Bitching about Boston

[gotsnowgotslush]

Let us celebrate the freedom in America, to have religion, and to mock religion, as we choose.


Under the tyranny of the Extremist Fanatic Religious, we would not be allowed to choose.


November 13, 2015


MA Registry of Motor Vehicles allowed a Massachusetts woman to wear a spaghetti strainer on her head in her driver’s license picture as an expression of her “Pastafarian” religion.

Lindsay Miller fought the RMV to wear the metal headgear as a sign of her religion. The RMV does not allow drivers to wear hats in their pictures, unless it is for a medical or religious purpose.

Miller won her appeal with the RMV thanks to the help of an attorney associated with the American Humanist Association.

“As a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, I feel delighted that my Pastafarianism has been respected by the Massachusetts RMV,” Miller said. “While I don’t think the government can involve itself in matters of religion, I do hope this decision encourages my fellow Pastafarian Atheists to come out and express themselves as I have.”


Flying Spagehtti Monster


American Humanist Association said Pastafarians believe the existence of a Flying Spaghetti Monster is “just as probable as the existence of the Christian God.”

“The First Amendment applies to every person and every religion, so I was dismayed to hear that Lindsay had been ridiculed for simply seeking the same freedoms and protections afforded to people who belong to more traditional or theistic religions,” said Patty DeJuneas, a member of the Secular Legal Society, which works with the American Humanist Association.

“We appreciate that the RMV recognized the error, apologized, and issued a license respecting her First Amendment rights, and hope that RMV staff will be trained to respect diversity.”


http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/11/13/pastafarian-spaghetti-monster-drivers-license-lindsay-miller/



Spaghetti is available in all colors, including transparent!


Silly fun-

My eyeballs, made of meat. (Gristle, really.)

My hair, long, short, or shaved off.

My saucy blood. My saucy squirtings of happiness.)


Stripping off my clothes, to dance (carefully ) in the shower.

Speaking in pirate slang, on Pirate Day.


(Wearing a plastic colander, because lightning.)

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Gov. Charlie Baker (MA- Republican)

"No Syrian Refugees in Massachusetts—For Now"

The governor is reportedly waiting on guidance from the federal government.


Boston Mayor Marty Walsh (MA- Democrat) echoed Baker, saying he also wants to know more about how the federal government is screening refugees.


Under the Refugee Act of 1980 governors cannot legally block refugees from settling in their communities, according to Lavinia Limon, president and CEO of the U.S Committee for Refugees and Immigration.


Baker is waiting for the feds to instate a “stricter screening process,” reports Antonio Caban of the State House News Service


http://m.wcvb.com/politics/gov-baker-no-more-syrian-refugees-in-massachusetts/36476886



Massachusetts joins the long list of states that are refusing to accept refugees from Syria.

Texas,
Florida,
Georgia,
Tennessee,
North Carolina,
Arizona,
Maine,
Wisconsin,
Indiana,
Mississippi,
Illinois,
Ohio,
Louisiana,
Montana
New Hampshire


Without directly naming GOP presidential candidates, the president blasted political leaders for suggesting the United States should accept only Christians fleeing Syria. He alluded to the fact that some of these same politicians -- namely Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), whose father fled Cuba decades ago - -had benefited from America's willingness to accept refugees.

"And when I hear folks say that, well, maybe we should just admit the Christians but not the Muslims, when I hear political leaders suggesting that there would be a religious test for which person who's fleeing from a war-torn country is admitted, when some of those folks themselves come from families who benefited from protection when they were fleeing political persecution, that's shameful," he said, his voice rising. "That's not American. That’s not who we are. We don’t have religious tests to our compassion."


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...ligion-shameful-defends-white-house-strategy/

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

The terrorist attacks in France, and operations in Belgium have set off an urge to be prepared for an attack in Massachusetts.

Were you a witness to men and women in para military gear, in Boston ? Was not cosplay for amusement.

They have been practicing, and taking part in training exercises that will serve as counter terrorist measures.


