a “strange, little, wet, fried, angry place”

My wife's family name is MacGregor, so the following is presented with all due reverence.
Daily Express | UK News :: English study has the Scots written off as a dozy bunch
Study leader Jason Rentfrow said early analysis revealed that personalities were becoming clustered into distinct geographical patterns. He said:

“London is becoming psychologically separate from the rest of the nation.
“People in London tend to be, on average, more analytical, assertive, dominant, efficient and creative.
“People in Scotland are less open-minded and less tolerant of differences."
...
Scots actor John Hannah, who now lives in London, described his home land as a “strange, little, wet, fried, angry place.”

Rentfrow had previously created a personality map of the United States. It showed significant regional differences in personality types.

Map source: The United States of Mind, Wall Street Journal (subscription)

Scott Adams is reading my cell phone bill

As noted, I recently bought a new cell phone. The price of the phone was based on a $50 rebate. 



I made it past Rebaterus and get the card. I learn that it's a debit card, not a credit card, but when I try to use it, I should call it a credit card. And don't let the restaurant try to add the tip because the card might be rejected.
I haven't tried using the card. Stay tuned.

Lunchtime patent tricks

Whether it was the Earl of Sandwich or the Duke of Shrewsbury who first invented the staple of American luncheon dining, it is those purveyors of fine Scottish cuisine, McDonald's, who are seeking a patent on the manufacture of same.
From McDonald's filing with the World Intellectual Property Organiztion (WIPO): (WO/2006/068863) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A SANDWICH

The present invention relates to methods of making a sandwich. In one aspect, the invention relates to pre-assembly of sandwich components and simultaneous preparation of different parts of the same sandwich. In one aspect, the invention relates to one or more of the following: pre-assembly of meat and cheese; simultaneous toasting of a bread component and heating a pre-assembled meat and/or cheese filling; and assembly of sandwich garnishes and condiments on a sandwich assembly tool. In another aspect, the present invention relates to a sandwich assembly tool useful in the foregoing methods for preparation of a sandwich, including, for example, a made-to-order sandwich.

via Overlawyered: Will your lunch violate intellectual property laws?

When corned-beef becomes hash

During the 2008 presidential campaign, Sen. John McCain called for the United States to emulate Ireland, particularly its 11% business tax rate.

if you go to the country where it’s 11 percent tax versus 35 percent, you’re going to be able to create jobs, increase your business, make more investment, et cetera.

He didn't say that the fundamentals of the Irish economy were sound, but he came close.
Seven months later, we learn from New York Times colulmnist, and Nobel laureate, Paul Krugman, that

the Irish government now predicts that this year G.D.P. will fall more than 10 percent from its peak, crossing the line that is sometimes used to distinguish between a recession and a depression.
But there’s more to it than that: to satisfy nervous lenders, Ireland is being forced to raise taxes and slash government spending in the face of an economic slump — policies that will further deepen the slump.

Apparently, the Irish government and bankers over-leveraged their financial assets, in much the same way as happened in Iceland.
Unfortunately, the Irish government is responding to the banking crisis in much the same was as the U.S. is doing: bailing out the banks without fixing the fundamental problems with the banking systems.

Not to put too fine a point on it, that’s one reason I’m so concerned about the Obama administration’s bank plan. If, as some of us fear, taxpayer funds end up providing windfalls to financial operators instead of fixing what needs to be fixed, we might not have the money to go back and do it right.

Such are the joys of politics, economics, and world finance - everyone has a chance to get it seriously, dangerously wrong.
Oh, and about that 35% tax rate? It doesn't seem too burdensome for many corporations. According to the GAO, between 1998 and 2005, two-thirds of American corporations paid no income taxes.

Pump up the amps

From the Worcester Tea Party rss feed:

Asian beetle threatens national pastime

No, not that beetle. This beetle:


Men's Journal, April 2009 -- Baseball’s Bug Problem
Add a new crisis for Major League Baseball: a tiny Asian import named the emerald ash borer. This beetle, discovered in Michigan in 2002, has quickly ravaged forests from there to Ohio, Indiana, and Maryland, killing tens of millions of white ash trees — the same type used by Louisville Slugger to make MLB’s official bats.

via J-Walk Blog and MLB.com.

