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How the folks in the Big City see it

Beat the Press - Telegram v. WPD:
Worcester Police boycott the Telegram & Gazette

Google Translate gets lots of things right

This isn't one of them.

Editor's note: for the page to misbehave, you must have the Google Toolbar installed and automatic translation enabled.

The paper of record vs. The New York Times

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Happy Birthday, Matt

And, of course....

Crime in suburbia

From The Landmark (subscription required):
[Editor's note: there were 17 suspicious people or things.]

Holden

Monday, October 5

12:54 a.m. Very loud beeping near 1260 Main St.; smoke detector
8:10 a.m. 911 - Keys locked in car on Maple St.
8:57 a.m. Suspicious van in driveway, Steele St.


12:18 p.m. Questions on trespassing
5:27 p.m. Report of service lines down across Raymond St.; none found
6:41 p.m. Report of teens climbing on town sign, Main St.; no contact

Tuesday, October 6

12:13 a.m. 911 - Caller requesting police, language barrier; trouble with tint on television, in need of tech support
10:48 a.m. Suspicious person in area of high school; possibly person from disabled motor vehicle
3:30 p.m. Motor vehicle in handicapped space without proper tags
5:30 p.m. Motor vehicle in handicapped space without proper tags at high school
6:03 p.m. Motor vehicle possibly smoking/overheating, Shrewsbury St.

Wednesday, October 7

12:00 a.m. Vehicle in parking area, Shrewsbury St.; OK, party cooling off after argument
5:08 a.m. Wires down, Newell Rd.
11:59 a.m. Truck left on Winter Hill Rd.; will be moving in a few minutes
2:16 p.m. Wire down on Woodland Rd.; cars hitting it

5:21 p.m. Service line down, Brunnelle Dr.
8:22 p.m. Disturbance reported at business, Main St.
8:23 p.m. Disturbance reported at Rail Trail
9:24 p.m. Tree in Wachusett St.

Thursday, October 8

1:26 a.m. Large branch on Salisbury St.
1:37 a.m. Three suspicious males, Main St.
10:35 a.m. Caller about hunting season; advised it's bow season
3:25 p.m. Rude and disgruntled person in to speak with chief
4:36 p.m. Parent heard son's name on scanner; advised son was told to move away from parking lot
6:14 p.m. Caller wondering how to dispose of deceased cat
7:14 p.m. Male thumbing for ride, Doyle Rd.
8:33 p.m. Skateboarders/bicyclists in Subway refusing to leave, Main St.; ongoing problem

Friday, October 9

1:23 a.m. Large tree limb on Salisbury St.
6:49 a.m. 911 hang-up from high school
8:25 a.m. Suspicious parked van, Stoneleigh Rd.
10:59 a.m. Report of contents of safe taken, possibly by chimney cleaning crew
11:01 a.m. Several kids on corner of Salisbury St., playing hide-and-seek around cars
2:12 p.m. Four kids entered shed behind senior center
2:14 p.m. Suspicious female at hardware store
2:49 p.m. Rear-end accident, no injuries reported; is in Worcester
9:08 p.m. Motor vehicle versus tree, no apparent injuries

Saturday, October 10

2:21 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Main St.
2:26 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Birchwood Dr.
4:54 a.m. Power outage, Main St.
11:23 a.m. Caller believes bear may have been in her back yard
12:04 p.m. Motor vehicle lockout at post office
1:25 p.m. Caller to assist with previous incident in Subway parking lot, Main St. 
4:08 p.m. Caller wants to find out if his daughter was in an accident
4:46 p.m. Caller regarding accident; occurred in Rutland
6:35 p.m. Large bear on porch, Paxton Road; took birdfeeder and left
6:48 p.m. ATM froze and didn't give money, receipt or card
10:04 p.m. Large group of teens smashing things, Sycamore Dr.

Sunday, October 11

4:05 p.m. Caller inquiring whether license was suspended
6:35 p.m. Three dogs running on Highland St.
11:35 p.m. Suspicious individuals, Highland St.

Paxton

Monday, October 5

12:21 a.m. Assist Rutland PD with open window call at business in that town
10:35 a.m. Report of gunshots near Richards Ave.
2:05 a.m. Possible scam phone calls, Woodland Dr.
3:56 p.m. Loose dog, Holden Rd.
4:11 p.m. Large stone in road, Richards Ave.
6:21 p.m. Report of eight-year-old running down Pleasant St.; no contact
7:11 p.m. Past drag racing reported, Streeter Rd.
8:42 p.m. 911 hang-up, Marshall St.; thought neighbor's car alarm going off

Tuesday, October 6

9:17 p.m. Streeter Rd. resident reports streetlight out; streetlight found working

Wednesday, October 7

4:14 a.m. Suspicious auto near entrance to school; gone on arrival
2:50 p.m. Tree on power lines, Grove Street

Thursday, October 8

11:55 p.m. Walk-in reports vehicle spinning donuts at intersection, Rtes. 122/56

Friday, October 9

2:38 a.m. Group of kids behaving suspiciously in Spring Dr. area
9:28 a.m. Past suspicious person reported, Colony Ln.

