Saturday, January 01, 2022

To: 2022 From: Tim

I had a dream two days ago that I needed to send something 'out there' to all the people I know....or, more accurately, to all the people that I have email addresses for...and see what happens. 

Yesterday, the image below presented itself to me while walking around the Back Cove in Portland, Maine. 

For me, the discovery of these symbols - representing peace and love - perpetually existing within the powerful tidal ebb and flow of the Atlantic ocean, serves as a reminder that not everything we are - or everything we need - is easily seen. 

Yet, that does not mean that it is not there. It is. Always.



This is my New Year's Gift to you. 
Peace. Wherever you find it.






"Be true to your work, your word and your friend." 
~ Henry Thoreau

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

For those wondering, I haven't stopped writing or blogging. Just using a different platform.

Although it's more focused on my "professional" writing and musings, you can follow my latest work here:

https://tkwriterinme.wordpress.com/

Enjoy !

Tim King
Freelance Copywriter and Marketing Consultant
Scarborough, Maine

http://www.linkedin.com/in/timkinglinkedin/





Wednesday, December 01, 2010

A Note

Dear retailers - Please stop bombarding us with messages to buy more stuff. We have all we need and don't have any money to spend anyway. Thanks ~ Tim

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Unreleased Material From Jimi Hendrix Reflects A Life Of Music And Money Woes : The Record : NPR

Unreleased Material From Jimi Hendrix Reflects A Life Of Music And Money Woes : The Record : NPR

I love when new versions of tunes (especially acoustic or un-distorted versions) come out. It's so clean and pure, I wish it didn't have to get muddied up by this dispute every time. Goes to show that you need to hope for the best and prepare for the worst - or someone else will make the decisions for you.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Big bear hunted, killed in PA

Now I generally have no problem with hunting. It's not something that I would do, but I can appreciate the thrill that some may get from it. At the very basic level, I feel good about anything that involves people getting of their asses and getting outside. There's nothing I hate more than someone talking, acting or legislating from an Ivory Tower (armchair conservationists included). Hunters, are "out there" doing what the do, getting dirty, wet, cold etc. in nature: sure, they may have driven a gas guzzling 20 yr old pickup truck to get there, but what other harm are they doing?

But reading this news item recently really did not sit well with me - and I'm not sure why. Was it the age (17) of the bear? (and how did they find that out?) or its size (879lbs) which was also so delicately re-stated as "field dressed @ 744lbs"? I guess it might have been the fact this bear had been well known in the area for years- even tagged by wildlife researchers - and had (seemingly) caused absolutely zero harm, damage or threats to anyone. To be sure, if the hunter had simply taken out his camera instead of his bow, and taken a photo of the bear, would The Pocono Record (and the rest of the WWWorld) thought his story to be newsworthy.

In the vein of "no opportunity wasted" I would hope that the killing of this animal will be somehow vindicated by putting its meat, hide to some good use. I'll be disappointed to learn that its only use turns out to be a trophy for the lucky SOB who happened to be at the right place at the right time.

I'm reminded of a line from the movie "Jurassic Park" that has stuck with me over the years, when the scientist questions why dinosaurs were ever brought back to life from DNA sealed in a drop of resin. "We were so busy trying to figure out if we could - we never stopped to think if we should."

Indeed, this hunter had the same choice. He did what he did because he could. It's a dam shame there wasn't anyone around to question if he should. I'll be interested to see how he withstands the inevitable court of public opinion as undoubtedly this story will be publicized and debated over the coming weeks.

Forgotten

Forgotten

Will I ever see, something as sad
As a tree?
A tree barren of leaves still laden
With fruit.
A tree full of promises kept
But left untouched.
Many go hungry and doctors prescribe.
Still, no one sees.
Scattered below, apples in states
of decay.
Slowly, sadly, go away.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

It's not what you say - but how you say it.

Similar to what helped me become a successful PR & Communications pro in the high tech industry, I think it's very important for someone to be able to digest and understand complex issues and processes - but then take that knowledge, uncover its core truth and communicate it simply and perhaps even memorably...to multiple audiences.

I believe that facts, figures and terminology can all be be learned in short order. However, as any chef, brewer or conductor will tell you, having the best ingredients is only half the battle. Identifying and communicating both the effort and unique characteristics - the steak and the sizzle - is what often leaves a lasting impression. That's what "sticks". ~ Tim

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

MediaPost.com Article: Reviving The Dead

A MediaPostPublications.com article sent to you by: editorial@mediapost.com

Some good tips on cleaning up your outreach. Why waste time, money and energy reaching out to folks who have moved on ? ~ Tim

Reviving The Dead
Morgan Stewart

Guess what? If your company sent out a commercial email today, there is a good chance that some of those emails went to dead people. Not just "inactives" or "unengaged subscribers" or whatever term-du-jour we want to use, but real, bona fide stiffs. People who, God willing, are looking down from heaven and wondering, "What else do I need to do to stop getting emails from those people?"