OntheCommon.com -= - Our towns, our people, our stuff

I have joined the Worcester Telegram and Gazette OnTheCommon.com blogging team. I will be writing about Holden and Phillipston.
This is my first post: Our towns, our people, our stuff

Crime in suburbia

From The Landmark (subscription required):

Holden

Monday, April 6

11:08 a.m. Jackknifed tractor trailer unit on Lincoln Ave.
11:32 a.m. Raccoon in yard on Valley Hill Dr.
12:14 p.m. Raccoon in garage on Wachusett St., possibly rabid
11:54 p.m. Dead beaver on Main St.

Tuesday, April 7

2:56 a.m. Worcester requests notification to Holden resident that his restaurant caught on fire
8:40 a.m. Pothole next to manhole cover on Main St.
9:02 a.m. Vehicle in lot on Main St. that doesn't belong there
9:19 a.m. Business concerned about solicitor claiming they are associated with Holden office
2:36 p.m. Group of solicitors without permits on Nola Dr.
8:02 p.m. Report of larceny from business on Main St.; individual wanting to return same items twice
8:06 p.m. Caller about dog tied out all day on Avery Rd.
9:30 p.m. Two callers inquiring if individual has been reported missing

Wednesday, April 8

10:20 a.m. Inquiry about issues at Trout Brook
2:45 p.m. Census bureau will be in town for six to eight weeks
3:37 p.m. Post office reports patron upset about construction, made scene then left
4:29 p.m. Report of possible loitering at high school; okay, parties waiting for a ride
7:20 p.m. Individual suspected in theft is back in Main St. business

Thursday, April 9

3:50 a.m. Fluid trail from business on Main St. to Valley Hill Rd.
11:38 a.m. Animal problem on Hunter Circle
5:04 p.m. Caller reports egging car received was actually paint
5:18 p.m. Tree branch removed from travel lane on Main St..

Friday, April 10

12:46 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle in lot at pool on Salisbury St.
7:58 p.m. 911 call from Cutler Rd.; homeowner says did not call and hung up twice
10:08 a.m. Report of two dogs missing from Princeton St. residence
12:50 p.m. Abandoned car in middle of parking lot at library; appears to have slipped out of gear; will wait an hour for owner before towing
3:06 p.m. Main St. business owner advises of manhole in parking lot leaking water/sewage; water department advised
5:32 p.m. Report of two kids in vehicle in Big Y parking lot, possibly rolling a joint
6:13 p.m. Report of kids skateboarding at business on Main St.
8:03 p.m. Caller asking about what happened at her home on Woodhaven earlier in the day

Saturday, April 11

2:42 a.m. Worcester PD reports party that was involved in accident in that city might be in Holden, car has door hanging off; no contact

Sunday, April 12

2:29 a.m. Suspicious person walking near state police barracks
7:44 a.m. Report of truck taking wood from new development on Preservation Lane
11:22 a.m. Low-hanging wire on Salisbury St.
12:07 p.m. Water leak in basement coming from pipe from Bullard St.; water department advised
7:46 p.m. Multiple reports of bear in area of Quinapoxet St./Windy Ridge Rd.

Paxton

Monday, April 6

9:44 a.m. Area of Anna Maria College, car struck deer

Tuesday, April 7

3:35 p.m. Grove St. resident reporting a missing tan/white collie
9:18 p.m. Dead cat in the road, West St.

Wednesday, April 8

3:31 p.m. Dirty tap water, Shanandoah Dr. Work was being done on water pipe. Problem should clear up on its own.

Thursday, April 9

8:09 a.m. Report of several males walking through the neighborhood, handing out Splenda samples. Also a white van with NC plates. Advised subjects they must check in with dispatch.

Friday, April 10

10:31 a.m. Large log in roadway, Pleasant St. by the American Legion
10:49 a.m. Caller reporting two males with metal detectors walking the perimeter of Congregational Church. Church gave them permission to be there.
2:16 p.m. Walk-in reporting tree branches in road by DPW barn
6:26 p.m. Worcester PD advising of possible erratic driver on Pleasant St.
9:04 p.m. Erratic vehicle on Pleasant St.

Sunday, April 12

12:00 p.m. Lost dog, brown/white, near Maple St.
1:40 p.m. Dog found near Town Hall

Princeton

Monday, April 6

8:27 a.m. Traffic safety hazard, Sterling Rd.
7:00 p.m. Assist highway department, Rte. 140 North
10:20 p.m. Open gate, Mountain Rd.

Tuesday, April 7

6:59 a.m. Disturbance, gun shots, Mountain Rd.
5:00 p.m. Public service, Town Hall Dr.

Wednesday, April 8

11:35 a.m. Officer investigation, Westminster Rd.
2:45 p.m. Officer investigation, Ball Hill Rd.
3:39 p.m. Public service, Mountain Rd.

Thursday, April 9

9:29 a.m. Erratically operated motor vehicle, Sterling Rd.
2:32 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Sterling Rd.
3:01 p.m. Erratically operated motor vehicle, Mountain Rd.

Friday, April 10

9:55 a.m. Assist fire department, Jefferson Rd.
2:00 p.m. Suspicious person, Westminster Rd.

Saturday, April 11

3:58 p.m. Public service, Rte. 140 North
4:34 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Wheeler Rd.

Sunday April 12

1:15 a.m. Assist other police department. Hubbardston Rd.
2:15 a.m. Assist other police department, Worcester Rd.
4:18 a.m. Request for light department, Worcester Rd.
5:09 a.m. Request for highway department, Worcester Rd.
8:03 p.m. Assist animal control officer, Coal Kiln Rd.
8:45 p.m. Suspicious incident, Boylston Ave./Connor Ln.
11:07 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Coal Kiln Rd.

Rutland

Monday, April 6

8:27 a.m. Complaint about yellow utility truck pulling Jake brake making a lot of noise in neighborhood, Pleasantdale Rd.
3:34 p.m. Tree fell knocking down wires, Cloverdale Ln./ Sassawanna Rd.
4:10 p.m. Person into station to speak with an officer, Main St.
6:41 p.m. Caller reporting gunshots in area of Bernard Rd.

Wednesday, April 8

6:51 a.m. Person reporting cow on wrong side of the fence, Pommogussett Rd.
10:40 a.m. Complaints about large trucks using Jake brake unnecessarily, Pleasantdale Rd.
11:50 a.m. Person complaining about neighbor dumping yard waste debris and duck waste over wall onto his property, Rolling Ridge Rd.

Thursday, April 9

8:46 a.m. Report of large sheep running down Pleasantdale Rd.
4:00 p.m. Person came to station to speak with an officer,Main St.
4:55 p.m. Person wants to speak with an officer about ongoing issue with neighbors, East County Rd.
5:27 p.m. Tree in roadway, Glendale Rd./Campbell St.
5:45 p.m. Plymouth Police Department reporting a person accidentally lost a box from his truck, Bethany Dr.
7:08 p.m. Suspicious vehicle parked at the Rail Trail, Rte. 122

Friday, April 10

10:14 a.m. Person in to station be fingerprinted, Main St.

Saturday, April 11

8:16 a.m. Report of baby moose in roadway, East County Rd.
5:28 p.m. Person came to station to speak with an officer, Main St.

Sunday, April 12

10:49 a.m. Caller reports cars parked on both sides of Main St.
6:37 p.m. Person reporting annoying phone calls between kids, Stevens Way

Sterling

Monday, April 6

12:05 a.m. Report of male sitting on guardrail in front of restaurant, Leominster Rd.
10:53 a.m. Complaint about dog that chases person walking on Sherwood Dr.
1:00 p.m. Raccoon roaming the area of overpass on I-190, climbed over chainlink fence to get to roadway from Princeton Rd.
5:49 p.m. Medium sized white dog loose on Stuart Rd./ Meetinghouse Hill Rd.
9:06 p.m. Report of lost yellow Lab, Taft Rd.

Thursday, April 9

11:51 a.m. Report of dog bite, Chace Hill Rd.
1:37 p.m. Possible rabid raccoon on porch of home on Redemption Rock Trl.
2:17 p.m. Person saw cat in window of home that recently had a fire, Waushacum Ave./School St.

Friday, April 10

10:30 a.m. Large black dog wandering onto property on Princeton Rd.
2:54 p.m. Report of missing Springer spaniel, Gates Rd.

