Massachusetts
updated
8:04 p.m.
The latest move from the Executive Branch of our fair commonwealth arrived three days ago : The Patrick administration, in a sharp deviation from previous state policy, will seek legislative approval to take over about 30 of the state’s worst schools and dramatically weaken their teacher contracts, as part of the governor’s effort to overhaul public education. If this were to pass, this wo...
Quriltai on the Shore - 8:04 p.m.
I love lists, especially book lists, so enjoyed the Globe’s top 100 books about New England or written by NE authors. You can check off the ones you’ve read and rate them; I have only read 35 of the 100, but just squeaked in by finishing Moby Dick last weekend (more on this once [...]...
Jackie Doherty - 5:31 p.m.
In an interview with the State House News Service last week, Gov. Deval Patrick hinted Wednesday at trying to draw progressive measures into the state tax code after his first term saying .... “I’m done with taxes for now,” Patrick said.In a News Service interview, Patrick said he has heard demands for preserved and restored state services, which have t...
Blue Mass. Group - 5:31 p.m.
S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford was and is predictably mad. I posted on the undercurrents as a non-political blog over at my Harrumph! Then I realized it probably belonged here too. Done. Silly and sad sandlapper Gov. Mark Sanford did not surprise a third to half of us, that would be the sometimes limerents . We understand deeply from experience that he was driven in a way the other half cannot comp...
Marry in Massachusetts - 4:39 p.m.
Today's Wimbledon final was astounding. Five sets, of course (they play best three out of five), and the final set (and thus the match) was won by Switzerland's Roger Federer, who prevailed by the epic score of 16-14 -- the longest final set in grand slam tennis history. (Normally, you win a set in tennis by getting to 6 games, but you have to win by two, and in the final set they do...
Blue Mass. Group - 3:07 p.m.
Democracy survives in my homestate! RT @PolAnimal: #mncontest Supreme Court says Franken won. # “This is now first time since 1979 that one party will have had 60 or more votes in Senate” (via @pwire). Don’t mess this one up, Dems… # OMG… RT @pwire: Rumor: Norm Coleman replacing Steele at RNC # RT @samyoonformayor: Menino called MassVOTE [...]...
View from the 'Bridge - 12:28 p.m.
The following paragraphs are from the Latin American Solidarity Coalition. Background: A military coup took place in Honduras on Sunday, June 28, led by SOA graduate Romeo Vasquez. In the early hours of the day, members of the Honduran military surrounded the presidential palace and forced the democratically elected president, Manuel Zelaya, into custody. He was immediately flow...
MichaelannLand - 12:27 p.m.
Massachusetts banned new incinerators 19 years ago, with very good reason, but is now not only promoting biomass incinerators, but apparently is even willing to reconsider incinerators themselves. See this Boston Globe article from May, 2009. Massachusetts already burns 25% of its trash, compared to a 7% national average. Haven't our policymakers heard about recycling? Are money and pol...
MichaelannLand - 12:27 p.m.
Is it just me, or was the televised version of the Boston 4th of July celebration just one large commercial? It wasn't just the "live" show opening with the final minutes of the 1812 Overture, taped a good 10 minutes earlier. And it wasn't just the pre-packaged segment of one Craig Ferguson joke followed by one Neil Diamond song followed by about five endless minutes of advertising. In some ...
Massachusetts Liberal - 5:01 a.m. - 7 clicks 
To commemorate her 69th birthday, actress/vocalist Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan’s Radio City Music Hall to benefit the AARP where she performed a new version of “My Favorite Things” from the legendary film The Sound of Music. Thanks to an email from my sister-in-law, below are the updated lyrics: Maalox and nose drops [...]...
Jackie Doherty - 5:01 a.m. - 2 clicks
Is the governor of Alaska hiking the Appalachian Trail ? Maybe we should buy all elected officials GPS units that we can implant under the skin in their neck in case they get lost? More blogs about Politics . var sc_project=1947180; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_partition=17; var sc_security="083b12b0"; ...
Massachusetts Liberal - 4:02 a.m.
Here’s some video of a few of the bands and some of the Minutemen units from today’s Fourth of July Parade in Chelmsford: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFXT7hcdf2I ...
Richard Howe - Sat 8:51 p.m. - 6 clicks
I lit another vigil candle this morning. A 20 year old girl is dead, among seven to die in two accidents this morning. Preventable deaths. Vehicular homicides. In both accidents, the drunk drivers were wearing their seat belts - and they lived. Their teenage or twenty year old passengers, including my daughter's boyfriend's twenty year old sister... WERE NOT WEARING SEAT BELTS AND ...
Blue Mass. Group - Sat 8:50 p.m.
The Pops was awesome. The stuff interspersed was a little lacking, particularly that bebop version of U2 (which we turned off until it was over). Neil Diamond was pretty awesome, I mean, for Neil Diamond. The fireworks are awesome. The accompanying music is some of the most craptastic stuff I've ever heard, and I'm not seeing/hearing the "synchronized to the music" that they were talking about....
1 Smoot Short of a Bridge - Sat 8:50 p.m.
Sarah Palin is chickening out, she can't take the puny criticism and the few sharp elbows that have been thrown her way since the election s o she is resigning the Alaskan Governorship and running away like one of King Arthur's knights in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". There is a word for this and it is cowardice. Thass right Sarah Palin is desperate for attention is a crude adolescent fashio...
Chimes at Midnight - Sat 6:24 p.m.
Debi Pendell Solo Exhibition July 30 - August 23, 2009 Opening Reception: Thursday, July 30, 6-8 p.m. MCLA Gallery 51 51 Main Street, North Adams MA 01247 Concentrating on abstract elements, materials, and processes, Debi Pendell plays with symbols and......
Greylock News - Sat 4:21 p.m. - 7 clicks
So, in case you didn’t know, there’s going to be a conference on social media and its connection to Social Justice at Brandeis pretty soon. Super cool, right? This combines my passions for computers with my drive for Social Justice. I’m totally excited. Here’s the agenda: TMI. Social Justice in a Facebook Age v2 Anyways, one way [...]...
Innermost Parts - Sat 1:41 p.m. - 5 clicks
...at least from me. Maybe it does from other people; I don't know. I'm sure most of you can ascertain that I don't agree with a whole hell of a lot of what goes on in this country. But you know what? I also appreciate the freedoms we do have, and I have hope that we'll eventually have the rest of the freedoms we ought to. While people certainly have the right to go on about how they don't ackno...
1 Smoot Short of a Bridge - Sat 1:41 p.m.
Due to the threat of bad weather, Lowell’s Fourth of July celebration was moved from the evening of July 3rd to tomorrow July 5th. The festivities will begin at 4pm with “music, entertainment, festive food and family fun” around the Sampas Pavilion on Pawtucket Boulevard. Then at 7pm, the Lowell High School Band and Lowell [...]...
Richard Howe - Sat 12:11 p.m. - 6 clicks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psqjjLqMN4E The town of Chelmsford once again staged a wonderful 4th of July parade this morning. From my near-the-start vantage point at the end of Parkhurst Road, I photographed many of the units in the parade and have compiled the above slideshow to give those of you who weren’t able to make it a taste of [...]...
Richard Howe - Sat 10:51 a.m. - 5 clicks
The following concerns a question in a physics degree exam at the University of Copenhagen . "Describe how to determine the height of a skyscraper with a barometer." One student replied: "You tie a long piece of string to the neck of the barometer, then lower the barometer from the roof of the skyscraper to the ground. The length of the string plus the length o...
MichaelannLand - Sat 10:51 a.m.
One thing about Smilin' Dan Grabauskas -- he knows the T and "hassle factor" go hand-in-hand. Not that I have a problem with the T cracking down on fare scofflaws. I just wish it were uniform. Like outbound on the Green Line, particularly on Comm. Ave? Lot of cash is slipping through those open doors Danny Boy. More blogs about Politics . var sc_project=1947180; var sc_invisible=1; ...
Massachusetts Liberal - Sat 4:42 a.m. - 3 clicks
The President spends his weekly address wishing the nation a happy 4th and talking about the need for change. Is the status quo acceptable? Happy 4th of July! ...
