File Under: Economist Fail

File Under: Maple Meadow Farm Fest this weekend

On June 26 and 27, the Gregg Family will be hosting the fourth annual Maple Meadow Farm Festival during Mapleton Daze. There will be many field work demonstrations with horses and antique tractors, discriminating antique dealers and fine crafts, country cuisine, wagon rides, and plenty of room for the children to play.

The Maple Meadow Farm Festival emphasizes the daily and seasonal farm and homemaking practices of Aroostook County, honoring an agricultural heritage and creating an opportunity for personal enrichment and enjoyment. It builds community while supporting economic growth by showcasing the best of the past and educating others about the history and traditions of a rural culture with an emphasis on collaboration.

Bring your friends and family to Maple Meadow Farms to celebrate good ‘ol country camaraderie.
Hope to see you there,
The Gregg Family
Maple Meadow Farm Festival, 830 Mapleton Rd., Mapleton

Saturday June 26 10am to 5 pm
Sunday June 27 10 am to 4 pm
FREE ADMISSION

File Under: $1M gift to fund library expansion

$1M gift to fund library expansion: "PRESQUE ISLE, Maine -- All libraries offer books, but the Mark and Emily Turner Library provides a vital lifeline to services many take for granted, including computer and Internet access ..."

File Under: Locks of Love, C.A.N.C.E.R. and Planet Head Day

As some of you may be aware, I have spent the last year+ growing out my hair for Locks of Love, which I encourage everyone who is capable, to do. Once I realized that the time to cut my hair would line up with Planet Head Day, which raises money for a local cancer support group, I knew I had to do it. If you want to know more about Planet Head Day I suggest you watch the video below. So here's the pitch, I'm looking for sponsors for Planet Head Day and an idea as to which planet I should have painted on my bald pate. So, for each $10 donation I receive, you will get one (1) vote for the planet. I will also match each donation up to $100 total, plus cover the PayPal fees. If we get over $500, I'll post a video of the head shaving and painting on my YouTube channel. So with that all said, please donate what you can by using the ChipIn below, and vote for the planet in the "special instructions to seller," section of your PayPal Payment. Thanks!

Why do I get the feeling, I know what you sicko's will vote for?

Millions Spent in Maine on Health Care Debate - ABC News

Millions Spent in Maine on Health Care Debate - ABC News

Disgusting use of funds to try and sway a State that would be best served by a major overhaul of the health care system. Not that I'm a huge fan of anything that will cause businesses to shoulder the bulk of the load. It's important to remember that a big chunk of the world is made up small businesses out there that aren't evil f@#$ers taking huge, unjust bonuses while people are out of work.

File Under: This just in, not all humans suck!

Miracle on Mars Hill: Donors help build girl's ears: "MARS HILL, Maine -- Next Christmas, Bobbi Guerrette will be able to hear -- with brand-new ears of her own -- the crinkle of wrapping paper as she opens her toys. It's something she can't ..."

File Under: Fairpoint Wants Help

This Forbes article on the clusterf@#$ that is Fairpoint tells a tale of a company in desperate need of help. The funny thing to me and many others, is that everyone seemed to know this would happen except, Fairpoint and the state PUC's. I'm not entirely sure Verizon knew, and just didn't care.

File Under: Dumb Ass Kids

So seven teenagers got busted for drinking at the Drama Festival last week in Rockland. I remember when the drama kids were the smart ones. What the heck, don't they know that drinking is for the cast party, not at the flippin school, where you are performing? Who thinks it's a good idea to get drunk around a bunch of parents and teachers? Morons that's who. The quality of intellect in today's kids is just not there, when they can't pull off a simple underage drinking concept. I truly fear for the future of humanity. I'm also glad it wasn't PIHS kids and a litle bit pleased it was Cape Elizabeth kids. My Maine reader will know why.

File Under: From this kayaker to the state of Maine..

