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  <title>Universal Hub blogs</title>
  <subtitle>All Boston, all the time</subtitle>
  <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.universalhub.com/blog"/>
  <link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.universalhub.com/blog/atom/feed"/>
  <id>http://www.universalhub.com/blog/atom/feed</id>
  <updated>2008-03-06T13:58:37-05:00</updated>
  <entry>
    <title>Did You Wear Your Sweaters Today?</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.universalhub.com/node/13542" />
    <id>http://www.universalhub.com/node/13542</id>
    <published>2008-03-20T13:13:00-04:00</published>
    <updated>2008-03-20T13:13:00-04:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>Suldog</name>
    </author>
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p>Just wondering how many of you knew it was <i>Won't You Wear A Sweater Day?</i></p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVeyLr2fGNA?">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVeyLr2fGNA?</a></p>
<p>(I know this isn't Boston-centric, but Fred Rogers is such a huge hero of mine, I'd feel remiss if I didn't mention it.)</p>
<p>And, of course, here's my usual self-serving link. It's my tribute to the man, with a special offer for something free:</p>
<p><a href="http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com/2008/03/birthdays.html">http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com/2008/03/birthdays.html</a></p>
<p>The offer is for real.</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p>Just wondering how many of you knew it was <i>Won't You Wear A Sweater Day?</i></p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVeyLr2fGNA?">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVeyLr2fGNA?</a></p>
<p>(I know this isn't Boston-centric, but Fred Rogers is such a huge hero of mine, I'd feel remiss if I didn't mention it.)</p>
<p>And, of course, here's my usual self-serving link. It's my tribute to the man, with a special offer for something free:</p>
<p><a href="http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com/2008/03/birthdays.html">http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com/2008/03/birthdays.html</a></p>
<p>The offer is for real.</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Games for Justice</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.universalhub.com/node/13509" />
    <id>http://www.universalhub.com/node/13509</id>
    <published>2008-03-18T19:36:28-04:00</published>
    <updated>2008-03-19T10:04:53-04:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>Socializing4Justice</name>
    </author>
    <category term="Boston" />
    <category term="Entertainment" />
    <category term="Politics" />
    <category term="Relationships" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p></p>
<p></p><P><B>Are you looking for like-minded progressives to hang out with in Boston?</b> Want to cross-promote your events and campaigns over a game of Scrabble? Are you new to the area and looking for groups to get involved in? Are you psyched about building strong cross-issue coalitions while playing Cranium?</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p></p>
<p></p><P><B>Are you looking for like-minded progressives to hang out with in Boston?</b> Want to cross-promote your events and campaigns over a game of Scrabble? Are you new to the area and looking for groups to get involved in? Are you psyched about building strong cross-issue coalitions while playing Cranium?</p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P>Join Socializing for Justice at Bagels Plus Cafe for <B>Games for Justice on Sunday, March 30th, 2008 at 3PM.</b></p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P><I>No program. No speaker. Just arrive and enjoy yourself.</i> </p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P><B>RSVP</b>  at <A href="http://www.sojust.org/">www.sojust.org</a> -<I>newcomers always welcome!</i></p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P>Join us at Bagels Plus (also known as Black Seed Cafe &amp; Grill) for Games for Justice. Bring your favorite board game or just show up to play with someone else. </p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P>At Socializing for Justice (SoJust) events you can hang out with friends, make new ones, find a date, get the scoop on a job, and find out what's going on this weekend - political or social. And the best part is that SoJust members share your vision of building a more just world.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P>If you're involved with a group or project and want to spread the word <B>bring flyers to share</b> - and there'll be lots of opportunity to schmooze and network in between rounds of Boggle.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P>Bagels Plus Cafe is at 131 Tremont Street in Boston. It is near the Park Street Stop on the Red/Green Lines and the Downtown Crossing Stop on the Orange Line.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P>Fee: $2 to cover group expenses. </p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P><B>From our FAQs:</b> <BR /></p>
<p><I>"It's not very easy for me to meet new people and I'm not really one for small talk."</i> <BR />We hear you. That's why at SoJust events, in addition to traditional name tags, we have "Ask Me About" and "Looking For" tags. That way you can slap whatever you're into lately up on your shirt and wait for fellow SoJusters to approach you. These seem to do the trick of moving past the basic "where do you live? what do you do for work?" questions to conversations that lead to more substantial connections.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P><I>"What actually happens at events?"</i> <BR /></p>