Bill Manzi - Sat 4:41 a.m.
At this rate, Mitt Romney will get the 2012 Republican nomination by default. Sarah Palin added another line to her political resume yesterday. In addition to mayor, governor and vice presidential candidate, she can now add quitter to the litany, walking away from an unfinished job in the middle of a term. After a news conference that conjured up images of Richard Nixon (and a little Ma...
Massachusetts Liberal - Sat 3:41 a.m. - 13 clicks
Read it and weep. Seriously. Happy 231st 232nd 233rd, America. An image of the original document is in the extended. IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume amo...
Blue Mass. Group - Fri 11:22 p.m.
Daniel Kurtzman offers 10 reasons why Sarah Palin decided to resign: "4. Her daughter Bristol is actually having Alex Rodriguez's baby. ... 1. She didn't resign at all. It was an elaborate hoax pulled off by Tina Fey." Borowitz Report: ANCHORAGE (The Borowitz Report) -- Moments after Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin announced her resignation from office, comedians from coast to coast held candl...
Blue Mass. Group - Fri 11:22 p.m. - 9 clicks
“Moneyball: The art of winning an unfair game” is one of my all time favorite books. Written in 1993 by Michael Lewis, the book follows Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A’s, as he uses intensive statistical analysis to identify and obtain “undervalued” baseball players for his low-payroll by usually competitive baseball team. [...]...
Richard Howe - Fri 7:24 p.m. - 2 clicks
The day before a national holiday seems to be a popular time for press conferences and press releases containing important announcements. Governor Sarah Palin chose to ignite her own fireworks today by announcing that not only will she not run for reelection but that on July 26th she will step down - resign from the Governor’s [...]...
Richard Howe - Fri 5:06 p.m.
So a while ago I pointed out that Mariel Gruzsko, a friend of mine, was writing a blog about her experiences doing Anthropological work in Guatemala. Well, it’s taken off splendidly, and I seriously recommend you take a look. She updates often, thoroughly, and thoughtfully. ...
Innermost Parts - Fri 4:47 p.m.
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin gave a rambling farewell to the Governor's Office, announcing that she would not be a candidate for re-election in 2010 and also announcing that she was stepping down as Governor effective July 26th. Left unanswered was the critical question of who would now be watching the ......
Bill Manzi - Fri 4:46 p.m. - 2 clicks
chiefly by resignin g....I guess she ran out of stupid things to say and wingnut nostrums to inflict on the citizenry. This quote is unintentionally hilarious: "It is my duty to always protect our great state. With that in mind, my family and I determined that it is best to make a difference this summer, and I am willing to change things, so that this administration, with its positive agenda, i...
Chimes at Midnight - Fri 1:37 p.m.
In a story that ran in today's Boston Herald , Mayor Menino's campaign trashed a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to provide voters with the resources they need for civic engagement. The organization, MassVote, works to increase voter education and turnout amongst communities of color, youth, the disabled and in ethnic communities where language is a barrier. Since its creation in 19...
Blue Mass. Group - Fri 1:37 p.m.
Sarah Palin has announced that she is resigning as the Governor of Alaska. She didn't say why she decided to step down, but the surprise announcement stirred speculation that she would focus on a bid for the 2012 Republican nomination for president. The former Republican vice presidential candidate made the announcement from her home in suburban Wasilla on Friday morning. She said she would s...
Blue Mass. Group - Fri 1:37 p.m.
Today’s Dan Phelps’ column calls out the Cox crowd as he did in a couple of years ago. Here is the link to Lynne’s post on that column. Phelps writes about the firing/layoff/not funding the position of Assistant to the City Manager Andy Sheehan: They [the CC members who voted in favor] ......
Left In Lowell - Fri 11:10 a.m.
I came across this Vocaboly site, which advertises " vocabulary software ," when looking for vocabulary games to play (I'm a dork, OK?). The online "vocabulary tests" are somewhat useful, but could use a bit of tweaking. I took the GRE one, and it's a multiple-choice format similar to the GRE, but not of the same quality. Some of the words were extremely simple words that would never show up on th...
1 Smoot Short of a Bridge - Fri 10:31 a.m.
The Beatle Juice concert scheduled for tonight at 6:00 p.m. at Nicholson Stadium has been postponed to Sunday at 6:00 p.m due to the threat of t-storms. They are a great band, and I hope to see you there. ...
Bill Manzi - Fri 9:23 a.m.
Despite the anti-progress wing of the City Council, the city is receiving payments from the state and Trinity on properties to be developed in the Hamilton Canal District. I keep hearing grumbling from a certain set of commenters about how this is some big real estate giveaway to Trinity and a ......
Left In Lowell - Fri 8:21 a.m. - 8 clicks
And remember, this is not just July 4th weekend - it's also time for the greatest cycling race in human history. Don't know where to watch? Click here! ...
Hello Fitchburg - Fri 7:21 a.m.
I was pleased to participate in the groundbreaking for the Methuen Readiness Center recently. We had Major General Joseph C. Carter, the Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard on hand, as well as Congresswoman Niki Tsongas and Lt. Governor Tim Murray. The project has moved along due to the ......
Bill Manzi - Fri 7:01 a.m. - 4 clicks
The East Boston Land Use Council recently presented $20,000 in charitable grants from the Leonard Florence Memorial Trust Fund. Included are scholarships for local students in private schools and money for non-profit agencies. The list can be viewed at EastBoston.com . ...
The Hubster - Fri 6:47 a.m. - 8 clicks
Despite strong Union resistance on the second day of the battle, Lee believed that his troops had almost achieved victory. One more push, he thought and the Union troops would break. Lee believed that Union commanders had thinned out the center of their line to reinforce Cemetery Hill on their right (Day 1) and Little [...]...
Richard Howe - Fri 6:06 a.m. - 2 clicks
As the Division of Insurance and MassPIRG do verbal battle over the state of auto insurance premiums in the Commonwealth, I did started to wondering -- what ever happened to the predicted Armageddon that was going to follow "managed competition?" Coverage remains costly (eliminating Massholes would probably help on that score) but all the fears that greedy insurers would redline poorer co...
Massachusetts Liberal - Fri 6:06 a.m. - 3 clicks
It's astonishing that this was ever under serious consideration. The [Washington] Post decided Thursday to cancel plans to charge lobbyists and trade groups $25,000 or more to sponsor private, off-the-record dinner parties at the home of its publisher, Katharine Weymouth, events that would have brought together lobbyists, business leaders, Post journalists and officials from the Obama administ...
Blue Mass. Group - Thu 10:38 p.m. - 3 clicks
An interesting letter from an expatriate in Japan on a variety of topics. Goes to show the incredibly constrained range of alternatives that are typically presented as the entire spectrum of possibilities in Massachusetts. If the state reimbursed everyone's commute by the least expensive alternative, for example, I dare say transportation reform would take on a whole new meaning. "There are m...
Blue Mass. Group - Thu 9:09 p.m. - 10 clicks
The following was submitted as a comment by Jack Mitchell of the Centralville Neighborhood Action Group, but since it’s such important news, it gets its own post. Consider this a public notice to all Lowell Candidates to attend a Centralville Neighborhood Action Group (CNAG) meeting(s) which are held on the 3 rd Monday of every [...]...
Richard Howe - Thu 8:12 p.m. - 9 clicks
How could I resist! The Vanity Fair article detailing the train wreck that was the Vice Presidential candidacy of Sarah Palin has triggered some rather heated exchanges amongst the operational wing of the McCain camp and the neo-cons who were along for the ride. Bill Kristol got it all started ......
Bill Manzi - Thu 8:11 p.m. - 2 clicks
After much effort and experimentation, the local newspaper has finally discovered the key to its long-term financial viability. Mandatory furloughs, elimination of corporate 401K contributions, staff layoffs, declining subscriptions, evaporating advertising revenue and all the other seemingly insurmountable challenges of the past year have been swept away by this incredible example of journalisti...
