Worcester's Tea Party and other bullshit

The New Federalism ( the old Oligarchy)

2012-02-14T13:55:00.003-05:00

Here's an interesting editorial which I feel is RIGHT ON, RIGHT ON !
... and I quote ...

"Letter: The new Federalism

As I learn more and deeper truths about the GOP in Minnesota I can’t help but ponder the contradiction between deeds and words.
On the stump there is the GOP refrain to embrace states rights under the tenth amendment. The clarion call is the need to treat states as seats of experimental democracy.
And then there is ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council. ALEC is reportedly funded by the Koch brothers. True or not, ALEC promotes a set of common legislative items to be championed and adopted in all states. Here in our own Senate District 37 Sen. Chris Gerlach is an ALEC member and the bills introduced by Rep. Tara Mack and Rep. Kurt Bills embrace the group’s underlying tenets. To the south of us is Rep. Pat Garofalo and to the north there is Rep. Doug Warlow who also promote legislation indicative of ALEC roots.
ALEC is definitely playing the long game. Slowly but surely they have turned state after state towards legislation that is all but identical. It may be union restricting legislation, it may be pro-business tort reform and one of its most egregious items is the photo ID bills showing up coast to coast. In each state it is the GOP who carries this legislation forward.
So I ask the reader and more importantly the voters here in current Senate District 37 how this common legislative action squares with the notion of separate laboratories of democratic experimentation.
Minnesota enjoys a reputation for progressive politics. That reputation was gained in a state with a long history of Republican gubernatorial administration, more by count than Democratic governors. If all the legislation being proposed last year and this year, 2012, is merely boilerplate ALEC legislation then isn’t Minnesota indeed acquiescing to this new form of Federalism, the ALEC form?
Every self proclaimed conservative should be asking themselves a hard question as to whether these duly elected legislators are indeed dedicated to the tenth amendment or if their dedication is to ALEC. Do you want the intent of tenth amendment or do you want the new ALEC surreptitious Federalism?
I’m seeking the seat held by Rep. Kurt Bills and I hope to get the DFL endorsement. By contrast I would seem to be the more moderate candidate. I like Minnesota, I like the state built by the joint efforts of the old GOP and DFL. I think we get a very good value for our tax dollars. Let’s keep Minnesota’s reputation for progressive government and spurn this new thinly veiled version of Federalism. When fitting and proper conservative agendas based on Minnesota values are adopted in lieu of those from ALEC vote new GOP candidates back into office. For the interim consider letting the sitting Governor move us off of stalemate by casting a DFL vote just this one time in 2012.
Jeff Wilfahrt,
Rosemount "

Do you think that, perhaps someday, the mASSES will stop voting for such evil greedy bastards? Stop being fooled.

Obama, Tea Party, Republicans, Democrats Might as well be one ticket

2012-02-13T15:31:00.000-05:00

"Obama, Tead Party, Republicans, Democrats Might as well be one ticket."
Ya that's right. Trampling upon individual rights seems to be commonality between the oligarchy including the republican leadership /tools for business and the puppet on a string for the World Bank Obama.

The only person that real democrats and or real republicans know deep in their the heart ( if they still have a heart ) is worth voting for is RON PAUL. Of course corporate commercial mainstream media will never acknowledge that.

Eliminate Income Taxes, Eliminate PAC money, honest money Global warming into perspective,
Abortion.

It appears his enemies are redirecting his website. That ought tell you just how much of a threat he is to those who to protect that 1%.

Watch for yourself

Unholy union between Google and the World Bank

2012-01-24T13:06:00.000-05:00

Somewhere in Revelations: ...And the beast had eyes all around it's head, that it could see around the world...
Scary shit!
Unholy union between Google and the World Bank .

Back from Hospital today

2012-01-19T12:33:00.002-05:00

SOPA so what ? Blog world all in a tizy about copyrights and internet piracy. Whoopdidy Dooo ! What a distraction. Watch out for other government policies that are being snuck by while our attention is on Wiki shutting down a few hours.

Legislating Republicans are only protecting their benefactors ($)and that is the huge(hypocritically) CONSERVATIVE conglomerates that own Hollywood and the record labels.

Why not a law that protects the actual creators and copyright holders of their own works?You know, the authors, composers, visual aritst, writers, etc.. Why not give all those individuals the power to distribute, sell or give away their creative properties as they wish withOUT restriction to iTunes, Googles ( aka world bank), Paramount, Verizon, ATT, FaceBook, and or Comcast or Clear Channel???
Imagine not having to have your work available ONLY through iTunes or through some other site that is making a killing on user generated content. I have seen no one really sticking up for the creatives. Where are you?

These huge companies are the Pirates the criminals who have been abusing and taking advantage of creative artist for decades. If Congress sides with we need to throw those bums out ! Hey we should all simply BAN the internet for 1 month.
I'll do it will you???????

See Ya ! ( in a month )

More and more I believe Obama is a republican in disguise.

2012-01-09T11:45:00.005-05:00

Many believe that the crappy republican contestants are just a set up to ensure Obama will win the next election. Why? Because he is doing everything the republicans want and on top of that, he will(or at least ensure the Democrats)take the heat for it.
Brilliant right ? So perhaps that is why we see him signing things to allow government to avoid FOI request, to allow Homeboy Security to kidnap any one, at any time, without any mandated accountability to the public, to sign away tax dollars to bail out Bankers and car manufacturers with inferior products,
and now this. You may say, "but Williby, this is saying all farms will be under 'government' control". Yes grasshopper it is, however this is an oligarchy these commissions are run by those running the corporations that has the most opportunity to profit from this.

The US is in decline and it's majority population is pathetically apathetic, disconnected,and too caught up in loosing the crumbs corporatist politicians leave in their wake.

Ring ring ring !!!! Justice calling .... No one's home.

Happy Screw Year from your phone company

2012-01-03T11:25:00.000-05:00

Verizon wanted to charge a 'convenience fee" ????? Corporations use computer and internet technology to make the transfer of money from our pocket to theirs and now they want us to pay as if it is some sort of convenience. To benefit who???? This technology makes it easier and quicker to process their profits no longer will they wait to receive money hand delivered and then have someone, on their payroll, to open the envelope, hand transcribe the transaction and move the money payment through accounts receivables. Oh it's convenient alright, convenient for Verizon. Is trying to convince us it our convenience an apparent fraud? Why aren't they arrested for such a scam?
Let's hope the Federal Postal Service jumps on that. I can see it now, brought to you by the Postal Service: "SAVE MONEY hand write a check and mail it through the postal service. Have the satisfaction of not giving the corporations more money for nothing and to know they have to wait for the letter carrier to deliver it. if it's late better for you the money sits in your own bank account a little longer earning you interest."
Luckily, after some up roar, they rescinded on this attempt. Aren't they nice?
Keep on the look out for this kind of swindling activity Banks like to pull this BS as well. ATM fees for example, keeps your money working for them 24/7 while they charge you a fee to access your money when you need it.

Banning the sale of Cigarettes???????

2011-12-20T12:50:00.000-05:00

Watching local City Haller's wasting tax money is easy to find think of the legal cost for the law department to address the non-issue of tobacco sales near school areas for one of many. The police can not keep up with drugs that being sold within a school area, how are they going to deal with enforcing ordinances prohibiting cigarette sales? Adding more to the waste will be the addition of inspectors which is currently up around 55 or so. What exactly are these people doing every day. Once in a while they'll bust some restaurant owner's balls, but other than that?! This nonsense with a wake of legal appeals is costly to tax payers while it really only goes to show the local Fascist are on the move. Like there is nothing else for city hall to deal with, this is exactly the type of Government attitude that defines Worcester's leadership. Arrogant and stupid and self centered lust for power and control, non transparent and totally disconnected from the will of the people. Someone please tell exactly how many citizens in Palmeri's district actually stood up to complain about tobacco sales at a Honey Farm situated close to a college? It wasn't a pipe smoking scholar that is for sure.

Housing issues : neglect and ultimately loss of life.

2011-12-14T17:18:00.000-05:00

How many more firefighters will have to die looking for vagrants, or phantom tenants, who are simply known to have been squatting or hiding out to avoid a previously existing arrest warrant?

You'd think will learn by now.

It is a real shame that the city and or the state has not taken seriously the concept of real and radical housing reform to save lives and subsequent cost that follows. Rather than pass the buck on one another, shouldn't there be laws that prevent any residential building from having an absentee landlord? In addition, shouldn't laws allow landlords to have discriminatory rights to determine who lives on their property if they feel there may be any problem what so ever ( as long as it is not based on race or creed ). Shouldn't landlord should have discriminatory rights to evict anyone who is violating resident, state, fed and local rules and laws. Perhaps the Housing Authority should not be supplementing or assisting with rents payable to any landlord who does not actually live on the property they are renting. The idea of owning smaller (2- 3-4 decker type ) property is not supposed to be a bottom line business model. It's to provide low cost housing with the investment coming to the home owner upon the resale of the property.

If a landlord lived on the rental property they simply would not tolerate the bullshit, drug dealers, squatters and all the rest of it. I a landlord could throw out squatters or negligent tenants without notice imagine the revitalization of neighborhoods, imagine housing cost going down. If the WHA stop easily giving out free cash what how rents drop and in the end, lives such as Davies, would not have to be sacrificed.
God rest his soul. His family and the families of all those firefighter heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice should sue the State, the City and the Housing Authority and perhaps even the Housing Court for making this mess and not correcting.

A real-time case study of the difference between a true grassroots movement and a corporate-backed astroturf movement.

2011-12-12T14:27:00.000-05:00

The "Occupy Wall Street" movement is providing a real-time case study of the difference between a true grassroots movement and a corporate-backed astroturf movement. ( Can you say Teaparty? )

Americans in recent years have been besieged by industry-funded astroturf efforts masquerading as real grassroots movements. One example is the "Hands off my Healthcare" national roadshow, which was backed by the Koch-funded group, Americans for Prosperity . Another is the Tea Party , which got a corporate-sponsored media boost from the Fox News Channel and benefited from the the efforts of a Sacramento, California-based Republican PR firm, Russo Marsh & Rogers . Astroturf uses manufactured spin and messaging that requires real money for things like media buys, front groups, mass-broadcast faxes, telemarketing-generated petitions, glossy postcards, form letters and talk radio-inspired phone calls.

Here are a 10 elements that indicate OWS is a genuine grassroots movement:

Link to complete article.

Sad news for Veterans of the Bulge.

2011-12-06T14:21:00.001-05:00

These self absorbed asswipes in government are just what the Occupiers are pissed off about,take that story, along with remembering the losers pepper spraying at Walmart, and there you have it, an image of overwhelming and ubiquitous greed that prevails in this country can not be denied and while it seems to make a very poignant statement especially when one considers the anniversary of Pearl Harbor or the Battle of the Bulge.
If only they had an idea of what they were dying for. We certainly owe those soldiers an eternal thank you.

TOXIC CITY OF WORCESTER: Smoke, Mirrors, Shootings and Campers

2011-12-01T09:12:00.005-05:00

No one wants move into, or set up business, or bother to vote in Worcester. Here is a few reasons, out hundreds of others, why.

It appears the deal with SMOC moving back into 701 Main was one decided long before the City Manager's tool, Paulie, made a fuss about them moving into the MLK. Paulie's cry seems to me to be simply a prop. A ploy to make it appear the City was responding to the needs of the people. It isn't, this city government rarely does. This SMOC thing is like so many other deals in this corrupt city I bettcha it was a DONE DEAL.

Holding phony public meetings seeming to go through the motions is so typical of the City of Worcester administration. Have you ever read the minutes from any of these meetings? If you did I'd bet you would see how obvious that is. Tuesday the Council voted to "move" them to 701, and by Thursday, of that same week, SMOC is moving into 701 on Thursday. talk about having all the ducks set up i a row.

The propaganda machines running full fledged on wtag and wcrn. Worcester is a model for the OCCUPY protesters to hold up as exemplary for the governments back door deals with full DISREGARD to the people. You have to read in between the lines to see the truth about This Worcester City Government and how it does more to discourage voters than anything else. T&G's Clive M got it right as did Haller when she stated the councils vote on the SMOC issues, was an act of "smoke and mirrors". Perhaps new logo should replace the prison looking grid the city uses with blank mirrors facing each other reflecting nothing. Representing the city's complete void and lack of concern for it's neighborhoods and it's people. It is nothing more to many of us than a political patronage club. If your in you all set the rest of us will just be expected to pay their bills.

So the word on Main Street, in front of City Hall (no surprise there. A reporter asked a bystander witness if she saw anything suspicious her answer was 80% of all activity down here is suspicious as she was pointing at City Hall. Pan handlers, drifters, loiterers is pretty much all you find there, except during lunch hours when working people venture out for air or lunch. An not I'm not taking about those IN City Hall. The bystander was responding to a reporter following up on yesterday's shooting in midday in front of City Hall, the center of the city's commerce and theater district.

Apparently a few cowardly gangsters get into a fight, some petty vengeance at least one shot was reported to be heard. Within minutes police where there and Dunkin Donuts at Harrington corner seen sales continue at an all time seasonal high. The people will perceive blame to gangs, the city manager will use this as an excuse to move the bus station to Union Station, Police will blame the midtown mall. Truth, as I see it is, that this may be what we get when a city encourages mediocrity, leads by an example of desecration and reckless disregard,and promotes itself based on lies. That big raise the council and the City Manager's administration received was well worth the great job they are doing. Why is the City Manager, an executive manager, speaking when the Chief of Police should be on this matter?

A last word on the Occupy movement: Guys you are loosing everyone's respect. Grow a pair and protest.

The common space is set aside for free speech and was not created to be available for the government to control or restrict free speech use of it by it's people.

It is a space that should be available for free speech at any and all times of day, as WE THE PEOPLE determine it is needed. This goes beyond a republic's system of regulatory controls. It's an issue of democracy at work. Public -common space is there exactly for free speech, and to assemble. You are not on a frigin vacation. A government can post no camping or setting up free housing on that common space, but you are not doing any of that. You are exorcising free speech 24/7. Do it and stop letting the fascist push you around. You may have no right to occupy private property, by the common space for that should be accessible. It's my last word about the Occupy movement in Worcester, but I do wish you well.

Jeff Barnard : December 8,1948-November 28,2010 We remember.

2011-11-28T08:15:00.000-05:00

Jeff we miss you buddy. It's hard to believe a year already has passed since you left us. You are not to be forgotten.

+
Jeff Barnard
December 8,1948-November 28,2010
+

iPads in Schools? Give us a break !

2011-11-28T08:09:00.000-05:00

Stupid is as stupid does. Talk about adding years of unsustainable bills to the educational system or even to distribute these devices to a government council or selectmen group. As the lock step losers line up to cypher more out of tax payer wallets. To even consider giving each pubic school students this technology illustrates the reckless short comings of those in charge of public ed these days.
There are plenty of ways to teach without leaving a large carbon footprint, increasing taxes, and wasteful spending on products that will require annual upgrades.

Occupy-o-phobes are emerging.

2011-11-15T12:35:00.000-05:00

Are we now seeing the birth of a new political entity?
Free speech is scary for some I guess.
Occupy-o-phobes .

Horoscope of the day

2011-11-14T14:13:00.001-05:00

You are getting sleepy, stare into an imagined spiraling image, clear your mind and repeat the following as you fast:
"Everything I read in the news paper, or watch on line, or on TV is absolutely true."
"Every member of the Senate and House is honestly thinking solely for the benefit to the people and following moral code to the T."

Shhh.... sleep.....sleeeeep ....sssssssssssssss....... ... this is your day to stay under the covers.... there is no New World Order on the agenda.... sleeeeeeeeeep feel the magic of Disney..... Shhhhhh, sleeeep ......!

Worcester Election Y A AA W WW WWWW NNN ....

2011-11-09T09:40:00.003-05:00

I'm going out on a not so risky limb to say another typically low voter turn out. My guess is about less than 19% of those registered actually got of their lazy arses to vote. THAT IS THE PROBLEM. It's not ideology, political positions, party lines. IT IS THOSE STUPID LAZY IDIOTS WHO REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE. As if that going to change anything. Fight for change but be aware that there is nothing to loose if you at least vote.
For Woosyworstester people the cycle of political patronage, nepotism, rubber stamping the city dictator, we know better than you politicians, the same ol', same ol' -lame-o continues.

Where is that "99%" when you needed them? Not voting.

Incumbents are back with the exception of two: Clancy's district which now has real-estate mogul Russell, and Smith's old seat which now has real-estate mogul Economou and a new person replaces one incumbent Haller and that is Sarai Rivera by about a 60% margin. A little sad too, as Haller may have been on of the only council members to at least answer emails and advocate for the needs of her district unlike some others who are back in again. Maybe she'll run at large next time. Rivera does look promising as she at least seem to care for communities rather than big business. Let's hope she doesn't become part of the shamrock club.

No big surprises in the School Committee although Mullany spent zero dollars still managed to loose by about 5 votes.Smell a recount? Don't count on it if it might cost a few bucks for Mullany. She'll be replaced by a Tea Party member not a big change there either.

Oh well we can all go back to sleep everything is under control. Just don't sleep on your empty wallets, those assessments will be coming in soon. Higher assessments may translate into higher profits for real estate agents. How are those votes going to go down?