<p>You'll always be greeted by friendly folks who can help get you socializing, introduce you to people, and chat with you about questions or wishes. It's likely a few people will be there promoting their campaigns and issues (<I>yes, SoJust welcomes that sort of behavior</i>). At our bigger events, there's always a literature table to toss down flyers, postcards, and other paraphenalia about events around town. Most importantly, we can pretty much guarantee there will be someone there you've never met before. As one of our members said, "You are bringing together people who might never get together otherwise - if that ain't a step towards justice I don't know what is."</p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P><B>Wanna know more about SoJust?</b> Check out our <A href="http://sojust.meetup.com/1/messages/boards/view/viewthread?thread=3187615">Frequently Asked Questions </a>and <A href="http://sojust.meetup.com/1/photos/">Event Photos</a>.</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Boston Red Sox preview: Offense</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.universalhub.com/node/13508" />
    <id>http://www.universalhub.com/node/13508</id>
    <published>2008-03-18T19:28:14-04:00</published>
    <updated>2008-03-18T23:35:54-04:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>dsg29</name>
    </author>
    <category term="Sports" />
    <category term="Boston Red Sox" />
    <category term="lineup" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p><a href="http://eltiante.blogspot.com/2008/03/2008-red-sox-preview-offense.html">http://eltiante.blogspot.com...sox-preview-offense.html</a></p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p><a href="http://eltiante.blogspot.com/2008/03/2008-red-sox-preview-offense.html">http://eltiante.blogspot.com...sox-preview-offense.html</a></p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>2008 Red Sox preview:  Defense</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.universalhub.com/node/13507" />
    <id>http://www.universalhub.com/node/13507</id>
    <published>2008-03-18T19:26:27-04:00</published>
    <updated>2008-03-18T19:26:27-04:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>dsg29</name>
    </author>
    <category term="Sports" />
    <category term="Boston Red Sox" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p><a href="http://eltiante.blogspot.com/2008/03/2008-red-sox-preview-defense.html">http://eltiante.blogspot.com/2008/03/2008-red-sox-preview-defense.html</a></p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p><a href="http://eltiante.blogspot.com/2008/03/2008-red-sox-preview-defense.html">http://eltiante.blogspot.com/2008/03/2008-red-sox-preview-defense.html</a></p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Red Sox 2008 Preview: No Schill, Sherlock</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.universalhub.com/node/13506" />
    <id>http://www.universalhub.com/node/13506</id>
    <published>2008-03-18T19:22:12-04:00</published>
    <updated>2008-03-18T19:22:12-04:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>dsg29</name>
    </author>
    <category term="Sports" />
    <category term="Boston Red Sox" />
    <category term="pitching" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p><a href="http://eltiante.blogspot.com/2008/02/no-schill-sherlock.html">http://eltiante.blogspot.com/2008/02/no-schill-sherlock.html</a></p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p><a href="http://eltiante.blogspot.com/2008/02/no-schill-sherlock.html">http://eltiante.blogspot.com/2008/02/no-schill-sherlock.html</a></p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Acela hits workers, killing one</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.universalhub.com/node/13406" />
    <id>http://www.universalhub.com/node/13406</id>
    <published>2008-03-13T16:21:01-04:00</published>
    <updated>2008-03-13T21:16:26-04:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>oddjob60</name>
    </author>
    <category term="Breaking news" />
    <category term="The T" />
    <category term="Amtrak" />
    <category term="commuter rail" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p>An Acela train hit three workers this afternoon just south of Providence, according to ProJo.com. One worker died. </p>
<p>Of secondary importance, runs on the Providence line are ending at South Attleboro, with buses to Providence.</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p>An Acela train hit three workers this afternoon just south of Providence, according to ProJo.com. One worker died. </p>
<p>Of secondary importance, runs on the Providence line are ending at South Attleboro, with buses to Providence.</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Mumbles: the light works fine in my office...</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.universalhub.com/node/13383" />
    <id>http://www.universalhub.com/node/13383</id>
    <published>2008-03-12T16:25:02-04:00</published>
    <updated>2008-03-12T17:16:56-04:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>Brett</name>
    </author>
    <category term="Boston" />
    <category term="Media" />
    <category term="Politics" />
    <category term="Boston Metro" />
    <category term="Tom Menino" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p>In this week's installment of <A href="http://www.metrobostonnews.com/us/article/2007/09/25/19/3340-72/index.xml">Metro Moments with Menino</a>, a reader from Davis Square says a cabbie refused him a ride home.  When he called the hotline to report it, it was down.  Menino responds with "thanks for complaining.  We 'looked into it' and you're wrong, but if you're right, we're sorry" routine:</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p>In this week's installment of <A href="http://www.metrobostonnews.com/us/article/2007/09/25/19/3340-72/index.xml">Metro Moments with Menino</a>, a reader from Davis Square says a cabbie refused him a ride home.  When he called the hotline to report it, it was down.  Menino responds with "thanks for complaining.  We 'looked into it' and you're wrong, but if you're right, we're sorry" routine:</p>
