Some Mainers think their new license plates come with a one-finger salute
'Oh, it's a middle finger,' Soule, 46, said when she looked closely at the new plates she'd put on her SUV two weeks earlier.
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Soule, a teacher and restaurant worker who lives in North Yarmouth, said getting flipped off by a treetop doesn't bother her. 'It's actually funny,' she said. 'If it was done intentionally, that's disappointing. If it was accidental, it's more comical.'
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Was it intentional? Or is the image like a Rorschach test inkblot, where we see what we want to see?
It's the latter, says the artist who designed the plate.
Mary Catus was working in the Maine Secretary of State's office in 2023 when it was charged with coming up with a design for the new plate, which by
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Secretary of State Shenna Bellows suggested using it for the new plate after the legislature's transportation committee couldn't agree on a design. Bellows took Catus's watercolor to committee members, and they loved it. Catus created a new version on her iPad and donated it to the state.
'Her design was vibrant and lifelike,' Bellows said. 'It was the perfect pine tree plate for the Pine Tree State.'
Catus has seen the chatter about the middle finger at the top of her tree and finds it amusing.
'I have been scrolling through Reddit, and I thought that was hilarious,' said Catus, who is now the press secretary in the Maine Senate president's office. 'There are no Easter eggs in this design. There was no intention behind that – definitely not my brand.'
An upraised finger? That's what pine tree boughs look like.
'Anyone who suggests it's anything other than a pine tree doesn't know pine trees,' Bellows said.
Even so, once you see the
Rachel Soucy saw it when she was waiting at a red light behind a car with the new plate.
'I'm looking at the plate and looking at the plate, and I started chuckling,' said Soucy, 55, a help desk specialist who lives in Bangor. 'I couldn't believe it. Then people started posting pictures online. It gave me the opportunity to enlarge the image, and sure enough.'
Mary Catus, the artist behind the tree, has seen the chatter about the middle finger and finds it amusing. "Definitely not my brand."
Steve Greenlee
Pictures and chatter about the plate's supposed one-finger salute are all over social media.
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Gary Craig, 42, posted on Reddit after hearing about the finger in a family text chain. He said his brother-in-law runs an automotive repair shop and started seeing it. Craig said he's surprised the state didn't notice it before approving the design.
'You don't have anyone in your approval process who is slightly jaded like me and says, 'Wait a second, guys. We have a problem'?' said Craig, a chemical and biomedical engineer in Old Town.
In fact, there
has
been a problem with the new plates, but it's not with the tree. The spacing between characters on 3,600 plates that have been printed is too small to be read by toll scanners, so new ones are being issued to those vehicle owners.
Tracy Christensen of Tampa, Fla., was driving a Toyota HEV rental with the new plates in Freeport last week. She hadn't looked at the tree until a reporter asked her to take a peek. Then she saw it immediately.
'It looks like it's giving the finger,' Christensen, 52, who is an operations manager for a nonprofit, said with a laugh.
Same with Bob Masciarelli, a 67-year-old retiree parking his Jeep at a supermarket in Yarmouth.
'Oh!' he said as soon as he bent down for a look.
It's quite obviously a coincidence, like spotting an image of Jesus on a potato chip, and it's too soon to tell whether the plates could put a dent in Mainers' reputation as New England's most courteous drivers. What is apparent to many motorists is that the state may have unintentionally replaced the chickadee with a different sort of bird.
Steve Greenlee is a journalism professor at Boston University.
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
As Trump eyes election changes, Secretary Bellows warns of fallout
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'What we're seeing right now is a dramatic expansion in federal power, coming from the Trump administration, over the states and the people that upends the very concept of our democratic republic,' Bellows said in a sit-down with Maine Morning Star after the conference. 'Anyone who cares about states' rights and individual freedom should be concerned about federal agencies engaged in an unprecedented power grab.' Bellows, a Democrat who is running for governor in 2026, said she was reassured to hear from secretaries on both sides of the aisle who are concerned about federal intrusion into elections, which are administered by the states, not the federal government, under the U.S. Constitution. But she returned from the conference with more questions than answers regarding the Trump administration's intentions and the repercussions of some secretaries embracing the federal requests. Trump wants Congress to pass a national proof of citizenship voter registration requirement and in March tried to unilaterally impose one for federal elections through executive order, but the legislation stalled and the order was halted by the courts. Some states have individually passed laws to require documented proof of citizenship to vote, including New Hampshire and Wyoming, whose secretaries of state presented at the conference. A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against Wyoming's law in July. Two lawsuits filed against New Hampshire's law are still pending in federal district court. 'All of us agree that only citizens should vote in federal elections. That's in the Constitution. That's not the debate,' Bellows said. Rather, Bellows' concern is how added requirements would work in practice and, she expects, could create barriers for legitimate voters, particularly in a state like Maine with sizable rural, low-income and senior populations. Already, people registering to vote must sign a statement affirming they are citizens under penalty of perjury. Noncitizens who register to vote or cast a ballot face criminal penalties and deportation. One study of the 2016 election estimated the prevalence of noncitizen voting at 0.0001% of votes cast. However, conservatives in Maine and elsewhere have shared unsubstantiated claims of noncitizen voting. 