Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Tiverton resident Roger A. Bennis writes a letter to the editor.
- OPINION
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Wednesday, March 27
The following is a letter to the editor. I have followed the news articles on the hardships that the Sakonnet Bridge Tolls would have upon businesses and people traveling to and from Aquidneck Island, and found them to be both an interesting foray into normally unexplored regions of investigative reporting, and a lack of understanding of the total impact of the proposed toll. While it is interesting to investigate the hardships that the toll would impose, it should also be recognized that tolls in general are a tax burden that, like all tax burdens, will be a hardship upon many people. All taxes should be investigated to determine if benefits justify the hardships; or more accurately if benefits and the spread of benefits to recipients…
Thursday, March 14, 2013
TSA has announced that items that were previously prohibited will be allowed, including pocket knives.
- OPINION
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Thursday, March 14
Beginning April 25, several items that are currently prohibited on planes will be allowed, including small pocket knives, announced TSA Administrator John S. Pistole. A TSA spokesperson said the change would align them more closely with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. The decision to allow knives has raised many eyebrows including those of Delta Air Lines’ CEO Richard Anderson who said it would increase safety risks, according to ABC news. New items that would be allowed on planes: These similar items will still remain on the prohibited items list: What do you think? Should pocket knives be allowed on planes?
Sunday, March 10, 2013
A lawmaker would like to make it legal for military service members between the ages of 18 and 21 to drink alcohol
A bill expected to be heard at the State House this past week would make it legal for military service members between the ages of 18 and 21 to drink alcohol in Rhode Island. The legislation (H 5603), introduced by Rep. Thomas Winfield (D-Glocester, Smithfield) would apply to active military members with a valid military identification. Last June, Middetown police issued several underage drinking summons after they responded to a farewell party for a soldier who was deployed to Afghanistan. A 21-year-old and a 22-year-old, were cited under the social host ordinance. Writing from Afghanistan on Tuesday, the solider provided the following statement on Patch, “If I'm getting shipped off to Afghanistan to fulfill my duty as a soldier, …
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Today, Ash Wednesday, marks the beginning of the Lent. What are you sacrificing this year?
- OPINION
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Wednesday, February 13
Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday, makes up the most venerated days in the Christian calendar. Today, Ash Wednesday, marks the beginning of the Lenten season when Christians are asked to prepare for the resurrection of Jesus Christ through repentance, prayer, atonement and self-denial. It has become common for many Christians to sacrifice one vice they have during the Christian liturgical season. So, what are you giving up this Lent? Really addicting reality TV? Chocolate? Alcohol? Words with Friends? Or, have you decided to give up an inner bad habit, such as negativity or jealousy? Tell us in the comment section below!
Monday, February 4, 2013
Did the Go Daddy commercial gross you out? Did the M&M's commercial win your heart? Tell us in the comment section below!
While many tuned in Sunday night to watch the Ravens take on and win against the 49ers, the Superbowl for many of us, is also about entertainment - namely, the Superbowl commercials. This year's roundup of multi-million dollar advertisements stretched the gamut from the awkward Go Daddy kiss, which is still abuzz on social media, to the very emotional Budweiser Clydesdale ad. However, I want to know — what was your favorite commercial of Superbowl 2013? I asked users on Portsmouth Patch's Facebook page and here's what they had to say. Karen Gauthier Ferris: Budweiser! Seabrook Watchdogs: Budweiser, "Landslide" Jacki Almeida: The farmer/dodge commercial! So proud of my farmer Thomas D Horrocks Jr.: Doritos goat Marci Ferree: Doritos i …
Monday, January 28, 2013
The fire in Brazil that killed hundreds Sunday is a painful reminder of the 2003 Rhode Island nightclub fire.
Rhode Island's eyes are on the tragedy of the Brazil nightclub fire, which is a painful experience of deja-vu for the state. A fire tore through a Kiss nightclub in Brazil Sunday morning. The fire has killed more than 200 people and left 120 injured, reports CNN. The Brazil nightclub was allegedly packed with more than 2000 people, double its capacity. The story has startling similarities to 2003, when the band Great White took the stage at The Station nightclub in West Warwick. There are reports that the Brazil nightclub's insulation foam ignited the fire. Pyrotechnics set fire to flammable soundproofing foam that lined the walls and ceiling in the 2003 Station nightclub fire. Concertgoers pushed and shoved in a frantic attempt to get …
Friday, January 25, 2013
The Pentagon lifted its ban Thursday on women serving in combat roles, including roles on the front lines of battle. What do you think about the change? Tell us below.
The Pentagon made a historic move Thursday when it lifted its ban against women serving in combat, according to USA Today. A 1994 restriction prevented women in the military from serving in combat, including service on the front lines. However, many argued, including the American Civil Liberties Union, that reality showed women already serving on the front lines. U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a member of the Armed Services Committee who strongly supports the historic change, issued the following statement after the announcement. “I applaud the Secretary for formally removing the ban," Reed said. "The reality of today’s battlefield is that all who serve are in combat.” The military's lift of the ban opens up 230,000 posts to women in …
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
A number of surrounding communities have deep-sixed some interesting items and activities over the past year, but should Portsmouth join the banning bandwagon?
- OPINION
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Wednesday, January 9
Last October, Barrington passed a plastic shopping bag ban that went into effect on Jan. 1. Nearby in Massachusettes, Concord’s so-called bottle ban became a bylaw earlier this week, Brookline recently banned plastic bags and Styrofoam cups, and Arlington’s Town Meeting this fall upheld a seasonal leaf blower ban. Meanwhile, home-cooked foods have been forced out of many schools, an ostensible attempt to protect against allergies and childhood obesity. Portsmouth hasn’t exactly hopped on this banning bandwagon, but should it? Is there an activity or item you would want to see banned out of environmental, health or quality-of-life concerns? Let us know in the comments section below.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Three years after a Kansas man donated his sperm, the state wants him to pay child support.
A mechanic who answered a Craigslist ad to donate his sperm to a lesbian couple is now being pursued by the State of Kansas for child support, reports the Kansas City Star. In 2009, Angela Bauer and Jennifer Schreiner entered into an agreement with the donor, William Marotta to provide his sperm. They signed a contract that outlined he would be free from any financial responsibility as well as parental privileges, according to the newspaper. The legal contract stated Marotta was not responsible “for any child support payments demanded of him by any other person or entity, public or private, including any district attorney’s office or other state or county agency, regardless of the circumstances or said demand.” Although the women offered…
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Pick your very favorite Christmas movie from this list.
I'm a junkie for "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." It's my favorite holiday movie ever. I watch it at least once every year. Clark Griswold. Cousin Eddy. Todd and Margo. Aunt Bethany. Audrey and Rusty. I start to laugh just thinking about the movie, which I've watched a zillion times. What is your favorite holiday movie? Feel free to add your own favorite movie in the comments section below!
Gary Kerr
10:11 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Let the little pocketknives on the planes. They far less dangerous than the mechanical pencils and 4" scissors that are already allowed. Let's use some common sense. (And let's also give some consideration to men to don't carry purses and can only safely carry scissors, screwdrivers, tweezers, and files if they're folded up inside our little pocketknives.) With a purse, a woman can carry a 7" … more ›