-
-
What's the Matter With Chicago? and Seattle and New York and Boston...?
Seattle has always had an identity conflict. Gay bathhouses are allowed, street protests are legendary, and marijuana is, by voter initiative, the police department’s lowest enforcement priority. Each summer a two-day event called Hempfest draws some 150,000 people who openly smoke weed in a city park with the blessings of the cops and the local government, which regards the festival as protected speech.
Yet Seattle has long had an unhealthy strain of nannyism as well. Washington was one of the first states to prohibit alcohol in the last century, and the city’s restrictions on strip clubs and card rooms are legendary. In the last five years, the nanny impulse has gone into hyperdrive.
In 2003 Seattle banned sales of high-alcohol beers and fortified wines in a part of town popular with the homeless and street drunks. Three years later, a city report found that the ban hadn’t reduced petty crime and street drinking. Yet Mayor Greg Nickels and the Seattle City Council slammed through another ordinance expanding the so-called “alcohol impact area” to several other neighborhoods. It’s a measure of just how contradictory paternalism gets in Seattle that you can still walk into a bar in these neighborhoods and buy locally crafted microbrews with even higher alcohol content, albeit at a much steeper price than a 40-ouncer.
In 2005 a state ballot initiative banned smoking in all public places. Unlike similar prohibitions in other cities, there are no exemptions for tobacco stores, cigar bars, or private clubs. As if that weren’t enough, the Washington State Clean Indoor Air Act bans smoking within 25 feet of the doors, windows (closed or open), and ventilation systems of any public building. In parts of Seattle, smokers literally have to stand in the middle of the street to comply with the law.
Ironically, many Seattleites who smoke pot voted for the smoking ban. Perhaps they didn’t look too closely at the language of the law, which prohibits “smoking,” not tobacco.
The city’s deep embrace of environmentalism and “sustainability” rhetoric also has a nanny odor to it. This year, for example, Mayor Nickels pushed the state legislature to enact an excise tax on cars based on their fuel efficiency. (For a change, the idea met with a significant public backlash and died.) But one enviro law did expand local freedom a bit. City Council Member Richard Conlin last year proposed that the city license pygmy goats as pets, partly so that residents can process their yard waste in a more eco-friendly manner. The proposal became law by a unanimous vote.
—Philip Dawdy Seattle has always had an identity conflict. Gay bathhouses are allowed, street protests are legendary, and marijuana is, by voter ini... 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
-----
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, Badgewar... more -
Performing with the Pops: Boston Fourth of July 2008
Reporter Ashley Porter and photographer Richard Feindel introduce you to Katie Mayhew, a small girl with a booming voice, who will perform in front of millions on the 4th of July. Reporter Ashley Porter and photographer Richard Feindel introduce you to Katie Mayhew, a small girl with a booming voice, who will per... 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
-
Celtics win the NBA Finals!
In one of the greatest blowouts in NBA Finals history, the Boston Celtics have defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to become the 2008 NBA World Champions. In one of the greatest blowouts in NBA Finals history, the Boston Celtics have defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to become the 2008 NBA ... more
-
THE AGGROLITES MEET SILLY GILLMAN
masters of that new soul reggae revival sound talk to silly gillman about the 2008 vans warped tour, the slackers and beerpong. Taped at HOOKER ST in Allston Ma. What more do you need to know other than it features two live performances. masters of that new soul reggae revival sound talk to silly gillman about the 2008 vans warped tour, the slackers and beerpong. Taped... more
-
Julia Jones on IMDb
Check out the three movies Julia has coming up
-
Senator Ted Kennedy Having Surgery for Tumor
Kennedy Having Surgery for Tumor
By PAM BELLUCK - NY Times
BOSTON, June 2 — Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was to have surgery for his malignant brain tumor on Monday morning at Duke University Medical Center, his office said.
Mr. Kennedy, 76, who was diagnosed two weeks ago with a malignant glioma in the upper left portion of his brain, was to undergo an operation that was to begin at around 9 a.m. and last roughly six hours. He was to be operated on by Dr. Allan Friedman, chief of the division of neurosurgery in the surgical department at Duke in Durham, N.C.
Mr. Kennedy’s office issued a statement at around 6:30 a.m. on Monday saying that he expects to remain in the hospital at Duke for about a week and then return to Massachusetts, where he will undergo chemotherapy and radiation at Massachusetts General Hospital, where his tumor was diagnosed after he suffered a seizure at his home on Cape Cod.
Mr. Kennedy said in the statement that he and his wife Vicki, “along with my outstanding team of doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital, have consulted with experts from around the country and have decided that the best course of action for my brain tumor is targeted surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation.”
He said that, “after completing treatment, I look forward to returning to the United States Senate and to doing everything I can to help elect Barack Obama as our next president.”