'Then the concern becomes, from a very practical place, what is the impact on actual citizens and their constitutional right to vote?' Bellows said. In New Hampshire, some legitimate voters have been turned away due to the new requirements. Bellows, who oversees Maine's Bureau of Motors Vehicles, says insight into potential impact in Maine can be gleaned from the rollout of Real ID requirements, which she says have tripped up long-time Mainers while being easier for new citizens who have their documents readily available. For example, she said, some people who grew up in Aroostook or Washington counties were born in Canada because the nearest hospital was across the border, so birth certificates aren't a document they can use for citizenship proof. 'We have heard from dozens of customers who have complained that it has sometimes taken them many months or almost a year to get certified birth certificates from other states if they were born out of state,' Bellows said, 'or marriage information from other states. Particularly people who've experienced both marriage and divorce, those documents may not be documents that they have kept.' Seniors are the least likely to have that documented proof, partly because of higher likelihood of misplacement or damage over time, Bellows said, plus the added barrier of having to pay to get new copies. 'Ironically, some of these policies are most likely to disproportionately impact senior citizens living in rural areas, which predominantly voted for Trump in the last election,' she said. With federal legislation and the executive order stalled, the Trump administration is attempting a backdoor way to accomplish its goal of requiring documented proof of citizenship for voting, Maine Morning Star's partner outlet Stateline reports. The Trump administration is urging states to use an existing federal immigration database, called the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, that it has refashioned into a platform to verify voters' citizenship. Originally intended to help state and local officials verify the immigration status of people seeking government benefits, searching one name at a time, SAVE can now do bulk searches, allowing for the scanning of full voter rolls. These changes also come as the U.S. Department of Justice is asking Maine and other states for copies of their voter rolls. Bellows told Stateline she had a recent phone call with officials at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security who said the agency planned to retain SAVE data for 10 years for 'audit purposes only.' 'Just like the [Justice Department] is asking us to hand over an electronic file of all the voters in our state, it seems like the Department of Homeland Security is through this backdoor system also asking us to share voter information about every voter in our state,' Bellows told Stateline. Another possible change to elections discussed at the conference was also part of Trump's executive order but hasn't drawn as much attention: directing the independent Election Assistance Commission to amend a set of security benchmarks for voting machines. Donald Palmer, commissioner of the Election Assistance Commission who was nominated to the role by Trump in 2019, gave a presentation on how the commission is trying to implement the order by amending the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines to require paper ballots and remove bar codes and QR codes, which could lead to the decertification of certain voting systems. 'The concern about that is that seems to be a path to decertifying the election or challenging legitimate election results held by the states,' Bellows said. Bellows sees the move as a way the Trump administration is setting the stage for more federal intervention in future elections. As a member of the elections committee of National Association of Secretaries of State, Bellows said she and other secretaries continue to meet every other week, sometimes more frequently as issues emerge, to press state and federal officials on the reasoning behind voting and election changes. When asked about other proactive measures she is taking, Bellows said she hopes to keep the state on its current path. 'Our greatest defense against what the federal government seems to be trying to do to undermine voter confidence and take over aspects of our elections is to continue to run really great elections,' she said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Buzz Feed
16 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
Debate Over Banning Social Media For Kids Under 14
Last month, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he plans to ban social media in France for people under the age of 15. "We cannot wait," he said of the ban. In France, it's a pressing issue: Macron's announcement comes in the wake of the murder of a high school teaching assistant who was stabbed to death by a 14-year-old student, which has stirred up a conversation about the radicalization of children online. His plans involve adding age verification to some sites. Online age verification is a big topic in itself at the moment, with the swift implementation of the United Kingdom's Online Safety Act being implemented across the web. These age checks are ostensibly meant to protect minors from pornographic content and other harmful material, and of course apply to websites such as PornHub; however, the law also includes social media sites like X (Twitter), Reddit, Discord, and Bluesky, as well as sites such as Spotify and YouTube. Sites use methods like ID scanning and "AI" facial recognition software to "verify" users' age. In the wake of the implementation of the OSA in the UK, Americans are growing concerned that age verification will soon be implemented in the US, too. Critics worry that "age verification" is a path to censorship, surveillance, and even broader data harvesting than we have now. ...Which brings us to this little tidbit: in Florida this year, a federal judge blocked the enforcement of a state law that banned social media accounts for children under 14. While the judge appreciated concerns about the effect of social media on kids, he stated that the 2024 law was "likely unconstitutional." tuned in to this general conversation, when I saw this post on the popular Ask Reddit page from user Lola_girl_10 asking, "Do you support banning social media for anyone under 14 years old? Why?" I had to know what people had to say. Here are the best comments from the conversation: "I support it in theory, but how do you implement it? Does it require me to use my government ID to use the internet? I want less surveillance, not