Occupied in Jail

2011-11-07T08:49:00.003-05:00

I like what this band of protesters represent. I just can't figure out their stategy.
If some are protesting big government and the oligarchy and all the corruption and injustice that flows from form the greedy corporatist mentality. Are you aware that when you are arrested, or protest from the back of a closed from sight park, you hurt your own record, end up paying fines that ultimately support the power that be, i.e "the man", giving those who you are against and oppose an opportunity to look good because you make yourselves look rather silly?

Who is watching a barren downtown common in lame-o Worcester, on a weekend night anyhow? Where's the impact? Your Occupied Worcester group also seems to be controlled by leadership that is pretty narrow minded when it comes to ideas of peaceful resistance or meaningful solutions to the problems you are fighting. Try reading about the way St. Francis or Gandhi might approach social injustice or poverty.

The problem may not be just the "ism" Capitalism, Communism, or anything else-ism. All of these social-isms have brought the world discouragement, violence, war, hunger, a disparity on every level.The last thing we need is a giant one world government Uber power gigantic "State" to lord over us all. Look at China or the old Soviet Union Model. What a catastrophe that would be. A complete loss of individual expression, being and spiritual relationships.

The problem is us, it is what drives and motivates us at the base level. Something we need to feel fulfilled is obviously missing. A need for a sensory satisfaction ( from hunger to knowing something), to feel included, to understand, to be loved.

A republic can work for a large population to coexist. It would take with an honest, open transparent body with everyone on the same page to sincerely work to ensure their neighbor has everything you would want for yourself. That body would have to be volunteer. What is also needed is independent local economy a self-reliant community where every part of what is necessary to live and to co existence ( clothing, housing, food, resources, infrastructure) is produced and distributed locally. Meaningful living needs to come back to our society. Stop the rather hypocritical show. Protest by doing good charitable works, give the beggars on Main street your coat or some food, start manufacturing your own goods and distribute them locally and fairly.

Help us all out here.

Occupied walk in the park

2011-10-19T08:31:00.000-04:00

Worcester's "occupied" protesters gather in Lake Park.

It's a beautiful park run by the State.

Question to the organizers: If a tree falls in the woods does it make any noise?
Then again behind the Worcester Common it's pretty much as desolate and obscure unless your singing to the choir or one or two homeless persons or some construction workers. I guess if no one is paying any attention you might as well be sailing. While you are there you can volunteer to Quinsig Community Sailing organization help clean up the boats and organize the life jackets. Can you imagine a protest that does it through public service? That's the way to do it. No money for something, still get your kicks for free.

That is the answer you know.

Capitalism as practiced here, can not exist without poverty, greed, corruption to keep it breathing if everyone is rich and has everything, then there would no need for continuing to manufacture more goods except to only once in a while renew or replace them, but who would provide that type of service if everyone were rich? That's why we need to the poor and destitute. Simple math. So, we do need a solution at least keep complaining it's better than not.

The place to protest of such important matters should be in FRONT of City Hall or at least the Court House. Some place where you might at least be seen. Common guys, I move to have the protest at one of those locations. Can I get some wiggle fingered yea on that? So voted !

Seriously it will be a tough battle and I wish them well. It's just too many issues, although valid. This country may just be too screwed up.

Occupied promotional blogs

2011-10-14T10:39:00.003-04:00

"Occupied Worc" promotional blogs and local media get kudos for great coverage and inspirering dialogue.
Like this obvious asshole tool or genius who uses reverse psychology to promote local media in a big way. I come to think that there is a genius to this method of criticizing. It makes victims out of the voiceless. People love victims. It also promotes the hell out of them. When you realize everything is the opposite, it becomes clear the one doing the critique is in love with those he/she is criticizing. Benedetti, Tirella, WoMag, WCCA and others, should be thanking the genius of W.W. ( Could this be my own attempt at the reverse method? ). All of these media types were all in fact there covering the event. Calling attention to that is a interesting way to promote them. It's either that or this W.W. is simply a psychopathic disgruntled skinny ass little whinny socially dysfunctional nerd who find himself in total opposition to everything and everyone and thinks he found a humorous way to express it. No matter what it is, it's a comedy show that has come to truly define the true piss ant idiocy in of its writer.
Occupy Worcester, was pretty much a yawn, however, it may develop into something or not. People do mistrust the government at all it's levels. It seem to be an environment of greed, corruption and good ol boy's club. The organizers of the protest where rather slow in getting their word out, and sure their methods may be a bit strange, but this is all about voice and perception, and we saw nearly all of the local media types there covering this local and even some distant distant "Occupy {Name City Here}" protest. I noticed WeeWeeWill did not mention the Business Journal, WTAG radio, or himself for not being there. Curious the the WeeWee didn't mention them. The WeeWee desperately needs someone to like him maybe not. Did I say genius earlier? Well, shouldn't the method of using the opposite angle approach apply, or is it reverse psychology? It's pretty obvious, the not so obvious, is really obvious. Funny stuff. (?)
BTW the protesters are on spot in terms of being pissed at what is going on on Wall street, factory food, War machine, ridiculously high college tuition, greedy in it for themselves politicians, propaganda driven biased media, foreclosures, health and Insurance Industries. The whole system stinks of corruption and lies.

Pre-Occupied Worcester

2011-10-13T12:58:00.000-04:00

So we went to the catastrophe at the Worcester common a few are calling 'Occupy Worcester" (OW herein).
A diverse mix of people some well intentioned and some that clearly seem to have their own agenda to control things. This country is a Republic for very good reason and that is to move the agenda, the needs and wishes of a large democratic populous forward in as efficient and thorough manor as possible.

WoMag brings light to the organizers of OW use a "process" which, from what we saw, consist of a drone of repetitive phrases repeated over and over and Nazi like hand signals, by a small group. A little eerie because call and response methods utilizing repeated phrases may come in handy where there is no public address system or megaphone. When you have a small group repeated phrases numerous times,like sheep, it's unnecessary and simple seems suspicious. It quickly feels like a cult brainwashing method, or just plain silly. The use of hand signals is another totally ridiculous at that scenario. That method in lieu of poor audio conditions for larger settings also, however use to make decisions like where the location of the meet will be, or other simple things is lubricious. Again, while the group seems to be striving for pure democratic consensus, if this where a a real need to govern something, act to protect, let say an act of war is declared, for instance, by the time a group like OW using these "democratic" methods, agrees on where they're going to park their arses, the war would be over.

Yes there were the frustrated "I',m outta work types, mixed in with the frustrated foreclosure people, those who mistrust government, and also anarchist and communist and others, as well some of the usual homeless one sees downtown. We see a new grab for power. Communist and rebels do this very well. Turn a group into sheep through down a corrupt government and replace it with one that is even more corrupt. An action to protest without any real well thought out and tangible solution is nothing but a dramatic exercise to detract and distract from the truth. I bet that bothers a lot of folks. OW offers complaints but is thin on realistic tangible solutions. What ever the answer will be the solution will require some of a balance to prevent chaos and anarchy. OW seems to be a big cry fest for some and for others a chance to show off, get their faces in the media, eventually maybe run for a public office and become the people they are trying to out or maybe to further their little organizations and groups. It all seems a bit of usury to me. Jump on the "Occupy Wall Street " band wagon. Pre-occupied with everything but acting on a solution. Block your fist/ hands in front of your chest if you disagree. While your hands our bound to your chest, someone will be picking your pocket.

Will this thing (OW) last.Mmmmm...maybe,( maybe not in pre-occupied Worcester) but not unlike the equally suspicious and creepy tea-partiers. Too bad what is needed is a real working middle class who voices are never really heard. Everyone is sick of the oligarchy, it's real btw. Who isn't sick of government mistrust and greedy Wall street. You would think, in this Republic, someone would have the balls to step forward and start a new strong American party that is reflective of the 51% who are working and paying for all the rich bastards (1% controlling mostly everything) to stay rich while the poorest (48%)stay entitled and poor.

Well real needed change may never happen. It's not about political parties or even a silly "process", it's about walking the talk, it's actions that must come to light. Sadly, we are all easily kept in the dark for that reason.

It all seems a bit of usury to me. Jump on the "Occupy Wall Street " band wagon. Pre-occupied with everything but acting on a solution. A big show for nothing. Block your fist/ hands in front of your chest if you disagree. While your hands our bound to your chest, someone will be picking your pocket.

Here is an excerpt from Sunday:

Speaker: " There are a few of us who have to make a bowel movement, I move we ask for a port-a- potty to be placed on the East side of the common."

Crowd:" There are a few of us who have to make a bowel movement, I move we ask for a port-a- potty to be placed "... " There are a few of us who have to make a bowel movement, I move we ask for a port-a- potty to be placed " ..." There are a few of us who have to make a bowel movement, I move we ask for a port-a- potty to be placed "...

Speaker: "Vote to accept use your choice of hand signal" [yey or ney ]

Crowd: "Vote to accept use your choice of hand signal"... "Vote to accept use your choice of hand signal"... "Vote to accept use your choice of hand signal"

Crowd displays various hand signals.

Speaker: "Do we have a count?"

Crowd: "Do we have a count?"..."Do we have a count?"..."Do we have a count?"..."Do we have a count?"..."Do we have a count?"..."Do we have a count?"...

Someone out of the crowd : "Do we need to first select someone to count?"

Speaker( nervously dancing with legs crossed: "Yes you are right, Can we amend the motion to precede it by selecting a group secretary or clerk to count our votes"

Crowd repeats (a few in the crowd also nervously dancing and pacing with legs crossed):"Can we amend the motion to precede it by selecting a group secretary or clerk to count our votes"..."Can we amend the motion to precede it by selecting a group secretary or clerk to count our votes"..."Can we amend the motion to precede it by selecting a group secretary or clerk to count our votes"..."Can we amend the motion to precede it by selecting a group secretary or clerk to count our votes"

Speaker: "Show of hand signals "

Crowd: A majority of them leave to shit and pee behind close by tress and various statues.

Speaker ( now with wet stained pants): "I withdraw my motions"

Two remaining from the crowd of about 50 people: "I withdraw my motions"... "I withdraw my motions"... "I withdraw my motions"...

Crickets chirp, one car passed down quiet front street.

A lone person out of the group walking away in a semi comma: "I withdraw"..."I withdraw"..."I withdraw"... I .... I ....I .... ...

Democracy in action.

Occupy Wall Street Encampment: A new revolution at home

2011-10-03T08:38:00.000-04:00

Remember Egypt, London and elsewhere?

A large protest consisting of thousands of people of many colors, many background and political persuasions have now gathered for the past 17 days, as of this writing.
So far about 700 have been arrested by NYPD.

This protest expresses the 99% of the people who will no longer tolerate Wall Street Greed and corruption that has contributed to the United State's

In an unprecedented move, JC Morgen gives about 4.6 million dollars to the NYPD, to help them do a better job of arresting protesters and shutting them out and up in their efforts.

This is exactly the-problem where we find a government entity ,e.g. police, protecting the 1 % and not equally all the rest of the people.

Now Unions are coming out in support of the protesters. Finally, the antithesis to the stupid Tea Party.

This is about the people's frustration at the unjust business of the Oligarchy that has manifest itself in the form of partisan congress, to those politicians who are cheats and scoundrels that happen to have been big corporate backing, which has contributed to loss of jobs, a pitiful economy, voter lack of trust, a healthcare system that miserably fails and the huge gap between the 1% super wealthy and the 99% of the poor and working-poor.

Pain of Campaign

2011-10-01T20:23:00.000-04:00

Why bother campaign?
New candidates seem to have done little to get out in front of the publicity racket. One really doesn't need a lot of money to connect with voters. One needs to merely make time to walk the streets knock on doors, talk face to face with folks. Sure there may be plenty of opportunities on community media such as WCUW radio or WCCA Channel 13 public access to get heard or to get TV face time. Around here even commercial outlets will take you for small cash or sometimes for free too. Although a lot of time commercial media has an agenda. Look how far up the ass WTAG is to the City Manager for instance.

So the T&G cost money, so what? Not much readership there either. They seem to be singing to their own choir. Newbies ( new candidates ) need to kindle the voting fire, show them your new ideas. Show them voters that you are not already bought and paid for like some of those tools /incumbents.

We need more than school teachers and city hall workers and city hall cronies to go out and vote. Vote not for the familiar but for who makes the most sense, who would you trust to really not only listen to you but actually work for you while you are busy earning your own living.

So instead we see a few schleps carrying signs at intersections and waving at cars.

Is that what it comes down to a friggin' waving contest?

Did anyone bother to roll outta bed yesterday to vote? ...Uumm... NO!

2011-09-21T09:43:00.000-04:00

So, while a lot of folks are crying for blood thirsty "me first" Tea Party Republican Congressman John Fleming, who claims he would have a rough go of it under President Obama's new plan to make millionaires pay their fair share of taxes. In fact, he told MSNBC yesterday -- and these are his words -- "by the time I feed my family, I have maybe $400,000 left over." , the rest of us barely break out of our Worcester coma from last night's preliminary facade of an election process. With less than 9% of registered voter turn out pretty the same ol same ol, will be back in the running. Some new players and hopefully they will make the most of it get their faces out there.

Worcester needs to break away from the rubber stamp fixed council slate - good ol boy's n girls that simple exist as tools for a city administration that is controlled by two people and a small click. Can you guess who they might be?

So congrats to those less than 9%. I would bet that at least 90% out of those less than 9% are all city employees. What a shame the rest of the population is too lazy or stupid. So the next person that complains about things, if you didn't vote, shut the F#@! up and go back to sleep, every thing is under control !!!

More WTF! ??? moments

2011-09-19T12:51:00.001-04:00

Worcester: Evidence of more infestation: What they are doing to stop the infestation is not working. So let's continue to destroy more trees than those little buggers have. WTF! ??

Obama want to tax the rich, let the rich at least pay their fair share of taxes. Why not just eliminate ALL Tax loopholes and let every individual pay equal amount of tax based on overall income before write offs? WTF! ??

Worcester: Green Islanders still complain about flooding. This has been a problem in that area for years. Yet the current council thinks Mikey boy is doing a great job as City Manager. WTF! ??

Child abuse shows a rise alongside recession: Really ???? What is being done to help ease the stress of the poor and working class poor? Nothing. Republican's want to cut Social security and medicare, Obama let us down by giving in on universal health care, the factory food industry is still adding poisons to our food, and with a capitalist society based on exploitation and greed, do you really see anyone even trying to help the poor, except maybe for some in the religious community or some social service agencies. And those are under attack by anti non-profit politicians seeking to tax them in order to make government bigger without having to hurt big business interest of course. WTF! ??

Questions For The Candidates On Parade

2011-09-16T08:52:00.000-04:00

Attending, listening or watching the various election forums in this city is the definition of insanity. Absorbing sound bite after sound bite, one stupid irrelevant question after another, being answered back in formulated unadulterated rhetoric is a fun way to culture brain tumors.

Sadly there may be some really good and caring folks running but I doubt they will get close. I sometimes wonder how fixed these elections are.

Running for office seems to be a maniacal exercise of ego. Today it has nothing to do with really bettering community or providing or service to it. It's about getting a foot in the door, grasping for power, a little dough, and creating a circle of cronies who are too lazy to work and rather live of the slaves of this age, the working middle class tax payers.

The incumbents have patted themselves on the back , have gave themselves huge raises ( note how that subject hasn't come up in any debate), while the city remains one that has a city hall full of arrogant control freaks ( hows this: a blogger once wrote that Timmy Murray and Micky O'Brien were discreetly approaching people asking them and helping them to run for office-talk about arrogance), lacks any true transparency, continues to run at a much too high cost, full of redundancy to the point where it's activities undermine many private enterprise of both the profit and non profit kinds.

Questions to candidates
Will you detract council raises?
Will you ensure a policy to set the tax rate BEFORE the preliminary elections?
Will you set up development benchmarks to evaluate the city manager that include incentives to encourage non-city hall/government initiatives(in other words reduce the size of city government and cut wasteful programs)?
Will you bring issues that impact neighborhoods to the vote of the people.
Will you and how will you stop Unions and Health care insurance companies from busting the bank?
What will you do to curb the rampant conflict of interest going on at city hall?
How will you open city hall, not with just with boring meetings on TV or placing the city manager on a crappy radio show, but with documents that are not redacted, and contract negotiations that are not made behind closed doors, and giving people real access to records, and information?

Problem is Republican agenda not just Obama

2011-09-08T17:54:00.002-04:00

So the corporatist tool Republican party continues to blame Obama for all the ills of the world.
The republican agenda has lead to the current poor economy and dismal job market. And the fools in the Teaparty are helping destroy any hope of recovery.