Read the whole story on the MediaPostPublications.com website.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

The Boston Buddha

Old friend making a name for himself by being quiet. If you know Andy, you'll appreciate how absolutely ironic that is. Good for him !
http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/morning/the-boston-buddha-20101025?ref=nf
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Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Bring Back Archie Bunker

I'd like to see the return of an "Archie Bunker" type character on TV so that we American's can take an honest look at what we are becoming. Let's take on our faults, bad habits and prejudices head on. Unfortunately, all we see on prime time is escapist shows where smart, good looking people solve crimes (CSI) win courtroom cases and the solve mysteries using cutting edge science and technology. However, a walk into any strip-mall, Denny's, Dollar Store or McDonald's will quickly show that this is simply not who we are as Americans. We're (mostly) fat, opinionated, aggressive and ignorant to living any other way. The other type of TV program's actually portray "those people" in trash shows like COPS, Judge Whoever, Wipeout, Swamp People and others...although almost every viewer would swear that "those people" on TV aren't anything like themselves. "I'd never do/say that" - who are you kidding? So I say, bring back Archie, warts and all. Until we can honestly look ourselves in the mirror and see what we've become, there is no chance that we'll change. And, change we must - before Big Brother does it for us.

Friday, October 01, 2010

Cool Hunting Showcase - A Unicorn For Drunks / T-shirt

A little juxtaposition never hurt anyone ~ Tim

http://showcase.coolhunting.com/product/42546/tshirts?cl=8

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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

When Loons Cry

So I was doing a "site walk" with a guy that works for a research facility http://www.briloon.org/ that collects data on many different types of birds, including loons. I asked him about what all the racket was at night and mentioned that it kept you up as they seemed to circle the lake all night long.

Turns out that loons are HIGHLY territorial/aggressive and the calls we hear are basically the male loons yelling "HEY, THIS IS MY SIDE OF THE LAKE. STAND THE HELL BACK!!!" to each other. Kind of like border patrol. The stronger the call, the tougher they sound...and the more likely that the girl loons will come check them out too.

What they are looking at is when lakes have high levels of mercury (mostly from dirty rain that comes up to Maine from coal plants out west) that get into fish and then into loons. Mercury acts as a depressant somehow and that makes the male loons not yell as loud - allowing other male loons to invade their turf a little easier. the trouble is these new loons eventually succumb to the same mercury poisoning and eventually the whole "population" of loons becomes less strong.

I didn't have enough time to ask him "So what?" but I think we'll be meeting with him again at some point down the road.

--
Tim King
Scarborough, Maine

Be true to your work, your word, and your friend. ~ Henry David Thoreau

http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=553903&trk=tab_pro

Monday, September 20, 2010

The 3000 Mile Oil Change Myth Debunked

See for yourself. Often, the "green" thing to do is to change your oil LESS...go figure !

http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/UsedOil/OilChange/

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Friday, September 10, 2010

Dilbert Creator Scott Adams Tries to Build an Eco-Friendly House - WSJ.com

Dilbert Creator Scott Adams Tries to Build an Eco-Friendly House - WSJ.com

The truth hurts sometimes...and sometimes its very funny too. ~ Tim

PlantLife - 9/10/10 "Learning to Let it Bee"

By Tim King

One of my very observant little neighbors stopped by the other day to inform us that there was a “huge bees’ nest” in one of the large oak trees in our yard. Being one of the more imaginative kids in the neighborhood, we at first took her claim with a grain of salt.

However, after taking a look at her discovery – with its busy inhabitants going in and out – we realized she wasn’t exaggerating, much.

Looking back now, as we first ventured out into the yard, I half expected to hear the low, basal toned drumming of thousands of insects winding up for an attack. Almost instantly after hearing about the nest, the word “killer” and images of John Belushi dressed in a yellow and black leotard came flashing into my head. Damn pop culture.

Next, the image of Mr. Belushi was replaced (thankfully) by somebody literally covered with thousands of buzzing insects.

We’ve all seen TV programs with people who have covered themselves from head to toe with bees in order (I guess) to show the rest of us that bees are not aggressive by nature, rather only lash out against outside aggression or threats. However, rather than passivity, I see this more as a calm before the inevitable storm.