Richard Howe - Thu 6:47 p.m. - 3 clicks
I have posted the FY2010 Municipal Budget for the City of Methuen in pdf format. This budget achieves balance without layoffs and includes nine one year agreements with all city side unions. All managers took a one time ten percent wage cut, and all unions took cuts in wages and ......
Bill Manzi - Thu 6:46 p.m. - 5 clicks
From State House News Service's weekly email roundup: "We pulled back," Patrick said of the administration's 2007 retreat from a grassroots offensive against tax-resistant legislators, "and I'm sorry we did to tell you the truth, because it doesn't quite keep faith with the notion of democracy that citizen involvement would be … a deterrent to good policy. Now, we w...
Blue Mass. Group - Thu 5:40 p.m. - 4 clicks
There are two registered voters in our household. Today in our mailbox, there were four of these: Were some of these misdelivered, you might wonder? Nope: They're both addressed to me. The address was just entered two different ways into the database. The spousal unit also got two mailings with the same duplication. When I've volunteered for campaigns, they've had me do such exciting ...
1 Smoot Short of a Bridge - Thu 5:40 p.m.
Today's juicy inside-baseball political story is at CBS News, which has testy emails between Sarah Palin and McCain campaign strategist Steve Schmidt. Palin was demanding that the campaign respond to stories about her husband's involvement with an Alaskan secessionist group; Schmidt was telling her that responding is the wrong move, and the campaign won't do it. The email exchange...
Talking Politics - Thu 5:17 p.m.
Driving Equality was unconstitutionally searched today. We left Niland, CA in the afternoon and headed toward Los Angeles. On our way, there was a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint. We were not anywhere near the border, but still, every car traveling north on this road had to stop. We were asked our citizenship status and the contents of the van. I told the officer that we are American citizens and ...
Blue Mass. Group - Thu 5:17 p.m. - 3 clicks
Two of the better-known poets due in Lowell this October at the 2nd Massachusetts Poetry Festival (www.masspoetry.org) are featured in the July.August issue of American Poetry Review (www.aprweb.org), which is probably the most recognizable poetry publication in the nation after Poetry magazine. Anne Waldman, a co-founder of the Kerouac School of Writing at Naropa University in Colorado, [...]...
Richard Howe - Thu 4:42 p.m. - 3 clicks
You'll learn that and much more in this interview with the smartest man in the world . Not to be confused with the Dos Equis guy. Or Bill Belichick. You'll learn why Obama fired the general in Afghanistan and brought in the new guy. You'll learn the price that Russia wants in exchange for Obama's request that they help him on Iran. You'll learn what China's been up ...
Blue Mass. Group - Thu 4:41 p.m.
Adams, MA - Greylock Arts is pleased to announce Dan Rose: Secret Century A multi-location installation of art and artifacts from a time and place familiar, yet unknown. Dr. Dan Rose is an internationally exhibited artist, with a PhD in......
Greylock News - Thu 3:36 p.m.
Williamstown, MA – The Williamstown Theatre Festival, Nicholas Martin Artistic Director, announces its annual Free Theatre production, Schmoozy Togetherness, book and lyrics by Sam Forman (I Sing!, The Rise and Fall of Annie Hall), music by Eli Bolin (I Sing!,......
Greylock News - Thu 3:36 p.m.
Better plan, covers more, saves more money. Democrats on a key Senate Committee outlined a revised and far less costly health care plan Wednesday night that includes a government-run insurance option and an annual fee on employers who do not offer coverage to their workers. Assesses a decent penalty (better than ......
Left In Lowell - Thu 3:15 p.m. - 2 clicks
According to the latest Recycling Newsletter (Summer 09, PDF here) from the Solid Waste and Recycling Office, Lowell has seen some pretty dramatic numbers in the right direction since the introduction of our pretty raspberry-colored trash bins: AUTOMATED TRASH COLLECTION UPDATE For the three months since Lowell distributed nearly 27,000 burgundy trash ......
Left In Lowell - Thu 3:15 p.m. - 2 clicks
If you like watching colorful explosions, you’ll have to wait for better, more guaranteed weather conditions. The Lowell fireworks events have been postponed from their initial Friday night slot, to 4 p.m. on Sunday, at the Sampas Pavilion on Pawtucket Boulevard. Several other events begin the festivities. From 4 to ......
Left In Lowell - Thu 3:15 p.m. - 2 clicks
Marianne has a nice review of the new wine and cheese store over on Prescott St. “Tutto Bene is a great addition to the Lowell food scene” she says…”between them, C’est and the Market Street Market, you can get just about anything you need all within walking distance.” I happened to ......
Left In Lowell - Thu 3:15 p.m. - 2 clicks
Oral health is an important part of overall health. Left untreated, dental disease can interfere with a child’s ability to eat, sleep, speak and learn. As we age, the implications of this disease become more severe. Decades of research have confirmed the associations between dental disease and serious lifelong ailments such as heart disease, stroke, [...]...
A Healthy Blog - Thu 3:14 p.m. - 3 clicks
So now, roughly five years after an FBI informant began taping Boston police officers regularly partying with "known drug dealers" and prostitutes; some four years after Roberto Pulido was caught on tape talking about supplying illegal steroids to other officers; three years after federal agents submitted affadavits claming that Pulido was paying off his department superi...
Talking Politics - Thu 1:58 p.m. - 2 clicks
Alas, just because I've devoted many electrons to City Councilor Chuck Turner I guess I need to keep it current. I'll minimize that. For those who thought he was loony, have no doubts now. If you have the stomach for it, read they whole Dorchester Reporter article on his latest here . The short of it is that Turner has said and written that he is the victim of a conspiracy ...
Marry in Massachusetts - Thu 1:58 p.m. - 5 clicks
I just love the title of this one: “Gov. Patrick’s chief of staff quitting” - when in fact Doug Rubin is stepping down to go back to playing a roll in the Governor’s reelection campaign, which he can’t do while working for the state. Ie moving from one job (the ......
Left In Lowell - Thu 1:58 p.m. - 2 clicks
California is not a shopoholic homemaker who bought too many shoes and lunches. The state is broke for fundamental reasons that are clear warnings to others. To torture and alter the analogy, California did not suddenly sink into the Pacific. It worked real hard to go underwater. Over at Salon , Gary Kamiya points his finger of blame largely at Republican and libertarian no-tax sorts. He ...
Marry in Massachusetts - Thu 11:40 a.m. - 2 clicks
Williamstown, MA - "Have Your Cake and Eat it, Too" at Northern Berkshire Creative Art's fifth anniversary fundraiser on Monday evening, July 13th, at Mezze Bistro + Bar and theBrowns in Williamstown. In keeping with the birthday theme, 50 artists......
Greylock News - Thu 11:39 a.m. - 5 clicks
This just in (email, no link): Governor Deval L. Patrick announced today that Arthur Bernard -- currently a Senior Advisor to the Governor -- has been appointed Chief of Staff in the Governor's office. Bernard will replace Doug Rubin who is leaving state government to join the Governor's re-election campaign. "Arthur has become one of my closest and most trusted advisors since joining th...
Blue Mass. Group - Thu 11:01 a.m. - 8 clicks
A major thunderstorm is chasing everyone home early to start the three-day holiday weekend -- any clever political strategists have some news they want to dump with little attention? Why, yes. Associated Press is reporting that Gov. Deval Patrick's chief of staff, Doug Rubin, will resign in the coming weeks. Rubin, top strategist in Patrick's '06 campaign, will now set up the p...
Talking Politics - Thu 10:44 a.m. - 6 clicks
Interesting, amusing video ad from Patrick Murphy’s city council campaign: (As a reminder, we have not yet endorsed anyone in the race.) ...
Left In Lowell - Thu 10:44 a.m. - 4 clicks
Has this to say about the Governor's eloquence or lack thereof: Communication is Obama’s great strength and Patrick’s great weakness. The Massachusetts governor is effective one-on-one. But, unlike Obama, he has trouble driving a cohesive political message and doesn’t seem to enjoy the mission. Untrue in my humble opinion, I've seen enough up close to decide that Governor Patrick is a very ef...