<blockquote><p>I want to thank you for alerting us and assure you that the 617-536-TAXI (8294) number does in fact work. I apologize if the number was not working the night of your incident, but the number was checked and it is working properly.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Also: the Mayor gracefully defends the arcane parking rules of Beacon St, where spaces go from metered public to free residential-only and rules aren't programmed into the meters,  or marked on them.  Scott from Waltham: good luck with that ticket, and beware that even if you get the ticket dismissed, you'll probably get still get stuck with an "administrative" fee.</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>The British Are Coming!</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.universalhub.com/node/13372" />
    <id>http://www.universalhub.com/node/13372</id>
    <published>2008-03-12T09:01:06-04:00</published>
    <updated>2008-03-12T13:04:39-04:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>pierce</name>
    </author>
    <category term="Boston" />
    <category term="Entertainment" />
    <category term="Film" />
    <category term="movie" />
    <category term="office" />
    <category term="ricky gervais" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p>Boston is roughly halfway between Hollywood and Slough, so it would make sense that Ricky Gervais and his writing partner Matt Robinson would meet here to film their upcoming film,    <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1105299/" class="bb-url">"This Side of the Truth"</a>. </p>
<p>"The Office" boss, Extras star, and major UK celebrity  <a href="http://www.rickygervais.com/thissideofthetruth.php/" class="bb-url">reports</a> that they have just finished a week in town scouting locations.  No word of when filming will start, or if Karl Pilkington will be appearing on set.</p>
<p>UPDATE:</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p>Boston is roughly halfway between Hollywood and Slough, so it would make sense that Ricky Gervais and his writing partner Matt Robinson would meet here to film their upcoming film,    <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1105299/" class="bb-url">"This Side of the Truth"</a>. </p>
<p>"The Office" boss, Extras star, and major UK celebrity  <a href="http://www.rickygervais.com/thissideofthetruth.php/" class="bb-url">reports</a> that they have just finished a week in town scouting locations.  No word of when filming will start, or if Karl Pilkington will be appearing on set.</p>
<p>UPDATE:</p>
<p>Shooting will be in Lowell, where Gervais <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9cAUOfz8yg/" class="bb-url">reads the local paper</a> and talks of other actors, schedules, and otherwise.</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Boston media tries covering Potgate; gets munchies instead</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.universalhub.com/node/13349" />
    <id>http://www.universalhub.com/node/13349</id>
    <published>2008-03-11T12:13:47-04:00</published>
    <updated>2008-03-11T12:08:37-04:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>Brett</name>
    </author>
    <category term="Boston" />
    <category term="Crime" />
    <category term="Media" />
    <category term="Politics" />
    <category term="BFD" />
    <category term="Boston Fire Department" />
    <category term="Boston Globe" />
    <category term="Boston Herald" />
    <category term="drugs" />
    <category term="WHDH" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p>Click on through for a rockem-sockem loosey-goosey summary of the media coverage of this story, which was varied to say the least.  Will the grand but lightweight Globe take the short-but-sweet prize for best writeup?  Or will the rough, battle-hardened Herald take the Globe to the cleaners?  What about the <strike>litter</strike> transit <strike>pulp</strike> papers?  How do the Kings of Swooshing Animations and Lead-Ins fare?</p>
<p>First up, at 194 words: <A href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/03/firefighter_arr.html">Maria Cramer, from The Globe</a>:<br />
<UL></ul>
</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p>Click on through for a rockem-sockem loosey-goosey summary of the media coverage of this story, which was varied to say the least.  Will the grand but lightweight Globe take the short-but-sweet prize for best writeup?  Or will the rough, battle-hardened Herald take the Globe to the cleaners?  What about the <strike>litter</strike> transit <strike>pulp</strike> papers?  How do the Kings of Swooshing Animations and Lead-Ins fare?</p>
<p>First up, at 194 words: <A href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/03/firefighter_arr.html">Maria Cramer, from The Globe</a>:<br />
<UL><br />
<LI>...decides it's not important to name the other suspects (including some fascinating info about one of the perps) or the fact that they're out on the street again, but does name the judge
</li>
<p><LI>...remembers Gaston was a hero back in 2002 (Gaston saved a bunch of folks and caught a fair bit of press)
</li>
</p><p><LI>...prints "Attorneys for all three men said that only a small amount of marijuana was found on them", without comment or mentioning the actual evidence that was collected (see below)
</li>
</p><p><LI>...forgets that these days we put these things called images on web pages, and that images come from things called cameras, operated by people who show up to cover news stories, commonly referred to as "photographers."  Well, except for the <A href="http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2008/03/10/accident_ruins_800_lb_mans_date/">really important stories</a>...