Saturday, April 11

8:20 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle with female sitting in it on property on East Park Rd.
5:20 p.m. Report of two people in vehicle in parking lot behind café on Main St.

Life is good ...

via PostSecret

Worcestershire Journal - The math of getting there on time :

Worcestershire Journal - The math of getting there on time : Real Worcester - Worcester News and Blogs

If people would just have 'merkin names, we'd be fine.

As I've often said, my wife really had to love me to grab a name such as Hakkarainen.
My family anglicized the pronunciation of our name, letting Hakk sound like 'hack,' rather than 'hahk' or 'huck' (hence, my father's nickname) and shifting the emphasis from the first syllable to the third, where rain sound like, well, 'rain,' rather than 'rye-n.' So, huck-a-rye-nen (with appropriate throat-clearing sounds after the first and before the third syllables) becomes hakk-a-rain-en.
Naturally, most folks, on first take, will say Hakkarainian, moving us 2000km southeast from Finland to Armenia.
I will, of course, also answer to "Mr. Er-ah-um-hakk-a...."
But, enough of that.
A Texas legislator has an idea, originally directed at Chinese immigrants - change your names so that they're easier for Americans pronounce. (Legend has it that many immigrants' names were changed when they arrived in the United States, but this seems less likely. More often, as was the case on my father's birth cetificate, errors and changes were made by local town or school clerks.)
Or, we could learn how to pronounce the names. Granted this is more work and, goodness knows, our poor American brains can't handle much more. Nevertheless, the Wall Street Journal has an article about a couple of web resources, www.howtosaythatname.com and www.pronouncenames.com, that will help you pronounce foreign first and surnames. The databases are still works-in-progress, but they're a step in the right direction.

And now for something completely different, Raymond Luxury Yacht (YouTube video).

He was a friend of mine

Dan died in a car crash in Oklahoma on Sunday, a long way from home.
He was, at once, smart, angry, loving, drunk and ashamed, sober and proud, funny, mean-spirited, fiercely loyal, a dark star of emotional distance.
"Don't be sorry. Change," he used to say, ultimately unable to do either for himself.
As his wife, Alice, noted, we don't have to worry about him any more. That part of the pain has stopped, for us, for him. All the unfinished business, of tearful memories, joyful recollections, financial chaos, and perhaps a few more lurking secrets, well, that what the rest of time is for.
Death comes mid-sentence.

Dogs and us

The nation is much relieved to know that the Obama family now has a dog, a Portuguese water dog name Bo. The First Puppy is a gift from Sen. Ted Kennedy (no jokes about water, Chappaquiddick, please).
Meanwhile, over at both Kennedy's and Obama's alma mater, Harvard scientists are scientists are studying if and how dogs think.
One of the Harvard scientists studying dog behavior observed, generally about dogs, "If you have an animal and it's more than that, it's truly a member of your family, you see things every day that you don't have the ability to explain or describe, but you know how important it is to you."
Now, we love our dog in particular and, for the most part, dogs in general. Nevertheless, some dogs seem destined to take undue chances with their Darwinian fate.
To wit, when a UK dog had an operation to treat a suspected tumor, doctors discovered that the dog's stomach contained "17 garments, including nine socks, four gloves and a stocking." The family had been wondering where their laundry had gone to. The teen-aged son had first noticed that his rubber gloves went missing two years ago.

Happy 90th, Woody

Five years of RoasterBoy

It started here.
Want to know how to make God laugh? Talk about your plans for the future.
More later.

Springtime on PEI

WOCN15 CWHX 101908 Special weather statement for Prince Edward Island issued by Environment Canada at 4:08 PM ADT Friday 10 April 2009. 

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)

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."

How much do I have to lose before I get really rich?

LoJack Corp., which lost $33 million in 2008, boosted the salary of chairman and CEO Richard T. Riley by 15 percent and granted him stock-based incentives valued at $1.1 million.
LoJack boss: $1.1M stock boost amid loss - Boston Business Journal:

Worcestershire Journal - New telegram.com - am I in Worcester?

Worcestershire Journal - New telegram.com - am I in Worcester? : Real Worcester - Worcester News and Blogs

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

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:

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.)