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CapeCodToday Blog Chowder

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04/05/09 @ 12:00 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: You are missing the point
proudamerican. Please do not assume us be of any particular Party. I have campigned for Republicans yet still I cannot defend the overriding concerns presented by recent policy. That is why I do not attach myself to any particular political party, despite having been courted by the NRC and even receiving a NRC medal bearing the likeness of Ronald Reagan.
The fact is that things are far more centrist these days, and buzzwords such as "socialism" are often used in attempts to stir emotion. This is why I feel Mr. Perry's announcement showed discernable leanings.
How do we define "socialism" If it means more affordable health care most centrists would still support it, after all, Social Security in itself has socialist leanings and nobody wants to cut the benefits for the elderly.
Most centrists also agree that Public Welfare can be abused and should be regulated accordingly.
So too should banks and corporations, correct? But that is not the Party Line.
So we require transparency and oversight of Welfare moms but we need less regulation of banks and businesses???
04/04/09 @ 4:33 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: You are missing the point
Mr. Perry, I do respect your position as both a Legislator and Jurist, so I read some of your writing at the link you provided.
You wrote:
"...there are basic assumptions that the voting public makes when you call yourself a Republican. Such things as ensuring fiscal responsibility, fighting to make government smaller and closer to the people, protecting family values and reducing taxes are beliefs that if you choose to label yourself as a member of the Republican Party..."
Let's consider point one-fiscal responsibility. The floating dollar and Iraq wars are far from the ideal of fiscal responsibility.
As far as making government
"smaller and closer to the people", that is a noble goal, but not quite evidenced by things like the Patriot Act/illegal wiretapping/librarian hassling and host of other arguably unconstitutional Federal intrusions. That's big government, big scary government.
You do seem ready and willing to criticize your own party from time to time on various issues. I respect that.
You are also correct that the middle of the road voters are key.
04/04/09 @ 12:48 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: You are missing the point
I tend to agree, voice.
The D side deserves some flak, too.
04/04/09 @ 12:25 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: You are missing the point
I read the capital "R" after your name as an abbreviation for "Republican". My apologies.
Let me explain my position better.
First of all, you make a vocal objection to "overspending" but look at the policies of your Party. Military overspending has been phenomenal.
In terms of our financial woes, the reduced value of the dollar is a very real threat, and caused by unregulated printing of money, a Republican phenomenon at its start with Nixon and recently with its continuation to fund war efforts.
One of our greatest strengths in terms of "taking back our country" is rebuilding our industrial base.
The FTC has enabled mergers that strengthen only the most potent oligopolies, the very antithesis to free trade. The FTC is politically appointed.
I do agree that corporate favoritism should be ceased, but I trust legisaltors least of all to elicit such change, as they often know their lobbyists better than their constituents.
I feel you are relying on emotion and inflammatory labels.
I'm hungry for substance.




04/04/09 @ 11:53 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to:
voiceofreason- I respect your opinion, perhaps there is a touch of hypocrisy.
Regardless, the ills I cite are directly attributable to those I identify.

So too go you good sir...
Quote...
"Getting more and more socialist/Marxist every day around here."

04/04/09 @ 8:14 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to:
Um, it was Republicans who started the big bailout mess, and republicans who bankrupted us due to war spending and printing tons of new cash.
The first step towards taking back America would be to accept the incontrovertible fact that we all are Anmericans, rather than trying to divide us with the constant labeling, "socialists", "Republicans"
"Democrats" "Liberals" "Conservatives"
That is the language of civil war, not unity.
United we stand, divided we fall!!!
Damn am I glad to be unenrolled.
04/03/09 @ 4:00 pm
I was approaching the worksite today and a BPD detail was "directing traffic", more accurately staring at the excavator.
He waved me on just before another car approached from the other direction.
If I had followed his instruction I would have hit the other car. If he had even looked he never would've waved me on.
Seriously, someone needs to pay better attention.
09/11/08 @ 7:39 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Route 6: "Patti Page Highway"?
Patti Page's influence is definitely appreciated, but I don't think that's such a good idea. We could easily bestow numerous other Cape Codders with that honor, like Katherine Lee Bates, JFK or Robert Ballard, but to choose one over another seems dubious. It reminds me of the episode of The Simpsons where Sideshow Bob names the new highway, "The Matlock Expressway" in exchange for the senior vote.;)
09/09/08 @ 3:41 pm
I saw the new pamphlets placed at mile 4 on the Rail Trail last week. I'll be sure to check out the areas I am unfamiliar with. Bell's Neck and the resovoirs are already favorite spots to walk. I took pictures of swans and cygnets at the resovoir a few times this summer, and I will post them later this year on my new blog, "The Poet's Perspective" coming soon on capecodtoday. Thanks, Susan!
09/08/08 @ 6:44 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Libel lawsuit filed against Cape blogger
I wish Mr. Robbins the best of luck, and feel strongly that the anti-SLAPP laws were made for just such an action.
09/06/08 @ 10:15 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Hanna's In The Hizzy!
It looks like it'll be minor, much worse for central Mass.
09/06/08 @ 7:43 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Hanna's In The Hizzy!
I should leave some playful comment as tit for tat, but I am feeling uncreative tonight! Stay safe Stacy!
09/02/08 @ 10:15 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: 1993: Cape Cod's Little Secret
Whoever mowed the lawn at the windmill did a terrible job!
09/01/08 @ 10:41 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Bass River rumbles and rambles
Here is a sonnet I wrote inspired by walking the banks of Bass River in winter.

