We read this post in the Universal Hub, regarding a soon-to-be-ex MBTA rider who will now choose to drive to Boston.
When we read that "they're raising my Subway pass from $44 to $59," we consulted our Fare Hike of 2007 worksheet. There's only one teensy-weensy problem with her statement.
First, the Subway Pass, Combo, and Combo Plus passes no longer exist, as the T is eliminating them in favor of the singular LinkPass. The three older passes, at $44, $71, and $79, will all be replaced by a Link Pass for $59 per month. The elimination of her Subway Pass, and herding her to the new LinkPass, does make her monthly purchase go up $15. Perhaps she didn't know about this, or perhaps wanted to make her statement more appealing to the anti-MBTA crowd, but we want to make sure this got cleared up. (This is why we do the research, kids!)
Moreover, riders who usually bought the Combo or Combo Plus pass will see their monthly rate go down by $12-20 - a huge savings. The $15 extra for the LinkPass also includes bus service, which would cost her $40 if she purchased a Bus pass seperately - so she would have saved money regardless.
12/27/2006
Prop 2-1/2 is already in the crosshairs!
The more and more we read into the SJC's decision to allow same-sex couples to marry, the more and more we get confused.
We were going to write a screed last night, but after reading Jon Keller's article, we pulled a Jay Severin - allow us to retract and rephrase. (And we agree with Jon Keller - Prop 2-1/2 is not just in the crosshairs, but ready to be attacked like Fort Wagner. And all couples and families will be facing much larger property tax increases should Prop 2-1/2 be repealed.)
Who, exactly, is on the wrong side of this issue? Not the couples who want to marry and have it legally in the books as Mrs. and Mrs. Smith or Mr. and Mr. Jones. The very act of betrothal is an legal act of commitment, in the books of the county seat, that if married person A dies or gets sick or divorces, married person B is not required to jump ugly with the county probate court - where children or property might be involved.
The SJC, in their wisdom, took an approach that the opponents and proponents of same-sex marriage have bent and twisted way out of proportion. It is neither "the courts have spoken and can never be voted on" nor "the courts have overstepped their boundaries and violated the Constitution." The SJC took pains to say, "This same-sex marriage law looks all right, but make sure all the bases are covered."
The bases, sadly to say, are covered - with ginned up lawyers, crooked pols, and militant activists. The real issue is for one side to convince the public that their position is right, and if they win, would they mind keeping up their winning streak with a donation or two, or perhaps a vote for me in the primaries?
What doesn't help is that the Massachusetts state legislature has become more like the Soviet Politburo, mixed in with Mafia crime family machinations for good measure. The same yahoos who are clamoring for these Legislature to defy the SJC's request to do something, other than dance and babble in front of a camera, either put too much trust in their pols, or don't have enough smarts to know they're being bamboozled.
Remember the Clean Elections Law, in which candidates would only receive public money if they accepted no contributions or private or personal funds? After the hacks got really scared that a "Clean Elections" candidate didn't have to work hard or press the flesh as often as the tried-and-true back-room dealings, where pork and committee chairmanships could be bought and sold with a glass of scotch and a handshake, Tom Finneran & Co. killed it off.
Who's to say that if same-sex marriage did come to a vote and became truly legal as the SJC intended it, the legislature wouldn't hesitate to suffocate that law too - and effectively giving the anti-same-sex crowd an unintentional victory - and immediately making same-sex marriages null and void. Caveat emptor.
We were going to write a screed last night, but after reading Jon Keller's article, we pulled a Jay Severin - allow us to retract and rephrase. (And we agree with Jon Keller - Prop 2-1/2 is not just in the crosshairs, but ready to be attacked like Fort Wagner. And all couples and families will be facing much larger property tax increases should Prop 2-1/2 be repealed.)
Who, exactly, is on the wrong side of this issue? Not the couples who want to marry and have it legally in the books as Mrs. and Mrs. Smith or Mr. and Mr. Jones. The very act of betrothal is an legal act of commitment, in the books of the county seat, that if married person A dies or gets sick or divorces, married person B is not required to jump ugly with the county probate court - where children or property might be involved.
The SJC, in their wisdom, took an approach that the opponents and proponents of same-sex marriage have bent and twisted way out of proportion. It is neither "the courts have spoken and can never be voted on" nor "the courts have overstepped their boundaries and violated the Constitution." The SJC took pains to say, "This same-sex marriage law looks all right, but make sure all the bases are covered."
The bases, sadly to say, are covered - with ginned up lawyers, crooked pols, and militant activists. The real issue is for one side to convince the public that their position is right, and if they win, would they mind keeping up their winning streak with a donation or two, or perhaps a vote for me in the primaries?
What doesn't help is that the Massachusetts state legislature has become more like the Soviet Politburo, mixed in with Mafia crime family machinations for good measure. The same yahoos who are clamoring for these Legislature to defy the SJC's request to do something, other than dance and babble in front of a camera, either put too much trust in their pols, or don't have enough smarts to know they're being bamboozled.
Remember the Clean Elections Law, in which candidates would only receive public money if they accepted no contributions or private or personal funds? After the hacks got really scared that a "Clean Elections" candidate didn't have to work hard or press the flesh as often as the tried-and-true back-room dealings, where pork and committee chairmanships could be bought and sold with a glass of scotch and a handshake, Tom Finneran & Co. killed it off.
Who's to say that if same-sex marriage did come to a vote and became truly legal as the SJC intended it, the legislature wouldn't hesitate to suffocate that law too - and effectively giving the anti-same-sex crowd an unintentional victory - and immediately making same-sex marriages null and void. Caveat emptor.
12/23/2006
The best and most accurate M(B)TA map
If you're a pre-MBTA transit buff, here's a blast from the past , courtesy of Thinking of a New Title. Back then, stations had different names - or no longer exist.
The lines back in the MTA were named as follows:
Green Line : Subway Surface to Arborway, Boston College, Cleveland Circle, Riverside, and Watertown
Orange Line: Main Line Elevated
Red Line: Cambridge - Dorchester Subway
Blue Line: East Boston Tunnel
There is also a black-and-white map here.
The lines back in the MTA were named as follows:
Green Line : Subway Surface to Arborway, Boston College, Cleveland Circle, Riverside, and Watertown
Orange Line: Main Line Elevated
Red Line: Cambridge - Dorchester Subway
Blue Line: East Boston Tunnel
There is also a black-and-white map here.
12/21/2006
Now on 7 News - giving CW56 staffers the bum's rush
From The Inside Track: Jack Hynes had a celebratory cup of coffee, Karen Marinella was signing autographs, and Mike Wankum was milling around with the rest of the sports crew.
Then the crew from Channel 7 came in like the street cleaners on Ash Wednesday (not like the Gestapo!) and swept out the revelers. After they drove the CW56 satellite truck a one-way trip to WSVN in Miami, and took away the celebratory coffee, the People Who Were There blabbed to the Inside Track - which prompted the 7News flacks to play the denial game.
No word on whether Jack Hynes scrawled a choice phrase or two on the satellite truck.
Then the crew from Channel 7 came in like the street cleaners on Ash Wednesday (not like the Gestapo!) and swept out the revelers. After they drove the CW56 satellite truck a one-way trip to WSVN in Miami, and took away the celebratory coffee, the People Who Were There blabbed to the Inside Track - which prompted the 7News flacks to play the denial game.
No word on whether Jack Hynes scrawled a choice phrase or two on the satellite truck.
12/20/2006
Brew coffee yourself for only 25 cents per cup - no language barrier required
The whole Starbucks vs. Dunkin Donuts fight is on...
...in this corner, Starbucks coffee snobs. The ones who prefer that their pristine coffee, served by surly philosophy majors and/or surly actors/actresses who are waiting for their big break, be as convoluted to order and pronounce as possible.