Saturday, October 10

1:33 a.m. 911 caller reports wife in labor and baby crowning; baby delivered four minutes later
7:51 a.m. Private investigator on Marshall St.
1:48 p.m. Report of loud noise, possibly vehicle spinning tires, Camp Street area
7:30 p.m. Lost dog from Leicester Sports Club earlier in day

Princeton

Monday, October 5

4:26 p.m. Traffic control duty, Hobbs Rd.
6:18 p.m. Assist other PD, Old Colony Rd.
6:25 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Fitchburg Rd.
6:42 p.m. Lost hiker, Wachusett Mountain, Westminster Rd.
7:07 p.m. Public service, Westminster Rd.
7:48 p.m. 911 abandoned call, Mirick Rd.

Tuesday, October 6

6:05 a.m. Traffic control duty, Hubbardston/Ball Hill Rds.
11:07 a.m. Request for animal control officer, Mountain Rd.
5:54 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Administration Rd.
6:46 p.m. Public service, Mountain Rd.
8:47 p.m. Suspicious person, Brooks Station Rd.

Wednesday, October 7

4:21 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Sharon Dr.
6:48 p.m. Traffic safety hazard, Sterling Rd.
7:07 p.m. 911 abandoned call, Goodnow Rd.; investigated
8:48 p.m. Assist light dept., Mirick Rd.
9:00 a.m. Request for light dept., Mirick Rd.

Thursday, October 8

10:06 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Beaman Rd.
1:27 p.m. Public service, Rhodes Rd.
1:35 p.m. Public service, Hubbardston Rd.

Saturday, October 10

8:03 a.m. Traffic safety hazard, Mountain Rd.

Sunday, October 11

12:40 p.m. Suspicious person, East Princeton Rd.
2:02 p.m. Traffic safety hazard, Ball Hill Rd.
4:30 p.m. Disabled motor vehicle, Main St.
9:45 p.m. Assist other PD, Mountain Rd.

Rutland

Monday, October 5

8:00 a.m. Trespassing incident, horses being ridden through private property behind Overlook Services
10:13 a.m. Caller reports finding dead cat in woods behind his house, Clearview Rd.
3:25 p.m. Monitoring traffic, Main St.
3:41 p.m. Report of pellet or paintball gun sounds, disturbing neighbor, Karen Way
3:43 p.m. Suspicious phone call, Valley View Cir.

Tuesday, October 6

12:09 p.m. Lawn mower on fire, Pleasantdale Rd.
2:09 p.m. Loose Akita in area of Hickory Dr.
3:08 p.m. Bus driver reporting large hole in road next to pile of dirt, can't get through, Marjorie Ln./ Richards Ave.
5:18 p.m. Report of loud noises at all hours of the day, Maple Ave.

Wednesday, October 7

1:00 p.m. Orange-colored cat missing for several days, Forest Hill Dr.

Thursday, October 8

6:41 a.m. Bus tangled up in low-hanging wires, Pleasantdale Rd.
11:02 a.m. Dead fox in roadway, Main/Naquag Sts.
7:33 p.m. Person at station to speak with officer, Main St.
7:35 p.m. Person at station to speak with officer, Main St.

Friday, October 9

10:43 a.m. Caller reporting someone camping near her car port, sleeping bag, food and a bicycle there, Prescott St.
12:51 p.m. Small black cat found, Pleasantdale Rd.
2:01 p.m. Report of dead deer, E. County Rd.
3:43 p.m. Report of giant orange-dressed man in neighborhood; shirt says "Worcester Tornados," Jamie Ann Dr.
5:07 p.m. Person at station to speak with officer, Main St.
5:57 p.m. Person at station to file police report, Main St.

Saturday, October 10

3:02 p.m. Report that branch that was hanging at windshield level was removed, Pleasantdale Rd.

Sunday, October 11

3:31 p.m. Person at station to speak with officer, Main St.
3:40 p.m. Golden retriever found, Campbell St.
11:32 p.m. Report of male lying on the ground, Main St./Pleasantdale Rd.

