Sidewalk anthropologist

Because of the weather, Marley and I haven't been out for a walk in several days. Even in the morning, with the temperature down, the humidity had both of us moving slowly after a mile or so.
It's trash day in our neighborhood, meaning that bits of people's lives float onto the sidewalk as the bins are dumped into the trucks. So, let's see what we found.
Things aren't good for one family:

And so, they'll get through the best way that they know how.

That, however, will only take you so far. At which point, it's time ...

It is a good thing that the house is being sold by the owner and not by someone else.

Crime in suburbia

From The Landmark (subscription required):

Holden

Monday, August 10

12:59 a.m. Suspicious person with no shoes or shirt, Sandy Glen Dr.
6:33 a.m. Baby raccoon in road, Mill Pond Pl./Main St.
9:07 a.m. Possible stolen dog, Jamieson/Lovell Rds.

3:32 p.m. Officer out on Holden St. for follow-up

Tuesday, August 11

1:11 a.m. Transport person to vehicle, Main St.
8:05 a.m. Person at station to speak with officer about suspicious motor vehicle on Princeton St.
9:40 a.m. Assist citizen with child seat question, Main St.
10:04 a.m. "No trespass" order issued to individual for watershed and railroad property, Princeton St. area
10:20 a.m. Check car seat installation, Main St.
1:26 p.m. Caller looking for missing son who had gone to Holden Hills to play golf, Ottoson Way
8:13 p.m. Male sitting on ground at Doyle Rd./Brattle St., no shirt, no shoes

Wednesday, August 12

1:16 a.m. Suspicious person running in area of Doyle Rd./Shrewsbury St.
2:20 a.m. Parking violation, Fairchild Dr.
2:41 a.m. Parking violation, Sunset Dr.
10:36 a.m. Assist Princeton PD looking for green Jeep, occupants stealing "for sale" signs, Mason Rd.
11:06 a.m. Ferret on Surrey Ln. transported to animal rescue league
12:50 p.m. Caller advising police of solicitor, Parker Ave.; trying to sell gutters, has no permit
2:11 p.m. Request to contact person on Mayflower Cir. regarding "no trespass" order for Sterling Country Club
5:52 p.m. Report of young boy sitting on railroad tracks, Quinapoxet St.

Thursday, August 13

12:03 a.m. Complaint about barking dog, Lowell Ave.
12:39 p.m. Remove debris from roadway, Malden St.
1:57 p.m. Injured hawk, Quaker Rd.
5:30 p.m. Kids riding dirt bikes in Anderson Ave. area
11:40 p.m. Three individuals smoking a pipe on side of road, Main St.
11:59 p.m. Suspicious individuals on mopeds, Main St./Industrial Dr.

Friday, August 14

8:40 a.m. Young tiger cat found, Putnam Rd.
11:00 a.m. Resident found another ferret, Surrey Ln.; requests police pick up animal
11:42 a.m. Assist lost motorist, Shrewsbury/Holden Sts.
12:00 p.m. Customer left dog in restaurant, Main St.; dog and owner reunited
12:35 p.m. Man in station with letter asking him to turn in his firearm license to carry; it's been revoked
1:53 p.m. Report of lap top computer behind stone wall, Bailey Rd./Reservoir St.
3:40 p.m. Deep ditch in road where construction was done, Old Salisbury St.
4:27 p.m. Teenagers littering, Bryant Pond/Main St.
5:56 p.m. Kids blocking traffic and giving the finger to drivers as they go by, Main St.

Saturday, August 15

1:23 a.m. Vehicle in parking lot with windows down, Reservoir St.
2:37 a.m. Barking dog, Homestead Rd.
3:36 a.m. Complaint about barking dog, Homestead Rd.
11:44 a.m. Person at station to speak with officer, Main St.
1:49 p.m. Request to speak with officer, Scenic Dr.
9:46 p.m. Report of loud music, Armington Ln.
9:48 p.m. Report of fireworks going off, Brattle St.

Sunday, August 16

2:23 a.m. Public service, Main St.
2:43 a.m. Disturbance, fireworks, Salisbury St./Fisher Rd.
4:53 p.m. Report of solicitors, Main St.
5:54 p.m. Person concerned someone is in building that shouldn't be, Holden St.
6:29 p.m. Report of vehicle hit by ball from golf course, Holden Hills, Mt. Pleasant Ave.
7:56 p.m. Multiple calls reporting power outage, Wachusett St.

