The Massachusetts Oyster Project reports on the differing conditions and growths on the oyster-filled crates they are putting in the harbor to try to restore the bivalves (and help clean up the harbor):

... We have also seen cages coated with jellied masses that the dock hands refer to as sea onions. So we are learning that there is much more going on than meets the eye. There can be silt, rock or sand floor, salty or brackish water and differing currents. Fortunately, we are seeing that the oyster is fairly versatile and our survival data for oysters in cages is very good. ...

Jeff Egnaczyk lives in Brookline and works in Natick, and he raves about the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority's Green Line shuttle bus from Woodland. Not only does it save him $76 a month over his old route (C line to Copley, commuter rail to Natick, Natick Neighborhood Bus to work), it runs more frequently and:

MWRTA customer service is light years ahead of the MBCR.

Greg Cook, at the New England Journal of Aesthetic Research, posts a manifesto on ghastly public art and asks for your nominations:

... We also believe that public art - even works we hate - should be given a chance. Years. Sometimes it takes a while for something to grow on you. Sometimes it takes a while just to figure something out. Sometimes something that looked cool at first becomes trite. Or it breaks down.

But we believe that after giving public art a fair shot, the public has the right to impeach bad public art. We don't mean for bad public art to be destroyed. Just removed. Perhaps some other community would benefit from some quality time with it. And new public art should take the place of the impeached work. ...

He'll then put the choices to a vote and lead a campaign to get the absolute worst piece removed from the public eye.

The Herald reports on the proposal for two 15-story apartment and office towers by Samuels & Associates, which also built the Trilogy and 1330 Boylston projects.