Chimes at Midnight - Thu 10:44 a.m. - 6 clicks
...in Facebook fans, that is. As of my current check, Tito Jackson has 1373 fans of his campaign's Facebook page, surpassing Andrew Kenneally (1148), Felix Arroyo (934), Ayanna Pressley (862). and John Connolly (787). Plus, I met Tito's mom, Rosa last night at his kick-off party. I wouldn't want to bet against any boy of hers. Even Stephen Murphy has got a Facebook group now...
Talking Politics - Thu 9:00 a.m. - 2 clicks
North Adams, MA - On Saturday, July 4 after the conclusion of the North Adams SteepleCats baseball game at approximately 9:30 pm, the city will host a fireworks display at the Noel Field Athletic Complex, visible from many parts of......
Greylock News - Thu 8:45 a.m. - 9 clicks
North Adams, MA - HERE. Sept 24 - October 25, 2009 @ Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Gallery 51, 51 Main St. North Adams In the upcoming exhibition, "HERE" artists are being asked to submit recent works that demonstrate the......
Greylock News - Thu 8:45 a.m. - 8 clicks
NORTH ADAMS, MA- Saturday, July 11, at 7:00 p.m. WordPlay, a monthly reading series co-sponsored by Inkberry and Papyri Books, will be held at Papyri Books, 45 Eagle Street. July's WordPlay will highlight the work of author Amy Stevens, who......
Greylock News - Thu 8:45 a.m. - 9 clicks
North Adams, MA - Widgitz gallery at 16 Eagle Street hosts Joey Mars in the exhibit "Freaks, Fungus and Felines," paintings and schwag, through August 30; artist reception is July 11 at 6 pm. Amanda Hartlage paintings are also featured.......
Greylock News - Thu 8:45 a.m. - 10 clicks
North Adams, MA - The Mettawee River Theater Company is staging a free performance for the whole family at Windsor Lake on Sunday, July 12 at 8 pm. The annual Eagle Street Beach will be held on Wednesday, July 15......
Greylock News - Thu 8:45 a.m. - 6 clicks
North Adams, MA - On July 4 at 2 pm at Western Gateway Heritage State Park Visitors Museum, the public is invited to a special program detailing the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence. To find out more......
Greylock News - Thu 8:45 a.m. - 6 clicks
NPR: Exhausted, confused and extremely frightened, Owen immediately ran to the safety of a giant tortoise when we released him in Haller Park. Mzee, our 130 year old tortoise, just happened to be nearby and he was very surprised by Owen's odd behavior cowering behind him as a baby hippo does to its mother. Mzee quickly came to terms with his new friend and even returned signs of affection...
Blue Mass. Group - Thu 8:44 a.m. - 2 clicks
Howie Carr's bizarre on-air rants against Tom Finneran are disturbing. What the Hell did Finneran ever do to him? Is Howie a self-hating Irish Catholic? To say Howie has 'no class" is a not only a huge understatement but an insult to the classless. Tom Finneran is not crooked. His friends and political enemies know this. Sal DiMasi is most likely a crook. But guess what? Nobody is surpr...
Blue Mass. Group - Thu 8:44 a.m. - 9 clicks
This is a fascinating video of President Lyndon Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act on July 2, 1964. Ten years earlier the United Sates Supreme Court in Brown v the Board of Education ruled that racially segregated schools were unconstitutional paving the way for this historic legislation. Johnson signed the bill at the White House [...]...
Richard Howe - Thu 5:03 a.m. - 2 clicks
Say what you will about Deval Patrick, his popularity and personality , but the guy doesn't seem afraid to take on the challenges . Jay Fitzgerald rightly suggests that Patrick seems to have a pinball approach to reforms -- although he would not have been the first governor to try to work with a Legislature before discovering they actually require gubernatorial subservience. Governors with a l...
Massachusetts Liberal - Thu 3:42 a.m. - 5 clicks
Just using my bully pulpit to Btch about an apparent drug deal that just went down in front of my house..conveniently, we live in a quiet, dead end street. The Dodge Durango drives up the street, turns around and parks diagonally from my driveway..the guy turns the Durango off, ......
Left In Lowell - Wed 7:58 p.m.
The Herald reports that reps are pissed at Speaker DeLeo and not afraid to say so . Could Deleo be a Pope John Paul I sort of thing? The beginnings of an insurrection? But who is the coup leader? ...
Blue Mass. Group - Wed 7:57 p.m. - 4 clicks
b"Syracuse, NY -- Lt. Dan Choi vowed Tuesday evening to fight to stay in the military after an Army board in Syracuse recommended he be the first person discharged from the New York National Guard for violating the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. A four-officer panel meeting at Hancock Air Base notified Choi at about 5 p.m. that it would recommend he be discharged because he has publicly said...
MichaelannLand - Wed 5:34 p.m. - 4 clicks
I've got to think it's tough for a campaign strategist when someone like me calls up and starts the conversation with: "I'm looking at the finance report and wondering why I should take your candidate seriously at this point." James Spencer gave me some A-plus spin, but the fact is that Sam Yoon raised just under $40,000 in June; he peaked with a $51k March and has declined...
Talking Politics - Wed 2:06 p.m. - 8 clicks
Painfully obvious, but not really used: My future State Politics Twitter items will be marked #BeaconHill -- others should use it, too. This will make Mass politics news much easier to find on Twitter. (I can't actually claim to be the first person to use it -- I'm the third, though the tag's only been used a handful of times, so I thought it could use a little plug.) ...
Ryan's Take - Wed 2:06 p.m.
Dear Members of BMG Community: The state budget recently passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor included a provision on tax credit transparency. This provision relates to specific credits, such as the historic preservation and film industry tax credits. These credits are refundable or transferrable, essentially acting as a state grant. But unlike typical grant programs, detai...
Blue Mass. Group - Wed 2:04 p.m.
In this week's issue of the Boston Phoenix -- in print tomorrow, online now -- I report that the City of Boston has paid $3.8 million to settle a civil lawsuit over the wrongful conviction of Anthony Powell. This is the third, and largest, recent settlement for the city's liability in a string of nine wrongful convictions discovered between 1999 and 2004; the total amount is now over $10...
Talking Politics - Wed 1:19 p.m. - 3 clicks
A heart-rending column today by Yvonne Abrams. The following quote is the point she tries to make, but it's actually the least significant part of her words -- how she got there is far more important. So, please read it. She's absolutely right about what will happen should we legalize slots. Like scratch tickets, slots are gaming’s crack. Just like the instant games that bring in 70 percent of ...
Ryan's Take - Wed 12:09 p.m. - 3 clicks
East Boston is protected by one less fire company today. The city has "browned out" Engine 56 , located on Ashley Street in Orient Heights, along with companies in Dorchester and South Boston, in accordance with its new policy to avoid paying overtime when a certain number of firefighters call in sick. It is unclear to me whether Ladder 21, which operates from the same firehouse, is still on dut...
The Hubster - Wed 11:28 a.m. - 5 clicks
If President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton are sincere in their professions of enthusiasm for democracy and popular rule, they should join every other state in the region and withdraw our ambassador from Honduras. They should also suspend all U.S. military aid to the country until its democratically elected president is restored. NYT reports: The United States, which provides millions...
Blue Mass. Group - Wed 11:04 a.m.
Following its passage by the House, we've been hearing this week what a disappointment Waxman-Markey is. Yes, many folks told us so beforehand. It's a vast legislative kludge, with giveaways and little legislative bribes galore. Guilty, guilty, guilty. From the standpoint of averting global climate catastrophe, there's one bottom line. When we have multiple bottom lines, things get m...
Blue Mass. Group - Wed 9:49 a.m. - 6 clicks
Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative: Help Begins Today The first of the new services promised under the settlement of the Rosie D v Romney lawsuit are being rolled out today. The suit, which was adjudicated in 2006, found that Massachusetts failed to provide community-based services for Medicaid-eligible children with severe emotional disturbance. Over the past few years, [...]...
A Healthy Blog - Wed 9:11 a.m. - 3 clicks
Jeff Jacoby once again rounds up whatever climate-change debunkery he finds floating in the conservative flotsam, and churns out a column scoffing at Al Gore. This should keep him in the good graces and high click-throughs in the right-wing blogosphere, but earns him another whacking from my little blog. To Jacoby's credit, he at least leaves out the current fave theory of the d...