Eased regulations pushed by the Republican party and corporate lobbyist, have allowed companies to outsource jobs over seas costing US jobs, Eased regulations have allowed factory farms and giant food processing companies to genetically alter foods while continuing to use toxic pesticides both of which are full of ingredients that the human body finds very difficult to digest, and or will screws up the bodies fat cells causing the consumer to become obese and or disease ridden, this, of course, spins into poor health, leaving the masses at the mercy of health care industry and insurance companies who are all more than happy squeeze every last penny and breath of life from them. eased regulations have lead to the corporation being accepted as any other human individual, only difference, these are crazy individuals, with no accountability. This psychotic perspective is founded on insatiable greed, where the bottom line, above ALL else, including the global environment, human health is all that matters. This creates a huge injustice, which stirs up all sorts of international resentments, and failed government and international policies which have further restricted trade. There is not real reason other than political agenda, that we are paying high fule prices rather than live an alternative quality of life based upon sustainable principals.
The shear capitalist greed has made a small few very rich while leaving the majority of people poor, working more hours, harder, absorbing more stress than ever before while knowing the old American dream for a good life has died 50 years ago. financial struggles which translates to less spending elsewhere. Big box stores and large companies have monopolized on a variety of products thus saturating the market with goods aka crap no one really needs. How many Walmarts in 100 mile radius do we really need? Eased regs have also allow health care companies and bankers to further rape the public costing jobs and disposable income.
I say let the car companies, the banks, and health insurance companies go out of business. What would really happen to the home owner if all the banks close, who will throw you out of your home? If a retailer or service has a product that is already saturated let it shut down. Isn't that what a free market is all about right? They are playing us on fear. That comes their the other tool in their pocket: main stream media.
Not to say Obama has his short comings. Comprising tendencies.

Tea Party wants to keep the poor from voting

2011-08-30T09:39:00.001-04:00

That is what I perceived after reading the T&G this morning concerning a public hearing held with the Election commission last night at City Hall.
In a hypocritical display Tea Part reps are upset because Neighbor To Neighbor members wear a T shirt with at NTN logo on it. The concern is NTN endorses certain candidates. Big whoop. What about when Unions do it, what about when Tea Party members endorse candidates? I guess that's ok. The Election Commission, like the rest of the tools at city hall have no leadership and no balls. So they just evade a decision. They could have said, look the Tea Party has no evidence what so ever to support their argument, and the whole election process is a scam without freedom of expression and speech, so scram ! But they didn't the cowards!
I am convinced that TP'ers like their Republican corporatist tools just want to limit the voice of the poor the people they hurt the most with their pro big business policies and deals.

Cantor's scheme to sacrifice clean air and water.

2011-08-29T14:08:00.000-04:00

There is no doubt to me that that big business including factory farming, has contributed to global warming, as well as to the increase of cancer, heart disease and other illness.And even worse, a failing health care system. There are so few truly sustainable business enterprises, I can not even name one other than, perhaps, some types of organic farming, or one on one teaching,. And that would be without any tools, just word of mouth teaching. We are ruining this world, due to recklessness and flagrant irresponsibility toward true sustainability. Toward leaving as less of a carbon footprint as possible, toward clean air, water, material consumption, or, in some parts of the world, worker exploitation, and also the overwhelming and what might hazardous use of materials, and even radio frequencies and more. Republican and Tea Party business policy in this country is a pro death policy. As ironic as that may sound to "pro lifers".

As there is an apparent increase of global environment calamities as well as warming, all of it makes this point even more obvious,and with perfect timing, the House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is set to launch an all-out assault on environmental and labor protections.

Cantor's scheme is yet another Republican attempt to sacrifice clean air, clean water and workers' rights at the altar of the Tea Party fringe and the GOP's special-interest backers like the Koch Brothers.

These Republicans and the Tea party fringe, are not only trying to weaken the voice of the poorer class ( see today election hearing at 5:30 at City Hall), but they are also trying to further profit at the expense of the environment. Anything for their bottom line. These are criminal actions against the people and should not be tolerated.

Irene or is it EILEEN?

2011-08-26T12:04:00.002-04:00

Keith Richards has a great tune called EILEEN. Which I always got confused with IRENE. So in tribute to all the confusion brought on by media hype. I will be playing it on my front porch watching all the crazed people funnel into Walmart to get their doomsday supplies. I had a girl friend named Irene and another named Eileen. Both consistent nagging bitches. I can relate to the scare.
Join in the fun:
EILEEN
Don't get blown away.
Of course may help if you can get three sheets to the wind and watch Irene blow.

On a related note: what ever happened to the band Hurricane Alley? Anyone.... ?

Say NO to CasiNOs in Massachusetts

2011-08-25T16:08:00.001-04:00

Will Massachusetts legislature move to allow more than one casino in this state?
Are any Mass politicians corrupt? There is your answer.

Do we need Casinos in Massachusetts? NO ! of course not.

Why is this bad.

1.Over saturation. How many in relatively close proximity are can really be expected to flourish? Look at shopping Malls. If they're too close they become abandoned ghost malls. Have you ever been to Amherst? Look at the Worcester Center and the Greendale Mall along with the Auburn Mall. All too close and negatively impacting each other. Even Vegas has dwindled in numbers of people who are visiting since gambling has risen in many states.

2.The construction jobs are transient. After it's built those construction jobs transposed into unemployment numbers.
Most other casino jobs are low paying, tremendously boring, and also have a huge turn around. The jobs argument is bullshit.

3.In short time they will add to the increase of gambling related problems such as gambling addiction, an influx of prostitution, undue financial hardship for some, an increase of DUI's and more.

4.Think of the negative impact these Casino resorts would have on such places where Worcester has already made a huge investment, such as Hanover Theater, or Mechanics Hall or the DCU center. These centers will soon close due to loss of business to casinos. What will follow is downtown Worcester will become, if you can believe it, even worse of a desolate shit hole than it already is.

SAY NO TO CASINOS

The WTP formula for increased jobs, a better economy, and healthier environment

2011-08-22T12:15:00.000-04:00

I get these sick republican propaganda emails complaining about fixing congress, the economy, the country, and other injustices in this country. It all basically the same thing: Deregulate everything, give the rich more tax breaks,eliminate social aid and public retirement plans or move them to some sort of "private" control", and throw out Obama because he caused all the job and poor economy problems we have.

The lies the Republican's and Teaparty tools for the corporatist spread are amazing.

Obama did not cause the loss of jobs and poor economy in the USA. The Republican's have and they amped up this nations decline since Regan. Additionally, we must consider that a very few, if any, business models are sustainable and planet friendly. Everything has a saturation point and the more a product line is controlled by a monopoly or a small group of individuals ( OPEC or the Telecom industry or pharmaceuticals,for instance) the chances for saturation and consumer burn out are even increased. This has led to increased abuses in worker and global exploitation,and political scandal, causing much resentment and rebellion world wide.

Relaxed deregulation has empowered corporations to be considered the same as a individual person, although faceless, and void of taxes due to tax loop holes. No is responsible for global warming yet someone has to be. One thing is the middle class barely working, living on one paycheck at time working stiff is going to pay for it through their pocket books, or by physically suffering because of it.

Here is a small example.
Government subsidies to support pharmaceutical, gnome food processing have reaped huge profits for factory food companies, and chemical and health industries, while, at the same time, has contributed greatly to making people actually more sick, ironically paying higher cost for medications ( which were created through government funding ). Legally they have the law on their side, thanks to legislation bought by these companies, so there is nothing we can say about it. And even if we could say something about it, it only ends up on a blog no one reads or a community media outlet which only a few may see.

Here's is an example, why are cost for meds so high today, while chemical manufacturing companies have experienced an increase of tax deductions and received research subsidies? People are dieing unless they can afford the sky high cost for medications, why are these cost so high? They are produced in third world countries, the research to develop it was probably government funded. And all the while the republican's want to shut down public health options, or privatize health insurance. If your sick and poor, too bad is what they are saying. There is a strong link between factory food processing which now involves the addition of so many preservatives, "flavor enhancers"(MSGs), pesticides, genetic alterations, and pattens on seed production, with obesity, all sorts of cancers, and neurological diseases, and even psychological illness and gender maladies and more.
This is all great news for the health industry, bad, however for people. In additional unless you can afford the seed patten, companies such as Monsanto have even lobbied to protect their patten on life, to prohibit farmers from growing certain crops on their own land.
Of course the telecommunication industry tops the oligarchy off by maintaining a steady flow of propaganda to sway the uniformed and gullible masses, especially the Tea party folks who seem to buy into the bull.

You want jobs in the US? Regulate.
Prohibit exporting labor or allowing American companies from exploiting third world workers. Raise taxes for imports produced outside of the USA. Keep the jobs here and locally too.
Here is the WTP formula:
Prohibit the use of toxins, pesticides, genome alterations, eliminate ALL business tax loopholes, make everyone, corporations and individuals all pay the same tax rate 8%, for example, across the board for anyone earning less than 30,000 a year. End the wars ( only serving the interest for oil companies) in the middle east, Terminate all private health insurance companies and move all health to a public plan, regulate media to ensure a democratization of the medium, only pay elected officials a salary while they serve, no retirement plan to exceed their term of office, and impose real term limits, Eliminate college tuition which should be free anyway. We will at first get bombarded with media fear tactics. But you know what will happen? Small local entrepreneurs will pick up the slack. You'll see more local jobs, local manufacturing, less pollution, you'll see an increase of local farming ( day to day fresh food ), healthier foods, healthier people,less obesity and much reliance on health insurance and medications. A more local economy building communities rather than just exploiting them. With everyone paying the same tax rate and no loop holes to hide the huge profits the government will easily be in the black, while still enabling a continuation of medical assistance, social security and free higher education.
Private business can still flourish as the new economy would also be flourishing.
So, don't buy the propaganda paid for by the oligarchy, don't buy into the fear that if we tax the rich the economy will get worse. If can't and it won't. Maybe the McDonalds and WalMarts will close, maybe there will be no more health insurance, but maybe you'll be healthier, buy your bread, clothing and other goods from a local stores and a baker who uses no chemicals, and you's experience continuity and a better quality of life in a prosperous community.

An edition of "WTF?Give me a break !!"

2011-08-15T13:34:00.003-04:00

A) The T&G suddenly brings up the issues of diversity in WPS. B) The City moves to install cameras at intersections, C) City block grants paying kids to paint hydrants, D) Home land Security gives muni's money for Reverse 911 calls to give you weather alerts.

WTF?GMAB!!

A)With the shitty economy shouldn't the city be looking for ways to eliminate school busing, force all schools to simply offer equal quality education and teacher support at every school in every neighborhood? Save the planet and cut the WPS travel budget. If this were implemented it would improve the environment, increase neighborhood value and give the kids an opportunity to walk and exercise and experience the outdoors all with one policy change. While your at it, do away with the cost of a having a redundant second volume of classroom books in Spanish. How about, instead, mandating an additional course of English be offered and taught by quality English multi lingual teachers for WHOEVER needs it, available at all schools? Save more money add a couple needed jobs and create an incentive to learn English. It might even improve opportunities for jobs in the future.
B) Cameras at traffic lights?????? Another way to stick it to the little guy who already pays to much taxes. Make a little mistake and they'll nab ya for more. Rather than go after huge corporations and the rich for taxes they want more from the little puke. Since when is this really a major issue that the council feels that spending for this really needed. Is every intersection suddenly KELLY Square ? You want cameras how about invest in your public access TV stations give them more dollars so community members can take cameras in hand and record the C) youth making $8 buck an hour through block grant money wasting 4-6 hours painting a single fire hydrants. You want to give kids a job that's meaningful? How about letting them kids take over the police road and traffic construction details. Look at the amount of street work and officers getting big overtime bucks to stand there with coffees in hand flagging traffic around construction sites. What a savings boon that would be and good for youth jobs too, while saving the city loads of cash flushing down the OT police detail toilet. D) Storm alerts??? How many people have radio's, TV's , computers, or windows? The Feds have no cash and now in an effort to nab your phone numbers they want you to subscribe so you can be notified if it rains or if a hurricane is headed your way. Why not invest in a city wide siren like the days of old? Between that and all the other ways media has including the WPS notification system, why be redundant? The insanity continues. And they wonder why people are boycotting voting.
Redundant and silly WTF?GMAB!!

Economy down the shitter. Thanks Republicans and Teaparty

2011-08-11T11:28:00.001-04:00

In the continual effort to rid the highest office in America of Obama because the corporatist/fascist want full control we can now only say "look at this fine mess you got us into", to them, greedy Republican politicians and Teaparty tools.

If we had a a flat tax with no loop holes for the rich and corporate entities, if we reduce spending in the military weapons budget by 15%, cut the salaries and benefits for all those elected and government employees who are all making over 150,000, pass stronger legislative regulatory controls for health care, move to a universal plan, do a better job regulate telecommunications ( to further internet commerce as opposed to penning it up to serve the interest of AT&T and other huge media), to prohibit outsourcing jobs abroad, or to at least increase import taxes, to ban use of preservatives and pesticides in our food, to encourage local economy and move away from non sustainable business as usual. Then maybe we would see a healthy economy emerge.

Since Regan screwed things up nothing has really worked, out side a flash in the pan or two. Those were unsustainable or corrupt legislation killed any hope for those to really develop or build a strong economy. Remember the internet bubble in 2000?

The fear mongers will cry "what will happen to this and that?" Let it happen, it will be healthier in the long run and sustainable, less carbon footprint, a better planet. Base the economy on giving and saying thanks instead of funneling wealth to the already wealthy. The republican's and corporatist had it their way and where did that get us? More scandals, and a depression. Someone invent a party or find some leader that will really stand for the majority of Americans PLEASE !!! Or maybe I will.

Muiscian's rights? Where and when????

2011-08-02T11:32:00.000-04:00

If you're a musician and really love your music, band/group and fans. Don't you think your fans should have free access to your live performances without your having to put your hand out to beg them for a tip to support your vocation in entertainment? Don't you think you should reap the majority of CD sales as the creative artist rather than see some label or agency take the majority profit share?

I have many friends who are or were once int he music business. Many left due to the extreme challenge of making a living at it. Some musicians I know, have done pretty well. However even "doing well" is not so well when compared to other careers. Many musicians I know or spoke with really miss the days when artist were considered leaders. Today their either tools for major labels or local venues. Appealing to the mass audience the "successful tunes" being sold have little moral or philosophical depth. Insipid lyrics about social relationships avoids political positions that may influence market values keeps them safe. No balls in other words, for the most part. No leadership. Instead musicians are tools serving night clubs, bars, restaurants, by providing them with a reason for people to go to their establishments. Gone seems to be self respect and pride in the craft and message. Why not ask those establishments to pay for service so your fans could simple go to enjoy the entire package: your music and the establishment's products, e.g good food, drink or ambiance ?

I spoke with top musicians in Boston and Worcester, and its the same thing. The professional players have to go further away, to find consistent income for their live performances or musical services. This was not always the case. For decades, even in Central Mass, any band or musician worth their salt could earn a descent living from performing while supplementing their craft through teaching. It's clearly the other way around today and not that way just locally. Today performing seems to be reduced to showing off for buddies, free beer or a chance to sell a couple of CD's.
It's an unsustainable venture.
Reasons or this?
Bad economy, some blame the drinking age laws, some say there are too many half assed performers, too many cut throat / scabs poaching formerly paying venues by undercutting rates ( usually the half assed performers ).

Many venues seem to fall in line with the corporatist ( and record labels ) view that the bottom line is everything so, as a result, mediocrity and spectacle dominates the music scene which slowly eats away at the fan base driving many to search and find personal satisfaction through music found online or on targeted radio programs while live players are simply exploited until they eventually quit to teaching or change careers. It's a catchy disease too. Many bands pine over being asked to perform for no money. Does your doctor perform surgery for no money, or will your lawyer represent you for free, or will a police officer hunt down a criminal for a tip or a pass of the hat? I have never figured out why musicians expected to be shit on?
Solo performers seem to be affordable to some, while larger bands are really scrapping to get buy. Result? Boring !!! If I hear more solo guitarist I will puke.

The bands and musicians ( mainly those who are leading or booking their own bands)whom I spoke with, all said the same thing, that they could make much more money for their bands performing 5, 10 or even 20 years ago than they could today. Look at those paying venues around here, not one venue has increase rates paid to bands, in fact many have decreased ( so much for cost of living), they also find a majority of club management most indifferent to understanding and appreciating the value of live music.

This is not to say that there should not be venues for upcoming, learning artist. Save that for music schools, high school dances, private parties, shopping mall events. Whenever I hear someone declare they want to be a professional musician, I think buy a lottery ticket your chances may be better. A professional demands a certain amount of respect. Begging for gigs, being shit on by club owners and promoters or record executives, working for nothing in return other than maybe some pat on the back to serve your vanity, is not what being professional is.

I hope that those professionals and wanna be pro's in music learn to find a way to really build a strong sustainable music industry someday. Not too hopeful the local music union is practically non existent.

I see nothing wrong with musical artist requesting a minimal of 50% share in CD sales to be paid by labels and CD distribution agencies. Musicians should also be able to command a decent minimal hourly rate for live performances paid by the venue. A place without live music is just another place. After a while people get real sick of that, stay home and like bugs to lights stair at the glow of their computer screens searching for better music.

Not to venues you get what you pay for. How is that really working for ya for the long term?

Some say Bottle Bill needs to be udpated? Time to refill the promise for a healthier environment

2011-07-29T14:19:00.001-04:00

The Department of Environmental Protection has just released a sweeping report that undermines industry claims of future price increases if the current proposal to update the Bottle Bill is enacted. The report includes a survey of neighboring states and the impacts of bottle bill updates.

The Bottle Bill, or Container Deposit Law, enacted in 1982, places a 5 cent deposit on carbonated beverages. It doesn’t cover water, juices, teas, and sports drinks, because those beverages were not popular in the early 1980’s. A large coalition of 90 organizations is pushing to update the law to include these containers. At a recent State House hearing on the update bill, representatives of the MA Redemption Coalition, proponents of the update, brought two beverage containers of the exact same brand, size and shape. They showcased the fact that while one was carbonated juice and the other plain juice, there was otherwise no difference whatsoever—except that the latter isn’t covered by the deposit law. “It’s common sense to update this successful law and make it current with today’s market,” said Janet Domenitz of MASSPIRG, a proponent of the bill. “Even Fenway Park has a new scoreboard—everything needs an update now and then.” Bottlers and supermarket chains have been arguing against the update, making claims that are, with the DEP report, now disproven.

“Many claims have been made to suggest an updated bottle deposit law will cause
Massachusetts to suffer,” per the report. “However, these claims about the negative impact of updating the law need to be examined to insure that a balanced and fair discussion can ensue.”

The report reviewed beverage prices in markets throughout Massachusetts, Maine,
and New Hampshire. Maine updated their bottle bill 20 years ago; New Hampshire
has no bottle bill.

Although beverage bottlers have claimed that updating the beverage deposit law would increase beverage prices, the report found that prices were nearly identical in both Maine and New Hampshire. In many cases, prices in Maine were lower, despite their larger deposit system.

Other claims that were brought into question were that beverage choices would diminish. The DEP report showed that the variety of beverages was entirely dependent on store size, and no measurable difference in consumer choice was detected.

Beverage bottlers had also warned that the “reverse vending machines” (automated redemption machines) would need to be replaced and expanded, but a study of the expansion in New York disproved this claim. “Our review suggests that an updated bottle bill that excludes bottles larger than 3 liters and juice bottles of all sizes could be easily implemented in Massachusetts stores with the existing infrastructure,’’ said the report.

Last week, a hearing in the State House on the proposed bottle bill drew close to 300 supporters, including civic and environmental groups, garden clubs,
redemption center owners, mayors, and more. At one point, dozens of supportive legislators filed into the room to show their support. “It was like a legislative flash mob; I’ve never seen anything like it at a hearing,” remarked James McCaffrey, Director of the Mass Sierra Club and a key supporter of the update.

The new proposal is also being supported by many convenience stores throughout
the state, as it allows small stores to be exempted from redeeming empties. Representative Alice Wolf (D-Cambridge), the chief House sponsor of the bill,
stated that “We have dealt with issues for small businesses, and mom and pop stores
won’t have to collect bottles anymore. This will be a good vote for legislators.’’

Of course one way to settle ALL concerns on both sides of the fence of this subject would to REGULATE fees that are charged for the containers. 1. Regulate to ensure that NO container fee or deposit will pass through the to the customer. 2. Mandate nd enact law that requires all containers to be returned and disposed for recycling.3. Enforce the law. One company may make the bottle, the beverage manufacturer purchases that bottle and fills it, the consumer purchase the product and propler disposes of the bottle. End of story, planet saved.

Why should we be paying a deposit to save the environment in the first place?

Somehow this calls a hospital in Worcester that is built over cargo train tracks to mind....

2011-07-26T09:29:00.001-04:00

As released:
July 25, 2011

Public Hearings Notice: City of Boston's Proposed Non-Radioactive
Hazardous Material Route

BOSTON- July 25, 2011- Public Hearings will be held by MassDOT, as the
state routing agency, to discuss the I-93/I-95 Non-Radioactive Hazardous
Material through routing designation proposed by the City of Boston.

The four hearings are scheduled as follows:

Boston- Tuesday, August 23, 6:30pm- 8:30pm, State Transportation
Building, 10 Park Plaza, 2nd Floor, Boston

Quincy- Wednesday, August 24, 6:30pm-8:30pm, Thomas Crane Public
Library, 40 Washington Street, Quincy

Waltham- Tuesday, August 30, 6:30pm-8:30pm, Clark Government Center,
Main Auditorium, 119 School Street, Waltham

Stoneham- Thursday, September 1, 6:30pm-8:30pm, Stoneham Town Hall
Auditorium, 35 Central Street, Stoneham

The purpose of these hearings is to provide the public with the
opportunity to provide testimony and comments regarding the City of
Boston's routing analysis and proposed Non-Radioactive Hazardous
Material through routing designation along I-93/I-95. All views and
comments made at the hearing will be reviewed and considered to the
maximum extent possible. MassDOT and City of Boston representatives
will be present to discuss the proposed route and answer questions.
Additional information, including the City of Boston routing evaluation,
is available on the MassDOT website

Anyone else sick of the phony and political debt debate yet?

2011-07-23T17:44:00.001-04:00

This one is a long one. I'm pissed.

The republicans and the democratic running in circles over the debt situation is a fabricated big joke on the expense of the "average" working American sucker stiffs.
The republican's ruined this economy through their years of corporatist practices which has led to a loss of American jobs, a complete loss of planetary sustainable jobs ( well that ones is in part a product of the birth of the industrial age accompanied by a lack in proper policy making really), while helping to create a consumer class of physically sick, mentally ill, greedy materialistic self centered overly dependent populous.
Dems want to raise taxes and republicans want to "cut" spending. Translation? The "average" working American sucker stiffs end up either paying more from their shrinking paychecks or pay more in health care cost or just die earlier because they can even afford medical treatment.

If Government or "alleged leadership" can ever do anything substantial it will be to REGULATE REGULATE REGULATE the scum bag big business corporatist from plundering the "average" working American sucker stiffs wallets, or exploiting their stupidity for the sake of the almighty bottom line, and to instead give people a chance, a voice and perhaps even save mankind for destroying this earth at the same time.
Under regulated factory farming and food industry along with their use of non necessary additives, preservatives are the real cause of obesity, cancer, heart, nerve, skin and mental problems in the world. So rather than ponder separating kids from their parents because their "fat" why not stop processing any foods and mandate 100% organically, non-gnome altered, grown foods? Eating fresh will add jobs, leave less carbon foot print, and certainly be much more healthier.
Why not regulate the cost of higher education so it doesn't cost $200 to become a doctor, a glorified drug pusher for pharmaceutical companies? This will add jobs, reduce the cost of health care and maybe even save more lives. Increase regulations over telecommunications and media companies, give community media a boost to increase community voices, let the people provide the checks and balances to propaganda that posses as news and programming these days. The answerer in short is not cutting Social Security or increasing the age for eligibility for affordable health care, it will take a radical shift to sustainable business ( business that give back to the earth not consume it) and in how we regulate big business, health and factory food industries. The answer will also require us to reform policies to enforce LOCAL economies. If everyone grew , from normal natural seeds their own food we would be healthier, richer, and less dependent and subservient to corporatist and upon their partner tyrants running and ruining this country. Someone will whine and say what about the "urban dweller? What about them? we the people should create work in sustainable areas regardless of whether you live in a city or rural area. The propaganda surrounding the "debt" debate is a symptom of greed and what is wrong. yes I've said it before. On my own I am trying folks. But this is something we all have to push for. Anyone got a better idea? I haven't seen it yet. However one thing the pigs can count on, how we all lost our balls since 1776 and prove that by the way we tolerate their bullshit.

Here in wooytown people are crying over SMOC moving in on Chandler Street, while SMOC is not the problem the problem is why people NEED SMOC and other social services. INJUSTICE. MLK Center tried incubate jobs and work, but they were no match to oligarchy that dominates wooytown. Gentrifying neighborhoods is the same as sweeping injustice under the rug. On another front, have you ever wondered why the City dictator is always has his head up the asses of corporate media? Look at the Charter 3 and TAG relationship, it's pretty obvious he knows how to work propaganda. Here's a radical thought maybe government officials should be prohibited from using the media and wasting tax dollars to sell political propaganda. Where ever people are or have an opportunity to be empowered wooytown leaders snuff it out. Why? Because it is not in the interest of the oligarchy's/corporatist bottom line and propaganda and agenda they are pushing. They require subservience in order to continue pillaging. Go ahead waste huge tax money on building market rate dwellings no one can afford, a fancy bridge, give health and medical industries bigger tax breaks so they can continue to overcharge us for shitty service. Keep that fat government and their cronies working too. The "average" working American/Worcester sucker stiffs tax payers will cough it up they always do right? Along with blood from their rotting lungs due to digesting way too much chemical additives in our food.

Green Eyed Over Summer Nationals

2011-07-21T10:03:00.000-04:00

In typical bullshit baby crying fashion, Worcester's only truly unique signature summer event The Summer Nationals is under attack.
You might think if you had a shop, store or eatery on north Main street you would welcome a weekend event at that end of the ally. Embrace it, cater to the demographics and reap in a bit more cash for a change. But Noooooo! One or two business owners complain and before you know it council member is calling for wasting tax money to investigate police records to dredge up some justification to burn out the event. What's next stArt in the street? What about those businesses that put up with that event?

It's more bullshit Worcester Style. Oh yes just like the whining going on over MLK selling the building to SMOC. Someone who can afford to properly restore that decrepit old and out dated building comes along and all they get is resistance. There is nothing wrong with helping people and providing counseling and other services. God knows there are already many up there in that district that need it. Maybe the state legislature and the City ask for SMOC to provide a free office space for a POLICE district office right in the building adjacent to the SMOC offices. Get the best of both worlds up there.

Once the casino's come in watch Hanover and Mechanics Hall and the DCU dwindle. All thanks to the super leadership to wrapped up attacking smaller local enterprises. Worcester will never change.

Life Saving blog if ever there was one

2011-07-05T17:03:00.001-04:00

MSG KILLS(some of clever names for MSG)

And it actually comes from Worcester.

It's easy to say watch what you eat. The challenge is there is little that is safe to eat in this commercial food market. The food industry has and will continue to fight us every step of the way. Raise your own chickens and plant your own crops it may be the only way to fight the obvious intent of the pharmaceuticals and insurance companies from taking all our money before killing us and the planet.

City of Worcester. Evaluations ? Give me a break!

2011-06-29T08:54:00.002-04:00

City Manager gets a great eval.???? Ok , if it s for working long hours I agree.

But really look at this city. Ask yourselves. Have your property taxes increased? Aren't there more toothless, derelict, homeless people, wondering and cussing, hanging around city hall, the common, and all of downtown than ever before in the history of this city? Worcester's health care cost are the highest in the world. People are afraid to take their kids to the park due to fears of either getting mugged or catching some deadly bacteria strain, Our school unions complain that toxins have not been properly cleaned up in some school buildings, many people feel the police have violated their rights, a city council gave themselves huge raises as did members of the administration, while the rest of us suffer a bad economy, the triage for our homeless is overburdened, so the fire the director ( yea that's a solution ), infant death rate is still pretty high in this town, city retirees feel they are getting screwed over, Downtown is a dump during the day and it's a ghost town after 5PM, Crime is not a record low, CSX clears tress and foliage that once held up Franklyn Street and now, due to erosion, and now the street is crumbling down into a valley. What ever happened to that $250 million the city made to build a bridge that CSX refused to build?

So what exactly was the criteria for evaluating the City Manager? Where's the transparency there, huh? Let's pass out more A's. There must be plenty to go around.

Just who is the city council working for? I guess, those city councils have their head right up someone's ass. Guess who's it is.

This is not a joke it's indicative of the toxic behavior exhibited by these people who mysteriously continue to be elected, who feel the bottomless pit of tax payer pockets. The voters in this hole are drinking too much polluted Worcester water.

Republicans seem to want to bring back the days of unrestrained excess, deception, and de-regulation of Wall Street

2011-06-27T13:09:00.000-04:00

We knew it was coming.

House Republicans have started their reckless effort to undo Wall Street reform. Their agenda? Bring back the days of unrestrained excess, deception, and de-regulation of Wall Street.

One of their strategies is to choke funding to two of the agencies which are critical to the implementation and enforcement of the financial reform law, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Last week, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stated that "anything we can do to slow down, deter or impede their ability to engage in this kind of oppressive over-regulation which is freezing up our economy would be good for the country... The less we fund those agencies, the better America will be."

This is both an expression of Republican extreme right-wing ideology and payback to their big contributors in the financial services industry, many of whom are already working to defeat President Obama next year.

Republicans are trying to dismantle medicare.

2011-06-20T13:03:00.000-04:00

First, House Republicans recklessly voted to end Medicare for seniors but give more tax breaks to billionaires. Now, they're trying to silence any Democrat who dares to speak the truth about it.

I am convinced that the Republican party stands for huge corporations and it's the hell with the people. Especially the poor.

The problem is medicare was set up because the private insurance companies don't give a shit about the poor or seniors on a limited income. Once they can milk every dime out of you, what is left? Republican's have provided an answer for that. Instead they incessantly criticize Obama and the Dems.

Republican leaders were caught censoring official government communications that talk about the GOP's radical plan to end Medicare.
June 30th marks the Federal Election Commission (FEC) deadline for both parties to report their fundraising. Get your voices heard on this.

Years ago the Republican's pushed to privatize social security. If that happened can you imagine what would have happened by now, with this shit economy they are responsible for? And now it's medicare's turn. Not on our watch!

Transpanacy is apparantly not City Hall's strong suit

2011-06-16T14:35:00.000-04:00

When it comes to local government, I believe there is more to transparency than just being able to read what some reporter is transferring select information directly from the City Manager's mouth or than watching a boring meeting on the city hall cable channel.

Wouldn't the average tax payer prefer to see some disclosure on the decision making process, or, to have some say in where tax money goes before the city administration decides it? Wouldn't the average tax payer prefer to see the specific formula used to determine property tax rates, or employment wages and benefits? Wouldn't the average tax payer prefer to see the exact criteria used to to turn down applicants for various employment or from membership on community Boards and Commissions? Wouldn't the average tax payer prefer to see how decisions and, again, what criteria is used for determining who get's what block grant funding are made, etc., why certain "TIFs" are approved yet why exactly, some are denied? Wouldn't the average tax payer prefer to see how city hall insiders dictate the people's business while many people seem to be really blocked from participating in any process? The city manager claims he wants to improve transparency and yet he and his staff seem to take considerable effort to conceal how business is really done in Worcester.

Instead we see people on the council subjectively patting each other on the back praising the city administration for hard work. Bullshit ! This city is not doing better than it was in the recent past and things are getting worse. Downtown is a haven for beggars, neighborhoods are deteriorating, manufacturing, professional, and even retail jobs are severely diminishing. The blame of that has little to do with the national economy, but because of local insider politics that has rendered city hall as an entity perceived by the community as one deserving of no confidence.

If Worcester really "cares" things would be a lot better around here than the status quo.

Kenda could have been a polar bear

2011-06-15T14:19:00.000-04:00

Kenda, like many other animals born in zoo /farm captivity or in some enclosed human habitat, was never allowed to be it's true self as God intended. A Polar Bear. Living her life out as The Maker willed her. Sadly she is now dead and any chance of that is gone. I hope that somehow in death perhaps her true essence was shown to her.

Did The Cable Industry Pay Ralph Reed Millions Of Dollars To Orchestrate Tea Party Opposition To Net Neutrality?

2011-06-05T18:49:00.002-04:00

Did The Cable Industry Pay Ralph Reed Millions Of Dollars To
Orchestrate Tea Party Opposition To Net Neutrality?

I would think so. But hey that is not only my opinion. Read the following article written by Lee Fang. I left all the links in tact. Basically cut and pasted only to forward it as a great story of what happens behind the scenes in what certainly appears to be a corrupt oligarchy.

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/06/02/233333/ralph-reed-cable-industry-net-neutrality/

By Lee Fang http://thinkprogress.org/author/lee-fang/

Century Strategies, the lobbying firm founded by Tim Phillips and Ralph Reed

As the New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/01/us/politics/01reed.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=politics> and ThinkProgress http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/06/01/232298/ralph-reed-corporate-conference/ have reported, Ralph Reed http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2005/06/23/1153/ralph-reed-corporation-humper/ has returned as a force in the political world. A decade ago, Reed was a kingmaker in Republican politics and a corporate lobbyist who counted Fortune 100 companies like Enron and Microsoft as clients. His fall from grace, starting with the Jack Abramoff scandal and culminating in a humiliating loss in his run for lieutenant governor of Georgia, is apparently now behind him. Times reporter Erik Eckholm points out that Reed has successfully revived his work as an operator within the Republican Party, most notably with his ability to ensnare nearly every Republican presidential contender to a conference he's hosting this
weekend.

However, little is known about Reed's work reviving his business as an astroturf
lobbyist. According to documents obtained by ThinkProgress, the National Cable and
Telecom Association (NCTA), a trade association that represents cable providers
like Comcast and Qwest
Communications, has provided Reed's lobbying firm with at least $3,462,117 worth of
contracts in the last three years alone. Century Strategies, the firm founded by Reed and
fellow astroturf lobbyist Tim Phillips in 1997, received the contracts for what NCTA
deemed "legal and advertising" services. View a screenshot of the relevant documents here

http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/reed2008.png
and here

http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/reed2009.png
.

ThinkProgress has queried several staffers at Reed's lobbying firm to learn about the contract. At CPAC this year, one employee for Reed told us that he did not work on the NCTA account and knew little about it. I spoke to another staffer in Reed's Atlanta office this week and asked if the firm ever provides any kind of legal or advertising work for clients. "None at all," she replied to the legal question. "Nope, we don't," she said in response to a question I had about Century Strategies creating or purchasing advertisements for clients. Why did the cable industry pay Reed millions for advertising work, then?

I asked Brian Deitz, the vice president for communications and public affairs at NCTA,
about the over $3 million given to Reed. "We do not comment on specific financial matters
related to NCTA," was his only response.

The Abramoff scandal provided a window into Reed's lobbying business. Unlike former
lawmakers, who retire from office and use their knowledge of the legislative process to inform corporate clients, Reed tells clients he can orchestrate ";third party allies
http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/freedomworks-grows-grassroots-bp-drilling-i

and grassroots http://thinkprogress.org/health/2009/05/29/170792/afp-timphillips-astroturf/ support for their political goals. For Abramoff, Reed shifted money from Native American casino interests to groups like Americans for Tax Reform and state-based Christian nonprofits to mobilize seemingly "grassroots" support. He had Enron pay him to place op-eds in newspapers and to create Christian-themed front groups to deregulate the utility market.
Tim Phillips, Reed's business partner at Century Strategies for many years, used another evangelical nonprofit to run anti-Semitic http://thinkprogress.org/health/2009/05/29/170792/afp-timphillips-astroturf/ attacks against Eric Cantor when he first ran for Congress. Perhaps the most recognized case was a contract from a sweatshop owner in the Marianas Islands to Reed and Abramoff to orchestrate evangelical opposition to labor laws. In effect, Reed fooled religious right
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/06/01/232298/ralph-reed-corporate-conference
voters into supporting sweatshops cited for widespread forced abortions and prostitution.

The business of asking corporations to donate to conservative nonprofits for stealth
lobbying campaigns has been a winning model for Reed since he was in his early 20s. As Thomas Frank detailed in his book ";The Wrecking Crew
http://www.amazon.com/Wrecking-Crew-How-Conservatives-Rule/dp/0805079882," Reed got his start in college via the United Students of America Foundation. As a College Republican, Reed would collect money from corporate interests hoping to destroy campus-based Public Interest Research Groups (consumer action groups better known as PIRGs). As PIRGs fought to enact regulations on polluters, Reed and his college-aged buddies, including Abramoff and Grover Norquist, would solicit the same polluters to donate to their nonprofits to do battle with the do-gooders at PIRG.

In 2006, as the negative headlines from the Abramoff scandal appeared to doom the Century Strategies brand name, Reed's partner Tim Phillips left the firm to become the president of Koch Industries' front group, Americans for Prosperity. Along with serving http://thinkprogress.org/health/2009/05/29/170792/afp-timphillips-astroturf/ as a front for Koch lobbying goals, Americans for Prosperity (AFP) has, for many years, acted as a coin-operated front for any corporation willing to pay them. The Washington Post once wrote an expose
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A46598-2000Jan28 covering AFP's work (at the time, it was known as "Citizens for a Sound Economy") for sugar interests in orchestrating conservative opposition to wetlands protection.

As he has done for nearly 30 years now, Reed again appears to be masterminding phony
grassroots campaigns for businesses willing to pay him. For instance, an exclusive
ThinkProgress investigation http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/04/25/160193/exposing-dodd-frank-exposed/ from last month revealed that Reed's lobbying firm is behind a new "Tea Party" front group dedicated to repealing the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reforms passed last year.

Around the same time the cable industry paid Reed over $3 million, cable companies across the country were battling a regulation known as "net neutrality" -- a rule that allows Internet freedom by ensuring that Internet providers, like cable companies, do not discriminate based on content or bandwidth speeds. The NCTA, Reed's cable trade association benefactor, lobbied aggressively to prevent Congress or the FCC from enacting net neutrality rules. The trade association, along with member companies like Comcast, ran ads http://www.ncta.com/MediaCenter/MediaCenter/MumboJumbo.aspx and hired many
lobbyists http://corruptionroad.freepress.net/.

Mysteriously, around the time of the NCTA million-dollar contracts to Century Strategies, Reed's old business partner Tim Phillips took up the charge of defeating net neutrality.
His group, Americans for Prosperity, pushed conspiracies that net neutrality has
something to do with communism http://www.americansforprosperity.org/102009-net-neutrality-whats-their-philosophy. As the FCC continued its deliberations over the rule, AFP launched a $1.4 million ad http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/afp-launches-14-million-advertising-blitz-to-expose-fccs-proposed-internet-takeover-93399294.html campaign with Tea Party-themes against net neutrality. The narrator breathlessly denounces the bank bailouts, then compares them to net neutrality, exclaiming: "Now, Washington wants to spend billions to takeover the Internet." Watch it:
The claims made by the ads are patently ridiculous. Net neutrality has existed since the early years of the Internet, when government-sponsored engineers developed the first networks and recognized that bandwidth discrimination would hamper innovation. Indeed, rather than a government "takeover" of the Internet, net neutrality ensures that Internet content -- whether from a Tea Party website, a commercial website, or even from ThinkProgress.org -- can't be censored by a cable company or another provider. Despite supposed Tea Party opposition ginned up by groups like Americans for Prosperity, the FCC finally did hand down rules establishing net neutrality -- with regrettable exceptions for mobile devices.

Did the money from the cable industry -- earmarked for "advertising" -- go to Tim
Phillips, using Reed's firm as a pass-through, as the two have done in the past? It's not clear. Century Strategies, the recipient of the cable industry money, says it does not do anything directly in terms of advertising. Tim Phillips' personal consulting firm, New Dominion Strategies, has listed the same P.O. Box used by Century Strategies as a mailing address
http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Campaign_Finance_Disclosure/View_Disclosure_Reports /CF_Reports_Results.asp?SUWVVal=CandidateView&RepYearVal=2002&tCNVal=&tCCVal=&tCSVal=&tCZVal=&tCOVal=&tCBDVal=&tCEDVal=&tCAFVal=&tCATVal=&tCCSOptVal=EqualTo&CandVal=663&CommVal=&RDVal=09/30/2002&RSDVal=09/01/2002&SCHVal=D&OffVal=ALL&PtyVal=ALL&DownID=&RepID=OCTN15_02&SchID=A+D+G+H+.

Still, Century Strategies, Americans for Prosperity, and the National Cable and Telecom Association have refused to elaborate on the Tea Party-themed
ads.

Worcester is as safe as anyother city in the USA

2011-05-31T09:41:00.000-04:00

That is the news. While Boston TV praises Worcester police for stepping up to crush crime, it's Worcester's own commercial radio spreading fear by sounding paranoid about how safe we are. How about not saying anything but it's good to see the police on the job. We do not tolerate crime in Worcester. Period. Politicans use everything as a stepping stone. When ever that happends hold on tho your wallets.

How the few at the top of Giant Corporations steam roll over all the rest of us.

2011-05-26T10:44:00.000-04:00

When state legislators across the nation introduce similar or identical bills
designed to boost corporate power and profits, reduce workers rights, limit
corporate accountability for pollution, or restrict voting by minorities, odds
are good that the legislation was not written by a state lawmaker but by
corporate lobbyists working through the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).
ALEC is a one-stop shop for corporations looking to identify friendly state
legislators and work with them to get special-interest legislation introduced.
It’s win-win for corporations, their lobbyists, and right-wing legislators. But
the big losers are citizens whose rights and interests are sold off to the
highest bidder.

Who Founded and Funds ALEC?

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) was founded in 1973 by Paul
Weyrich, who helped build a nationwide right-wing political infrastructure
following the reelection of Richard Nixon. In the same year, he helped establish
the Heritage Foundation, now one of the most prominent right-wing policy
institutes in the country. One year later, Weyrich founded the Committee for the
Survival of a Free Congress, the* *predecessor of the Free Congress Foundation.
In 1979, he co-founded and coined the Moral Majority with Jerry Falwell, and in
1981 he helped establish the ultraconservative Council on National Policy.

ALEC’s major funders
include Exxon Mobil, the Scaife family (Allegheny Foundation and the Scaife
Family Foundation), the Coors family (Castle Rock Foundation), Charles Koch
(Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation and the Claude R. Lambe Charitable
Foundation), the Bradley family (The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation) and the
Olin family (John M. Olin Foundation). These organizations consistently finance
right-wing think tanks and political groups.

Members of ALEC’s board represent major corporations such as Altria, AT&T,
GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Koch Industries, Kraft, PhRMA, Wal-Mart,
Peabody Energy, and State Farm. Such corporations represent just a fraction of

ALEC’s approximately three hundred corporate partners.
According to the American Association for Justice (pdf), over eighty percent of ALEC’s finances come from corporate contributions.

Who’s Behind ALEC?

ALEC’s activities reflect its founding, funding, and control by corporate
interests. According to the
American Association for Justice, “the nuts and
bolts of lobbying and crafting legislation is done by large corporate defense
firm Shook Hardy & Bacon.” This firm plays a significant role in managing ALEC’s
legislative and governmental advocacy programs.

The /American Bar Association Journal/ describes Shook Hardy & Bacon as the
“darling
of corporate America . ” Their
tenacious defense of the tobacco industry “made Shook Hardy the firm many of the
world’s biggest companies turn to at the first hint of trouble with one of their
products.” A /New York Times /report on Shook Hardy said “
tobacco is their
middle name,” and the firm’s lawyers have been viewed as “industry propagandists, apologists and co-conspirators.” Shook Hardy represents clients from the pharmaceutical, energy, food, banking and tobacco industries, like Pfizer, Bayer, Eli Lilly,Cargill, Kraft, Bank of America, Philip Morris, Lorillard Tobacco, and British American Tobacco. ALEC’s monthly periodical /Inside ALEC /demonstrates the significant role of Shook Hardy, as members of the law firm contributed essays
criticizing environmental protection efforts1 , endorsing corporate immunity
from lawsuits2 , and defending abusive insurance company practices3 .

The clout of corporations and corporate-backed groups comprising ALEC is
unmistakable: Victor E. Schwartz, a Shook Hardy partner and head of its Public
Policy Group, chairs ALEC’s Civil Justice Task Force; Tom Moskitis, the American
Gas Association’s Director of External Affairs, chairs the Energy, Environment
and Agriculture Task Force; Bob Williams,
founder and senior fellow of the
corporate-funded Evergreen Freedom Foundation, chairs the Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force;
Bartlett Cleland, director of the corporate-financed

Institute for Policy Innovation, chairs the Telecommunications and Information
Technology Task Force, and Emory Wilkerson, associate general counsel for State
Farm Insurance, chairs the Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force.

Simply put, “corporations can implement their agendas very effectively using
ALEC,” as stated

by Edwin Bender of the National Institute on Money in State Politics.

How Does ALEC Work?

ALEC serves as a means for corporations to advise, lobby and sway legislators.
By paying hefty dues and sponsorship fees, corporations are able to participate
in ALEC ventures, forums and legislative advocacy work and also underwrite
conferences, task forces and meetings with politicians. Corporations use ALEC to
formulate, present and promote model legislation to elected officials who are
ALEC members and sometimes hold leadership roles in the organization.

ALEC propagates a wide range of “model legislation” that seeks to make it more
difficult for people to hold corporations accountable in court; gut the rights
and protections of workers and consumers; encumber health care reform; privatize
and weaken the public education system; provide business tax cuts and corporate
welfare; privatize and cut public services; erode regulations and environmental
laws; create unnecessary voter ID requirements; endorse /Citizens United/;
diminish campaign finance reformand permit greater corporate influence in elections.
In order to draft and promote their “model legislation,” ALEC operates task
forces that bring representatives from corporations together with lawmakers.
Each ALEC task force is chaired by both elected officials and “private sector”
members.
According to Jesse Zwick of the Washington Independent,
“ALEC’s task forces are better known for crafting legislation that coincides,
rather than conflicts, with the interests of its private-sector members. Famous
for hosting lavish conferences for state legislators who possess no staff of
their own, the group pampers lawmakers while providing them the opportunity to
collaborate on legislation often previously researched and introduced by the
policy shops of its corporate members.”

According to ALEC, in 2009, of the 826 “model bills”
that were
introduced in state legislatures, 115 of those bills were enacted into law. That
number is sure to grow following the major Republican gains in the 2010 elections.

ALEC was influential in crafting and passing a Texas law, dubbed the “Successor
Asbestos-Related Liability Fairness Act that shielded Crown Cork and Seal, a business that in 1966 acquired a company that used asbestos in its products, from lawsuits from the company’s workers.
Even though Crown agreed to pay the company’s liabilities, it wanted immunity
from paying damages to workers facing asbestos-related diseases. Crown Cork and
Seal turned to ALEC to help shape the Texas law, which put an extremely low cap
on liability for companies like Crown who acquired companies which committed
wrongdoing, known as a “successor immunity” law.” Mark Behrens, an attorney for
Shook Hardy, worked as a lobbyist for both ALEC and Crown to encourage allied
lawmakers to introduce and pass the bill. The American Association for Justice
writes that “this so-called ‘successor immunity’ has all the hallmarks of an ALEC special interest bill. It is plainly designed not with public policy in mind, but rather a specific industry (or in this case, a specific company).” The Texas Supreme Court ultimately found the cap to be an unconstitutional
retroactive protection for Crown that inhibited the rights of people to rightfully sue corporations for damages, but similar ALEC-derived laws are still on the books in other states.

In Arizona, an investigative report by /NPR/
found that ALEC
significantly helped one of its clients, the Corrections Corporations of America
(CCA), influence the state’s new immigration law. The CCA is a for-profit prison
company whose “executives believe immigrant detention is their next big market,”
and thought that a law which “could send hundreds of thousands of illegal
immigrants” to prison would “mean hundreds of millions of dollars in profits to
private prison companies responsible for housing them.” As a dues-paying member
of ALEC, the CCA was able to write, present and lobby Arizona policymakers for a
draconian immigration bill at an ALEC-hosted conference. “Four months later,
that model legislation became, almost word for word, Arizona’s immigration law,”
and many of the bill’s cosponsors later received significant campaign
contributions from the CCA. ALEC also helped the CCA by pushing “truth in
sentencing” laws that
restrict parole eligibility for felons, and consequently increase the number of
prisoners.

What Does ALEC Lobby For?

Since the organization claims to only “exchange” legislation, ALEC is not
technically a lobbying firm, and does not need to register. However, ALEC’s
tactics and operations are strikingly similar to those of registered lobbyists
with corporate benefactors.

Undercutting Health Care Reform

After the passage of health care reform, ALEC’s top priority

has been to challenge the law by encouraging members to introduce bills
that
would prohibit the law’s insurance mandate. ALEC’s Health and Human Services
task force is led by representatives of PhRMA and Johnson & Johnson
,
and representatives of Bayer and GlaxoSmithKlein sit on ALEC’s board
.
The group’s model bill, the “Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act,” has been
introduced in forty-four states
,
and ALEC even released a “State Legislators Guide to Repealing ObamaCare
”
discussing a variety of model legislation including bills to partially privatize
Medicaid and SCHIP. The legislative guide utilizes ideas and information from
pro-corporate groups like the Heritage Foundation, the Goldwater Institute, the
James Madison Institute, the Cato Institute, the National Center for Policy
Analysis and the National Federation of Independent Business.

Corporate Power and Workers’ Rights

ALEC works fervently to promote laws that would shield corporations from legal
action and allow them to limit the rights of workers. The group’s model
legislation would roll back laws regarding corporate accountability, workers
compensation and on the job protections, collective bargaining and organizing
rights, prevailing wage and the minimum wage. ALEC is a main proponent of bills
that undermine organized labor by stripping public employees of collective
bargaining rights and “right to work
”
laws.They also push “regulatory flexibility
” laws that lead to massive
deregulation. It is no surprise that the director of ALEC’s Commerce, Insurance
and Economic Development Task Force previously worked as a Koch Associate at the
Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation
.

Tax Policy

As states face challenging budget deficits, ALEC wants to make it more difficult
to generate revenue in order to close shortfalls. Bills include the “Super
Majority Act,” which makes it so complicated for legislatures to change tax
policy that California voters overturned

the law; the “Taxpayer Bill Of Rights,” which brought fiscal disaster
to Colorado; and measures to eliminate
capital gains and progressive income taxes. The main beneficiaries of ALEC’s
irresponsible fiscal policies are corporations and the wealthiest taxpayers.

Private School Vouchers

Despite constitutional problems, negative impacts on public schools, bias
against disadvantaged students, and comprehensive studies in cities like
Washington DC , New York
,
Milwaukee , and Cleveland

which demonstrate that private school voucher programs failed to make any
improvements to the education system, ALEC sees vouchers as a way to radically
privatize the public education system. Under the guise of “school choice
,” ALEC pushes bills with
titles like “Parental Choice Scholarship Act” and the “Education Enterprise Act”
that establish private school voucher programs.

