In the famous words of "Fearless," ponderous thoughts while pondering new brick sidewalks, water bills, and a ride to Stop & Shop for trash bags.

If the new industrial park costs more than double what it was originally supposed to cost, does this mean we have the new "Industrial Park To Nowhere" on our hands? I can see the 2012 ticket now "Palin/Milanoski" - whew, that took some thought.

If federal money needed to be spent downtown for "Streetscape," does this mean there's more money for rent and moving expenses for business to occupy those empty storefronts? If we as taxpayers are spending money to "beautify" downtown, shouldn't we clean up the adjoining sidewalks of grass and or decay? How about those sidewalks that just stop - then start, then stop again? Just a thought.

Why not have local businesses sponsor islands in the city? Clean them up, plant things, make them look nice? Many other towns do it, safety concerns are relevant, but so isn't a community's quality of life. Just a thought.

At the hand of Bill Bowles - according to him - my rubbish rate went down. And I'm supposed to be thankful. Yet, I now buy bags to get rid of my trash. The only savings I see is in my quarterly tax bill. Now I pay it weekly at Stop & Shop, by the box. Real savings there. Just a thought. Public school busing is paid by the taxpayers. The city mandate is children that live less than 1.5 miles from the school need to "pay" to utilize the bus. I live closer to the school than some, yet I pay and others over 1.5 miles don't? Where am I going wrong here, I'm confused? It costs more to get closer? Just a thought.

Noise ordinances? How about an ordinance regarding beautification? We worry more about a loud bike or two, but we don't get on business owners and property owners who don't clean and maintain their space. How about an ordinance for weeds - and make sure the sidewalk police take a look at Pleasant Street first. There's more grass coming out of those sidewalks than I have for a front lawn. Ordinances? Just a thought.

Phone systems and City Hall? What? Huh? You're kidding me. I can't even begin to write about this, I'd need a nap. Just a ... never mind.

Water rates - what? I know I'm not the only one saying what the @$&#. This is almost comical. And to make matters worse - from this household - we have well water! No worries though, I still get charged 90 percent of the rate. My way of thinking, if I only use half of what is charged for water and sewer, wouldn't 50 percent be appropriate? Nah, why reason - the answer from Water Street you say? Get a meter installed - you pay for it, have it inspected twice, and if it passes "our inspection" then we will use that meter.

I can't be the only "late" 30-something in this city that sees this - right? I mean, I've got kids, work, wife, swimming, baseball, basketball, dance, and sleepovers every three minutes. Am I the only one who thinks some of the happenings on Channel 98 are comical at best - and reading this paper nightly gets my blood pressure up enough to say stop! Is anyone thinking rationally anymore? Does the school department actually "think" before instituting a "no snack rule"? Again, you've got to be kidding.

I actually have come to believe in the power of the voting booth - but we should use that voting power for department heads in government as well. The school department, the water department, the highway department, the re-development thingy - yes, you too. Let's vote in and out all department heads - give them terms, and vote. Why not, maybe things wouldn't be so - well, um, I know I can't be the only one saying it.

Affordable housing projects and old schools. Good idea, but don't wait 20 years to do something with the building - do it now, or pass an ordinance.

Wow, now I know how "Fearless" feels.

Just a thought.

A.J. "BERT" BUCKLEY IV lives in Attleboro.