Mainely Phenology 7/14/18

Producers/Hosts: Hazel Stark and Joe Horn

Chestnut Flowers

Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at mainelyphenology.wordpress.com

Maine was once a boundless tract of old growth pines that were so magnificently large and straight the most perfect of the trees were reserved for masts on the King of England’s sailing fleet and Thoreau wrote that the trees were so large a team of oxen could stand two abreast on their stumps. There are even a few tree species that living generations can attest were once abundant but now must be categorized in the archives of “forests that once were.” One of these is the grand and much sought after American Chestnut, whose flowers can still be found in bloom this time of year in a couple of secluded and much guarded groves here in Maine.

Talk of the Towns 7/13/18

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Engineer: Amy Browne

Looking Back at Maine’s 2018 Legislative Session

Key Discussion Points:
How do you approach the role of legislator—what balance between advancing policy or solving problems framed by your parties vs. constituent services and solving problems that they bring to your attention?

What are your primary committee assignments, and what did those committees work on in this session?

Overall, what were the accomplishments from 128th legislature (2017-18) of which you are most proud? How do those accomplishments translate for your constituents?

On the other hand, what were your greatest disappointments—those things you hoped could be accomplished in this session, but were not?

What do you issues do you imagine will be enduring, as the campaign season heats up and after the November elections, for the 129th Legislature?

Guests:
Representative Brian Hubbell, Democrat, Bar Harbor
Senator Brian Langley, Republican, Ellsworth
Representative Ralph Chapman, Green Independent, Brooksville

Notes from the Electronic Cottage 7/12/18

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Breaches and misuse of personal information

Breaches and misuse of personal information held by companies, social media sites, data brokers, etc. are unfortunately very common these days. What can we do about them? The Association for Computing Machinery has some ideas, and they are pretty good ones. They sent those suggestions to the Senate. Here’s why the Senate – and all of us – might want to pay attention.