Heddi Siebel - artist

www.heddisiebel.com

RISD Adjunct Professor in Printmaking.

Thanksgiving in Eaton New York

27 gallons of gas, 800 miles, many gas station bathrooms, indian casino's, wonderful food and drink, and some good and bad weather.

 

overall a success.

 

hope you all had a good holiday.

 

 

Grandfather David Muir Tholl

reposting this after finding this on Highbeam. He was a great grand-dad. Built me the best train set when I was 8. Rest in Peace.
--------------------------------------

David M. Tholl, the retired president of the now-defunct American Tool & Machine Co. of Hyde Park who later became a cattle rancher, died of cancer last Thursday in his home in South Portland, Maine. He was 74.

Mr. Tholl was born in Detroit and educated in schools in Troy, Mich., and in Needham.

He worked for American Tool & Machine for 40 years, the last 10 as president, and retired in 1972.

In 1972 he moved to West Virginia to organize a cattle ranch and operated it for 19 years. He settled in South Portland in 1991.

He was a member of the Norfolk lodge of Masons in Needham, and had been a scoutmaster.

Mr. Tholl leaves his wife, Eleanor (Harrison); a son, John David Tholl, of Wellesley; six grandchildren and a great-grandson.

The funeral was private. Burial was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Portland.

Boston Level Completed! Next Level: New York CIty

Heather has taken a job at Hoffman LaRoche in Nutley New Jersey and we are starting to shift gears into transition mode. I informed my employer a few weeks ago of the possibility I may be moving to New York if Heather decides to take the job at "Roche". As this will require me to find a new job as well this has me jumping back into the word processor to modify my resume and start sending out coverletters and resumes to prospective employers posting jobs at newyork.craigslist.org/tch I'm really hoping to hear from people in my extended network living in the NYC area to give me some good ideas on good/interesting tech jobs in the midtown area. SO I'm putting this out there to the world so it knows exactly what I want...
My current job at Mikrodots is an informal small business environment where I spend about 60% of the time in the depot fixing systems, entering support tickets and scheduling future service and 40% in the field at client sites doing server checkups, wiring, software/hardware/network support.

There is no dress code to speak of, no HR dept, limited oversight, and only 3 full time staff! It is a very efficient operation in regard to our company overhead and how many systems we are actually supporting with such a skeleton crew of staff. Mike has created a great model for the small business managed service company, it's just a shame that it hasn't grown faster and added some more strategic partners and business. My only coworker aside from the owner Mike Doherty is Andy Giles. Andy is a talented young tech (only 23!) proprietor of the tech blog: www.techsack.com. Andy is my manager and the go to guy for the tougher problems relating to server side issues and networking. He will have a bright future in the tech sector and I will be interested to see where it takes him in the near future.
Mike Doherty (owner of Mikrodots) typically working in the back of the depot (in our spacious new Woburn office) testing out potential candidates for new ERP software, open source web appliances, corporate wifi security, and always generally looking for better more efficient ways to serve our customers. He tried his best to ensure information flow between employees and documentation of case/client information. He also kept up with testing out new sources for monitoring and virtualization technologies. Completely different management style than I've ever worked with but definitely was great about never micro managing his talent... if anything he probably erred on not being as involved or engaged with developing the sales organization earlier on in my time there but now he seems to be on the right path trying to brand the business better and get a sales department moving.
Overall it was a great experience and brought my level of server side knowledge up a great deal. In my next support position I'm looking to keep pushing forward in my knowledge of networking, monitoring, and enterprise level tools and software. Working with netsuite ERP was also a added bonus of the job and something that I would consider using someday as a small business owner. It's integration of accounting and ticket management is really useful for the 5-10 employee managed service company. It was a bit pricey for a small company but its functionality and easy of use made it worth it in the end.
In my next job I'm hoping to have more responsibility and a more engaging atmosphere with more collaboration for project based work and chances to hone my skills in network monitoring, and implementation. My ideal company would be a renewable energy company like Beacon Power, or perhaps Arcadia Wind Power based in NYC.

Mint.com to the rescue

Just when I was attempting to use yahoo pipes to amalgamate all of my banking websites, mint.com has come and done all the dirty work for me, and from the first look has done a fantastic job. Thanks to Rob Reed and Heather for finding this super helpful tool. Logging into 3 credit card websites and 4 separate checking sites was getting tedious. After my initial giddy-ness at the concept, paranoia started setting in. Now I can have all of my accounts hacked at once. The devil's favorite darling is convenience.