Boston does not take kindly to being targeted by terrorists.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Who shows the most compassion, the most kindness, the most consideration, and the most courageous hearts, in Boston ?

I struggling and you offered help. You are new to this country, and new to our city.

I hope that you find kind people, that will keep your flame alive.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

My poor Bruins. *sigh*

60F on Sunday.

At least, it is not 80F, like that winter that seems as if it was torn out of a science fiction story.

Watch out for potholes on the Frog Pond.

My poor Pats. They like to play in the snow, not in a sauna.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

wow! Chipotle really does not give a fuck


Boston College confirmed Monday that several students were experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms that may be a result of consuming food at Chipotle.

Loyal Chipotle patrons had to turn around Monday night when they found out the Cleveland Circle location was shut down.

Side note-

E. Coli Linked to Chipotle Expands Into Maryland

In a statement, the school said "Boston College has confirmed that several BC students and student-athletes, including members of the BC men's basketball team, have reported to BC Health Services complaining of gastrointestinal symptoms. The common factor among the students is that they had all eaten at the Chipotle restaurant in Cleveland Circle."

http://www.necn.com/news/new-englan...After-Eating-at-Local-Chipotle-360847791.html

 

[Noor]

Gov. Charlie Baker (MA- Republican)

"No Syrian Refugees in Massachusetts—For Now"

The governor is reportedly waiting on guidance from the federal government.


Boston Mayor Marty Walsh (MA- Democrat) echoed Baker, saying he also wants to know more about how the federal government is screening refugees.


Under the Refugee Act of 1980 governors cannot legally block refugees from settling in their communities, according to Lavinia Limon, president and CEO of the U.S Committee for Refugees and Immigration.


Baker is waiting for the feds to instate a “stricter screening process,” reports Antonio Caban of the State House News Service


http://m.wcvb.com/politics/gov-baker-no-more-syrian-refugees-in-massachusetts/36476886



Massachusetts joins the long list of states that are refusing to accept refugees from Syria.

Texas,
Florida,
Georgia,
Tennessee,
North Carolina,
Arizona,
Maine,
Wisconsin,
Indiana,
Mississippi,
Illinois,
Ohio,
Louisiana,
Montana
New Hampshire


Without directly naming GOP presidential candidates, the president blasted political leaders for suggesting the United States should accept only Christians fleeing Syria. He alluded to the fact that some of these same politicians -- namely Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), whose father fled Cuba decades ago - -had benefited from America's willingness to accept refugees.

"And when I hear folks say that, well, maybe we should just admit the Christians but not the Muslims, when I hear political leaders suggesting that there would be a religious test for which person who's fleeing from a war-torn country is admitted, when some of those folks themselves come from families who benefited from protection when they were fleeing political persecution, that's shameful," he said, his voice rising. "That's not American. That’s not who we are. We don’t have religious tests to our compassion."


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...ligion-shameful-defends-white-house-strategy/

Like states actually have a choice...

There are times when my state seems a bit much, but I am glad they are not on that list.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

noor, the picture of Boston that is presented today, is what resulted when the money talked louder than the people who live here.

Martha Coakley should have been the one at the podium, saying the right words.
But, the money men thought differently, and that resulted in the scales getting
tipped to the Right Side.

Just like everything else, in the USA.

The money is pouring in, and the things that made Boston special are disappearing.
Boston is rapidly becoming less people- sized.

Big money wants everything to be big, big, big.

The skyline was once available to almost everyone.
The skyline was sold, where the money men were able to purchase it.

 

[Noor]

noor, the picture of Boston that is presented today, is what resulted when the money talked louder than the people who live here.

Martha Coakley should have been the one at the podium, saying the right words.
But, the money men thought differently, and that resulted in the scales getting
tipped to the Right Side.

Just like everything else, in the USA.

The money is pouring in, and the things that made Boston special are disappearing.
Boston is rapidly becoming less people- sized.

Big money wants everything to be big, big, big.

