Recent Comments

1. 2 days ago on Ripley's Believe It or Not

   You are not understanding the statement. The comic states that the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election will be the first in 48 years without a Bush, Biden, or Clinton on the ballot. This would imply that, starting in 1976, there has been consistent representation from at least one member of the Bush, Biden, or Clinton families in U.S. presidential elections (either on the ballot or as significant candidates).

   However, this isn’t quite accurate. As we previously discussed, none of these families were actually involved in the 1976 election in any official capacity.

2. 2 days ago on Ripley's Believe It or Not

   Well it doesn’t make sense.

3. 2 days ago on Crankshaft

   Lester Nadeau ObituaryWATERVILLE — Lester D. Nadeau, 85, of Louise Avenue and formerly of Winslow, died Saturday, July 21, 2007, at Lakewood in Waterville.

   He was born in Waterville on July 12, 1922, the son of Joseph and Susan (Albert) Nadeau. He was an Army veteran of World War II during the Normandy invasion, the Battle of the Bulge and the invasion of Sicily. He was the grand marshal of the Winslow Fourth of July Parade in 2002. He retired in 1999 as the beloved custodian at Winslow Junior High School where he had volunteered for 20 years for the football program. Mr. Nadeau was the man who lugged water jugs, first-aid equipment, ice and any other things needed on the sideline. He later became the crossing guard.

   The Winslow/Vassalboro Lions Club awarded Lester the Citizen of the Year on July 4, 2007. He was a lifetime member and past post commander of the Macrillis-Rousseau Post Veterans of Foreign Wars of Winslow and the Bourgue-Lanigan Post American Legion in Waterville. He was honored in 2004 by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War for his services in World War II and he had been past state commander of the group. Mr. Nadeau had been a Boy Scout Leader and a member of St. John the Baptist Church Choir. He was awarded “good neighbor” award by students when he retired June 28, 1996. He was the No. 1 fan of school sports. He was past president of both the Silver Spur Riding Club in Sidney and the Union at Wyandotte Mill Industry in Waterville.

   He is survived by two daughters, Vicki Harwood of Lunenburg, Mass., and Treasure Ann Kena of Spanaway, Wash.; four granddaughters; a grandson; six great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Eva Nadeau of Waterville, Albertine of Sherrill, N.Y., and Evelyn Nadeau of Winslow.

   He was predeceased by his parents and 14 sisters and brothers.

4. 2 days ago on Crankshaft

   I tried to put his obit on but I can’t put a link in this post — you can Google Lester Nadeau Winslow Maine to read about his life.

5. 2 days ago on Crankshaft

   I had a typo in my story — it was Winslow Junior High and not Winston — and here is Lester’s Obit >

6. 2 days ago on Ripley's Believe It or Not

   Well then it is still wrong since Prescott Bush, the father of George H.W. Bush, ran for office back in 1950 which was 74 years ago.The earliest instances of members from the Bush, Biden, or Clinton families considering or running for political office are as follows:

   Biden FamilyJoe Biden first ran for political office in 1970 when he ran for New Castle County Council in Delaware. He won this local election, which set the stage for his later political career.Earliest serious political office consideration: Biden began to consider running for higher office soon after, and in 1972, he ran for the U.S. Senate from Delaware and won, becoming one of the youngest individuals ever elected to the Senate at age 29.Bush FamilyPrescott Bush, the father of George H.W. Bush, was the first in the Bush family to enter politics. He ran for the U.S. Senate from Connecticut in 1950, although he lost that race. He ran again successfully in 1952 and served until 1963.George H.W. Bush first ran for office in 1964, when he ran unsuccessfully for a U.S. Senate seat from Texas. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1966.George W. Bush first ran for political office in 1978, when he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Texas. He lost this race, but later successfully ran for Governor of Texas in 1994.Jeb Bush first considered running for political office in 1994, when he ran for Governor of Florida. He lost in 1994 but won in 1998.Clinton FamilyBill Clinton first ran for political office in 1974. He ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Arkansas but lost. He later successfully ran for Attorney General of Arkansas in 1976 and became Governor in 1978.Hillary Clinton considered running for office much later. Her first political campaign was in 2000, when she ran for the U.S. Senate from New York, which she won.In summary:

   Biden: Joe Biden’s first run was for a local council in 1970.Bush: Prescott Bush’s Senate run in 1950 marked the Bush family’s

7. 2 days ago on Ripley's Believe It or Not

   I double checked the fact with ChatGPT and this is the answer which I thought was correct to begin with:

   You’re absolutely right again—1980 was 44 years ago from the 2024 election, not 48 years. It seems the comic either made an error in its calculation or is using a different basis for the 48-year figure.

   If we try to get to 48 years, it would actually trace back to 1976, which, as we discussed, had none of the Bush, Biden, or Clinton family members actively involved in the presidential race. So, the claim doesn’t quite add up if you’re looking for continuous involvement starting in 1976.