more…" "Yes. I mean, most platforms require users to be over 13, but kids half that age are addicted to them. But the Online Safety Act isn't the way to do it." "Let's start with the basics. How do you define social media? Is YouTube social media? Is Reddit? Are forums like Stack Exchange or GitHub social media? How about online video games? Niche platforms for marginalized and vulnerable populations?" "No, because we don't live in a world where anyone proposing this type of legislation cares about protecting children. Every single one of these proposals is nothing but a power grab that will be used to further eliminate privacy and control free speech." "Parental controls are available for things like this." "I don't support it because that requires age verification, and that makes it impossible to be anonymous." "In theory, yes. Social media, in my opinion, is like a drug, one to be used responsibly when you have a level of brain development that understands the impact it's having." "Yes, and I think we should also ban online gaming for young children." "Ban phones from schools and classrooms; otherwise, it'll take a cultural shift of parents actually parenting instead of handing their toddler a tablet as soon as they can be entertained by it. Any laws requiring ID or verification should be avoided." "Honestly? I support torching all 'social' media to the ground and salting the earth. They are evil. Facebook and Twitter data centers ought to be nuked." "Not at the expense of my privacy or risking my identity." "I don't support it in the way the UK has just done it. Neither the government nor corporations should be invading the privacy of citizens to make up for the failures of bad parents." "Probably. I listened to a podcast once that made the point that we massively restrict all these things that we know are bad for kids — alcohol, tobacco, etc. — but when it comes to social media, we do nothing, despite research showing a clear link between social media use and child/adolescent suicide." "Yes. But my kids are already banned. If you let your kids loose on the internet, then you're a bad parent." "I have two 13-year-olds and we have explained to them in great detail why they are not allowed to use social media. They. Do. Not. Need. It." "Yes, 100%. But 18 would be better. 'Social'-focused media like Instagram and Facebook are a societal cancer." "Yes, I support banning social media for kids under 14 — and not in a 'boomer killjoy' way, but a protect-your-brain-before-it's-fried kinda way." "No. And I'm not falling into the 'but it's the children!' trap either. The current actions are to establish control, and I feel like it's happening everywhere at the same time, from Australia to the EU and the UK to the US, as if it is a coordinated thing." "Yeah, I support banning social media for anyone under 14 because at that age, kids often aren't emotionally ready to handle the pressure, comparison, and potential dangers online. Giving them more time to develop offline social skills and confidence can help protect their mental health." And finally: "I'm just glad I grew up on the net before all this." So, what do you think about curbing kids' access to social media? Is it a terrible idea, a great idea, or perhaps a good idea that's pretty much unenforceable? I want to hear all your thoughts and opinions in the comments below — or, if you want to write in but you prefer to stay anonymous, you can check out this anonymous form: Who knows — your comment could be included in a future BuzzFeed article. Please note: some comments have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
How Pope Leo's Popularity Compares to Pope Francis After 100 Days
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Pope Leo XIV has enjoyed relatively strong popularity after the first 100 days of his papacy. A number of polls have shown broad early goodwill from U.S. Catholics and many Americans as August 16 marked the 100th day as leader of the Church. However, he is yet to reach the heights his predecessor Pope Francis enjoyed during his tenure. Why It Matters Pope Leo, a Chicago native, was chosen as the new leader of the Catholic Church on May 8 after a two-day conclave and held his first mass in the Sistine Chapel on May 9. He replaced Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday. His popularity rating is useful in measuring the public's response to him and his policies as he carves out his role and differentiates himself from his predecessor. Pope Leo XIV, during Angelus prayer in front of his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo on August 16, 2025. Pope Leo XIV, during Angelus prayer in front of his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo on August 16, 2025. Photo by: Rocco Spaziani/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images What To Know An Associated Press‑NORC survey of 1,158 U.S. adults, fielded June 5–9, found that roughly two‑thirds of American Catholics said they had a "very" or "somewhat" favorable view of Pope Leo XIV. About three in 10 said they did not know enough to form an opinion, and fewer than one in 10 viewed him unfavorably. The poll found he had around the same levels of support from Democrats and Republicans and that he had more support among older than younger Americans. According to Zenit news, a poll two years into Pope Francis' papacy showed he had a 59 percent favorability rating, suggesting there is more early optimism toward Pope Leo. Pope Francis' popularity peaked at 90 percent in 2015, according to the Pew Research Center, and fell to 75 percent in April 2024. Meanwhile, a late‑July telephone survey of 1,002 adults conducted July 7–21 for Gallup showed Pope Leo with a 57 percent favorable rating, 11 percent unfavorable and 31 percent no opinion among U.S. adults, placing him above other international figures in net favorability, including U.S. President Donald Trump. What People Are Saying Pope Leo XIV, in his inaugural mass in May: "In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth's resources and marginalizes the poorest." Terry Barber, a 50-year-old Catholic from Sacramento, California, told Associated Press: "I'm optimistic. Certainly, the first pope from the United States is significant. Since he worked under the previous pope, I'm sure he has similar ideas, but certainly some that are original, of his own. I'm looking forward to seeing what, if any changes, come about under his leadership." What Happens Next As he continues his papacy and speaks at events, the public response to Pope Leo is likely to fluctuate.
