The Nature of Memorial Day

Borrowing from yesterday's  Editorial in the Bangor Daily News, the following are some excerpts to give us some points to ponder about the nature of Memorial Day, our Country and about Maine....

http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/05/29/opinion/memorial-day-2011/

Long before sales and sports and the three-day weekend, Memorial Day was a day of mourning. .. 

Each Memorial Day has been a time for words of reflection and gratitude, to assess America’s place in the world and the prospects for lasting peace. Consider these words from earlier holidays, culled from newspaper files. They date from the first Memorial Day in 1868 to the early days of World War II: 

“Let our mottoes be truth, justice and equality, and the heroes who died for us will never have been disgraced.” — Hon. John Peters, Bangor, May 30, 1868 

“Today we are one people, forgotten are all racial bitterness, partisan bigotry and sectional differences.” — The Rev. H.E. Dunnack, Orrington, May 30, 1917 

“To [democracy's] defenders, who are among its finest expressions, we must make no promises which we cannot or will not perform.” — Bangor Daily News editorial, May 30, 1941

It's hard to choose which of these I like the best.  I wish they were all true.  I wish I wasn't discouraged that we seem to have a hard time living up to these ideals.  The statement that lingers for me is "Let our mottoes be truth, justice and equality....but even more is so "the heroes who died for us will never have been disgraced".

 We still live in the most wonderful country in the world but it's more than troubling to see what's going on politically, and therefore in our everyday lives.  When you consider the sacrifices our service men & women and their families have made it feels like the least we can do is forget "all racial bitterness, partisan bigotry and sectional differences".

Katahdin Region's Uncertain Future Editorial

When reading the Bangor Daily News editorial this weekend online, Katahdin Region's Uncertain Future 

http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/05/27/opinion/katahdin-region%E2%80%99s-uncertain-future/

Some of the comments made by other readers were very disturbing, here is the post:

I'm curious who wrote this, it seems to be pressing the state to assume TENS OF MILLIONS of dollars of liability for a sludge dump which is almost full ( Dolby  I and II are full, while Dolby  III has 15 of 17 "cells" completely full). 
Some facts about the Dolby land fills: The dumps also have NO Liner, since they were built before that was required. This means that an average of 90 MILLION gallons of contaminated leachate can escape into rivers, ponds and aquifers annually. "In the last ten years significant deterioration of the ground water conditions has occurred in the area north east of Dolby III"These two facts come from the Maine DEP, under the Water Quality Summary dated 5/24/11 If the state bought the dump, it would be liable for all injuries and illnesses associated with this.
Dolby III sank nine feet last year (more space right?)
When it comes to Hydro, I think we should remember that whoever owns those hydro damns is allowed to sell that "green" power to other states (through Renewable Energy Credits REC's), at a premium which can be double or more than the market rate for electricity. It is no wonder they want to shut down the mills, sell off the equipment and make more money selling power to Boston and Newark.
This article is also oxymoronic when it mentions industrial wind and tourism. Maine tourism is often based on the thought we are the "last frontier of the North East", showing un-touched nature. Industrial wind puts 400' towers on top of the highest terrain in the region, so you can't avoid seeing them and how Maine is no longer your nature escape.
Something this article did not mention is how  Katadian Paper is supposed to have a trust account to deal with closure of the Dolby III sludge dump, which as of December of 2009 had 7.5 million in it. As of today, the account is empty and no one knows why.
Hope this sheds some light on what is really go on with this sludge dump deal.

STEPHEN M. KATZ | BDN

My path to Ebay from the great north woods!

A Peek At Paradise! What a world we live in....wasn't that long ago we never dreamed how important computers would become.  What a world I'm lucky enough to live in.  We're at the northern end of the Appalachian Trail and about an hour from two Provinces of Canada, all in the shadow of Mt. Katahdin and some of the most pristine forest in the country.

My Girl Casey! My best friend, a collie named Casey, and I go on many excursions.  In fact, if it wasn't for Casey, I almost spent an unintended night in the woods--lost!  We went to an area that was unfamiliar and I got so carried away with the scenery and taking pictures that before we knew it, it was dark--and I MEAN dark!  When they say you can't see your hand in front of you--it's true!!!  It was also getting VERY cold.  I didn't think she understood me but after I stumbled in the darkness for a very long time, I said "Take us home".  Somehow, she lead the way and after many hours, she got us back to the car! I have a lot of things to thank Casey for too. That's how I got started with Maine Nature & Nostalgia.  Casey & I  spend so much time in the woods. I have always been such an admirer of the miracles of nature, now I have become a gatherer!  Some people go the the malls.  I go to the woods and come home with driftwood, fungus, rocks, pinecones and so many things nature has to offer.  These things were just so unique and beautiful.  I just had to do something with these things so I started making wreaths and mirrors from driftwood, painting on fungus--so many ideas, so little time :)  From time to time I've done some oil paintings.  I started taking some beautiful pictures so I could use the subjects for either oil paintings or to paint scenes on fungus.  Then again, some of the pictures are beautiful just as framed pictures.  My other past time is going to good ole' country auctions and estate sales.  It's amazing what you can find in the great north woods! So many paths to follow!  That's why you never know what you'll find here.  That's also why there may be times when there are no listings for a few days--we're probably on one of our excursions.  Well, there you have it--the brief history of where the "nature" and the "nostalgia" comes from.  You might find an original creation or the collectible you've been looking for!  I try very hard to describe my items as thoroughly as possible, include a lot of pictures so you can see exactly what you're buying, pack extremely well, send the items usually within 24 hours and be readily available to answer any emails or questions.  Hope you'll drop in often to see what's new!