The skyline was once available to almost everyone.
The skyline was sold, where the money men were able to purchase it.

Wow, sounds like the Boston I knew is disappearing fast.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

80 students who have reported to Boston College Health Services with gastrointestinal symptoms confirmed that they ate at the Chipotle in Cleveland Circle over the weekend, the school said in a statement. All of the students have been tested for both E. coli and norovirus. Test results are not expected back for at least two days.


http://www.necn.com/news/health/Bos...-Illnesses-in-Cleveland-Circle-360943771.html

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Martha Coakley would have been the antidote to the sickening poision that Trump is spreading across New England


New England Police Benevolent Association announced its endorsement of Trump


Speaking to a police union in New Hampshire, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said as president, he would call for the death of anyone who killed a police officer.

"Anybody killing a police officer - death penalty is going to happen," Trump said to raucous applause Thursday night.



http://www.necn.com/news/politics/D...ew-Hampshire-NH-Republican-GOP-361493621.html

A peaceful protest was held outside of the Portsmouth Sheraton hotel ahead of a presidential forum, hosted by the New England Police Benevolent Association, a New England police union.

There were about a dozen Trump supporters outside the Portsmouth hotel, and hundreds of protesters.


Holding signs saying "No Scapegoating Muslims," "Choose Love," "Deport Fascism" and "No Hate in Our State," protesters said they were alarmed about Trump's call to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants and to close down United States borders to all Muslims. Many said Trump has crossed a line and poses a dangerous threat to the country’s founding principles.

Organized by the American Friends Service and Occupy Seacoast, the protest drew people of all ages, many with handmade signs.

The Leftist Marching Band played during the two-hour rally and the Stamp Stampede made many circles around the block to the cheers of the crowd. The Stamp Stampede is a movement to stamp money out of politics.

Holding a sign that simply read, “PEACE,” Monique Foote of Dover said she wants her 2-year-old son to grow up in a county “based in love and peace and not hatred.”

“(Trump) is a dangerous man and I think he’s a joke,” Foote said. “It’s nice to see such a crowd here and to know we’re not alone. Together we are strong.”

Russ Provost of Richmond said Trump says “crazy things that escalate day by day, week by week, about the Muslims and world leaders.”

“I have three grandchildren under the age of 2 and this is as bad as I’ve ever seen the way (this country) is going,” he said. “This guy is ruining our country.”


http://m.seacoastonline.com/article/20151210/NEWS/151219817/101017/NEWS

gsgs comment


Portsmouth is a charming coast town in NH.
Unlike abandoned, depressed mill towns,
Portsmouth profited from tourism.
It is clean, pretty and has a good mix
of renovated old buildings, new buildings,
and some cobblestone roads.

Here is clue of how small the area, is

Durham, Dover and Portsmouth were among New Hampshire municipalities that experienced the largest increases in population last year, according to a release on Thursday from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The municipality gaining the most people in New Hampshire between July 1, 2013, and July 1, 2014, was Durham whose population rose by 380 over the period. Durham was followed by Dover (295), Nashua (282), Manchester (251) and Portsmouth (208).

New Hampshire also gained 1,576 housing units during the year ending on July 1, 2014.

The population of Portsmouth was 21,233 in 2014


"The seaport city overlooks the mouth of the beautiful Piscataqua River, a short, wide river that divides New Hampshire and Maine."


http://www.boston.com/travel/new-en...w-hampshire/DWohZwAbQFzx35pKimVBsO/story.html

 

[Hard_Rom]

Boston's Christmas Tree.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston–Halifax_relations

The Halifax Explosion was a maritime disaster in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, on the morning of 6 December 1917. SS Mont-Blanc, a French cargo ship laden with high explosives, collided with the Norwegian vessel SS Imo in the Narrows, a strait connecting the upper Halifax Harbour to Bedford Basin. A fire on board the French ship ignited her cargo, causing a large explosion that devastated the Richmond district of Halifax. Approximately 2,000 people were killed by debris, fires and collapsed buildings, and an estimated 9,000 others were injured.

