Wait where how what?

Locals waiting "on line"? Really?

At least the article got it right, reporting that people waited in line for hours yesterday and Thursday. (Emphasis mine.)
[For out-of-town readers, the phrase "on line" is a New York expression. Folks at a Kennedy memorial would no more wait "on line" than they'd show up wearing a Yankees uniform.]

Crime in suburbia

From The Landmark (subscription required):

Holden

Monday, August 17
12:33 a.m. Large tree limb across Woodland Rd.
10:03 a.m. Two large, mud-covered yellow Labtype dogs running loose in neighborhood, Parker Ave.
11:23 a.m. Report that two yellow Lab-type dogs are attacking another dog, Parker Ave.
3:45 p.m. Person at station requesting car seat inspection, Main St.
7:10 p.m. Caller has lost power, Forest Dr.
7:26 p.m. Report of annoying phone calls from church in Worcester, Anthony Dr.
7:56 p.m. Deceased deer across from Elmwood Ave.
9:32 p.m. Person at station reporting her twoyear old daughter was bitten by neighbor's cat, Powers Rd.
Tuesday, August 18
7:09 a.m. Deceased deer on Rte. 31
7:21 a.m. Skunk stuck in house window, General Hobbs Rd.
9:54 a.m. Report of small dog in car with window barely cracked, Boyden Rd.
10:23 a.m. Assist Lee PD looking for owner of vehicle parked in their town, Fruit St.
1:58 p.m. Vehicle on Shrewsbury St. sped up, slowed down, then stopped in middle of intersection
2:22 p.m. Assist other PD looking for someone on Woodridge Rd.
2:35 p.m. Report of someone setting off fireworks, Salisbury St.
2:42 p.m. Report of picture window in home on Valley Hill Dr. is smashed with blood everywhere. Found to be dog stuck in window
2:47 p.m. Golf cart stolen, Holden Hills, Main St.
4:38 p.m. Report that driver has small child sitting on lap, Bailey Rd.
7:58 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, operator retrieving lost cat, Nola Dr.
9:46 p.m. Individuals asked to leave area of Wachusett Fitness, Main St.
Wednesday, August 19

9:56 a.m. Person at station to be fingerprinted, Main St.
6:42 p.m. Open door reported at restaurant, Reservoir St.
9:41 p.m. Complaint about loud party, Armington Ln.
11:35 p.m. Group of teenagers behind tennis courts at Dawson Rec area, Salisbury St.
Thursday, August 20
1:52 a.m. Transporting one male to Paxton, Pleasant St.
8:16 a.m. Vehicle stuck in travel lane, Shrewsbury St.
2:25 p.m. Solicitors in neighborhood, no permit, Twinbrooke Dr.
2:42 p.m. Person at stataion to speak with officer about stubborn child, Main St.
Friday, August 21
7:51 a.m. Person at station to be fingerprinted, Main St.
10:11 a.m. Officer out on Chapel St. for follow-up
2:32 p.m. Assist with motor vehicle lockout, Main St.
3:04 p.m. Lost Siamese cat, Fairchild Dr.
3:43 p.m. Carload of individuals going door-to-door leaving religious flyers, Thayer Cir.
5:17 p.m. Multiple calls regarding a disabled tractor trailer unit, Main St.
6:40 p.m. Wires pulled off house, Oakridge Rd.
7:21 p.m. Tree down blocking travel lane, Manning St.
11:00 p.m. Open door at pool, Salisbury St.
11:30 p.m. Water main break, Salisbury St.
Saturday, August 22
5:26 a.m. Disabled truck full of tires, Main St.
2:05 p.m. Disturbance, Main St. Individual advised he will be removed if there any further incidents
3:48 p.m. Report of teenagers dropped off in woods, Main St.
9:19 p.m. Officers meet with Paxton PD officers, Main St.
Sunday, August 23
8:14 a.m. Suspicious brief case in cart at Big Y, Reservoir St.
9:47 a.m. Caller's German shepherd passed away during the night and he wants to know what to do, Laurel Hill Ln.
11:07 a.m. Report of hitchhiker on Main/Causeway Sts.
3:05 p.m. Caller found a "copious" amount of ammunition in his basement, would like it picked up and destroyed, Pinecroft Ave.

Paxton

Monday, August 17
10:51a.m. Male in store not welcome, Pleasant St.
2:14 p.m. Person wants to speak to officer regarding incident at Marketplace, West St.
5:53 p.m. Resident reports his yard is being flooded due to broken hydrant, Richards Ave.
9:23 p.m. Erratically-operated motor vehicle, driver kept hitting brakes, flashing lights and honking horn, Pleasant St.
Wednesday, August 19
8:23 a.m. Caller reports neighbors destroying things in yard, Marshall St.
Thursday, August 20
10:58p.m. Caller reports individual singing and playing drums loudly, Monticello Dr.
Friday, August 21
9:04 a.m. Request for officer, Davis Hill Rd.
8:47 p.m. Caller reports basketball hoop lying in road, Whitney Dr.
Saturday, August 22
11:57 a.m. Request for animal control, Nanigian Rd.
9:04 p.m. Caller reports missing gray and black cat, Rollingridge Ln.

Princeton

Monday, August 17
7:53 p.m. Public service, Mirick Rd.
Tuesday, August 18
4:58 p.m. Assist fire department, Mountain Rd.
8:23 p.m. Public service, Mountain Rd.
Wednesday, August 19
2:06 a.m. Open door/window, Hubbardston Rd.
9:32 a.m. Assist other PD, Rte. 140 Sterling
9:49 a.m. Request for animal control officer, Beaman Rd.
6:24 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Beaman Rd.
6:24 p.m. Assist animal control officer, Beaman Rd.
Thursday, August 20
6:44 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Connor Ln.
8:24 p.m. Public service, Mountain Rd.
Friday, August 21
4:00 a.m. Open door/window, Hubbardston Rd.
9:25 a.m. Request for animal control officer, Blood Rd.
5:26 p.m. Traffic control duty, Rte. 140 N/Hobbs Rd.
6:14 p.m. Public service, Rte. 140 N
6:31 p.m. Assist fire department, Gleason Rd.
Saturday, August 22
11:45 a.m. Assist other PD, center of town
5:00 p.m. Public service, E. Princeton Rd.
Sunday, August 23
4:44 p.m. Traffic safety hazard, Mirick Rd.
7:13 p.m. Assist other PD, Sterling Rd.
8:03 p.m. Request for light department, Esty Rd.
8:03 p.m. Assist light department, Esty Rd.
11:48 p.m. Assist other PD, Jefferson Rd.

Rutland

Monday, August 17
3:25 p.m. Person in to do community service
Tuesday, August 18
1:01 a.m. Report of open door/window at building on E. County Rd.
11:56 a.m. Suspicious blue pickup truck traveling around neighborhood, Bethany Dr.
4:00 p.m. Person at station to speak with officer, Main St.
4:52 p.m. Person at station to speak with officer, Main St.
Wednesday, August 19
3:36 p.m. Person at station to do community service, Main St.
4:06 p.m. Person at station to speak with officer, Main St.
6:33 p.m. Caller reporting ex-wife stole girlfriend's bicycle from Auburn
8:47 p.m. Caller reports that person that borrowed a horse is lost, Charnock Hill Rd.
10:24 p.m. Report of fireworks in area of Prescott St.
11:06 p.m. 18-wheeler parked near four corners with flashers on, Barre Paxton Rd.
Thursday, August 20
4:28 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, car alarm going off, Karen Way
4:59 p.m. Person locked out of home on Clearview Rd.
8:55 p.m. Caller wants it recorded that neighbors are using their outdoor boiler, Bigelow Rd.
Friday, August 21
10:03 a.m. Caller advising of dog walking down Charnock Hill Rd.
10:19 a.m. Request for officers to remove unwanted person, Pleasantdale Rd.
4:37 p.m. Report that outdoor boiler is being used, Bigelow Rd.
Saturday, August 22
8:37 a.m. Stray chocolate Lab dog in yard, Brunelle Dr.
3:12 p.m. Unoccupied dingy found, check for "man overboard," Brintnal Dr.
6:39 p.m. Report of large fireworks in area of Maple Ave.
Sunday, August 23
12:26 a.m. Disturbance, people yelling and banging on walls, Maple Ave.
2:18 a.m. Yellow Lab picked up on Barre Paxton Rd.
2:46 p.m. Vandalism to "no trespassing" signs, Turkey Hill Rd.

Sterling

Monday, August 17
6:47 p.m. Person picked up black Lab mix dog on Old Princeton/East Rds.
10:15 p.m. Person wants assistance with skunk in Have-a Heart trap, Oakwood Dr.
Tuesday, August 18
9:39 a.m. Cars parked on both sides of Laurelwood Rd., making it difficult to pass; 12 vehicles must be moved
11:00 a.m. Report that bank card has been "hacked," James Patten Dr.
Wednesday, August 19
5:04 p.m. Assist Bolton PD delivering paperwork, Gibbons Dr.
10:04 p.m. Officer requested to check area after caller heard two loud bangs, Holden Rd.
Thursday, August 20
3:26 p.m. Youths on town common threatening passing vehicles with water balloons, Main St.
4:12 p.m. Motorist with flat tire, Worcester Rd.
4:39 p.m. Two vehicles pulled off side of road, appear to be loading a disabled motor vehicle on trailer, Leominster Rd.
8:04 p.m. Dog struck by car, Redemption Rock Trl.
Saturday, August 22
7:13 a.m. Cow in road heading towards center of Sterling, Clinton/Chocksett Rds.
10:55 a.m. Jimmy Fund canisters stolen from business on Redstone Hill Rd.
3:00 p.m. Person at station to speak with officer about past incident, Leominster Rd.
8:13 p.m. Dog at ice cream bar attacked another dog, Leominster Rd.
Sunday, August 23
8:12 a.m. Caller concerned about dog he found, Roper Rd.
3:53 p.m. Large turtle at DPW, request for help to move it, Worcester Rd.

OnTheCommon.com - For the love of the game

For the love of the game - "Where is that motel exactly? I'm from Jersey."

On Ted Kennedy

He represented us as he was and as we are. Great ideals and compassion with threads of familial and personal tragedy tangled up with petty, base, and self-serving instincts. With big talents and a life of privilege, he gave us full measure of what we dream what we would do if we were born to a similar station and what we fear we might become.
Few of us will rise to those heights or fall to those depths. He did that for us, in our name, and we can do with that what we will.

Dept. of Sweaty Men

The results are in.

Timo Kaukonen wins, lasting 226 seconds in a sauna heated to 230°F

Part 1
Note, also, in this clip, that there's a steady drip of water onto the rocks, creating steam. A good sauna is a dry sauna. You can stand dry heat a lot longer than the kind of steam heat shown here.



Part 2

Via Book of Joe

Limitless possibilities, and not in a good way

It's an unconvincing 67^°. The attic fan hasn't been able to cool the house. Sleep was hard to find. Nevertheless, this kind of hot air has a reasonable explanation. It's August. It's supposed to be hot.

The kind of hot air that's generated by stupidity, however, drifts across seasons and seems limitless. This time, again this time, it's about gaming.
The Boston Globe is reporting this morning that state legislators are finding renewed support for casinos and other expanded gambling options.

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
-Albert Einstein 

Folks get all torqued up about tax increases, including new taxes on beer, wine, and liquors. And yet, the kind of retail-level taxation known as public-sponsored gambling has politicians, investors, and the populous falling over each other to identify new ways to siphon away your money and have you saying, "Thank you. That was fun. Can we have some more?"
Sheesh.
As I've often suggested, why not just put up whorehouses on the Mass Pike? And, if people are objecting to taxes on booze, then open state-run barrooms with Keno machines and craps tables.
A couple of years ago, I noted that Mario Puzo, writing the Godfather series to pay off gambling debts, said that Las Vegas was paid for with losers' money.
We can call it recreation or entertainment but we use those descriptions because we don't have the balls to say that it's taxes but with pretty colors, flashing lights, and loud noises.

Hakkarainen's Law of Great Events

The law, derived from years of observational research at funerals, death, dying, and grave illnesses, weddings, high and college graduations, piano recitals, and other major religious and secular sacraments.

In any great event, someone must be a jerk. That person will not show up or will say something stupid, hurtful, or otherwise self-centered and inappropriate.

The corollary:

If you don't know who the jerk is, it's probably you.

If you find yourself being the jerk, accept it with all the humility that you can muster and learn from it. In the meantime, you can take some small comfort that, by being the jerk, you obviated the need for someone else to fill that role. You took one for the team.