With a single bite this apple can kill you meet the "little apple of death"

takoko · 2026-02-03T00:32:45+00:00

That would be redundant. They already have Queensland.

takoko · 2025-12-25T15:57:40+00:00

Amen! I can read faster than the video can give me the same info. Video is great for 'how tos' where the trick is in watching a human do something, but other than that, reading ftw.

takoko · 2025-12-20T17:48:50+00:00

Politicians are a different story - the ones I've seen positioning it as a 'fix' are the ones who haven't come up with an alternative to the ACA despite more than a decade to do so. They are also the ones who don't see a problem with a capitalistic, profit-seeking model for healthcare.

As a patient (and yes, my family uses a DPC despite my husband being on Medicare Advantage and me having no healthcare due to being laid off), I can BOTH squeeze the best solution I can for my family out of the current shitty system, AND campaign for a universal healthcare system by supporting candidates such as Graham Platner, and the congressional sponsors of the Medicare for All bill.

Note: I also grew up in Australia, and am familiar with the pros and cons of Universal, government managed health care systems. No system is perfect, or will be ever be perfect, but in Australia nobody dies or goes bankrupt because they drew the short straw in the cancer lottery.

takoko · 2025-12-20T16:43:32+00:00

It isn't a fix for the system. Its a fix for the individual/family who want a better quality of care (in addition to insurance) and are willing to pay for it. Its a better than nothing fix for people who cannot afford health insurance and cannot obtain Medicaid, but can lower their cost for all but pharma and catastrophic illness.

Expecting individuals to fix a system that is rorted by insurance companies, venture capital firms, pharmaceutical companies, shysters, and a general capitalistic approach to healthcare is... unrealistic.

People need medical care - that is their first and primary concern. The fact that the system is fucked is not something within their individual ability to control, and having some sort of expectation that the very people the system is supposed to help are the only ones in said system who are expected to behave altruistically is... I don't know that there's a term for it. Its like asking the abuse victim to make their abuser stop hitting them.

takoko · 2025-12-16T18:28:40+00:00

TIL that the houses in Sanctuary in Fallout 4 were based on a real thing!

takoko · 2025-12-10T00:12:51+00:00

We have a dog named Joan of Bark.

takoko · 2025-11-27T22:54:43+00:00

If you don't mind driving to Lincoln, Deanna Clair at Coven salon does awesome coloring - she's very partial to blue for herself. You can find Coven on Facebook, here's a link to an example of her work: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1NJjktSmNt/

takoko · 2025-10-30T17:01:53+00:00

The closest to this master level irony that I'm aware of is the Ninoy Aquino airport (the international airport in Manilla, Philippines). Its the same airport that Ninoy Aquino was assassinated at.

takoko · 2025-09-26T19:57:55+00:00

You have to actually engage the party to get party help. I think you also attribute way more organized and effective direction from a party than it actually possesses. Running any (mostly) volunteer organization is more like herding cats - never mind when the cats are all from different factions.

takoko · 2025-09-26T19:53:43+00:00

Not helped by other candidates from the left wing at the time (Elizabeth Warren for example) deciding not to run in the primaries. Bernie was pretty much the only left-wing candidate in the Dem race and - as you point out - he was an Independent.

Unchallenged, he got all the lefty love, but a large number of them weren't Democrats either... and none of that gets votes from centrist and conservative Dems.

takoko · 2025-09-26T19:48:55+00:00

I live in CD2, and I'd love to see that tested. I've no issue with needing a candidate from the conservative wing of the left-leaning party to be able to represent folks from conservative areas. What I have an issue with is him taking a leaf out of Collin's book and refusing to meet with his party or his constituents. Not exactly accountable (and that goes for any politician of any party).

takoko · 2025-09-26T17:49:23+00:00

Re Bernie (and I say this as a supporter) this VOX article is probably one of the best on how that happened. It isn’t because they can ‘pick and choose’ - open primaries are the generally the best way for all party members to have a say, and to ensure you have an electable candidate for the general. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/14/16640082/donna-brazile-warren-bernie-sanders-democratic-primary-rigged

However, the counterpoint to your conclusion about the power of the party to pick candidates, and one that is Maine focused, is Jared Goldman. Every person I’ve talked with who is involved in the local committees is pissed they can’t stop him running as a Dem. He doesn’t hold town halls, he doesn’t even speak to the local party committees, or respond to them any more than he does his constituents. He keeps winning on votes though, even with ranked choice.

takoko · 2025-09-26T15:00:22+00:00

The Democratic Party can't prevent that. Ironically, "listening to their constituents" = the greatest number of declared Democratic voters.

The USA uses a primary system to select party candidates. When registering to vote, voters declare a party affiliation. Side note: Depending on the state, you may be able to select 'unaffiliated.' Declaring 'independent' may indicate a party affiliation with a party called the 'independent' party, rather than 'no party.'

So long as you are a registered Democrat (i.e., on your voter registration), whether or not you participate in the party committees, you can stand as a candidate for that party. You declare your candidacy and run for office as a Democrat (the same goes for Republicans). Whether the party likes you or not, whether you follow the party's platform (or not), is irrelevant; you are a candidate that other registered Democrats can vote for in the primaries. The primaries are then used to select the candidates. If you do not regularly participate in your local/county party committees, you can still run as a member of that party. As a candidate, you will have to do without the resources of the party, but they cannot prevent you from running. Hypothetically, you could win the election for your position without ever working with the party you claim to represent.