How long this service will stay free now that inuit owns it is anyones guess. Don't screw this up Intuit!

Flying to Aroostook county with David Fernald...

For all of my friends and family who have ever had to make the trip up to "The County" (or may once again do it for the hell of it) try flying from portland with David Fernald Jr. instead!


http://www.maineville.com/detail/117335.html

I miss you Bubbas Sulky Lounge

With your light up disco dancefloor.

and stinky sweaty dancers

lunchboxes

zodiac parties

middle aged women bartenders with funny haircuts

Back room tchotchkes and stuffed animals

Jason Giroux breakdancing in the middle room

cash only policy.

I'll look back at you and think of all of our good times together.  knowing no one can replace you.  

Love RJ

Selling a laptop on Ebay

Bear in mind the laptop i was selling in this auction was partially broken and not in perfect working condition. The laptop was being sold for parts... the owner paid $400 when brand new. here is my listing of the item and the replies I received (I listed the laptop for 99 cents and let the free market do the rest. So many offers from people pledging to give me $600-1200 for this broken laptop is ridiculous... All I can acertain is that they cannot make an actual bid because I chose an option that doesnt let people bid who only have 2 or less transactions and any bad marks on their account. I have had huge problems in the past selling laptops on ebay because that security function didnt exist before. Ebay is definitely trying harder to make the auctions run smoother. What amazes me is how many people are stalking every laptop sale out there. Many of these are from Africa I presume and more exactly Nigeria. My imagination paints a picture of internet cafe's in Lagos absolutely jam packed with people banging off letter after letter of scams to ebay sellers and random email addresses of US and other western countries netizens.

This laptop has some motherboard issues that make it perform very inconsistent. The system works fine most of the time but will occasionally freeze up and need to be rebooted. I am selling this basically for parts as it is not under warranty. I have heard from many other users that this laptop is hit or miss and has had lots of known issues. This system is in great physical condition and would be great as a parts car for a laptop tech out there fixing compaq laptops THE ONLY THING I AM NOT INCLUDING IS THE HARD DISK. I have given the owner back the hard disk to be used as an external drive backup. Sorry if this is an issue but I am planning on selling this machine more for parts and not as a working operational unit although im sure with some love you may be able to fix this 100% many many high res photos are available upon request send all questions to rjtholl@gmail.com or contact me through here. I will ship this laptop anywhere in the USA or canada. THIS IS AN "AS IS" SALE



Dammy Tokunbo to me
--
Hello seller, I'm ready to buy your item right away and i will be very
happy if you can just sell it for me.
Am willingly offer you $600 for the item.. If my offer is accepted
by you, kindly send me your paypal email address for the immediate
payment as i am online for the right transaction....
PayPal Only and No Scam.

Get back to me now.
---------

jame smith to me

Hello, Will you consider selling this item to me, for an offer $1,100.00USD, which also covers the shipping & insurance charges for delivery abroad. payment would be effected upon your response as i want you to send me your PayPal payment request,for the payment to my email address jame.smith@live.com, if you are interested in selling this to me. I am serious with this as i promise not let you down with the purchase of the item.. Your prompt response would be highly appreciated. Kind Regards jame.smith@live.com You can contact me directly at my personal e-mail at jame.smith@live.com.I want you to end the auction now and get back to me.So end the auction now.I normally check my message,just mail me to jame.smith@live.com.
Thanks God Bless....
--------------------------------------------

Peter Nelson to me
show details Aug 31 (4 days ago)


Hi,

I have gone through your listing and i realize that it fits my search. Hope you will you consider selling this product for me at the price of $550.00USD that will also cover the postage and insurance charges through USPS (United State Postal Service) to meet up with an urgent demand in my store Abroad. Am really serious about this purchase and If possible,i will like if you can get the item off auction now and get back to me cause i will be making the transfer for this product regarding your response through PayPal.Kindly acknowledge my message by sending to me a Paypal money request to peternelson_11@hotmail.com so that i can effect the money into your paypal account with immediate effect. IM me at peternelson_11@yahoo.co.uk. And if the money am offering is too low, kindly call back my attention so that i can shot it up a bit.