</li>
</p><p><LI>...skimps on the details of the bail-yanking prior charges
</li>
</p><p><LI>...doesn't include an email address
</li>
</p></ul>
</p>
<p><A href="http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1079230&amp;srvc=home&amp;position=4">The Herald's Jessica Fargen</a> comes into the ring at a full 331 words:<br />
<UL><br />
<LI>...names the other two suspects, their ages, and home towns. Forgets to name the judge (oops)
</li>
<p><LI>...mentions that one of the suspects has a pending case for possession w/intent to distribute in a school zone
</li>
</p><p><LI>...and that both were released(!) with (I think) no bail(!?)
</li>
</p><p><LI>...has heard of putting photographs on webpages, and thus has Gaston's booking photo
</li>
</p><p><LI>...reveals Gaston's going on trial for punching and strangling someone, hence the bail revokeage
</li>
</p><p><LI>...finds out that there was a reason why only a small amount of pot was found "on" the dudes The good stuff was in the BFD vehicle: "five bags of marijuana, three joints, and a plastic pill bottle"
</li>
</p><p><LI>...provides an email address
</li>
</p></ul>
</p>
<p>Breaking news: <A href="http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1079381&amp;srvc=home&amp;position=also">second Herald article</a>, which leaves out quite a bit, but contains some additional details nobody else seems to have:</p>
<p><UL><br />
<LI>Gaston's salary (almost $100k for 26 years on the job)
</li>
<p><LI>The victim in the A/B charges is Gaston's girlfriend
</li>
</p><p><LI>Gaston was busted in 2000 for DUI and marijuana posession, but only got probation
</li>
</p><p><LI>A decent photo from the courtroom
</li>
</p></ul>
</p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P>Over in TV Land, <A href="http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO74965/">WHDH</a> gets lazy and pulls their copy from the AP, but does contain a statement from the union president, something nobody else bothered to do.  The extra lazy bit: they slapped on a screen grab from footage they took in 2002 when Gaston saved a bunch of folks, but somehow forget to mention his hero credentials in, say, a caption or footnote to the story.  Booo, no ice cream (or bullet items) for you, WHDH :(</p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P><A href="http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/15553100/detail.html">WCVB's coverage</a> is lightweight with some notable exceptions:</p>
<p><UL><br />
<LI>Anthony Gaston is actually Anthony "Tony" Gaston (earth shattering)
</li>
<p><LI>the mystery substance in the pill container was Percocet
</li>
</p><p><LI>Cops also found "large amounts of cash"
</li>
</p><p><LI>this hilarious statement from Boston Fire Department: "Officials said that he was in uniform doing investigations for the department at the time of his arrest."</li>
</p></ul>
</p>
<p></p>
<p> Either Boston Fire Department has a hilarious definition of "doing investigations for the department"...or he was in uniform, smoking up part of five pounds of pot with a drug dealer, at the time of his arrest.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P>Boston Now names the other perps and appears to have heard about the exciting field of photography, so they <A href="http://www.bostonnow.com/news/local/2008/03/10/potbust-firefighter-behind-bars">have a photo from the court room</a>.  They blow it in the second round with a one-two punch: playing it loose on details, and devoting nearly half the article to recounting The Dispute.  Handy for those who have been living in a cave until now. Wordcount: 255.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P>Last but not least, The Metro also appears to have heard of newfangled things like photographers, and even <A href="http://www.metrobostonnews.com/us/article/2008/03/11/02/0953-66/index.xml">gives them credit</a>.  Alas, only 78 words: knocked out half-way into the first round.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P>The final verdict?  Virtually nobody competently covered the story, and the Globe's coverage was downright pathetic; note to the globe staff: it'd help if you stopped wasting your staff's time on this <A href="http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/gallery/phonebooths/">stupid</a> <A href="http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/gallery/chucknorris/">bull</a>. However, the Herald seems to have come the closest and gets a <B>two-scoop award for story coverage.</b>  It could have been a three-scooper (especially with the second story), if it wasn't for my supreme disappointment at the Herald's failure to come up with a crack involving Jays and Jakes.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P>Oh, hold on.  I figured out <A href="http://www.boston.com/yourlife/gallery/events/030808_pats_cheerleaders_tryouts">why</a> the globe didn't have any photos of Mr. Gaston.  I suppose I can <A href="http://www.boston.com/yourlife/gallery/events/030808_pats_cheerleaders_tryouts?pg=7">forgive them</a> after all.</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>The dumbest thing I&#039;ve heard all week</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.universalhub.com/node/13334" />
    <id>http://www.universalhub.com/node/13334</id>
    <published>2008-03-10T19:57:39-04:00</published>
    <updated>2008-03-10T19:53:25-04:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>oddjob60</name>
    </author>
    <category term="Entertainment" />
