Specifics of the Gomes bill
I recieved a reply from Rep. Gomes’s office - this year’s proposed bill is a re-file of the bill (House 4456) that Gomes offered last year in response to a petition by the parents of the two girls (Aronoff & Jagoda) killed off Chatham in the rec. kayak. This year the bill has attracted additional legislative sponsors: Reps Eric Turkington, Cleon Turner, and Matthew Patrick - all representing districts on the Cape, Rep Therese Murray representing Plymouth and part of the Lower Cape, and Sen. Robert O’Leary representing the Cape and the Islands.
The text of this year’s proposed filing is identical to last year’s - it seems Gomes etal did not learn from any of the negative comments generated concerning the bill last year.
For what it’s worth here’s the text of proposed bill for this year:
“Chapter 90B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 5B the following section:—
Section 5C. Any person aboard a Kayak shall wear at all times a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device of Type 1, 11, or 111. Kayaks shall also be equipped with a compass and a whistle.”
I urge everone who believes that this proposed legislation is inappropriate, ill concieved, discrimanatory, wrong, or stupid, etc. to contact the sponsors of the legislation and tell them what you think. All memebers of the Mass. House and Senate can be reached by e-mail - the addresses of the sponsors are listed below!
Rep.ShirleyGomes@hou.state.ma.us
Rep.EricTrukington@hou.state.ma.us
Rep.ThereseMurray@hou.state.ma.us
Rep.ClemTurner@hou.state.ma.us
Rep.MatthewPatrick@hou.state.ma.us
Robert.O’Leary@state.ma.us
massholes!
The brief time I lived in Maine, the common derogitory (Sp?) term for people from Massachusetts, was “Mass-hole”… Not for sure how universal this term is, or if it is only used amongst “Mainer” (pronounced “Mainah”)…
sure seems to fit more often then not…
Other Mainer term I liked was refering to anyone that was not from main, or a resident of Main that was not native to the state, they simply say “they are ‘from away’!”
Mass and florida are the only states
I know of which allow you to own the land right down to the waters edge No mean high water reg here.
Also reg prohibit launching from any place with a lifegaurd on duty.
Having grown up in NH
I was embarrassed to have a MA license plate on my car for the five or so years I lived in Boston after college. I didn’t want to be considered a Masshole and drove with unusual care on the roads to make sure I didn’t do anything to perpetuate that reputation.
When I finally moved back to NH, I can’t tell how I proud I was standing in line at the Epping DMV waiting to get my new license and license plate. A small thing, I know, but very important to me.
low tide line -
FishHawk - just because you haven’t been arrested doesn’t mean the law isn’t there - i cruise rts 3 and 6 at 80mph, and haven’t been arrested, but i can be - - i think many of the folks on the cape aren’t going to hassle anyone if they’re being respectful of that person’s property
Boston’s big dig
If you want an interesting activity for a snowy day, type “Bud Shuster big dig” in Google and read about political corruption at its worst. Or you could read the House of Representatives documents on his ethics charge at http://www.house.gov/ethics/Shuster_Report_Cover.htm
60 Minutes did a big story about the Big Dig and the Shuster/Eppard connection.
His son now holds his seat in the House of Representatives and sponsored a bill to change the ethics rules. (see http://pennlive.com/politics/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1104920427320745.xml)
I enjoy this message board, even when it gets a little off-topic. 
I am a new paddler, and have learned so much from paddling.net. Thanks, everyone. PXF3