Matt Meets the Internet

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Hi, I'm Matt, and this is where my world meets the internet, in real time. I'm an American teaching English at a middle school in South Korea. I'm here with my fiancee; it's our third year here. This is a place for things I find interesting, absurd, funny, outrageous and awesome. I am a wannabe farmer, world traveler, appreciator of photography, and I follow American politics closely. Follow along as I also contribute my thoughts on Taoism for everyday life, inspired from the daily meditations of 365 Tao, by Deng Ming Dao.

Daily Tao Farming Stuff! Politics! Photography I Like Krazy 4 Korea Ask Me Stuff!

August 29, 2012

So there’s a lot of catching up to do…first and foremost: OUR WEDDING!

August 18, 2012 was a beautiful day. Actually, I’m exaggerating a little…it poured all morning and I finished setting up with friends and family dreading the fact that our reception would be water logged and miserable. But it TURNED OUT to be a beautiful day! We had a gorgeous afternoon with just the right amount of sun (and heat).

The ceremony was beautiful! I couldn’t imagine anything better. We got married in Dani’s childhood Catholic church (I was baptized Catholic as well, but never really practiced it). It’s the same church her grandmother got married in 70 years ago (almost exactly!) and she was present, having just turned 94 years old. Some of our friends and families did readings, we said our vows, and we lit a unity candle which we brought back to Korea with us. The priest, who has known Dani for 20 years, was a wonderful man whom I had just met. Everything went so well.

Our reception was at a state park and we decorated a large tent and had a DJ, catering was done by a local BBQ restaurant, and it was exactly what we were going for: a big, semi-formal backyard bar-b-que style celebration. It was so much fun, but it all went by so fast! Just like that, done in a couple hours. Thankfully we have some great pictures from the event and we had a small “after party” at that same local BBQ restaurant. We had some drinks with friends and the next day we headed out to our mini-honeymoon on Monhegan Island, a gorgeous island off the coast of Maine. We were back in Korea 3 days later. Phew!

Above is one of my favorite pictures from the day, and I’ll post a few more to follow.

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April 5, 2012

ilovecharts:

How Does Your State Excel?

Heck yes, most organic vegetable plots under 5 acres!

(Source: npr)

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(Notes: 4,094)

Filed under: maine organic stats infographic united states of green behaviors

March 8, 2012

I want the Maine one so bad! ^^

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(Notes: 40)

Filed under: iron skillets states maine yum

February 23, 2012

Meanwhile, in Maine…

A giant 27-pound lobster caught off the Maine coast will be released back into the wild, said Maine State Aquarium Director Aimee Hayden-Rodriques on Wednesday.

Maine State Aquarium Director Aimee Hayden-Rodriques holds a 27 pound, nearly 40 inch long, lobster caught by Robert Malone off the coast of Maine near Rockland on Feb. 17. The aquarium named the crustacean “Rocky.”

Cushing shrimp fisherman Robert Malone gave the lobster to the aquarium after catching it in his nets Feb. 17.

The lobster weighed 27 pounds and was nearly 40 inches long. It was dubbed Rocky because it was caught in the Rockland area.

The lobster is the biggest ever brought to the aquarium, surpassing the previous biggest one by 4 pounds. It’s downright huge compared to lobsters people eat, which typically weigh between 1 and 2 pounds.

The biggest lobster on record was caught off Nova Scotia and weighed more than 40 pounds.

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(Notes: 9)

Filed under: Maine lobster record breaker wow huge amazing

January 21, 2012

Hahaha..Maine. We don’t call it the Pine Tree State for nothin’!

highcountrynews:

This Map Shows Where All The Trees Are In The US

NASA’s Earth Observatory just released a map illustrating where all the trees are in America. The map was created over six years by Josef Kellndorfer and Wayne Walker of the Woods Hole Research Center (WHRC) in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Geological Survey. The dark swaths of green represent parts of the country with the greatest concentration of biomass. You can see dense tree cover in the Pacific Northwest as well New England, which has been reforested after intensive logging in the 18th and 19th centuries.

(via kateoplis)

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(Notes: 1,478)

Filed under: map of trees maine representin

December 26, 2011

So fantastic. Chase Farm in Freedom, Maine.

urban-ecologist:

MEET YOUR FARMER: Chase Farm
One of eight short films about Maine farmers.

Inspirational story of the Chase Family and their integrated business of farm, restaurant, and bakery.

(via pluralistfarmer)

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(Notes: 896)

Filed under: farming farm maine local eats buy local grow your own small business future dreams

December 16, 2011

Maine: a haven for small Dairy?

cheesenotes:

Interesting piece in the Boston Globe about the state of Dairy farming in Maine:

Making a living at dairy farming can be a struggle for both established farmers and newcomers as milk prices fluctuate while operating costs rise. To counter this, Maine has a tiered subsidy system that to some degree protects the farmers against unpredictable market fluctuations. Organic farmers have an edge over conventional producers because organic milk is sold to cooperatives and the general marketplace by a protected contract price, with further incentives from a rewards system tethered to quality.

“We get a good price for our milk,’’ says Donahue, “because we usually reach the top rung in quality testing. While conventional milk fetches anywhere from $11 to $22 per 100 weight, ours is a steady $25 to $30.’’

Granted, the dairy industry in Maine is small compared to a state like New York. But it’s still good to see a state supporting its farmers like this.

It’s so rare that something about Maine comes up on my dashboard! :D

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(Notes: 16)

Filed under: maine farming dairy subsidies doing it right

October 29, 2011

The Impulsive Farmer: Bill to Support Small Farms

YAY Chellie Pingree is my Congressperson!

BY HELENA BOTTEMILLER

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) announced Monday she will introduce bill that would “significantly change the nation’s food policy” by supporting local and regional farmers.

The package of reforms and new programs, dubbed The Local Farm, Food, and Jobs Act, would encourage the production of local food by helping farmers and ranchers and by improving distribution systems, building on the success of farmers markets across the country.

“This is about healthy local food and a healthy local economy. When consumers can buy affordable food grown locally, everyone wins,” said Pingree, who owns an organic farm in North Haven, Maine. “It creates jobs on local farms and bolsters economic growth in rural communities.”

Read more here: Food Safety News

(Source: neontummy)

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Filed under: local food farming maine chellie pingree congress bill

October 26, 2011

Chemical bomb tossed into Occupy Maine encampment | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Wow. Close to home! I’m so glad no one got hurt.

occupytheplanet:

PORTLAND — Occupy Maine protesters say Sunday morning’s attack with a chemical explosive has left them with a mixture of anxiety and resolve.

“We are more motivated to keep doing what we’re doing,” said Stephanie Wilburn, of Portland, who was sitting near where the chemical mixture in a Gatorade bottle was tossed at 4 a.m. Sunday. “They have heard us and we’re making a difference.”

Wilburn said she was startled and briefly lost hearing in her left ear when the device exploded beneath a table about 10 feet away. Wilburn’s hearing returned and police said no injuries were reported.

Portland police Sgt. Glen McGary said the bomb was thrown into the camp’s kitchen, a tarped area where food is cooked and served. Protest organizers said the explosion lifted a large table about a foot off the ground.

(via blaghsadfafads-deactivated20130)

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(Notes: 11)

Filed under: occupy maine occupy everything home maine occupy wall street

September 28, 2011

pineconeonthetent: