Bitching about Boston

[gotsnowgotslush]

What does my spellcheck have against spandex ? It prefers sanded.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who’s worth an estimated $5.2 billion according to Forbes, is hosting an exclusive party Tuesday for friends and business associates that includes dinner and a private performance by the Rolling Stones at Gillette Stadium.


The Stones last year played a private party hosted by former Hewlett-Packard chairman Ralph Whitworth, and reports were the band was paid $3 million.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2...our-seasons/8UzJVaHKbOx4Yc3MVLX3TL/story.html

"...the Krafts have summoned a few hundred business associates and friends to the Optum Field Lounge at Gillette Tuesday for dinner and a performance by the Rolling Stones. Yes, we’re told that Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, and Charlie Watts are in town — the word is they’ve commandeered dozens of rooms at the Four Seasons Hotel — and they’re playing a private show for the Krafts’ business colleagues."

(They know about serving tea, at the Four Seasons.)

Who was sent the private invitations?

"Gillette Stadium Tuesday Evening October 25, 2016. Very Special Live Performance by The Rolling Stones"

(Not me. wahhhh.)


Optum Field Lounge is located in the south end zone at Gillette Stadium, on field level, and covers 20,000 square feet that includes a terrace, HD screens, and bars. According to the Patriots website, it’s perfect for corporate functions, holiday parties, and mitzvahs. We’re told Tuesday’s dinner will be held in the lounge, but the show will be on the field, on a makeshift stage that workers were hurrying to set up Monday.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2...our-seasons/8UzJVaHKbOx4Yc3MVLX3TL/story.html


https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifesty...nky-shindig/IAONp8CwJLZaoBfqxy1DPN/story.html

I am left wondering how the local Patriots fans in the stands feel about this.
Supporting the team through cold, rain, and snow.
No invitations for them ?

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Someone threw a sex toy onto the field during the Patriots-Bills game

https://www.boston.com/sports/new-e...onto-the-field-during-the-patriots-bills-game

http://nesn.com/2016/10/someone-threw-a-sex-toy-onto-the-field-during-patriots-bills-game/

Sex aid!

The R rated object landed a few yards from Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan, and an official swiftly kicked it off the playing surface while CBS’s announcing team tried to explain what had happened without actually explaining what had happened (“That’s not a flag …”).

Several Patriots players had a laugh about the incident after the game, and quarterback Tom Brady did the same Monday morning in an interview with WEEI’s “Kirk & Callahan.”

“I did see it,” Brady said. “Yes I did, I did see it. I thought it was funny the ref didn’t want to pick it up. He was kicking it. Nobody wanted to reach down and grab it. “That was very unusual. That was a first. Only in Buffalo. That was very unusual.”


http://nesn.com/2016/10/tom-brady-only-in-buffalo-would-someone-throw-sex-toy-on-field/

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

I think the calendar is off.

Today in Boston, was the perfect day
for Halloween.The children could have worn
light, flimsy costumes.

The city had Spring Fever, while the people
did their quicky Winter shopping.

Then, again, the shops were full
of winter hats and mittens.
Good bet for a freezing, cold
Halloween with snow
in New England.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Vermont and New York at the border, are giving out early warnings.
This light clothing weather is not sticking around.
Here comes a coldfront.

Nice day for playing in puddles.

The state must be getting something from all the New York developers.
Busy destroying the turnpike fare collectors and a bridge.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

yay

New England has not lost its mind.
Sane people live here.

Massachusetts voters resoundingly rejected Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy and a proposed expansion of charter schools in the state on Tuesday.

We have a provision for medical use on the books.
Legalize it, is a touchy issue.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

I missed the parade.
The bus schedule is a mystery, ever since they opened the new line.

*sigh*

The cards had the Veteran's new stamps from the PO.

The thefts continue.

Does all that bronze go to China ?

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Something is happening to Government Center.
Now that the MBTA has finished using the plaza,
there is a prettier activity.

Cute, tiny ,white cottages, are getting assembled.
Much nicer than tents.

( Hint: It has something to do with the interwebs.)

Soon, there will be festival lights, to light up the night.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

November 28, 2016

The tree is here.

Thursday is tree lighting night.
Show from 6:00 to 8:00
Some music, etc.
Will be broadcast on TV

The Frog Pond might be melted, again.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Open until February!

The charming little cottages on ugly old City Hall plaza, have transformed into food stalls.

"Vendors will stay open through December when the holiday shopping season ends, and the rest of the village will shut down the last week in February.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2...-hall-plaza/f33RDnPkqDr7o02KG9ORFO/story.html

I am missing the grand opening, tonight.
They had to do a repeat, because the weather
insisted on being mild, at times.
The ice melted.
I wore myself out, shopping at the Crossing.
New York has very much invaded Boston.
So fucking rude.
*gives Vornado the Tornado the "bird."*
yikes

Skate,nibble, drink.
Power up the Christmas tree with the bicycle.
Take selfies with the sculptures.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Dec 10, 2016 07:00 PM

Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

TD Garden, Boston, MA

Guests attending TD Garden events are advised that laptops, bags, backpacks, luggage, coolers, parcels, briefcases and like articles will be strictly prohibited from the facility. All guests may be subject to search of their person and/or possessions. Patrons with prohibited articles will be turned away and no storage or "check-in area" will be provided.

Enforcement will be without exceptions.


How big of an assault weapon can you hide, under a Bruins jersey ?

 

[Hypoxia]

I don't like Boston traffic.

Or the people.

Or cops.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

A hand craft, from our country's humble beginnings, survives.


Things changed for the 106 year old company.
People cannot live forever.
The company did not fail.
Others stepped up, and the tradition continued.

Michael Kaplan, RIP


Michael was most recently co-owner of Ymittos Candle Manufacturing Company, Lowell, MA, which was originally established in 1910. He was a candle craftsman and provided custom made candles for multiple movie studios for several films including Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lone Ranger, Lincoln, and for various television specials including the John Adams series, and for the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

Michael's aeronautical career was highlighted by his engineering work on the 1968 lunar landing module for Grumman Aerospace. His name, along with the other engineers, is inscribed on a piece of the module that remains on the moon.

He was an avid history buff and especially loved 18th Century American History. In addition, he was a longtime member of 10th Regiment of Foot, a British reenactment organization and also fashioned women's wigs for 18th century events.



When people were less worried, I was allowed to dip candles at historic sites.

Hollywood comes to Lowell, MA to get what it needs to portray history.

Household production, a single long wick and a single dipper.

I liked the bayberry scent.


Sadly, when bees come to an end, the candles will not be produced.


*candle light, in winter*



https://www.bostonglobe.com/busines...incoln-role/SYIvXXQxeWPkTVnHp0LVqN/story.html


Ymittos was founded by Greek immigrants who made candles to illuminate *Orthodox churches. But through the years, the company’s sacred flame for altars became a must-have for film set designers. Now, Ymittos* fills candle orders for about two movies a year.

“They have such beautiful products. So period-correct and the colors are so wonderful,” said Christine Wick, the set decoration buyer for “Lincoln.”

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Millions are taken out of the MA school budget to make payments to charter schools.

We did not let charter schools expand their presence in MA.

The young people made an impact. The protests in Boston by students have been answered.

Despite the laws on the books, bias against minority students is still operating.

The budget cuts for schools will not be as severe, as was planned.

Six million to fund new school projects will not be provided.

The statehouse is looking at shortfalls.

How to shift the money around, is the question.


"Too many charter schools are test-prep factories with very rigid and rote academic formats. Too many are characterized by harsh punitive cultures; “no excuses” practices misunderstand the developmental nature of children and the impact of poverty on children. Many charters exclude children—in formal and informal ways—who jeopardize the academic profile of the school. Charter school teachers and leaders do not send their own children to their schools; wealthy supporters of charters often send their children to private schools with cultures that are the opposite of the rigid charter cultures. And charters have a dismal record of retaining both teachers and leaders."

https://www.bu.edu/today/2016/massachusetts-question-2-vote-no-on-more-charter-schools/

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN WIND CHILL VALUES OF -15 TO -
24 DEGREES ARE LIKELY FOR AT LEAST 3 HOURS. WIND CHILL VALUES
BELOW -20 DEGREES CAN BRING ABOUT FROSTBITE IN AS LITTLE AS
30 MINUTES. OUTDOOR EXPOSURE SHOULD BE LIMITED. IF YOU MUST BE
OUTDOORS...DRESS IN LAYERS AND KEEP YOUR HANDS AND FEET COVERED
TO PROTECT AGAINST FROSTBITE.

Do not fall off of the pier, and into the water, anymore.

 

[Lancecastor]

The Sacred Cod says you should go to Revere Beach and play Skee Ball.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Keep an eye out for cancellations. Too cold for people, pets, and classes. The MBTA is trying to assure passengers that they have fixed the problems.

Does that mean the Red Line will catch on fire?

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Speaking of the Red Line, they might be seeing brand new T subway trams, soon.


The T chose to buy new cars instead of paying even more to overhaul existing vehicles from the 1990s. Keeping those 1990s-era cars in service a little bit longer without overhauling them as planned will cost the T an expected $36.46 million in maintenance.

Acting MBTA General Manager Brian Shortsleeve and Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack defended the decision to directly increase the order from CRRC instead of going through traditional procurement processes, saying that an open procurement would delay the order by over two years and cost more to keep old trains in service for that time.

http://news.wgbh.org/2016/12/12/politics-government/mbta-replace-entire-red-line-fleet

I took a bus with an old fashioned stairway, leftover from the 1980s.
That was last month.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Rhode Island radio broadcaster "Salty" Brine was born Walter Leslie Brian on August 8, 1918 in Boston, Massachusetts, the last of four children. His parents were from Nova Scotia; his father was a carpenter. For over 50 years the morning host on popular AM-radio station WPRO, and for 13 years (1955-1968) the host of Salty's Shack, a live children's television broadcast, Mr. Brine has become somewhat of a cultural icon to thousands of Rhode Island residents. Mr. Brine lived in Massachusetts until he obtained his position as a staff announcer at WPRO in September of 1942.

Breaking into television in 1955, WPRO broadcast a nautically-themed children's program called Salty Brine's Shack, produced live, which Mr. Brine hosted with a collie named Jeff. Both Salty and Jeff evolved into local celebrities. The show ran until 1968, when the station changed ownership from Capital City Broadcasting to Providence Television and became WPRI.

Mr. Brine and wife Mickey have one son, Walter Brine Jr.

Wally Brine, son of radio D.J. legend Salty Brine.

http://sampan.org/2016/12/radio-host-wally-brine-celebrates-retirement-at-kowloon-restaurant/


Special guest Jim Koch from Samuel Adams stopped by to wish Wally a happy retirement!

http://wror.com/2016/12/14/wallys-grand-finale/


Wally Brine, half of the popular “The Loren & Wally Morning Show” for over three decades, is retiring, Beasley Media Group announced Tuesday. Brine’s last day on WROR-FM (105.7) will be Dec. 16. “Loren Owens and I have been together for 35 years, longer than most marriages,” Brine said in a statement. “He’s been my friend, my teacher, my advisor, my confidant, and my hero. I have been so blessed to have been teamed up with Loren. I will be forever grateful. I just wish there were two of me. One could stay, and the other could sleep in, travel with my wife, and stay up late.” Brine arrived in Boston in 1981 after stints at radio stations WGAN, WLOB, and WJBQ in Maine. “The Loren & Wally Morning Show” has aired on WVBF, WCLB, and, for the past several years, WROR. Said Owens: “I’m happy for Wally because this is what he wants for the next chapter of his life. Love the guy. Always will.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifesty...-retirement/FovHrc9OB4U01NGgjftY7L/story.html

 

[Avery_Chisholm]

Fucked a very hot guy from Boston once or twice or three times

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Was a lovely day to move the snow and slush.

That is over. Monday will return to punishing cold temps.

Flash Freeze and Free FallingTemps

Snow melt and rain will freeze tonight as temperatures quickly drop below freezing.

Depending where you are, it might feel like below zero.

Black Ice Warning!

Temperatures slowly warm after Monday

Some parts of New Hampshire and Vermont will be dangerously cold.

Maine got smacked before us.

Still has mighty chilly temps, ahead.

http://www.necn.com

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Zamboni crashed through a fence at Boston Winter’s ice skating rink at City Hall Plaza Friday evening prompting officials to close the rink.

Several panels of the wall were pushed away from the rink, and pieces of the ice were damaged, said Tricia McCorkle, a spokeswoman for TD Garden, which manages the rink. The Zamboni fell down some stairs on the outside of the rink after it crashed, she said.


https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2...ng-ice-rink/JcG7WWeM4vp730uYi7OehL/story.html

 

[trysail]

"Sherlock" returns...

"Sherlock" Returns With Murder, Mystery and A Baby"

LONDON (AP) — There's something rotten in Baker Street.

It may just be the diaper of baby Rosamund Watson, whose arrival at the start of the fourth season of "Sherlock" disrupts the relationship between brilliant, demanding detective Sherlock Holmes and his long-suffering friend Dr. John Watson.

The offspring of John and his enigmatic wife Mary — with Sherlock as a somewhat skeptical godfather — is one of the few things program-makers are willing to reveal before the first of three new episodes airs Jan. 1 on the BBC in Britain and on PBS in the United States.

"The unofficial alternative title for episode one is 'The Three Watsons,' because the baby changes the dynamic," said Mark Gatiss, the show's co-creator. But, he stresses: "Not in a cutesy way."

Fears of domestic coziness are quickly banished in the opening episode, officially titled "The Six Thatchers." Its central whodunit involves half a dozen plaster busts of former Prime Minister Margaret "Iron Lady" Thatcher.

That's just the starting point for 90 minutes of virtuosic puzzle-solving, prickly friendship and the spectacular return of ghosts from one character's past.

The new episodes pick up where the previous season left off almost three years ago. Since then, fans have had to make do with a one-time special last year that took the characters back to their Victorian roots.

The show's success means Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Holmes, and his Watson, Martin Freeman, are in huge demand, and "Sherlock" must fit around their other projects. Cumberbatch jumped back into Holmes' deerstalker hat right after finishing work on the Marvel adventure "Doctor Strange."

Everyone involved in "Sherlock" is sworn to spoiler-free secrecy about the plot...

more...


http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d797...898f/sherlock-returns-murder-mystery-and-baby


​

​

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

There were warnings about this coming down the pike.
The horrible winter that ate up the state's budget,
has taken a toll.

The severe cold and extreme weather gave our transportation system a beating. Boston has more people than ever. The trains and busses never rest. It cannot be patched up with chewing gum and duct tape forever.


Revitalization! The rich have gotten richer, and money talks.
Money from the city to bring the sidewalks, streets, and lights up to the new standard set by the New York developers.

I feel sad for the old timers.
Everything has been changing, quickly.

Big Change! Where will the crowd gather in front of the cameras, now that City Hall Plaza was given to vendors and a skating rink?

Due to budget constrictions, there will be no New Year’s Eve fireworks this year over Boston Harbor.

First Night 2017 organizers announced that the midnight fireworks on the waterfront have been canceled due to “funding limitations.”

Instead, the fireworks have been relocated to be a part of the midnight display above Copley Square.

Earlier in the night in Copley Square on New Year’s Eve, there will also be a parade at 6 p.m. and family fireworks at 7 p.m.


http://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/12/22/first-night-boston-new-years-eve-fireworks-2017/

Meanwhile, at City Hall Plaza

According to Boston Winter's organizers, "The skating path at #BostonWinter has reopened and will remain open today (12/24) until 4pm. Happy Holidays!"

The Zamboni went over the edge,through the boards, through the fence, and down the city plaza steps.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Try, that was very kind of you.

I will be shoving popcorn into my mouth, during that episide!