Notes from the Electronic Cottage 4/28/16

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Choose Privacy Week runs from May 1-7. Seems like a good time for a look at recent developments in how US Intelligence Agencies are operating when it comes to the collection of metadata on the calls and Internet activities of all of us. Congress is wondering, too.

Maine Currents 4/27/16

Producer/Editor/Host: Amy Browne
Engineer: Joel Mann

Topic: Governor LePage’s recent behavior and efforts to address it. Last night he stormed out of an event at UMaine Farmington, calling 2 protesters “idiots”. The previous day he held a meeting that legally should have been public, but access was denied to legislators, media and the public. He has declared the Natural Resources Council of Maine and the Maine People’s Alliance– 2 of the state’s largest environmental and social justice groups– “enemies”. Efforts to impeach him were defeated earlier this year, but his controversial behavior keeps those efforts alive. Meanwhile his supporters praise his “plain talking” style. On today’s call in show we’re asking “What do YOU think?”

Guests:
Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives Mark Eves FMI: http://www.speakereves.com/
Rebecca Halbrook, retired attorney working on impeachment efforts and a new group called “Mainers for Government Accountability”. FMI: https://www.facebook.com/ImpeachGovLePage/?fref=ts
Mike Tipping, Communications Director for the Maine People’s Alliance, cohost of “The Beacon” podcast which airs on WERU Tuesday afternoons at 4 and author of As Maine Went: Paul LePage and the Tea Party Takeover FMI: https://www.mainepeoplesalliance.org/

Family Corner 4/27/16

Producer/Host: Sue Mackey Andrews
Engineer: Amy Browne

Issue: Information about Opiates, Heroin, Marijuana and Addiction

Program Topic: Prevention and Education about Addiction

Key Discussion Points:
a) The origin of heroin dates back hundreds of years – originally available without a prescription at any drug store
b) Increased availability and use of opiates bolstered by addition of the 5th vital sign – pain, something that hospitals and providers are routinely evaluated about still today
c) Contact your physician and talk about a prescription for a NARCAN kit if you are living with/know someone who is taking large dosages of pain medications, or is confronted with substance use disorder. This is legal in Maine.

Guest: Heath Myers, Bangor City Public Health and Community Services