Sonnet #1

This river runs much clearer this time of year.
When puffs of chimney smoke and frost do appear-
I’m drawn, bundled and amazed to this altitudinous place.
Where the wind chills my nose and the snow soothes my face-
To my left is a marsh; dead ahead is the edge of the river.
The marsh grass is as fox-fur, the river cold like winter.
A twelve foot drop from the forest to the beach-
Toppled pitch pines lay akimbo and awry in that breach.
The skeletons of root balls raise their tendrils to the sky.
Buffeted by wind and water, rendered smooth and dry-
I’m humbled by this tide, such fodder for reflection.
When its power makes the river, like clockwork, change direction,
Shall I too immerse in nature, forever endeavoring bliss?
At least I’ll vow as I do now to embrace this cold abyss!
09/01/08 @ 10:35 am
I offer my condolensces to the McDonald family and praise for the quick actions of Tanya O'Donnell and others. The feeling is bittersweet, to be sure. What a tragedy for the girl who lost her father in this incident.
08/30/08 @ 10:02 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Coast Guard pulls three teenagers from water
That's why they call me "jon jon the phenomenon" ;)
08/30/08 @ 8:05 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Coast Guard pulls three teenagers from water
I heard recently that they will make you immune to pheromones. I guess charm will have to do in their absence.
08/30/08 @ 10:57 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Bass River rumbles and rambles
Great observations on the difference bewteen the Yarmouth and Dennis banks of Bass River. One side is conservation-minded, the other infested with short-sighted construction. My family frequents Indian Lands when the bicycling season ends, and have an Easter Egg hunt every Easter Sunday on the lady slipper side.
We live on the tracks that will soon be Rail Trail, and we regularly walk to the railroad bridge and dig for fiddler crabs with the kids. I hope for the speedy construction of the extension so we can access the Rail Trail from home. I wonder if the extension will go along White's Path as well, maybe crossing over Station Ave. If you ahve any specifics about that I'd be curious.
Thansk for the great article, Susan.
08/30/08 @ 8:01 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: DA's Stolen Handgun Not Entered in Database
Meanwhile he's prosecuting that Worthington Author on gun charges, At least that guy had serial numbers!
08/29/08 @ 9:49 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: DA wants me jailed says Manso; Author fires back
This smacks of hypocrisy, seeing that The DA himself allegedly possesed firearm without the proper ID, and no record of a serial number.
08/29/08 @ 9:44 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: DA's Stolen Handgun Not Entered in Database
Um, Robbins, not Roberts. Sorry about that typo! The plot thickens concerning Mr. O'Keefe. We need a DA with more apparent integrity than this one. Stuff like this brings into question the ability of Mr. O'Keefe to uphold the law, and the Sandwich PD's allegiance as well. Both are duty-bound to serve the public and instead thay seem more concerned with serving each-other. It sickens me.
08/29/08 @ 9:36 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: DA's Stolen Handgun Not Entered in Database
Keep digging, Mr. Roberts. We appreciate you using your investigative expertise posing questions many are afraid to ask. Keep up the good work!
08/29/08 @ 7:35 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Coast Guard pulls three teenagers from water
Another great rescue USCG! We appreciate your service! I guess this underscores the need to wear, rather than stow PFD's.
08/29/08 @ 12:10 am
Re: Capedoggie. No kidding! He keeps his cruiser at his house like 24-7 and the tires are practically stuck to the driveway. The other BPD canine officer is a lot more active and fit. I've greeted him as he walks his dog in Cotuit, professional and courteous all the way.
08/27/08 @ 8:52 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Police arrest second suspect in mall stabbing
I want to hear the full story, too. I was wondering what was up with that heavy handed shutdown. You should trust your writers' journalistic autonomy, rather than post-editing unsavory or unpopular writing, then improperly accusing those contributors. Calling you out on that was far from "childish" or "off topic" IMHO.
08/26/08 @ 6:47 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Hyannis airport terminal could be named for Kennedy
Great idea! Ted Kennedy deserves the honor. I wish him the best in his battle and I won't forget the favor he did for my late grandfather. My grandfather's funeral was the same day as Nixon's, so no USMC Honor Guards were available that weekend. A Friday afternoon call to The Senator's Office was all it took. There was an Honor Guard present for my grandfather, thanks to Mr. Kennedy. Ironically he was a staunch Republican. :)
08/25/08 @ 9:38 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: 100-year-old willow tree hit by lightning
What a shame. That tree was a landmark.
08/24/08 @ 4:25 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: How Simple Do You Want It?
I love the Frazetta illustration as well! It reminded me of Ned, strangely enough!
Thanks for the thoughtful response, Danny. It's encouraging to have such polite and well-balanced discourse.
God bless your efforts, however you may interpret His or Her word.
08/24/08 @ 7:59 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: How Simple Do You Want It?
I wasn't aware how engrained "God" is into the steps. Thanks for explaining. Yet still I feel we trade one crutch for another. To claim to know what "God" wants for us could easily seem delusional or even blasphemous, depending on one's outlook. Concrete things such as benefitting one's health, clearing one's head, loving one's family more fully, caring for friends and tending better to life's affairs seem easy to grasp, and free from the polarity and subjectiveness of claiming to know God.
Regardless, if it works I can't argue too much, yet I still suspect there are many nonbelieving addicts who would benefit from a more secular approach.
08/23/08 @ 7:23 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: How Simple Do You Want It?
c'est la vie !
08/23/08 @ 7:22 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: How Simple Do You Want It?
BTW, it's "c-est la vie"
08/23/08 @ 7:20 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: How Simple Do You Want It?
Spirituality and "God" are not joined at the hip. It is possible to be spiritual without belief in God, and make no mistake "God" to some is just as blinding, harmful and self-absorbing as alcohol. I recently posted online concerning my own effort to break an addiction that was 20 years running. I was told in no uncertain way that the 12 step approach was my only hope, that my own strength could never get me through the crisis. I also expressed skepticism at the "God" approach inherent in these programs.
I am happy to report that indeed my own personal resolve was enough, and I am done forever with my addiction, no desire to relive it EVER AGAIN. I would encourage AA to drop the "God Card" and thus encourage broader participation. We don't all believe, and many nonbelievers need help, too. Nothing is more divisive than politics and religion. which is why it is important to keep these things away from programs that aim at broad portions of the population, so as not to exclude those you wish to help.
08/22/08 @ 5:31 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: The Story of my love
At first I ws going to ask how your wife felt about this story, then I read the full account. Beautiful story, Walter. I am poet/artist and I have also been known to lure with the siren song of paper and verse, yet never with this sort of longevity. Congratulations and thanks for sharing.
08/18/08 @ 8:41 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: The early photographer catches bird
Nice Paul, I was able to get a picture of a Great Blue Heron at Indian Lands in Dennis, but not nearly as close. Keep up the good work!
08/17/08 @ 4:04 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Mashpee gas leak; Falmouth crashes
I have been rear-ended twice (no jokes please ;) and as a result I watch my rearview religiously. I can spot those tailgaters, so I always leave a car length in front of me when I stop and when they come flying up on my tail I have a little leeway to avoid being hit. I have saved myself more than once this way. My "favorite" spot is exiting Route 6 East at Exit 8. People have almost taken me out there more than once.
08/17/08 @ 7:23 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Another Mashpee soldier dies in war
Rest in PEACE. I am sure you'll be missed.
08/16/08 @ 10:42 pm
That tow truck driver is a complete idiot trying to hook up the back of that car, so that the front rolls down the road spewing debris. Can someone say "flatbed" jeesh!
08/14/08 @ 9:45 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Dennis detours: Between a rock and a dog place
Thanks,Susan!
08/14/08 @ 9:29 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Dennis detours: Between a rock and a dog place
Susan, Maybe I am missing something. I just searched the Town Of Dennis website and I can't find any reference to these conservation areas as you suggested. Can you provide a link to where the Town promotes these areas online? Thanks!
08/14/08 @ 9:20 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Dennis detours: Between a rock and a dog place
Susan-Thanks for the response. However, Flax Pond is very easy to miss. There is no sign anywhere near the road. The only sign is set back 60 feet from the road, near the trailhaed. I even miss the turn sometimes. As far as the dog path on 134, your point is well taken, but that is meant for dogs. At Flax Pond there are numerous bags of dog crap and other trash littered about.
I still cringe at the thought of promoting many of these places on the net.
08/14/08 @ 6:58 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Dennis detours: Between a rock and a dog place
I think the real charm behind some of these places is that only the locals know about them, and we can be assured or preservation and continued enjoyment. When any old schmo can go on the internet and learn all the nice, local, secret spots it seems self-defeating. I don't mean any harm Susan, but truly feel a sense of betrayal.
08/14/08 @ 6:45 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Dennis detours: Between a rock and a dog place
Flax Pond should be kept a secret! Seriously. It won't stay as clean as it is if everyone and their mother learns about it. I try my best NOT to share all the best spots, as their quality just might deteriorate by doing so. I feel the same about geocaching. Maybe I am selfish. ;)
08/11/08 @ 6:55 am
There were some stranded in the marshes near Gray's beach, still alive, a few years ago and The Yarmouth Conservation Dept refused to follow my friend out to see if they could help. I guess it was too much effort to walk the marshes. They at least could have tried.
08/10/08 @ 6:12 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: The 2008 Onset Cape Verdean Festival
I think some tagger got his charges dropped in exchange for painting the Statie's car wreck simulator.
08/09/08 @ 3:45 pm
Funny that they mention the Buckminster Fuller Dome. My first job was washing dishes at The Dome in 1985! That was its own kind of purgatory, but enjoyable nontheless. I learned to cook at that place, a skill that has served me well over the years.
08/09/08 @ 10:25 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Toting 'doggies' in baskets.
My daughter always rides the Rail Trail with two stuffed doggies in her front basket.
08/07/08 @ 10:02 pm
Just another issue from the oligopolization of America. The FTC does nothing as merger after merger happen, siphoning money and control away from our communities. Now when things go awry, they go awry bigtime. I am glad to support a truly local bank.
08/07/08 @ 8:04 pm
Roll yer own-Sandwiches that is.
08/07/08 @ 6:28 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Yarmouth Rail Trail extension; Gambling study released
That section of track was so overgrown that I fueled up my weedwhacker and donated my services for the public good.
They will have to provide for fishing off the new bridge that will be needed to replace the railroad bridge. there's no need to exclude such along-standing tradition as fishing on Bass River. Also it's important to make sure bicyclists can't access the Indian Lands Conservation Area.
Some %#@&* overlooking the marsh at Indian Lands conveniently cut down trees. ATTN:Dennis Conservation- check out the only house with a view!
08/07/08 @ 6:16 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Yarmouth Rail Trail extension; Gambling study released
That Rail, Trail extension would bring it right to my backyard. YES!!! I am totally psyched!
08/06/08 @ 6:42 pm
I saw two cars with severe front end damage being towed down Highbank Rd. about an hour ago. Any head-ons reported near Dennis, Route 134?
08/06/08 @ 4:39 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Attention Road Race Runners : Need to Beat That Heat!
My temperature is rising just hearing that comment, Mon!
08/06/08 @ 3:24 pm
If you can't swim, stay away from the water. In other words, learn to freakin' swim! There is no excuse for any able bodied person being incapable of swimming. Every time I hear a story like this I am saddened and angry at the same time. Every living creature can swim, cats, bugs, you name it. People should be no different.
08/05/08 @ 11:00 pm