Thanks.
I wait to read from you.

Mr P Nelson.
-------------------------------------
Hello seller,
I'm interested in the immediate purchase of this item,which is needed for my Daughter as a Gift urgently in next 3-5 days, i will offer you $1,000.00 USD for the item including shipping & insurance via (Global Express Mail Delivery (EMS),i will be paying you through PayPal.please send your email address in your reply so i can contact you anytime.

Regards

stolen htc g1

So someone stole my google phone and am now scrambling to take all necessary steps to get it back. This is a catastrophe as it contained SOOO much personal data and many pictures I had not backed up. THe monetary cost was not so great but the sheer amount of money spent on modifying and buying upgrades and software for the phone is where I feel I have had something much more than a phone taken from me. Thanks to having Track My Life by www.SmartGPSWorld.com installed on the handset I was able to track where my phone was taken to (see the attached screenshot from track my life's google maps web interface).

THis experience has caused me to see some sides of tmobile and cell phone carriers in general that seem to be self serving and PRO THEFT.

read about the arguments here

http://forums.mobiledia.com/topic61587.html

Has anyone out there successfully obtained a subpoena for your stolen cell phone? I spoke with a representative from the sheriffs office and he basically told me that it would cost me upwards of $500 in legal costs just to get the ball rolling. Seems prohibitive... and even if I do get the imei blocked for tmobile... the thief can unlock the phone and use ATT!

quotes from Lady From Shanghai

Starring Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth.
These quotes are by Mike "Black Irish" O'Hara played by Welles.

...tough guy?

What´s a tough guy?

I don´t know.

A guy with an edge.

What makes him sing better
than me? Something in here.

What makes it loud?
A microphone. That´s his edge.

-Edge?
-A gun, a nightstick or a razor.

Something the other guy ain´t got.

An extra reach on a punch, instead of
brass knuckles, a stripe on a sleeve...

...a badge that says ´´cop´´
on it, a rock in your hand...
...or a bankroll in your pocket.

That´s an edge, brother.

Without an edge,
there ain´t no tough guy.

-You hear that, Black Irish?
-lt´s true.

Well...

...bear it in mind.

screenplay from lady from shanghai. a most quotable movie.

and another one

´"Tis a fair face to the land...



...but you can´t hide
the hunger and guilt.



It´s a bright, guilty world."

this quote was telling of the feelings that Orson Welles had for central and south america. Feelings that would manifest themselves into a documentary that never would never be fully finished but was made into something called "It's all true".

...once, off the hump of Brazil...

...I saw the ocean so darkened
with blood it was black...

...and the sun fainting away
over the lip of the sky.

We´d put in at Fortaleza...

...and a few of us had lines out
for a bit of idle fishing.

It was me had the first strike.

A shark it was.

Then there was another.

And another shark again.

Till all about, the sea
was made of sharks...

...and more sharks still.
And no water at all.

My shark had torn himself
from the hook...

...and the scent or maybe the stain it
was, and him bleeding his life away...

...drove the rest of them mad.

Then the beasts took
to eating each other.

In their frenzy...

...they ate at themselves.

You could feel the lust of murder
like a wind stinging your eyes.

And you could smell the death
reeking up out of the sea.

I never saw anything worse...

...until this little picnic tonight.

And you know...

...there wasn´t one of them sharks
in the whole crazy pack that survived.

nasty disco funk!

I'm a simple man! Going on 10 years now, all I want out of my weekend night out is to walk into a club/bar with stiff drinks of high quality, a good sound system... hopefully playing something like this:





http://mp3.juno.co.uk/MP3/SF356162-01-01-01.mp3

thank you to marz ent, Randy Deshaies, riseclub.us, Cambridge's own Phoenix landing, the wonder boys from Soulclap, and the all of the artists out there still making high quality dance music.

youtube

Youtube over the past few years has become a fantastic place to look up rare dance tracks of all shapes and sizes. generally showing a photo of the records circular decal or even a home made video put together with a diy editing program while the song plays out. It would be quite easy to make a cool music video mashup station using something like yahoo pipes and some keywords filtering tags and artist names.



These gems I gleaned in a very stream of consciousnous manner. I hope you enjoy listening and watching them as much as I did.

