Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Who's leaving mystery meat on Framingham common?


This has been going on too long for me not to blog about it.


Someone has been leaving huge cuts of meat -- and not shabby meat, either, but choice cuts -- on the grass in Framingham's town common.
It happens in the morning and has been going on for six weeks.



Is it you?

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Friday, November 21, 2008

All videos, all the time

Just as MTV used to be. Go back to the 80s! www.mtvmusic.com!

Because it's Friday

Props to Brento.

Downtown Crossing: the next Faneuil Hall?


City officials and executives are seeking to create what's known as a business improvement district. They said that it will help soften the ambiance of Downtown Crossing, where vacant storefronts mix with million-dollar condominiums, decades-old jewelry stores, and swank new restaurants.
"This is going to be the new retail area of our city, and its best days are still ahead of it," Menino said. "I'm very bullish on this idea. We have some good leadership in place to make it a reality."
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Thursday, November 20, 2008

Another one bites the dust


Two, actually.

Yesterday, attention beaders/scrapbookers/knitters, I found out that Spark Crafts in Porter Square is closing -- for good. Not long ago, maybe a year, they relocated here from Davis Square. To my knowledge, they have had a loyal following. But these are not good times for anyone, and I guess crafting is a luxury.

And today, I found out the Abbey Lounge is closing as well.
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Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Mr. and Miss Jay get a Top Model spinoff!


"Operation Fabulous," if it is picked up by the CW, will follow them as they ride into small towns across the country to advise everyday girls on how to work it in the real world.
Both men began separate careers in fashion long before being recruited by Banks for "Top Model" -- Manuel as a makeup artist and Alexander as a model turned runway walk instructor. On "Operation Fabulous," the pair would do for the plain Jane what "Queer Eye" did for the straight guy.

Say it ain't so: Out of Town News is closing?


Granted, I no longer frequent Harvard Square because it has sucked for at least 10 years now. But this is so...historic!
The Cambridge Chronicle reports that the iconic landmark has not renewed its lease, which is set to expire the end of this month. Construction to "improve" the square has hurt business for years, and the internet seems to have driven the final nail into their newsstand coffin.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Ski-tacular


Just thinking ahead, before the snow falls (in Boston, anyway).
We all know last year's ski season was out of this world. Happily, the resorts put that extra coin into some major improvements.
Expect better snow machines, refurbished base lodges, expanded trail acreage and increased rental options.
There's also a helpful guide to what each resort can offer -- lots of beginner trails? Perfect grooming? Fast lifts? Cheap ticket packages?

I'm there.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Cute gift idea


This could hold a PDA, Blackberry, GPS, digital camera, ipod, Zune, whatever. I love it!

Friday, November 14, 2008

This sounds yum


I'm always a fan of Cesare Casella. Courtesy of Daily Candy, this has a good combo of salad and protein:


Insalata Pontormo

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil1 tbsp.
  • mixed fresh herbs (any combination of rosemary, thyme, basil, savory, chives, oregano, and mint)
  • 3½ oz. Italian pancetta, sliced and cut into strips
  • 6 eggs
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 4 c. mixed salad greens
  • 3 tbsp. Pontormo Dressing (recipe follows)


1. Place olive oil, herbs, and pancetta in large frying pan and cook over medium heat.2. When pancetta is transparent (about 5-7 minutes), beat eggs with salt and pepper and scramble everything in the pan. The eggs shouldn’t be too dry. If they are drying, remove from heat and continue stirring.3. Dress greens with the Pontormo dressing, mix in eggs, and serve immediately. (If you want a bit of crunch, add croutons or serve with crusty bread.)


Pontormo Dressing

1 tbsp. red wine vinegar

1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp. red wine

¾ tsp. salt

½ tsp. fresh ground black pepper

¼ c. extra-virgin olive oil


In a small bowl, whisk together vinegars and wine. Whisk in salt and pepper, then olive oil.

Birth center's possible demise ignites protest

A proposal to cease all deliveries at the North Shore Birth Center in Beverly - one of only two hospital-affiliated centers statewide that offer natural birth options - has ignited a passionate protest from women across the region.

With a debate and potential vote by Beverly Hospital's board of trustees expected Tuesday morning, women have been picketing the hospital, circulating fliers, writing letters to board members, blogging and organizing on Facebook, where more than 500 members have already signed on to the campaign.

The center's nurse-midwives, operating out of a cozy, homelike bungalow on the grounds of Beverly Hospital, have helped deliver more than 6,000 babies since the facility opened in 1980.


Unlike a hospital setting offering drugs to induce labor and control pain and machines to monitor the process, the center features a Jacuzzi or tub for labor and delivery, holistic approaches to pain management, and a kitchen, living room, garden, and deck encouraging family and friends to gather and participate in the birth.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

This is me



According to the Consumer Electronics Association, the number of iPhones, BlackBerries, and other smart phones has nearly tripled in the past year.
"You can tell a lot about a person by the kind of phone they carry," says image consultant Doris Klietmann. "If you have someone with a BlackBerry, you can usually assume they're educated and they either earn a good salary or they have an important job that requires them to be in constant communication."
That's my phone on the right. Except it can't take photos. Time to upgrade you think?

Friday, November 7, 2008

Ahmadinejad Congratulates Obama, Urges 'Real' Change


TEHRAN, Nov. 6 -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has congratulated President-elect Barack Obama on his victory, the first time since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution that an Iranian leader has offered such wishes to an American counterpart.




Analysts here say the letter indicates that Iran is ready to improve relations with the United States.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Broadway's rough road ahead

The second-act rendition of “Let’s Hang On,” in “Jersey Boys,” might be Broadway’s anthem at the moment.

Nearly every show had its audience shrink last week, with 14 productions experiencing more than a 10 percent drop in ticket sales.
So musicals and plays are trying to hang on until the holidays bring an influx of cheer-seeking visitors to New York, looking to be entertained.

After the new year they will try to hang on again, through January and February, traditionally two of the industry’s slowest months.

Three musicals, “Hairspray,” “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” and “Spring Awakening,” have already announced that they are closing in January. A handful of others have been struggling to fill seats.

Big change for the newsweekly market

U.S. News & World Report Going Monthly
In June, U.S. News moved its publishing schedule from weekly to biweekly and it's no surprise that the magazine has struggled to compete with its traditional competitors -- Time and Newsweek -- even as those magazines have had their own difficulties in this depressing journalism environment.

U.S. News has tried boosting its PR efforts, stepping up its web presence and embracing its image as the-magazine-that-makes-a-lot-of-lists.
Still, there have been plenty of layoffs and, last year, the New York Post's Keith Kelly reported that "The magazine has not made any money since the dot-com bubble burst in 2001."

Election night: Where I wish I was


Yup, Ben's chili bowl.

Actually, this whole thing has me in a bit of D.C. mourning today; there's nothing like watching election returns in Washington. I can't believe that the year I last did that was Bush-Gore.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Monday, November 3, 2008

Ryanair may be flying stateside

Well, TO the states from Europe, according to this article.

It all sounds fine and dandy as long as you realize you'll have to pay a lot in ground transport to get you from Ryanair's far-flung airport partners to your final destination.

Teens say they're reading urban fiction because it reflects life in the city. Should parents be concerned?


Urban fiction - also known as street lit or street fiction - is a style of literature that depicts drugs, violence, and sexual promiscuity in black and Latino neighborhoods.
Some of the books detail the extravagant lifestyles of drug dealers.
Others describe the bloody violence associated with the drug trade.
The sex scenes in some of the novels are extremely explicit, and sex is often used as a form of power rather than an expression of love.
But teens and some adults insist that the content of the books doesn't change mind-sets.

This is interesting

4 Surprising Signs You'll Live a Long Time

( Eater's Digest)

We all know the obvious ways to add years to your life: Don't smoke, eat your veggies, wear a seat belt (even in the backseat). But there are other, lesser-known habits and attributes that can help you live to a ripe old age.

YOU SKIP SODA (EVEN DIET)
I finally kicked my diet cola habit in my 20s, a good thing too, because scientists in Boston recently found that drinking one or more regular or diet sodas every day doubles your risk of metabolic syndrome-- combination of conditions that increase your chances of heart disease and diabetes. The exact culprit isn't completely understood, but it could be the caramel color added to colas and other dark sodas, which increased the risk for metabolic syndrome in animals. Experts also speculate that exposing your tastebuds to the sweet fizzy flavor of soda conditions you to crave sugary foods, which can lead to weight gain. Whatever the reason, it's an easy enough habit to quit. Club soda (sodium free, of course) with a splash of juice satisfies the fizz craving with just enough sweetness.

YOUR LEGS ARE STRONG
Lower-body strength means you also have good balance, flexibility, and endurance. While you probably care more about how your legs look in a mini and a pair of knee-high boots right now, as you get older those attributes reduce your risk of falls, injuries, and hip fractures, all of which are associated with declining health in older folks. So do some squats, lunges, and stair climbing to look good now-- and be strong and healthy later. It's win-win!

YOUR MOM HAD YOU YOUNG
If she was under age 25, you're twice as likely to live to age 100 as someone born to an older mom, according to University of Chicago scientists. The reason, they suspect, is that younger moms' best eggs go first to fertilization, which may mean healthier offspring.

YOU EAT AND DRINK PURPLE THINGS
Red wine, concord grapes, blueberries (okay, not quite purple, but close enough) all get that deep rich color from polyphenols- compounds that reduce heart disease risk and may even protect against Alzheimer's disease, according to new research. So crack open a bottle of Pinot (don't overdo it), snack on some grapes, or make a blueberry pie and ponder all the years that lie ahead.
Talk about happy and healthy!