I am eternally graeful to Jack Kennedy for preserving the Outer Cape with the creation of the National Seashore, one of many great accomplishments during his presidency.
08/05/08 @ 9:11 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Is arrogance spelled WCOD?
We are waiting for the new pics, mmm-Kay? I just had to say it!
08/04/08 @ 11:00 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Swmmer missing in Bass River; Where Broadway vacations
I live within walking distance of the Bass River railroad bridge, so I'll look in some of the inlets where boats can't reach. There are many places where a body could be. I feel Dennis Fire Dept. and Harbormaster should also assist, since Bass River is in both towns. A little detail would be useful in terms of where exactly the man entered the water. It's a big place.
08/04/08 @ 8:25 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: P-ss-ss-t!!
Nice Ned! Art like this, out of the box, will save the Cape Arts scene from its suffocating status quo. I'll mark the date!
08/03/08 @ 6:57 pm
Hey local, If I were to seek therapy here, I would need a whole lot more elsewhere. I felt compelled to respond to story that affects me personally, the issue of parental kidnapping. It's not sympathy I am after, but walk a mile in my shoes before acting all high and mighty. The change in public policy concerning this matter is an issue worth discussing, even if it is drawn my own experience. The amber alert for parental kidnapping reflects a big change in thinking, which my story shows.
08/03/08 @ 4:22 pm
Regarding the Amber Alert, I wish it was in effect when I was 7 and my father did exactly what Rockefeller did. Unfortunately, it went unchecked for 4 years, during which my mother died, largely from grief. We "reunited" at her funeral. True story, though I feel weird relating it here. I am slowly writing a book about the experience.
Times have changed with regard to parental kidnapping. I am glad the system is now in place, and arrests are made. My father's incident was treated as a civil matter, and since my mother, the plaintiff, was dead, the case was dismissed. Just another sad story.
08/03/08 @ 4:05 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Bidder pays $147K for Cape Cod #1 plate
I can think of far more deserving non-profits than the ones listed. How about HAC or Community Outreach as primary beneficiaries?? Chamber of Commerce??? Cape Baseball?? Gimme a break!! When it's called charity, charity it should be.
08/03/08 @ 4:00 pm
In all seriousness I hope he's OK. I don't want to make light of such serious injuries.
08/03/08 @ 3:54 pm
White's Path is straight as an arrow. How does one lose control on such a predictable road? medical condition? black dog? Just curious.
08/03/08 @ 3:17 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Bidder pays $147K for Cape Cod #1 plate
Some pothead paid $7,600 for Cape plate #420, LOL,
08/02/08 @ 10:17 pm
Nice one, Monpo! Always quick on the draw, ye be. There was this dyslexic who went for a ferry ride and confused Woods Vineyard with Martha's... Oh, never mind.
Regarding West Nile, that's a little scary. I frequent the outdoors and the little buggers love to dine on me. I hope to stay safe as the germ spreads.
08/02/08 @ 7:07 pm
I remember reading "Lord of the Flies" in 7th grade, and in one passage about the conch, it was described as producing a "low, farting sound" We goofed hard at that description.
08/02/08 @ 10:52 am
I buy my chips from Trader Joe's, all natural, no funky ingredients, excellent taste. Instead of using food coloring to make things red they use beet powder. It probably costs them a little more, but at least they give a damn, which is more than can be said about Frito-Lay. I am former Doritos addict, too! They put so many chemicals in to enhance the flavor, but who knows the effects. Go natural!
08/01/08 @ 6:22 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Update on Buzzards Bay Tug Fire
Great job USCG! It's comforting to know you guys are at the ready.
07/31/08 @ 6:22 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Cotuit Mosquito Yacht Club and two dawns
Nice photos! I used to rent a cottage at Oregon Beach and the photos reminded of a bygone era, when waterfront rentals were affordable to common folks.
It's good to see youngsters learning their wau around a sailboat, yet another harbinger of a bygone era.
07/31/08 @ 5:28 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: My own dealings with DA Michael O'Keefe
Thanks for sharing this personal and heart-wrenching story. Of course a child will respond violently to violence. Thanks to CCtoday for publishing this, as well.
07/30/08 @ 8:19 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Show me the Good Seafood
Cream n' Cone in Dennisport is one of myy favorites. Golden Boy on 28 in W.Yarmouth is also very good. I used to work as a chef, so I could eat seafood whenever I wanted. Boy I miss those days, but my waistband doesn't.
07/29/08 @ 11:14 pm
Check out cape cod craigslist rants and raves for a firsthand account of YPD conduct. "YPD Draws guns in my yard" Just as I saw them manhandle a non-resisting young lady, some other people ALSO have stories to tell.
07/29/08 @ 7:18 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Press Conference on Yarmouth Shooting
90 mph is 7920 feet/minute and Baxter Ave. is about 4,000 feet long. Seems unlikely that the alleged speeds are accurate.
07/29/08 @ 6:41 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Press Conference on Yarmouth Shooting
Also it seems impossible that someone could go 90 anywhere on Cape Cod except the highway. You'd hit the friggin' water on either side. I am not familiar with Baxter avenue, but I am skeptical of that story. We need a math guy to calculate the length of that road, feet/second in order to provide a basis for believability.
07/29/08 @ 6:37 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Press Conference on Yarmouth Shooting
Crusader-Thankd for sticking to your position. Some one who saw both of the vehicles said that there was no visible colliison damage to either vehicle, so the verdict is still out. I'll wait for the details, but maybe my initial positions on this were justified after all. We'll have to see.
07/28/08 @ 7:02 pm
OK, a felony. I stand corrected.
I will issue a public apology and concession if the facts show it was justified. Perhaps in anger, I "jumped the gun"
07/28/08 @ 6:59 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Press Conference on Yarmouth Shooting
I stand corrected. I was thinking driving to endanger. Yet still as Buzz said, not sufficient to be iced summarily.
07/28/08 @ 6:02 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Press Conference on Yarmouth Shooting
Yeah, killed for godddamn misdemanor.
07/28/08 @ 5:26 pm
I can already predict the chorus ofpeople who will call me a cop hater, "you're with us or your against us". I call it as I see it. Review my comments here and you'll see that I call cops "heroes" when the situation warrants. Here it does not.
07/28/08 @ 5:22 pm
I agree with Peter that this doesn't seem to be a conspiracy. I hear that the penalty for drug use and erratic driving is execution in some dictatorships. At least there they offer a brief trial.
So the guy was committing a MISDEMEANOR. I guess that justifies it, huh? the DA's focus on that fateful doobie offers it as a scapegoat.
I know that the officer must be feeling bad about this, but he isn't the one that's DEAD. I am sure that a split-second decision needed to be made, it's just that the decision was rash and excessive. The officer was likely furious at the noncompliance and subsequent collision, and obviously lost his cool, since the danger from a collision with an unarmed suspect was minimal compared to the resulting carnage.
I saw the YPD wrestle a young lady from car in the KFC parking lot several days ago. She wasn't resisting, yet they manhandled her. It seems that the YPD is treating every stop like a felony stop and that mentality showed itself in extremis with this recent incident.
We rely on officers to keep their cool, not to overreact to situations
07/27/08 @ 4:37 pm
Hmm, let me think this through. Stranner was quick to point out the danger to the public, that the officer's actions are justified considering the danger to the public.
The passenger was also a member of that "public" they are bound to protect, so it seems that his actions in fact endangered the public. Why would an officer fire shots at asuspect vehicle with a PASSERNGER! The firthand accounts given by hustle&bustle lend even more dimension to this case, pending verification. Those witnesses should come forward, despite their fear of doing so, that we may get a more complete picture.
07/27/08 @ 3:51 pm
Gee, the rear window was shot out. That precludes any face to face interaction that would present the "clear and present danger" necessary for deadly force.
As far as the dangers presented to the public at 1 am, let me just say that we've all watched hairy car chases at high noon on crowded freeways where the officers never fire shots. Ordinarily maneuvers are used to spin out the suspect vehicle, as seen on numerous videos. That is also potentially deadly force, but not nearly as extreme as shooting through someone's back window.
It "seems" that my inital call on the subject was supported by the fact that the back window was shot out.
As for assumptions about my supposed lack of respect for law enforcement let me just say that those who hold law enforcement to a higher standard of conduct have lot more respect for the profession than those who defend possible renegade tactics.
I was taught criminal procedure by police officers, not some mail order crap, so please don't insult me in such a fashion. I have an and I'll ttry to respect yours. Ad hominim means nothin'
07/27/08 @ 8:48 am
Also, If the motorist failed to stop and was killed 90 seconds later, with presumably no direct contact, there would absolutely have to be a firearm in the dead guy's posession in order to justify the shooting. If the supect was armed and fired shots or tried to the killing was justified. If not, it "SEEMS" prima facia excessive force.
07/27/08 @ 8:43 am
rukd- Didn't I say "maybe"?? "We'll have to wait for details", "seems"???? I choose my words carefully, and you seem to ignore that.I have a legal education and there's this thing know as the "Fleeing felon doctrine" It is illegal to use deadly force against a suspect unless danger to the officer is immediate and imminent. With the fact that the supect was being chased it "SEEMS" unlikely that the officer was in immediate danger, unless the suspect was driving in reverse.
Obviously details need to come out, but I stand by my first impression, carefully worded, even given the vague details of the incident.
07/27/08 @ 7:56 am
Trigger happy YPD maybe??? We'll have to wait for details, but this seems like excessive force.
07/26/08 @ 9:42 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Where does one find Good Chinese Food??
Hunan Gourmet is great. Tiki Port is also a favorite of mine.
Quan's Chinese Kitchen at Harney's plaza on 134 has very good food, but it takes forever to get your food. At times you call in an order, are told 10 minutes, arrive after 20 minutes and still have to wait a half-hour. Many times I have seen surly patrons absolutely furious. It's as though they only fire the order when you walk in the door.
07/26/08 @ 8:01 am
Born in '72, I remember the Village People's debut as a young kid. What strikes me now is how naive people were then. I think the Village Poeple got the last laugh.
07/26/08 @ 7:09 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Ted Kennedy completes chemo treatment, read wife's email
Stay strong Mr. Senator!
07/25/08 @ 5:55 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Cape Foods & Blackberry Pie
Thanks for the recipe!!! I am staking out several Blackberry patches that are reaching ripeness.
07/24/08 @ 5:03 pm
The original headline read as I quoted above. CCtoday was alerted to the error and made a correction.
I was aware of the details.
07/24/08 @ 3:45 pm
"11-year old boy drown off Breakwater Beach in Brewster"
"drown" or "found"?
.
07/23/08 @ 6:09 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Hungry? Hike to Harwich
I have taken some cool pictures recently in the Hacker trails. There is a low-lying Maple Grove that's just enchanting.
07/23/08 @ 7:26 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: COMCAST's blue screen from hell
Buzz, Big Simpsons fan, too!
I understand that there's some decent programming, all of which can be watched on youtube or DVD. So when I miss that must-see thing, I can just watch it there. I know my strategy isn't for everyone, but I swear that raising kids without television is one of the best things you can do for them.
07/23/08 @ 7:20 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Former Cape priest convicted of serial child rapes
Yet another bit of evidence that the moral benefits of religion are dubious at best.
07/22/08 @ 8:18 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: COMCAST's blue screen from hell
I said I cut the cable, I didn't hide under a rock.;)
I have seen all the Family Guy episodes for FREE ON DVD by using the automated clams network.
So again, I say, cut the cable, borrow a DVD or two from the library. You might pick up a book by accident, too.
You'd be surprised how abstaining from TV can make you more aware of how presposterous most of it is. When I see TV by accident in a waiting room I am struck by its absolutely empty and annoying nature. Everything is flashy, plastic, devoid of depth. What masquerades as depth is weird, sad stories, the weirder, the better.
There are obvious exceptions, but they are so mired in the toxic stew of context to show their real value.