1)Drexciya - Journey Home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9y9Snt1g5E
2)Bochum Welt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdNooBW-TEM&feature=related
3)Lego Feet aka autechre
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BXUEkJj5t4&feature=related
4)James Hunter- Walk Away. I must explain this as it is completely different from the other tunes ive linked to. My boss was playing this song at work for the past few days and I really have gotten to like it. Hailing from London, Hunter has by the sound of it been something of a secret for many years and has over the past decade finally receiving the press and accolades he deserves. His sound is nice and spread out, uncluttered reminds me of sam cooke a bit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGQd8M5t4Ao
Deep Forest - Deep Forest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4mskaR3OzE



4) SEHR GUT MEIN HERR! I came across this track on beatport a few weeks ago and it has grown on me. This version I have linked to is done live with a drummer and is quite fantastic!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy-ztntdQq0

Sam Annand is set to release his debut album as Architeq later this year. The London-based Scotsman hasn't been particularly prolific over the past two years, but the tracks he has unveiled have already made waves with fans of both disco, dub, and wonky instumental hip-hop. Last year's Birds Of Prey EP may have been his debut single, but showed an admirable level of production expertise with his slow wiggling grooves and off-kilter funk.

Three of the tracks from Birds Of Prey have found their way onto the full-length, which goes by the title of Green And Gold, but there will be ten brand new cuts for eager fans to get their teeth into, including three vocal contributions. The dulcet tones of Sunharbour vocalist Junior Williams sits atop the lilting "Nothing," Ilija Rudman gets on the mic for the electro-boogie of "Mind Games," and Angéle David Gillou compliments the strutting jazz piano of "Spinning Plates."

http://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=10906

John Walker Lindh

I recently listened to the Friday July 31 edition of democracy now with Amy Goodman and learned new information about the man once called "the american taliban". John Walker Lindh (Sulayman Lindh) is sitting in Terre Haute for the next decade on some charges unrelated to terrorism or aiding and abetting terrorism.
John Walker turns out to be from Marin county California and from his parents comments in the interview, was taken in by islam while watching the 1996 movie. X. The story of Malcolm X... I find this interesting as this was also my first introduction to Islam as well, Alex Haley's Malcolm X biography. After listening to the entire interview with his parents I'm impressed by the character of these people and the enormity of their struggle. This story has all the makings of a great movie or far reaching tell all bio of the backstory behind the war on terror. If I don't start seeing college activists holding "FREE Sulayman LINDH" posters soon I'll be very surprised...

http://openleft.com/diary/14442/john-walker-lindha-lens-and-a-mirror

"In their first extended interview, the parents of John Walker Lindh, Marilyn Walker and Frank Lindh, join us for the hour to tell their son's story. He was born in Washington, DC in 1981. At the age of sixteen, he converted to Islam. In 1999, Lindh left the United States for Yemen to study Arabic and the Koran. He later traveled to Pakistan and then to Afghanistan, before 9/11, where he received military training from the US-backed, Taliban-run Afghan Army to fight against the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan's civil war. He was captured in late 2001, found emaciated and wounded, one of the few to survive a massacre by the Northern Alliance. To his parents' relief, he was handed to US forces, but they brutalized him, as well. Donald Rumsfeld had ordered them to "take the gloves off." He was designated Detainee 001 in the war on terror. When he returned to the United States in January 2002, he was being held as a prisoner accused of conspiring to kill Americans. As part of a plea deal, Lindh pleaded guilty to serving in the Taliban army and carrying weapons and was given a twenty-year sentence."

Ok so I hate voicemail. So sue me. It's annoying to manage and difficult to store the memorable/important messages you want to keep. No longer. Services like gotvoice and google voice are here and really helpful for those who are no willing to check voicemail multiple times each day but very willing to check email dozens of times.

I used and payed full price for GOTVOICE for a few months... it left me wanting more... google voice will definitely be filling that gap in my life now. I have actually gone back to checking voicemails the old fashioned way for a few weeks and cannot wait to get back to having voicemail transcription and downloadable/archivable messages. oh yah, and its free. sorry gotvoice. how can anyone compete with free? google scares me btw. they totally own me. ugh



rjtholl (617) 466-9448

gvoice

recent conversation with my favorite foodie friend.

c: ok
why arent you seeing them in boston?
I ate corn fungus last night
man, you should come on a food vacation here sometime
its a mild halucinagen
found on blighted corn or in really fancy mexican resturants
really vivid dreams last night
and auditory hallucinations
Sent at 9:29 AM on Thursday
me: hahahah

testing my G1

Purchased an htc G1 in late May. I am very very happy with this phone thus far. It has proved indespensible in my job as an on site technician traveling around the Boston area. gmaps\gmail\gcal integration is fantastic and I have only one qualm... battery life. I upgraded to the mugen 2400 mAh super extended battery and life is again, good.

binary star - I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

A binary star is a star system consisting of two stars orbiting around their common center of mass. The brighter star is called the primary and the other is its companion star, comes, or secondary. Research between the early 1800s and today suggests that many stars are part of either binary star systems or star systems with more than two stars, called multiple star systems. The term double star may be used synonymously with binary star, but more generally, a double star may be either a binary star or an optical double star which consists of two stars with no physical connection but which appear close together in the sky as seen from the Earth. A double star may be determined to be optical if its components have sufficiently different proper motions or radial velocities, or if parallax measurements reveal its two components to be at sufficiently different distances from the Earth. Most known double stars have not yet been determined to be either bound binary star systems or optical doubles.

wikipedia

a binary star can also be a rap group.

Binary Star were an alternative hip hop group formed in 1998 that was composed of One Be Lo and Senim Silla. While in prison, One Be Lo met Senim Silla, and the two formed Binary Star during their time in Hiawatha Correctional Facility.[1] One Be Lo took the time to gather extensive amounts of knowledge pertaining to the music industry, such as copyrights, publishing, and how to successfully start a record company. In his own words, he "learned how to hustle legally".

- wikipedia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVBWy-aYgF4&feature=related

how can I pay pal you some loot Lo & Silla?

Wyoming Opal. fresh from the wheel

The main opal field "groups" located at Lightning Ridge are; Coocoran, Grawin/Carters, Glengarry/Sheepyards, Wyoming, Jag Hill and Mehi.

Mutek Plans Shaping up

http://www.celebritiesmontreal.com/

I just received my ticket on Friday.
hotel is booked for the 28th and 29th.

Spoke with Claire Kenway last night about plans. She happened to have been nursing a hangover from going out in Berlin to see Derrick May at Berghain/Panorama. Apparently Derrick May is the epitomy of techno goodness and rocked Claire's world hard. Layered/percussive, 128-132 ish for speed. Great track selection. Can't wait to see him play.

Spent this weekend seeing Cousins Matt, Dan, Ethan, Polly, and Kava (the dog). Ethan was super fun and hanging out at the shop was fairly productive. Thanks for the delicious beef spareribs Polly!

Feeling a bit tense lately. Maybe more sleep is in order. Less googling.

Been watching all of the episodes of Frontline I can possibly fit in in my spare time. Reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Private_Life_of_Plants by D Attenborough

"Ever since we arrived on this planet as a species, we've cut them down, dug them up, burnt them and poisoned them. Today we're doing so on a greater scale than ever [...] We destroy plants at our peril. Neither we nor any other animal can survive without them. The time has now come for us to cherish our green inheritance, not to pillage it — for without it, we will surely perish."

– David Attenborough, in closing

lift the travel ban?

Lifting the ban will help Jared, his wife and many other cuban families who would like to travel home more often, but who could this potentially be bad for?

Growing up sufficiently enough years past the bay of pigs scare I don't have any emotional attachment to the cuban embargo. My mother can remember being afraid of a nuclear attack during that time period but I can't. I am much more worried about non state threats than I am about terrorism, war, or commies. Famine and oil shortages which cause wars worry me more than communism. In that sense... I say yes... lift the embargo. Ive never been to cuba nor talked to anyone within the country who may be fighting for democracy and free market economy. My background is limited because of that fact. I often wonder what Gary Brecher the "War Nerd" would think in times like these. Or Seymour Hersh. Hey Seymor!... whats your take?

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-cuba-travel1-2009apr01,0,4526770.story

"Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) strongly opposes the measure. He warned that flooding Cuba with tourists and dollars would only sustain the Castro regime. Having tourists on Cuban beaches is not going to change the equation of how to create the opportunity for democratic institutions in Cuba," Martinez said. "It's only going to enrich those who are oppressing the Cuban people and provide them with more economic means with which to do that."

