Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Coffeehouse observation No. 309 – Former coworker was an ‘excitable boy’
A former coworker, Brian Hamlin, died not long ago. To give you an idea of the type of unique fella Brain was, they played Warren Zevon’s “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner” at his funeral. … Now I’m listening to the Zevon album at the coffeehouse and enjoying fond memories of a great journalist – and an excitable boy – gone far too soon.
Go to Coffeehouse Observer for more coffeehouse observations.
All rights reserved by Keith Michaud ©
Friday, May 20, 2011
The Orion Captures Fifth Straight National Excellence Award - CSU, Chico News - CSU, Chico
The Orion Captures Fifth Straight National Excellence Award - CSU, Chico News - CSU, Chico
[I was the editor of this paper in the late 1980s for two semesters when Dr. Richard Ek was the adviser. ... Of course, that means I had absolutely nothing to do with these awards, but I'm still proud of what the current crew has done. Congratulations! -- KM]
[I was the editor of this paper in the late 1980s for two semesters when Dr. Richard Ek was the adviser. ... Of course, that means I had absolutely nothing to do with these awards, but I'm still proud of what the current crew has done. Congratulations! -- KM]
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Coffeehouse observation No. 308 – Girl, you got a panda on your head
There’s a woman in the coffeehouse wearing a panda bear head-hat. … Why? Seriously, why?
Go to Coffeehouse Observer for more coffeehouse observations.
All rights reserved by Keith Michaud ©
Too early to say Mitchell failed in Mideast mission: Groundwork for peace may have been laid in past two years | Portland Press Herald
“A true patriot who has answered the call to serve time and again, George Mitchell has had an impressive career. He has served admirably through his tireless work to broker peace in the Middle East. Although he is stepping down from this role, the mission will continue, and George Mitchell's diligence, patience and intelligence will have helped pave the way toward a lasting peace. The citizens of Maine, and the world, are proud of his great work.” – Sen. Susan Collins
Those who interpret George Mitchell's stepping down as special envoy to the Middle East as a sign of his failure there overlook his diplomatic track record.
In her statement after the announcement that George Mitchell was stepping down as President Obama's special envoy to the Middle East, Sen. Susan Collins encapsuled Mitchell's amazing legacy in 77 carefully chosen, understated words.
He is a true patriot, Collins said, and she referenced his diligence, patience and intelligence.
No news there, but surely confirmation of what Mitchell's fellow Mainers have always known and the rest of the world has learned over the years: George J. Mitchell Jr. is a great American, a devoted and resourceful diplomat, a man who has honored, sustained and enhanced our state's long tradition of public service.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Coffeehouse observation No. 307 – What a weird twist of karma
A guy just walked into the coffeehouse with his combover sticking out from under his baseball cap like a tail. I mocked the combover/tail on Facebook and, in a weird twist of karma, he sat at the table directly behind me. And then started humming along with “Hey, Jude” as it played on the coffeehouse music system. I’m begged someone to simply shoot me to get me out of my misery, but I got no takers.
Go to Coffeehouse Observer for more coffeehouse observations.
All rights reserved by Keith Michaud ©
Monday, May 9, 2011
Coffeehouse observation No. 306 – The store is closed, folks; Really it is
The at&t store across the street from the coffeehouse has been closed for the past week or so. There are several signs reading “This AT&T location has closed.” But at least every hour someone – a current or prospective at&t customer, it can be assumed – walks up to the door, pulls on the handle, rattles the door just to make sure that it is in fact locked, and puts their hands up to their faces to shield their eyes from the glare as they peer into the closed store. Some have even grabbed the handle again and tried the door one more time before walking away with a slightly befuddled look on their faces. The store is closed, folks. Trust me.
Go to Coffeehouse Observer for more coffeehouse observations.
All rights reserved by Keith Michaud ©
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Coffeehouse observation No. 305 – Pirates of the Caribbean at the coffeehouse
The guy sitting in front of me at the coffeehouse looks a lot like Johnny Depp. And I think on purpose.
Go to Coffeehouse Observer for more coffeehouse observations.
All rights reserved by Keith Michaud ©
Poll on Maine governor: National spotlight a glaring concern | The Maine Sunday Telegram
Most Maine voters are unhappy
with the job Paul LePage
has done so far as governor
AUGUSTA – Most Maine voters think the national media attention that Gov. Paul LePage has drawn in his first four months in office has been bad for the state – including many people who support the work he has done.
