Oops!

• Careless Governing: (1) Maine enacted legislation in July to make immigrant asylum-seekers eligible for the state's General Assistance fund -- contrary to Gov. Paul LePage's aggressive promise to veto the bill. The governor had misunderstood state law and believed legislation would be regarded as vetoed if he merely failed to sign it for 10 days. LePage appeared stunned on the 11th day, according to press reports, that he had had the veto law backward and that asylum-seekers are now eligible for benefits. (2) News reports from Georgetown, Texas, politely did not identify the councilman by name, but Mayor Pro Tem Rachael Jonrow confirmed that the man neglected to turn off his mobile microphone during a May meeting as he excused himself for a restroom break. Jonrow said she stoically ignored the men's room sounds on the PA system -- until the noise from a toilet's flushing seemed to release the councilmembers' pent-up laughter. [Maine Beacon (Portland), 7-7-2015] [Fox News, 5-5-2015]

• Epic Clumsiness: (1) A guest at the upscale W Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, had to be rescued by firefighters in July when he fell off of one machine in the hotel's exercise room and got his head caught in the one next to it. Rescuers arrived with torches and saws, but managed to pull and push and manipulate the man's head free (though he had "significant" injuries). (2) A 27-year-old man, entertaining friends at his home in Colmar, France, on the country's National Day on July 14, suffered serious injuries when he fell from his third-floor balcony -- while, said his friends, leaning over to spit on police officers below. [South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 7-22-2015] [The Local (Paris), 7-17-2015]

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