Weston Memorial Park and Casinos

The Weston Memorial Park that is off Purchase Street has had its trail system destroyed. The area had some cutting done and what this really represented was a woodlands version of strip mining. Swaths fifteen feet wide or wider were cut into various areas and that did in most of the previous trail system. Why this was done without any consideration of the trails is beyond my comprehension. I have run in scores of areas in many other towns and have not seen this drastic approach and such a blatant and total disregard for existing trails. The swaths have done nothing but have a variety of undergrowth sprouting and the remains of the woody refuge left behind. Where one could previous walk or run is now a high risk factor. Forget biking. I did manage to locate part of a previous trail that went for about ¼ mile that ran parallel to one of the butchered areas. Then it became victim to the cutting. I went to Faye Avenue where there is a entrance to your right as you go down Faye. I went in and where a trail breaks to the left is now just a mess. This was a nice trail of over a mile. Destroyed or an least virtually inaccessible - maybe piece meal portions exist but I chose not to risk injury to explore. The other portion of the trail use to be a short hike to the parking lot and now just breaks into one of the paths of destruction. I would gladly take any and all of the folks responsible to other trail systems in other towns or even to Pratt Farm. Old growth sometimes has to be removed but it has to be removed with a certain degree of forethought.

I have no real qualms about the various sky is falling outcomes that anti casino lightweights seem to always put front and center. I am like virtually all who go to a casino in that - to quote Clint Eastwood - “A man has got to know his limitations.” I play with a set amount as do most. I have been to dozens of casinos in various sizes in probably fifteen states. I have yet to see any prostitution, drunks rampaging about the place and drug dealers looking to score. Probably exists but I can tell you places in Middleboro where it also exists. I have seen many a depressing sight at casinos of folks lined up at an ATM or just mesmerized by the slots - much like they are mesmerized by scratch tickets at the Village Market. This state has already opened the door on legalized gaming and casinos/slots are just another step. If it means we recoup some dollars leaving our borders I’m all for it. I do believe the social costs are present but greatly overstated. I do feel that it is merely another way to spend discretionary income and that is a personal choice. If the zealots wish to legislate social behaviors then good luck with that since it will fail and fail miserably just as has their efforts to keep casinos/slots out of Massachusetts.

Very bad Tuesday for incumbents, Democrats, selective Republicans, Obama and moonbats. The results have shown that the Tea Party is a viable movement and it will be interesting to see if their positions are “copied” but the two reigning parties. TP crowd is going to cause havoc to both Democrats and Republicans who just don’t seem to “get it.” The TP message of just about anti everything has resonated with the middle.

Harvard has some impressive admissions standards.

State budget is at 28 Billion. After listening to our local reps this is the slash to the bone and Draconian?

The law and justice. I had a conversation with a judge recently over those two points - a little name dropping without a name. My question was how many times can he recall following the law but not justice in a case? He had never been asked that question. He reflected that there were many decisions he has made over the years that he knew flat out were wrong but represented the law as written.