And most believe he made the wrong decision in taking down a mural depicting Maine workers in the headquarters of the Department of Labor.
That’s according to a poll commissioned by MaineToday Media to assess how Mainers feel about the job the Republican governor has done since his inauguration on Jan. 5. LePage was elected in November with about 38 percent of the vote.
The poll was conducted from April 25 to May 2 by Pan Atlantic SMS Group, a Portland-based firm owned by Patrick and Victoria Murphy. Victoria Murphy is a former Maine Democratic Party chair. The firm does independent marketing and research.
About 56 percent of the respondents said they have an unfavorable opinion of LePage; about 39 percent said they have a favorable opinion of him. About 5 percent said they do not know.
Click for the rest of the story by Rebekah Metzler in The Maine Sunday Telegram.
Maine Sunday Telegram’s view: LePage won’t get vote of confidence from this poll
When Ed Koch was mayor of New York, he used to walk around the city asking constituents: “How’m I doin’?” We haven’t heard Gov. LePage ask that question in Maine, but we’ve decided to answer it anyway.
According to a poll commissioned by MaineToday Media, LePage is getting mixed reviews from Mainers but a majority of those polled, 56 percent, said they had an unfavorable opinion of the governor. Asked to rate LePage’s job performance, about 55 percent answered “poor” or “very poor.”
Given those basic numbers – detailed poll results are published in today’s paper – the most likely answer to the question, “How’s the governor doin’?” seems to be: “Not so good.”
When more than half the people who look to the governor for leadership don’t like what they see, it’s hard to avoid the conclusion that he’s doing something wrong.
Owner plans to close Grand View Topless Coffee Shop: Donald Crabtree sees citation as final straw | The (Waterville, Maine) Morning Sentinel
Owner plans to close Grand View Topless Coffee Shop: Donald Crabtree sees citation as final straw | The (Waterville, Maine) Morning Sentinel
VASSALBORO, Maine – Donald Crabtree says he opened the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop in 2009 so that he, his staff and his customers could smile.
Crabtree isn’t smiling anymore.
Following a recent notice from the town’s code officer that the shop was violating zoning rules by displaying new signs – one advertised a benefit topless car wash – Crabtree said this week that he plans to close the controversial business on Route 3 when his inventory is sold in the coming months.
“I wanted to have some fun; I wanted to see people smile,” Crabtree said. “I started the topless coffee shop to do that, and it did. But now my smile's gone. I’ve fought that fight for more than two years now and no matter how hard I try to make this work, somebody sabotages me.”
The shop, which has featured topless waitresses serving coffee, garnered national media attention when it first opened in this rural community, provoking outrage among many residents. It has prompted Vassalboro and many other communities to adopt ordinances regulating where and when sexually oriented businesses can operate
Click for the rest of the story by Scott Monroe in The Morning Sentinel.
Go to Coffeehouse Observer for more coffeehouse observations.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Space, The Final Frontier: Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Offers a Day Trip That Is Out of This World, DAVID, May 2011
 |
| Cover page for the Virgin Galactic story in DAVID magazine. |
Space, The Final Frontier: Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Offers a Day Trip That Is Out of This World, DAVID, May 2011
Here’s a story I wrote for the May 2011 issue of DAVID magazine in Las Vegas. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. By the way, the spread was designed by Adam Bucci, a former co-worker at The Reporter in Vacaville, Calif., who until recently was the art director at DAVID. I thank Adam for his fine work to best display the story.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Brief look at my coffeehouse
Well, it’s not exactly MY coffeehouse, but I do frequent it on a very regular basis. Here’s a brief look at the place. Enjoy! … Oh, yeah! It was shot by a guy named Allen Lin. Good job!
Nothing to cheer about in windpower setback: Maine should do a better job indicating where there is room for wind | Portland Press Herald
[Wind energy is going to be a very vital component to an overall energy plan for the future. I see wind turbines all over California and each time I do I think about just how much foreign oil is NOT being burned because of those towers. Mainers really need to look deep within and realize that we cannot drill, drill, drill our way out of the current energy situation. The planet won’t survive that kind of thoughtlessness. – KM]
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