Voter ID and Election Laws

ALEC is directly tied

to the emerging trend among state legislatures
to
consider voter ID laws. Using false allegations
of “voter
fraud,” right-wing politicians are pursuing policies that disenfranchise
students and other at-risk voters,--including the elderly and the poor--who are
unlikely to have drivers’ licenses or other forms of photo ID. By suppressing
the vote of such groups, ALEC’s model “Voter ID Act” grants an electoral
advantage to Republicans while undermining the right to vote. In addition, ALEC
wants to make it easier for corporations to participate in the political
process. Their Public Safety and Elections taskforce is co-chaired by Sean
Parnell of the Center for Competitive Politics, one of the most vociferous
pro-corporate election groups
,
and promotes model legislation that would devastate campaign finance reform and
allow for greater corporate influence in elections.

Obstructing Environmental Protection

At the bidding of its major donors like Exxon Mobil and Koch Industries, ALEC is
behind state-level legislation

that would hinder the ability of government to regulate and curb polluters. ALEC
has previously said
that carbon dioxide “is /beneficial to plant and human life alike,/” and
promotes climate change denialism
.
The group’s model legislation assails EPA emissions guidelines and greenhouse
gas regulations, destabilizes regional climate initiatives, permits free-reign
for energy corporations, and pushes for massive deregulation. Unsurprisingly,
ALEC’s “Energy, Environment and Agriculture” task force is led by Tom Moskitis
of the American Gas Association and Martin Shultz of Brownstein Hyatt Farber
Schreck, a major lobbyist firm for oil and gas companies

like ConocoPhillips. The group receives funding

from ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, Texaco, Amoco, the American Petroleum
Institute, and the American Electric Power Association.

Conclusion

Americans are increasingly recognizing and speaking out against the
disproportionate power of corporations in shaping public policy and steering
politicians, and ALEC is a prime example of how Corporate America is able to buy
even more power and clout in government. Rather than serve the public interest,
ALEC champions the agenda of corporations which are willing to pay for access to
legislators and the opportunity to write their very own legislation. It helps
surrogates and lobbyists for corporations draft and promote bills which gut
environmental laws, create a regressive tax system, eliminate workers’ rights,
undermine universal and affordable health care, privatize public education, and
chip away at voting rights. It's no wonder that so many big corporations
view ALEC as a wise investment. ALEC represents an alarming risk to the
credibility of the political process and threatens to greatly diminish the
confidence and influence ordinary people have in government.

* For more of PFAW's research and reporting on the Far Right, visit the
Right Wing Watch blog

Rapture 2011

2011-05-25T12:47:00.001-04:00

Suddenly a slew of tornado's devastate the land and many are now and suddenly missing.
The prediction said He would return to gather, it did not say how He would do it.
Enjoy the pondering.javascript:void(0)

20 Organizations that help make Worcester shine:

2011-05-23T16:59:00.000-04:00

This is the top for me and not in any particular order:
Worcester Historical Museum
Worcester Cultural Coalition
Antiquarian Society
Catholic Charities
United Way (Worcester)
Worcester Community Action Council
WCCA TV 13
Friendly House
Worcester Cultural Commission
Greater Worcester Community Foundation
InCity Times
Worcester Magazine
Telegram and Gazette
WCUW
Worcester Youth Center
Arts Worcester
Music Worcester
Ecotarium
Worcester Art Museum
Pernet Family Health Services

Remember to show them your support and love.
These are my top 20 there are many more great organizations I can mention.

And now the end is near ... FS

2011-05-20T15:25:00.000-04:00

Good ol Frankie sang it best the first six words prophesying tomorrow's final curtain for good people suffering through this hell. At least 350,000 people world wide may be gone tomorrow. That is pretty much a fact. So at least for them Camping may be right. Right? May the Good Lord God have mercy on all of us.

This past weekend's great gifts of local music

2011-05-16T16:41:00.000-04:00

Friday: It was supreme jazz excellence with Jazzed Up piano trio at Union Station. They had Will MacGillivry on drums and sounded extra nice.

Later on Friday I hoped over to the Sahara for a cool Organ trio with Heffernen, Hunt and Zupan. Refreshing to say the least.

Saturday it was Green dales with Silverback. If you like it loud with a raw soulful beat. This band hit the spot. I had to rest my ears so I then moved downstream to see the Sons of the Soil at the Vernon Hotel Shiproom at Kelly Square. They kept me afloat as a happy ending for my weekend of local music.

Sunday was recovery day.

I'm sure this a tip of the iceberg for amazing music in Worcester.

Glad to hear it

2011-05-11T08:57:00.001-04:00

I rarely listen to toxic AM radio because it's toxic. This morning I tuned in to WTAG to find someone reaming out Polito for attacking Mayor O'Brien. A nice change. The best moment of that show ever, was to hear Polito stumble and make more of an ass of himself trying to defend his fascist reasoning for attack the Mayor. Polito is a corporate republican shill with an M.O of riding the volume pot on his mixer whenever someone speaks against his opinion or attacks his stupidity, he turns down the caller's pot. His screener must have been asleep for letting in the usual cronies pretend to hold sympathetic positions with him. It's the cheapest, most stupid and un-entertaining show to agonize and waste time listen to. Not to mention that, in my opinion it probably causes cancer just listening to it. You company got to be pretty desperate to place ads on that channel.

Just when I thought I quit this blog...

2011-05-06T11:16:00.001-04:00

Sick of reading other winy piss-ants blog around here, I thought some might think of me that way so I wanted to stop.
Then this came my way and renewed hope that while a few bloggers may egotistically think they're better than everyone else and write unsubstantiated bullshit, with mean and attacking tones, with a pompous ass voice pretending only they can make fun of everyone else. (Yes, you know who you are ) There are legitimate creative talent out there that help us really take ourselves less seriously, laugh and become inspired:

Deathinex

Nice work to the creator(s) of this video.

Teaparty

2011-04-27T08:54:00.000-04:00

The Teaparty will always be a tool of the oligarchy. Like the American dream under a false guise of hope for the common working person, those who buy into the "tp"ers message are being exploited to influence deregulation, undermine opportunity for all, ensuring tax breaks for the wealthy, and keeping a strong boys club serving lobbyist and corrupt politicians in D.C and elsewhere. The purveyors of hate, fear mongering, and intimidation it is haven for fools and saps.
God save the real American.

Their Advise vs my advice:

2011-04-25T14:22:00.000-04:00

We are being rapped by fuel and energy companies From companies such as Haliburton to OPEC USA policy on this stinks. There are alternatives but it seems that no one has the balls to face the multimillion dollar companies head on. So if we are going to pay the price anyways, here's what was advised.

AG COAKLEY OFFERS ADVICE TO DRIVERS ABOUT HIGH GAS PRICES ( my advice follows ):

BOSTON - As prices at the gas pump continue to rise, the Attorney General's Office is committed to providing consumers helpful information and to fighting higher gasoline prices when gas retailers violate the law. Today, AG Coakley issued the following advice to consumers and asked drivers with allegations of unlawful behavior regarding gas prices to contact her office's consumer hotline.

On Friday, April 22, AG Coakley issued a letter to Massachusetts petroleum retailers warning them against price gouging and other unlawful behavior. In addition, the National Association of Attorneys General has joined with the federal Department of Justice to form the Oil and Gas Price Fraud Working Group that will focus on making sure that consumers are not victims of price gouging.

The following is basic information to help drivers deal with rising gas prices:

* Educate Yourself: You can research gas prices before filling up your tank. Some of the information is provided by other users who are on the lookout for their fellow commuters. Various websites and smartphone applications are available to help you identify rates at service stations near you. Visit our website at www.mass.gov/ago for a list of websites.

* Price Gouging and Other Unlawful Conduct: It is unlawful for companies to collude to raise prices or to take advantage of market emergencies, such as natural disasters, to charge unconscionably high prices that are not explained by market fluctuations. AG Coakley is asking consumers with evidence of unlawful conduct to contact the office's Consumer Hotline at 617-727-8400 or file a complaint online.

* Credit v. Cash at the Pump: Consumers should be aware that stations can charge different prices for using cash to pay versus using a credit/debit card. Massachusetts law allows gas stations to discount their price for consumers paying with cash. However, stations are not permitted to surcharge consumers paying with a credit card, although they may impose a minimum amount for credit card transactions. The gas station should be advertising the higher price clearly and conspicuously on all signage. You can read more about guidelines surrounding advertising and sale of motor fuel here.
For more information, please visit the Attorney General's blog.

My Advice:
1. Walk as much as possible
2. Take all your business locally within walking distance.
3.Only purchase items and food stuff that is produced locally and not shipped.
4.Ask congress to provide stronger incentives to process and distribute non-fossil energy sources.
5. If you have to use transportation try a bike, or a public transited.
6. Prohibit use of any energy consuming product or activity.
7. Get of the internet now and shut the computer down. Take a walk with a friend.

Keeping the rich rich and making sure you can't say a darn thing about it.

2011-04-19T21:26:00.000-04:00

Republicans continue to blame Obama as they justify tax cuts and deregulation to further prop up this nations rich. Who pays to keep the rich wealthy? Hello service workers making under 70K, also hello retired poor seniors, and the rest of the disenfranchised. Obama's problem is he tries to hard to find that "compromise" while the republicans are out for blood. The republic of the founding fathers may have worked better in the agrarian age but under mordern capitalism forget about it. Big bucks buys carries your voice, big buck buys elections, and influences law. The rest of us are made to pay or suffer.

Think about it. Slowly and steadily we are getting less of a chance to engage in the public arena. The Internet and social media is not the broadcast public forum I am talking about either. Regular TV or radio does nothing to move your voice forward to connect your opinion or point of view. The Internet is worse. There you are lost in a sea of cacophony. Besides, the industry has made sure that the Internet has become really another type of cable TV with thousands of channels and nothings is on, well at least, for me,except for our local public access channel. I know as I write this for about five or six who care enough to read my ranting. ( I do it for myself anyways, as a way to rid of the toxins.)

Republicans are deregulating that confusing and scaring people about, nuclear power, and telecommunications, just like they did with health care, oil energy, war in the middle east and so on. There is even a bill out there to prohibit someone from criticizing factory farming. At the same time there are idiots attempting to destroy one of the few places left where we still have a voice, public access television. Apparently all to keep the rich rich and to defeat the Democrats.

Teapartiers and other idiots seem to be falling in step zealously burning the only bridges they have to maintain a free democracy and the opportunity to be involved to make any real change.

City Council Picture

2011-04-08T13:39:00.000-04:00

Makes you wonder how much the City paid for that picture. Why the elementary classroom like picture in the first place. Another place your tax money goes top ay for. Government spending. Unless the photog did it for free, and the city admin posted it for free, and copies were distributed for free, and the city did not take an admin fee for processing all the work related toe council on this pic for free, that is. I doubt it, don't you? Cute.
Nice work dwormtown the subtext is fitting.

Dragging the Secretive Conservative Organization Out of the Shadows

2011-04-06T13:29:00.000-04:00

What Is ALEC? Dragging the Secretive Conservative Organization Out of the Shadows A look at the pigs at work.
This shadowy organization has played an extraordinary role in shaping pro-corporate legislation in a number of states. Read for yourself. America being sold lock stock and barrel.

Ranting is good otherwise it festers within you.

2011-04-06T09:09:00.000-04:00

Ranting is good otherwise it festers within you. You know the whole business of government and politics is poisonous when it comes down to having to rant.

Let the government shutdown so what? Try it we might like it.

Republicans seem to insist on keeping the rich rich. While continuing tax breaks for large corporations and big business. Republican's have protected health insurance millionaires,among many more atrocities.

Yes, the Federal, state and even local governments budgets are too big. Lower local levels of government are suffering from budget crisis due to covering the cost of health care and over zealous union benefits. The enemy there is Health care cost. CAP it, remove all interstate restrictions. The public option would have leveled the cost to an affordable level. Worcester has one of the highest Health Care cost in the world. No one is doing anything about it in a real and meaningful way. There should be no comprise to seeing a just treatment that is not based on profit and dividends. Public employees should not be unionized. The staffing and employee policy should be as afforded pending taxpayer vote.
The state needs to regulate large industries keeping them from holding us all hostage. End those corrupt commissions that are controlled by ex industry execs, such as telecommunications department, Insurance commissions, and Transportation. Regulate these companies. If every state did that, the companies would have no other place to threaten to leave to.
The Feds have to do much better to free us from fossil fuels, and dependance upon the middle east. Encourage jobs in solar an wind and other environmentally safe energy sources. Make them sustainable. Stop wasting money on war and instead file legislation to terminate all private health care, make all colleges free to attend.

The GOP has to live up to it's name and stop acting like puppets for the rich. The GOP's budget proposal to cut government spending would turn Medicare into vouchers whose benefits are funneled into the pockets of private insurers. It would make Medicaid and Food Stamps into block grants that allow states to ignore poor people altogether. It would drastically cut funding for schools, roads, and much else Americans need. And many of the plan's savings would go to wealthy Americans who'd pay even lower taxes than they do today. Why are the poor consistently asked to sacrifice to keep the wealthy wealthy?

Pay more taxes to keep a few more rich government workers employed ???

2011-04-04T16:01:00.000-04:00

The Mayor and a State rep wants to raise taxes. How does that stand knowing that while most of us are strongly to get by level from year after year we are expected to keep some of these city administrators earning nearly 200K a year nice an comfortable?

According to the Telegram:
Police Chief Gary J. Gemme headed the top-250 list with a gross salary of $196,924. The chief was followed among the top five pay earners by Deputy Chief Mark S. Roche, at $186,151; City Manager Michael V. O'Brien, who made $182,062; Superintendent of Schools Melinda Boone, $178,825; and Deputy Chief Steven M. Sargent, $174,760.

My question is, why not cap government job pay rates so it is affordable without increasing taxes? This looks like a case where the poor middle class are expected to keep the rich in government rich. If you miss enough tax payments they'll even take over your property eventually.

Who will be at the meeting? Union reps. Will anyone be there opposing the thought of tax increases? Let's hope so: Time Monday, April 4 · 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Location
YWCA in Worcester
1 Salem Square
Worcester, MA

Here's the invite:

Dear Friends,

Please join community leaders, elected officials, union leaders and members, for a discussion on the legislation filed by Representative Jim O’Day in an effort to raise revenue and invest in our community.

The City of Worcester is facing a $15 million shortfall for next year’s fiscal budget. This could mean an estimated 200 layoffs of police, firefighters, educators and DPW employees.

Please attend this important meeting to discuss solutions to prevent job layoffs and to protect our much needed services.

Please Support Representative Jim O’Day (House Bill 2553) and Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz (Senate Bill 1416) on these bills to protect our local economy.

Too crazy, too toxic, too much !

2011-03-31T21:56:00.001-04:00

The Jordan Levy Show (WTAG 580) Central Mass voices blog said they heard on the Jordan Levy radio show at toxic WTAG, Mayor Joe O'Brien suggesting that we need to support Representative James O'Day's bill to raise the state income tax and the capital gains taxes.

I like Joe OBrien, however, I do think if that is true, he should rethink that.
Raising taxes serves only to keep those politically connected with job security working in city hall or for the state house club house. I also hear the city manager mention they will now be using helicopters flying over head to better measure land to squeeze more assessment tax money form property owners. The people are are getting raped in taxes to pay for city employees health care while UMASS sends their chairman off with a hefty golden parachute. WTF??????????? Follow the money the oligarchy everywhere is so obvious it's sickening.

Question: Shouldn't civil servants have fair and reasonable job assignments and benefits, that should be voted upon by the tax payers?

Isn't Civil Servant Unions simply a conflict of interest?

Wouldn't you agree that government and school systems should not be run like old fashioned manufacturing plants? I mean government IS NOT business. It's government to maintain civil order, provide essential civil services and public safety to ensure all have access to basic education and life sustain amenities, but not nessecarily to be the source of such.

There are enough people out of work who simply can not afford to pay increased taxes just to keep city hall employees in their nice cushion jobs. Why not cut all government pays, including administrator and elected officials pays in half across the board? Why not end all government services that are already redundant to private run services? Why not let those "state" elected officials do their job and place regulatory caps to cut all health care cost and insurance by 50% immediately?

When it comes to standing for the people do you think those in power have a legitimate answer to my question?

Horoscope for this weekend

2011-03-31T09:23:00.000-04:00

You will feel the cold shoulder, tightening of back muscles, and forced to push obstacles that will block paths to your home and driveway. Hot coco and flannel may be in the mix for quiet times, shut in at home. You may want to gas up your snow blower.

Google made their pick apparently

2011-03-30T19:09:00.000-04:00

It looks like Google mad their pick for free broadband network

Census says Worcester's population is up

2011-03-27T16:29:00.000-04:00

So more dependence and wear upon city services, streets, schools, public saftey. That all translates into a high tax rate. How is that a good thing. Really?

Does anyone believe the new growth reflects folks making a middle class wage, or are market rate home owners?

Worcester has become a host immigrant city over the past few decades. What exactly is drawing the poor to this town of dwindling jobs?

Nice neighborhoods? Tolerance for crime? What is it?

GROWTH is good ? ! ? Like a pimple.

Silly most stupid shit I've read in a long time

2011-03-25T11:54:00.000-04:00

This piece of satanic verse.

More ridiculous is the thought that there are some nitwits out there that would believe it, rationalize it, tolerate or even accept it, or worship it as a new method to loss weight.