07/22/08 @ 7:08 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: COMCAST's blue screen from hell
I have not had cable for 15 years, and ya know what? I have no problem with Comcast. My kids are much smarter, too.
Cut the cable and free your life for better things. You won't miss a thing, trust me.
07/22/08 @ 6:02 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Wonders of the Cape Cod Bike Trails 5
crusader,
Interesting musical connections there! Guys give me flak about playing Fiona, too. If you watch her interview you can see how charming and sweet she really is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EzEC61AHi0
I do often listen while riding. I find it especially inspiring when those liberated ladies sing aloud as they ride along, not a care in the world. At times I wish for such bravery.
Garbage, Version 2.0 is good for intense riding. I might pick the Cardigans for a more carefree ride.
I have only walked Nauset, but I am working on a vehicle that might get me out there in style, a 1973 VW Thing. This is long-term, though. Patience helps.
You mean the Red Maple Swamp at Fort Hill, right? That's also one of my favorite spots. I wrote a poem in dedication to that place several years ago.
Mu boating is mostly done around Bass River and The North side, Sandy Neck also tickles my fancy.
07/21/08 @ 6:36 pm
With the Wianno crowd around, the train had alternate power in the event of meachanical failure, the power of hot air. Too bad the skyward noses might have affected aerodynamics. ;)
07/21/08 @ 4:39 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Wonders of the Cape Cod Bike Trails 5
The tamps were Ok yesterday, a nice breeze especially through Harwich and Brewster. LOL@ gender confusion, Crusader.(insert blush here)
I will be exploring Mazzy Star and Duffy at your recommendation. I am also fond of Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, Garbage, Portishead, Paula Cole and other creative women. I guess my muses comes from that musical direction as well. Men don't generally skew towards female artists, so I guess I am out of the mainstream. The goddess is what makes man humble.
My grandmother used to make Beach Plum Jam and I will have to try it when they come into season later this summer. The next few weeks will be blackberry heaven!
07/20/08 @ 9:00 pm
I also find the photo disturbing. It takes the same skill to photograph a coyote as it does to shoot them. I can hear coyotes in the woods behind my house and I find it actually inspiring that we haven't crushed every last vestige of the natural order.These are dogs essentially doing what they're built for, unlike the average castrated and fastidious housepet.(And I love domestic animals, don't get me wrong.)Last spring the pups were heard in the distance and I know they are out there, doing what they've done since the dawn of time. Buggers keep the rodent population down, too. Gotta thin the numbers, dontcha know? ;)
07/20/08 @ 5:12 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Wonders of the Cape Cod Bike Trails 5
Crusader,I am glas I am not alone as a SV fan. She is like velvet, indeed. I have 12th row seats to her Melody Tent show August 28. Try playing her debut album for your favorite woman, better than Barry White I tells, ya.
Regarding the trails, I set a twisted thing straight today on the Rail Trail when this guy tried to pass us as we were crossing Pleasant Lake road near the General Store. The oncoming bicyclists almost wrecked, so I yelled out to the guy, "Even an idiot would recognize it's not safe to pass right now. It's people like you who cause accidents!" LOL
There were many near-misses today on our 26 mile run,(unsafe cyclists), but highbush blueberries and blackberries are coming into season and the picking was good. We will be making some berry pancakes!
07/19/08 @ 9:59 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Wonders of the Cape Cod Bike Trails 5
I used to work in Bourne and I would ride the canal every night after work, from 11 pm to 12:30, listening to Suzanne Vega, Solitude Standing and enjoying the yellow lights and eerie fog of the canal at night. I miss those rides!
07/19/08 @ 3:41 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: WANTED: Art, Architecture and Movie Critics
As both an artist and a writer, I think it's a great idea. Both realms seem a bit devoid of depth as of late, from the local standpoint. Maybe a little constructive criticism can help to move the Cape art scene out of its box.
07/19/08 @ 2:13 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: When a Rush to Judgment is an Injustice
Thanks for the thoughful article concerning jurisprudence,
A recent headline from a featured article on CapeCodToday reads,
"Abortion Practitioner Who Killed Patient Will Plead Not Guilty to Manslaughter"
Rush to judgement, perhaps???
Whatever happened to "alleged"?
I guess the headline carries the vedict.