    <category term="Media" />
    <category term="Weather" />
    <category term="daylight saving time" />
    <category term="Fox 25" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p>Let me begin by saying that I fervently hope I am wrong in what I thought I heard on Fox 25 last night. But it was bantered about a few times, so I don't think I'm wrong.</p>
<p>During the pre-weather chit-chat, the meteorologist (I think it was Kevin Lemanowicz) opined that with the earlier shift to Daylight Saving Time, it would be interesting to watch what happens to all those weather records, since <strong>there's more sunlight, so it'll get warmer.</strong> I guess he forgot that DST only changes the time of sunrise and sunset-- it doesn't alter Earth's orbit around the Sun.</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p>Let me begin by saying that I fervently hope I am wrong in what I thought I heard on Fox 25 last night. But it was bantered about a few times, so I don't think I'm wrong.</p>
<p>During the pre-weather chit-chat, the meteorologist (I think it was Kevin Lemanowicz) opined that with the earlier shift to Daylight Saving Time, it would be interesting to watch what happens to all those weather records, since <strong>there's more sunlight, so it'll get warmer.</strong> I guess he forgot that DST only changes the time of sunrise and sunset-- it doesn't alter Earth's orbit around the Sun.</p>
<p>Did I really hear this? It's so dumb, and neither of the anchors even questioned it, that I seriously wonder.</p>
<p>If he did say it, then that meteorology degree isn't holding up very well.</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>AP finds drugs in the water; MWRA doesn&#039;t test for them</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.universalhub.com/node/13325" />
    <id>http://www.universalhub.com/node/13325</id>
    <published>2008-03-09T18:47:02-04:00</published>
    <updated>2008-03-09T20:37:15-04:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>Brett</name>
    </author>
    <category term="Boston" />
    <category term="drugs" />
    <category term="MWRA" />
    <category term="pollution" />
    <category term="water" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p>The AP has been busy, <A href="http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/03/09/ap_probe_finds_drugs_in_drinking_water/">finding lots of drugs in people's water</a>. Sadly, Boston is on the list of cities that don't test for this stuff.  Look on the bright side; you could live in a city run these morons:</p>
<blockquote><p>Arlington, Texas, acknowledged that traces of a pharmaceutical were detected in its drinking water but cited post-9/11 security concerns in refusing to identify the drug.</p>
</blockquote>
</p>    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p>The AP has been busy, <A href="http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/03/09/ap_probe_finds_drugs_in_drinking_water/">finding lots of drugs in people's water</a>. Sadly, Boston is on the list of cities that don't test for this stuff.  Look on the bright side; you could live in a city run these morons:</p>
<blockquote><p>Arlington, Texas, acknowledged that traces of a pharmaceutical were detected in its drinking water but cited post-9/11 security concerns in refusing to identify the drug.</p>
</blockquote>
</p>    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Metro Moments with Mumbles</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.universalhub.com/node/13263" />
    <id>http://www.universalhub.com/node/13263</id>
    <published>2008-03-07T11:24:50-05:00</published>
    <updated>2008-03-07T12:32:52-05:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>Brett</name>
    </author>
    <category term="Boston" />
    <category term="Politics" />
    <category term="Technology" />
    <category term="FiOS" />
    <category term="menino" />
    <category term="red light cameras" />
    <category term="Verizon" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p></p>
<p></p><P><A href="http://www.metrobostonnews.com/us/article/2007/09/25/19/3340-72/index.xml">Yesterday's installment of Metro Moments with the Mayor</a> has two juicy gems.  First, Mumbles tackles Verizon FiOS, or more appropriately, The Internet Service You Can't Get in The Technology Center of The East Coast.  Second: he wants <A href="http://www.ocgrandjury.org/pdfs/redlight.pdf">$50-100k</a> red light cameras.  Ahh, Massachusetts, where the answer to everything is civil fines.</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p></p>
<p></p><P><A href="http://www.metrobostonnews.com/us/article/2007/09/25/19/3340-72/index.xml">Yesterday's installment of Metro Moments with the Mayor</a> has two juicy gems.  First, Mumbles tackles Verizon FiOS, or more appropriately, The Internet Service You Can't Get in The Technology Center of The East Coast.  Second: he wants <A href="http://www.ocgrandjury.org/pdfs/redlight.pdf">$50-100k</a> red light cameras.  Ahh, Massachusetts, where the answer to everything is civil fines.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P>On the first- While Mumbles raises some great points (Verizon claims they're not doing "urban" deployment, yet New York City and Washington both have it), he fails to distinguish between FiOS internet service (which is what most of us care about) and FiOS TV. The Mayor's list is: Boston, Brookline, Somerville, Cambridge, Everett, Revere, Chelsea, Medford, Melrose, Watertown and Quincy.  