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Tom Brady Injured; May Miss Rest of Season
Tom Brady went from the disappointment of a Super Bowl loss to the devastation of an injury that could keep him out for the rest of the season. Tom Brady went from the disappointment of a Super Bowl loss to the devastation of an injury that could keep him out for the rest of th... more
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Gay Marriage Opponents Seek to Reinstate 1913 Mass. Law
The gay marriage fight in Massachusetts might not be over after all. Opponents of same-sex marriages are seeking a ballot question that would prevent gay and lesbian couples from getting married in the state if their union wouldn't be legal in their home state.
Brian Camenker of the group Mass Resistance said Friday that lawmakers and Gov. Deval Patrick bowed to the will of the "gay lobby" last month by approving the repeal of a 1913 statute that banned such marriages.
Patrick, the state's first black governor and the father of a daughter who recently announced she's a lesbian, said the 1913 law had racial undertones from a period when interracial marriage was discouraged.
"The legislature and the governor changed our marriage laws to please the well-connected minority and force a social experiment into other states that's very offensive to a majority of the people, at least the way the votes have been going," Camenker said, referring to recent votes in favor of gay marriage bans in other states.
He was particularly critical of an emergency preamble attached to the repeal. It bypassed a normal 90-day waiting period and made the law effective immediately. Opponents typically use the 90 days to present signatures and delay the law until it can be put to a ballot vote.
"The fact that this happened the way it happened just adds to the sense of sleaziness and underhandedness of the whole process," Camenker said.
The group will need about 32,000 signatures to get its question on the ballot.
Gay marriage advocates who had celebrated the repeal said they were disappointed but not surprised by the petition.
"I've learned that when it comes to equality for gay and lesbian people, the struggle is never over because there are certain people that are just strongly opposed to any rights for gay people. It's never shocking; it is disappointing," said Marc Solomon of MassEquality. The gay marriage fight in Massachusetts might not be over after all. Opponents of same-sex marriages are seeking a ballot question tha... more -
Gay Marriage Fight in Massachusetts Might Not Be Over After All.
BOSTON - The gay marriage fight in Massachusetts might not be over after all.
Opponents of same-sex marriages are seeking a ballot question that would prevent gay and lesbian couples from getting married here if their union wouldn't be legal in their home state.
Brian Camenker of the group Mass Resistance said Friday lawmakers and Gov. Deval Patrick bowed to the will of the "gay lobby" last month by approving the repeal of a 1913 statute that banned such marriages.
Patrick, the state's first black governor and the father of a daughter who recently announced she's a lesbian, said the 1913 law had racial undertones from a period when interracial marriage was discouraged.
"The Legislature and the governor changed our marriage laws to please the well-connected minority and force a social experiment into other states that's very offensive to a majority of the people, at least the way the votes have been going," Camenker said, referring to recent votes in favor of gay marriage bans in other states.
He was particularly critical of an emergency preamble attached to the repeal. It bypassed a normal 90-day waiting period and made the law effective immediately. Opponents typically use the 90 days to present signatures and delay the law until it can be put to a ballot vote.
"The fact that this happened the way it happened just adds to the sense of sleaziness and underhandedness of the whole process," Camenker said.
The group will need about 32,000 signatures to get their question on the ballot.
Gay marriage advocates who had celebrated the repeal said they were disappointed but not surprised by the petition.
<more at link> BOSTON - The gay marriage fight in Massachusetts might not be over after all. ... more -
Gay marriage opponents seek to reverse new law
BOSTON (AP) -- The gay marriage fight in Massachusetts might not be over after all.
Opponents of same-sex marriages are seeking a ballot question that would prevent gay and lesbian couples from getting married here if their union wouldn't be legal in their home state.
Brian Camenker of the group Mass Resistance said Friday lawmakers and Gov. Deval Patrick bowed to the will of the ''gay lobby'' last month by approving the repeal of a 1913 statute that banned such marriages.
