're at the theater, how do you want your atmosphere? Do
you prefer old theaters or megaplexes? Full houses or intimate
seatings? Lots of kids, or none at all?

I prefer my theater at home quite frankly. I can pause when need be and really experience the purity of the directors intent because I am not distracted by others. I also have better resolution and a screen that isn't dusty. I also have chosen all of the equipment personally and I sit in my red butter soft leather chair that is right in the sweet spot.

If I must leave the house to watch movies then I guess whatever theater has the fewest people in it. I just really dislike the distraction of other people's reactions. I guess I should give an example so as not to sound like a total snob. About ten years ago I went to see Rear Window at the Bayview Street Cinema. The expected treat of seeing a Hitchcock in the theater was too much to resist. Not to mention a friend wanted to go. My first complaint was that the heating system would run during the film and it was a noisy hot air system. When it was running I could literally not hear what people were saying. The sound was terrible. I had heard good things about this place so I was shocked. It was a very charming theater but not high quality at all. The issue with people being there is that I found people would laugh at all the wrong spots. They would laugh at things that aren't funny. It was clear to me that the people there were not into the movie at all and instead were there just looking for brainless entertainment. It made me realize that the best place to watch movies is in my own theater. Oh my theater is named The Barclay Theater and we just celebrated our 15th anniversary.

2) What's your "home theater" like? High tech? VCR and TV? What?

Currently it is paradigm reference for the speakers. The surround processor is Denon which I love. I am a big fan of separate processor and amp but man this Denon is just wonderful. It totally amazes me that more people don't buy Denon. The TV is a 37" LCD HD tv made by Olevia. My DVD player is nothing to write home about but it does do upsampling which is why I bought it. When the Blu Ray players come down in price a little more I will be getting one of those as my main player. I also have a DVD recorder but I never use it. I should sell it.

3) We've probably all got DVD and VCR players, but how about
alternative movie watching gadgets? Have you got an Apple TV? Ever
watch a movie over the Internet?

I have a few things. The first of course is my iPod Touch. I also own a portable DVD player with an 8 inch screen that I bought to use at the gym. I paid like $80 for it and it has rechargable batteries, a full car kit, remote control and full indoor kit. An amazing deal. I got the cheap one as I wanted to take it to the gym and if it got banged around then no problem. Still works great. My only complaint is that the battery doesn't last very long anymore.

4) Do you belong to a subscription movie rental service, like
NetFlix? If so, how many movies are you renting a month? Are you
happy with the service?

I do belong to Netflix and I like it a lot. It has helped me to really explore my movie interest. Most of what I rent is older. For instance I went through the movies of the "new hollywood era" and I have gone through a lot of the "film noir" era too. I have watched every Bogart film on DVD. I have watched most of the Woody Allen. Right now I am doing Sherlock Holmes. I have Charlie Chan, the Coen Brothers and W.C.Fields on my queue right now to name just a few.

I am doing the 2 at a time right now and I like that. I have done one at a time and three at a time in the past. If I had every night to dedicate to movie watching I would do 5 at a time.

5) Share with us your ratio of buying movies to renting them. Do you
rent more, or just outright buy your movies? Do you get DVDs, tapes,
or movie downloads for your computer most frequently?

I have about 300 dvds currently but that can't match how many I have rented through Netflix. I think the last time I looked I had rented over 500 from Netflix and I currently have over 100 on my queue. Everytime I go on there I could add 50 to my queue but I try to resist doing that. I would love to get down to about 20 movies and then just load up my queue again but I seem to add 10 or 20 everytime I get down a bit and put myself over 100 again.

It’s that time of year – back to school with the kids (that’ll learn ‘em to complain about being bored during summer vacation!). Look back to your high school years & answer these questions five:

1. Think back to the soundtrack of your high school years – what were you listening to then?

By the time high school came around I had dropped out of the current music scene and I was on a steady diet of 60s and 70s popular music. It was musically some of the best years of my life. I was having a great time exploring and finding new (to me) stuff. What a great time.

2. It’s an average Thursday night– what’s on TV?

I remember the Cosby Show for sure. I also remember the spinoff show A Different World and who could forget Cheers. I also recall watching the Honeymooners a lot when I was in high school. You could catch them most nights at 10pm and 11pm on WGN from Chicago and also on WSBK out of Boston. I didn't always make the 11pm showing as that was pretty late but always the 10pm showing.

3. What was playing at the local Bijou then?

I recall during high school that Driving Miss Daisy came out. Being kind of interested in history and retro stuff (see my music answer) that was the first movie I ever saw that was really done well from a historical perspective. For that reason I liked it quite a lot. I also recall taking a first date to the movie War of the Roses. A bad choice for a date movie but I didn't know what it was about. It wasn't my choice actually. It left us both with such a bad impression we decided to try another first date. We did and ended up dating for a while.

