Special thanks on this Christmas day

We certainly had a great time at Mike and Lynn's yesterday, a grand gathering of family that started at a noon and went late into the night. Today, we'll have more. Life's good.

And, while we have the chances to gather with family, to exchange notes and calls with friends, to have the fun of giving and receiving, there are folks who are working this holiday weekend. Those who keep the lights on, the water running to and from our houses, the streets safe, the sick and frail cared for, the Internet alive and robust, the movies and restaurants open for those who don't or can't celebrate Christmas, they're working today. The folks in harm's way here and abroad, doing our work so we can play, they're working today. They might not feel it to be a special honor to be working today, but we're so ever grateful. If you see them, thank them. If you don't see them, thank them all the more.

All He wants for Christmas is a roofing contractor

The Church of the Nativity marks the place in Bethlehem where Christians believe that the manger stood, the manger where Jesus was born.The church is one of the oldest in Christendom, with various structures in place since the 4th century. The BBC reports that it is now in danger of being closed because the three Christian denominations that share responsibility for church maintenance can't agree about paying for the roof repairs.
Bill Seamans, a former ABC correspondent in the Middle East and now columnist for the Keene Sentinel, reports that, during the time when Israel occupied the region, the Israeli army reservists made some urgent, but temporary, repairs to the roof in the quiet of the night.
The three parties did reach an agreement in September for a plan to repair the roof, but haven't been able to agree on paying for it. 
The government of the Palestinian Authority, where the church is located, may have to raise the money itself. If the church closes, tourists won't come. As it is, what with the general uneasiness about travel into the PA (access to which is controlled by Israel, which occasionally closes the borders for security concerns), tourists don't generally stay long in Bethlehem. They don't shop or stay in hotels or talk much to the locals. An opportunity for commerce, cultural exchange and understanding, and, oh, yes, spiritual renewal is being lost because of Christian disunity.
The Palestinians told the Armenian, Greek Orthodox, and Roman Catholic monks who share the administration of the church that the three groups must reach a decision about taking care of the roof. After three weeks, the three groups came back and reported that they couldn't agree.
The maintenance issues have long been fractious. Recently the church was closed to visitors because one monk wouldn't clean a staircase that was owned by another denomination.
As it stands now, the Palestinian Authority, like the Israeli soldiers before them,  may have to pay for repairs to a Christian holy site while the Christians quarrel about whose turn it is to take out the rubbish.

Crime in suburbia

From The Landmark (subscription required):

[Editor's note: There were 15 suspicious items this week.]

Holden

Monday, December 6

7:51 a.m. Burglar alarm, Mixter Rd., ok, workers at home
3:25 p.m. Two females advised to remove themselves from lot on Main St.
8:20 p.m. Driver left gas station without paying; will return
8:48 p.m. 911, accidental from Boulder Hill Rd., child playing with phone
11:24 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle at business

Tuesday, December 7

2:42 p.m. Dog hit by car near Fox Hill Dr.
3:32 p.m. Report of person texting while driving
7:29 p.m. Loud music complaint on Reservoir St.
7:20 p.m. Canvas bag with tools fell out of truck and is missing
8:51 p.m. Suspicious male hanging around Shrewsbury St. business
11:45 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Main St.

Wednesday, December 8

1:00 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle with dome light on, South Rd.
1:22 a.m. Caller says cruisers need to stop going through red light; advised they're responding to calls
6:30 a.m. Caller says pump leaking at gas station
8:58 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle found parked against garage at home, Shrewsbury St., towing company dropped it off at wrong house
11:47 a.m. Caller reports tool bag lost off back of truck; call if found
3:38 p.m. 911, verbal argument between mother and daughter, Quinapoxet Lane

Thursday, December 9

7:19 a.m. Report of eggs thrown at house, Nottingham Dr.
2:56 p.m. Caller to complain about officer threatening arrest for dog urinating on Christmas trees; advised to fill out complaint form

Friday, December 10

9:13 a.m. Walk-in regarding rights in domestic situation
11:26 a.m. Caller asking for police to keep peace while elderly couple moves out of son's home
11:43 am. Animal investigation, North St.
12:17 p.m. Caller regarding property seized during arrest, was arrested by state police
2:13 p.m. Water coming from manhole on Banbury Lane, creating large patch of ice
3:52 p.m. 911, well-being check on individuals on ice, Gail Dr.; doesn't believe ice is safe
4:02 p.m. Sanding, Banbury Lane
6:39 p.m. 911, debris in road, Bull Run presenting hazard, none found