Church is bad for your health. But go ahead and have that big Mac or grease filled DunkinDonut. Really !?!

Daily Horoscope March 22

2011-03-22T11:23:00.000-04:00

Cleaning goods are around the corner for you, and also new underwear. Your feelings of desperation and discouragement will fade after you finish a lunch that will contain food stuff that has past it's expiration date. First your stomach will turn sour and then send you into an hallucinogenic trance similar to an acid trip. You will no longer feel desperate or discouraged, but everyone around you will as they use those cleaning products to clean the wake of mess.

Nuclear plants and earthquakes

2011-03-20T20:05:00.001-04:00

Good ol' Will shows us how close we live to a nuclear plant in Massachusetts. The second question is how close do you live near a fault line, volcano or from the shoreline?

Scroll down a little bit past New England's history of earthquakes, some 350 reported since the 1600's Link Here to Kiss our asses goodbye

I like this one illustrating years reported and amounts of earthquakes:
Connecticut 1668 - 2007 137
Maine 1766 - 2007 544
Massachusetts 1668 - 2007 355
New Hampshire 1638 - 2007 360
New Jersey 1738 - 2007 141
New York 1840 - 2007 755
Rhode Island 1776 - 2007 38
Vermont 1843 - 2007 73

Hey Peterboro NH just had a small one one on the 5th of March:

2011/03/05 07:05:38.06 <42.93,-71.84> h=07.12 Mn=0.8 Mc=1.6
NH, 11.0KM ENE OF PETERBOROUGH Not too far from a plant btw.

Big money, not our money however, says don't' worry. Shut up and go back to sleep America. KABOOM !!!!!

Kids at WPI and MIT let's find a new earth and human life friendly energy source today and let's distribute it. Make predicted 2012 "the end of the world" translate to "the end of fossil fuel and Nuclear energy dependency".

Horoscope for today

2011-03-18T12:22:00.000-04:00

You will become hungry by around noon, eat a lot, and then take a nap at work. This will give you a great evening of fun and frolic to follow.

Japan's fallout should be a wake up call for the USA. or Shut up and go to sleep, the government is monitoring it, it's all under control.

2011-03-17T18:21:00.000-04:00

Which title do you like better? Fears over the radioactive fall out from Japan's devastated nuclear power plants is well justified. Catching the right global airstream it most likely will make it's way here to the United States. Our government's response to the continuing build up of nuclear power here in the US is amazingly hilarious and absurd.

Of course the average person instinctively knows that the right thing to do is to cease building, and set a plan to shut down all existing plants asap, safely, before a some natural disaster happens here.

This is a wake up call for the human race, and for us in the USA if ever there was one. These plants are a risk to life on the entire planet. We have the means to harness fuel from safe non-fossil environmentally safe, energy sources right now.

Distributing it would be simpler than when the first cars came of the assembly lines. At one time the automotive industry started from scratch in this nation. There were no gas stations until the industry pressed upon the government for funds to make that and roads possible, just as the railroad owners did before that with tracks and coal. The time fore real meaningful change is now. The only ones holding this movement up are those that are making huge profits or whose campaigns are being financed by the fossil fuel and nuclear industries. So what, there will be a shift of power. Some wars would end too, Yipee! But the best result will be earth friendly fuel and energy and we in the USA will no longer be subservient to the middle east and the rich oil cartels. America is being held hostage by these players.

Our entire east cost either currently has nuclear plants or, in some states, planning to erect plants and they are almost all near fault lines, or near an ocean coast.

This is happening before our eyes and yet the only political voice to speak about this that I heard was Markey. It is not a surprise that we can not trust the government or the industry. One earthquake in New York or Tsunami in New Hampshire and just think about the devastation we will face in addition to the pending fall out from Japan headed this way. BTW, the laws in this country are so corrupt it will be the tax payers who will be responsible to foot the bill should any harm come to these plants or if these plants do any harm to our land and people, as it stands today for any large clean up or destruction to a nuclear plant. With that said, Japan had more measures of protection built into their systems than we currently do. NO surprise there either, after all we wouldn't want to make the rich industry players have to pay too much, who will finance those political campaigns?

We need leaders who will stop bankrolling the rich and corporate interest.

Today's Horoscope

2011-03-15T10:12:00.000-04:00

You will forget how to swallow. Think about it, nothing goes down, you can't get that muscle in the back of your throat to turn over. You may panic for a second. That's okay because as Mars enter your moon, you'll remember that you won't want to forget how to breath. Let's hope Mars at least buys you dinner.

Horoscope for today

2011-03-14T14:04:00.000-04:00

Stay clear of any trade winds and prevailing westerly winds that may have also passed through Japan. Also remember talk radio can be more toxic.

Horoscope for today

2011-03-13T19:53:00.001-04:00

Be aware that time will seem to move too fast. You will feel the day is one hour faster ahead as it should be. You will discover daylight savings time is actually more daylight but, loosing time.

Annual Tea Party in Lincoln Square in April

2011-03-12T10:30:00.001-05:00

Worcester Tea Party announces 3rd Annual Tea Party in Lincoln Square
This will be the third Annual Tea Party Rally. The event starts at
4:00 pm on April 18, 2011 (Patriots Day), in Lincoln Square, Worcester.
This year, a pig roast has been added to the festivities.

This news will be well received by community conscious people and counter demonstrators everywhere. Great op for photogs as there will sure be some crazies to pictures of.

The Internet , the new cable only worse

2011-03-12T10:03:00.000-05:00

I tried to go online to catch video Japan's earthquake. I ended up on a CBS page full of video thumbnails, select an image and sit through about a minute commercial before you get to a short one minute or so clip. Then it automatically loads to the next clip, but first after forcing me to sit through another minute commercial, and while that's going on all typs of moving images displaying ads surround the flash player they have set up. It really sucks. The Internet is becoming a worse brand of commercial cable TV. Only with more wasted time sitting through buffering players, stupid ads and all the while someone on the other side is logging every key stroke, to find other ways to rape us dry. Disgusting.

Daily horoscope for today

2011-03-11T14:42:00.000-05:00

Daily horoscope for today:

You will realize that the you, you think you are is merely a shadow of perception that you have allowed the world to impress upon your awareness through repeated observations of other illusory activities in the world. In this awakening you will realize that your ego is merely a false self and that you have allowed yourself to be completely cut off from the real essence behind your soul. Detached from the Creator, lost in the abyss, of a storm whirling around you tossing and turning in black sea of endless hopelessness. You will understand that people talking and chattering about themselves is meaningless and foolish while serving only to pulling you further into a cyclone of death.

You'll then log off of Facebook, shut down your computer, turn of the television and radio, walk outside and stare a tree knowing that just as that that tree is fulfilling the WILL of the Creator, by not being defined by the shadows of the world surrounding it, you can too because you too are created, the Creator's finger prints so to speak,along with His breath make the real you. Knowing that that is ALL that matters, Grace carries you forth into a new reality where you are re-born apart from the trivial troubles of people.

Your Daily Horoscope For Tuesday March 8

2011-03-07T20:50:00.000-05:00

You will wake up full of ideas and exciting dreams of all the wonderful things you could do but by mid afternoon the crushing weight of the world will change that.

Worcester Common Ground saga

2011-03-06T19:40:00.000-05:00

Apparently and once in a while some knuckle heads target a good person or organization to position themselves to run for an office or to promote there silly blog. The business of private developers, land owners and businesses had abandoned properties Worcester's Main south area for years. Out of the frustration of many concerned citizens, organizatons to mitigate the down hill spiral of the neighborhood led to the formation of such non-profit community and social development groups, such as Worcester Common Ground (WCG). The question is, is the agenda one of corporate welfare or political gain? If groups such as the WCG never did a thing what would become of that neighborhood. Well look at where it was before they stepped up. That might be the answer.

At the very least WGC has been expending effort and money to clean up these neighborhoods. It seems to the chagrin of others seeking an opportunity to profit from neighborhood corrosion. There's a lot of complaining about nothing. In today's Telegram Steve Patton explain it well illustrating the ignorance or perhaps political positioning behind the whining.

From the telegram:
...
Mr. Patton maintained that Common Ground has only been a bit player in the Mason Street project, and that the CDC's main job was to get the cleanup grant and oversee the decontamination of the former Royal Linens factory.

While the property is still in Common Ground's name, the real owner is Mr. Wilder's company, Mason-Winfield, and the deed will be transferred back to Mason-Winfield once he receives a final bill of environmental health for the lot, which Mr. Patton said is expected soon. Mr. Patton noted that when he gets violation notices and orders from the city, he forwards them to Mr. Wilder, though he said Common Ground has spent $14,000 removing trash and maintaining the site.

He also minimized the extent of the problems at 48 Mason St., saying he thinks members of the business association have orchestrated many of the complaints and that they often have been over trivial issues. The large majority of the complaints are anonymous.

“You have to understand our role. It's the environmental mediation. We cleaned it up and our development partners ran into the economy,” he said. “I don't want to pass the buck, but it looks like a grassy field.”

Mr. Patton countered allegations by Mr. Collyer and William Randell, another member of the Chandler Street Business Association, who also has railed against Common Ground on his blog, that the CDC has allowed contractors to dump fill from sewer projects on the site. He said he got approval from the city for dumping the fill, even though it is also expressly prohibited in the deed.

Mr. Patton also expressed anger at Mr. Collyer, who he claimed has been making negative attacks on him.

“I hope it's not me, personally,” he said. “But it's starting to feel that way. I wish he would back off.”

The goals of the "business" group seems clear here:

Mr. Randell, a private real estate developer and businessman, complained that deals like the one Common Ground and Mason-Winfield devised — in which Mason-Winfield transferred ownership to the nonprofit in order to get the federal grant — put private businesspeople at a disadvantage by being able to obtain taxpayer funds.
...

FROM WCG website:

Worcester Common Ground, Inc. - Community Land Trust

A land trust is an agreement whereby one party (the trustee) agrees to hold ownership of a piece of real property for the benefit of another party (the beneficiary). The majority of community land trusts' successes depend on the cumulative effect of multiple small donations from within a specific community and larger funding from Community, State and Federal agencies. Sometimes these funding sources are coupled with the generosity of landowners to secure permanent protection for a parcel or multiple parcels of land.

By using the Community Land Trust model, Worcester Common Ground provides stewardship of Land Trust holdings in order to preserve scarce affordable housing and community resources and create innovative, safe, and secure housing opportunities for lower-income community members within the Central Worcester, Massachusetts target area. Specifically the unique mission of the WCG Land Trust is to remove land from the speculative real estate market forever. No other non-profit housing agency in Worcester has been charged with this stewardship responsibility. The unique means by which the Land Trust ensures the affordability of housing for perpetuity is by legal separation of the land from the buildings, and the use of the ground lease to control the resale costs of the housing units to future generations.

Worcester Common Ground serves the lowest-income neighborhoods in the city. The Piedmont and Elm Park areas have become a haven for low and moderate income families seeking affordable housing. The housing stock is more than 100 years old and much of it is in poor condition as a result of disinvestment. The neighborhood has suffered from illegal dumping and neglect, as well. The neighborhood also suffers from economic isolation; although it abuts the downtown corridor, there is a high rate of under- and unemployment among area residents.

As a community development corporation, WCG acts as a developer of last resort, rehabilitating abandoned housing and acquiring parcels of vacant land for new construction, which provides area residents with affordable rental units, the opportunity to own their own home, and contributes to an increased level of neighborhood investment, pride and stability. The entire city benefits as these properties are returned to the tax rolls. This work is augmented by neighborhood initiatives, which bring people together to work collectively on issues of concern and to contribute to making their neighborhood a better place to live.

Your Daily Horoscope For Friday March 4

2011-03-03T21:50:00.000-05:00

You will drink something and then see colors. Do not follow your instincts instead dial, on a phone, 411 and ask for the nearest restroom. Unless you are at home, in which case no one will care.

Your daily horoscope for today

2011-03-02T12:56:00.000-05:00

You will find yourself in a mirror an laugh, but won't remember doing it.

Worthy of support.

2011-03-02T11:35:00.003-05:00

I agree that there have been lessons learned from what is happening in Wisconsin, where the rich and corporations are working to remove the voice and power of the general middle class and poor, and what has and continues to be happening in Egypt and Libya, where means of communications and the internet and control of television, was so easily cut off. So with that understood, I think this looks like a worthy and necessary thing to support.
Usually matters regarding cable and telecommunications is boring and off the radar for many.
We really should however, be paying attention to this stuff. It seems there is
one voice crying out in the wilderness, with any real insight, I hope the city and those in charge of this stuff are listening to, while it is not surprising commercial media pays little attention, this should prompt us to, with all the more reason why, to be apying attention as well.
One little tidbit of joy is seen here at least where corporations will at least have an opportunity to be scrutinized. But without a place to voice our observations what good is all the so called transparency?

Chevalier Building Prediction

2011-02-28T22:18:00.001-05:00

Prediction from my telepathic cat: The Chevalier building Will end up as the Bradford did. He may be right, although there may be a perceived plenty of "affordable" buyers. Those with money seem to be moving outta town here, according to the recent census. Rally? Why, if you had any money, would you want to live near a noisy highway, at the end of club street full of puking idiots, risk getting shot, in a city that discourages any creative honest socially conscious growth? I'm mean, come on, all someone has to do is watch the city council meeting, read about PCBs in our schools, to see the risk first hand.

"Winn acquired a $15-million construction loan as well as a slew of state and federal tax credits for historic preservation and low-income housing totaling nearly $9 million. New York-based Redstone Equity Partners also invested $18 million." So will they recoup 27 million plus to keep all the investors happy? Or will it simply wash the bucks clean through the process like so many so called development deals seem to do?

Wish the cat predicted something better, but NAHHHHHHHHHH !!!!

Reaction to White Pride meeting that was scheduled at the WPL

2011-02-23T14:00:00.001-05:00

It's good to see expedient reactions on this matter. Approaching a stance against Fascism has to be done broadly.

Shouldn't we be aware to include protest to Fascism as seen rising through various legislative and or court measures that avoid public input, and side with corporate profits over just service to the people? Such activities render strength for a fascist movement, as the weak are further controlled and made weaker with less opportunity to counter voice and people have less opportunity to participate in decisions that effect their lives. Fascism is not limited to racial positions. If one takes a stand is against fascism shouldn't it cover all elements nurturing it?
For example when we observe the government siding with pharmaceuticals by protecting them against individual litigation, or blocking use of non-fossil fuel options over oil based, favoring broadband monopolies, legislating subtle economic conditions that maintain rich power over the poor, or to designate stronger penalties to further protect a particular sector of government, etc. etc. as well as individual points of view in promotion of an unjust situation, anywhere where a suppressing other people's participation.

Paving the road to Fascism comes in small steps, historically the race element emerged after the environment was set for it.

Shouldn't the resistance to Fascism be comprehensive in the fight? Is there a compromise for justice?

Hate Crime in Worcester. Where is the national outrage over this violent racist behavior?

2011-02-21T20:39:00.001-05:00

Where is the national outrage at this? A bouncer is not a police officer. Thug brutality is never appropriate. The link shows a video of racial and thug violence. It amounts to a hate crime because there is no other rational to describe it judging by what the victim was forced to do. Racism and racial violence is a two way street you know.
Platinum Premier Strip Club. There is nothing to justify that action. Isn't there usually a police officer there? I wonder where the officer was at that moment?
This video offers another good reason why such a place should be shut down. It must be so embarrassing to live in a city where this type of behavior exist. This is more than bullying on steroids.

Cheap perfume to hide the scent of rats

2011-02-19T20:26:00.000-05:00

I got a hoot when I read this story recently about Charter Communication throwing a little dough to support the young scientist challenge

It's ironic , they're supporting this and yet Charter , over the past years, is doing all it can to diminish public access funding. Nothing against the young scientist challenge (YSC), it simply seems a little hypocritical when we see companies such as Charter and also Verizon, who deliver video content over their systems, lobby legislators and local governments for deregulation that will lead to the death of public access community media. Public Access centers are facilities where people are empowered and could still, by using the tools and educational services provided at those facilities, enter into competitions such as YSC. For instance kids, you can send your video here. Your videos created at your public access station or from your home computer. There are many public access centers that conduct year round youth media programs. I bet many of them are encouraging their participating students to submit videos.

If companies like Charter or Verizon wanted to really make an impression they would throw more support to the public access channels, and take a stand to stop towns and city administrations from swindling public access funding and instead show support to ensure the stations can best serve the people.

The real story is how huge corporations use cheap perfume to hide the scent of rats.

Corrupt acts reap division

2011-02-16T09:40:00.000-05:00

Greed reaps blind injustice. It appears to me that some people are finally fed up with this idea or tolerating injustice, I am talking about the acceptance of a political culture that more than tolerates but actually encourages censorship (subtle as well as overt), government and corporate deceit, torture and disenfranchisement which exist in this country as it is even more rampant across the world. The US government walked on eggshells over what went on there because we played a hypocritical part to encourage dictatorship. Look to the end of our own nose and we can easily argue that every level of government you will find activities that are veiled hidden away from public scrutiny, evading democratic outcomes.

I see division forming between those who do recognize that and want radical change for justice and those who want the status quo.