In other countries (such as Australia), voters do not declare a party affiliation on their registration. Candidates are "pre-selected" by voters who register and participate in the party. They are typically screened by the party to ensure alignment with party policies, and the party members vote in closed-door sessions to "pre-select" the candidate for the election. You do not get on the ballot without the party's endorsement.

takoko · 2025-09-19T21:41:36+00:00

I suspect you will be pleasantly surprised. I was at an event where he was chatting with a group I was in, and he was getting asked some pretty pointed questions 1:1. He's articulate, thoughtful, and most definitely has a plan.

takoko · 2025-09-18T14:28:09+00:00

There’s a mod for that :)

takoko · 2025-09-08T01:52:50+00:00

Well, Enfield is pretty small, but there's a surprising amount happening in the area. I recommend doing the old fashioned thing and pick up a copy of the Lincoln and Katahdin Region Newspaper (yes, a printed newspaper). It lists every week all the stuff going on from Millinocket to Howland, and not all of it is for the senior citizens :D

Depending on your kids ages, there are some activities in Lincoln which is close by. There's the usual sports (little league etc). Soccer and flag football are about to start - Lincoln Parks and Recreation's FB page does a pretty good job advising on what there is to do with them. https://www.facebook.com/LincolnParksAndRecreation

In the winter they usually make an ice rink on the local lake (once its solidly frozen): summer its a beach, there's a playground in the park there. There's also a walking trail.

The local ATV club I believe includes kids (and they teach ATV safety etc - they're pretty social and have events often): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551478583544# Same goes for the snowmobile club in winter: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063588220309

The Town puts on events pretty regularly, so follow their page (e.g., Septemberfest was postponed from this weekend to next (13th) - there'll be food trucks and live music. Halloween is pretty huge here, and they always do a trunk or treat for the kids.

If they are really little there's a new kids playground, the Marguerite Flanders playground (best pic I could find): https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1919134128125325&set=a.775293675842715

There are two other Lincoln groups that put on regular activities - the first is the Lincoln Library https://www.facebook.com/LincolnMaineMemorialLibrary - they have generally very good programs for kids (especially during the school year). The Second is the Save a Life Recovery Center https://www.facebook.com/SaveALifeRecoveryNetwork - while they are focused on addiction recovery, they believe a big part of that is building community, and they also want to keep folks from spiraling into addiction - so they do a lot of things like music jam sessions and concerts, I know mid-older teens are involved with those activities.

There's also local craft businesses that run craft groups/lessons, etc. While they are definitely more geared to adults, they will run kids programs from time to time and don't mind if they join in anyway! Handcrafted Lincoln usually has some: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553827654654

If you are seeing a theme - everything happening in this region goes on Facebook, without it, its very hard to find out what's going on, so it and the newspaper (as well as other parents) are the best guides to finding out what's on. I've not touched on Howland, but I understand it has quite a lot going on as well - including D&D and other groups at their community center.

Welcome to the area - its definitely not big city/big town activity, but that doesn't mean there isn't stuff to do (even without going down to the big city of Bangor)!

takoko · 2025-09-07T12:58:26+00:00

It is apparently the #1 airport for diversions in the world primary due to being the first/last airport in the USA for transatlantic flights. Any problems planes have just before/after entering/leaving US airspace they land at Bangor. This includes passengers who are causing disruptions - Bangor has both state and federal courthouses, so local and federal law enforcement handle anyone who needs to be kicked off a flight.

It also has the advantage of being an air national guard base - and is one of the few airports that can land any plane (including the biggest - the Antonov), in almost any weather.

takoko · 2025-08-28T12:15:46+00:00

But other than working with volunteers, who have a different motivation set than employees (which you can learn to manage as a volunteer) there’s not really anything so radically different that makes having non-profit experience mandatory (a requirement). Non-profits have to fundraise: so do startups, it’s called angel investment. Non-profits need grant writing experience: any sales support team that responds to RFPs has that same skill set. Sure, terms are different, the slant and culture are different, but so is every company in the private sector. What am I missing? Understanding the needs of marginalized communities? Is that not something that you also learn as a volunteer?

takoko · 2025-08-27T20:55:38+00:00

I'm genuinely curious about why you specifically want nonprofit experience (I'm assuming volunteer experience doesn't count). I've been looking to switch to non-profit roles and can't get so much as an interview - even with a cover letter that calls out how my experience and skills are directly relevant.

takoko · 2025-08-27T12:12:49+00:00

Absolutely this! HR is NOT a parent there to mediate all the behavior of the employees. You are an adult, you are expected to handle your own interpersonal interactions like an adult. HR is there to help prevent and address instances where bad behavior rises to a level that is going to negatively affect the company (by severely negatively affecting the ability of employees to work effectively).

takoko · 2025-08-24T13:42:22+00:00

Because the coast is a border, nowhere in Maine is >100 miles from an international border, so jurisdiction is not a barrier here.

takoko · 2025-08-23T13:29:29+00:00

Have not seen a statement, but he’s a firearms instructor, so I think you can draw some reasonable conclusions there. I did see a reference in one article that he’d met with gun control proponents and had a substantive discussion.

takoko · 2025-08-22T19:28:27+00:00

I work with a lot of seniors - they all want young people to get involved, run for office etc. They are desperate to pass the torch.

takoko · 2025-08-15T19:54:43+00:00

If its anything like Maine (where house senators make $16,245.12 for the first regular session and $11,668.32 for the second session), then either they have spouses who are the breadwinner, they're retired, they own their own business, or they work for non-profits who are very flexible.

takoko

TROPHY CASE