If the mayor <A href="http://images.google.com/images?q=massachusetts+fios+map">spent a few seconds with Google Images</a>, he'd see that Cambridge already has FiOS internet customers.  What the mayor did not say, perhaps intentionally: Verizon is holding out because <A>they desperately want a state-wide cable franchise license</a>.  Which is the last thing established players like Comcast and RCN want, and the last thing town selectmen want.  Funny how the Patrick administration almost a year ago was promising to get right on that- and, like every other Patrick (and Romney) "initiative", nothing's happened.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P>Other negatives for Verizon: First, sharing/leeching connections is more probable as population density rises.  A single residential FiOS internet service is a fat enough pipe for an entire city block or apartment building, and can be easily shared via wireless, either by a resident or a business like a coffee shop.  Second, deployments in cities are much more challenging, and you have a lot more customers suddenly clamoring for bandwidth and placing a lot of demand on your internal network and backbone connections to the internet.  Third, Verizon has consistently rolled out service most aggressively in the richest towns, where they'll find the greatest number of HDTVs and the like.  People in the city are highly likely to either only buy internet service, or buy the minimum TV package.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P>Part Deux: Mumbles wants red light cameras.  Number three in his recipe for responding to "drivers who don't so much as tap the breaks <I>[sic]</i>":</p>
<blockquote><p>Third, is to readdress our push for Red Light Cameras. These cameras would decrease the number of motorists running red lights in the City, and I have petitioned the State to allow us to pursue them. I have submitted a bill to the State Legislature that would enable the City to install and use these cameras at signalized intersections. If approved, cities and towns in MA can install these cameras, which provide pictures of vehicle license plates that have not stopped for the red light. Law enforcement personnel can use the pictures to issue a violation to these vehicles.</p>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<p></p><P>Yes, running red lights is a huge problem in Boston.  What the mayor again neglects to mention:</p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P>Red light camera vendors charge the municipality for installation and then <A>get a commission on each fine</a>.  In most municipalities, officers don't write the tickets; the images are analyzed by optical character recognition or a human types in what they think the plate number is- and the company sends a ticket in the mail on the municipality's behalf.  Even if an officer looks at the photo and writes the ticket, they're still relying on evidence collected by an extremely biased commercial entity- in an industry proven to do whatever they can to boost profits, safety (and motorist rights) be damned.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P>The vendor (mostly Lockheed Martin, a defense contractor) often gets control of light timing, and (gasp!) they usually do not follow federal guidelines for timing- the length of the yellow period drops.  This is so that they write more tickets because drivers are expecting standard yellow times (based off typical travel speeds through the intersection.)  The result: motorists are put in danger- both when they end up in an intersection with oncoming traffic having a green light, and when they slam on their brakes for a light which changed to red too fast (<A>and get rear-ended.</a>)  Google around, and you'll find that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety admits that setting proper timing for yellow lights reduces red-light running by 33%.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p><P>So.  How about focusing on enforcement of traffic regulations in Boston (you know, the ones that don't involve a radar gun?) and not just when Boston PD thinks someone looks suspicious and wants to run their license for warrants?  How about spending the $60k-per-camera money on keeping crosswalks painted so drivers can see them, and smarter traffic lights so motorists don't get frustrated sitting at 1970's-era timer-based lights?  How about not setting up "traffic calming" systems which make traveling through Boston an endless series of waits at red lights, even if there's no traffic?</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Battle of Bunker Hill</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.universalhub.com/node/13281" />
    <id>http://www.universalhub.com/node/13281</id>
    <published>2008-03-06T19:07:16-05:00</published>
    <updated>2008-03-06T20:51:51-05:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>mudder</name>
    </author>
    <category term="Charlestown" />
    <category term="Crime" />