Talking Politics - Wed 6:09 a.m.
good things come to them what waits and all like dat. With Franken in finally some of that centrist drift in the senate might move leftwards just a tad. And I'm also hoping against hope for a funny quotable Senator finally....the US House has Barney Frank...until now the Senate has had to get by with Robert Byrd's rustic witticisms. And let us not forget, Franken is a former radio talk show host...
Chimes at Midnight - Wed 6:08 a.m. - 8 clicks
Al Franken yesterday won a victory in the Minnesota Supreme Court in his long battle to be declared the winner of the closely fought Minnesota Senate race with Republican Norm Coleman. The Court victory prompted the incumbent Coleman to concede, and Governor Tim Pawlenty signed the documents necessary to certify ......
Bill Manzi - Wed 5:37 a.m.
State Senator Steven Baddour announced his support for mandatory road and vision tests for individuals who reach 85 in light of a series of recent crashes involving elderly drivers. Baddour indicated support for a bill filed by Senator Brian Joyce that would make road and vision testing mandatory for drivers ......
Bill Manzi - Wed 5:37 a.m. - 2 clicks
The Methuen School Committee passed their budget on Monday night, and we were able to bring back the two band positions that will allow us to continue the level of instruction that we give today. It was a difficult budget, and the huge economic downturn that has led to big ......
Bill Manzi - Wed 5:37 a.m. - 5 clicks
Today’s the new state fiscal new year, and lots of state laws take effect today. As of July 1st, the pharmaceutical and medical device industries will have to follow Massachusetts’ gifts ban and disclosure law. The text of regulation and FAQs can be found here. Not all drug and device marketing gifts to prescribers [...]...
A Healthy Blog - Wed 5:37 a.m. - 4 clicks
Just a non-political word to the wise, the new Firefox 3.5 browser released yesterday is worth the download. As Mozilla claims, it's clearly more than twice as fast as the old version. IE is slower as well as less safe. By the bye, I keep IE on my boxes. Some sites require it for full functionality. However, I don't frequent old-school, browser limited sites. Today's FT also got with the...
Marry in Massachusetts - Wed 3:57 a.m.
It's not often a resident of La Jolla, California drops by the Statehouse for a visit, let alone for the the unveiling of his portrait . But there he was, in a sight rarely seen in 2006 : Willard Mitt Romney, captured at his desk. Not working mind, just standing there. It's amazing he found his way to the office at all. It is rumored he did have a few problems because he kept making sharp r...
Massachusetts Liberal - Wed 3:41 a.m. - 4 clicks
Apparently Treasurer Tim wants us to think he's paying attention to his job after all. Cahill is blasting a Deval Patrick veto of $20 million to finance long-term borrowing, calling it "budgetary sleight of hand." Patrick says he is looking to save the state by using short-term financing now and then do the long-term borrowing in 2011. Cahill says with interest rates lower now, the move will c...
Massachusetts Liberal - Wed 2:38 a.m. - 5 clicks
I’ve been doing some thinking on the role of a University. Our conception of what it should be is very different from what it is in reality, at Brandeis but also most everywhere else. Professor Michael Wesch, a Cultural Anthropologist at Kansas State University put it very nicely a while ago: Some time ago we started [...]...
Innermost Parts - Tue 10:44 p.m. - 5 clicks
Though the calendar says that July is about to begin, I would swear it is October. Today I stopped by the beach (Shay's if you grew up here, Constitution if you didn't) and found the lifeguard chairs empty. There was no one there to guard. Some small children were in the play area, and three had ve...
The Hubster - Tue 5:50 p.m.
The right wing talking points writers have been hard at work today, declaring Democrats no longer have any excuses for doing what they want -- and by implication rolling over poor conservatives -- now that Al Franken has finally been declared the winner of the Minnesota Senate seat. Spin again. Does anyone remember the words of Will Rogers , offered almost 80 years ago? I am not a member o...
Massachusetts Liberal - Tue 5:06 p.m. - 3 clicks
Nearly eight months simmering, we finally have to give grudging thanks to ex-U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman for showing the kind of sense that Republicans claim but can't often show. He conceded last November's election to Al Franken when the Minnesota Supreme Court rang the gong on him . What this definitely does not mean is: Having a theoretical 60-vote margin in the Senate changes the game De...
Marry in Massachusetts - Tue 4:26 p.m. - 3 clicks
Boston City Councilor John Connolly has issued the following statement, in response to recent allegations made on a local blog : I am not now and never have been a member of the Tehran City Council, and to the best of my knowledge, I have never had a moustache. In response to Connolly's response, the Phoenix is calling on members of the public to forward any and all photogr...
Talking Politics - Tue 3:41 p.m. - 6 clicks
If there's one issue bringing people into Arise for Social Justice these days, it's housing. Today a Navy veteran with a nine year old autistic son needed some help in finding out where she is on the list for subsidized housing. She'd call HAP the other day but they misunderstood what she was asking and they told her they're not taking new applications because there's a ten year waiting list!...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m.
I've been trying to think what's held me back from blogging much this week. Of course I've been busy, but who isn't? Finally I came to the conclusion that there was so much I wanted to write about, so many extraordinary events, a kind of paralysis came over me-- I could never catch up. May 31: Doctor George Tiller, one of the few U.S. doctors to perform late-term abortions, was shot at hi...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m.
After I wrote about the rabbit, I went out back of the Arise office and noticed that one of the little ground-level apartments had a 3 by 5 elevated garden spot that had several iris plants surrounded by lots of weeds. I hollered hello through the back screen door, and a man answered. "Would you like a tomato plant for your little plot?" I asked. "We're giving them away." "Too late in the s...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m. - 2 clicks
On Thursday I, along with tens of thousands of residents, received a recorded call from the City of Springfield. Our records indicate you have a dog or dogs that have not been registered for 2009. This information is coming from your Veterinarian. Please register as soon as possible to avoid a late fee of $5.00 per month. You may also be accessed a late registration fee of $50.00. If you reg...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m. - 5 clicks
I received the following message from a Facebook group today with an action we can all take right now: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Troy Anthony Davis' appeal yesterday (June 25), and are expected to publicly announce the decision today or Monday June 29. If they rejected Troy's appeal, then the Savannah DA can sign a death warrant immediately. But Savannah DA Larry Chisolm also h...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m.
Got a call from Sasha, the tenant Arise is working with , about nine this morning. Seems the building's former owner had put a new lock on the kitchen door and was telling tenants a new lock would go on the front door, also, to which only she would have a key-- anybody who wanted in or out of the building would have to call her (she also lives there). Sasha said the woman's son had come ove...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m. - 2 clicks
The urban legend goes like this: back in the 70’s, the only decade in which I lived mostly away from Springfield , the welfare office was housed at the old King’s Plaza across from the Indian Motocycle building. Going there was a depressing experience—dingy, not enough chairs, not much real help available. The waiting room was separated from the administrative offices by an old-fas...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m. - 6 clicks
Funny and awful at the same time..President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has to resort to photophopping to make his crowd of supporters look bigger than it is! See Daily Kos for analysis and links. Atom ...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m.