F#$% YOU! It seems that some of those genius legislators down Augusta way want to liscence every kayak and canoe operator over the age of 16. Are you f'n kidding me? We choose the least impacting way to enjoy Maine's waterways and now you want to punish us for that? Kiss my ass you overtaxing, money grubbing self agrandizing assholes. I have f'n had it with this state. Every time I turn around they're trying to clip me for another thing. I can't wait for them to tax the air I breathe. I believe in conservation, I have the f'n Loon Plates, I pick up trash when I see it. If I hump it up the hill, I hump it back down. That's the way you do it, but this is just ridiculous. You got the money on my f'n kayaks when I bought them. Take that 5% and conserve something you greedy f#$%s.

File Under: Pennywise, Pound foolish?

Part of Gov. Baldacci's cost saving measures would include shipping inmates out of state to private prisons. It seems that such a move would have unintended consequences. We can save $2 million, but send money out of state, not to mention the lose of free labor to the surrounding communities. I believe I heard in another report, that the prisoners also held clean up local State Parks in the spring. It's also be to noted that privately run prisons have come under fire for human rights violations in the past. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

File Under: Effen Weather

The weather this week has just plain sucked, and my business has sucked accordingly. Now this is our prediction for the next day and a half. BAH!

Today
Partly sunny this morning...then mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow this afternoon. Little or no snow accumulation. Highs around 20. Northeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of snow 20 percent.

Tonight
Snow likely in the evening...then snow...sleet and freezing rain after midnight. Snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches. Ice accumulation of up to one quarter of an inch. Early lows around 20 then temperatures slowly rising. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

Friday
Snow...sleet and freezing rain. Total snow and sleet accumulation of 6 to 10 inches with the highest amounts north and west of a Caribou to Baxter State Park line. Ice accumulation of up to one quarter of an inch. Near steady temperature in the mid 20s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph...becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

File Under: Failure

As some of you readers may be aware. I have been trying to put together the Concert for the County, being a benefit to raise funds for home heating assistance for people Aroostook County. My plan was to have my favorite band, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, headline the show with a very talented local singer, Brian Mosher opening. The idea was to have the concert on September 12 as GPN was going to be at a festival in Fredericton on the 13th.

I hit two hurddles right out of the gate. First, the United Way board was so worried about losing money, that they would only do the project if we raised all money to cover all the expenses first. An undertaking for which they would provide little or no help. Second, the venue was being blocked by an old bitch who was retiring and seemed to think rock and roll had no business in her performing arts center.

So I formed a committee and we set about raising money and finding a way into the optimal venue. All the while I was losing sleep over losing the date. We waited until the "lady" retired and then appealed to someone else who said "yes." However, fund raising had slowed after a great start. I continued to have hope for the project until today, when I received this email:

Sweet People Productions Press Release Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are returning to Maine!! When: September 12th, 2008. Doors open @ 7:30pm Where: Unity Centre For the Performing Arts 42 Depot Street Unity, ME 04988 Tickets: $25 in advance / $30 at the door Supporting Act: TBD This show is all ages!! Tickets are available now at all Bull Moose Music locations, and will be available online soon at www.unitymaine.org/theater/ The Unity Centre is only a 200 seat theater, so don't wait, get your tickets now. You don't get many chances to see a band this good in a venue this intimate. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals "One of the most soulful new bands around." - Bonnie Raitt "This is an amazing band! Keep your eyes on this one." - Taj Mahal Television appearances include: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson Good Morning America This Is Somewhere (Ragged Company/ Hollywood Records) marks the coming of age of the young, Vermont-based rock band Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. To say that this album makes good on the band's immense promise would be an understatement. While these assertions quite naturally invite skepticism, we respond: "just insert and press "play." The album manifests incredible growth in the writing and singing of 24-year-old phenomenon Grace Potter, who has clearly found her true voice in both respects, as well as the instrumental prowess of the band: Potter on the Hammond B3, guitarist Scott Tournet, bassist Bryan Dondero and drummer Matt Burr. On this remarkable record, they make a glorious racket indeed. The band's timeless, organic brand of American rock & roll is fully in evidence throughout This Is Somewhere, starting with "Ah Mary," with its languid verses exploding into arena-scaled choruses in what is clearly a call to action. This heart-pumping rocker sets the stage for a dynamic song cycle that encompasses "Stop the Bus," a churning anthem that recalls Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers circa Damn the Torpedoes, the love-as-war lament "Apologies," the paean to a battered New Orleans "Ain't No Time," the soulful, horn-accented "Mastermind" and the concluding stunner "Big White Gate." Potter's timely and eloquent songs-some of them intensely personal, others politically charged-immediately lodge themselves in the listener's head (pretty much defining the de rigueur term "sticky") and bore in deeper with each successive play. This band has something else going for it - Potter's innate star quality. As critic Jeff Davidson wrote last September in a piece posted on TMZ.com, "...she is easily the most glamorous star to rise from the jam scene, and her million-dollar smile makes her as desirable as any pop songstress. The fact that she's amazingly talented...makes her even sexier." Website: http://www.gracepotterandthenocturnals.com myspace: http://www.myspace.com/gracepotterandthenocturnals Good Morning America appearance on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPYqdGGo9lw Please direct all questions to Erik Thomas of Sweet People Productions Phone - 207 649-2524 email - erik@digitalimageworks.biz

I want to be clear that GPN's people were excellent to work with and patient with a fool who had never done this before. I am also glad that they booked the date in Maine. They are a great band and I can't wait to see them again.

I have read that my generation doesn't know how to handle failure, as we haven't been allowed to fail. I can say that this is my first true, semi-public, failure. I am disappointed to say the least, but I can at least say I tried. My other feeling at this point, with a balloon festival in less then a month, a kitchen remodel to do, and the usual hell breaking loose at work: failure feels like one less fucking thing to do.

File Under: Your Piece of Maine

So apparently there was a contest where people submitted videos about their piece of Maine.

Brett Slater was the winner with this here video.

File Under: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals have adventures in Maine

A big thanks to Wally over at the Posse for alerting us to this article.

http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/happening/stories/5159196.html

File Under: So Tired

I participated in my first kayak race today. Matt and I both finished the near 8 mile race in an hour and a half. The rain wasn't too bad, but the head wind was completely uncalled for. All and all it was fun and I will gladly do it again.

File Under: First paddle of the year

This afternoon, Matt and I took the kayaks up the Presque Isle Stream to Arnold Brook and made it up to this beaver dam. We saw geese, ducks and beavers. There is some concern as to if either of us will be able to move tomorrow.

File Under: Aroostook River Flooding

Presque Isle has been lucky, the flooding here has been minor, not like the poor people in the St. John valley. This is a picture I took, on my cell, this afternoon of the Aroostook River. There is a parking lot and a boat launch under there.

File Under: Rough Times for Maine

File Under: Another badly crafted bill for Maine

According to this piece, if Rep Dawn Hill gets her bill through, we are all going to have to be very careful about where we linger with our eyes. The bill will create a statute making "visual sexual aggression" or staring at children illegal. I'm all for protecting children from people with nefarious intentions, but this is stupid.

It is not the place of the police to determine the intention of a look or stare. As the author points out, what if someone is staring, because they believe the children are up to no good. Or is often the case with me, I am watching to make sure the kid doesn't end up dead, because the parents are oblivious. In the end this law is more about the government invading further in to our privacy, into our very minds.

Oh, and to all you guys out there that lingered too long over that 17 year old in the short skirt who looked much older until you got up close, better set aside some money for bail.

File Under: Somthing we all need

Maine Public Service and Central Maine Power are working out a way to connect Aroostook County to the rest of the grid. It's amazing how interested the southern part of the state has become in helping us with our power cost issues, now that we may have lots of wind power for them to use, with out them having to look at wind turbines. Not that I mind, I think they're pretty.