Those who want the status are setting themselves up with more money to support their end. While tax breaks for the rich suck more out of the lower working poor they are also carefully changing the law in this republic to favor corporatism. They are also dwindling other infrastructure that supports democratic dialogue. Everyday corporate interest are lobbying, spending millions to buy the legislation they need, leaving the rest of us with less an opportunity to even express concerns in a public forum.(democracy mandates an open forum along with a platform for free and uninhibited speech, free from any oppressive repercussion.

Think about this with the exception of the limitations community radio and public access TV, what platform do we have that is not controlled or is monitored by government or corporate interest? Nothing. Ironically, those two platforms are the least encouraged by our government and corporate communications companies. Hmm, do you wonder why? One answer to that can be illustrated with a question. Why did the dictator of Egypt turn off the internet? We can not be surprise at the outcome we have seen in Egypt. Only welcome it as not coming too late. Which side are you on?
We all will have to choose sooner or later. Pick your side.

Big Waste O' Time

2011-02-15T19:50:00.003-05:00

Try following the City Council meeting. I am so sick of the grand standing. Everybody on that council can not resist to give their redundant two cents. Haller says yeah, Eddy says yeah, Petty chimes in yeah, Clancy says yeah It's just a big frigin' love fest /rubber stamp for the city dictator. He is doing so wonderful, we have, after years of his watchful eye a shitty hole of a downtown. A pinhole in the old Worcester Center, that we were told would be gone by now, jobs being cut left and right, no hold whatsoever over managing the cost of health care. There could not be a more toxic, deceitful, opaque city as Worcester. We see only what they want us to see, it's what keeps the pigs elected right. Hogs at the trough.

WPS a agreat example of Worcester politics

2011-02-10T09:19:00.000-05:00

Superintendent Boone came from a background where you used the resources at hand, where one managed their administration with real professionals, and where political wrangling didn't get in the way of efficiency.

Welcome to Worcester the complete opposite. Here politicians are not out to serve but to gain notoriety, it's posturing in some psychotic and egotistical world of illusion.

Boone let the state run it's investigative program to evaluate whether or not there was inappropriate behavior at Goddard Elementary. That is why we pay state taxes, the tools are supposed to be there. Key word "supposed". The teaching and testing tools are supposed to be there too, with all proper protocol mapping, testing, and measurements, coming from the state. But like on other things we waste our tax money on, not without flaw. Politics gets in the way of justice by creating a mediocre system at best all around.
The State, however, found some minor issues but nothing that couldn't be corrected with supervisory oversight. That was done. But in what is typically Worcester, political grandstanding style, the hub bub continues. These politicos know how to milk free press, while wasting more tax money.

As for Boone, I feel for her. Will Worcester's scum bag politics run her out of town? I hope not. Perhaps we more of her and less of the politicians.

Shamefully this type of stuff is so Worcester.

Worcester's music scene full of surprises

2011-02-05T20:25:00.001-05:00

Worcester has a pretty rich cultural environment as far as I'm concerned. Not much interest on the musical side of things, however, save for one or two music venues. Ironically the places I go to are not really designed as "music venues", more like restaurants that offer live music.
Most of the other music venues around here bore me, pretty lame stuff. A lot of it just mediocre solo guitarist badly singing pop radio commercial trash tunes or silly shtick posers that get all dressed up to play badly. I went to one place in the alleged canal district recently hoping to hear what I thought would be standard 40's type tunes, which I love, only find I wanted to shot myself in the head after hearing a so called singer defile what really would be great old American songs. Those type of venues should advertise "Wanna Be Musician's Practicing Here", at least let us know what we are in for. I spoke with one club owner and it was pretty clear to me that to that person he just wanted noise and not really quality music. He was happy to allow hackers perform to pass a hat or for some chicken scratch or a free beer. That's the attitude that contributes to a poor music scene. It's poor for professional musicians who deserve compensation and it's poor for those audiences who seek fine music forms.
Worcester's music scene is poor but there are some redeeming places to find quality music. I was at one place last night. While I sat at the bar enjoying a beverage and appetizer while listening to what has to be one of the best bands in the area, with the owner of the place, a couple who claimed to be musicians attempted scab / back stab, the band that was on the stage. "Let us perform here, we'll play for free for the first nights and when you do pay us to come back we will charge less than the guys you have here tonight".
The scary thing is there are club owners that would actually take these clowns in. I wonder if those same lame club owners also add water to their whiskey, or buy 3 day old bread to serve, or if they have any self respect or really care about running quality business.
Musician's that pull that shit are scabs and hacks and I will bet really suck. There are open mic nights, and frat parties, bus stops, and practice halls to get your chops together. Don't ruin it for professional players. These are the music teachers, session artist, veteran players with talent. Run them out and Worcester will actually suck even more.
Oh, the club owner yes'd them and when they left, he knew I was ease dropping and to my surprise, he turned to me and said "A couple of schmucks insult me like that, see those guys playing up there [the band playing on stage]? They're the real deal". I raised my glass and drank some sweet music. I'll revisit that place, not because of the place or the style of msuic but for that band.

Traffic report

2011-02-03T10:39:00.003-05:00

Traffic back up was horrendous this morning. They should have canceled schools rather than risk safety hazards of sliding cars, blind driveways and corners, however the powers that be did not and opted for the 2 hour delay which puts substantial stress upon parents who then will have rush through narrowly plowed streets to drop kids off and then get to work only to do it all over again, risking employment, in a couple of hours.

Main streets were like parking lots this lots this morning. At one point while moving about 1 mile per hour, I noticed a stuck vehicle straggled perpendicular across the road blocking a two way street, ahead of me were about twenty cars with drivers just sitting there as a woman struggled to continually remain stuck in ice. No one bothered to help. I got out and pushed her out of the way. It took about eight minutes. Idiots on the road would apparently sit there for 30 minutes rather than get off their ass to help someone.

One Idiot driving up an icy hill at a speed of about 5 miles per hour ( Not the way to go a snowbound hill), for no good reason, put his breaks on causing an entire line up of cars to get stuck behind him. (BTW you should gun it a hill and not stop for anything). Another idiot was barreling down Grafton street in a pick up with his head out the drivers side window, like a dog, driving while his front windshield completely covered with a foot or so of snow. CLEAR THE SNOW OFF YOUR CARS, roof and windows! Idiot! I watched in horror, as a school cross guard was standing in the middle of the, apparently lost it, brandishing a a hand held stop sign, screaming at kids, traffic and yelling a plow truck for boxing in sidewalk access path.

The stress level is off the roof. especially those roofs collapsing from the snow.

Lesson
Stay home today too.
If heading out today, dress for snow and slush. Wear boots. Do not be afraid to help push or shovel someone else out, if you are slightly fearful of driving in the snow DON'T. Allow yourself about two hours for your normally 10 minute drive to work. For God's sake help someone who is stuck and blocking traffic don't be an idiot.
For me, I should have just walked rather than even bother to take a car. I'm such an idiot!

How does it go from peaceful to rioting?

2011-02-02T17:32:00.000-05:00

The autocratic / Dictator president of Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak, announces he will not run for office due to pressure of a peaceful protest. Suddenly the streets are a blaze with rioting and chaos. It doesn't seem logical.

I can't wait to find out out who is behind that. Logically, this could be seen as a first step, the very next step could have been a plan of transitioning into a new emergency election process right? President Hosni Mubarak failed to amke that announcement with such a plan included. Gather all the leaders of various parties, including regional and community leadership, do some ground work to organize / prep poll locations, open the internet, have the local leadership supply names of candidates and let the people write in. Not at all an easy task. Let's hope patience can find it's way into the people there.

What a mess.

Egypt This

2011-01-31T21:27:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, as news of the Egyptian streets were swelling with out of work young people filled with religious drive and a thirst for justice, screaming for radical change in their government, an article on the front page of the Sunday Telegram had a photo and with a caption that had a profundity to it in context of the times.
It was an article written about a group of jurists and students who recently visited law schools in China. There was a picture with Judge Margaret R. Guzman recently returned from a visit to the Lanzhou University School of Law in the People’s Republic of China with the caption that read “I just realized that the Chinese are not their government. They are themselves. They have regular lives. They are not a representation of the Chinese government, which is a communist government. They’re every walk of life..."

What are we American's? Chopped liver??

This to me is something the rest of the world should consider when they think about us, American's. We are not our government either. How can we be when we are cemented in a republic where the laws that govern are products of legislation that have been written and made manifest through special interest lobbyist? The government here is the oligarchy, we the people are willing victims of it. We have been sold the lie that there is hope of extricating ourselves from the suffering brought on from injustice, yet the ones the lobbyist work for are often the source of the injustice. Yet many of us continue to strive for that "illusive" American dream. Poverty is an example: It's a set up, an endless cycle supported by legislative rulings that leave only a small percentage of the luck of a lottery for a way out. Banks continue to throw people out of their homes, while the same banks charge high and compounding credit and interest rates. Our laws allow health industry to dole out all kinds of drugs with murderous side effects, while ensuring consumers have no recourse other than to pay through the nose outrageous and unaffordable prices for coverage that treats symptoms rather than the source of the illness. It goes on and on. Too many times the world looks at the injustice caused by corrupt governments and equates that with the people that happen to live in the boundaries of a particular government. ironically, like sheep, people end up fighting and sacrificing lives to protect that corrupt government. The people are not the government. That perhaps should be the first thing taught in law school, no elementary schools. Imagine the lives saved and money saved from avoiding needless wars.
To make real change we do not need to join a political party, we all need solidarity to stop participating in the madness, stop contributing, stop taking any side, stop all violence, hate. A government by for and off the people is possible, but it has been for sale for years. It seems the way to take back that dream of a government is for all of us to think outside the box and become imaginative to the possibilities and courageous enough to be witness to something much greater than any government. Rather than to try to escape the suffering of this world, why not run to it and offer service, help, comfort, food, a sense to accompany those who need it rather than display abandonment, every man for himself way of life that has proven to exhaust the environmental and economic resources of this world?

A thought reaps an act and act reaps a habit a habit reaps a destiny

2011-01-25T09:28:00.005-05:00

Will W.W. made a good point about "freakonomics". Recognizing that in this world, as illustrated well with the teachers union, ETHICS is secondary.

Why is it we risk accident and even death to go to work when weather conditions render unsafe roads? Why is it kids are bussed to schools when we clearly understand the adverse impact of busing has on the environment when compared to walking (not to mention the adverse economic impact it has)? Considering a day like today, with snow falling and traffic backed up about one hour, that questioned is somewhat heightened. Why is it a Boston city councilor extorts money? Why are we not regulating price caps and going full throttle with individual universal health care? Why is the FCC kowtowing to the republican "put giant corporations and the rich above everyone and everything else" agenda when it comes to opened broadband and internet? What drives school teachers to allegedly cheat in preparation MCAS test? Why are is there still a market for fossil fuel burning cars? Why is USA's war budget so way over the top when it doesn't need to be?

Answer in order of appearances: Lack of faith and moral compass, fear to be without, politicians who play off of that fear, and greed , driving many in a frenzied state of every man for himself without regard to community, or the impacting others.

It comes down to an old saying a friend once taught me: A thought reaps an act and act reaps a habit a habit reaps a destiny. Where there is a lack of faith and the thought of fear sets in, this gives way to discouragement and that can lead to actions that when repeated enough, can turn hearts into stone and destroy our entire planet. We have the choice to allow it or to seek the light that is at hand. What will it be for you?

We need radical change. A change of heart. We really do need to revisit the word REPENT. All of us.

Tax rates or not knowing when to quit

2011-01-23T21:24:00.000-05:00

Today, the T&G continued with another article concerning the city's contemplation of reclassifying multi-residential units. The reclassification will allow the city to charge a business tax rate for such property. as I said before, this is a good thing. I feel that even three deckers should be charged as a commercial property, if the owner is not a resident in the unit. Business is business.

We all pay no matter what. The city leadership is not smart enough to ban further construction /building and housing development. The more buildings developed, the more residential properties are developed ,the greater the toll to the tax burden for the city. More traffic, more crime, more law enforcement, more demand on our already, obviously, over burdened public schools, the more excuse for the city to keep it's large employee body. Stop adding to the city's population and infrastructure, and save fro having to reclassify and perhaps even lower taxes eventually.

Another thing, in a related story, it may seem Worcester is ending homelessness, but in truth it seems like it is more or a displacement process. Close the PIP and shuffle people around.

People, if they are not psychologically unstable, simply need jobs. Jobs ops are lost today in large part due to health care cost. A universal health care system following the individual and not business, would save jobs. Check out what the new Governor of Vermont is doing. He seems to be closest to getting it right than anyone I've seen.

Gov Patrick and pensions

2011-01-19T13:40:00.000-05:00

Gov Patrick should be commended for at least considering any change int eh state pension plan, but that is about it. If wish he would show some real leadership and do what is needed. That is to draw a line legislating that all current state employees would be banned from double dipping in the state coffers, and then, as of immediately, break all future hires from any Union ties. The state should commit to a percentage of health care coverage, a 401 K type retirement plan, a scheduled vacation incentive program, and that is it. Set new low salary rates across the board scaled back 15% for any new hire as of February 1st period. If not completely severing Union strong hold, play extreme hardball and put it all to a statewide vote to allow affordable pay scales, of a least a 15% pay cut across the board for all new hires as of a certain date (soon).

Next the state should impose sever regulations to limit health industry and health insurance rising cost. Make public options available to anyone who simply can not afford private insurance racketeers.

Opengovernment dot org coming soon

2011-01-18T20:04:00.000-05:00

Here's a nice little door opener coming to our area soon. Watch out Beacon Hill.

Lack of Accountability or is it disregard?

2011-01-18T09:55:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure today's Telegram report about three city officials who have apparently been delinquent in paying their water/sewer bills is really news. After all Worcester is a city lead by example. What should we expect. Maybe Rushton is right, why should any of us pay for a water product that is inferior? I wonder if he would support legislation that would allow us all to get tax kick backs for buying bottled water or using a filter? Or how about a tax break since the economic times are tough even if you are a lawyer with an additional part time job that pays nearly 30 grand a year and your wife works.

What stuck out to me was the part in the report that included allegedly
Palmieri's excuse concerning the owner of the shuttered Middle Eastern restaurant the former Morocco, for the $2,466 in unpaid water and sewer charges owed on the commercial property at 172 Shrewsbury St.

I had heard that that may be the same restaurant owner who was allowed to very recently (as of this January) open a similar middle eastern restaurant at Union Station across from Luciano's Cotton Club and Dillinger's Cafe. If that is true how could the city, knowing of such circumstances, risk that business in such a prime location?

Another aspect of the story that is worth mentioning was the City Manager's remark about his past due payment, “It’s probably sitting around in the treasurer’s office, and they just haven’t updated the website yet,”. Doesn't that statement well illustrate the professional level of attention and atmosphere in city hall when it comes to handling people's money?

Worcester ponders reclassifying multi residential buildings

2011-01-17T20:07:00.000-05:00

You know something? Building such as the "SKY MARK TOWER" in Worcester should be taxed as a commercial business property. After all that is what it is. This is not a three-decker where the owner of the property also lives in it. In fact, any "residential property" that is used as an income property, and where the owner does not reside should be classified as a commercial property. I have to agree with the chamber's on this one.

Choke !

2011-01-16T20:16:00.002-05:00

Pats loose. 28-21 BLAH !!!!!

If it's any consolation,you may enjoy this, or just think days are getting longer and after middle March, there may be less snow to shovel. After middle March.

Weird weather and crazy shootings. Could there be a link?

2011-01-13T19:40:00.000-05:00

Some one sent me info about HAAP, High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program.
Kind of a star wars type tool originally developed by Tessler. The military is fouling around with it in an apparent attempt to influence weather, or if frequencies are aligned right, drive masses of people to the point of either shitting their pants or die. It's quite fascinating really. Tessler thought this might be a way to conduct a wireless transfer electrical power. How cool would that be?

Anywho...
It does make one wonder if all this crazy weather and the actions of a fruit case like in Arizona is connected somehow.

What's that incessant buzzing?

Excuse me I have this sudden urge to go the toilet...

Check out This link, and or
this link for fun.

Lamest music store in the area: I bet you'll say GC in Millbury

2011-01-12T20:19:00.001-05:00

Listening to some great local talent got me in the mood for taking up an instrument. So out to market I went.
If you want an all round BAD purchasing experience try Guitar Center in Millbury. The service sucks, sales people know shit. It's a big waste of time. Try finding someone who actually knows something about any particular instrument. They have a real cheesy selection of instruments too. Same limited, "low end" commercial lines you could find in a Best Buy type store or Walmart or SAM's Club. Little choice really. Plus, who are the numb skulls who designed that stupid shopping center anyways? The traffic flow is ridiculous. How many Millbury cops does it take to direct one small intersection? Like four for each intersection and there is 3 of them. What a taxpayer rip off that's got to be. I always liked Sam Ash in New York, I used to go there a lot with one of my buds, at least there you can find someone you knows something and plenty of instruments to choose from. I have friends who are pros and they are buying on line now. One problem with that is if you want to try something out before buying. Definitely try Union Music or Kurlan first. Any other recommendations would be welcomed.