Patrick, the state's first black governor and the father of a daughter who recently announced she's a lesbian, said the 1913 law had racial undertones from a period when interracial marriage was discouraged.
''The Legislature and the governor changed our marriage laws to please the well-connected minority and force a social experiment into other states that's very offensive to a majority of the people, at least the way the votes have been going,'' Camenker said, referring to recent votes in favor of gay marriage bans in other states.
He was particularly critical of an emergency preamble attached to the repeal. It bypassed a normal 90-day waiting period and made the law effective immediately. Opponents typically use the 90 days to present signatures and delay the law until it can be put to a ballot vote.
''The fact that this happened the way it happened just adds to the sense of sleaziness and underhandedness of the whole process,'' Camenker said.
The group will need about 32,000 signatures to get their question on the ballot.
Gay marriage advocates who had celebrated the repeal said they were disappointed but not surprised by the petition.
''I've learned that when it comes to equality for gay and lesbian people, the struggle is never over because there are certain people that are just strongly opposed to any rights for gay people. It's never shocking; it is disappointing,'' said Marc Solomon of MassEquality.
Gay Massachusetts residents have been allowed to legally marry since 2004. Opponents, such as former Gov. Mitt Romney, said the 1913 law prevented Massachusetts from becoming the ''Las Vegas of same-sex marriage.'' California also permits same-sex marriage and has no restriction on out-of-state couples.
Mass Resistance filed paperwork with the secretary of state's office on Wednesday. The measure has been forwarded to the attorney general's office for review.
The state constitution prohibits referendum questions on subjects that relate to religion, judges, the courts, particular localities of the commonwealth, state appropriations and certain provisions of the constitution's Declaration of Rights. Attorney General Martha Coakley has 14 days to review the proposed question. BOSTON (AP) -- The gay marriage fight in Massachusetts might not be over after all. ... more -
Hong Kong emigrant's death attracts scrutiny of U.S. detention system
Hiu Lui Ng, a computer science engineer who worked in New York for the Empire State Building, died two days after his 34th birthday in custody at Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a Rhode Island hospital. His death was an unexpected final stop after consulting with officials about his green card with immigration officials last summer in New York, although his visa had lapsed years ago, and he was subsequently jailed and held in detention ever since.
Reporter Nina Bernstein, in her contribution to the International Herald Tribune ("Hong Kong emigrant's death attracts scrutiny of U.S. detention system", August 13, 2008) writes about the investigation surrounding Ng's death -- his body "riddled with cancer" untreated and undiagnosed for months, and a spine fracture which he suffered from in July before his death. His attorneys have initialized a criminal investigation in a letter to U.S. and state prosecutors in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont, and the Department of Homeland Security. Court affidavits say, Bernstein writers, that "guards at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island, dragged him from his bed on July 30, carried him in shackles to a car, bruising his arms and legs, and drove him two hours to a U.S. government lockup in Hartford, Connecticut, where an immigration officer pressured him to withdraw all pending appeals of his case and accept deportation."
Photo: Rhode Island Hospital where Hiu Lui Ng died after being diagnosed with cancer and a spinal fracture. Credit: Steven Senne/AP, image courtesy of findingdulcinea.com. Hiu Lui Ng, a computer science engineer who worked in New York for the Empire State Building, died two days after his 34th birthday in... more -
EXHIBITIONS > Gateway Bombay
The art exhibition "Gateway Bombay" offers diverse perspectives about Mumbai in contemporary art from India at the Peabody Essex Museum -- on view through December 7, 2008. Most of the works in the exhibition are from PEM's Chester and Davida Herwitz Collection of contemporary Indian art spanning four decades of work. The art in the exhibit explore city's everyday realities, its people, and urban cultural life, and include painting, photography, works on paper, and mixed-media installation. All of the artists live and work in Mumbai. Visit the Peabody Essex Museum's web site for exhibition details.