4. What character from “The Breakfast Club” best described you during high school: Judd Hircsh, the brooding rebel without a cause? Molly Ringwald’s pampered princess? Ally Sheedy’s freak in need of a bottle of Head & Shoulders? Emilio Estevez’s varsity jacketed jock? Or Anthony Michael Hall’s dweeby dork?

Judd Hirch wasn't in the Breakfast Club but it is funny that this question has that because it reminded me of another TV show I used to love during my high school years called Dear John that did star Judd Hirch. Jay meant to say Judd Nelson who is actually from Portland, Maine. Tisk tisk Jay. Ok now to actually answer the question... Honestly I don't think I fit any of them. I would say the dweeby dork as I would sometimes hang with that crowd but I wasn't "with" them. I wasn't really with anyone. I was a loner who didn't belong to any group but was welcomed in all fo them.

5. Does looking back at your junior & senior high class pictures cause you to cringe, wondering why nobody stopped you from walking out into public looking like that? Why? Mullet? Poodle perm?

My hero during my formative years was James Bond. So I liked to try and look a bit "gentleman chic" so to speak. As such I tried to make my senior pictures look that way. I staged them and picked out the outfits. My favorite was one taken next to a brick wall looking off to one side. I told the photographer exactly what I wanted. So I look back at that photo which is my yearbook photo and see my full head of hair and wish I still looked that good! Other than that photo I don't think there is a single photo of me in my yearbook at all which is how I wanted it. My junior year one is pretty bad but they were just group photos taken at random. You didn't know where or when at all.

A great five! Thanks Jay!

This five has been inspired by Bill's recent purchase of an i-Pod Touch
(http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch).

1) Do you use some form of PDA (personal digital assistant)/MP3 player/smart phone for contacts and calendar items? If so, what is it, and what do you use it for? If you don't use some sort of digital calendar, what do you use?

Yes! I have an Ipod Touch and I LOVE it. I do everything with it. I have looked at the blackberrys and all the other smart pdas and stuff. The touch is the best. I use mine for the calendar, email, web browsing, using the woot tool, the weather app, the calculator, the notes app, the contacts app, the wikipedia app, the bible app, telnet app, and several cool games. You can downlaod lots of free apps right now and it really makes this like a computer but with lots of great little free apps you can download. You can buy them too if you want. Oh I nearly forgot that I use this for listening to music at the gym as well as watching videos at the gym. I also use the photos section. You can even download songs on the go with this thing. I love it. You have to get one.

2) Do you use any sort of MP3 player? If not, do you use anything for "music on the go"?

The ipod touch. I have several hundred songs as well as many podcasts of talk shows and some audio books. At the gym or on a flight this thing is your best friend.

3) Do you have a favorite application you run on your PDA/MP3/smart phone? What is it? If you don't use one, how about some cool application you like on your computer?

I think the video part is the best. The quality is amazing and can offer you instant entertainment. The screen is big enough so that you don't get all weird feeling after a while too.

4) How about a favorite game on your widget? If you're non-widget-ized, what games do you like to play on your computer?

Right now my favorite Ipod game is BSkies but I also like Funky Punch, solitaire, vegas pool and air hockey. The coolest app is a program you can use in your car that uses the accelerometer in the touch. You can measure Gs and horsepower. It is very cool and saves you the money of buying one of those gagets that do it for nearly the price of the whole touch. The app was FREE.

5) Most little gadgets have a way to personalize them, like a cover or faceplate or something. What's on yours? If you don't own one, tell us about something else you've personalized.

I have this great rubber housing from InCase which I got at the Apple Store. It was nearly $30 for this thing but it really is better than some of the others I have seen. It is thicker and seems to offer the touch the perfect level of protection from drops without making it so thick you can keep it in your pocket.

I have had my touch for nearly a year and a half and it is largely in the same condition it was when I bought it. The back got scratched before I got the rubber case but that is it. I have dropped this thing tons of times. The glass is still scratch free. It gets dirty but a damp cloth makes it like new. This thing is tough! It is a quality device that makes the stylus devices look old. Apple did this one really right. I should also mention that it has crashed on me zero times and believe me I use this thing every day.

1. Is there a term or expression you dislike?

Yes the expression "if you have to ask (the price) you can't afford it".
I dislike it because it isn't true. How many people blindly hand over
money without even knowing the price. Chances are if they do they don't
have money for long. Most people of means got there by being smart with
money. How do you pay them for it without knowing the price? I think it
is a ridiculous expression.