...and in this corner...Dunkin' Donuts fans, seeking to tweak down the upturned noses of Starbucks coffee snobs by dissing their offerings.
Us? One 20oz bottle of refreshing Mountain Dew, please.
...in this corner, Starbucks coffee snobs. The ones who prefer that their pristine coffee, served by surly philosophy majors and/or surly actors/actresses who are waiting for their big break, be as convoluted to order and pronounce as possible.
...and in this corner...Dunkin' Donuts fans, seeking to tweak down the upturned noses of Starbucks coffee snobs by dissing their offerings.
Us? One 20oz bottle of refreshing Mountain Dew, please.
12/19/2006
Next Up: Jack Hynes' (Satisfyingly Ripping) Final Word
It had equal parts hard news, equal parts teary-eyed reminiscing, and equal parts thanking the crew and viewers for their loyalty. The non-TRL version of the 10 o'clock news is no more, and the fadeout at the end was certainly goose-pimple inducing. Universal Hub gives all the details, plus a YouTube video (not subjected to the Crimson Rectangle of Shame - the box where YouTube becomes PrudeTube).
However, triple kudos goes to Jack Hynes, 50+ year veteran anchor and reporter for old WHDH*, WCVB, and WLVI. Jack Hynes, in his staid, yet rightfully angry manner, all but put Ed Ansin's underwear up on a pole on Morrissey Blvd for all of I-93 and Red Line riders to see. Good for him, as he's likely one of the last Boston media figures who isn't a political wonk, a blow-dried talking head, a blabby gossip, or a conspiracy theorist.
*For you TV geeks out there, WHDH was on Channel 5, and was a CBS affiliate from 1962 until 1972, when it became WCVB and an ABC affiliate. The WHDH currently on Channel 7 was formerly WNAC (the old ABC affiliate, which then became CBS in 1972), WNEV in 1982, and then WHDH in 1993. WHDH and WBZ switched affiliates in 1995, with WHDH becoming an NBC affiliate and WBZ becoming a CBS affiliate.
However, triple kudos goes to Jack Hynes, 50+ year veteran anchor and reporter for old WHDH*, WCVB, and WLVI. Jack Hynes, in his staid, yet rightfully angry manner, all but put Ed Ansin's underwear up on a pole on Morrissey Blvd for all of I-93 and Red Line riders to see. Good for him, as he's likely one of the last Boston media figures who isn't a political wonk, a blow-dried talking head, a blabby gossip, or a conspiracy theorist.
*For you TV geeks out there, WHDH was on Channel 5, and was a CBS affiliate from 1962 until 1972, when it became WCVB and an ABC affiliate. The WHDH currently on Channel 7 was formerly WNAC (the old ABC affiliate, which then became CBS in 1972), WNEV in 1982, and then WHDH in 1993. WHDH and WBZ switched affiliates in 1995, with WHDH becoming an NBC affiliate and WBZ becoming a CBS affiliate.
12/17/2006
Make Income Redistribution Illegal
Let's see if we have this right. Goldman Sachs is giving out $16 billion in bonuses - and the Feds will be getting $6 billion of that back in taxes (based on the 35% tax rate); New York state will be getting $1.2 billion in taxes (based on 7.75% state income tax), and New York City will getting $583 million (based on 3.648% NYC income tax).
The working poor should be getting the same bonuses, says Michael Fishman of the SEIU Local 32BJ in New York City.
As Gilbert Gottfried would say, "You fool!" You know the gubmints have to get their interest-free income first!
The working poor should be getting the same bonuses, says Michael Fishman of the SEIU Local 32BJ in New York City.
As Gilbert Gottfried would say, "You fool!" You know the gubmints have to get their interest-free income first!
The T : The Tony Clifton of Public Transit Agencies
Loud, obnoxious, dresses in 70's era frilly tuxes, a legend unto himself, never on time, always swipes at critics, sings way off key...Tony Clifton was it. But he always managed to keep people talking about when he'd show up next, and who was really behind him...Andy Kaufman? Bob Zmuda?
