Friday, April 10, 2009

Springtime on PEI

A developing low pressure system over the central United States will track northeastward to lie southeast of Cape Cod Massachusetts Saturday evening. The low will track south of Nova Scotia on Sunday. Snow or rain is forecast to begin Saturday night. Precipitation is forecast to be mainly snow overnight possibly giving significant accumulation over Queens and Kings counties by Sunday morning. Lesser amounts are forecast for Prince county. Due to the uncertainty in the track of the low there is uncertainty in the amount of snow Prince Edward Island may receive. The public is advised to monitor future forecasts as warnings may be required. END/..
And, then, ...

Geeks with too much time and too many cats

With apologies to Dave Barry, Twittering Cat Flap would make a good name for a rock band.

Twittering Cat Flap. So you know whether your pet is in or out. - The Next Web

Crime in suburbia

From The Landmark (subscription required):

Holden


Monday, March 30

3:30 p.m. Walk-in regarding what to do about neighbor throwing storm debris on his pile
3:55 p.m. Caller again about storm debris complaint

Tuesday, March 31

2:43 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle in lot on Wachusett St.; ok, paper delivery person
7:24 p.m. Disabled motor vehicle on Main St.; out of gas
4:46 p.m. Reservoir St. resident complaining that yellow trash bags were dumped on lawn; civic group will be picking them up
5:47 p.m. Multiple dogs on rail trail not on leashes reported
8:08 p.m. Purse and sweatshirt in roadway on Salisbury St.
8:45 p.m. Walk-in to report suspicious incident

11:58 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on Shrewsbury St.; okay, picking up supplies

Wednesday, April 1

12:42 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle on Wahlstrom Lane; appears someone has been living in the vehicle
1:56 a.m. Vehicle with no plates in lot on Elmwood Ave.
7:41 a.m. Caller inquiring if there was power outage overnight
8:24 a.m. Graffiti found in parking lot at Wachusett Regional High School
10:51 a.m. Report of Internet scam
11:30 a.m. Walk-in to speak with officer about Internet scam
11:48 a.m. Caller inquiring about getting property back from ex-girlfriend's house; told it is a civil matter
1:43 p.m. 911 Report of erratic driver, possible up to something, on Main St.; no contact
2:20 p.m. Caller reports receiving inappropriate text messages from ex-husband of woman he's dating; informed it's a civil matter
4:18 p.m. 911 Suspicious person walking on train tracks behind Main St. residence
4:46 p.m. Caller reports teen trying to gain access to residence door that isn't usually used on Mason Rd.; okay, teen supposed to be there
6:30 p.m. Motorcycle racing on Princeton St.

Thursday, April 2

8:42 a.m. Request for directions to Department of Agriculture

10:00 a.m. Background check for Texas State Police
1:01 p.m. Caller wants to know if her license is active or not; advised to call Registry of Motor Vehicles
7:22 p.m. Report of transformer leaking fluid on Putnam Rd.

Friday, April 3

3:31 a.m. 911 hang-up from Winfield Rd.; dialed 911 instead of 411
8:11 a.m. Caller asking for extra patrols; purse stolen from vehicle in Worcester

11:21 a.m. Inquiry about prices for rabies clinic
11:26 a.m. Inquiry about firing ranges in town
7:03 p.m. 911 Caller concerned about son; not listening to parents
10:50 p.m. 911 Caller says husband upset; doesn't need any help

Saturday, April 4

12:39 a.m. Suspicious person in business on Main St. after hours; okay, just computer tech
9:43 a.m. Tree down in front of home on Wachusett St.
9:50 a.m. Several calls regarding trees down
10:25 a.m. Complaint about a brush fire on Lovell Rd.
10:53 a.m. Neighbor burning brush in the roadway on Terrie Lane
2:41 p.m. Complaint about someone dumping a Christmas tree in yard on Mason Rd.; action wanted
6:45 p.m. Caller reports she thought she saw a driver drinking from a can on Main St.

Sunday, April 5

1:47 a.m. Tree branch removed from South Rd.
10:03 a.m. Complaint about parking ticket received on Main St.; advised to appeal it
12:16 p.m. Caller reports neighbor burning on Shrewsbury St., lots of smoke going into his residence.
1:54 p.m. Suspiciouos motor vehicle always sitting in driveway on Coventry Rd.; neighbors believe drug sale going on; no contact
4:21 p.m. Multiple calls regarding male driving off road on motorcycle at high rates of speed on Jackson St.
5:14 p.m. 911 hang-up from Birchwood Dr.; father playing with phone

Paxton

Thursday, April 2

4:08 p.m. Vehicle with flat tire, Grove St.
4:31 p.m. Vehicle off to side of the road, West St. Okay, driver is using cell phone.
4:51 p.m. Caller reporting that a truck drove over his neighbor's lawn, Pleasant St.
5:28 p.m. Party brought loose dog to station. Contacted owner.
6:47 p.m. 911 hang-up. Child playing with phone.
7:10 p.m. Pedestrian reporting vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed. When he motioned for vehicle to slow down, driver made obscene gesture, Brooks Rd.