Image: Two Men with Handcart, 1979, Gieve Patel (b. 1946), courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum, pem.org, Salem, Massachusetts. The art exhibition "Gateway Bombay" offers diverse perspectives about Mumbai in contemporary art from India at the Peabody E... more -
Massachusetts Transit Authority prevents DefCon Hackers from Presenting
Three MIT students probably won’t be giving their scheduled Defcon speech on getting free subway rides. The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority – the agency in charge of the Boston T subway – sued the trio for computer fraud and requested a temporary restraining order to prevent them from presenting the talk.
Zack Anderson, RJ Ryan and Alessandro Chiesa are researchers and students at MIT under the instruction of the famous professor Ronald Rivest who helped create the RSA security algorithm. Their talk, which was scheduled for Sunday, was supposed to demonstrate how the subway’s “CharlieCard” could be hacked into giving free subway rides. These hacks could conceivably be used on other subways.
According to the talk description, the trio used software radios and FPGAs to circumvent the protection mechanisms and to prove the point, they were going to do a live demo of the hack in action.
We give the nod to Dan Goodin at The Register for getting the scoop on this story. Anderson told Goodin that the team never intended to release tools for hacking into subway systems and had tried to warn the Transit Authority of vulnerabilities in their system. Three MIT students probably won’t be giving their scheduled Defcon speech on getting free subway rides. The Massachusetts Bay Transit... more -
Abduction by Gay "Father"
"I pray to God the baby's safe, but this is a crazy man," a distraught Glazer said. "He kidnapped my son. He's obviously unstable ...He'll stop at nothing to hurt me and my family."
The two were married May 17, 2004, in Massachusetts, and split up in September 2007. One year earlier, they picked up Jedidiah after he was delivered by a surrogate mother in California.
Hyett, in an e-mail to Glazer before the abduction, called him "a TERRIBLE co-parent" who inflicted "emotional neglect/abuse" on their son.
Both parents said stay-at-home dad Glazer, 29, received temporary full custody of Jedidiah on Wednesday - although the decision is currently moot, since the boy is with Hyett in Israel.
Click on the link for more details. "I pray to God the baby's safe, but this is a crazy man," a distraught Glazer said. "He kidnapped my son. He'... more -
Abducted Girl's Mother Makes Plea to Ex-Husband
The mother of a 7-year-old believed kidnapped from Boston and taken to New York by her ex-husband has issued a videotaped statement pleading for her daughter's return. The mother of a 7-year-old believed kidnapped from Boston and taken to New York by her ex-husband has issued a videotaped statement pl... more
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Same-sex marriage: Minnesota to follow example set by Massachusets and California?
Minnesota's gay and lesbian couples are organizing a lawsuit similar to the ones that overturned same-sex marriage bans in Massachusetts and California.
"Gays and lesbians face legal costs to get legal documents such as hospital visitation, care decisions, and so on -- all that are granted by marriage", according to Duane Benson who is looking to sue the state together with his partner, Doug.
"We want a critical mass of couples involved", Doug said. So far, the Bensons are joined by three other couples and are hoping for a group of nearly 30 couples by August 15 in order to bring a successful suit.
While couples who sign on can expect to pay up to $1,000 in legal costs, the Bensons think it's worth it. "In Doug's and my case, we pay $3,000 more a year in taxes because we are not spouses", Duane stated.
And it's not just about the money for this Minnesota couple. Doug said: "The point we want to make is to make sure equality is pursued wherever we can pursue it. Because we can't sit around waiting for this to happen. We want this to become a reality here at home, and we are trying through the courts as well as through the legislature. We have waited long enough." Minnesota's gay and lesbian couples are organizing a lawsuit similar to the ones that overturned same-sex marriage bans in Massac... more -
Uncovered
Christina Heller is a New Hampshire resident without health insurance. She explores how her situation would be different if she lived in Massachusetts, 26 miles away. Christina Heller is a New Hampshire resident without health insurance. She explores how her situation would be different if she lived... more
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Joba Makes Fenway His Hut
Joba Chamberlain dominated the Boston Red Sox with his best major league start and the surging New York Yankees moved two games behind their longtime rivals with a 1-0 victory Friday night. Joba Chamberlain dominated the Boston Red Sox with his best major league start and the surging New York Yankees moved two games behind... more
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Woman Commits Suicide Before Home Foreclosure
A 53-year-old wife and mother fatally shot herself shortly after faxing a letter to her mortgage company saying that by the time they foreclosed on her house that day, she would be dead. A 53-year-old wife and mother fatally shot herself shortly after faxing a letter to her mortgage company saying that by the time they ... more
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Mother and Wife in Massachusetts Facing Foreclosure Commits Suicide
From NECN.com:
"(Prat Thakkar, NECN: Taunton, MA) - In Taunton, Massachusetts police say a woman who was about to lose her home to foreclosure took her own life.
