And all of a sudden, just like that, “drone” becomes a word
that we are bombarded with in the media. It seems like it happened over night. You are going along, everything’s fine, and then suddenly you wake up and there are
talks about who should be able to cancel out lives at the flip of a switch, who
should be able to make the calls, how safe we are on our own soil and how safe
these deadly machines will make us. The world is going decidedly mad!
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Haunted Stretch of Highway
On the way home from Augusta on a frigid day, I photographed this house. The angles on it were beautiful. Inside, to the left in what looked like a living room, was piled high with old pieces of furniture and fabric drapes. Rotten wooden desks, tastefully carved chairs, and one huge lime-green armchair. The back wall was completely torn off, and you could see straight through to the yard, which was filled with scraggly apple trees and pricker brush.
The upper story windows were half hooded by thin, ripped off-white curtains, and each doorway was crowned with a long-empty light socket. I couldn't see over the sills into the front morning rooms because of the way the house leaned back off the foundation, but I'm sure they were very grande. Hopefully we'll get back there someday for early-morning photos or more exploring.
The upper story windows were half hooded by thin, ripped off-white curtains, and each doorway was crowned with a long-empty light socket. I couldn't see over the sills into the front morning rooms because of the way the house leaned back off the foundation, but I'm sure they were very grande. Hopefully we'll get back there someday for early-morning photos or more exploring.
In researching this house (there is not very much info on it anywhere!) I discovered that it is in fact a very popular photography setting. Some links: http://img2.etsystatic.com/000/0/5135773/il_fullxfull.234061286.jpg
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum/showthread.php?24155-If-This-House-Could-Tell-a-Tale
This one! This is brilliant. I can't get enough of this stuff. Is there some job that pays you to go explore old houses? Maybe I'll just become a ghost facer. http://downeastdoingstuff.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-happens-when-you-get-old.html
This one! This is brilliant. I can't get enough of this stuff. Is there some job that pays you to go explore old houses? Maybe I'll just become a ghost facer. http://downeastdoingstuff.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-happens-when-you-get-old.html
As Promised
Here are some pictures from the past month.
 |
| The famous locked moose antlers |
The Maine State Museum is truly a place of wonder. Recently I was able to spend several hours wandering its halls and I still feel as though I only saw about 1/20th of what is there.
A horrific Malaga island exhibit lay on the top floor. The tragedy of Malaga island, little known to Mainers and not a proud part of our history, is akin to the state's very own Holocaust. http://www.malagaislandmaine.org
 |
| baby moose! |
 |
| the "at home" parts of the exhibits were lovely |
 |
| there were also many, many very lifelike taxidermy exhibits of maine wildlife. |
Citizens United and Corporate Personhood
Some notes and photos from my recent trip to the state capitol!
"...So far the state capitol building is quite impressive. I've been here several times before for various gatherings and tours, but never in the upper floors. The building has seven stories, with a spiral stair winding up into the dome from the fourth floor. (The dome from the outside can be seen here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine_State_House)
There is lots of worn grey marble, and a personalised coatrack that looks to be from the 20s, with senators' assigned numbers on it. There are many dramatic, dark portraits of stern men who served in the supreme court, the congress, the senate, etc., as well as all of Maine's governors."
Our reason for going to Augusta was a press conference regarding corporate personhood and its implications in Maine as well as the U.S. as a whole. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_personhood
In 2010, the supreme court ruled on a Citizens United decision that included the allowance of corporations to raise and contribute funds to a political party. Since corporations can easily raise massive amounts of funding, this gives them an unfair advantage over average citizens. Essentially, there is a possibility of candidates being swayed by these large funds, and some Mainers are worried about the affect that this is going to have in our own legislature. Additionally, corporations use their status as "people" to skive off on taxations and to assert powers in court which they should not have.
"...So far the state capitol building is quite impressive. I've been here several times before for various gatherings and tours, but never in the upper floors. The building has seven stories, with a spiral stair winding up into the dome from the fourth floor. (The dome from the outside can be seen here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine_State_House)
Our reason for going to Augusta was a press conference regarding corporate personhood and its implications in Maine as well as the U.S. as a whole. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_personhood
In 2010, the supreme court ruled on a Citizens United decision that included the allowance of corporations to raise and contribute funds to a political party. Since corporations can easily raise massive amounts of funding, this gives them an unfair advantage over average citizens. Essentially, there is a possibility of candidates being swayed by these large funds, and some Mainers are worried about the affect that this is going to have in our own legislature. Additionally, corporations use their status as "people" to skive off on taxations and to assert powers in court which they should not have.
The Citizens United decision all rests on the reasoning that corporations are made up of people, and therefore should have the rights of a person. This is dangerous logic when you consider the above implications, and the wiggle room involved.
Eleven states have already opted to overturn the Citizens United ruling with an amendment to the constitution: http://freespeechforpeople.org/node/342 The sixth state to join, California's call for an overturn was a huge step along the way, as it is the state with the most members in congress, the largest population, and the largest economy in the U.S. Many groups in my home state are patiently working to make Maine the twelfth state.
The last constitutional amendment was ratified in 1992, and before that, in 1971. It is a very difficult thing to do, but it can be accomplished. There are usually several years between an amendment's proposal and its ratification, so it is best to just keep pressing for this and keeping it in the news. ttp://www.pressherald.com/news/a-century-of-shame_2012-05-20.html
Monday, February 11, 2013
Forays
I think adventure films are so appealing because we humans
are all wandering about trying to divine our ultimate purpose in the world. We
like structure. Heroes are handed a responsibility, pushed off on a quest, most
often unwillingly. But they know their path and they know there can only be two
outcomes. I guess the point of this is to just make everything you embark on in
life an adventure. Also, like quests, every situation you are engaged in is a
learning experience. We should all just be immensely grateful to be alive.
Though I really, really wouldn’t mind if this world had firebreathing dragons. (Hey, Who knows-and he would know! Odder things than giant lizards exist. Haven't you heard that the planet is inhabited by tiny hairless beings called humans? We're odder than anything.)
The Awkward List No.2
The fabled Awkward List’s sequel. I’m so awkward…I need two!
Woot.
Spending 5 minutes constructing a good playlist for
vaccuming.
Putting slippers on the wrong feet and only realizing it
when you’re halfway down a flight of stairs, forcing you to bend over and
switch the slippers in a tottering manner.
Watching a cat fall off stuff. Awkwardness through osmosis.
Compositions of a Lifetime
You sit there composing
An apple in your mouth
One hand fleeting the keyboard
Fire in your eyes
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)