    <category term="Battle of Bunker Hill" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p>Charlestown - Charlestown one square mile of mixed up, lost souls.  A community that once took pride in watching out for each other. A neighborhood where respect and pride came in the name of a gentle smile, a tip of the cap. That neighborhood is gone forever.  Is that for better or for worse?</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p>Charlestown - Charlestown one square mile of mixed up, lost souls.  A community that once took pride in watching out for each other. A neighborhood where respect and pride came in the name of a gentle smile, a tip of the cap. That neighborhood is gone forever.  Is that for better or for worse? Depends who's answering the question. The stuffed shirts at City Hall will tell you Charlestown is entering the twenty-first century and its great for Boston, that is the upscale development of Charlestown, a once proud Irish American community that took pride in policing itself, has all these do gooders and know-it all taking control of this one square mile of heaven, as some of the older "Townies" would call it.</p>
<p>
The old Townies the ones that refuse to sell out to the spoiled stuck up snobs from suburbia are pleasantly pleased, that's what Mayor Menino would tell you. Facts are the old Townies and the new Tooines are always butting heads over such minute things as parking, MBTA bus schedules and so forth. </p>
<p>
I long for the day I'd walk out my front door and have a neighbor say good morning. I have many Toonies on my street, always in a hurry or have a look of stressfulness frozen upon their face.  Seems like the Toonies couldn't be bothered with a simple "hello". Thats what I miss alot. Just a wink of an eye or a simple nod. Between the snobs from suburbia and the rejects that have been planted in the "projects" theirs not much promise or hope for the few and I mean few Townie kids growing up around here. Let me step back a step to the rejects that lay their head in the Boston Housing Development.</p>
<p>
The City of Boston has had this agenda of diversing Charlestown and making it an equal opportunity community. Tough break on the locals. The "Town" has been infested with every low-life from across the city and shipped their law breaking attitude to this fine community. If you walk on Bunker Hill street south of Polk street, you better be very aware of your surroundings and be on the opposite side of the street from BHA, otherwise you'll get robbed by those fine "people" who hang their hats in the projects or you'll be arrested by Boston Police or Boston Housing police for being on BHA property. Only residents of BHA are allowed on "their" side of Bunker. Imagine growing up in this fine TOWN and you can't even walk on the side of the streets the projects are on or else. Now that I think of it I wish the BPD would enforce that law on the Townie side of Bunker. But the only laws that are enforced are the ones to arrest innocent Townie kids. Believe these kids don't need any extra help getting arrested they do a fine job of their own. </p>
<p>
Its best for these kids to stay away from BHA anyways, it seems the Orchard Park mentality has been brought to Walford way and other surrounding drug havens. Seems the low-life brought an exuberence of Heroin and filtered it into this fine community. Heroin, Crack Cocaine, Oxycontin are just a few of the problems that surround this younger generation of Townies. Heroin and crack  cocaine is so bad I've seen young Townie girls hooking up with a couple of those bloodsuckers that creepy crawl out of the progect courtyard at all hours of the nite, these poor girls get hooked and those cock roaches from BHA prey upon them like vultures in the desert picking away at whats left of their self esteem. Not just the girls who lose their souls to the devil its the Boys too. I've walked the neighborhood many a night only to see some of my friends kids with this zombie faraway look in their eyes.  Just a lost soul look. I think about the parents and the heart ache they're going through. Most parents have that Townie pride stiff upper lip as they say, always smiling always courteous. Like everything is ok. Maybe everything is, I mean what can we do as parents. We can preach, scold, discipline till were blue in the face but once our bundle of joy leaves the house, their fair game for every other pusher out there. I try and tell anyone who listens "its much harder and takes a lot more nerve to say no than it is to join the game and hook-up with the ex-players of Blue Hill Ave”.</p>
<p>
We as a community must reach out find a way to intervene somehow get to these kids, even if it’s only one kid at a time. One is better than none. If we don’t the low life’s from BHA will swoop down and take another lost soul, break another heart, disrupt another Townie family. We as Townies must act. We only have one another, we don’t have any government and by no means we surely don’t have help from the BPD. The BPD goes around harassing any Townie kid it can (granted some kids are problems BUT SOME AREN’T). The kids have no rights, no equal rights at all. The BPD goes as far as it can to bust one of our own while turning a blind eye to any and all minorities whether it be a minor incident or major one, ESPECIALLY if the incident concerns a Townie getting bothered by a minority. BPD wants to arrest the Charlestown kids for incidents they clearly know were committed by the squatters in the projects.  There’s been many incidents involving young Charlestown girls, attempted muggings, assaults, the police were called took down much of the information and then when the victim described her attackers which were minorities BPD wanted the victim to claim it was fellow Townies as in Caucasian or Irish descent. BPD put pressure on victim to fabricate her story which she refused to do, “No officer it was 5 or 6 spanish gentlemen not white kids officer.” “Are you sure”, responded Boston’s finest. “YES I’m SURE” replied the young Townie girl.</p>