Police say 53-year-old Carlene Balderrama used her husband's high-powered rifle to kill herself Tuesday afternoon, just 90 minutes before her home was to be sold at auction.
Balderrama faxed a letter to her mortgage company saying that by the time they foreclosed on her house, she would be dead. The mortgage company notified authorities who found her body an hour later.
Police say she left a note to her family telling them to take the life insurance money to pay for the house.
Material from the Associated Press is included in this report."
This is difficult for all those families out there that are struggling to pay their mortgages and personal finances. I'm sure the public will hear more stories similar to this one. The sad part of this particular story is that the husband did not have any idea about the pending foreclosure on the home. From NECN.com: ... more -
Massachusetts steps forward on health coverage
The most closely watched experiment in U.S. health care is under way in Massachusetts. Nearly everybody in the state is now required to have health insurance — or pay a tax penalty.
Massachusetts enacted its new health law in mid-2006 and has been phasing it in since. There's real progress to report. More of the uninsured have signed up than expected. Support remains broad and strong. But there have been glitches. And unless the federal government comes through with financing for the next phase, the experiment could still fall off the tracks.
The Price Of Complication Anytime you start with the complex U.S. health system as it is and try to plug its gaping holes, you're going to end up with something very complicated. That's what is happening in Massachusetts. And yes, Massachusetts health reform is very complicated. It's actually a collection of new programs.
Driving the whole thing is a new state requirement that all residents over 18 must have insurance — or pay a penalty of up to $912 on their annual income taxes.
The only exceptions are those who can't find an insurance policy that's "affordable" — no more than 2 to 10 percent of their gross annual income. About 60,000 people are expected to be exempt this year, but the number could rise if the cost of insurance keeps going up faster than people's incomes. So far, the Massachusetts law has exceeded its targets. Enrollment is running a year ahead of projections. The number of uninsured has dropped by more than half. Most of the newly insured are people who are poor or near-poor. Analysts say people's unmet health care needs have dropped substantially. Fewer people are hit by large medical bills and fewer are reporting trouble paying their bills. Nearly three out of four people think the new law has been a success, according to a recent poll of 1,015 randomly selected Massachusetts adults conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health for the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation. Most people in the survey support requiring people to have health insurance. A large majority favor subsidizing premiums for low-income people. On the other hand, the program's very success means that costs are running hundreds of millions of dollars higher than projected. In some parts of the state, newly insured people report trouble finding a doctor with appointment slots. Some people who have tried to get insured have run into maddening bureaucratic snags. Others who were signed up have found themselves disenrolled for no apparent reason. One of the biggest challenges is persuading younger adults to buy coverage. According to a recent study in the journal Health Affairs, most who are still uninsured are young males with low incomes and good health. Despite the problems, the costs, the challenges, most Massachusetts residents want to see the law continued. Only one in eight favor repeal. The fate of the experiment rests with the Bush administration. The federal waiver that was needed to launch the Massachusetts reform expired on June 30, but has been extended temporarily. The federal government supplies substantial subsidy — about $360 million in fiscal 2009. The state has applied for a three-year renewal of the waiver, and negotiations are ongoing. The most closely watched experiment in U.S. health care is under way in Massachusetts. Nearly everybody in the state is now required t... more -
Out-of-state gay couples poised for legal marriage in Massachusetts
The possibility of out-of-state gay couples being allowed marriages in Massachusetts was given a boost by the vote of the Senate to remove a old law.