Sterling

Monday, October 5

9:19 a.m. Two white goats running loose in Meetinghouse Hill Rd.
9:34 a.m. Caller reports walking on town beach when a German shepherd nipped at them, Squareshire Rd.
10:19 a.m. Golden retriever escaped yard and is running loose, Meetinghouse Hill Rd.
10:41 a.m. Loose black Labrador, captured and waiting for animal control officer, Swett Hill Rd.
1:04 p.m. Loose rottwiellers; motorist captured and placed them in pen, Clinton Rd.
3:30 p.m. Report of stolen mountain bike, Wiles Rd. Later found in bushes
4:52 p.m. Caller reports water bottle was thrown at his vehicle and dented the trunk, Jewett Rd.

Tuesday, October 6

8:16 a.m. Loose dog getting into rubbish, Gates Ter.
11:54 a.m. Utility line came off house, Clinton Rd.
8:35 p.m. Officer wanted, caller heard noise, possible scream, from dead end area of Sherwood Dr.

Wednesday, October 7

10:23 p.m. Alarm sounding from electronic safe dumped beside Meetinghouse Hill Rd.

Thursday, October 8

8:19 a.m. Caller wants to speak with officer regarding domestic cat, Princeton Rd.
10:45 a.m. Two dogs loose behind school near track, Boutelle Rd.
12:-5 p.m. Miniature horses loose, Beaman Rd.
2:32 p.m. 911 hang-up, building checked, Park St.
3:22 p.m. 911 hang-up, police confirm accidental call, child playing with phone, Tuttle Rd.
7:55 p.m. Report of gunshots, Princeton Rd.
9:07 p.m. Emergency room nurse reporting dog bite, Chocksett Rd.

Friday, October 9

8:12 p.m. Pickup truck pulled over and lights turned off, Redemption Rock Trl.
8:50 p.m. Paperwork served, Meetinghouse Hill Rd.
11:16 p.m. Suspicious pickup truck parked at end of driveway, Redemption Rock Trl.

Saturday, October 10

2:16 p.m. Report of bicycle on Rail Trail, Waushacum Ave.
11:14 p.m. Report of possible gunshot, Pikes Hill Rd.

Sunday, October 11

12:10 a.m. Assist Holden PD at Trout Brook
3:11 p.m. Officer investigation, Lucas Rd.
4:24 p.m. 911 hang-up, Laurelwood Rd.

More on entitlements

Some 25 or more years ago, I managed a small team of system administrators, developers, and tech support folk. We had beepers and everything.
A supervisor in one of the groups that we supported wasn't happy with our service. We were, he told me, so focused on our way of doing things that we creating more problems than we were solving. We were, in his word, obstructionist.

As you can tell, I took that criticism to heart. I didn't (and don't) always remember to apply it, but I learned something important that, when remembered, makes a big difference in my life and a bigger difference in those around me.
I marvel at good parents. Two traits that I most often observe are

1. They speak in full sentences.
   The parents have given enough thought, if only a second or two, to give a considered response.
   
2. They're more inclined to say 'yes' than 'no.'
   The parents are more interested in what the kid is doing than in their own fears that things will slide out of control. In the end, good parents save the 'no' for important stuff.
   

These themes of obstructionism, impulsive responses, and fear are showing up in a lot of places these days.
It's in ...

• the administrator at a local college who says that it's against his religion to work too hard.
• the hour-long technical presentation that uses the first 40 minutes to describe the approval process used by the corporation to let the project go forward.
• the various unions and individuals who, in the middle of a crisis, are more vocal about their own real or imagined losses than they are about the people they serve (and, in some cases) protect.
• the folks who complain that, because the cost of living isn't going up, they won't be getting their Social Security cost-of-living increases.
• the senior administrators in service agencies who lay off the front-line workers so that the public will feel the maximum pain, all the while ensuring the permanence of their own jobs and compensation.
• the radio and television personalities who misread and/or misuse history to toss another cupful of gasoline on the fire.
• the companies who make their money by way of patent extortion rather than building new products.
  

I can go on, but it wouldn't aid anyone's digestion. And, if I had an answer, I'd be living it.

And which local TV stations would those be?

The Worcester police department has released a memo (posted by Worcesteria here) that describes a new public relations policy that favors ' local radio stations and television station' at the expense of print outlets. This is pretty clearly a shot at the Telegram and Gazette's reporting on various police matters.
We'll leave the issue of the T&G's reporting for another day. I'm most intrigued by the designation of local TV stations as a preferred outlet. Remembering that Worcester has no local broadcast television station (see FCC database), we do have to wonder where all this great new information will appear.

Congratulations to Jennie

Cool Running :: Baystate Marathon & Lowell Sun 1/2 Marathon Race Results

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