2. A place you dislike?

The Good Tern Coop. Too expensive, too fru fru, too political. I have nothing against eating healthy and I am trying very hard to do that myself. I just find everytime I go in there I walk out dissapointed or paying a lot more than I should have for something I could have gotten elsewhere for less. I also think the whole coop thing is a sham. It is just another name for the very same things that corporations do but we will call it a coop so it is all different. Gimmie a break.

3. A food or cuisine you dislike?

I am not crazy about Thai. I actually got very sick on Thai food once but even before that I wasn't all that crazy about it.

4. A social situation you dislike?

I dislike social situations where people start talking matter of factly about politics. I find this is almost always liberals who will make comments as if everyone agrees with them. After all nobody would be stupid enough to disagree right? This happens with conservatives sometimes but not often in my experience. I dislike it from any point of view though. Liberals are supposed to be the open minded and accepting group in our society yet seem to have the least ability to respect the idea that someone else might have a different point of view that could be valid.

5. A theory or idea you dislike?

I would say the theory that if everyone does it then it must be the best. I find in most situations what most people do is the worst choice in terms of quality. Most people make the easy choice most of the time. Charlie at the Owls Head Transportation Musuem once said to a group I was in something that was very interesting and this bit of wisdom stuck with me. He mentioned that people act on the motivation to either escape pain or to gain pleasure. Very true! The shortest path to pleasure isn't always the best.

I was listening to Lars Larson when I wrote this. Can you tell! =)

his is all about where YOU live:

1. If I were coming to visit you- what time of year would you suggest?

Autumn if you wanted to see color but if you wanted to do a lot of activities I would say summer. Autumn is great for those who take things slower. It tends to be when we get our older tourists. If you are active and want to really have adventure then I think summer is better.

2. Any specific things you would suggest I visit while there.

A ton of things. Acadia National Park is pretty high on the list. Boothbay Harbor is nice as well as the Portland Old Port. If you love rugged wilderness and you want to see wildlife then the Moosehead Lake region is the place to see. There are lighthouses, beautiful coastline, beaches, mountains, pretty towns and amazing islands. Maine is an amazing place. Seeing Maine with Janine has opened my eyes wider than ever to the beauty of this place. America is a beautiful place and Maine is a real jewel in that crown. I think everyone should visit Maine once. Few people won't be touched.

3. Where should we eat?

Well you have to eat lobster and if you like lobster there are tons of great places. I would suggest eating at one of our great seafood restaurants like the Lobster Pound in Lincolnville. I would also suggest eating at a "lobster wharf" style restaurant such as Millers Lobster Wharf or Shaw's Lobster Wharf. Then you can't miss our many roadside food stands of which many sell lobster rolls. If you don't like lobster I would suggest trying an Italian Sandwich which are made somewhat unique here in Maine. Whoopie pies are great as well and you should try some Moxie even though you probably won't like it. It will give you a laugh. Needhams aren't just a Maine thing but I find you can't get them in lots of places. I would also suggest trying some of our blueberries or strawberries in the summer. Oh our apples are great too.

4. Is there anybody I should meet?

Billy Rhthym is high on the list. I am really not sure on this one. I know many people from out of state don't really understand true locals well and they often misread them with negative results. I have seen this happen more than once. I find most people in Maine are very nice and the kind of people that help out when you need it. Maine is also almost crimeless compared to the rest of the nation.

5. Where else should I visit in your state?

For a truly unique experience I would suggest Monhegan Island. When you visit make sure to watch for porpoises swimming with the boat and also make sure you visit the "cliff" side of the island. It is one of the most amazing places on earth in my opinion. It is a hike and not always easy but it is worth it. Very very worth it.

Use this word equation, fill in the variable with each of the five
words, and answer on your blog.

"If I were an "X," I'd be a (blank), and here's why..." For the
variable X, insert each of these:

1) Snack cake

A little snack carrot cake. Sweet inside and out and oops a little bit good for you. Who saw that one!

2) Car

A Hummer H2. Big and heavy with some sense of style and very comfortable. Also kinda techie.

3) Kitchen Utensil

A spoon because like a spoon I tend to be into everthing.

4) Famous Rich Person

Without doing much research I would say Richard Branson. The only reason I say that is because he always looks so happy and if I was rich I would want to be happy and enjoy my wealth. I would do that by giving a lot away.

5) Over the counter medicine

Ibuprofen. The reason being that I always try to be calm and improve things if I can. Ibuprofen calms swelling and by doing so improves pain and hopefully makes it tolerable.

Did I ever do this right? Not sure!