07/19/08 @ 8:39 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Two boats collide in Buzzards Bay
I offer my deepest condolensces for the family and friends of Mr. Walsh.
07/19/08 @ 7:39 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Two boats collide in Buzzards Bay
"Man ndies as boats collide in Buzzards Bay" ???
07/16/08 @ 8:35 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: 1913 law's repeal to bring big tourism boost to Cape
I suggest we review some other stupid laws adopted early this century, if only to be consistent.
07/15/08 @ 9:02 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Dennis Fire Chief gets new command car
A new full-sized Crown Vic or Grand Marquis would probably cost the same if not more. AND it wouldn't look nearly as cool!
07/13/08 @ 2:03 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Wonders of the Cape Cod Bike Trails 3
My family does this regular ride on the Rail Trail, starting at mile 1 early in the morning, going up into Nickerson where we stop at the camp store and the kids play at the playground while Dad rides the fire roads within Nickerson before noon. We all roll downhill to the Theater in the woods where we eat lunch on the benches. It's one of our regular rides. We appreciate the natural beauty, even more so in the off-season/. The trick to Nickerson in the summer is to visit between 10 and 1 , when campers are either checking out or checking in. The trails tend to be quieter then.
07/13/08 @ 11:15 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Wonders of the Cape Cod Bike Trails 4
This is the funniest bit of prose I've read in years. LOL to the nth degree!
07/12/08 @ 10:09 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: How "big box" stores are squeezing you
POS is an acronym for something other than "point of sale"
07/12/08 @ 11:10 am
Now I know who Mr. Paparo is! I always wondered who the G-Man looking dude in the Crown Vic was. I saw him everywhere and he reminded me of the "smoking man" from the X-Files, or also that wizened photographer from the X-Files that always managed to arrive on scene for fateful shots. I now know why he's at the ready, and why there's so many antennae on his car. Finally the mystique has cleared!!!
So if you see a detective-looking dude in a Crown Vic, it's only Frank, with a nose for news. Hopefully he has a sense of humor, too.;)
Keep up the good work, Frank!
This is one reason why I no longer need the CCTimes!!!
07/11/08 @ 7:18 pm
Those $#%$#%#in burglars struck right in my neighborhood! A good friend was one of the victims. Time for lockdown and smackdown.
07/10/08 @ 7:16 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Dunkin' Donuts: Say Hello to Papelbon
Re: Marco's comment. You are completely right. I used to frequent DD's until I realized that I can brew my own GOURMET coffee at home for about 15 cents a cup.
I made this change 10 years ago when I realized that over past years I had spent a couple thousand dollars at the franchises.
It's a waste.
07/10/08 @ 7:00 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: How the IRS is robbing you blind


"Tragic Kingdom"

Once was a magical place
Over time it was lost
Price increased the cost
Now the fortune of the kingdom
Is locked up in its dungeon vaults
The castle floor lies in traps
With coiled wired set back
Decoyed by old cheese
Now the drawbridge has been lifted
As the millions

They drop to their knees
They pay homage to a king
Whose dreams are buried
In their minds

His tears are frozen stiff
Icicles drip from his eyes
The cold wind blows as it snows
On those who fight to get in
On heads that are small
Disillusioned as they enter

copyright- No Doubt
07/09/08 @ 9:26 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Dunkin' Donuts: Say Hello to Papelbon
LOL Buzz, That's funny!
07/08/08 @ 6:35 pm
I recently changed my shopping habits drastically, buying from Trader Joes rather than Stop and Shop. Almost by accident, the snacks we picked up at Trader Joe's were all natural, no trans fats, good stuff, Now when we reached for somthing to eat it was something worth eating. I went for a follow-up physical to look at by blood work last week., My bad cholestoral went way down since my last visit, due in large part to the dieteary changes brought on by changing the store where I bought food.
Trader Joes is a hell of a bargain, too. My expenses went down as fast as my cholestoral.
With my family history of early and fatal strokes, the difference is critical.
I have taught in-home cooking classes aimed at expanding the community's knowledge of good, exciting food . If you are interested in learning some great recipes contact me.
07/08/08 @ 5:58 pm
Way to go, Mr. Ricciardi!
07/07/08 @ 11:08 pm
No big deal really, Monpo and Capemom. I get many a laugh from you, and the thoughtful responses only prove that your hearts are in the right place
07/07/08 @ 6:49 pm
I find it awful hard to joke when an infant is in critical condition. Maybe I'm hypersensitive, but that stuff doesn't really put me in joking mood.
07/06/08 @ 4:24 pm
Right After he heard something hitting the floor, he heard something hitting the fan.
07/06/08 @ 12:00 pm
on a lighter note, look at the pose of the two P-Towner's. :)
07/06/08 @ 11:59 am
I live a stone's throw from the inactive section of track that precedes The Bass River Railroad Bridge. I walk the tracks regularly and imagine how it would be when the trains ran through. The issue of extending the Rail Trail to my neck of the woods has come up. I have mixed feelings about that, but I think I'd have to support it.
07/06/08 @ 6:33 am
I agree that this is nothing to joke about. That youth should be punished to the full extent of the law.
07/05/08 @ 7:32 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Cape Cod Rail Trail shames Sudbury NIMBYs
Wind whips down the open areas cleared for EXISTING POWER LINES. Why not put turbines right next to the transmission wires that carry current???? It seems a no-brainer, with the land already owned by power companies, accessible without impeding normal traffic, in character with the surroundings, etc. "Put the turbines on the power lines" That should be a new motto. The highway isn't a bad idea either, so long as the current powers the Commonwealth's highway lights directly.
07/05/08 @ 12:12 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Storm over Cape Cod
All wind farm opponents are wealthy and influential???? I am neither, despite by best wishes.
07/05/08 @ 10:50 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Happy 4th of July!!
LMAO Jul3ia, Nice observation!
I also have some French Canadian Heritage, as my great grandfather Bourget was Archbishop of Montreal.

