I just came from the Joyce Kilmer School, scratching my civic duty itch for the year. As usual, the above law (MGL Chapter 54, Section 65) was being flouted. I've said something in the past to the offenders, but I didn't bother this year, because they all seemed friendly enough, and no one was too aggressive.
Is this normal at all city polling places? Does everyone gather as close to the door as they can reasonably get without blocking it? Was I wrong to not mention this to the cop at the checkout desk inside? Would he have even done anything?
Oh well. Let it be known that an annoying sign-holder at a voting station is as likely to make me not vote for someone as anonymous attack mailers. (And to the Stephen Murphy supporter, I'd rather a pen than a pencil, but thanks anyway.)
]]>I just came from the Joyce Kilmer School, scratching my civic duty itch for the year. As usual, the above law (MGL Chapter 54, Section 65) was being flouted. I've said something in the past to the offenders, but I didn't bother this year, because they all seemed friendly enough, and no one was too aggressive.
Is this normal at all city polling places? Does everyone gather as close to the door as they can reasonably get without blocking it? Was I wrong to not mention this to the cop at the checkout desk inside? Would he have even done anything?
Oh well. Let it be known that an annoying sign-holder at a voting station is as likely to make me not vote for someone as anonymous attack mailers. (And to the Stephen Murphy supporter, I'd rather a pen than a pencil, but thanks anyway.)
]]>Its been years since I read the Sunday Comics with any regularity, but I still check it out every once in a while to make sure Janis didn't leave Arlo or anything crazy like that. (I recommend F Minus, my current favorite Globe comic.) Today, though, the Globe made the brave editorial decision to not print a certain comic, and instead replace it with an oldie from 2004. The comic's offense? A horrendous attack on all that Muslims around the world hold dear.
]]>Its been years since I read the Sunday Comics with any regularity, but I still check it out every once in a while to make sure Janis didn't leave Arlo or anything crazy like that. (I recommend F Minus, my current favorite Globe comic.) Today, though, the Globe made the brave editorial decision to not print a certain comic, and instead replace it with an oldie from 2004. The comic's offense? A horrendous attack on all that Muslims around the world hold dear.
Well, maybe not everything they hold dear. Or maybe it doesn't really have anything to do with Islam at all. Maybe the comic actually makes fun of Americans and the way we view religions, and how we can often use religious belief for whatever we want, correct or incorrect. But really, in this post-9/11 world, can we possibly afford to take any chance that could cause the outbreak of massive holy wars and potentially Armageddon? We should all thank the Globe for keeping us safe, and shielding us from any possible affront to our sensibilities. Especially in the Sunday Comics.
I will give you the link of the offending comic, but I must advise you to steel yourself against the rage you will no doubt feel while digesting the heresy of Berkeley Breathed. Here is the wretched blasphemy: http://www.salon.com/comics/opus/2007/08/26/opus/
Here is what the Globe printed today: http://www.cartoonistgroup.com/store/add.php?iid=8948
I think we can all say for sure that the world is a better place today because of the protection the Globe affords us on the comic pages. Thank you, Boston Globe, for your brave stand against potentially offensive humor!
]]>Years pass, priests come and go (mostly go, with the priest shortage and all), and stories start to come out. We know a good deal of the Fr. Ward story, but nowhere near the whole story. We've heard about the child pornography found on the computer, with the adjective "extensive" thrown in for an amount. We know the church knew he was into coke by 1995, at the latest. We know a local man claimed to be touched by Ward while at Our Lady of the Presentation in Brighton in the mid-late 70's. We know about his stay at the Lahey Clinic, and a few other details about his final years in the service of the Church.
]]>Years pass, priests come and go (mostly go, with the priest shortage and all), and stories start to come out. We know a good deal of the Fr. Ward story, but nowhere near the whole story. We've heard about the child pornography found on the computer, with the adjective "extensive" thrown in for an amount. We know the church knew he was into coke by 1995, at the latest. We know a local man claimed to be touched by Ward while at Our Lady of the Presentation in Brighton in the mid-late 70's. We know about his stay at the Lahey Clinic, and a few other details about his final years in the service of the Church.
Now, I wonder what other stories are still out there. Specifically, I'm wondering about the cancer that we all heard about and were concerned about years ago. I'm not much of a praying guy, but I know that many, many people in the area prayed for his health, and that he would beat the Big C. (The Church bulletin even had a note from Fr. Helmick about praying for Fr. Ward and his cancer.) Now, my understanding is that there never was any cancer at all, and that he was away being treated for other things, for which people may have been less sympathetic. I can't say I'm shocked, because nothing is shocking about this guy anymore. However, I wonder what other stories are still out there.
Anyone have any new info about Father Ward? Old info that maybe most do not know? Even fun stories about the "good" Father Ward, from church events or the Variety Show, even? Please share.
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