It was not clear from the statement how long his course of chemotherapy and radiation treatment would take. Kennedy Having Surgery for Tumor By PAM BELLUCK - NY Times ... more -
earthfest boston
Presented by Whole Foods Market and free to the public, the 15th Annual Radio 92.9 EarthFest is a celebration for the Earth featuring great music, family-friendly activities and showcase a host of environmentally friendly products and non-profit organizations Presented by Whole Foods Market and free to the public, the 15th Annual Radio 92.9 EarthFest is a celebration for the Earth featuring... more
-
Nation waits for word on Senator Kennedy’s health
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy entered his fourth day of care at Massachusetts General Hospital this morning, as anxious Kennedy family watchers across the country and the political world await information on his condition. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy entered his fourth day of care at Massachusetts General Hospital this morning, as anxious Kennedy family watche... more
-
Jon Lester throws no-hitter... first Sox lefty in 52 years...
truly impressive
-
Apple Opens Largest Store in U.S.
May 15, 2008 -
Boston, Massachusettes is home to the largest Apple store in the United States - Second largest in the world: The store on London's Regent Street is 28,000 square feet.
The store has three stories connected by a glass spiral staircase. Computers are on the first floor; iPods, iPhones and accessories on the second; and the troubleshooting Genius Bar on the third floor. The Genius Bar is large enough to handle up to 1,000 queries a day, Apple says.
The store has some Green touches - Signature skylights for Steve Jobs, a fan of natural light. The rooftop also features a small garden covered in grass.
The building collects and filters rainwater, which is fed into Boston's Back Bay water table.
"We're highly confident that we've built a store here that is going to have a great [positive] environmental impact,".
May 15, 2008 - ... more -
I Was...A Young Republican!!!
When the full moon is high, an ordinary young man goes through some amazing transformations.
From Chocolate Cake City, the creators of Brokeback to the Future. When the full moon is high, an ordinary young man goes through some amazing transformations. ... more -
VANS WARPED TOUR 08 AFTER PARTY BANDPONGAPOLOOZA
SILLY GILLMAN JOINS THE FABULOUS RUDIES THE BBQ BAND OF THE VANS WARPED TOUR TO HELP OUT AT THE AFTER PARTY AND HOST IS 1ST ANNUAL BANDPONGAPOLOOZA FIRST MATCH THE AGGROLITES VS THE STREET DOGS SILLY GILLMAN JOINS THE FABULOUS RUDIES THE BBQ BAND OF THE VANS WARPED TOUR TO HELP OUT AT THE AFTER PARTY AND HOST IS 1ST ANNUAL BAN... more
-
Amateur singer gets more than a feeling from Boston
See how this rock 'n' roll fantasy sounds: One day you're trying to get Home Depot shoppers to apply for in-store credit. The next you're rehearsing with Boston and getting ready for a national summer tour.
"I never could have dreamed this," says Tommy DeCarlo, 43, Boston's new Brad Delp-channeling frontman, who is taking leave from his credit manager job at a Charlotte Home Depot to perform with the band. "That first gig is going to be something." See how this rock 'n' roll fantasy sounds: One day you're trying to get Home Depot shoppers to apply for in-store credit. The next you... more -
Endangered Animal Farmer
A Boston area farmer isn't raising the same old farm animals, she's raising the one's that are about to go extinct
-
Boston: PromOcean Air Band Auditions
Calling all air guitarists! Yes, both of you. Come on out to audition for the air band. Winners will tour and perform "live" in NYC. Rock out with your ... air out?
April 29th - May 1st
Church, 69 Kilmarnock Street Calling all air guitarists! Yes, both of you. Come on out to audition for the air band. Winners will tour and perform "live" in NYC. R... more -
Current @ IFFB on Distribution 2.0: Apr. 27, 12Noon
Current is excited to be a part of this IFFB panel with the cool kids from Spout.com, Indiepix, Ourstage and IFP:
Distribution 2.0
Sunday April 27 - noon
The Burren Restaurant
A discussion with some of the companies on the cutting edge of film distribution featuring representatives of Spout.com, Current TV, Indiepix, and Ourstage.
Moderated by Amy Dotson of Independent Feature Project (IFP).
*This panel is free and open to the public
Current is excited to be a part of this IFFB panel with the cool kids from Spout.com, Indiepix, Ourstage and IFP: Distribution 2.0 ... more -
Marathon Monday
Marathon Monday has been a tradition for old and young folks alike. This pod takes you on a mini tour of the madness that is Marathon Monday. (Watch for a little Current TV advertising) Marathon Monday has been a tradition for old and young folks alike. This pod takes you on a mini tour of the madness that is Marathon ... more
-
Marathon Monday
Marathon Monday has been a tradition for old and young folks alike. This pod takes you on a mini tour of the madness that is Marathon Monday. (Watch for a little Current TV advertising) Marathon Monday has been a tradition for old and young folks alike. This pod takes you on a mini tour of the madness that is Marathon ... more
-
related topics
Boston
Contributors (258)
Boston