The Idea Critic sez the T has no friends. When you don't show up on time, show up filthy, have loud, obnoxious employees, and write press releases about yourself that no one in the public would believe, you're not going to get many friends. The friends you do get, however, will only care about you if they can manipulate you to their maximum advantage, before they dispose of you like a day-old newspaper. On the other hand, if you don't care what other people think, that too can work to your advantage.
The Idea Critic sez the T has no friends. When you don't show up on time, show up filthy, have loud, obnoxious employees, and write press releases about yourself that no one in the public would believe, you're not going to get many friends. The friends you do get, however, will only care about you if they can manipulate you to their maximum advantage, before they dispose of you like a day-old newspaper. On the other hand, if you don't care what other people think, that too can work to your advantage.
12/15/2006
For those of you frustrated with the T...
Watch this video at Universal Hub and see if most of this makes sense to you beleaguered T riders.
Warning: The Seven Dirty Words, along with British English, make an appearance. You may want to play this at home, away from your boss and your kids.
BONUS: The people with more than four brain cells reading the toss away Metro paper go right to the Letters section, rifle for their lefty buzzword bingo cards, and tick off all the buzzwords from angst-riddled suburbanites. No one has hit the jackpot of $6.18 for a blackout yet, but plenty of those losing almost-a-winner tix are tossed into barrels beside the Metros.
With less than three brain cells, you believe that Britney Spears is the second coming of Christ.
Warning: The Seven Dirty Words, along with British English, make an appearance. You may want to play this at home, away from your boss and your kids.
BONUS: The people with more than four brain cells reading the toss away Metro paper go right to the Letters section, rifle for their lefty buzzword bingo cards, and tick off all the buzzwords from angst-riddled suburbanites. No one has hit the jackpot of $6.18 for a blackout yet, but plenty of those losing almost-a-winner tix are tossed into barrels beside the Metros.
With less than three brain cells, you believe that Britney Spears is the second coming of Christ.
12/14/2006
End Buzzword Abuse, Deval Patrick $1M Inaugural Edition
Deval Patrick's campaign slogan: "Together We Can."
If that "we" are Democratic bigwigs and huge corporations, then Common Cause has proposed a new slogan.
"Together We Can, Because This Kind of Money Will Buy Us All Sorts of Goodies."
We propose an even better slogan. "Hurry Before Deval Patrick Turns Into Mitt Romney."
As for that "broad and diverse" items that the head of the transition team is proposing...does that include dumping as many weasel words as possible?
If that "we" are Democratic bigwigs and huge corporations, then Common Cause has proposed a new slogan.
"Together We Can, Because This Kind of Money Will Buy Us All Sorts of Goodies."
We propose an even better slogan. "Hurry Before Deval Patrick Turns Into Mitt Romney."
As for that "broad and diverse" items that the head of the transition team is proposing...does that include dumping as many weasel words as possible?
Honor roll in Needham scotched for "Straight A's Give Me Cooties" board
Margery Eagan of the Herald fleshes out the rich white suburban high school angst over straight A's.
Anyone notice a connection here?
1. Rich white kids from the suburbs protest against MCAS.
Must take time out from those intense discussions about white guilt, ahem, social justice.
2. Rich white kids from the suburbs have private tutors, ranging from academics to sports.
How else do you get 2400 on the SATs? Actually buy a $20 book and study?
3. Rich white kids from the suburbs get free four year scholarships to Ivy League schools.
Probably where tenured jealous professors can mold the minds with even more white guilt.
4. Rich white parents live their lives through their rich white kids.
Thus making the children play date and activity group addicted, too tired to function properly, and robbing them of their childhood.
A quick tour through a Boston Public school system, where poor and middle class kids of all colors don't have those luxuries the rich white kids do, may bring back enthusiasm for that honor roll after all.
