That’s great thanks!!

Thanks for the recommendation!

Do you live near Portland? Unfortunately Artist & Craftsman Supple doesn't sell electronic gift cards at the moment.

They're at 540 Deering Ave, Portland, ME 04103

Pre-car every town or city of almost any size was basically a dense core surrounded by farmland-not just in Maine but literally everywhere on earth. There are different subtleties and variations depending on the exact place but that's the basic formula humans have used for 10,000 years. The core is where most of the services and social stuff happened and also where most people lived. To get around you either walked or used a horse, so things were built close together and at a scale meant for humans moving at walking speed. After the industrial revolution town centers were connected by rail so all of a sudden you easily go to the next town or even further, but human-sized design was still the standard.

The current way things are built-spread out and designed for cars, rather than people-is very new, historically speaking; we've only been doing it since about 1950. It's hard for any of us to imagine because we've grown up in it (in the US anyway), but the way things are today is a choice, not an inevitability. The US once had the most extensive rail system in the world and it was literally dismantled to reduce people's choices so they'd have to buy cars, and the auto industry has heavily influenced government policy to incentivize building spread out, car-dependent towns and suburbs, and highways to go between them.

Again, this is the whole US, not just Maine. For example I live in Rockland, and 70 years ago I could have walked downtown and hopped on a streetcar to Thomaston, Warren, Camden, Rockport or Belfast. Now that streetcar line is Rt 1. Personally I'd rather have the train and a grocery store I can walk to.

If you're interested in learning more about this stuff I highly recommend this YouTube channel, and this playlist in particular: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJp5q-R0lZ0_FCUbeVWK6OGLN69ehUTVa

The Giant Hogweed?!?!?!?!

They've been feeling that for a long time now. That is pretty much the way things are going around the planet. Rural areas are dying out, as opportunities (for everything, sex, work, leisure) abound in larger population centers. That hasn't changed in decades. However, as the population ages, more old city folks are moving out of the cities. This is creating its' own set of problems. I don't see many ways in which this will change, but we humans are always lacking some amount of foresight.

Depends on how small a town you’re talking. For many people up to the age of attainable automobiles, the only place close enough to go to hang out during the very few hours you weren’t working on your land was the neighbor’s. Once a week you’d hook up your horse, put on your Sunday best, and go the three-five miles to church. Every couple weeks or once a month you’d hook up your horse and wagon and ride the 10-20 miles to a bigger town to buy the things you couldn’t grow/make/mend. Once a year you might take a train to the ‘big city’ of Bangor or Portland.

It would be different if you lived IN one of the middling or larger towns, but my dad grew up near Machias in the 50s and this was his schedule until he left for college. Most farming families would have it the same.

Photo says 1883 I think

Edit: it hilariously looks like 1483

Course you are dear

That is a great question. It was from my parents. Now that I think about it that gift really did light a fire in me.

> Tyler Technologies is a managed service provider

They are a tech company that provides software solutions to local governments. In fact, they are the largest tech company in this market in the entire nation. Also they are on the S&P 500.

> They also are one of the only MSPs in the area and don’t employ software engineers even though that’s their title they employ tech support.

Im not sure what a MSP is, but they do employ local software engineers.

> They also are opening in Orono to offer an “affordable” solution to customers by hiring straight out of college employees they can pay less than market. Which only lasts until they get experience find their worth and then move on

They have struggled to hire anyone from UMaime, all of the graduates head south to Portland or beyond. They are hoping an actual tech office, closer proximity and more scholarship/internships opportunity will fix this. Yes, they could pay more. But I’m not sure they have any jobs at 20 an hour (maybe they do, but I’d be surprised).

Edit: yes we need another tech company in the area. They have no competition up here besides the banks.

Good human.

Good bot

As I said, usually. There are exceptions to every statement.

That being said, Dover-Foxcroft is the county seat in Piscataquis, which draws people there.

Not sure that’s entirely accurate. Small towns like Dexter and Dover-Foxcroft as well as Bucksport had, and some still have, theaters to this day.

So there was nowhere else a person would have stopped at during non-work hours for a beverage, a prepared meal, or a snack plus conversation with whatever neighbors or out of town visitors they ran into?

frankly, it was mostly churches. They were often the largest building with the largest comfortable enclosed gathering space in town, so not only would they be used for church services but also dances, dinners, voting, town meetings, private parties, etc. Church wasn't the 'statement' then that it is today. You went to church because everybody else went to church, and church served an incredibly important social bonding function.

She's gonna get charged with child endangerment

Thanks for stopping by, 1957.

What are you a fucken park ranger now?

LEGO’s. 🤣🤣

Hey nice marmot

A good compass and a map of the local area’s hiking trails, and perhaps a subscription to AllTrails is another good choice. Most most out door activities such as hunting (not counting prep) is walking in the woods with the confidence that you know where you are. Fishing similarly—if you want the “good” spots. There’s few things I like more about Maine than a little off trail (be aware of trespassing) adventuring. I got my first compass as a young kid, and I have always enjoyed knowing I can navigate if I should need to.

The horse is heading into town to socialize. Person is along for the ride

Walmart...the famous one!