A Slip of the Pen - New York Times

A Slip of the Pen - New York Times

The issue of signing statements by the president is fascinating. At first thought, wouldn't it be better if the president just refused to sign a law he disagrees with? In this editorial Walter Dellinger gives examples of why a president may need to sign an omnibus bill which has a few provisions he doesn't approve.

The real problem here is the question of proportion. A president or Congress may need to do things that are, strictly speaking, illegal. The important thing is not to do it too often, only in cases of emergency. If the president would honestly reject bills he doesn't feel he can enforce, then the few cases of signing statements wouldn't be a problem. The system won't work if everyone insists on going past the boundaries every time.

PICT0356

PICT0356
Originally uploaded by P_Linehan.

Crossing the bridge.
Here is the link to all the pictures in the set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/p_linehan/sets/72157594174435485/

PICT0384

PICT0384
Originally uploaded by P_Linehan.

This is a shot of the Lewiston-Auburn Railroad Bridge from the Auburn side. It has been converted to a pedestrian bridge with beautiful parks on either side. Who would have thought of such a great use of an old resource across the Androscoggin River.

The Grim Neurology of Teenage Drinking - New York Times

The Grim Neurology of Teenage Drinking - New York Times

I never realized before how dangerous underage drinking can be. This article highlights some of the neurochemical changes that can occur. Blacking out isn't just an obscure problem for alcaholics, but a real issue. This article shows it's more important than ever to avoid binge drinking. I would even argue avoid lighter drinking because of where it may lead.

Woodpecker Symphony

Forest sounds are always amazing. Yesterday at Mont Alto I was on a logging road behind campus. The large number of old oak trees, some dead standing, make excellent drums for the woodpeckers. The natural ampitheater effect on the hillside on the as yet leafless forest helped the sound resonate. Each bird had a different rhythm and each tree gave a different sound. When you add the other birds singing it was a real natural symphony. It was well worth the morning walk up the hill.

Walking after a snowstorm

We had our first big snowstorm two days ago. It amounted to about six inches. It was not really that big a storm, although the frantic weather reports would make you believe that it was the blizzard of the century coming!

In this town, by ordinance, everyone is supposed to clear the sidewalks in front of their houses. By now this should be done throughout the borough. Yet when I went walking this morning I saw how differently everyone interprets the rule. Some of the sidewalks are completely cleared down to the bare concrete. Others have a single-width meandering shovel path. Others have cleared no snow at all and only the steps of previous walkers have marred the snow.

I want to keep up my fitness walking through the winter. It has become a habit, and I don't feel right until I have done my four or five miles. I can see now it will take some work to overcome the obstacles of snow and ice and get in my walking around the storms and their aftermath.

Frankie