THE BILL PIDTO MEMORIAL "DEVELOPING SITUATION" UPDATE: It seems the principal of Needham High School has gotten a lot of press phone calls and a jab or two from El Rushbo and Jay Leno.
Principal Paul Richards removed the honor roll to reduce stress, thanks to the call of one parent. "Oh, please don't put my son's/daughter's name on the honor roll...they'll never live it down in their eighth weekend activity!" But we bet there are plenty of kids who would love to be recognized, especially those who failed in the past and were told they'd amount to nothing, and can proudly give a one finger editorial to their critics.
Anyone notice a connection here?
1. Rich white kids from the suburbs protest against MCAS.
Must take time out from those intense discussions about white guilt, ahem, social justice.
2. Rich white kids from the suburbs have private tutors, ranging from academics to sports.
How else do you get 2400 on the SATs? Actually buy a $20 book and study?
3. Rich white kids from the suburbs get free four year scholarships to Ivy League schools.
Probably where tenured jealous professors can mold the minds with even more white guilt.
4. Rich white parents live their lives through their rich white kids.
Thus making the children play date and activity group addicted, too tired to function properly, and robbing them of their childhood.
A quick tour through a Boston Public school system, where poor and middle class kids of all colors don't have those luxuries the rich white kids do, may bring back enthusiasm for that honor roll after all.
THE BILL PIDTO MEMORIAL "DEVELOPING SITUATION" UPDATE: It seems the principal of Needham High School has gotten a lot of press phone calls and a jab or two from El Rushbo and Jay Leno.
Principal Paul Richards removed the honor roll to reduce stress, thanks to the call of one parent. "Oh, please don't put my son's/daughter's name on the honor roll...they'll never live it down in their eighth weekend activity!" But we bet there are plenty of kids who would love to be recognized, especially those who failed in the past and were told they'd amount to nothing, and can proudly give a one finger editorial to their critics.
12/13/2006
The Charlie Cards are working (sorta)
When we got our mitts on a Dunkie's (Dunkin Donuts) rechargeable card, we were besides ourselves in glee. Instead of fiddling for cash - and perhaps teasing the caffeine addled even more with not having the correct change - money from credit card + DD card = bliss.
Then there's the CharlieCard. Hoo boy. Plenty of horror stories here, here and yes, here from BadTransit. We know nothing about the fine points of Linux, but we figure that it should be easy to take your credit card, slap $20 onto it and not hear the losing horns from the Price is Right.
Then there's the CharlieCard. Hoo boy. Plenty of horror stories here, here and yes, here from BadTransit. We know nothing about the fine points of Linux, but we figure that it should be easy to take your credit card, slap $20 onto it and not hear the losing horns from the Price is Right.
The best place for City Hall...
Jon Keller, from WBZ-4 News (we're old school, so forgive us) nails it with a new place for City Hall.
A better place would be right in the middle of Cambridge, just to make the overrated hipster set over there mad. Or perhaps in the middle of the Charles River?
A better place would be right in the middle of Cambridge, just to make the overrated hipster set over there mad. Or perhaps in the middle of the Charles River?
Only in Boston, kids (with a hat tip to Cindy Adams)
Hello there, my fine feathered friends. That hat tip listed for our first post is a reference to this fine gal, a NY Post gossip columnist named Cindy Adams. Never met her, but she's a great writer. And before you ask, no, we do not shill for the NY Post or any newspaper.
What this blog is about...hmm...first of all, there will be no punctuation abuse.No. Punctuation. Abuse. Second, our rules for politics - there are none. (If you were expecting the fine yuppie bleatings or the working class rants so prevalent in the newspapers of today, especially in the Letters to the Editor, please back out, or else we'll send a singing Paris Hilton to your door.)
So...pull up a chair, crack your knuckles, and indulge. (No magic tricks or nudity required.)
What this blog is about...hmm...first of all, there will be no punctuation abuse.
So...pull up a chair, crack your knuckles, and indulge. (No magic tricks or nudity required.)
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