Friday, April 3

7:30 a.m. Disabled auto, at Rutland town line.
11:03 a.m. Caller requesting officer to pick up firearms and hold them for safekeeping until she can obtain a license to carry.
12:46 p.m. Caller on emergency line reporting her toilet is overflowing, Lancelot Dr.
5:18 p.m. Caller reporting he found a loose dog that was almost hit by a car, Grove St. Owner contacted.
7:10 p.m. Caller advising of an unwanted guest, Holden Rd.

Saturday, April 4

10:46 a.m. Fire call/ training, District 7 strike team activation.

Sunday, April 5

12:54 p.m. Neighbor throwing sticks and debris from the storm over his fence, Woodland Dr.
1:05 p.m. Marlboro Hospital emergency room nurse calling to report a dog bite victim. Patient is in the hospital for stitches. Incident occurred at Trout Brook Reservation in Holden. Dog owner is from Paxton.
5:19 p.m. Caller reporting gun shots near Spencer line, Treasure Valley Reservation. Reporting white male, early 20s, wearing dark clothing, armed with a shotgun. Advised they were from Treasure Valley, with valid licenses to carry.

Princeton

Tuesday, March 31

10:53 a.m. Suspicious incident, Old Brooks Station Rd.
5:18 p.m. Public service, Mountain Rd.

Wednesday, April 1

3:34 p.m. Public service, Dowds Lane
6:20 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Rte. 140 North

Thursday, April 2

7:35 a.m. Traffic control duty, Sterling Rd.
2:17 p.m. Officer investigation, Main St.

Friday, April 3

6:32 a.m. Traffic safety hazard, Rte. 140 North
7:43 a.m. Traffic control duty, Sterling Rd.

Saturday, April 4

10:29 a.m. Suspicious person, Westminster Rd.
11:40 a.m. Public service, Sterling Rd.
5:55 p.m. Disturbance, Rte. 140 North
7:10 p.m. Request for light department, Brooks Station Rd.

Sunday, April 5

12:00 a.m. Request for light department, Wheeler Rd.
12:10 a.m. Traffic safety hazard, Wheeler Rd.
9:01 a.m. Traffic safety hazard, Leominster Rd.

Rutland

Monday, March 30

2:35 p.m. Person trying to locate family members who were volunteers at Heifer International in the past
3:05 p.m. Tree resting on wires, Crawford Rd.
4:58 p.m. Tree in roadway, Barre Paxton Rd.
5:54 p.m. Report of people cutting wood on town property, Ware Rd.

Tuesday, March 31

4:52 a.m. Person reports seeing an individual ducking behind bushes on Juniper Ln.
6:38 p.m. Caller states someone is taking town wood, Ware Rd.

Wednesday, April 1


11:44 a.m. Person came to station to speak with officer, Main St.

Thursday, April 2

9:13 a.m. Police pick up child that missed the bus, Nancy Dr.

Saturday, April 4

1:04 a.m. Person reporting a limb just fell on his vehicle, Pleasantdale Rd.
5:28 p.m. Attempt to deliver summons, Sycamore Dr.
5:50 p.m. Attempt to deliver summons, Bigelow Rd.

Sunday, April 5


1:52 p.m. Person wants officer to come and speak to her kids who are fighting a lot, Prouty Lane

Sterling

Monday, March 30

4:16 p.m. Person came to station to speak with officer regarding past incident, Leominster Rd.
4:27 p.m. Request to speak with animal control officer about a dog trainer, Leominster Rd.
6:46 p.m. Caller wants to speak with officer about past case,Leominster Rd.
7:06 p.m. Officer investigation, followup, Swett Hill Rd.

Tuesday, March 31

1:12 p.m. Report of two Husky dogs running loose in neighborhood, Mortimer Rd.

Wednesday, April 1

1:05 p.m. Report of black Lab hanging around home on John Dee Rd.
6:21 p.m. Motorist reporting large dog wandering on side of road, Redemption Rock Trl.

Thursday, April 2

7:58 a.m. Parking complaint, Riverview Rd./Jill Lane

Saturday, April 4

10:55 a.m. Report of large rooster in yard for four days, Kendall Hill Rd.
1:44 p.m. Large German Sheppard running up and down the street, Upper North Row Rd.