On December 6, 1917 at 9:00 AM, the Halifax Explosion severely destroyed much of the city. Boston authorities learned of the disaster via telegraph, and quickly organized and dispatched a relief train around 10:00 PM that night, to assist survivors. A blizzard following the explosion delayed the train, which finally arrived in the early morning on December 8, and immediately began distributing food, water, and medical supplies. Numerous personnel on the train were able to relieve the Nova Scotia medical staff, most of whom had worked without rest since the explosion occurred.

In 1918, Halifax sent a Christmas tree to the City of Boston in thanks and remembrance for the help that the Boston Red Cross and the Massachusetts Public Safety Committee had provided immediately after the disaster. That gift was revived in 1971 by the Lunenburg County Christmas Tree Producers Association, who began an annual donation of a large tree to promote Christmas tree exports as well as to acknowledge Boston's support after the explosion. The gift was later taken over by the Nova Scotia Government to continue the goodwill gesture as well as to promote trade and tourism.

The tree is Boston's official Christmas tree and is lit on Boston Common throughout the holiday season. Knowing its symbolic importance to both cities, the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources has specific guidelines for selecting the tree. It must be an attractive balsam fir, white spruce or red spruce, 12 to 16 metres (40 to 50 ft) tall, healthy with good colour, medium to heavy density, uniform and symmetrical and easy to access.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

The huge Christmas tree has an official lighting ceremony and celebration.
It is broadcast on local Boston television.

They always do a great job, decorating the official Christmas tree with plenty of lights.

Boston also has a display for a gigantic Hanukkah menorah.

Pretty decorations are displayed to celebrate Ramadan.

Creative and cheerful symbols of Kwanzaa are displayed, too.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Early risers, early commuters, woke to thick fog.
The sun is up, and the fog is stubborn.

No traffic report video footage.
The helicopters found the lack of visibility to be dangerous.

Nice pre- dawn for a murder ? Bring a lantern. Fog as thick as pea soup. Or, mushy peas.


San Francisco has New England's weather, and New England has San Francisco's weather.

Drought on both coasts.

Mountain/ Ocean connection, and too close to Canada.


http://www.Sfgate.com

spell check in my links arrggghhh

 

[phantom4533]

No runaway trains today?

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

I am guessing that it is due to sexting and internet pR0n. It could be internet gambling...

Fantasy Football seems to be the zombie virus of Boston.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Boston Council Votes to Lift BYOB Ban for Small Restaurants

The City Council in Boston has voted to end the city's ban on allowing patrons to bring their own beer or wine into restaurants that do not have liquor licenses.

http://www.necn.com/news/business/B...BYOB-Ban-for-Small-Restaurants-362688991.html

gsgs comment

A can of worms been opened.
Did they forget how many college and university students are living here ?
Fake ID ? No problem, these days.
Look out, Uber drivers.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

At last, a day worthy of hot chocolate. Raw, cold, wet.

No snow, yet. Find your winter coat. Cold weekend.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

It would figure, that the junkies would be out Christmas shopping at this late date.
Junkies have families. Home for Christmas.


Just happened to tune into the Basketball Diaries film, and it reminded me of what I saw, today.



What frightened me, is what the main character said, after he and his heroin buddies robbed a little old lady.

"Capable of anything."


This summer, and this fall, heroin overdoses were prominent in the news.
New Hampshire and Boston police spoke up for the need to have
the drug that revives heroin addicts from an overdose, available.
"CVS to sell over-the-counter Narcan in 12 new states."

"Naloxone is already available over the counter at CVS stores in Rhode Island and Massachusetts."

"There is no prescription needed and when there is a standing order,"

Is this what all of this zombie fascination has been about ?


The joking about crackheads, had stopped on Lit, long, ago.


There were some news articles about people switching from "Oxy" to heroin, this year.


That was until some variety of artificial THC took over the news for a short time, when it caused the people who ingested "bathsalts" to chew off pieces of flesh from their drug buddies.