While presumably not designed with gay couples in mind, the 1913 law prohibited couples to be married if they could not legally wed in their home state. After Massachusetts became the first state to allow gay marriages In 2004, the then-governor Mitt Romney ordered the "then-little-known" law to be enforced, so that out-of-state gay couples could not wed there.
Current Governor Deval Patrick, whose own daughter is gay, is in support of the Senate's proposal, which other critics have said has racist undertones: it dates from a time when the most common "illegal" marriages, that the law refers to, were those between mixed race couples.
The fact that this law is in spirit not about gay marriages, but rather race, seems certain to be abolished and, as one senator remarked, "put the final nail in the coffin of those dark days." The possibility of out-of-state gay couples being allowed marriages in Massachusetts was given a boost by the vote of the Senate to re... more -
Massachusetts Senate Approves Gay Marriage Rights for All U.S. Citizens
"The state Senate voted swiftly and unanimously yesterday to strike down a 95-year-old law that blocks gay and lesbian couples from most other states from being married in Massachusetts, drawing condemnation from Catholic Church leaders but delivering a victory for advocates who have fought for the repeal and who say that same-sex marriage has become an accepted part of the state's culture."
In a unanimous decision, the State Senate would legalize the practice of out-of-state, homosexual couples to join in the right to be married, already guaranteed to in-state couples. Additionally, it would recognize marriage documents obtained from other states which support similar rights for all couples -- California, for example.
If successful in the House, the decision would pave the way for an influx of gay couples into the state, likely bringing in over $111 million in extra revenue, as well as expanding the Constitutionally guaranteed rights of straight couples to marry, to all couples regardless of gender or sexual identity.
Most excitingly, "There were no chanting protesters outside, and not a voice on the Senate floor was raised against the repeal."
" 'People have become resigned to the fact that all the chaos that was predicted in 2004 - the sky was going to fall, it would be catastrophic - it never happened. And so it has become, as we expected it would, as much a part of the reality of life in Massachusetts as anything else,' Senator Dianne Wilkerson, a Roxbury Democrat who has championed the repeal bill, said of yesterday's vote." "The state Senate voted swiftly and unanimously yesterday to strike down a 95-year-old law that blocks gay and lesbian couples fr... more -
Half-Empty Blue Bins: Recycling the Beacon Hill Way
Beacon Hill, a neighborhood of Boston, MA, is littered with trash for collection on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Yet, recycling can only be found on the streets of this historic neighborhood on Fridays, and some bins are less than full. This pod examines recycling in Beacon Hill through the eyes of two residents and the experiences of the director. Beacon Hill, a neighborhood of Boston, MA, is littered with trash for collection on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Yet, recycling ... more
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Another East Coast venue shuts down MMA sanctioning
First New York and now Massachussets. With the economy the way it is and the amount of money that UFC has proven to generate, why would these cities not come aboard? They sanction boxing and that sport is clearly more dangerous than MMA. (Constant head trauma for 12 three minute rounds as oppossed to various ways of victory in MMA)
I don't get it- do you? First New York and now Massachussets. With the economy the way it is and the amount of money that UFC has proven to generate, why wou... more -
Police investigate site that alleges officer misconduct
They don't pretend to be Woodward and Bernstein. The bloggers call themselves amateur journalists and describe their website, Badgewars.com, as "the electronic bathroom wall."
But they have piqued the interest of Boston police, who have launched an internal affairs investigation to find out who is behind the website.
They also want to know whether the bloggers have any evidence to support the allegations they make about Boston officers violating department rules, such as abusing construction details or claiming false injuries to get time off work.
(End of excerpt)
Full story at link by Maria Cramer// The Boston Globe
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Badgewars.com website
http://Badgewars.com/ They don't pretend to be Woodward and Bernstein. The bloggers call themselves amateur journalists and describe their website, Bad... more
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