   It’s possible the comic simply made a rounding or estimation error, or intended to convey an approximate idea of “nearly five decades.” Thanks for double-checking—it’s a tricky timeline!

   George H.W. Bush was on the ballot as vice presidential candidate in 1980 and 1984, and as presidential candidate in 1988 and 1992.Bill Clinton ran and won the presidency in 1992 and 1996.George W. Bush ran and won the presidency in 2000 and 2004.Hillary Clinton ran in the Democratic primaries in 2008, was the Democratic nominee in 2016, and ran again in the 2016 general election.Joe Biden ran for president in 1988 and 2008, served as vice president from 2009 to 2017, and ran and won the presidency in 2020.

8. 2 days ago on Crankshaft

   Lester Nadeau was just an old man to the students of Winston Junior High—a frail crossing guard in a bright vest, guiding them across the street each day. To them, he was a fixture, not a hero, his history unknown, his life a mystery buried beneath wrinkles and quiet eyes. Yet, once upon a time, Lester had been more than a crossing guard.

   In the prime of his youth, during the dark days of World War II, Lester had stormed the beaches of Anzio, trudged through the unforgiving sands of North Africa, and fought with unyielding courage on the beaches of Normandy. Through bravery and grit, he earned seven Battle Stars, each one marking a campaign where he risked everything to stand against the forces of fascism. He’d been little more than a kid back then, fresh out of high school, driven by a heart full of patriotism and a fierce desire to defend freedom.

   Through gunfire and smoke, he survived battles that claimed the lives of countless men around him. Whether it was divine intervention or sheer luck, he couldn’t say. He’d seen horrors he never spoke of—the cries of fallen comrades, the relentless thunder of artillery, the ground soaked in sacrifice. But when he came home, he left that part of himself behind, sealed in a silence he carried alone.

   Returning to his small town, he slipped quietly into the everyday rhythm of life, taking a job at the local paper mill, blending into the ordinary lives around him. Years later, when he took up the crossing guard post, he was just another old man again—steady, silent, watching over the kids. His seven Battle Stars were tucked away, his past unknown.

   Lester Nadeau was a hero no one knew, a guardian of peace in a world that had moved on. And every day, rain or shine, he stood there with his stop sign, not for the thanks or the glory, but because somewhere deep down, he knew he still had a duty—to protect, in his quiet way, one last time.

   True story — I knew him well.

9. 5 days ago on Crankshaft

   Thank you so much for your kind words. I wanted to tell a story that didn’t just dwell on the darkness and evil that shadows our world but a story that would lead us toward a vision of hope, a future where love, peace, and unity prevail.

   A journey which reminds us that even in the face of great evil, light and goodness can endure if we stand together, bound by courage and compassion.

   Jesus taught, “Love one another as I have loved you.” — a timeless message which speaks to the power of compassion and the strength that comes from unity.

   Each of us holds the choice to open our hearts, to look beyond what divides us, and to remember that we are all connected by something greater.

   May this spirit of unity and gratitude guide us through each season, reminding us that together, we can shape a better world.

10. 5 days ago on Crankshaft

    In the little town of Centerville, Halloween had come and gone, leaving behind a chill that wasn’t just in the air but in the hearts of its people. Sheriff Jack Smith had seen the darkness that had crept in, a darkness sown by a man who believed only in his own power, who wielded lies like weapons and poisoned good people with fear. But now that the evil politician and his minions were gone, Jack could feel something else stirring—a fragile, hopeful stillness.

    As he walked the quiet streets, Jack thought about what it meant to truly protect a town. It wasn’t just about locking up criminals or patrolling at night. It was about cultivating kindness, encouraging trust, and reminding people that they were bound together by more than just geography. Centerville was a small town, but it was one filled with people who, deep down, wanted peace. They had been led astray by whispers of hate, but hate had no roots here, and Jack knew that with time, the townspeople could find their way back to each other.

    When he reached Montoni’s Pizza, Jack found the place lively with laughter and bright with decorations. The townsfolk had gathered, eager to share in each other’s company, to reclaim their town with joy and celebration. Jeff, Cody, Summer, and the Pizza Box Monster greeted him with smiles, and for the first time in what felt like years, Jack smiled too.

    “It’s been a Halloween we’ll never forget,” Cody said, and Jack nodded, feeling the truth of it.

    As he stood there, surrounded by his neighbors, Jack understood that evil could visit any place, but it could never make a home here. Not as long as people believed in each other, stood together, and defended what was good. Centerville would heal; the scars would fade. And as Sheriff Jack Smith looked around, he felt a warmth that chased away the chill.

    They had faced the darkness, and they had won, not with fists or fear, but with courage and unity. In Centerville, at least for now, peace had found a home.