Saturday, December 12

7:25 a.m. Cat missing
11:42 a.m. Caller reports dispatch won a $50 Wal-Mart gift card
1:36 p.m. Missing dog reported
2:02 p.m. Black lab found, Otterbrook Cir.; owner advised
3:40 p.m. Report of dog attack while individual was jogging, Fairview Ave.
4:08 p.m. Six to eight gunshots heard from residence, Wachusett St.
5:21 p.m. Possible debris in roadway, Wachusett St., top hat removed
5:50 p.m. Male party walking in middle of Reservoir St.; elderly individual
6:10 p.m. 911, party in road trying to change tire on Paxton Rd.
6:29 p.m. Dog possibly hit by car
8:53 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Trout Brook
10:01 p.m. Party looking at Christmas lights

Sunday, December 12

7:13 a.m. Caller reports three cars on Eagle Terr. Could be problem if there is snow and flag is still at half-mast, needs to be raised
8:15 a.m. Roads sanded
8:37 a.m. Dead raccoon on Wachusett St.
11:45 a.m. Report of teenager out of control
2:55 p.m. 911, hang-up Sterling Rd., child playing with phone
5:37 p.m. Caller reports wife not home; missing party returned at 5:56 p.m.
9:32 p.m. Caller reports hearing explosion near home where there was a fire earlier; all in order

Paxton

Monday, December 6

2:20 p.m. Officer out for follow-up investigation, Sunset Ln.
5:23 p.m. Suspicious pickup truck parked in front of house for long period of time, Pleasant St.
8:11 p.m. Assist Spencer PD with courtesy transport to Streeter Rd.
8:27 p.m. Assist Holden PD with contact information for person that drove off without paying for gas, Brooks Rd.

Tuesday, December 7

3:13 p.m. School zone lights flashing at wrong times, West St.
6:08 p.m. Disabled vehicle, Asnebumskit Rd./Pleasant St.
7:46 p.m. Police assist fire dept. at call, Sunset Ln.
11:54 p.m. Suspicious vehicle in driveway of home, Holden Rd.

Friday, December 10

12:06 p.m. Caller reports while he was cutting down a tree, it fell in roadway and took out power line, Pleasant St.
1:57 p.m. Caller heard noise during night, damage to door, Monticello Dr. No attempted break-in, small crack from door shrinking due to cold

Saturday, December 11

2:55 p.m. Lost tan pit bull, Holbrook Ln.
4:08 p.m. Caller found pit bull, Baxter Rd.

Sunday, December 12

11:52 p.m. Suspicious vehicle in Boynton Park

Princeton

Wednesday, December 8

5:45 p.m. Police remove to side of road gallon jug of glass cleaner, possibly fell off truck, E. Princeton Rd.
2:35 p.m. Person at station to discuss divorce proceedings, Town Hall Dr.
9:10 p.m. Caller heard loud bang and truck pulling away, Coal Kiln RD.

Thursday, December 9

2:33 p.m. Large male yellow Labrador in road, Sterling Rd.
5:30 p.m. Request for traffic control during morning commute and weekends, Calamint Hill Rd. S

Friday, December 10

7:16 a.m. Request for traffic control during rush hours, Ball Hill Rd.
2:06 p.m. Report of speeding mail carrier, Goodnow Rd.
5:12 p.m. Suspicious vehicle at end of driveway, Ball Hill Rd.
10:10 p.m. Suspicious vehicle, Fitchburg Rd.

Saturday, December 11

11:40 a.m. Police pick up safe found on side of Westminster Rd.

Sunday, December 12

1:12 p.m. Welfare check of children, Brooks Station Rd. No one home
1:56 p.m. Person wants to speak with officer about neighbor taking pictures of his property, Fitchburg Rd.
4:07 p.m. Vehicle left running in parking lot, Worcester Rd.

Rutland

Monday, December 6

8:32 a.m. Caller wants to speak with officer about Internet safety and her children, Charnock Hill Rd.
10:42 a.m. Person at station to speak with officer regarding ongoing case, Main St.
11:21 a.m. Person at station to speak with officer about neighbor issue, Main St.
11:49 a.m. Person wants fingerprints done, Main St.
2:23 p.m. Loose horses, in and on side of Muschopauge Rd.

Wednesday, December 8

10:02 a.m. Person at station to thank officers for their help

Thursday, December 9

4:15 p.m. Person concerned about skaters on pond, Main St.

Friday, December 10

2:33 p.m. Police speak with tenants about parking issues, Main St.
6:18 p.m. Police attempt to return property, Valley View Cir.
11:23 p.m. Officer assists homeowner shutting water off after pipe burst, Maple Ave.

Saturday, December 11

10:20 a.m. Caller reports hunters on posted property, concerned for horses in area, E. County Rd.
5:27 p.m. Caller reports hitting deer, Maple Ave.
9:57 p.m. Barking dog, Juniper Ln.
10:45 p.m. Three suspicious males, Pommogussett Rd./Richards Ave.

Sunday, December 12

1:07 a.m. Suspicious vehicle at end of driveway and someone walking toward house, Phillips Rd.
11:01 p.m. Dog barking for long time, unusual behavior, Brintnal Dr.

