Getting ready for summer

What with a typically warm summer in the forecast and the cutbacks at the Worcester pools, people are going to be looking for places for a swim this summer.
Here's just the thing, a directory of swimming holes in Masachusetts.


The site provides guidelines for, among other things, the use of bathing suits, ranging from required to customary to optional to, well, it's probably best to leave the kids at home.
There's not much in the way of public transportation to these places from Worcester, so you'll have to arrange your own road trips.

RoasterBoy is on the move

In preparation for this blog's 5th anniversary (on April 12), I'm moving this blog to its own domain: http://www.roasterboy.com.
It may take a few hours for the servers to sync up, so if you reach a page that shows my self-portrait, be patient. The blog will be there shortly.
There may be some issues with links to images; I'm still working on those.
Thanks to all of you for your support, encouragement, and good humor.

Crime in suburbia

From The Landmark (subscription required):

Holden

Monday, March 23

8:10 a.m. Female calling for an opinion on the marijuana law
9:51 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle with person inside on Paugus Rd.
12:05 p.m. Complaint about speeders on Glenwood St.

Tuesday, March 24

9:50 a.m. Lines down in Brattle Street-Doyle Road area; no immediate hazard
1:05 p.m. Hysterical caller requests police escort because cat is having a seizure; advised not possible

Wednesday, March 25

2:12 a.m. Suspicious vehicle behind business on Main St.; ok, just cleaning floors
3:30 a.m. Ladder found up against church; pastor will do walk-through in the morning
10:15 a.m. Salisbury Street resident reports power outage
1:50 p.m. Suspicious moving van on Princeton St.; OK, moving residence on Summit Ave.
5:27 p.m. Black poodle loose on Main St.
5:56 p.m. Caller scouting for turkey on Mason Rd. approached by man saying he would report him to police
7:21 p.m. Party picking up wood scraps on Malden St.
7:28 p.m. No Parking sign knocked down
11:07 p.m. 911 Injured dog on Malden St.

Thursday, March 26

9:00 a.m. MassHighway advised of missing "No Parking" sign on Main St.
9:59 a.m. Caller regarding tree removal; advised of beetle restrictions
10:52 a.m. Caller reports son's license stolen in Philadelphia; advised to contact local police
3:05 p.m. Complaint regarding traffic
3:55 p.m. Inquiry regarding political canvassing permits
4:18 p.m. Report of dog on Jamieson Rd.; owner called; advised to go to Animal Rescue League
9:35 p.m. Caller asking if he lives in the "bug zone"

Friday, March 27

4:01 p.m. Caller reports son won't get back into vehicle and is going into woods on Birchwood Dr.
4:13 p.m. Report of mulch being dumped behind CRA
5:23 p.m. Kids on bikes and skateboards at Davis Hill School won't leave even after being asked repeatedly
7:16 p.m. Report of kids in woods on Spring St., possibly starting fire; gone on arrival

Saturday, March 28

4:36 a.m. Suspicious male teen walking on Wachusett St.
5:53 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on Shrewsbury St.
9:37 a.m. Report of truck blocking travel lane on Mason Rd.; no contact, but cones in road observed on Wood St. and Wachusett St. blocking an entire lane; homeowner placed them to slow traffic down
1:38 p.m. Tree company reported blocking road on Avery Heights Dr.
4:11 p.m. Report of group of kids at senior center being disruptive; spoken to and advised to move on
4:29 p.m. Water coming up out of ground on Wachusett St.; Water department contacted
5:15 p.m. Report of kids trying to destroy a light with rocks on Brattle St.
5:42 p.m. Kids in Friendly's parking lot reported; management would like them to move on
5:50 p.m. Caller regarding lost pit bull
11:44 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicles reported on Main St.; gone on arrival

Sunday, March 29

12:50 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on Shrewsbury St.
5:16 a.m. No electricity reported on Wyndhurst Dr. and Twinbrook Dr.
10:45 a.m. Power outage on Diamond Hill Rd. and Moscow Rd.
9:15 p.m. Report of sparks coming from wires at Holden Hills; nothing showing

Paxton

Monday, March 23

3:30 p.m. Summons delivered, West St.
3:42 p.m. Summons delivered, Thistledown Lane
3:57 p.m. Caller reporting box truck all over the road, Pleasant St.
6:30 p.m. Caller from Rutland advising two black labs have run away
9:26 p.m. Caller reporting debris in roadway between Camp St. and the Worcester line

Tuesday, March 24

6:54 a.m. Vehicle lockout, Dunkin' Donuts, Pleasant St.
6:57 p.m. Building owner reporting that female in a white pickup hit his building three times while backing out of a parking space causing damage to a window, Pleasant St.

Wednesday, March 25

2:39 p.m. Party in station with black lab she found sitting on Rte. 31. Owner contacted.
3:21 p.m. Party in station to speak to an officer regarding household food disposal. Referred to Board of Health for regulations.
5:31 p.m. Individual riding an ATV on West St. in the area of Keep Ave.

Thursday, March 26

12:48 a.m. Suspicious autos at Paxton Marketplace. Told to move.
1:30 p.m. Caller reporting a loose dog in the area Larchwood Rd.

Friday, March 27

12:10 p.m. Motor vehicle lockout, Paxton Center Marketplace.
2:56 p.m. Request to speak to office regarding information about the basketball courts

Saturday, March 28

4:05 p.m. Caller reporting child riding a Big Wheels on Rte. 122
5:28 p.m. Rutland PD calling to report a large pothole near the town line, Rutland Rd.

Sunday, March 29

3:05 p.m. Traffic cone in pothole on Rutland Rd. is missing

Princeton

Monday, March 23

2:30 p.m. Suspicious person, East Princeton Rd.

Tuesday, March 24

10:01 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Sam Cobb Lane

Wednesday, March 25

11:32 a.m. Assist fire department, Main St.
5:30 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Beaman Rd.

Thursday, March 26

1:42 a.m. Narcotics, Worcester Rd.
9:23 a.m. Fraud, Ball Hill Rd.

Friday, March 27

9:34 a.m. Property found, Worcester Rd.
7:09 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Boylston Ave.

Saturday, March 28

1:20 p.m. Assist fire department, Thompson Rd.
11:15 p.m. Traffic safety hazard, Hubbardston Rd.

Sunday, March 29

8:49 p.m. Assist light department, Rte. 140 North
1:48 p.m. Suspicious incident, Thompson Rd.
7:13 p.m. Request for light department, Mountain Rd.
11:52 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Brooks Station Rd.

Rutland

Monday, March 23

9:45 p.m. Suspicious noise, possibly someone in woods behind home on Ten Rod Rd.
10:05 p.m. Branch in roadway, Pommogussett Rd.

Wednesday, March 25

7:05 p.m. Report of person with no helmet on operating yellow motorcycle speeding and driving crazy, behind Dunkin' Donuts

Thursday, March 26

1:10 a.m. Report of loud music from bar, Main St.

Friday, March 27

3:27 p.m. Vehicle with two flat tires and debris flying everywhere on Rte. 122, possibly involved in hit-and-run accident

Saturday, March 28

11:30 a.m. Police assistance requested getting truck back, Main St.
1:48 p.m. Person trying to get his truck back, Main St.
4:59 p.m. Person reports hitting a pothole and it blew his tire, pothole is in Paxton
8:45 p.m. Low-hanging tree over road, Barrack Hill Rd.
10:44 p.m. Youths in building on Main St.

Sunday, March 29

2:45 p.m. Person reports hearing gunshots, Muschopauge Rd.
5:23 p.m. Person wants to speak with officer, Main St.
5:24 p.m. Tree partly down on Barrack Hill Rd.
8:16 p.m. Tree partly in roadway, Vista Circle/Pommogussett Rd.

Sterling

Monday, March 23

9:47 a.m. Report that person was bitten by German Shepherd, Princeton Rd.
5:37 p.m. Person would like car seat checked, Leominster Rd.

Tuesday, March 24

10:30 a.m. Officer wanted, Boutelle Rd.
12:35 p.m. Person reports a raccoon acting sickly on Kendall Hill Rd.
3:54 p.m. Parent into station with a child behavior problem, Leominster Rd.

Wednesday, March 25

5:40 a.m. Suspicious person standing in Pratts Jct. Rd.
2:43 p.m. Large German Shepherd wandering in area with long leash dangling from collar, Maple St./Shady Ln.
7:25 p.m. Suspicious activity, two pickups seen behind garage on building on Redstone Hill Rd.

Thursday, March 26

7:59 a.m. Person reports seeing two teenagers walking around in neighborhood, Leominster Rd./Laurelwood Rd.
10:24 a.m. Possum under porch of home on Chace Hill Rd.

Friday, March 27

10:07 a.m. Dead raccoon on Hall Ave.
12:53 p.m. Caller reports a person came to her residence attempting to sell beef, Reed Rd.
1:23 p.m. Turkey struck by a motor vehicle, Leominster Rd./North Row Rd.
4:14 p.m. Basketball player not yielding to vehicles, Beaman Rd.
10:03 p.m. Possible gunshots, Clinton Rd.
10:30 p.m. Officer wanted, person questioning source of fog/cloudiness in area of Worcester Rd.

Saturday, March 28

5:25 p.m. Report of suspicious young couple in truck pulling into driveway on Leominster Rd.

Sunday, March 29

1:48 p.m. Caller wants to speak with officer about a tree that is hanging and she is concerned for people's safety, James Rd.

Walgreens offers free health services to laid-off workers

I've written several times about the silliness of bringing yet another national pharmacy chain, namely Walgreens, to our fair 'burb and tried to poke gentle fun at the company for the unique offerings that it might bring.
That said, this, Walgreens offers free health services to laid-off workers: Consumer Reports Money & Shopping Blog, seems like a very classy response to hard times.

In a nutshell, free coverage is available through the remainder of 2009 for any existing Take Care clinic patient who loses his or her job – and health benefits -- on March 31 or thereafter. Individuals who visit a clinic from here on out – and subsequently loses their job and benefits – are eligible for coverage, too. Take Care clinics will treat patients 18 months and older.

Walgreens can't solve the heath-care crisis or take care of the millions of un- an under-insured by itself. Nevertheless, if a case of strep throat could be treated early and quickly, it could prevent a much more expensive trip to the emergency room. We all win.
So, even though I still think that you're building your new Holden store in a bad location, props to you, Walgreens.
More about the plan here.

Worcestershire Journal - So many roads and so much time

Worcestershire Journal - So many roads and so much time : Real Worcester - Worcester News and Blogs: "Two wrongs don’t make a right, but four lefts and one right do."

Email Rule #1 - check the date before you respond

Worcestershire Journal - Yesterday’s news this morning

As I write, it’s a few minutes before 4AM. Our newspaper carriers just delivered our Telegram and Gazette. On Sunday mornings, they arrive even earlier, bringing with them not only the Telegram, but the Boston Globe and New York Times. Pretty darn good.

Worcestershire Journal - Yesterday’s news this morning : Real Worcester - Worcester News and Blogs

Dept. of schadenfreude

Fox News launches Web site FoxNation.com - Boston.com

Joel Cheatwood, senior vice president at Fox News Channel said that FoxNation.com is "welcoming of people of all sorts of mindsets and beliefs and perspectives.

"It's a chance for us to leverage some of the incredible opinion talent that we have, and really tap into a fan base that I think is more passionate than just about any other fan base in media," said Cheatwood.

Meanwhile, the good folks at http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com report:

It's not just you! foxnation.com looks down from here.

And, as a fellow Fox denizen remarked:

What kind of news day is it on PEI? The sign says it all.

Truck remains in ditch at Travellers Rest

Do not want

WebWorker Daily, in OfficePOD: Shed Worker Daily?, describes a self-contained lockable cubicle for the at-home worker. You get one of these units and put it in your back yard, bringing the cubicle experience to your garden.

	From the OfficePOD web site: "The garden based POD is of the highest quality design and provides a work environment that is separate from the disruptions of home life.
It's probably cheaper to get one of these.

Dilbert often seems to have the last word:

IBM patent application diagrams method for offshoring employees

(via /.)
I guess that if you're lay off American workers and move the jobs to India, you want to make sure that you do so in an innovative way: IBM patent application diagrams method for offshoring employees.
The patent application, #20090083107, identifies a specific methodology for determining when outsourcing makes sense and to go about it. Other companies, IMO, can and will find other algorithms for outsourcing.



(You will need a TIFF plug-in to view the original diagrams on the USPTO web site.)

By the way, Figure 1 reminds me of a DEC classic "See figure 1."

I wonder if they're hiring

Consumer Reports is testing toilet tissue. Results will be published in the May issue of their magazine.

I wonder if they're hiring

Consumer Reports is testing toilet tissue. Results will be published in the May issue of their magazine.

Millions of test-takers are in his debt

On this day, in 1958, Hymen Lipman of Philadelphia received a patent for attaching an eraser to one end of a pencil.
The patent was, ahem, erased by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1875, which ruled that a pencil with an eraser is just a pencil with an eraser and not something new and patentable.


From - Today in History | History & Archaeology | Smithsonian Magazine
via Boing Boing

Dept. of Bluetooth Fail

I've worked professionally with computers for nearly 30 years, long enough to be surprised and delighted by each little bit of engineering mayhem that I encounter.
Today's gem comes from my Windows Vista system. The batteries ran out on my Bluetooth (wireless) keyboard. I replaced the batteries. Now, Vista's  Add Bluetooth Device Wizard offers to connect my keyboard, but only after I type my passkey. Which I can't. Because my keyboard isn't connected, until I type the passkey.



Friend Liz ran into a similar problem last summer when she tried to order ink for her printer. She was supposed to print a form and leave it for the delivery guy.

Walking, talking, taking pictures

I got a new cellphone last week. It's an LG enV with a good camera and a QWERTY keyboard. (Tess, age almost-11, recognized it immediately as the enV² ™.)
I've given up my BlackBerry, which I enjoyed, but it was old and the data plan was expensive. Now, with a camera in the phone, I have one less gadget carry when I go for a walk. I'm giving up on mobile email for now, but still want to be able to send text and Twitter messages easily.)



I like the phone, but it does bring forward a few thoughts:

• There's a special place in hell waiting for the engineers who design custom USB connectors. I have a bag full of 10-year's worth of USB cables, none of which fit this phone. I understand that Universal Serial Bus (USB) refers to a standardized way in which gadgets such as mice, keyboards, speakers, headsets, storage devices, and, yes, phones, connect to computers. The standardization is on the computer end of the cable. On the device end, there is a dizzying array of incompatible connectors.
• Related to the USB problem is the incompatibility of power supplies. I have another bag full of power adapters for home and car.
  
• Because I was changing from a Blackberry to a more conventional phone, we needed to change our calling plan. VerizonWireless presents a dizzying array of plans and options from relatively modest $70/month for two phones up to $200 (and maybe beyond) for all-you-can-eat.
  The New York Times recently ran an article about the complexity of cellphone plans and bills: What Do Your Minutes Cost? You Can’t Tell by the Cellphone Bill. Smart people studied their own and other people's cell phone bills and couldn't figure out how much they were paying per minute.
  In brief, the cell phone industry could make billing clearer, but a) they don't want to because b) they think that they won't like what we'll see.
  
  “There are a lot of things we can do better, for sure,” said John Walls, a spokesman for CTIA, the wireless industry’s trade association. “But I really think this is not one of them.”
  
  “It’d be extremely costly to put in the administrative procedures to break it down to that degree,” Mr. Walls said. “And most customers would find the necessary increase in price to be objectionable.”
  
  And because many customers now incur data charges on their monthly phone bills, Mr. Walls said it would be “virtually impossible” to separate a customer’s voice and data charges in a bucket billing plan, and account for those charges on a per-minute basis.
  
  A company named Validas will analyze your cell phone bill for you and tell you if you're paying too much for the plan or carrier you have. (A lot of folks would be better off with a pre-paid phone, for example.)

For the time being, I'll ignore the evil complexity that emanates from the pores of the cell phone industry. It's springtime here in New England and nice to be able put away our winter gear and go for a walk.

Springtime on Prince Edward Island

Sandra's parents are here in Massachusetts for what is usually mud season on the Island. Someone forgot to tell Mother Nature.
(St. Peters Bay is about a half hour north of Cardigan.)

Dept. of "I don't know what to say."

The WorldWideWeb brings us lots of good and interesting resources. I don't know if this one of them:
PersonRatings.com - Rate & Review Any Person
In brief, you can post a review of a person just like on others sites where you can review a restaurant, toaster, or book.