Dorgan and fellow sponsors sense an opportunity to change U.S. policy now that President Obama has replaced George W. Bush in the White House and Castro has turned power over to his brother, Raul Castro.

Obama has ordered a review of U.S. policy on Cuba and last month loosened restrictions to let Cuban Americans visit relatives. Journalists can travel to Cuba, as can people on humanitarian missions.

This is another article challenging the wisdom of the policy change.



http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/Sunday_Reflections/How-not-to-promote-democracy-in-Cuba-and-at-home-42469192.html

Lift the Cuba Travel restrictions NOW!

An outdated relic of our cold war past. Let's lift the Cuba ban and usher in a new era of Cuba/US relations. Mr. Carter: I wish you the best of luck in defending your case.

VLS student Jared Carter (JD '09) is still a year away from receiving a law degree, but he argued his first case in federal court this week. Carter is one of four plaintiffs suing the U.S. government in an effort to ease travel restrictions to Cuba for family visits. Carter's wife, Yurisleidis Leyva Mora, is a native of Cuba who came to the U.S. in 2006. The couple want to travel to Cuba to celebrate their marriage with her family and to visit her aging grandparents. Appearing before U.S. District Court Judge William Sessions, Carter argued that the travel restrictions imposed by the Bush administration in 2004 violate due process and equal protection rights. The case is attracting wide attention, particularly in Miami and Havana. The Boston Globe carried this May 28 story, with video, that can be seen at boston.com. The Burlington Free Press covered the court hearing a May 29 story available at burlingtonfreepress.com (and reprinted in the Havana Journal): havanajournal.com.
The Rutland Herald and Times Argus carried stories available at timesargus.com and rutlandherald.com. The case was previously

excerpt
http://www.vermontlaw.edu/News_and_Events/VLS_in_the_News/VLS_in_the_News_2008_Archive/May_2008.htm

http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2008/05/28/they_fight_to_revisit_home/

fiat money system

West Virginia Coal Tax

My grandparents on my dad's side owned a cattle ranch in West Virgina in the 70's and 80's raising black angus cattle. My grandmother grew up in Harrison County with its capital in Clarksburg WV. Since that time my grandfather has passed on and sold the 1.14 sq miles but retained some of the deepest coal, lower kittaning as its known. There are multiple levels of deeded minerals underneath all of the land in West Virginia as any local could tell you. My grandmother and her great aunt have deep roots there and still own property and some local people still farm the land and raise cattle on it. There is a great story buried in this time in my grandparents life and Im only now getting most of the details... part of my coming of age has been paying taxes on the retained mineral rights and bearing witness to my grandmothers battle to keep the taxes from exploding 10,000% per year for the last few years. Below is a link to an article outlining the struggle between landowners and pols to find a happy medium between funding for state and landowners ability to pay!

I would love go explore Harrison county and meet some of the people that worked and lived near my grandparents. It is one of my life's easily attainable goals to just go and stand on the property my grandparents farmed.
http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=52678

Confusion and anger over skyrocketing coal assessments and property tax bills caused hundreds of West Virginians to complain to state leaders. Now the state Tax Department has taken a step back, telling county assessors not to include geological information in this year's bill.

By CYNTHIA McCLOUD
For The State Journal






and a little history about west virginias coal industry / burden / godsend. ;-)

http://www.wvcoalmining.com/coal-mining/history-west-virginia-mineral-industries-coal

Maine High School Basketball

Did I ever mention I love Maine, basketball, and the people who play it (past and present)

Growing up in North Anson in central Maine, sports games and especially basketball games were a great way to spend an evening in a town without a movie theater for 25 miles. The stage was the basketball court and the players were the kids, the crowd and the dreaded referees. The drama in wintry high school gyms I played in often escalated to a state of pandemonium not unlike march madness.

If you ever need to reference a maine basketball related historid factoid then go here -> http://frank.spanky.googlepages.com/index

and for up to date chatter and scores mbr.org is also a heavy in the area. The Maine Boys High School Basketball forum has around 27000 posts! Why maine high school ball is such a religion is pretty easy to understand... maine winters are awful and people need an outlet. It is kind of like the TV show "survivor" only as a player you happen to be driving on a bus over icy roads and braving brawls with rowdy cabin fevered kids.