Tom Menino on today's NRA call for armed guards in every school:

There is an outpouring of voices demanding real change to make our communities safer. Clearly the NRA's leadership is not one of them. What they announced today is not a plan, but a ploy to bring more guns into our neighborhoods. I don't believe the answer to gun violence is more guns. The American people are tired of the same buzzwords and rhetoric that have moved this debate nowhere and put lives at risk. It's time for a common sense national gun policy. It's time to take action on background checks, assault weapons, high capacity magazines, missing mental health records and closing private sales loopholes. There is so much work to do; we don't have time for rehashed and tired ideas. The American people and the families of the 34 people killed every day by gun violence demand nothing less.

Stephen M. photographs the remains of the door at 125 High St.

Mayor Menino plans to ask the state legislature for permission to eliminate the current limit on BPS charter schools - which could mean ceding day-to-day operations to private non-profit groups - and give them the right to serve only particular zones, rather than having to accept students from across the city.

In a sweeping proposal that would also let the city extend hours and and send more resources to schools that are only almost failing, the mayor proposes requiring all charter schools - including those not overseen at all by the city - to set aside seats for students with disabilities and students whose first language is not English. He says this would "level the playing field" between city schools and private charter schools.

"For years, I've worked with my partners on Beacon Hill to advance important education reforms and it's time again to push the envelope when it comes to education reform in Massachusetts," Menino said in a statement.

Menino would require legislative action to create more "in-house" charter schools, such as the UP Academy Charter School of Boston, which is run by a non-profit group that is being given control of the Marshall School in Dorchester, with the promise of longer school days and higher standards. The proposed legislation would also remove Boston Teachers Union say on their charter renewals.

His proposal would also give the city the ability to send extra help to and set longer hours at more schools than currently allowed - from deeply troubled schools to moderately troubled schools. About half the city's schools would fall into this new category.

Brad Kelly reports on the Yume Wo Katare ramen bar, which replaced Zing Pizza:

This place is a foreign country. They have two items: A massive bowl of noodles with pork and a massive bowl of noodles with more pork.

See it larger for part of the window flow chart that helps you determine whether you need pork ramen or should just come back another time:

When your ramen is ready, the chef will ask "NINNIKU IREMASUKA?" This means "Do you want garlic?" This is when you can ask for extra garlic or extra pork fat (ahura).

Copyright Brad Kelly. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.