<p>
I was raised like so many other kids in the neighborhood NEVER TRUST THE POLICE, and that was back when the cops would at least say hello, or the officers would try and be friendly. Not this day and age, if you’re a Townie kid you must be a hood, punk, junkie, bank robber the police have separate folders for us. To bad they don’t have one for themselves. Let’s see first amendment violator, civil rights violator, make a false arrest violator and worry about correcting paper work in six months or so violator. Who cares if the kid was in another town, so what about his permanent record, DON’T LET THE FACTS OR TRUTH STAND IN THE WAY OF A GOOD COLLAR, officer. I could go on an on but anyone who doesn’t get what the cops are up to must have been in a coma for the last 30 years or so. Just read the papers, local or national.</p>
<p>
Like I’ve stated the younger Townies don’t have much of a future with the Toonies snubbing their noses at the locals or the rejects from the projects running wild up and down our streets. The Toonies and the cock roaches from the projects, who knows what the worse of the two groups are. Their both strictly out for themselves. That’s pretty funny when you think of it, these bleeding heart liberals are all for treating the “so-called minorities like first class citizens”, but the minute their purse gets snatched they sing a different tune. These yuppies can act like their going to save our world when in reality they haven’t got the faintest of a clue. The bloodsuckers from BHA would just as well rape and rob them as they would break bread with the so called frauds of upper class.</p>
<p>
The Toonies have their little kennel clubs or coffee clubs where they hang out, bring out their pooch stand around and try and impress each other on their wealth or education. Most of these frauds are trust fund babies, they have to be considering the money they put down for a slice of heaven in this one square mile. They’re a funny breed the Toonies, they have no help if there’s an uprising in BHA (like there is every summer) so when their accosted they bitch and moan about it by saying “can you believe this or that happened I’m appalled”. These are the same frauds who want to extend kindness to those bloodsuckers on Walford way. Only to learn that the smart way is to not give these leeches the time of day. The Toonies are all alone, except for each other, and they deserve everything they get. The Old Townies like myself are stuck with the snobs and the cock roaches from BHA, but at least if any of the old Townies have problems with either group, they can lean on each other and most certainly will be helped by another Townie whatever the case maybe.</p>
<p>
Every day you read about Toonies taking over vacant lots, lots that life long Townies tried to purchase many, many moons ago only to be shunned by the City Hall hacks. Somehow these Toonies make all these hush, hush back room deals. It’s amazing at what money can buy, as in fill the envelope to your favorite politician then all of a sudden deals that were rejected are now being approved. I long for the days when a big mouth from suburbia came here acting all big and mouthy only to be sent home with a fat lip and soiled undies. Ah those were the days my friends I thought they’d never end. Those were the days!.........</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Bank Crap</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.universalhub.com/node/13271" />
    <id>http://www.universalhub.com/node/13271</id>
    <published>2008-03-06T13:47:09-05:00</published>
    <updated>2008-03-06T14:11:54-05:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>Barbara Diamond</name>
    </author>
    <category term="Boston" />
    <category term="Annoying companies" />
    <category term="ATM" />
    <category term="Bank of America" />
    <category term="banking" />
    <category term="business" />
    <category term="crime" />
    <category term="ripoffs" />
    <category term="scam" />
    <category term="taxes" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p><A href="http://barbaradiamond.blogspot.com/search/label/Scofflaws%20or%20No%3F/">This deserves exactly what the photo says it deserves!</a></p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p><A href="http://barbaradiamond.blogspot.com/search/label/Scofflaws%20or%20No%3F/">This deserves exactly what the photo says it deserves!</a></p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Are You Kidding Me???</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.universalhub.com/node/13266" />
    <id>http://www.universalhub.com/node/13266</id>
    <published>2008-03-06T13:29:44-05:00</published>
    <updated>2008-03-06T13:58:37-05:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>Barbara Diamond</name>
    </author>
    <category term="Boston" />
    <category term="The T" />
    <category term="ATMS" />
    <category term="crime" />
    <category term="juveniles" />
    <category term="money" />
    <category term="muggers" />
    <category term="police" />
    <category term="subway" />
    <category term="tax payers" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p>T safest in a decade??</p>
<p>Are these MBTA people for real?</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p><p>
</p><p>T safest in a decade??</p>
<p>Are these MBTA people for real?</p></p>

<p></p>    ]]></content>
  </entry>
</feed>