Sterling

Monday, December 6

7:31 a.m. Two-car accident, one vehicle atop fire hydrant, Leominster Rd.
10:00 a.m. Suspicious vehicle stopping in front of houses, Country Club Blvd.
6:24 p.m. Multiple calls about dog hit and injured in Upper N. Row Rd.
11:19 p.m. Suspicious activity, Boutelle Rd.

Tuesday, December 7

7:12 a.m. Caller reports two Labradors missing, seen entering rail trail. Animal Control Officer will return them to owner, Redstone Pl.
9:11 a.m. Missing Siberian husky; later found, Mortimer Rd.
2:32 p.m. Person wants to speak with animal control officer regarding dog issue, School St.
4:14 p.m. Walk-in reports that while walking, found something in a bucket (animal parts), Fern Ln.

Wednesday, December 8

3:07 p.m. Missing American Staffordshire terrier, Princeton Rd./Rte. 140
3:12 p.m. Caller reports bottle with acid-smelling substance and tin foil bits inside mailbox. Advised not to touch it. Police pick up entire mailbox, Chace Hill Rd.

Thursday, December 9

4:39 p.m. Annoying phone calls from people seeking donations for football league, Wiles Rd.
5:10 p.m. Dog found, I-190. Owner later found, Laurelwood Rd.

Friday, December 10

2:26 p.m. Police out with disabled vehicle, appears abandoned, Leominster Rd.
2:57 p.m. Two teens coming out of woods, Hastings Rd.
3:54 p.m. Golden retriever sitting on front steps of home, Boutelle Rd.
7:24 p.m. Brown striped tabby cat in garage for three hours, Tuttle Rd.

Saturday, December 11

8:28 p.m. Caller head squeal of tires, requests police to check area, Kendall Hill Rd.

Sunday, December 12

12:29 a.m. Caller awakened by sound of what he believes was a mailbox being smashed, Redstone Hill Rd. Police find no signs of damage
11:18 a.m. Caller to make plans to pick up dog, Old County Rd.

New web platform for Telegram

Nicole reports that the Telegram, along with the Boston Globe, will be switching web platforms in 2011. For most folks, this will be manifest as new services and more timely publications. For the newspaper production staff, we hope that the situation will not longer be this Red Green-style toolset that mungs the content from one format to another. (A former T-and-G staffer says it's like watching a snake trying to swallow and digest a pig between 4 and 5AM every day.)
Well, good luck to them. Their new web services provider, EidosMedia, has a slick presence and, by their own measure, do a good job of producing content in multiple formats, locations, and languages. It's early, yet, so we'll have to see what's ahead.
In the meantime, however, with the mobile devices an increasingly important channel for news, it would seem that their pages showcasing their mobile offerings would look great on a mobile device, such as Android phone.

via Mobile - getting it right

Initial view is pretty small on a phone. By rotating the phone and then zooming, the graphics and additional on the right side of the page are clipped and require scrolling.

Good luck to all.

More on Christmas shopping

So, venerable and typically rather cautious Consumer Reports suggests that you might find good values among the As Seen on TV family of products. They've reviewed and liked the Forearm Forklift, Slap Chop, Ove Glove, the ShamWow, PedEgg, (even while allowing that your sweetie might not see the charm in your gesture),  or e Snuggie.
But, with a particular note of caution, as we saw with the PedEgg, guys should be very careful when shopping at ASoT.

1. When shopping for Mom or Nana -
   

   

   DEva Lite Bra D - The Official Site of AsSeenOnTV.com

   
   
2. When shopping for wife and/or girlfriend
   

   

   ASave $85.00 - Renaissance by Ultra Aesthetics - Proven Stretch Mark Treatment Creme

3. See #2
   

   

   Bare and Beautiful Hair Removal - The Official Site Of AsSeenOnTV.com

You've been warned - Christmas the deadliest day of the year: study | Posted | National Post

How can you be in two places at once when you're not anywhere at all?

This was one of those days when one appointment became two became three became four. The morning trips were fraught with a shameful level of loopiness among my fellow travelers. A half-inch of snow, if that, put cars off the road, into each other, or just sideways on tiny hills. (One commenter wondered if we'd been invaded by South Carolinians.)

The Road Less Traveled

By late morning, after finishing my downtown appointment, the temperature had reached 35, the roads had been salted, and everyone was a happy bug again. Even the trip to Rutland and back was on roads that were just wet. People were their rambling selves again. Odd day, this. Sometimes I think that I don't know my people at all.

---

So, you missed the lunar eclipse of several lifetimes because it was cloudy ...

via HOBOTOPIA: Laugh-Out-Loud Cats #1576

Hey, UMass, you made the big time

No, it's not interesting that your story about semi-clad bone marrow solicitation made the New York Times. You made it to the show because the story was picked up by News of the Weird/Pro Edition:

University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester is a fairly upscale joint (you would think)...