borono intentionally

So.. I realize it's been some time since the last blog. I started writing a few, but then got distractimicated by my real life, or more specifically, my real work. Trust me, I would really rather be writing useless blogs about all the random shit that annoys me.

Sometimes, things pop up that just require my comment. Sometimes this is a pressing political event, possibly an important cultural milestone.

Sometimes, the town of Orono once again forgets that there is a college in it's midst. For those of you that don't know, for some time we have know that Ushuaia has lost their liquor and special entertainment licenses. (They were granted a 30-day extension by the state.) Apparently the town is concerned about the growing number of violent incidents occuring there. (47 this year, including several stabbings and one death, of an asthma attach after a stabbing.) This is more than any year in recent memory. More on Ushy boo boos in a minute.

This past Friday, the Bear Brew was temporarily closed for six hours for "cleaning." Apparently the state department of health received a tip that the Pub might not be up to par in meeting some of the general health requirements. They received this tip from someone connected to the Town Police. Also, the Pub apparently forgot to update their food license. Oopsies! For now they can serve pizza and beer, but no other dinner. They are up for renewal in all of their licenses later this winter, and it's not looking good.

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So.. the town of Orono, after a brief surge of having more than one place to go at night, is once again faced with the very real possibility of having nowhere for the hockey players to hunt down their prey after games. Now let's be honest here. I haven't gone out on the weekends in Orono while school was in session since the last time someone visited and wanted to go out, so I'm hardly crushed by the loss of two places I won't go to anyways. But, there is a matter of principle involved here. Also, the possibility that if the places scumbags go are closed, than they will try to go to the other places. For example, people might actually show their faces in Margarita's again.

Now, I understand that these two places probably did everything that they've been accused of. The Bear Brew, for one, has never had the cleanest kitchen on record. To be honest, that bathroom being located so close to food has always bothered me a little bit. BUT... never did the town give a shit before! Ushuaia has always been a place where it was just as easy to get punched by a football player as it was to get an std on the dance floor! (I mean talk about unclean, Geddy's wasn't closed down for that fucking bathroom???) If anything, the owner of Ushuaia's has improved things. Not that I've been to the place in three years, but I understand that he's gotten his people security training, installed security cameras, and wands people for metal objects as they come in. (All instituted since the stabbings.) What else is he supposed to do?

So, good work Town of Orono. You've closed the two places college students like to go the best. I'd believe your claims of good intentions if you ever checked the cleanliness of the kitchens in let's say, oh, Pat's Pizza. Instead, I'm just going to go on believing that Orono refuses to admit it's a college town.