This past weekend, the television news saw fit to tell the public that the problem with artificial THC is causing a great deal of problems with teenagers.


The main point of the article was that the Feds just cannot keep up, with how many variants of bath salts being produced.


The teens are getting their hands on this harmful drug and it is ruining their lives, before they have even started to have a life.

It destroys their minds. Turns them mindless zombies.

You cannot reason with a zombie, or a junkie.

Run ? At least be aware that someone suffering from addiction might take your head off with a baseball bat.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Snow,or flying slush ?

* daydreaming about watching "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," on television not long after it was premiered in the movie theatres. Not age appropriate for me, at the time.*

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Black ice warnings are up. Check for your area.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

North Andover, MA
Kaboom!
Rendered safe, a mile and a half, away from the scene.
Thank you, Mass State Police.

Thanks,Dow Chemical.


Snow for NH, this weekend ? Ice is likely.
Be careful.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

When David Bowie addressed the graduating class of Berklee College of Music in 1999 as their commencement speaker, he mostly told funny anecdotes about his beginnings as a musician and his friendship with John Lennon. But he also knew how to warm up a Boston crowd, making reference to a local pizza joint and Dunkin’ Donuts.

“I should remind you that anybody left over from the proceedings today can join my wife and I at Little Stevie’s for a slice,” Bowie told the assembled graduates. “Dunkin’ Donuts, then, alright?”

Bowie concluded the speech with a poignant reflection of his life as a musician.

“Music has given me over 40 years of extraordinary experiences,” Bowie said. “I can’t say that life’s pains or more tragic episodes have been diminished because of it. But it’s allowed me so many moments of companionship when I’ve been lonely and a sublime means of communication when I wanted to touch people. It’s both my doorway of perception and the house that I live in.”


http://www.boston.com/entertainment...ment-speech/2ZFyIZbq6SQwE8TVERXuXK/story.html


The coming together of rocker David Bowie and jazz great Wayne Shorter as honorary doctorate recipients at Berklee's 1999 Commencement is not as unlikely a pairing as it might seem at first glance.


Shorter has performed with pop artists like Joni Mitchell, the Rolling Stones, and Steely Dan, while Bowie can claim Pat Metheny as a composing partner and has taken a turn as a jazz balladeer, having recorded "A Foggy Day" for the Red, Hot + Rhapsody compilation. Both men are considered influential composers and both have been playing saxophone for decades. But what truly unifies Bowie and Shorter are their adventurous approaches to contemporary music and the reverence with which fans and fellow musicians view them.


Students did their best to inspire the crowd of more than 1,200, including Shorter and Bowie, who watched the Commencement concert at the Berklee Performance Center on May 7. Two impressive jazz combos tackled Shorter compositions like "Footprints" and "Elegant People." An unusual arrangement of Shorter's "Ana Maria" featured Romanian student Damian Draghici on pan flute. Twelve student vocalists, accompanied by the Berklee Jazz-Rock Ensemble, took turns singing lead and background parts on several Bowie tunes, including "Changes," "Black Tie White Noise," and "Golden Years."


The Berklee West African Drum and Dance Ensemble surprised the audience by entering the hall from the rear and providing a rousing opening to Bowie hit "Let's Dance."

https://www.berklee.edu/news/4531/1999-commencement-at-berklee-david-bowie-and-way


R.I.P. David Bowie
2016


Photograph at this link

John Lennon and David Bowie at the 1975 Grammy Awards. In his Berklee commencement address, Bowie talked about his relationship with Lennon.



http://radioboston.wbur.org/2016/01/11/bowie-berklee

WTF spell check ?

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Rainy day for Boston. A winter without snow.
The TV news teased me with a clip of Brady
practising in the snow.


This must be very confusing for the Boston noobies, that waded through last year's overabundance.

 

[trysail]

Boston (February, 2015):




http://binaryapi.ap.org/7469702aae5c4aef83df64368f3cca38/460x.jpg
Source: Associated Press 2/19/15






​