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Promising myself I'd explore Boston in ways I haven't previously, I marched myself to West Roxbury for the Ward 20 caucuses. In the process, I ate some tasty donuts and witnessed a side of Boston I'd only read about in history books.

Passing the threshold from semi-dreary grey daylight to the inside of the West Roxbury Pub brought with it a number of surprises, none of which should have actually been surprising. First was the sheer number of people. There had to be a hundred people crammed into this little function room. At the sign-in desk, I was questioned by a trio of pleasant, preened ladies who needed to know my precinct. I didn’t know what it was, and they were kind enough to look it up for me. While waiting, I was pushed and pressed back and forth by the deluge of democrats coming through the door. Finally, I was given the precinct number and instructed by a friendly middle-aged woman in a red suit who seemed to know what was going on that I was to sign in, take a ballot for female delegates, and move along.

Are you a fan of equal justice for all? Join Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders on Wednesday, February 22nd at our next GLADHour, a free after-work happy hour! Enjoy great food and drinks in a relaxed and fun atmosphere while networking with fellow supporters of LGBT equality.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

6 pm – 8:30 pm

Bella Luna / Milky Way

284 Amory Street

Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

RSVP at www.glad.org/events (newcomers always welcome!)

notloB Folk / Parlour Concerts presents Julie Metcalf and Andy Reiner

Saturday, February 4, 2012
Doors 7:30, Concert 8:00
Loring-Greenough House
12 South Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
https://sites.google.com/site/notlobmusic/

Menino’s spokeswoman Dot Joyce, initially said yesterday that the city has “no plans at this point” to evacuate the Occupy Boston encampment. Looks like that changed fast.

It’s been years since the eponymous WBCN radio graced the airwaves but its legacy has not been forgotten. During the golden era of underground stations, WBCN was belting out its message of revolution during the civil rights times of 1968 to 1974. Keeping the nostalgia alive, curator Bill Lichtenstein has compiled a vast library of archival footage for a new documentary film about the station and the time it affected. “We’ve received more than 50,000 pieces of memorabilia, donated by people across the country…we’re counting on this nationwide enthusiasm — from both those who were there and from young people inspired by what WBCN meant,” Lichtenstein said. Like many other artists today, Bill has taken to the internet with a call to arms. The project will be funded by those who care about it most on Kickstarter.com

Even famed Boston Red Sox pitcher, Bill “Spaceman” Lee has signed on to help the project in its homerun stretch before its Monday, December 19th deadline. Earlier today he sent out this blast:

A Special Message from former Red Sox pitcher Bill Lee about the www.KickstartWBCN.com campaign for "The American Revolution."
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Attention! This is Bill "Spaceman" Lee.

The premiere of Unreliable Narrator's first web series The Way of the Warrior-Bunny is taking place Tuesday, November 29. Performances are at 7 and 9 PM at the microcinema at the Somerville Theatre (55 Davis Square, Somerville, MA). Admission is $6.00; for reservations email [email protected].

The Rockport Legion Band will present two free public concerts in Rockport on the following dates:

Friday, December 2 at the Rockport Methodist Church, 7:00 P.M.

Thursday, December 8 at the Rockport Congregational Church, 7:00 P.M.

There will be refreshments available both evenings.

The music list for the two programs is available on the band's web page located at:

http://rockportlegionband.wordpress.com

(Originally appeared at www.bostonbastard.com. This post reflects the opinion of the Boston Bastard and not that of UHub and Adam G.)

In September, Suzanne Lee had one thing that Bill Linehan didn’t – the element of surprise. No one expected a first-time candidate from Chinatown to give much trouble to an incumbent South Bostonian in “South Boston’s District.”

That all changed when Lee smacked Linehan across the face in the polls, Sept. 27, taking the top spot in the preliminary election.

All of a sudden, what was not expected to be a difficult battle for Linehan, has turned into one of two hotly-contested district races this year.

It remains to be seen how much support Linehan was able to drum up since coming in second, but it’s clear the race would not be a cake walk.

As far as campaign financing goes, both Linehan and Lee reported roughly the same amount of total campaign donations for the year at the time of the election, September 27. But on the Friday following the election, Linehan’s campaign deposited $23,630 in donations.

Linehan didn’t actually report any receipts in the first two weeks of October, but in that time, he did sink $ 17,936.18 into his campaign, predominately in local media advertising.

(Originally appeared at www.bostonbastard.com)
I can remember watching Steve Murphy speaking over a year ago to the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO). Murphy was still in the midst of his failed run at the State Treasurer’s office, and was asked to speak along with fellow candidate Steve Grossman and then-Treasurer Tim Cahill.

The GBIO had been campaigning against banks that are not headquartered in Massachusetts, and thus have no legal obligation to loan money at less than 18 percent interest – the state mandated usury limit.

The GBIO asked the candidates about their willingness to move state funds out of any banks that do not recognize that 18 percent interest usury limit.

While Grossman came off as a polished politician giving lip service, and Cahill was just full of shit in general, Murphy easily stole the show, speaking about growing up around churches that are now a part of the GBIO and the importance of social justice that was instilled in him as a youth.

(This post originally appeared with graphics at bostonbastard.com)
Anytime there is a large enough crowd of people protesting long enough or in large enough numbers for the media to take more than a passing notice of, there is always pundits who criticize the protesters for not taking part in the electoral process.

It doesn’t matter that many who do protest also actually vote, nor does it manner that direct action can be more effective than the ballot box, there’s always a compulsion/borderline-addiction among those in the media to focus all of their coverage on what the protesters are doing wrong – which has been Fox 25 and the Boston Herald’s MO from the first day of Occupy Boston.

Bullshit aside, I figured it couldn’t hurt for the protesters who are registered Boston voters to know which At-Large City Council candidates are sympathetic to the cause and which ones are just half-assing a show of support because they’re too wimpy to come out against them.

Sean Ryan was the only candidate willing to offer any discussion on the campaign at Dewey Square, when directly contacted through email.

[float=right]
[center]Rise Up! We Are The 99%!!
[size=9]with permission © Charles Bivona[/center][/size][/float]

If you agree, please call and be nice. Agree or disagree, your comments are welcome below.

Boston Police Department Supports Peaceful Protests – BPD Also Obligated to Maintain Order and Ensure a Safe Environment

Posted by MediaRelations on October 11, 2011

Dear Councilor Connolly,

When I arrived home (__ ___ Street, Brighton) at 6:15 this evening, I found a "Connolly for Boston" campaign sign secured to my porch railing with zip ties.

My wife tells me it was not there when she arrived home at 5:15. My three-year-old son tells me he saw "a man in a pickup truck" put up the sign.

Neither my wife nor I has spoken to anyone from your campaign or approved the placement of this campaign sign on our property.

Please explain yourself.

Furthermore, please remove this sign from our property immediately.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Kamens

CC: UniversalHub.com
CC: [email protected]
CC: blog.kamens.us
CC: Boston Globe
CC: Boston Herald
CC: Allston-Brighton TAB

[Simulblogged.]