Paxton

Monday, August 10

3:25 p.m. Caller requesting police officer to her home to check out strange noise upstairs, Holden Rd. Found to be television left on at high volume

Wednesday, August 12

7:12 a.m. Multiple safety cones taken, Marshall St.
1:20 p.m. Report of juveniles playing in roadway and pulling fishing line across street, West St.

Thursday, August 13

2:41 p.m. Officer out of town to court in East Brookfield
4:07 p.m. Advised that power will be out while light department swaps transformers, Sunset Ln.

Friday, August 14

9:03 p.m. Caller advises he lost his firearm while walking in Moore State Park, Sawmill Rd. Firearm located

Saturday, August 15

8:18 p.m. Loud noise, possibly fireworks, and large group of people behind home in Marshall St. area

Sunday, August 16

5:50 a.m. Multiple calls reports power outage in area of Asnebumskit and Tanglewood. Callers heard an explosion
3:00 p.m. Mailbox stolen, possibly with mail inside, Grove St.
3:57 p.m. Loose horse and donkey, Grove St. Caller complaining animals are eating her grass and using yard as bathroom.

Princeton

Monday, August 10

11:02 a.m. Officer investigation, Hubbardston Rd.
11:11 a.m. Request for animal control officer, Prospect St.
3:59 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Stagecoach Rd.
10:50 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Prospect St.

Tuesday, August 11

12:19 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Ball Hill Rd.
3:55 p.m. Traffic safety hazard, Westminster Rd.

Wednesday, August 12

10:24 a.m. Suspicious incident, Richards Rd.
1:10 p.m. Assist other PD, Oak Cir.
4:34 p.m. Assist animal control officer, Radford Rd.
7:18 p.m. Public service, Worcester Rd.

Thursday, August 13

11:40 p.m. Traffic safety hazard, Rte. 140 N

Friday, August 14

12:35 p.m. Suspicious incident, Boylston Ave.
9:30 p.m. Message delivered, Merriam Rd.

Saturday, August 15

9:50 a.m. Traffic safety hazard, Sterling Rd.
11:52 a.m. Traffic control duty, E. Princeton Rd.
2:33 p.m. Traffic control duty, Mountain Rd.

Sunday, August 16

5:41 p.m. Public service, Ball Hill Rd.
6:24 p.m. Assist fire dept., Boylston Ave.
9:01 p.m. Assist other PD, Westminster Rd.

Rutland

Monday, August 10

1:07 p.m. Person at station to retrieve evidence from case, Main St.
4:30 p.m. Caller wants it recorded that someone knocked on his door at 1:30 a.m. and left a 12-pack of Bud Light on the steps, Fairview Ave.
6:24 p.m. Officer wanted to tell tenant to turn off his air conditioner, Maple Ave.
11:08 p.m. Assist other PD, Main St.

Tuesday, August 11

11:36 a.m. Bobcat spotted, Miles Rd.
1:52 p.m. Caller possibly lost his gold wedding band at town pool area
1:58 p.m. Person wants to be fingerprinted for employment purposes, Main St.
4:55 p.m. Low wires on Turkey Hill Rd.
7:18 p.m. Bobcat sitting in front yard of home, Pleasantdale Rd.
7:22 p.m. Person at station to speak with officer, Main St.
7:34 p.m. Cars racing up and down Watson Ln.
9:30 p.m. Safety cones in road, possible wires down, Main St.

Wednesday, August 12

3:22 p.m. Community service, Main St.

Thursday, August 13

2:04 a.m. Downed limb in roadway, Barre Paxton Rd./Irish Ln.
7:07 p.m. Car seat installation, E. County Rd.

Friday, August 14

2:44 p.m. Elderly gentleman walking on Main St., possibly hitchhiking

Saturday, August 15

11:26 a.m. Sick cat, Miles Rd.
2:23 p.m. Report of bad odor and bad taste in water, Sumac Cir.
6:45 p.m. Boxer dog found, no tags, Pommogussett Rd.
10:33 p.m. General police responded to Maple Ave. area
11:47 p.m. Complaint of loud music, Main St.

Sunday, August 16

10:43 a.m. Complaint about three small dogs always loose and harassing people and animals, Birchwood Rd.
8:45 p.m. Report that catch basin has lifted, Glenwood Rd.
10:09 p.m. Female came to home on Pleasantdale Road to use phone, left on foot after not being able reach anyone

Sterling

Monday, August 10

11:50 a.m. Report of person going through people's trash, Sandy Ridge Rd.
8:16 p.m. Caller reporting motor boat on Waushacum Lake
8:55 p.m. Officer wanted for ongoing landlord-tenant dispute, Laurelwood Rd.
11:58 p.m. Transporting female from Worcester Rd. to Redstone Hill Rd.

