Blogs

WBZ tackles the problem of bars over-serving in eastern Massachusetts--not everybody is impressed.

I've done up a multi-page web site on an alternative to the proposed Green Line extension into Somerville and Medford. I'd like to get some feedback, and/or otherwise promote it. The alternative isn't dissing the use of the Green Line, merely making better use of it than the GLX will do. The current price tag for the GLX is a mind boggling, highly exorbitant expenditure for a short extension of a light rail tram in an already owned rail corridor.

There are no words to describe the size of the ripoff that is the GLX. For $10 billion the Swiss bore TWO tunnels, each 30' wide and 35 miles long, yes, 35 MILES, through the mountains, TWO of em. The price tag actually includes another 24 miles of connecting and support tunnels. The tunnels are sized for HIGH SPEED trains to be traveling at well over 160 miles an hour (which is the minimum in the EU for high speed rail).

Would James Rush have gotten the promotion without the recommend from his son, state legislator Mike Rush? I wonder how the other applicants feel about whether they had an equal opportunity for the position.

Does it seem strange that as an employee of the probation department, his own son's recommendation might have had more weight than his own history of job performance in the probation department?

From today's Boston Globe. A story on the 4 Republicans left standing in the State Senate and the fact that all will get large pay increases because they all will be in minority leadership roles.

For the record, I don't have an issue paying leadership legislators more for taking additional responsibilities. But our friends on the right, in the Republican Party and Tea Party wingnuts all have issues with "taxpayer funded" jobs and public sector paychecks.

Can you imagine the Howie Carr Column and the talk radio haters if a Democratic elected official said this:

But even the losers of this not-so-titanic battle will come off well. While the next minority leader will get a $22,500 bump in pay and a bigger office with additional staff members, his three underlings will inevitably serve in the august ranks of leadership. They will divvy up the roles of assistant minority leader, minority whip, and assistant minority whip, each of which carries a $15,000 pay increase.

The Rockport Legion Band announces the dates for their annual holiday programs. There will be two performances, the first on Friday, December 3 at the Rockport Methodist Church; the second on Thursday, December 9 at the Rockport Congregational Church.. Both programs will begin at 7:00 P.M. Please join us either night for an evening of holiday music and good cheer.

Music will include traditional pieces by Leroy Anderson, Mel Torme, Gene Autry, G.F. Handel, and Victor Herbert, as well as a few surprises. The band will also have copies of its last CD available during intermission. A complete listing of the tentative program list is available on the band web page at: http://rockportlegionband.wordpress.com

Whatever he is, I don't think you can call it liberal.

The profligate spending of this administration - Recovery Act - and the last - Tax Cuts, Two Wars and TARP - is why Washington thinks all Americans who work and contribute to social security over their entire working careers should get less, and that people making millions and billions per year should have their tax cuts extended.

Link

OK, Hilary Swank and Jeremy Renner weren't bad, but most actors who try their hand at the Boston accent stink. Can non-native passersby do a better job? I made this video to find out.

A rich money manager driving his Mercedes hits a cyclist, a surgeon, and keeps going. He pulls over a few miles down the road to phone in a report of damage to his vehicle and asks that his car be towed. He does not ask for law enforcement assistance or emergency medical care for cyclist.

The police arrest the driver later but the District Attorney refuses to charge him with felony hit and run because, ...wait for it, a conviction could cost him his job.

What the driver is accused of doing is clearly criminal, but dropping felony charges will set a message to drivers that the penalties for neglecting the welfare of others on the road, causing life-altering injury, and showing no concern for the victim might not be as serious as the law indicates.

Sign the petition to the District Attorney to charge the driver with violations of the applicable law here.

More at "Police shakeup in face of spiking murder rate."

More at "Police shakeup in face of spiking murder rate."

Amherst police arrested a Medford man Friday who they believe is responsible for an incident in September in which two men suffered head injuries after being beaten with a baseball bat.

Medford man arrested in baseball bat beating by Scott Merzbach and Ben Storrow, Amherst Bulletin

Brett raises some interesting issues.

1. What is the BPD policy for use of force in physical restraint of a suspect during an arrest?
2. Did the BPD officers comply the letter and the spirit of the rule in the arrest of Suspect,16?
3. Does Officer Michael McManus' use of force in the Woodman case and Suspect,16 case indicate a pattern that is unreasonable, imprudent or in excess of what is necessary?