I spent a fair amount of yesterday morning on the phone, calling different public officials about the proposed biomass plant for Springfield, and none of them mentioned-- in fact, I doubt they knew-- that the state Department of Energy Resources plans to commission a study to determine if Massachusetts' forests are up to meeting the needs of the three proposed WMA biomass plants. There's an a...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m. - 3 clicks
On Tuesday, June 16, I and my sister Liz, Arise's Economic Justice organizer, went to a public forum by the Springfield Area Sustainable Energy Association (SASEA) on the problems with a biomass plant proposed for Springfield by Palmer Paving. Only 30 people or so attended the forum at Western New England College, and only a few were actually from Springfield, MA-- but still, just possibly...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m. - 5 clicks
I received the following sad email this week: After thirty years of speaking art to power, the Northland Poster Collective will close its doors for the last time at the end of June. Founded in 1979 by activist artists, Northland has become an important source for art, slogans and cultural organizing experience for unions, grassroots activists and social justice movements. Much of their c...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m. - 2 clicks
Well, Springfield, we've got to catch up. Greenfield has some passionate environmentalists, but last night when the Greenfield Zoning Board didn't even want to hear from a resident who lives right across the street from the proposed plant, and has the police remove her, you know something's rotten. Mary Serreze has photos and an astounding audio file over on her blog. Give it a...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m. - 5 clicks
Just came from a rotten meeting-- the last of its kind I will have to attend, fortunately-- where I felt, as usual, unappreciated and unsupported. Usually this kind of stuff doesn't bother me, but seeing as this meeting was the culmination of two year's work, a kind word without prompting would have been appreciated. As I was packing up my car, a flash of brown caught my eye, and there it was...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m. - 2 clicks
Regarding Palmer Paving's proposed biomass plant.....just found out that the DEP issues a draft permit FIRST and THEN has an Air Quality hearing...still trying to find out the date of that hearing. The fellow I did speak to, expressing concern about the CO2 levels the plant will emit (seeing as we banned incinerator burning nearly twenty years ago) said it's a societal issue, a trade-off for o...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m.
A Rumi Poem How did you get away? You were the pet falcon of an old woman. Did you hear the falcon-drum? You were a drunken songbird put in with owls. Did you smell the odor of a garden? You got tired of sour fermenting and left the tavern. You went like an arrow to th...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m.
A couple of months ago a woman who had no place to live (we'll call her Sasha) came into Arise for Social Justice for some help and she got it-- Lamont happened to know about a room in a boarding house that fit her budget, and she moved in, very happy that the Worthington St. Shelter was not her next stop. Two days ago Sasha reappeared at Arise. Apparently the owner of the building had come ...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m. - 2 clicks
I watched two disaster movies recently, Armageddon and I ndependence Day , and I happened to notice that when the alien mother ships are destroyed in Independence Day and when the asteroid is blown to smithereens in Armageddon and when people all over the world celebrate, it is daylight everywhere at the same time: Egypt and Australia, Iceland and India, China and Peru: thus the glorious vic...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m.
Here we are, in the middle of the city. Are we weeds or wildflowers? Back of Arise Tomato plant among the iris Pink Thumb Nightshade Atom ...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m.
Picture of the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, Switzerland. Amazes me that we use using one the the world's largest objects-- the Collider, 17 miles in circumference- to watch what happens when some of the smallest objects-- protons-- smash into each other. The Collider was only on line for a week last September when it had a problem with two of its superconducting magnets, and isn't expec...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m.
Last Friday, 50 year-old Arthur D. Polier was found dead in a tent where he'd living with his girlfriend in a swampy section of Northampton. Police are saying he died of natural causes. What I guess we can say is that it's natural that a 50 year-old man living in a swamp on the edge of society, should die. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, The rates of both chroni...
MichaelannLand - Tue 3:08 p.m. - 6 clicks
We’re not much for talking products but found an exception today. Our podcast guest was Martin Langeveld, long-time newspaper publisher and principal of CircLabs. His group aims to increase online effectiveness of news organizations, beginning with newspapers. Their browser add-on software will go into beta soon. Circulate aims to alert us users to news we are [...]...
Left Ahead! - Tue 3:08 p.m.
John Connolly has put out a campaign-launch video . In it he says he's all about One Boston -- preferably one with good schools, safe streets, and lots of eco-friendliness. He stands in a classroom, so we know he's serious about the schools; maybe in the next video he'll drive a former gangbanger to school, in a hybrid vehicle. Whatever. I've got bigger fish to fry. ...
Talking Politics - Tue 1:20 p.m. - 3 clicks
In today's podcast , we chatted with Martin Langveld, one of four cofounders of CircLabs , a project called "Circulate" that's trying to create a model in which both newspapers could find more people willing to pay for online content, as well as (more importantly) a model to attract more targeted and better paying online ad revenue -- as well as interesting and compelling news for people to cons...
Ryan's Take - Tue 12:38 p.m.
Only 10 hours until HCFA ends its 2009 fiscal year. This is our last fundraising effort before July first and your final chance this year to support our work. We, like others in these difficult economic times, are struggling to meet our fundraising goals. In order to continue the important work we do and [...]...
A Healthy Blog - Tue 11:57 a.m. - 3 clicks
Kudos to the Governor and the Administration and Finance staff for the very informative “Health Care Policy Brief” issued along with the budget signing and vetoes today. The document has full details of the spending levels approved for MassHealth, Commonwealth Care and the Health Safety Net. For the wonks among us, there are detailed spending [...]...
A Healthy Blog - Tue 11:57 a.m.
Yesterday's the prez and the gays meeting went as most of us figured. Barack Obama said the LGBT community should relish advances in these first six month and expect to be delighted in the next 42. People still want to believe, but he makes us work for that. The Remarks: You can read the whole transcript over at Pam's House Blend here . Many supporters of civil rights in general and LGBT ...
Marry in Massachusetts - Tue 10:25 a.m.
At this early stage in the 2012 Presidential election cycle, I am updating my rankings every two months. (Click for previous rankings, end of December , end of February , and end of April .) So much can happen in two months! These are busy people: they reveal extramarital affairs; take jobs halfway around the world for the Democratic administration; get in fights with late-night talk-show h...
Talking Politics - Tue 9:26 a.m. - 4 clicks
The Boston Globe did a seven-part series last week called, " Failing our athletes: The sad state of sports in Boston Public Schools ." It was an in-depth look at an issue from many sides with dozens of interviews, several sidebars and online video clips. Back in the fall there was an investigative series called " Unhealthy System ," about Partners HealthCare's impact on health care in Massachusett...
The Hubster - Tue 6:38 a.m. - 3 clicks
We hesitate to bring more attention to something that pretty much didn’t make a ripple, but when the Herald picks up only the misleading part of a State House New Service story, leaving out our responses, and when right-wing blogs start spreading the news, it’s up to us provide fairness and balance. The issue is a [...]...
A Healthy Blog - Tue 6:20 a.m.
A new Rasmussen poll on the Massachusetts Governors race shows lingering political problems for Governor Deval Patrick, who trails Republican Christy Mihos in a head to head matchup. Governor Patrick has a 5 point edge over Republican Charlie Baker in a head to head matchup, but some of the underlying ......
Bill Manzi - Tue 6:04 a.m. - 9 clicks
freely call former "Incredible Hulk" star Lou Ferrigno "Lew Ferrigamo" to the actor's face twice in the same live interview about the late Michael Jackson's exercise habits. Ferrigno for his part had a somewhat pained look on his face that seemingly said "my ghod he IS as a dumb as they said!" King on the other hand dismissed his own gaffe by muttering "Well it is a tough name"... FERR-IG-NO...see...
Chimes at Midnight - Tue 3:43 a.m.
Give Deval Patrick credit for not dodging the question . But I can't see gasoline taxes going up anytime soon. The ugly reality of the state's fiscal 2010 budget is higher sales, meals and assorted other levies is there are insufficient funds for finding permanent solutions to the state's transportation problems. There won't be a massive hike in Mass. Pike tolls tomorrow but as a CharlieCard hol...
Massachusetts Liberal - Tue 3:25 a.m. - 6 clicks
Per one of the comments on my site, AG Martha Coakley estimated that a thousand -- yes, a thousand -- new state employees would be necessary to regulate the slot industry in Massachusetts. That's not going to be ripe for waste, greed and corruption, is it? All this reform effort can be thrown out the window if we allow the slot industry in. The industry lobbyists must be having themselves a r...
Ryan's Take - Tue 1:19 a.m. - 9 clicks
Being of a certain age, I grew up with Michael Jackson. I remember dancing with my cousin to the Jackson 5 for hours (ABC, it’s easy as 1,2,3) while choreographing our own elaborate steps and twirls. Michael, in particular, caught my imagination from the start. I watched with the world as his music evolved [...]...
Jackie Doherty - Mon 11:42 p.m.
Weird and perplexing argument coming from Senate President Murray in the SHNS (sorry, can't link to it) roundup today... SENATE PRES. SUGGESTS WIRETAPPING COULD BE PRECURSOR TO GAMING When Senate President Therese Murray explained why the Legislature declined to sanction wiretapping in an ethics, lobbying and campaign finance proposal unveiled Wednesday, she suggested the provision would be revis...
Ryan's Take - Mon 7:05 p.m.
The Governor took out his metaphorical veto pen today as he approved the state’s budget for fiscal year 2010. Saying, “Health care for all means health care for all,” at his press conference, the Governor proposed partially reversing the proposed cut to some 30,000 legal immigrants (listen Governor Patrick budget statement. Under the Massachusetts Constitution, the Governor [...]...
A Healthy Blog - Mon 7:04 p.m. - 7 clicks
Politics Magazine (formerly Campaigns & Elections) has a new monthly feature where they're naming the 100 most important political "influencers" in each state. They start this month with New Hampshire, and naturally turn to James Pindell, who knows all there is to know about NH politics. I compiled a similar list for my own purposes during the 2008 Presidential primary cycle. F...
Talking Politics - Mon 3:23 p.m. - 10 clicks
"Repealing the law will cause more people to leave the military than the law has." Sounds like a strong case for repealing it then, if it's leading to people who will only stay in the military if it continues to officially back their homophobia. Repeal it ASAP and get those homophobes away from the GLBT folks who are trying to serve our country. This is one very much needed step toward creating...
1 Smoot Short of a Bridge - Mon 3:22 p.m. - 2 clicks
Two weeks ago, I was in St. Louis for a friend's wedding. Getting married was one of my old high school crew. He lives over on the Illinois side of the river. We converged from disparate points around the country: Colorado, Massachusetts and Florida. I arrived on a Thursday afternoon and was picked up at the airport. The van load of us, five in all, immediately went to the Schlafly Taproom downt...
Flash & Yearn - Mon 8:02 a.m. - 6 clicks
My guess is, taxes, public ethics and maybe local aid will be the big issues in next year's gubernatorial campaign. None of them advantage the democrats though, so what else is new? I expect Governor Patrick will be defending the sales tax increase from now until next November and beyond, he'd best sharpen up his rhetorical arsenal in that respect. If I was the Governor I'd adopt a truculent Harry...
Chimes at Midnight - Mon 6:34 a.m. - 7 clicks
BETWEEN SOUTH ACTON AND WEST CONCORD -- I never take the commuter rail. I work in Marlboro and usually drive into the city or at least as far as Alewife if I need to go to Boston. But I have continuing ed classes today and tomorrow starting at 9:00 and the Fitchburg line schedule matches up pretty closely, so I decided to ditch the car and ride the train in. This is the first time I've ever taken ...
No Drumlins - Mon 5:26 a.m. - 6 clicks
I’ve been neglecting the Tweets! # Today’s GOTTA be the day the MNSC rules on #mncontest. Please? # MPLS Star Tribune has their graphics all ready for a ruling: http://is.gd/1d6mU They know something we don’t know? # I feel similarly about MJ’s death as I did about Kirby Puckett’s. Icon/idol in my youth…crashed hard…tragic end… # “Bad” w...
View from the 'Bridge - Mon 3:25 a.m. - 2 clicks
Here's a short and simple solution to the air pollution problem: cap and trade the words of politicians who spew on endless about taxes without considering -- or even denying -- the real impact of pollution on the world's climate. I hereby bestow the first cap on House Republican Leader John Boehner , who it was reported, spent more than an hour bloviating by reading an amendment. I still think...
Massachusetts Liberal - Mon 3:25 a.m.
Warning: Republicans are heading for a major crackup. The Piety Police appear intent on holding the reins which means the last man standing in 2012 may just well be -- our (former) Man Mitt. And the one-time Massachusetts resident is doing all he can to attain the top spot, becoming a regular fixture on the Sunday yak shows, offering his bon mots on what Right-thinking people should be thinking....
Massachusetts Liberal - Mon 3:25 a.m. - 4 clicks
This is just a pointer to Frank Rich's excellent 40 Years Later, Still Second-Class Americans on this morning's NYT op-ed page. He writes clearly — and maybe just a bit too gently — what many of us have been saying in our own corners. His Stonewall think piece concludes that it is well past time for the President to show some commitment to gay rights, a.k.a. civil rights for homosexuals. T...
Marry in Massachusetts - Mon 3:25 a.m.
While much is made rightfully over incumbents' advantage, we focus too much on war chests and too little on incessancy. Likewise, we can appreciate the detailed reporting in today's Boston Globe on Mayor Tom Menino's fund-raising advantage . Yet, his handshake total is surely more significant. Neither City Councilor challenger, Michael Flaherty nor Sam Yoon , is shy. They both go to many pu...
Marry in Massachusetts - Mon 3:25 a.m. - 4 clicks
A few, it seems, are not content to rend their garments over the disease and death of American newspapers. Over at Left Ahead!, we'll chat with one on Tuesday. It’s on beyond hand wringing for newspapers. Our guest on Tuesday, June 30th, describes an aggressive program to test and prove ways to keep news gathering alive. Martin Langeveld is one of the four founders of CircLabs heading this pr...
Marry in Massachusetts - Mon 3:25 a.m.
For sometime I’ve felt that some of the best novelists writing in English are Indians. Just as the Irish dominated English literature in the early part of the 20th century, with Yeats, Joyce and Shaw, I feel that Indian writers are using the English language to advance literature, to make the novel [...]...
Jackie Doherty - Mon 3:25 a.m. - 2 clicks
Six years ago today, I woke up at the Holiday Inn in Springfield. A number of us drove down to Forest Park, where I listened to "Fishing in the Morning" by Dar Williams. The grass was so green and the skies, as I remember them, were blue. My brothers, my cousins, and the old high school crew and I played wiffle ball. Brother-in-law L. had the unfortunate draw of being with the groom and the old ti...
Flash & Yearn - Mon 3:25 a.m. - 3 clicks
While at Willits-Hollowell yesterday, I saw a copy of the July Preview Massachusetts magazine. In it was my story on the Williamstown Theatre Festival's world premiere production of Jonathan Marc Sherman's new play, Knickerbocker . I'm pretty excited about it, because Sherman, like me, is a new dad and his play is about a father expecting his first child. I got to interview Sherman and we t...
Flash & Yearn - Mon 3:25 a.m. - 2 clicks
I've always been a fan of local voices and personalities in the newspaper. These days, I think one of the best things the Recorder has going for it is Gary Sanderson's column. Sanderson's column is ostensibly an outdoors column and it runs on the sports page. He does write a lot about taking his hunting dogs out, about about deer kills, and his deep skepticism of the salmon restoration program, ...
Flash & Yearn - Jun 26
"Matt" asks: What's voter turnout going to be in the Mayoral/Council preliminary election? Final? Jeez, I don't know. I'll say a little under 100,000 for the prelim, and a little over 100,000 for the final. Why can't there be more Michael Jackson questions? Seriously though, I appreciate all the queries. Keep 'em coming! ...
Talking Politics - Jun 26 - 3 clicks
Using stupid nicknames just makes the user look stupid. Anyone who calls her "Ka-Ching" Murray or him "Cadillac" Deval is demanding to be laughed at. Similarly, anyone who calls Tim Cahill not a Democrat just because of a difference of opinion is a risible, as well. Especially since our platform is now so meaningless that Cahill can say pretty much whatever he wants and still fit into our pla...
Quriltai on the Shore - Jun 26 - 4 clicks
It’s on beyond hand wringing for newspapers. Our guest on Tuesday, June 30th, describes an aggressive program to test and prove ways to keep news gathering alive. Martin Langeveld is one of the four founders of CircLabs heading this project. Mild disclaimer: I attended high school with Langeveld and the woman he would marry. We have [...]...
Left Ahead! - Jun 26
Re John Ensign and Mark Sanford: As bare-your-soul-about-baring-your-body press conferences go, Sanford’s was one for the ages. And now, having watched it in its entirety, I have a confession of my own to make. No, no, not that kind of confession. Just this: I don’t care that much. Not beyond the hypocrisy, which is admittedly delicious to point out. The real problem isn't hypocrisy, it is...