Tuesday, August 11

10:59 a.m. Missing gray/white cat, Griffin Rd.
6:55 p.m. Tree crew working without flagman or detail officer, unable to pass, Kendall Hill Rd.
8:35 p.m. Tree down blocking Jewett Rd.

Wednesday, August 12

10:36 a.m. Assist Princeton PD looking for individuals in green Jeep stealing "for sale" signs, Princeton Rd.
1:49 p.m. Disgruntled ex-employee at business, Albright Rd. Officer requested
4:05 p.m. Officer investigation follow-up, Albright Rd.
4:14 p.m. Missing cat, people just moved into home, Matthew Ln.
9:03 p.m. Small white dog loose in Lucas Rd. area

Thursday, August 13

10:00 a.m. Sick-looking raccoon attempting to attack dogs through fence, Newell Hill Rd.
1:57 p.m. Officer requested for female in parking lot yelling about a dog, Laurelwood Rd.
3:15 p.m. Person at station for witness statement, Leominster Rd.

Friday, August 14

7:37 a.m. Caller reporting seeing a small dog each night, Westland Farm Rd.
8:39 a.m. Caller complain about dog "pooping" in his yard, Sandy Ridge Rd.
9:32 a.m. Caller wants to speak with officer about tree service company and its vehicle parked on both sides of Kendall Hill Rd.
11:29 a.m. Porcupine scratching under bay window of home, Justice Hill Rd.

Saturday, August 15

7:40 a.m. Motorist reporting very large dead animal in road, Chocksett Rd.
2:40 p.m. Caller wants to speak with officer about security cameras placed in yard of home he is renting, Laurelwood Rd.

Sunday, August 16

6:30 p.m. Caller reports three juveniles riding skateboards down the hill, hitting the curb and making cars suddenly stop, Main St.
10:18 p.m. Lost medium-sized sheperd mix dog,
Newell Hill Rd.

Anonymous cowards

George French, retired editorial page editor of the Telegram and Gazette, noted that the staff would verify the identity of each writer before printing the writer's letter to the editor. These policies ensure that a) that the paper can keep a measure of decorum in the public discussion and b) that writers are accountable for their words.
By comparison, online comments have no verification policy.

While the comments submission form does require a valid email address, the name that appears on the comments page doesn't have to be the author's name.
Now, there are lots of places on the Internet where privacy and security must be preserved. Where you've been and what you've done is none of my business and

so on. But, if you're going to write something that you want others to read and take seriously, have the courage to own it.
Recently, Google was forced to reveal identity of an offensive blogger. I'm completely comfortable with having the courts intervene, but, as with the Swiss bank accounts,well, as Bob Dylan said, to live outside the law, you must be honest.
If you're gonna say stuff, own your stuff.

41 years of music, news, 'n stuff in four days

The last 4 days of WBCN. Somewhere north of 4GB of MP3 files.

via the Big Mattress - Freeform Interactive Radio on the Net

Two Finnish architects walk into a bar....

Is this some kind of joke? Visual joke discovered in Finlandia Hall

When looking at Finlandia Hall from the terrace of a café on the opposite shore of Töölönlahti Bay, it looks like the northern wall of the National Museum tower continues right through Finlandia Hall.

When you lift yourself off the floor after laughing so hard, here's more about the Finnish Sense of Humor.

Oh, there are more jokes from and about Finland (some language NSFW). Overall, though, the Finnish sense of humor may take some getting used to, unless you're not expecting anything funny.

Summer morning on the lake

From OnTheCommon.com

...
The water skiers and other powered folks were out. We had our time. They have theirs. Our parents tried to teach to share. The lesson about sharing is not just giving up part of the whole, but knowing that you'll get your fair portion as well.

(Also posted on A view from the cove)

MassHighway wants you to know

The sun rises in the east.

Veggies from the Dan Quayle Victory Garden

(Stop and Shop on West Boylston Street in Worcester)

No death holiday after all

Even though things looked good earlier today, it didn't last.

Wait, what?

Calling a local heating oil dealership to request service on our furnace.

Thank you for calling ********. If you know your party's extension, you may dial it at any time. Press # for a company directory.
For information about becoming a ********, please press 2.
For recently performed service concerns, please press 3.
For all other...

And at that point, I stopped listening. If their main phone menu has to include an option to deal with service concerns, you might think that they're having more than a few problems.
We've done business with these people before and have had decent results. I have a service call scheduled for the morning. If there's anything else to report, I'll update this note.

Death takes a holiday

From today's T&G obituary page: