Back Woods Maine Mule Train

Life in Maine is a little bit slower than the rest of the country. People pride themselves on doing things by hand and using out of date technology - so-to-speak. My friend G.W. Martin believes in using animal power as opposed to gas powered engines to get things done around the farm. "The trick isn't getting them to pull, that's easy - it's gettin' them to stand still". This morning as the sun was rising in Montville, Maine I was a part of the Back Woods Maine Mule Train. The log that you see in the pictures weighs approximately 2000 pounds, and the two Mules Bonnie and Olivia move it with no problem.

Everyone else in the area uses a machine called a Skidder, it's basically a bulldozer with wheels and a claw. G.W. has used a Skidder before to haul wood, but he would rather use animals to get the job done. There is a lot to be said for doing things the old fashion way. Enjoy the photos:

I went Whitewater Rafting on the Kennebec River

I went whitewater rafting on the Kennebec river yesterday with an old friend. It has rained just about everyday since I got to Maine, which is great for whitewater but not so great for having a good time. On Saturday the clouds broke to give us a marvelous time, in the water as well as out.

Historicaly the Kennebec River was used for harvesting ice and for ship building. Nowadays the river is used primarily for hydroelectric power and recreation. The Kennebec river is not the most intense river in the state of Maine, but, it is great for a few hours of whitewater and relaxation. The Kennebec, Dead, and Penobscot rivers all offer great whitewater for rafting, kayaking, and canoeing in Maine.

If you ever find yourself in Maine I suggest spending some time whitewater rafting on the Kennebec river. You wont regret it!

Happy Father's Day from Waterville

Happy Father's Day from Waterville, Maine. As luck would have it, the internet is down today here in Waterville. Who knows why, maybe the non-stop rain. Anyway I asked Judy to send this greeting. Here is a photo of my dad holding me when I was a few hours old. That is my brother Aaron looking on.

This next photo is of me with my dad, Dennis, on the day of my Bar Mitzvah.

Over the years I have listened to Cat Steven's song "Father and Son." The words are remarkable and sooner or later I think all fathers and sons can relate. Enjoy this youtube video and Happy Father's Day.

Dan Helfand

iPhone 3Gs New Features

The iPhone 3Gs' new features are forces to be reckoned with! I have had an iPhone now for just under a year, in that time I have come to love and cherish it. The iPhone, in my opinion, had the most potential to revolutionize mobile technology as we knew it! Overnight, it quickly became the most useful piece of technology that I have ever owned.

After the initial infatuation period ended, I began to realize that there were things that disappointed me about the iPhone. I learned very quickly that with all modern marvels there will be glitches and hiccups along the way. Beta, Beta, Beta! The iPhone is a painting that has yet to be finished, always changing and always evolving; adapting to the needs of the people. Everything that disappointed me with with the iPhone 3G the 3Gs has made up for!

We now have the ability to: copy and paste, take video, send picture and video text-messages, and the list goes on and on. The 3Gs is faster and smarter, we have the capability to make our own applications and now that there is a digital compass we will never get lost! The possibilities are absolutely endless, and I'm pretty sure that the sky is no longer the limit. Here are the details on just a few of the new features:





"Now you can shoot video, edit it, and share it — all on your iPhone 3GS. Shoot high-quality VGA video in portrait or landscape. Trim your footage by adjusting start and end points. Then share your video in an email, post it to your MobileMe gallery, publish it on YouTube, or sync it back to your Mac or PC using iTunes."





"Voice Control recognizes the names in your Contacts and knows the music on your iPod. So if you want to place a call or play a song, all you have to do is ask."





"Surf the web from practically anywhere. Now you can share the 3G connection on your iPhone with your Mac notebook or PC laptop."

View from Hogback Mountain

This will be a quick post today, coming to you from Dan Helfand, via Judy Helfand in Tucson. Dan is visiting in Maine and wrote up his weekly Sunday post, but did not save it in blogger. This morning he is in Montville, walking up Hogback Mountain to see his friends. No internet connectivety in this little section. So here is an up close and personal view from Hogback Mountain. More later in the week.

Dan used his iPhone to send this photo via gMail.