Chimes at Midnight - Jun 26
Note to readers : I write the following because Barrow is set to appear in a hearing on casinos at the State House on Monday -- a hearing that follows the lengthy pattern of drumming out almost all the opposition in favor of bringing in a carefully selected group of industry "experts," including six of the eight people invited to Sen. Spilka's hearing. Even in all my fascination with the UMAS...
Ryan's Take - Jun 26
"Mike" asks: Michael Flaherty has gone through somewhat of a political makeover recently. He flipped his position on open government, the BU biolab, funding for street workers, charter schools, etc. Will he be able to reinvent himself successfully as a progressive? I think this is a little unfair, but certainly Flaherty has, shall we say, "adapted" in some ways to fit t...
Talking Politics - Jun 26
"Mer" asks: Is Charlie Baker running for governor, and if not, who is the next best hope for the GOP in 2010? I have no special insight into Baker's brain, but from people I've spoken with I get the impression that he is serious in his interest. I'm guessing that he ultimately does not run -- especially if Tim Cahill really looks like he's running as an independen...
Talking Politics - Jun 26
In a great little read about geopolitical history titled Who Hates Whom , the author Bob Harris repeatedly references major events that were underreported because they occurred around the time of the death of Anna Nicole Smith. I frankly think that the Iranian Revolution may be headed in this direction. Of course, the brave protesters in Iran don't need any external help, and most of the dyna...
Quriltai on the Shore - Jun 26
Let's take today to remember a truly great musician. A man of great honor, talent, and principle. A man whose death reminds us just how fleeting the best things in life can be. I speak of course of the legendary D. Boon , singer and guitarist for the Minutemen . He died in an auto accident in 1985. In memorial, here's an old, grainy video of the Minutemen performing "Political Song for Michael...
Progressive Fitchburg - Jun 26
So Mark Sanford, that staunch defender of the family values and taxpayers used a public-financed trip to Argentina to visit lover? I guess I now understand why he was against taking federal stimulus dollars this year. He already got his. More blogs about Politics . var sc_project=1947180; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_partition=17; var sc_security="083b12b0"; ...
Massachusetts Liberal - Jun 26
Thankfully the Supreme Court showed some common sense in the decision released yesterday ruling that a 2003 strip search of a middle-school student violated her Fourth Amendment rights . When I saw reports on this case being argued a few months ago, I thought it was outrageous and that only an idiot would think that the school officials acted reasonably and legally. Well, the Court's ruling was a...
The Hubster - Jun 26
"Peabody Square voter" asks: How do you decide which posts get published and which ones don't? I commented on your at-large council candidates wrap-up, and never saw it on the blog. Just wondering. I occassionally hear from people that their posts don't appear, and I have no idea why that is or how often it happens. I don't believe they're being screen...
Talking Politics - Jun 26 - 3 clicks
The Quality and Cost Council held its annual meeting yesterday in Shrewsbury, MA. A good crowd turned out for the event which included a keynote address by Cathy Schoen from The Commonwealth Fund and a responding panel made up of Senator Richard Moore; Dr. Charlotte Yeh, formerly of CMS and now with AARP Services, Inc.; [...]...
A Healthy Blog - Jun 26 - 7 clicks
Nearly 100 consumers, advocates, medical experts, healthcare professionals and legislators gathered at the State House on Tuesday morning to testify before the Joint Committee on Public Health on bills relating to patient safety, malpractice and medical errors prevention and reporting. During the three hour hearing, many of those in attendance testified in support of the three [...]...
A Healthy Blog - Jun 26
I have a question for Wrentham Republican state Sen. Scott Brown in his declaration of pique over Gov. Deval Patrick laying claim to action on ethics, transportation and pension reform: “He’s going to have a press conference saying how he’s done all this wonderful work,’’ Brown said on the Senate floor before yesterday’s event. “It wasn’t him. It’s us.’’ By "us" do you mean former Speaker ...
Massachusetts Liberal - Jun 26 - 5 clicks
I have the perfect solution for Wall Street's reported desire to clean up its image against "populist" backlash. Persuade Oliver Stone to rewrite the script for Wall Street 2 so that someone knocks off Gordon Gekko. Bloomberg News reports the same folks who advised former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson (you know the guy who wanted to spend $700 billion of our cash with no oversight) are...
Massachusetts Liberal - Jun 26
With the news this evening that the Governor will sign the sales tax increase as part of the budget package, due to be signed Monday, the likelihood of the Governor finding budget savings by vetoing spending for MassHealth adult dental coverage lessened substantially. Still, the threat is there. The Governor’s revised budget submission called for [...]...
A Healthy Blog - Jun 25
On the Boston Globe homepage today I looked at an image that gave me chills. A small piece of Massachusetts is going into the sea. I don't have any permissions on the photo so you'll have to go and look at the story over there yourself: In Chatham, an austere utopia yields to a relentless tide ...
DailyKos (Massachusetts) - Jun 25 - 4 clicks
The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a hearing Wednesday afternoon on several bills including one of the ACT!! Coalition’s priority bills on health care affordability. An Act Relative to Health Care Affordability Shanna Shulman, Director of Policy and Research at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts presented data relevant to S. [...]...
A Healthy Blog - Jun 25 - 6 clicks
The Public Health Council led by Commissioner John Auerbach met the morning of Wednesday, June 25th to discuss and vote on a host of public health issues and regulations. The meeting began with a discussion to codify a definition of the term “Public Health Provider” that would allow residents of the Commonwealth to choose [...]...
A Healthy Blog - Jun 25 - 2 clicks
I'm just wondering if you've finally decided to allow your workers to receive state help in retraining -- or if you're going to continue to toy with their lives in your attempt to control the public debate by using their very plight to attempt to further your last-gasp attempts at profiteering? Thanks, Ryan ...
Ryan's Take - Jun 25
There's an interesting article in the S&E today about high absentee rates in Leominster schools. This is most likely an outbreak of swine flu/H1N1, but it seems as if those quoted in the article are reluctant to admit it. Let's look at the article. A large number of students have been out sick at Fall Brook Elementary School over the past week, but there have been no confirmed cases of swine...
Progressive Fitchburg - Jun 25 - 6 clicks
Do you think America needs better public transportation? Me too, but our local, state, and federal governments lack the vision to plan it and the political will to fund it. I’m not talking about maintaining current service levels during the recession, nor am I referring to a 10 or 20 percent increase in funding. I’m [...]...
Innermost Parts - Jun 25 - 2 clicks
Mark Sanford, the adulterous wandering wowser-governor of South Carolina can even showboat shamelessly as he confesses publicly to a tawdry affair with some bint from Argentina. We are maybe only minutes away from the requisite cheesecake photos of his mistress rocketing around the internet like corn thru a goose. I am past trying to affix the tag of hypocrisy to these yaps, hypocrisy presumes s...
Chimes at Midnight - Jun 25 - 2 clicks
The Sacred Heart Festival takes place this weekend, with music, food and games on the schedule. This is the third year for this event, which is held behind Sacred Heart church, located on Brooks Street between Paris and Morris streets. The festival runs Friday from 6 to 11 p.m. and Saturday from 4 to 11 p.m. "Disco Diva" Evelyn Champagne King is the featured musical guest on Saturday evening. The...
The Hubster - Jun 25
Back in the old days, academics made careers out of watching who lined up with the Soviet leaders during military parades and funerals. Kreminology turned out to be a dead end business. These days, the next best thing may be Golden Domeology -- reading the signs and symbols among our less than happy family of Statehouse leaders. While it's hard to say at first blush whether the ethics refor...
Massachusetts Liberal - Jun 25
It seems Treasurer Tim has been spending so much time telling everyone else how to do their jobs, he's neglected to do his own. The new state budget already has a $25 million hole in it, thanks to Cahill, who failed to tell lawmakers that an agreement to bring Massachusetts in the Powerball lottery failed to materialize. The Herald has the luscious details, including the fact that Cahill was al...
Massachusetts Liberal - Jun 25 - 3 clicks