Learn how to fight back when people claim Jews abandoned their traditional progressive, pro-Israel, pro-peace positions in the 2010 midterm congressional elections from JStreet.org www.2010.jstreet.org

What do WGBH-fm, WUMB-fm and now Club Passim all have in common? An aversion to the peoples' music. Each has gone to great lengths to re-invent themselves, scrubbing their programming and websites of the F word (folk, that is).

Get ready for Peace Train, Crazy Train, Love Train battle of the songs:

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Ed. note: The Globe story initially identifies the student as an Emerson student, but he was attending Emmanuel at the time.

The Boston police officer seen on a video punching and kneeing a teenager during an arrest last week was also investigated two years ago for his role in the arrest of an Emmanuel College student, who died after a confrontation with police.

Michael T. McManus, a patrol officer assigned to the district that covers Roxbury, has been taken off patrols and placed on administrative duty, police said yesterday.

Read the whole thing.

Hey,

Do you own a 1940's, 50's, or 60s American hot rod and do you wanna to show it off?

Good, we need your help!

On Halloween, in Jamaica Plain, near the Intersection of Boylston and Belmore Terrace, we are hosting the 8th Annual, Harry Italian BBQ Man (me) Halloweenie Extravaganza. Basically, we cook and give away 700 hotdogs and about 2,000 pieces of candy. This year our theme is "Grease" you know, like the movie. We'd like you and your hot rod to be apart of the experience. We'll feed you and guarantee is wicked sugar high.

Jasiri X performs his anti Republican woman, pro Get Out the Vote Rap. 30,133 views in 1 day.

Sean Bielat and Ken Buck can't help being politically opportunistic election year gay-baiters -- they were born that way. (03:08)

Then a 14 year old teenager, Lisa Allen came forward Wednesday to tell her side of the story when Republican candidate for US Congress former police officer Sgt Jeff Perry, failed to protect Ms. Allen from Officer Scott Flanagan who performed an illegal strip-search of her. Police officers are entrusted to, and take an oath to, serve and protect. Ms. Allen said Officer Perry protected Officer Flanagan but not her. Ms Allen went further and said Perry "should not be in a position of power."

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California is within the middle of a titanic budget crisis, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken it upon himself to pummel any source of wasted funds into submission – including strip club ATMs. The Los Angeles Times reports that more than $ 12,000 designated for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which is intended for welfare purposes, was withdrawn at various strip clubs across the state from 2007 to 2009. Sam's Hofbrau, Seventh Veil and Star Strip are just a few of the clubs under investigation by California's Department of Social Services.

Post resource: Strip club ATMs banned from TANF use in California by Personal Money Store

Strip club ATMs are welfare sinks

NEWTON-WELLESLEY HOSPITAL WOMEN’S IMAGING CENTER
ASKING PATIENTS TO “PAY IT FORWARD”

Pink Card Program to Generate Awareness Around
Importance of Early Detection in Breast Cancer

While breast cancer can take years to develop, women rarely have any symptoms in the early stages. However, if breast cancer is found early with a mammogram, the five-year survival rate is 98%. Mammograms, along with clinical breast exams and general breast awareness, are vital for early detection and successful treatment.

During the month of October, after a patient has her routine mammogram at the Manton Women’s Imaging Center at Newton-Wellesley Hospital or other locations in Natick and Walpole, she will be asked to pay it forward in an effort to potentially save a life.

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Newton-Wellesley Hospital is asking patients coming in for a mammogram to pass along a pink reminder card to their mother, sister, daughter, or friend as a way to encourage a loved one to schedule her annual mammogram.

In light of Christine O'Donnell's national press embargo, I present part of an interview she gave conservative talk host Dan Gaffney of WGMD, two weeks ago, during her primary race against former Delaware Governor and US Congressman Mike Castle.

President Obama appoints Elizabeth Warren to establish and lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

This is the boldest step Obama's taken so far to rein in the big Wall Street banks. And it's a major victory for grassroots progressives who rallied for Warren. MoveOn.org made a video of Warren's greatest hits from her appearances on the "Daily Show" and a list of five cool facts about her.