Like a balloon in a needle factory, one wrong move and “pop!” goes the beekeeper.

For me at least, the understanding that bees are a critical component of our ecosystem, does little to supplant the simple fact that a bee sting hurts - a lot! There’s an old saying that my father used to use when explaining the business of sales to me. It said “the bitter sting of poor customer service lingers longer than the sweet taste of a low price.”

Clearly a painful bee sting has left more of an impression on me than any sweet voiced Nasonex® spokesbug could ever replace.

I’m a little ashamed to admit that while I can appreciate and understand the very important role that bees play in pollination and all things green, my first response to an unplanned buzzing in my personal space is to track, smack and scamper – fast!

Go ahead, call me a bee NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) but whenever I see bees, along with their ill tempered cousins the wasp and hornet, I instantly feel the need to protect (or at least inform) those around me. Who among us has not, with a mild expression of terror or at least discomfort, alerted a total stranger to the proximity of some yellow jacketed intruder? I know I have.

So it was these first, “natural” impulses that I have been trying to quell for the last few days.

After all, the many residents of this gray, papery nest (roughly the size of a basketball) have obviously been active for the entire summer. To my knowledge, they have dutifully refrained from any strategic attack or rampant abduction of small children, pets or errant tourist visiting our neighborhood.

It seems they have a job to do, and they are singularly focused on doing it.

Plus, at more than 50 feet in the air, I’m sure that the bees traveling incessantly back and forth to parts unknown are as equally unaware of the activities in the yard below, as we were once of them.

If not for the keen eye of an inquisitive youngster, I may have remained forever blissfully ignorant to this entire population cohabitating our little patch of earth.

Perhaps, if they become a nuisance or if the nest grows to size that my neighbors or I become uncomfortable with, I may have to have them removed. But for now, I feel sort of lucky that out of all the oak trees, in all the world, these little guys flew into mine.

And that’s the bee’s knees in my book.


Tim King is a member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association who sees the forest and the trees from his home in Scarborough, Maine. He can be contacted at sylvan.sauntering@gmail.com

Friday, May 14, 2010

Active Travels | get up & go!

Cool site about getting outside and "doing" something.

http://www.activetravels.com/

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Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Fenway Park Grass Seed & Fertilizer | Major League Turf

if only you could hire a staff of 30 to come and take care of your lawn after you plant the stuff (and have an unlimited budget) ~Tim

http://www.scotts.com/smg/templates/index.jsp?pageUrl=mlb_boston

T-Mobile Says Co-Branded Fender Entry Struck a Chord

I think they are on the right track here. might not produce killer numbers of units sold, but will nail guys like me who want to be associated with a cool icon/brand.

http://www.brandweek.com/bw/content_display/news-and-features/direct/e3ib5454b923e9fb74351f7b95c805df682

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Thursday, April 08, 2010

Just dandy in Scarborough: Young performers learn the value of practice, friendly competition | The Forecaster

Great article about a great program...no mention of how nervous it makes parents to see their kids up on 6 foot unicycles though !

http://www.theforecaster.net/content/s-scardandies-040910

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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Spare a Square ?

A drunk staggers into a Catholic Church, enters a confessional booth,
sits down, but says nothing.

The Priest coughs a few times to get his attention

but the drunk continues to sit there.

Finally, the Priest pounds three times on the wall .

The drunk mumbles, "ain't no use knockin', there's no paper on this
side either!"

--
Tim King
Scarborough, Maine

Be true to your work, your word, and your friend. ~ Henry David Thoreau

http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=553903&trk=tab_pro

Robins

Are having a field day in my lawn. Seems as though the 72 hours of rain has helped to bring all the worms to the surface for a breath of air. [GULP!]



--
Tim King
Scarborough, Maine

Be true to your work, your word, and your friend. ~ Henry David Thoreau

http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=553903&trk=tab_pro

Friday, March 26, 2010

Broadturn Farm: The Beans of Scarborough Maine

Keep up to date with the Farm at Broadturn in Scarborough

http://broadturnfarm.blogspot.com/2010/03/beans-of-scarborough-maine.html

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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Good Wine Under $20: Primitivo from Puglia

My boss got me a bottle of this for my birthday and it was very good. now i need to find out where he bought it !

http://goodwineunder20.blogspot.com/2009/04/primitivo-from-puglia.html

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Fire Can Be Good For Global Warming : NPR

In other words, all things in moderation.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124980708&ft=1&f=1025

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