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0000920

Strangely, the family went Protestant since then. I guess the old man wasn't convincing enough, despite his stature in the Church. ;)
07/04/08 @ 9:15 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Stony Brook Road: A Cape Cod classic
You could smile and pose, all coy and such, like Vanna White with that extra-special touch.
07/04/08 @ 7:24 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Falmouth Families Celebrate the 4th
That kid on the tricycle should be wearing a helmet.
07/04/08 @ 12:26 pm
The comment about "pillaging" wrecks is a bit out of context. Thoreau's book about old Cape Cod describes the salvaging of shipwreck flotsam as an everyday occurence, In fact law provided that the first person to find said items had claim to them. Ordinarily, the people aboard these ships were all dead, and had no use for the goods strewn upon the shore.
If I remember correctly, Thoreau described a way in which one could mark a piece of shipwreck as "taken" until such time as the claimant was able to reasonably pick it up.
07/04/08 @ 7:37 am
Last fall I was sitting at the Bass River Railraod bridge and a Harbor Seal poked his head above water and peeked at me, only to disappear again. It was a beautiful sight.
07/03/08 @ 6:45 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Stony Brook Road: A Cape Cod classic
I also love this place. A view downstream in the summer resembles the hanging gardens of Babylon, thick vegetation growing high above humanity, drinking from the moisture below.
I actually wrote a poem last fall inspired by this place. (Excerpts below)
The leaves of oak beside the mill pond radiate reddish brown.
The yellow leaves of maple more willingly cascade down.
They disturb the water’s calmness as October’s sun retreats.
In dampness, gather communally along the edges of streets.

We kneel beside the waters to marvel at baby herring.
They frolic, swarm and school in eddies, deep and darkening.
Only visible as silver flashes in the faltering autumn sun,
One by one they all succumb to the flow of the herring run.

What wonders we see today in the pond by the mill.
One of the last few places where nature’s rule reigns still.
It’s crucial to pay homage to nature’s circular ways,
Lest we languish in the luggage of our artificial days.
07/01/08 @ 7:55 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: A Vermeer-like morning opens into a Buddha beautiful day
Last Sunday I rode on the Rail Trail with my son and daughter, from 134 all the way up into Nickerson State Park. Like you I can't leave my camera at home, so I packed it in my backpack. On eour return trip we stopped at the Pleasant Lake General Store (mile#5), where we bought ice cream, As I emerged from the store I realized that I left my backpack at mile #7. I had to ditch my ice cream, tell the kids to wait, and ride frantically two miles back. Thankfully my precious camera was safe.
I can relate to the tension felt. It's a good thing both of out stories ended well!
07/01/08 @ 7:28 am
"crack down" on flashers, huh"? LOL @ headline!
06/30/08 @ 7:36 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: The fast rise and puzzling fall of the Technology
As an owner of a failed manufacturing company I can tell you personally that "Made on Cape Cod" is overrated and overromaticized, especially by my former self. Reality bit me hard, though, and despite still being hopeful, my view is dim.
06/29/08 @ 10:42 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: They're Back: Cape Cod Cicada Invasion 2008
When I met the mother of my children it was 17 years ago, and the cicadas were buzzing on-Cape. This year we have our 17 year cicada anniversary!
06/29/08 @ 8:25 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Cape Cod Dog Days
Me and my kids rode 26 miles on the Rail Trail today and we saw some some cool dogs, too. Summer is for kids and dogs!
06/28/08 @ 9:52 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Windle charged by US Attorney with 15 counts
Only an absolute idiot would even try these kinds of sheninigans,and even more telling is the shallow, transparent ways in which he spent his pilfered funds. Hang 'em high, says I.
06/27/08 @ 10:12 pm
When I was at Falmouth Academy circa 1987 I got to look at one of those tube worms in a jar, the ones that Ballard's team discovered. These new developments are exciting, too. Gotta love those crunchy scientists!!
06/27/08 @ 5:41 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Wonders of the Cape Cod Bike Trails 2
This seems ironic in a town where some residents are quite sure their #*&$ doesn't stink, despite skywardly pointed noses.
06/27/08 @ 7:33 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Cicada Stew and Osprey's Breakfast
I was thinking that the cicadas are like a bird buffet, lots of good eats for our feathered friends.
06/26/08 @ 8:04 pm
Since CapeCodtoday, I have no use for The Cape Cod Times either. Newspapers are old news, going the way of The Studebaker.
06/25/08 @ 10:56 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: 1910: Cape Cod's Villages Never More Attractive
I agree. We need to be reminded of simpler times.
06/24/08 @ 3:54 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Severe thunderstorms on Cape
A real hero. Thanks! I guess those units are needed.
06/23/08 @ 8:54 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Reality TV
Monpon, just Take some Production classes with Jul3ia! She's an EXCELLENT instructor!
06/23/08 @ 8:19 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Hotdog Helicopter
I bet those two boys impressed their lady passengers, too.
06/23/08 @ 7:51 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Hotdog Helicopter
Wow, he sounds like a real (insert profanity here)
06/22/08 @ 5:57 pm
Those are some lucky folks. The same event over land would have been tragic. It's time to scrutinize the maintenence records.
06/21/08 @ 11:16 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Major victory for Cape Wind against Alliance, others
In an ideal world, allocation of public resources for private gain would be done based on an equal right to bid, rather than lobbyists, political contributions and undue influence. Private citizens don't have lobbyists in place so that they can set aside a piece of Nantucket Sound for themselves.
In the history of administrative law, governments are called upon to give equal representation to interested parties when cases of public policy arise. I argue that the monpolistic nature of power companies skews that balance, resulting in the companies being better represented than the average citizen. This imbalance also convinces me that the power companies really don't give a damn for the average citizen, thus the promise of wind farm benefits reverting back to the average citizen seems all to unlikely and hollow.
In a world where Exxon/Mobil appears before Congress to defend the consumer squeeze amid record profits, please forive me of being skeptical of the promises made.
06/21/08 @ 8:19 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Major victory for Cape Wind against Alliance, others
I am NOT a wealthy waterfront homeowner, but I object to the use of public land by a private entity for private enterprise. If it were a non-profit pubic interest group proposing, I would allow it.
I regret the demonization of Wind Farm opposition, and it is DISTRUST of the energy commpanies that spurs my opposition. It's funny when supporters accuse the opposition of being bought and paid for by energy companies, yet the energy companies would directly benifit from the wind farms, with no guarantee of kicking back the savings.
Ths issue is too complex to go profiling the supporters and naysayers of wind farms. In fairness I'll avoid generalizing about the supporters. Thanks!
06/21/08 @ 7:41 am
On the Gloucester shore sits a statue of a fisherman and his RAINCOAT, a subtle reminder amid the current events.
06/20/08 @ 8:36 pm
Thanks to YPD for finding this menace. They should make him fix the road like in the movie "Cars"
06/20/08 @ 7:03 am
Cape Cod Mechanical Systems! Welcome to the power of the internet. Try to screen employees better, MM-kay?
06/19/08 @ 7:26 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Treasures in the sand
I'll watch for the waves bipr.
I have to second Monponsetts comment about Duxbury Beach and Saquish. I spent many a teenage evening on Powder Point Bridge, a long wooden two-lane bridge that leads to the beach in question. It's a lot rockier than Sandy Neck, so it seems less suited for beach landings, but just like Sandy Neck, most access it by 4x4. When I was young my aunt and uncle would take us out there. We would spend long days on Saquish, building a fire and cooking on the beach. The ride out was like 30 minutes of bouncing in the old Suburban. The smell of the late 70's wafted about as we kids built sand castles and were lulled by the waves and gulls.
The Massachusetts Coast is a marvelous place.
06/19/08 @ 7:27 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Long-Awaited Cru Poster!
Life imitates art! Nice work Ned!
06/17/08 @ 7:29 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Treasures in the sand
I have been slowly restoring a 1974 Sea Star 14 foot boat so I can drop it in at Gray's Beach and motor to the outer portions of Sandy Neck. It's almost ready to go!!
I could get lost out there and often have. To approach it from the water raher than the land is a completely different experience, IMHO.
I plan on going this summer with the family for very long, day, with plenty of water, snacks and supplies, ride a early morning high tide in, get stranded by the receding tide and await the return of water for the trip home.
Sandy Neck is the stuff of dreams, so long as I am far away from the parking lots.
06/15/08 @ 1:33 pm
My mother is buried in that cemetery, Monpon, so I know of which you speak. It is so gross to see the oily residue on the smokestacks. One day I came by to visit my Mom when they had just, "thrown a shrimp on the bar-b" It was the single most sickening smell I ever experienced.
06/15/08 @ 12:50 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Canadian poet uses Hopper's Cape Cod images
My Ode to Bass River in Winter

Sonnet#1

This river runs much clearer this time of year.
When puffs of chimney smoke and frost do appear-
I’m drawn, bundled and amazed to this altitudinous place.
Where the wind chills my nose and the snow soothes my face-
To my left is a marsh; dead ahead is the edge of the river.
The marsh grass is as fox-fur, the river cold like winter.
A twelve foot drop from the forest to the beach-
Toppled pitch pines lay akimbo and awry in that breach.
The skeletons of root balls raise their tendrils to the sky.
Buffeted by wind and water, rendered smooth and dry-
I’m humbled by this tide, such fodder for reflection.
When its power makes the river, like clockwork, change direction,
Shall I too immerse in nature, go forth endeavoring bliss?
At least I’ll vow as I do now to embrace this cold abyss!
06/15/08 @ 7:57 am
Imagine hopping a train from NY's Grand Central Station, straight to the outer Cape!!! I love the cch section.
06/15/08 @ 7:17 am
That outfit on 134 cut my son's hair and when we got home we noticed his bangs were cut all screwy, ragged and crooked, like the stylist had a few quaaludes before grabbing the shears.
My son withstood ridicule at school for the cut. I am thinking of a lawsuit alleging serious emotional harm ;)
I only go to the Mall Barber Shop now. the guys down there know what they're doing.
06/14/08 @ 3:41 pm
Damn, Monponsett! You're funny today!!
06/13/08 @ 7:01 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Can You Hear Me Now?
They provide great amusement in their architecture.
Attempting through grandeur to quiet our conjecture.
Vaulted churches erected in Jesus' name-
Amount to dirt, bricks and mortar, just the same.

And the Word is muddied when parishioners scowl upon the lowly.

For then, truth and beauty leaves these houses of the holy.
06/10/08 @ 9:00 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Teddy's rep
This article seems a bit bigoted towards the Irish, no? Balling Ted together with Billy and Whitey Bulger? The Irish Run Massachusetts Politics??? WTF?? That's like saying the Jews all run the media.
This turd of an article shows nothing except broadly sweeping, presumptive and bigoted rhetoric designed to spur hatred based on Ethnicity, Religion, even region. Nothing like creating a nice Massachusetts strawman, with all the wealth and privelege for common folks to hiss at, yet many of his acts show genuine concern for folks of lesser means.
To hold this out as an example of what the rest of the country thinks sells the rest of the country short. Most just wish they had a Senator with as much pull as we do here.
So politics, wealth and privelege are dubious and sometimes obscene. What a revelation!!! Don't tell me that politics can be unsavory. I don't think i can handle that.
The sausage making process that is politics has storied and strange players. That's as sure as the irises this time of year.
06/09/08 @ 7:33 am
This land is your land.
This land is my land.
From California to the New York Island.

No taxation without representation!!!!

