Ice shack Shangri-la

You have got to check out this story in the Lewiston Sun Journal. And scroll down to the bottom of the story to see a couple photos of this truly palatial ice shack. (Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever believed that I would write a sentence in which “palatial” and “ice shack” would be somehow connected.)

There is no byline on the story posted on the website or I would have added it. Below is the top of the story.

Tanya Ouellette was shopping at the corner store when she overheard a conversation about homeless people living on the frozen lake.

“Those aren’t homeless people; that’s us,” Ouellette said.

She and her husband Kevin spend night after night each winter with all the comforts of home – a full kitchen, wood floors, surround sound, two televisions, a wood stove, a bathroom complete with a shower (no hot water) and a doorbell. Their home just happens to sit on a foot of ice.

“I have the best of both worlds — ‘American Idol’ and ice fishing,” Tanya said.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

Folk festival cuts budget by $140,000 – Bangor Daily News

 Folk festival cuts budget by $140,000 – Bangor Daily News.

Study: Climate changing in Casco Bay area

Study: Climate changing in Casco Bay area

Coffeehouse observation No. 21

Smooth coffee and smooth jazz. I’m just saying … smoooooth!

For more coffeehouse observations, go to Coffeehouse Observer.

Coffeehouse observation No. 20

The guy or woman who came up with the idea to put coffee counters in bookstores is a genius. Books and coffee are a natural. Simply geeennnnnniiiiuuuuuusssssss!!

To read more coffeehouse observations, go to Coffeehouse Observer.

Coffeehouse observation No. 19

How can a coffeehouse run out of coffee?! It’s happen to me more than once, most usually at a Starbuck’s. Go figure!

To read more coffeehouse observations, go to Coffeehouse Observer.

US Wind Industry Breaks Record for Installations in 2009

US Wind Industry Breaks Record for Installations in 2009

Posted using ShareThis

Coffeehouse observation No. 18

Everyone has heard of barroom fights, but has anyone heard of a coffeehouse fight? I think not. Perhaps coffee is the beverage of peace. Do you suppose there’s a Noble prize in this for me?

For more coffeehouse observations, got to Coffeehouse Observer.

Confused by moose-car collisions in Maine

Here’s today’s trivia question from DownEast.com.

How many moose-car collisions occur in Maine each year?

Answer:

In a statistically typical year, some 700 people collide with moose, 160 are injured, and 3 are killed.

OK, I’m slightly confused by the answer to this question. First, I’m guessing that when it reads “700 people collide with moose,” it really means the vehicles in which the people were traveling collided with the moose, not the people themselves. But does that mean 700 collisions or 700 people were involved in those collisions? After all, a vehicle can carry more than one person.

And when it reads “160 are injured, and 3 are killed,” I assume it means people, not moose.

Interesting question. I just wish I was sure about the answer.

Quimby buys thousands more acres – Bangor Daily News

 Quimby buys thousands more acres – Bangor Daily News.

Activist seeks halt to offshore wind power testing

Activist seeks halt to offshore wind power testing

Economic forecasters see improving Maine economy

Economic forecasters see improving Maine economy

Free survey can help Mainers get healthier

Storm knocks out power to 10,000 in Maine

Storm knocks out power to 10,000 in Maine

Maine townsfolk supported revolution by renaming town Mexico

Here’s another bit of Maine trivia from DownEast.com. For those who are not from Maine, there are a number of towns in the central part of the state that are named for foreign nations and cities. There is a Moscow, China, Paris in Maine, among others. Here is how Mexico, Maine, got its name. 

How did the town of Mexico get its name?

Answer:

Originally called Holmanstown, the community was renamed Mexico in 1818 to show support for the Mexican revolution against Spanish rule.

PSO: Instrumental in helping Haiti | Portland Press Herald

 PSO: Instrumental in helping Haiti | Portland Press Herald.

Bill would guarantee benefits for hosting wind farms

(Hope this works to help promote wind power in Maine. — KM)

 Bill would guarantee benefits for hosting wind farms

 

Have they got your number?

It is a terrible feeling to be victimized. And with the Internet, it gets even scarier.

Below is the top of a story in the Lewiston Sun Journal that also provides tips on how to avoid being victimized. There is a lot of info and, frankly, I didn’t get through the story on the first try. But I wanted to pass along the information as a reminder to take care at all times.

A laptop’s stolen in Seattle and 205 Starbucks employees in Maine get word that a thief has their Social Security numbers.

The World Bank slips up and posts payroll records online. For four Mainers that means the very public outing of their bank account numbers.

A Fox Entertainment employee in Los Angeles pokes around company files containing Social Security numbers and salaries, and, hello — sees three that belong to Mainers.

It happens more frequently than you’d guess.

Click the link to read the rest of “Have they got your number?” by the Lewiston Sun Journal’s Kathryn Skelton.

State of Baldacci – Bangor Daily News

(Here’s yesterday’s editorial in the Bangor Daily News about the governor’s State of the State address. — KM)

State of Baldacci – Bangor Daily News.

Turbines turn into headache for Vinalhaven | Portland Press Herald

(I really, really hope they work out the noise issue. Wind power can be fantastic, but these folks shouldn’t have their lives disrupted. — KM)

 Turbines turn into headache for Vinalhaven | Portland Press Herald.