Sunday, April 5

2:01 a.m. General services, checking on vehicle, Chocksett Rd.
11:56 a.m. Young boy found Master card and various other cards, Redemption Rock Trl./Interstate 190 Exwy.
12:31 p.m. Caller wants to know law regarding basketball playing near roadway, Redstone Hill Rd.
2:42 p.m. Report of small light colored dog loose in yard on Beaman Rd./Osgood Rd.
6:51 p.m. Female found CO2 pellet gun beside road, Worcester Rd.

It's a pretty low roof there, Bill.

Bill O'Reilly claims Obama is sending my ratings through the roof.

Here are the top-rated cable TV shows for the week of March 23. You're in a statistical dead-heat with Penguins of Madagascar and SpongeBob.





Not only that, but Oprah, Judge Judy, Vanna White, and Dr. Phil are stealing your lunch money.

St. V accidents the most in state - telegram.com

According to the telegram.com News, St. Vincent hospital had more accidents and medical errors than any other acute care hospital in the state.
“In no way would we want to use these numbers to evaluate the quality that a hospital provides,” said Paul Dreyer, director of the state’s Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality."
They might not, but you're free to draw your own conclusions.



"But four surgeries in which objects were left inside a patient, as happened at St. Vincent last year, is a major problem, he said. “They need to immediately conduct a quality review and identify the problem,” he said. “I’d be looking to see what’s going wrong in that operating room.”

Three Stooges Men in Black - Where are the tools? (7:00)

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Ur boss wntz U 2 snd mo IMz

Study: frequent IMs with your boss make you more productive - Ars Technica: "Those who maintained constant communications averaged an increase in revenue of $588 per month over the average, while those who did not produced $98 per month less than the average."

Monday, April 06, 2009

Rocket fuel in baby formula?

I'm sure that every parent who's been up all night with a baby will believe that this is true.
From Rocket fuel in baby formula? : Consumer Reports Health Blog:
The chemical perchlorate, which is used in solid rocket and jet fuels, was recently detected in 15 powdered baby formulas, according to ABC News. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found the chemical in 15 tested brands of powdered infant formula. The agency says the total is below the reference dose , which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set as the level of concern.

The researchers note that "this is reassuring at first glance," but add that "ingestion of [powdered infant formulas] that use water with even minimal amounts of perchlorate for reconstitution could result in a perchlorate dose that exceeds the [reference dose] in many cases." But the researchers note that the potential effects of exceeding that dose are unclear.


Worcestershire Journal - NYT 2 T&G - kthxbai

Worcestershire Journal - NYT 2 T&G - kthxbai : Real Worcester - Worcester News and Blogs: "The Boston Business Journal is reporting that, even though parent New York Times is threatening to disown sibling Boston Globe, the Telegram and Gazette is free to go about its business."

Uh, about that sidewalk stuff ...

From the Town of Holden web site:

Meanwhile,

Scott Adams has been reading the mail of my friends and former co-workers

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Frequently ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies

Netflix time relativity - 'equal to' equals 'later than'

I tried to put my Netflix account on hold and so selected the latest date available. Their idea of the latest date differs from mine:

In the age of conglomerates, who's selling you what?

Boston.com reports the sad news that Unilever is closing the Breyer's Ice Cream in Framingham. (via Universal Hub)
With this news, we're also reminded of the variety of products that our food companies produce:
  •  
  • Unilever's other brands include Ben & Jerry's, Dove, and Vaseline.
    I'll have some Vaseline Firming Lotion with my Chunky Monkey, thank you.

  • Meanwhile, ConAgra Foods , the folks who make Hebrew National meats and Healthy Choice meals also make Squeeze 'n Go pudding and other dried things, including the decidely non-kosher Slim Jim Beef N Cheese.
  • The healthy, wholesome Kashi folks are a division of Kellogg's, home of Tony the Tiger and the Keebler elves.

Chldren as office products

This Sunday's funny papers have two strips with the same theme:



These cars of modern times

When I drove old and, um, inexpensive cars, I wouldn't go anywhere without first checking under the hood. There was always something that needed inspection, repair, and/or replacement - spark plug wires, oils, other wiring. I was never a good mechanic, but I believe that the little bit of inspection and tinkering made it unnecessary to make major repairs very often. The little things made the car run until it managed to fail spectacularly.
Fast forward to better days when we'd be able to buy new cars. Months would be go by without lifting the hood because a) there was little good and much harm that at guy with a wrench and screwdriver could do and b) cars didn't need the same level of tinkering.
As a result, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to open the hood to check the windshield washer fluid and discovered that I was a landlord:

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