When Oh when will common folks grab this clusterpuck by the nads and turn it around.
When was the last time you actually felt "represented"? Where is the American innovation and drive we learned about in school?
We made this sloppy bed, so I guess we'll have to roll in its filth for awhile.
06/08/08 @ 6:59 pm
LMAO @ monpons comment!
Things are firing up for sure!
It's a good thing I know where to hide out... and that my grocery store virtual boycott is working. Stop&Shop got $13 from me this week, Shaw's $12. The rest was spent at Trader Joe's and UU Foodservice. Feedin' a family of 4 for $145/week. Try that at Stop and Plop!
06/05/08 @ 7:19 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: The Erosion of the Cape Cod Landscape
Wos Buzz, that's good!
Another poet in our midst!
06/04/08 @ 9:38 pm
I have old family photos of my grandfather in his catboat, circa 1946.
06/04/08 @ 9:43 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Wind will power our future
Lol@pollyanna.
I have one US Patent already, so armchair theorist I am not.
I personally can think of a home-based turbine design that would cost less than $1200 to implement. People just need to think outside of the box.
A home based generator that utilizes a serpentine belt and multiple automotive alternators would put out massive amounts of power, which could be converted and used directly.
Get the geeks together and get to work. The solution is there, just in a different form. Don't simply accept that all options have been covered as was suggested above.
I agree that local ordinances could either kill or encourage home-based solutions.
06/04/08 @ 8:10 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Wind will power our future
The issue of Cape wind is simple. Turbines would be a PRIVATE ENTERPRISE ON PUBLIC LAND! PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AND PUBLIC INTEREST ARE TWO DIFFERENT ARENAS, as shown by the historically tenuous relationship between the two. It's naive to assume that power companies are suddenly beacons of altruism, determined only to benefit the public with these proposals.
Since when have the power companies not taken advantage of anything they can to keep profits up. Since when do they spend loads of money simply because they care? The fact is, the quest for cheaper, renewable power on this scale will not likely result in savings to the consumer, since private companies have no official reason to pass those savings on, and particularly since they operate in an oligopoly, insulated from otherwise normal competition.
I argue that wind power, like solar should be an invividual decision. Towns should now be addressing the issue of smaller, home-based units that WOULD actually benefit individual consumers.
And big wind farms on PRIVATE LAND are fair game so buy a parcel and cease whining.
06/01/08 @ 4:19 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Annual Sheep Festival this Sunday
I let Monpo's comment slide 'cause I'd never suspect a girl to have such a coarse sense of humour. Must be Deluxebury''s influence, ;)
Portions of my sad misspent youth occurred there as well, so I am quick to forgive the depravity, glass houses and all... :)
06/01/08 @ 7:16 am
That sports jacket clashes with EVERYTHING!! LOL
05/31/08 @ 3:38 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Annual Sheep Festival this Sunday
I'll be taking the kids there for sure. For a momant I thought I'd simply withold this news and stay in tomorrow, but it seemed way too good to miss. I knew the kids would be delighted to go.
They are excited and so am I!
05/27/08 @ 8:47 pm
A psoted beforeI am am big fan of CCMNH and Wing Island. I've been going there for years. Our kids first ventured as bundled infants and now are 8 and 13. My son and I like to don foul weather gear and view Wing Island at it's most stormy times.
It never ceases, though, the warnings of well-intentioned, self-appointed trail guides who size you up, conclude you are tourist, and then glibly point out the poison ivy and waggle their fingers in frantic caution.
I find it eternally amusing , as a native.( I am also virtually immune to poson ivy!)
05/25/08 @ 8:07 am
I think we need to drop leaflets fom helicopters that explain how to navigate the rotary.
THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF MOTORISTS ON THE ROTARY,TRAVELLING,EXITING AND ENTERING. THE TRAVEL LANE OF THE ROTARY IS ONE INNER LANE, NOT TWO OR THREE. WHEN IT IS SAFE TO ENTER THE ROTARY MOVE TOWARDS THE CENTER TRAVEL LANE. SIGNAL IN ADVANCE OF EXITING AND THEN MOVE TOWARDS THE OUTER PART,(unless some fool is right beside you in the imaginary second travel lane.)
EXIT THE ROTARY.
OBSERVANCE OF THESE RULES MAKES THE ROTARY SAFER AND EASIER TO NAVIGATE.
Thanks!
05/23/08 @ 7:39 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Updates & Events at the Coast Guard Heritage Museum
I'll ahve to pay a visit. I wonder if there's any info there about my Great Grandfather Charles Bourget, who apparently served as Commodore of The Coast Guard Auxilliary on Cape during WW2.
I have old aerial shots of Bourne from that era.
05/23/08 @ 6:11 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Why Thoreau came to Cape Cod
Thoreau's book is a must-read for Cape Codders. Reading it gives great insight as to The Cape's history and character. It's striking to be reminded of simpler times when the more resourceful among us lived off the land and sea. It's helpful to be reminded of our gritty history amid the sanitization and gentrification of today's Cape Cod.
I required my son to read it when he was 12.
It inspires the imagination and gives a sense of place.
05/17/08 @ 5:31 pm
My blessings go out to The Senator and his family. I was just a nameless citizen when my family needed his help in a pinch. My grandfather's funeral was the same day as President Nixon's, so USMC Honor Guards were practically unavailable that weekend. One call was made to the Senator's Office on a Friday afternoon describing the problem.
He saw to it that an Honor Guard appeared at my grandfather's funeral despite the coinciding State Funeral.
This is my first chance to thank him for that. I wish him the best.
05/16/08 @ 9:51 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: WHOOPIE ! Save 20 cents a gallon on your gas
Let me think about this a minute. I have a 15 gallon tank so the Stop and Shop/Christy's deal might save me $3.
Too bad I have virtually boycotted Stop and Shop and Shaw's in favor of Trader Joe's and US Foodservice.
I save hell of a lot more than $3 by doing my major shopping elsewhere.
Stop and Shop sucks, IMHO. I now spend maybe $20/week there. Their price gouging left me looking for and liking the alternatives.
Trader Joe's-Boneless Skinless Frozen Chicken Breast, no bruises or leaking trays, well-trimmed, 2.5 lbs for $6.99
US Foodservice- 5 lbs Ground beef $11.99
Buy rice and chicken stock in bulk. Dump all the prepared foods. Save money and eat better.
I feed a family of four restaurant-style meals for $150/week.
05/14/08 @ 8:00 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: The day Thoreau died
My reading of this book was met with a great sense of identity at the place I call home. When I walk the dormant railroad tracks on the way to Bass River I am reminded that those very tracks carried Thoreau during portions of his vists here.
As for the barrenness of Dennis cited by Thoreau, that was quite accurate for the time, as the landscape was largely devoid of trees. It's a very different picture today, thankfully.
05/05/08 @ 8:23 pm
I need to add to my previous statement regarding P-Town's Chief. He does have local ties which the article doesn't mention.


05/05/08 @ 8:06 pm
I wonder how the former Chief of Bow, Nh is going to react to the culture shock of his new position as Provincetown's Chief. It seems a little weird to pick an out of stater for the job. NH is a looong way from Provincetown.
05/04/08 @ 8:51 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Of Timing, Times and a Time to Ponder
I always found the intrigue associated with low number plates to be comical. In the absence of a low number plate some folks have stooped to the level of buying cryptic vanity plates that appear at first glance to be a low number plate. It's like free comedy for those insightful enough to recognize it and taxes those that are so shallow as to value it. Perfect!!!!

04/27/08 @ 9:39 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Wednesday Walks with Connie Boyce in May and June 2008
My family frequesnts CCMNH and I agree with the enthusiasm associated with its revival. New information placards add dimension to the history of Wing Island, and recent path widening help to enrichen the experience.
We watched the hawks nesting in the marsh with binoculars last week. They were mating and perhaps there will be some new arrivals in the skies!!
You can find me on Wing Island in the worst of weather, donned in boots and raingear. I've seen the waters at high tide churn brown with the intensity of a nor'eater, a frothy mixture like chocolate milk.
I believe that place is sacred. It is there that I go to forget the petty world. The sea, sky, woods and wind have much simpler agendas.
04/23/08 @ 7:32 am
HW probably wants desperately to live down that fateful role. Somehow "The Fonz" and "conducting" seem far apart. I hope HW has the musical talent deserving of such an honor.
Let's hope they don't break out with the theme song.;)
04/16/08 @ 7:41 pm
This is yet another xample of why I don't buy the Cape Cod Times, This site is so much better!!! I love the historical tidbits.
04/13/08 @ 8:15 am
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Self interest at its worst
It's remarkable that there's no planning for a rainy day. I mean, Property taxes are tied to education funding and based on property values. Property values have tripled in the past 15 years, and so too the revenues from Property taxes. How is it possible to squander a threefold increase in property tax revenues, then claiming to lack the necessary funds for education?
I pesonally find that offensive and it reflects a serious lack of planning.
I have marvelled at the common things I ahve had to personally teach my children, things that I always knew when I went to school pre-MCAS. I have had to teach my kids US Geography, The Multiplication tables, basic history, etc. etc. My
Furthermore the whole point behind MCAS is to build strength in Math and Science so kids can compete in the high-tech economy. As the recession plays out it becomes clear that we need to diversify knowledge if we are to be competitive.We need general skills and knowledge so we can re-gain the broad knowledge base that was lost and hopefully excel at many things, not just a few.
04/09/08 @ 7:21 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Wheelin’ in the years
I also love the Rail Trail. My family made a habit of doing Sunday rides from 134 up into Nickerson. In the summer we start very early to avoid the crowds. We love the scenery and stopping at The Pleasant Lake General Store. One thing we could do without are the cyclists who don their spandex and act like cyborgs, emotionless, passing dangerously as though the are in the Tor De France, risking the safety of others for the sake of a few seconds off of their previous time. What balances that out are the immensely friendly locals, seniors and their pooches. We will keeping up our family tradition this year. See you at the CCRT!!
04/06/08 @ 1:43 pm
capecodjon [Member]
In response to: Bass Players Are Statues
rock on Jul3ia!!
From 1 of your students!

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