Obligatory weather grumble

As if things weren't vexing enough, the weather does a double back-flip. At the end of last week, we needed a small fire in the stove in the morning. Now, it's gonna be hot enough to grow sun-dried tomatoes on the vine. Then, we might or might not get a visit from Earl. Then, cool again.
Sandra prefers the color of the trees in May and June, when the green is fresh. Me? I like late summer. The sun is lower in the sky, so the shadows of the leaves on their neighbors sharpens the color.
That's what you get with New England weather - something for everyone. Or, more precisely, there will always be plenty of people who don't like the weather that we're having.

Tropical Storm Earl Coordination Message #1

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: SkyWarn Announcement List <SkyWarn-list@oak.powersrvcs.net>
Date: Sun, Aug 29, 2010 at 7:19 AM
Subject: Tropical Storm Earl Coordination Message #1
To: Skywarn-list@oak.powersrvcs.net


Hello to all..

..Tropical Storm Earl is expected to intensify into a hurricane later today with impacts to the Northern Leeward Islands and then intensify into a major hurricane over the next 3 days as it gradually turns west-northwest to northwest in the Western Atlantic Ocean..
..Latest computer models suggest a 'glancing blow' of minimal tropical storm force conditions to Cape Cod and the Islands in the late Thursday Night to Friday Night timeframe with the potential of a more western track towards the coast based on other reliable computer models. Track guidance can change considerably over the next several days to be either closer or further away from the coast..
..Interests in Southern New England should begin monitoring the progress of Tropical Storm Earl. This message's intent, at this very early stage, is to have folks begin that monitoring process..

Tropical Storm Earl is expected to strengthen into a hurricane today and pass near or just north of the Northern Leeward Islands late tonight and Monday. This may prompt the activation of the National Hurricane Center Amateur Radio Station, WX4NHC, and the HF Hurricane Watch Net and VoIP Hurricane Net late tonight or Monday depending on Earl's anticipated intensification and how close it approaches the islands. Earl will affect portion of the Northern Leeward Islands with tropical storm force conditions but its hurricane force conditions may stay just offshore though any slight deviation to the south may result in hurricane force conditions over parts of the Northern Leeward Islands.

After Earl's passage near the Northern Leeward Islands, Earl is expected to continue west-northwestward and then eventually northwestward and northward over the next several days intensifying into a major hurricane. Some of the latest computer models indicate a track far enough way from Southern New England to spare a direct hit but close enough to provide a glancing blow of minimal tropical storm force conditions to Cape Cod and the Islands in the late Thursday Night to Friday Night timeframe. Other reliable computer models bring Earl much closer to Southern New England in that timeframe and if that were to verify, more significant conditions would affect a larger portion of the region.

It is too early to say what the eventual track from Earl will be. Right now, tracks on Earl range from a 'glancing blow' to a possible direct impact. Later today or as we go through the week, one of those solutions could verify or Earl could be further out to sea. The purpose of this coordination message is to create situational awareness for SKYWARN Spotters, Amateur Radio Operators and Emergency Management to prepare to monitor this system. This is based on Earl's mention in the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook and Area Forecast Discussion.

Regardless of the track, swells and rip currents that have started from Hurricane Danielle and resulting in a High Surf Advisory for much of today over Cape Cod and the Islands may wane as Danielle departs further out to sea only to increase and become more significant than today as Earl tracks closer to the region later this week. There have been many times where offshore tropical systems have caused injuries or fatalities on the water from the surf and rip currents so folks swimming at area beaches over the next several days with the hot weather expected are advise to heed the advice of lifeguards and monitor NWS Taunton products for high surf advisory information. See link below for the NWS Taunton High Surf Advisory statement for today and for future statements and also the surf zone forecasts for more information:

NWS Taunton High Surf Advisory Information:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.whus41.KBOX.html

NWS Taunton Surf Zone Forecast Information:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.fzus51.KBOX.html

Once again, Tropical Storm Earl should be monitored by people in Southern New England. The latest NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook and advisory information on Earl are listed below:

NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.flus41.KBOX.html

National Hurricane Center - Miami Florida Information:

Tropical Storm Earl Public Advisory Information:
http://kamala.cod.edu/TPC/latest.wtnt32.KNHC.html

Tropical Storm Earl Technical Discussion Information:
http://kamala.cod.edu/TPC/latest.wtnt42.KNHC.html

Tropical Storm Earl Forecast/Advisory Information:
http://kamala.cod.edu/TPC/latest.wtnt22.KNHC.html

Tropical Storm Earl Wind Speed Probabilities:
http://kamala.cod.edu/TPC/latest.font12.KNHC.html

The next coordination message will likely be posted some time on Monday pending further computer model data on the track of Earl and significant updates to Earl's status as a tropical system from an intensity perspective.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

And there it should stay

Locked away in some bomb-proof tape storage vault is a draft of a novel. During off-hours, on a VT-52 terminal with a 300 baud acoustic coupler modem, I typed my notes, using DEC Standard Runoff as the markup language. The draft was about 150 pages, printed on the big honkin' fan-fold line printer paper of the day.

It was, as a novel, not very good.
The main character was a guy named Willie, a guy enough like me, but not so much that the details of his life matched up with mine in any real way.  Willie wore a hat. I don't. I'm not a hat guy.
Petersborough was the setting, a New England coastal town. You'd recognize the town and the people. After a while, though, you'd start wondering why you should care. The story went on, like a diary of made-up people.
If you're going to read a diary, read a diary. Sandra has been reading her mother's notes from around that same time, early 1980s. She'd earlier read and transcribed her grandmother's diaries from the 20s and 30s. These from her mother are interesting because we're not the most important characters. It's a touch of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. We're on our own stage, ala Hamlet, but the action occurs elsewhere. It's humbling to realize that not everyone was paying attention to us all of the time.
And, so, if it's stories of people's lives that I want, I'll go to diaries. The print-out of that novel went into the recycling bin and was picked up on Thursday.

The greatest task of democracy, its ritual and feast - is choice.

Do you want a sheriff or do you want a pizza?



(props to H.G. Wells for the title quote.)

Crime in suburbia

From The Landmark (subscription required):
[Editor's note: There were 18 suspicious items this week.]

Holden

Monday, August 16

9:13 a.m. Caller from Paxton reporting missing dog
9:21 a.m. Caller has questions about bear sightings
11:34 a.m. Caller reports male going door to door, would like to check validity, party has permits and will be in area, Willow Brook Rd.
4:42 p.m. Party in lobby with questions about his marijuana citation
6:19 p.m. Party reporting her daughter saw two males, one on skateboard, one in car, would swap vehicles as they drove down the street, men waved at daughter and friends, Brice Circle
8:55 p.m. Multiple images of male genitalia spraypainted on center line, Salisbury St.
10:01 p.m. Party in lobby to express displeasure with Holden PD patrolling area businesses

Tuesday, August 17

12:11 a.m. Party has questions about what do with lost dog that has no tags, Sterling Rd.
12:18 a.m. Suspicious persons, Main/Highland Sts.
3:39 a.m. Numerous ground-floor windows open throughout building, Mayo School
1:19 p.m. Party requesting additional patrols for kids egging cars and tipping over trash cans, Bullard St.
3:02 p.m. DPW notified of profanity marked in lawn behind senior center
10:07 p.m. Caller reporting suspicious motor vehicle parked on access road, Main St/Adams Rd.

Wednesday, August 18

7:57 a.m. Caller locked out of car, dog inside, Stoneleigh Rd.
10:41 a.m. Caller reporting that there is a squirrel behaving strangely, Holden St.
11:12 a.m. Party reporting some motor vehicles at business were egged
6:58 p.m. Water flowing up from manhole, Whitney St.
7:11 p.m. Party reporting car driving in fields, tearing up grass, Dawson School
8:17 p.m. Keep the peace while son obtains toolbox from parents’ residence, Main St.
11:43 p.m. Caller heard a car screech and loud bang, found vehicle on side of road, but no driver, Wood St/Mason Rd.

Thursday, August 19

7:39 a.m. Caller heard a loud explosion in area, has power, Valley Hill Dr.

8:44 a.m. Officer behind vehicle, operator pulled to side of road, activated hazards and put hands in the air. Officer activated lights after observing this behavior. Operator was acting overly nervous and stressed, difficult time composing self. Advised to relax before driving away. Malden St.
5:13 p.m. Caller reporting group of males struck mailboxes, Bailey Rd.
9:56 p.m. Report of sheep escaped from farm and wandering in street, Salisbury St.

Friday, August 20

9:48 a.m. Officers advised to conduct extra patrols, Princeton St.
11:03 a.m. Caller reports that while she was walking dog, motor vehicle began following her, motor vehicle turned around several times, slowed down, then turned into a driveway, Bullard St.
4:02 p.m. Checking suspicious motor vehicle, Main St.
7:16 p.m. Caller reports suspicious vehicle, Main St.
11:28 p.m. Caller reports van drove into driveway, two males got out, looked around, does not believe items were stolen or vandalized, Phillips Rd.

Saturday, August 21

3:48 a.m. Caller reports car driving in neighborhood, pulled into driveway and left, Winfield Rd.
4:01 a.m. Caller reports male party walking around house that is not occupied by males, Winfield Rd.
2:48 p.m. Caller reports resident at Montana St. harassing him after he took pictures of house for bank. Party followed him to next house on Arizona Ave., then followed him out Bullard St. Then was verbally confronted by resident.

9:55 p.m. Caller reports she hears fireworks coming from Eagle Ter.

Sunday, August 22

12:25 a.m. Caller locked out of house, Fireside Ln.
1:39 a.m. Male walking down street with what appears to be beer bottle, refuses to identify self, Main St.
1:57 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Mill Pond Place. Arrest: --- open container violation. ---, person under 21 in possession of liquor, possession of mace without FID
4:24 a.m. Party reports suspicious vehicle drove by house, shined flashlight into his and neighbor’s driveways.
1:42 p.m. Street washing out due to rain, Reservoir St.

Paxton

Monday, August 16

7:45 a.m. Person came to station to speak with an officer about a past incident, Pleasant St.

Tuesday, August 17

7:21 a.m. Caller advises she heard a gun shot in the back yard, Johnnel St.
9:02 a.m. Police assist at vehicle lockout, West St.
2:10 p.m. Request that officer speak to children who keep removing their seatbelts, Pleasant St.
11:31 p.m. Two suspicious vehicles in center of town, Pleasant St. and West St.

Thursday, August 19

3:46 p.m. Suspicious vehicle, Suomi St.
10:22 p.m. Suspicious vehicle, Pleasant St.
10:41 p.m. Caller locked his keys in his car, West St.

Friday, August 20

4:13 a.m. Leicester Police requesting assistance transporting some subjects back to their station from the area of Marshall St. and Hemlock St.
10:11 a.m. Person came to station requesting to speak with an officer about an item found on her property, Pleasant St.
5:21 p.m. North Brookfield resident reports finding dog with Paxton tag at Lake Lashway

Saturday, August 21

10:30 a.m. Dog wandering on West St. Will be returned to owner
10:19 p.m. Suspicious vehicle Pleasant St./Lincoln Circle

Princeton

Monday, August 16

3:47 p.m. Golden retriever running in middle of road, Sterling Rd.

Tuesday, August 17

9:17 a.m. Complaints about barking dog, Worcester Rd.
1:19 p.m. Person cut grass and left strip of clippings in the roadway, Goodnow Rd.
11:50 p.m. Police transport female to residence, Main St.

Wednesday, August 18

9:15 a.m. Report of incident on EBay, East Princeton Rd.
12:10 p.m. Drill rig broken down, Mountain Rd.
3:52 p.m. Police speak with person regarding an issue with family member, Town Hall Dr.
7:55 p.m. Ongoing issue with neighbor’s dog barking, Worcester Rd.

Thursday, August 19

2:54 a.m. Suspicious vehicle, homeless individual in parking lot on Fitchburg Rd. Asked to move along
3:31 p.m. Assist fire department, rail car with garbage and debris on fire. Hubbardston Rd.
5:50 p.m. Motor vehicle lockout, Sterling Rd.
5:53 p.m. Golden retriever in middle of Mountain Rd.,
6:40 p.m. Complaint about dog barking for a long time, Worcester Rd.

Saturday, August 21

12:31 a.m. Suspicious vehicle on side of road with trunk open, Fitchburg Rd.
11:46 p.m. Police remove mattress from roadway, Rte. 140 N
12:32 p.m. Suspicious truck at abandoned house, Beaman Rd.
3:22 p.m. Golden Labrador found, Rhodes Rd.
9:31 p.m. Report of loud music coming from Wheeler Rd.

Sunday, August 22

3:30 a.m. Assist Rutland Police with a person barricaded at Pout and Trout
7:31 p.m. Missing husky, Worcester Rd.

Rutland

Monday, August 16

10:04 a.m. Walk-in to speak with officer regarding son
11:00 a.m. Driver reports his car was run off road over weekend; requests more patrols, River Rd area
1:00 p.m. Report of suspicious red SUV in driveway, Pommogussett Rd
1:31 p.m. Missing dachshund
3:28 p.m. 911 hang-up, children playing with phone, Tanglewood Cir.
5:26 p.m. Walk-in to drop off statement
6:11 p.m. Lost dog, beagle mix, Campbell St.
9:09 p.m. Vehicle lock-out
11:27 p.m. Wheel covers for right side of Car 3 are missing, Main St.

Tuesday, August 17

2:48 a.m. Loud party, Highland Park Rd.
7:51 p.m. Caller unable to care for stray male cat, Wachusett St.

Wednesday, August 18

10:41 a.m. Cows loose on Glenwood Rd., advised owner
3:48 p.m. Neighbors complaining about loud dirt bikes, Barre Paxton Rd. Officer spoke with individuals with dirt bikes, they are within legal statutes, no violations.
4:42 p.m. Dirt bike operator riding without a helmet, Glenwood Rd.

Thursday, August 19

6:00 a.m. Dogs loose, Pommogussett Rd.
9:02 a.m. Walk-in with fishing hook in her finger; officer removed
12:02 p.m. Vehicle lock-out, Pommogussett Rd.
5:54 p.m. Checking two unattended, parked vehicles at school, Main St.

Friday, August 20

7:02 a.m. Two pit bulls running loose, Lewis St. Determined that dog is a boxer, owner on Inwood Rd.
7:35 a.m. Inwood Rd. boxer loose on Main St.
7:54 a.m. Daughter requesting assistance for mother locked out of her unit, Autumn Wood Dr.
9:30 a.m. Resident wants appointment to discuss traffic concerns for the school year
11:35 a.m. Noise complaint about neighbors yelling at children, Maple Ave.
11:58 a.m. Report of a driveway sealcoat company soliciting in neighborhood, Ten Rod Rd.
1:22 p.m. Vehicle lock-out, Juniper Ln.
5:41 p.m. Walk-in requesting medical attention for a five-year old male with extreme ear pain
7:02 p.m. Rear tire about to fall off vehicle, Main St.

Saturday, August 21

11:16 a.m. Resident found stop sign leaning up against his house, Juniper Ln. May be from Newman Dr./Juniper Ln.
2:05 p.m. Three gun shots heard near Whitehall Rd. entrance to Rail Trail
4:53 p.m. Bobcat, Lizzy Ln.

Sunday, August 22

1:15 a.m. Group of youths hanging out, Main St.
2:09 a.m. Caller reports carload of youths across from her house, Pleasantdale Rd.
6:06 a.m. Large black car with male in it, yelling at people, Main St.
12:43 p.m. Vehicle lock-out
4:00 p.m. Couple, one in pick-up and one in Mercury, yelling at each other, Barre Paxton Rd.
10:06 p.m. Male party making threats, has been drinking, Barre Paxton Rd.

Sterling

Monday, August 16

8:49 a.m. Animal control officer to retrieve raccoon, John Dee Rd.
10:13 p.m. Caller reports man lying on ground near motorcycle, Worcester Rd.

Tuesday, August 17

7:27 a.m. Suspicious vehicle in driveway, Justice Hill Rd.
8:00 a.m. Person waiting for dead raccoon to be removed, John Dee Rd.
10:00 a.m. Caller wants to speak with animal control officer about a “wild dog” in the neighborhood, Justice Hill Rd. ACO says it’s probably a coyote

Wednesday, August 18

4:05 a.m. Two people yelling at each other, unsure if they are going to fight, Jill Lane and Riverview Rd.

Thursday, August 19

11:24 a.m. Pair of prescription sunglasses turned in, Leominster Rd.
1:13 p.m. Report of possible underage drinking party, Maple St.
1:45 p.m. Report of blocks in roadway obstructing breakdown lane, Worcester Rd.
4:18 p.m. Person came to station to report suspicious email purporting to be from the FBI, Leominster Rd.

Friday, August 20

3:48 a.m. Four horses got out of fenced in area, now missing. Tracking dog requested, Muddy Pond Rd. and Griffin Rd.
9:43 a.m. Report of lost poodle mix dog, Pratts Jct. Rd.

11:29 a.m. Loose German Shepherd in middle of road, Redemption Rock Trl.
8:09 p.m. Suspicious vehicle, older white van, two occupants, Legate Hill Rd

Saturday, August 21

6:09 p.m. Suspicious truck in driveway, Flanagan Hill Rd. Person delivering phone books
10:09 p.m. Loud party, Redstone Hill Rd.
10:21 p.m. Report of multiple gunshots, Pikes Hill Rd.

Sunday, August 22

6:31 p.m. Mixed terrier type dog, Redstone Hill Rd.

Keeping the doors open

(Originally published on OnTheCommon.com - Keeping the doors open)
You'd think that a kid going off to college in the 60s would have been worried about war, drugs, rock-and-roll, 'n other stuff. There was all that, for sure, but there was one additional fault line. Colleges, you see, typically use the Library of Congress cataloging system. I was a small-town boy who only knew the Dewey Decimal System. How was a kid like me supposed to find a book?
My mother worked at the Westminster library when I was a kid. My library card number was 1018. I was a bit disappointed when they introduced the numbered library cards. They used to write the names of the previous borrowers on the slip pasted in the book. I could see who'd been interested in the same book. I guess that's why they went to a numbered system. It really is no one's business what anyone else reads, as interesting as that information might be.
Later, when Sandra and I married, I learned that she'd helped her mother put books away at the small Chaffins branch. (The branch was in the former Chaffins school, now the light department building.) Sandra's mother drove the bookmobile, bringing books to the bookless around town.
Libraries have changed. They've always changed. The latest changes - increased use of electronic resources, reduced funding - are just as profound as the challenges they've encountered in the past.
This notion that we as a public should make sure that we have free access to the universe of ideas is so wonderfully democratic, so wonderfully subversive, that, of course, it's always going to be threatened. It's threatened because the universe of ideas is expanding; libraries must keep pace. It's threatened because the free flow of ideas is expensive.
Nevertheless, libraries endure. Jane Dutton, Holden's library director, encourages us. In the recent Friends of the Gale Free Library newsletter, she writes, "It seems to me that every year the news and talk gets more depressing and dramatic. I am always asked about Gale Free Library and how it will survive the current economic struggles." She remains optimistic. The history of the Holden library shows its evolution from a school building to a library to a renovated library to a town center for reading and celebrating ideas.
It's during these times hard times that the library is needed most. Dutton reminds us that the library's history is an affirmation of the value that town sees in its library.
It requires smart, hard-working people to keep a library thriving. We're fortunate to have Jane Dutton, along with staff, friends, and townspeople, keeping the doors open.
Dutton closes her article with this reminder.

I have always loved this quote from Mr.Gale and believe in his words. This is your palace, this is your library: "Let this be your palace royal; keep always the door wide open, the feast spread and the lights burning, this till these rugged stones shall crumble and be as dust." (Samuel Chester Gale, at the opening of the Damon Memorial Building, 1888.)

Ma Bell reclaims its own

We've lived in this house since 1982. At that time, our telephone company was New England Telephone, a subsidiary of AT&T. New England Telephone became NYNEX became Bell Atlantic became Verizon. Last year, we jettisoned our landline service and just used our cellphones. I was able to transfer our home number, the one we've had since the aforementioned 1982, to my cellphone.
So, why, in the name of little green apples did I receive this note from AT&T, offering us new wireless service because they claimed that we've moved. Are they trying to end the diaspora?

An evening at the bookstore

Visited a Barnes and Noble last night. Nice place. Good energy. Nice people. Wanted to find a book. Looked around a lot. Couldn't figure out what category it was in. Found lots of 2011 calendars, rude and funny books, and plenty of displays of summer reading paperbacks. Didn't find the book I wanted. Came home and ordered it on Amazon. It'll be here on Thursday.

One more reason to hate immigrants and minorities

Breaking news from the Dept. of Cheese.The USDA reports Long-Term Growth in U.S. Cheese Consumption May Slow.

The current White majority (the major consumers of cheese) of the population is expected to shrink as other groups grow in size. So, while U.S. per capita cheese consumption has more than doubled since the mid-1970s, future growth may slow as the U.S. population changes.

Somehow, this unpleasant turn of events is related to the following:

Own-price elasticities for all cheese products were statistically significant and elastic. Expenditure elasticities for all cheese products were also statistically significant, but only expenditures for American, cottage, and other cheeses were found to be elastic.

And, of course, you must disaggregate the cheese consumption pattern.

If you want to read the whole report and learn how it is that young females and older males were among the biggest buyers of cheese, here's the full report. I'm sure that the parents of the study's authors were very proud to see their childrens' names in print.

We are better than this

You know, I'd expect this kind of comment from some guido on Jersey Shore, not from one of the premier religious leaders in the country, son of a man who has counseled presidents through their darkest times, including President Obama. (Obama and Evangelist Billy Graham Share a Prayer. Franklin also attended the prayer session.)

"Now it's obvious that the president has renounced the prophet Mohammed, and he has renounced Islam, and he has accepted Jesus Christ. That's what he says he has done. I cannot say that he hasn't. So I just have to believe that the president is what he has said."
via Franklin Graham Says President Obama was 'Born a Muslim.' As Pew Poll Shows, More Americans Confused About President's Religion. - ABC News

He may be a Christian. He may not be. I don't know for sure. I'm just sayin'.

"I think the president's problem is that he was born a Muslim, his father was a Muslim," said Graham.

No, the president's problem is preachers who betray him.
Rev. Graham, please comment on the important stuff in the world. Please raise up the issues of floods, hunger, disease, poverty, despair, hopelessness, and pain. Please ask the Christians of the country to think about something other than this black hole of narrow-minded bigotry that is sucking the energy from us all. Please lead us toward peace, not divisive. Please lead us to wisdom, not innuendo. Please do the right thing. You're better than this. You know it. We know it.
Please don't make Christians be ashamed to call themselves Christians.

Crime in suburbia - follow-up

Sandra received a new phone the other day. In the package was this mysterious item:


After reviewing this week's Crime in Suburbia and seeing this item, 6:40 a.m. Caller wants to know what to do with deceased bat in his yard,  I figure that there's a use for it, although I'm not sure how.

Crime in suburbia

From The Landmark (subscription required):
[Editor's note: There were 11 suspicious items this week.]

Holden

Monday, August 9

12:41a.m. Vehicle burnouts, Princeton Rd.
7:10 a.m. Possible rabid skunk, Apple Tree Ln.
9:17 a.m. Illegal dumping, Rite Aid
11:05 a.m. Injured fawn on roadside, Salisbury St.
11:32 a.m. Motor vehicle with two flats, Otter Brook Dr.
4:32 p.m. Burning smell from meter, Colorado Dr.
5:01 p.m. Male soliciting money from people in Fallon Clinic parking lot, Shrewsbury St.
5:43 p.m. Request K-9 drug dog.
5:43 p.m. Arrest: ---
6:48 p.m. Citizen called regarding drug dog going through wife’s car during son’s arrest
6:50 p.m. Drug paraphernalia found in woods,Mixter Rd.
7:03 p.m. Low branch, Reservoir St.
7:15 p.m. Power outage, Verizon Building
7:38 p.m. Party to speak with officer regarding wife receiving flowers, Malden St.

Tuesday, August 10

3:13 a.m. Car with lights in driveway, Cranbrook Dr. Turned lights off and drove into another driveway.
6:31 a.m. Two small dogs running into traffic near Papa Gino’s, Main St.
9:52 a.m. Telemarketer calling with two free tickets to Bahamas
11:43 a.m. Male on bicycle going door-to-door selling children’s educational program, Windy Ridge Rd. Individual has permit.
11:45 a.m. Party calling to verify Holden Firefighters’ fundraiser
12:55 p.m. Pomeranian loose, Main St.
1:01 p.m. Dog lying in Woodridge Rd.
1:31 p.m. Tree crew working without detail, possibly obstructing travel lane, Salisbury St.
2:28 p.m. Trucks doing burnouts and playing loud music, Eagle Ter.
4:30 p.m. Mailman found cell phone, Raymond St.

Wednesday, August 11

12:57 a.m. Skateboarders, Main St.
6:40 a.m. Caller wants to know what to do with deceased bat in his yard
7:08 a.m. 911 call from elevator 4 at WRHS. OK, momentarily stuck in elevator – too impatient to wait for doors to open
8:05 a.m. Caller asking if her friend is in custody
8:43 a.m. Caller asking if complaints have been filed against him
8:44 a.m. Caller asking if Holden Firefighter fundraising is legitimate
8:54 a.m. Dog appears to be struggling in water, N. Main St. OK, animal is a beaver
9:35 a.m. Two BMX bikes behind Fallon Clinic, next to Dumpster
9:39 a.m. Caller reports driving over construction sign in middle of road, Holden St.
9:39 a.m. Pallet at Senior Center contains items for project. Ask for extra patrols
11:02 a.m. St. Charles, Mo. PD requests that solicitor in area be brought to police station so father can make arrangements for him to go home
11:34 a.m. Large sinkhole in front of 66 Valley Hill Rd.
12:16 p.m. Caller reporting solicitors in Shrewsbury St. area. Six arrests for peddling door-to-door violation: ---, Fayetteville, Tenn., ---, Sacramento, Calif., --- Worcester, ---, Cincinnati, Ohio, ---, Syracuse, N.Y., ---., Springfield Mo.
12:22 p.m. Rotman’s Furniture truck pulled down overhead wires, possible damage to two polies, Rolling Ridge/Lovell Rds.
5:15 p.m. Trespassing, WTAG towers, Shrewsbury St.
7:39 p.m. Caller advising solicitor selling study guides, has permit.
10:12 p.m. Bat in house, Willowbrook Dr., advised to contact pet removal service.
11:22 p.m. Male youth screaming obscenities in front yard, possible CHINS violation
11:44 p.m. Vehicle driving slowly blasting loud music, person running alongside, Woodland Rd.
11:48 p.m. Bunch of kids walking in middle of road, female keeps falling down, Bullard St.

Thursday, August 12

10:46 a.m. Several motor vehicles turning in driveway over last few days, Autumn Cir.
11:08 a.m. Suspicious white box truck with CT registration on Rt. 31 S. Plate comes back as stolen from E. Hartford, Conn. Princeton PD advised
12:11 p.m. Suspicious red station wagon in area for several hours, Putnam Ln.
1:12 p.m. Officer requested for peacekeeping measures, Putnam Ln.
1:39 p.m. Fight involving about 10 children and adults in town pool parking lot
4:04 p.m. Party in lobby to catch breath, exhausted from exercise
7:27 p.m. Woman reports her car died and will be in Commerce Bank parking lot until morning
8:25 p.m. Loud bang, glass break reported, Chapin Rd.
10:04 p.m. Car owner advised cannot leave vehicle overnight in Wachusett Veterinary parking lot
10:17 p.m. Suspicious vehicle, Light Dept. lot

Friday, August 13

12:07 a.m. Person with flashlight walking on Rt. 31
6:40 a.m. Party in lobby with wooden oar and fishing tackle bag found at Peter Carr Pond
10:50 a.m. Resident advising about wedding, Wachusett St. Concerned about noise; he notified neighbors
11:36 a.m. Landscaping truck blocking road, Nelson St.
12:04 p.m. Mother reporting 18-year-old girl missing.
12:36 p.m. Girl on her way home.
12:54 p.m. Suspicious maroon van, Manning St.
2:49 p.m. Yelling and screaming, Fruit St.
4:40 p.m. Caller advising water is rusty
6:38 p.m. Caller advising of cooking fire, Bullard St.
6:49 p.m. Open water gate on Boyden Rd., causing traffic concerns
7:16 p.m. Youths throwing glass bottles out of vehicle, Summer Ln.
9:36 p.m. Missing person, husband 90 min. late coming home, Reservoir St.
9:42 p.m. Husband located at yoga class, Jed’s Plaza

Saturday, August 14

1:42 a.m. Caller regarding trash left on Main St. She will return and pick up banana peel
3:44 a.m. Resident advising will be watching meteor shower behind Mountview School

9:16 a.m. Message left for driver of black Honda to pick up trash thrown near Leominster Credit Union

9:46 a.m. Male advising he will be canvassing in Wachusett St., Chapel St. area today
10:04 a.m. Report of two persons going door to door with religious materials, Kendall Rd.
11:52 a.m. Cooking fire, Fairchild Dr.
11:53 a.m. Summer party, Britney St., band will be playing 2-8 p.m.
12:19 p.m. Caller concerned about turtle near Unionville Pond
1:10 p.m. Someone tried to egg caller’s house and cars last night, unbroken egg on front lawn, Bullard St.
3:28 p.m. Arrest: ---, Springfield, Mo.; peddling door-to-door violation. Arrest: ---, Orlando, Fla.;
peddling door-to-door violation.
10:00 p.m. Caller reports neighbor’s dog is barking, Malden St.
10:40 p.m. Loud music near Alden Research Labs

Sunday, August 15

12:00 a.m. Fireworks near Flagler Dr.,Walnut St., Philips Rd., Ridgewood Rd.
12:07 a.m. Males in Rice School parking lot, possibly setting off fireworks
10:11 p.m. Teenagers in abandoned home, Salisbury St.

Paxton

Monday, August 9

12:55 a.m. Caller requesting police check out area, dog barking constantly, Davis Hill Rd.
12:24 p.m. Female reporting that male exited his vehicle and yelled at her, West St.
4:38 p.m. Kids riding bikes in woods and shortly after, smell of burning, Camp St.
5:30 p.m. Juveniles riding dirt bike up and down Camp St.
5:57 p.m. Gray tiger cat missing for a week, Berkshire Dr.

Tuesday, August 10

12:01 a.m. Loose dog, Maple St.

Wednesday, August 11

5:24 p.m. Group of juveniles hanging around wooded area, Pleasant/Camp Sts.

Thursday, August 12

1:02 p.m. Report of beef truck in area, Lincoln Cir.
8:07 p.m. Assist citizen, sit with child in car while mother goes into public safety building, Pleasant St.
11:44 p.m. Unattended vehicle left in parking lot of business, Pleasant St.

Friday, August 13

9:31 p.m. Request for police to check on suspicious van, West St.

Sunday, August 15

10:43 p.m. Stray dog in traffic, Holden Rd.

Princeton

Monday, August 9

12:35 p.m. Complaint about barking dog, Worcester Rd.
8:17 p.m. Caller almost hit by two vehicles while trying to change tire, requesting police assistance, Sterling Rd.

Tuesday, August 10

2:32 p.m. Lost World War II ammunition pouch, Houghton Rd.
4:27 p.m. Caller asking how to get bear out of her chicken coop, Brooks Station Rd.
8:31 a.m. Vehicle locked behind gate, Mountain Rd.

Wednesday, August 11

9:47 a.m. Caller wants to speak with chief about an ongoing situation, Town Hall Dr.
10:12 a.m. Bear returning to chicken coop, Brooks Station Rd. Referred to Mass. Fish & Wildlife

Thursday, August 12

2:19 p.m. 911 hang-up, child playing with phone, Thompson Rd.
6:18 p.m. Blue four-wheeler speeding on Calamint Hill Rd. S toward Rutland

Friday, August 13

1:15 a.m. Police find van wide open, secure and leave note for owner, Worcester Rd.
11:40 a.m. Ongoing barking dog complaint, Worcester Rd.
2:38 p.m. Suspicious vehicle, two males repeatedly passing kids walking, Gleason Rd.
7:23 p.m. Vehicle locked behind gate at state reservation, Mountain Rd.
9:53 p.m. Vehicle stop, Main St. Driver lost and confused; family member contacted
11:51 p.m. Police assist person trying to find wife, Main St.

Saturday, August 14

11:42 a.m. Person left guns at station for safe keeping, Town Hall Dr.
12:37 p.m. Police assist with bicycle ride through town center, Gregory Hill Rd.
4:09 p.m. Suspicious male in woods, Houghton Rd.
8:42 p.m. Police stand by with individual waiting for ride, Main St.

Sunday, August 15

9:04 a.m. Low voltage, Brooks Station Rd.
2:16 p.m. Assist staff at state reservation with person on bicycle giving them hard time at mountain summit
4:45 p.m. Report of two males with guns, Rte. 140 N/Fitchburg Rd.
6:48 p.m. Black dog walking toward center of town, Worcester Rd.

Rutland

Monday, August 9

8:20 a.m. Injured hawk beside road, Rte. 122
6:26 p.m. Lost black Labrador, later found, Glenwood Rd.

Tuesday, August 10

12:40 p.m. Missing cat, long haired black and white, E. County Rd.
4:08 p.m. Citizen complaint about ATV, Glenwood Rd.
9:21 p.m. Person loading items from building lot onto truck, Morris Ln.
10:06 p.m. Unattended vehicle in parking lot, Main St.

Wednesday, August 11

12:08 a.m. Suspicious vehicle in Bigelow Rd. area
6:15 a.m. Missing Australian shepherd spotted but police unable to get close to it, Maple Ave.
9:54 a.m. Abandoned call, person having trouble with phone system, Village Way
9:51 p.m. Police speak with individuals and remove them from Barre Paxton Rd.
11:52 p.m. Two people in woods with flashlight near boat ramp, Barre Paxton Rd.

Thursday, August 12

6:04 a.m. Skunk in trap set for Australian shepherd dog, Maple Ave.
6:31 a.m. Owner arrived and able to get dog, Maple Ave.
5:22 p.m. Person at station to report verbal altercation in parking lot, Main St.

Friday, August 13

11:55 a.m. Request that police deliver message, Main St.
2:09 p.m. Bear peeking from woods, looking at person working on vehicle in driveway, E. County Rd.
5:34 p.m. Police assist with vehicle lockout, Glenwood Rd.
8:59 p.m. Suspicious male going door-to-door selling, Jamie Ann Dr.

Saturday, August 14

1:48 p.m. Cow crossing road, owner contacted, cow captured, Glenwood Rd.
2:50 p.m. Officer requested for female throwing things at family members, Valley View Cir.
4:02 p.m. Police asked to respond to area for possible soliciting scam, Prouty Ln.

Sunday, August 15

3:05 p.m. Rocks piled up across rail trail
5:31 p.m. Suspicious vehicle, Glenwood Rd.

Sterling

Monday, August 9

6:21 a.m. Small toffee-colored dog running in roadway, Chocksett/Pratts Jct. Rds. Several cars stopped. Dog taken to animal rescue.
10:01 a.m. Report of child locked in house, Legate Hill Rd. Miscommunication, child OK
6:20 p.m. Ongoing issue with dog that charged person and showed its teeth, Griffin Rd.

Tuesday, August 10

2:00 p.m. Report of ammunition case lost, contained several items, Clinton Rd.
2:09 p.m. Person wants to speak with detective regarding collection agency trying to collect money for credit card company, Bird St.
7:50 p.m. Black Labrador in yard for long time, Osgood Rd.
8:34 p.m. Van backed too close to edge of Metropolitan Rd., went off road

Wednesday, August 11

7:34 p.m. Someone dropped off cat in carrier with litter box, Riverview Rd.

Thursday, August 12

9:59 a.m. Long-haired black and white cat missing since Sunday. Needs insulin, Upper N. Row Rd.
12:00 p.m. Vehicle with two males going up and down road, selling vacuums, Kendall Hill Rd.
2:24 p.m. Suspicious parked vehicle with male occupant, Justice Hill Rd.
2:29 p.m. Report of “drunken” raccoon stumbling in road, Princeton Rd. No contact

Friday, August 13

1:04 p.m. Report of rabid raccoon in back yard, John Dee Rd.
7:51 p.m. Caller reporting motorcycles revving engines and speeding out of gas station, Redemption Rock Trl.
10:12 p.m. Complaint about noise from outside band, Leominster Rd.

Saturday, August 14

10:48 a.m. Loud band asked to turn music down, Waushacum Ave.
4:17 p.m. Band playing loud music behind fire station, Waushacum Ave.
6:04 p.m. Person yelling continuously, James Rd.

Sunday, August 15

8:29 a.m. Great Dane running around, Maple St.
5:12 p.m. Missing chocolate Labrador, Mortimer Rd.

More on Great Paywall of Worcester

Well, it's day two of the new model. The comments are pretty fierce and overwhelmingly angry.
We learned in the note from the Telegram's publishers that "We have great faith in our professionally trained journalists who set out each day to bring you the latest news and information touching your lives." (See Telegram & Gazette to charge for online local news for more.)
So, with the first time that the Telegram's premier columnist is available in the new model, you can well imagine what goodness is awaiting us.

Without Jeff on guard, we have to find these things by ourselves.

More on Great Laws

It seems that there is some research going on to confirm the Hakkarainen Law of Great Events. As previously noted, this law says that, in any great event in your life, someone important to you will let you down or be absent.
Yesterday, the New York Times published an essay, Coping With Crises Close to Someone Else’s Heart by Harriet Brow, about this phenomenon. While dealing with illnesses of her daughters and the dying and death of her mother, Brown wrote,

For the most part, we were blessed with support and love; friends ran errands for us, delivered meals, sat in hospital waiting rooms, walked, talked and cried with us.
But a couple of friends disappeared entirely. During the year we spent in eating-disorder hell, they called once or twice but otherwise behaved as though we had been transported to Mongolia with no telephones or e-mail.

"Other people’s reactions are multifaceted,” writes one psychologist . “There’s no formula, and it’ll change from person to person." It may be that the vanishing friends were paralyzed first by their feelings of helpless and then by the guilt of being paralyzed in the first place.
There's a summary of the article as well as some insightful comments at the Well blog - When Friends Disappear During a Health Crisis.

More on politics

One of the toughest things about reading political analysis these days is trying to filter the snarky, sarcastic, or ironic commentary from the straight-forward loony. I suspect that I know the answer to this one, but I'll ask for your help.

...when it comes to doing what is right versus doing what is expedient, you do what is expedient so that you can get reelected and do what is right in the second term.
via Obama, the one-term president - Roger Simon - POLITICO.com

Simon's point is that President Obama is on track to be a one-term president unless he decides to quit first. 

A candidate says, as Bobby Kennedy did, “Some men look at things the way they are and ask why? I dream of things that are not and ask why not?”
A president says: “What do the polls say?”

Citing Eisenhower's decision to send troops to Little Rock or Lincoln to talk about slavery, both actions being off-message to the public sentiment, Simon continues

... But what’s so wrong about being off message if you are right about the issue?
This: An unidentified chief of staff to a “politically vulnerable House Democrat” told James Hohmann and Maggie Haberman of POLITICO that Obama’s statement “probably alienates a lot of independent voters” and “there are a lot of [Democrats] who are spooked in tough districts today” and “a lot of Republicans licking their chops right now.”
And what’s the point of doing the right thing if your party is going to lose seats because of it?

I believe that Simon is being ironic. His words and tone are so close to the sentiments of so many other analysts that I don't think that an intelligent person could write this way in seriousness without throwing up just a little bit.

More on health care, Canadian edition

Why, oh, why won't they think of the children? I mean, "Well what doctor has been schooled about the rate of microwave infections?" (CBC News - Toronto - Ont. parents suspect Wi-Fi making kids sick.)
It seems that one Canadian university has already suspended its use of wireless Internet connections because of alleged health risks.

The purpose of this policy is to limit wireless connectivity based on the “precautionary principle” as there are numerous scientific studies that demonstrate a basis for concern that continuous or frequent long-term exposure to the non-ionizing radiation of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) could have adverse health effects.
via WiFi and Cellular Antennae Policy | Lakehead University

Now, parents at various Ontario schools want the schools to remove the wireless hookups and replaced them with wired connections. "These kids are getting sick at school but not at home," said one parent.
Let's see. Kid at home says, "I don't want to go to school. It's, um, making me sick. It must be a microwave infection." Hmm.
In the meantime, be sure to add aluminum or aluminium foil, to your back-to-school shopping list.

photo via On the Effectiveness of Aluminium Foil Helmets: An Empirical Study

More on healthcare

At last check, Senator David Vitter (R-LA) is not a doctor. He is a smart guy, a Rhodes Scholar and such. Nevertheless, he says that the FDA's decision not to approve Avastin as a treatment for late-stage breast cancer is the beginning of death panels.

"I fear this is the beginning of a slippery slope leading to more and more rationing under the government takeover of health care that is being forced on the American people."
via US breast cancer drug decision 'marks start of death panels' - Telegraph

Never mind that a study of Avastin was suspended last year because patients in the trial were developing congestive heart failure at a rate too high to be acceptable. (Roche Says Avastin Cancer Study Enrollment Suspended (Update2) - Bloomberg.). The drug's manufacturer, though, did say that the occurrence of congestive heart failure is "consistent with what we’ve seen in previously reported rates for Avastin and the drug’s U.S. prescribing information."
Also, in a bit of subtlety regarding the drug's benefit, we learn that while the amount of time that breast cancer does not worsen is increased with the addition of Avastin to the chemotherapy regimen (Roche's Avastin helps slow breast cancer in study | Reuters.),  the overall time until the patient dies is not improved.

The original study that supported Avastin's approval showed adding the drug to paclitaxel added 5½ months to median progression-free survival. The new studies show a smaller impact on progression-free survival of less than a month to 2.9 months depending on the treatment group. The studies showed more side effects among women being treated with Avastin. None of the studies showed a survival benefit in favor of Avastin. The panel unanimously said the follow-up studies didn't confirm the clinical benefit seen in the original study.
via FDA Panel Says Avastin's Breast Cancer Indication Should Be Removed - WSJ.com

So, the FDA is removing its recommendation that Avastin no longer be used off-label because a) it doesn't improve patient survival rates even if it does slow the progression of the disease and b) the side effects put the patient at much greater risk than the disease it purports to treat.
All this because President Obama wasn't born in America.

This new model is not starting well

This morning, the Telegram and Gazette begins its new model for access to local content on the telegram.com site.
The new model is articulated on this page:

via New telegram.com model begins today (Screen capture at 6:20AM on 8/16/2010.

Yesterday's home-delivered paper included a letter from Anthony J. Simollardes, Director of Readership & Circulation at the Telegram, also announcing the change. (Here's the letter.) In brief, because we still subscribe to the printed version of the paper, we'll continue to have full access to the content on telegram.com.
Well, um, thanks.
After I call the toll-free number to verify my print subscription, I'll be back with some more on this topic. In the meantime, I'm going to go out in the rain to pick up our newspaper which the new carrier has left at the end of the driveway, instead of on the porch. That's another call I'll have to make.
---
6:47 AM update: after a 20-second wait at the toll-free number, a very pleasant customer service rep provided me with the information I needed (my account number) and I have been confirmed as an online subscriber.

Why Holden needs three national pharmacy chains

Another in the occasional series about Holden's need for three national pharmacy chains.
---
It's not easy to figure out which is the better value for a pre-paid Visa card.
Walgreens charges a flat $3.99.

Rite-Aid charges more, but gives you a credit for that amount if you use the card in their store.

Whichever one you choose, you can use your card at CVS, particularly if you want the hair of your black girl to look more like a white girl's:

For more information, see Soft & Beautiful - Just For Me! - No-Lye Relaxer for Children

On this solemn day

Most people in this country have been born in the years since Elvis died¹. He has become, even among fans, a caricature of a performer - too-tight white suit, snarling lips, sideburns, 'n such. He continues to make money long after his passing - Jar of Elvis Presley's Hair Auctioned.
If you listened to his early stuff, you'd learn that his musical instincts were sharp and profound. He absorbed country, blues, gospel, rhythm and blues, rockabilly, and so much more, shaping and shaped by American popular music.  He knew his stuff. He was, in that regard, matched only by his contemporary, Johnny Cash. And while Cash found a lifeline in the Carter family, Elvis drowned, came back up, and then drowned again.
I knew one Elvis impersonator, not well, but enough to follow his career. He got sober quite a few years ago, at which point his career really got going. He works regularly in Vegas and around here.
Another Elvis impersonator, named Elvis Presley, is running for governor in Arkansas. "People will find out I'm for real," he's said. (via Elvis Presley Running for Governor of Arkansas - Lowering the Bar).
My favorite Elvis tune? I like the stuff from the Million Dollar Quartet recordings, a loose session with Elvis, Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis. The tape machine was running in 1956 when these guys ran through a bunch of material from Southern gospel to Chuck Berry to Little Richard. Here's one, Farther Along.

Crime in suburbia

From The Landmark (subscription required):

[Editor's note: There were 14 suspicious items this week.]

Holden

Monday, August 2

10:19 a.m. Disturbance between youth and parent, Davis Hill School
11:52 a.m. Person in lobby asking about bike found at town pool
12:39 p.m. Suspicious male, Cedar Rd.
2:40 p.m. Black bear, Princeton St.
3:29 p.m. Suspicious male with backpack, Main St.
3:49 p.m. Caller reports speeding blue Pontiac grazed her dog and almost hit children, Princeton St.
4:11 p.m. Walk-in reports car cut her off near Hess Station, gave her the finger and used vulgar language
4:33 p.m. Bear ripping up trash in yard, Elmwood Ave.
6:09 p.m. Large black bear in yard, Elmwood Ave.
9:46 p.m. Wheel fell off car, Main St./Kendall Rd.

Tuesday, August 3

1:03 a.m. Door ajar, Malden St.
8:50 a.m. Bear, Dominitas Dr.
12:27 p.m. Several drawings of male genitalia spray painted on Salisbury St at Seasons neighborhood
12:40 p.m. Possum injured, Wood St.
2:50 p.m. Man walked into house for no reason, told resident his name and left, Rice School condos
3:43 p.m. Person at station for firearms paperwork
5:45 p.m. Suspicious older man walking on Malden St.
8:44 p.m Barking dog, Shrewsbury St./Birchwood Dr.

Wednesday, August 4

10:04 a.m. Bear on Wood St.
1:10 p.m. Caller reports two kids came to her door, looking for work. She did not know them from the neighborhood, Lovell St.
4:39 p.m. Black bear, Elmwood Ave.
4:56 p.m. Husky dog loose, Brennan Way. Neighbors afraid dog bit a child a while ago.
7:22 p.m. Neighbors in dispute about previous complaint. Dog under quarantine
9:29 p.m. Youths lighting fireworks, Malden St.
10:08 p.m. Tall male walked up back steps of house, peered in screen door and took off, Doyle Rd.

Thursday, August 5

12:07 a.m. Suspicious vehicle, Salisbury St./Mark Cir.
5:18 a.m. Three youths on golf cart, Holden Hills
9:06 a.m. Bear sitting in driveway, Nottingham Dr. Advised the bear will leave, and take in all bird feeders
11:49 a.m. Passer-by reports playpen with two small children in it, Reservoir St. Officer checked, children are being watched by older children.
5:48 p.m. Dispersed group of youths at senior center
7:07p.m. Neighbor complaining about loud music next door, Sawyer Ln.

Friday, August 6

2:01 a.m. Suspicious vehicle parked on side of Jennifer Dr.
8:10 a.m. Large black bear on rear deck, Wachusett St.
8:53 a.m. Black bear in yard, Wood St.
9:08 a.m. Light Dept. reports finding large trash bag full of clothes, personal items and note
12:31 p.m. Four teen males setting small fires at playground, Salisbury St.
10:30 p.m. Call reporting possible shots in area, Flagler Dr.
10:52 p.m. Report of fireworks from Mountview School, possibly from roof.

Saturday, August 8

1:03 a.m. Male in dark clothing traveling southbound on bicycle, Main St. Was rude and uncooperative with officer
8:46 p.m. Two males fighting in parking lot of Holden pool, left in separate vehicles
6:52 p.m. Male riding motorbike, Shrewsbury St./Doyle Rd.
9:13 p.m. Drag racing southern end of Main St.

Sunday, August 9

3:49 a.m. Car in lot at library. Owner is returning books.
7:31 p.m. Car v. tree, Manning St.
10:09 p.m. Loud motorcycle racing, Mason Rd.

Paxton

Monday, August 2

10:32 a.m. Two motorcyclists spray-painting roadway, Grove St. Was done for ride over weekend
1:40 p.m. Loose dog in yard, Tanglewood Rd.
2:58 p.m. Two suspicious males in area of Illigs Pond, West St.
3:23 p.m. Person wants to speak with officer about speeding trucks on Grove St. going to fields
3:26 p.m. Request that drivers of trucks going to Grove St. field be spoken to about speeding
6:24 p.m. Suspicious vehicle, Asnubumskit Rd.

Tuesday, August 3

2:05 p.m. Motorist advising of leaf blower on side of road, Suomi near Marshall St.
4:09 p.m. Report that someone was inside home on Camp St. that shouldn’t be there. No one found

Wednesday, August 4

1:23 p.m. Female lying on side of Richards Ave./Church St. No one found

Thursday, August 5

7:11 p.m. Person at station to be fingerprinted, Pleasant St.
11:15 p.m. Police check on vehicle in parking lot, Pleasant St.

Friday, August 6

12:09 a.m. Male walking in area of garage, Pleasant St.
10:15 a.m. Geese in yard for few days, won’t leave, Grove St.
4:30 p.m. Resident at station requesting to be fingerprinted, Pleasant St.
5:54 p.m. Police get goat out of roadway, Grove St.

Saturday, August 7

2:17 a.m. Suspicious vehicle in parking lot, Pleasant St.
5:56 a.m. Spencer PD reports that someone stretched Glad wrap, head high, across Thompson Pond in Spencer at town line
2:58 p.m. Loose dog, neighbor later came and got dog, Indian Hill Rd.
11:36 p.m. Complaint of loud party, Grove St.

Sunday, August 8

1:44 p.m. People in lobby to speak with officer about ongoing issue, Pleasant St.
7:03 p.m. Suspicious vehicle, Pleasant St.

Rutland

Monday, August 2

7:40 p.m. Caller wants to speak with animal control officer about problem dog, Bushy Ln.
8:04 p.m. Multiple calls from residents about black bear in neighborhood, Clealand Cir.
9:53 p.m. Fox hit and is injured in middle of Main St./Pleasantdale Rd.

Tuesday, August 3

4:30 a.m. Disabled vehicle found to be in Paxton, Maple Ave.
6:55 a.m. Porcupine in road, Maple Ave./Emerald Rd.
7:15 a.m. Person wants to talk with officer about family member, Main St.
10:19 a.m. Complaint about noise, Edson Ave.
11:08 a.m. Missing girl’s bicycle, purple road runner
11:21 a.m. Keys locked in car, Bigelow Rd.
2:55 p.m. Loose black Labrador dog near school, Glenwood Rd.
4:36 p.m. Person riding four-wheeler up and down Jamie Ann Dr.
6:18 p.m. Unattended vehicle parked at common
6:41 p.m. Black Labrador found near Rail Trail, Indiana tags; family just moved here, Glenwood Rd.
8:24 p.m. Stray gray tiger cat, Wachusett St.

Wednesday, August 4

12:26 a.m. Male sleeping in vehicle, Barre Paxton Rd.
6:46 a.m. Suspicious vehicle parked in area, Bushy Ln.
12:43 p.m. Suspicious male in white van, Clealand Cir.
3:12 p.m. Barking dogs complaint, Newman Dr. Dogs barking very early in morning
7:55 p.m. Stray yellow Labrador in yard, Main St.
10:33 p.m. Two safes missing from residence, Nancy Dr.

Thursday, August 5

1:16 a.m. Barking dogs, Clearview Rd.
2:04 a.m. Dog running in neighborhood barking, Valley View Cir.
9:49 a.m. Missing rescue dog, Bethany Dr.
11:42 a.m. Worcester PD requests officer to execute warrant for threats to murder, Pommogussett Rd. Person doesn’t live there

Friday, August 6

2:45 p.m. Yard equipment fell off truck, Main St.
6:02 p.m. Black Angus cow, due to calf, missing for two days, Glenwood Rd.

Saturday, August 7

11:13 a.m. Person at station to pick up equipment that fell off truck, Main St.
12:25 p.m. Individuals riding dirt bikes in road, very noisy, Glenwood Rd.
8:46 p.m. Caller driving on Main St. says person in car threw several pounds of coffee onto her vehicle, almost causing her to crash

Sunday, August 8

8:50 a.m. Small dog missing, Pommogussett Rd.
2:38 p.m. Person almost hit dog, Emerald Rd.
9:40 p.m. Gunshots heard, Glenwood Rd.

Princeton

Monday, August 2

3:17 a.m. Caller reports seeing car door open, Calamint Hill Rd. N; Police close back hatch
9:28 a.m. Vehicle hit pothole and has flat tire, Main St.
12:22 p.m. Dog found wandering in Sterling Rd.
1:53 p.m. Person reports being yelled at by male and female in front of restaurant, Rte. 140 N
5:45 p.m. Open window at home, Beaman Rd. Police close window
5:50 p.m. Request for police to assist with male mountain biking on road to summit of mountain

Tuesday, August 3

8:17 a.m. Graffiti on concrete stairs, Boylston Ave.

Wednesday, August 4

4:24 p.m. Male riding a go-cart in Stagecoach Rd.

Thursday, August 5

10:15 p.m. Request for police to unlock gate so vehicle can get out, Mountain Rd.
11:20 p.m. Male knocked on door asking for flashlight, police officer requested, Mountain
Rd.

Friday, August 6

11:11 a.m. Child locked in vehicle, Coal Kiln Rd.
5:36 p.m. Large tree down blocking Beaman Rd.
6:58 p.m. Assist animal control officer with dog license issue, Calamint Hill Rd. N

Saturday, August 7

3:04 p.m. Black bear in yard, Sterling Rd.
3:52 p.m. Police assist with traffic for wedding, Mountain Rd.

Sunday, August 8

11:05 a.m. Police assist with traffic for charity motorcycle ride, center of town
7:59 p.m. Assist animal control officer with dog license issues, Beaman Rd., Laurel Ln.
10:35 p.m. Police transport person from Main St. to Brooks Station Rd.

Sterling

Monday, August 2

3:40 p.m. Officer wanted. One child bit another, Redstone Hill Rd.

Tuesday, August 3

4:15 a.m. Assist W. Boylston PD looking for male walking to Worcester
5:15 a.m. Unoccupied vehicle, flares put out, Redemption Rock Trl.
10:17 a.m. Missing yellow Labrador, Boutelle Rd. Dog returned home
4:13 p.m. Parking complaint, N. Row Rd.
8:13 p.m. Request for officer for dog biting floating buoys and sinking them, Hall Ave.

Wednesday, August 4

5:35 p.m. Suspicious vehicle in area known for illegal dumping, Newell Hill Rd.
7:49 p.m. Complaint about barking dog, Griffin Rd.

Thursday, August 5

1:40 a.m. Person requesting assistance with bat flying around house,Princeton Rd.
7:41 a.m. Cat struck and injured, brown tabby, Clinton Rd./Thomas Ln.
10:06 a.m. Stray orange cat, Sherwood Dr.
4:53 p.m.Siamese cat found in yard, Flanagan Hill Rd.
6:05 p.m. Large snapping turtle in middle of Flanagan Hill Rd.
8:12 p.m. Male beagle walking on Worcester Rd.

Friday, August 6

5:30 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Upper N. Row Rd.
6:16 p.m. Pitbull mix dog in yard, Princeton Rd. Owner will pick up
9:29 p.m. Loose horse on Upper N. Row Rd.
10:09 p.m. Two horses jumped fence, Upper N. Row Rd.

Saturday, August 7

12:15 p.m. Cars with no stickers, Hall Ave.

Sunday, August 8

6:38 a.m. Car egged and tires flattened, Jill Ln.
10:52 a.m. Assist with bike rally, Rte. 62, Princeton
12:02 p.m. Large, black bear in pond in back yard, Holden Rd. Environmental Police notified
3:14 p.m. Caller found dog on side of road in Lunenburg. Animal control officer picked up dog
8:59 p.m. Four cars at home where people are away, Avery Ln
10:32 p.m. Suspicious black car parked on N. Cove Rd.

Safari imepasua

The old joke is that, if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans for the future. 
A few years ago, I attended a high school reunion. One of my classmates asked what I'd done for work.
"High tech," I replied.
"I could have predicted that," she said.
I stopped for a moment. "I didn't," I finally mumbled.
At no time up until the time that I started working with computers, now north of 30 years ago, would I have predicted that I would have worked with computers, let alone enjoy the work. I'd had lots of very good ideas about what my life's work should be. I think that I'm glad that I got it wrong because what eventually happened was pretty good indeed.
In the New York Times Magazine piece last year, Without a Prayer, Maggie Robbins offered the Swahili phrase safari imepasua: "the journey, it has blown apart." Readers of this journal, now at its 2000^th post, have seen lots of examples of very good plans that have been overcome by events. Our family has seen this happen several times in just the past few weeks. A sudden death, an unexpected turn of an illness, and all that.
Each of these twists makes us smarter, I guess. Not smarter in the way that will help us predict what we should do next. We'll make our predictions and then see what events (God?) will have to say about it.
No, the smarts that we get seem to be more about acceptance, seeing what's in front of us rather than letting what we wish for overpower our sight.
Next week, we have some meetings that will set in motion some plans for the fall. The meetings relate to care for others in our family, young and old, and care for ourselves, about work and school and home and a bunch of other stuff.
We could pray, if we had a mind to pray, that our plans will be fulfilled in the way that we expect. We'd be praying, in that sense, as a child brings a list to Santa Claus. Instead, we might do better to pray as Maggie Robbins found out. Nifundishe, she said, Swahili for "teach me."

Friday the 13th falls on a Friday this month

If any day deserves hypervigilance, it is this Darkest Friday

via Whirled of Kelly: Here We Is In Darkest Friday

Happy Birthday, Marian

Happy Birthday, Joe

Parent of the year nominations are now open

via Worcester Telegram -- Police say drunk driver handed child pot pipe

More on health care

Someone close to us went to the hospital the other night because a chronic condition had turned into a crisis. They waited for hours in an ER because, otherwise, they'd have to wait weeks for an appointment that might have treated the problem in 15 minutes. This was a chronic issue that, if left unchecked, could become life-threating. Conversely, if treated well in a timely fashion, it could be just another medical issue in a collection of medical issues with which this person and her family lives.
This isn't  a case of impatient patients wanting to jump the queue by elevating a concern to a crisis. This, according to the guidance given by many of  support resources, is the plan. Well-connected people going through their ordinary channels could get this person to see the right medical professional in anywhere from three to eight weeks. So, for the same condition and likely the same longer-term treatment plan, the best option is one that costs probably two orders of magnitude more.
Recent studies have confirmed that many of the savings in emergency room expenses that we expected from universal coverage didn't occur. (See the Boston Globe article, Emergency room visits grow in Mass.) We got it wrong in our assumptions. We assumed that ER expenses were being driven up by uninsured people using emergency services to get free care.
Not so much. Rather, as in this case, people with health insurance come to the ER because they couldn't see their regular doctors in time. (The Globe article suggests that this is due primarily to lack of access to primary care physicians. That may be true generally, but we shouldn't overlook the issue of timely access to specialists.)
The simple and wrong solution would be to make emergency room access more difficult to obtain. Insurance companies can and will and perhaps even do make it more difficult for their customers to use their insurance at the ER without some kind of pre-authorization.
A more complete solution is more complex, primarily because lots of people are making a good living off of the current systems. To make a change involves diverting some portion of our resources from crisis management toward timely and preventative solutions. (Cue the story of the River Babies.) A few preventative services are already in the pipeline for Medicare in 2011.With a few more good ideas, we might just make it.

A walk about nothing

The crows have much to say about the early morning as they get ready for another day of scavenging. There was a kingfisher flying low over the pond, talking as it flew. Other than that, it's pretty quiet.
Marley's pretty slow, even on the downhill parts of the walk. At first, he's slow because there's a lot to sniff. Later, though, he's just slow. It takes us a half hour for the mile around the block. One joggler passed us twice, smiling each time.
Not much litter. A few name-brand cigarette packs, scratch tickets, Dunkin' coffee cups, nothing much.
There will be plenty of time for noise and urgency and drama. Today we'll learn one part of what's ahead for Sandra's mother, whether one of the elder day programs will be available for us. I may get a call from the support person who will give me instructions about how to query a video server so I can get the classids needed to complete a project that should and could have been completed more than a month ago. I might learn more about the paralegal practicum that I'm planning for this fall.
Or not.
It's been that kind of time, waiting for information or for others to complete their work so we can complete ours. It's a time of vigilant patience, clutch in, engine revved.
And so, a long walk with a slow dog is the best way to start a day. You can't hurry what won't be hurried.

Necessity is the mother of cartoons

From Neatorama, we learn about A Train That Lays Tracks when there's time to plan a project.
In Wallace & Gromit's The Wrong Trousers, we see how it's done in times of peril.

Time for serious intervention

Some friends have been awaiting the birth of their second grandchild. The second grandchild seems not to be in a hurry. Another member of our extended family is expecting her third. There will be a small baby shower (a "sprinkle") this coming weekend.
For these and other modern expectant mothers who are growing in their impatience, there's a patented device that might provide some help:

APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE BIRTH ... - Google Patent Search

Modern women, it seems, aren't ready for childbirth.

In the case of a woman who has a fully developed muscular system and has had ample physical exertion all through the pregnancy, as is common with all more primitive peoples, nature provides all the necessary equipment and power to have a normal and quick delivery. This is not the case, however, with more civilized women who often do not have the opportunity to develop the muscles needed in confinement.
In accordance with the invention, there is provided rotatable apparatus capable of subjecting the mother and the fetus to a centrifugal force directed to assist and supplement the efforts of the mother so that such centrifugal force and her efforts act in concert to overcome the action of resisting forces and facilitate the delivery of the child.
from the the patent description.

via Apparatus for Facilitating the Birth of a Child by Centrifugal Force - Boing Boing

A night across town

Sandra's sister, Barbara, is staying the night with Marian. We, in turn, decamped and headed across town to stay with Tess and Miss Cassie, giving Mike and Lynn a night to themselves.
Cassie'd started planning our time since she first heard that we'd be staying over. We'd walk to Friendly's for supper and, the next morning, drive out to Rutland to the transplanted K/P's for breakfast. She loves it that they put whipped cream on pancakes, the pancakes being pretty much just the delivery vehicle for the whipped cream.
The evening weather couldn't have been better, fresh and clear after the recent steam. We walked up to and around the complex of buildings atop the hill. Sandra showed the the window to the room to where Mike had been born when the building had been Holden Hospital.
You see things differently when you're a kid, paths where adults see none. Rather than taking the long way around the road, we followed a path over the stone wall and down the lawn to Friendly's.
During supper, we told stories of our summer so far, of Tess's friend from Clara Barton Camp who lives in Brooklyn and who wrote a genuine USPS letter. They marveled that I used to work at the Friendly's in Gardner, cooking dinosaur burgers and pterodactyl eggs for the grunting masses.

Unless you're with a five-year-old, you'd rarely thinking of skipping along the sidewalk. But skip we did, for varying values of we. (Sandra and Cassie skipped while Tess and I followed at a respectful distance.)

We tested the acoustics of the gazebo with serious and light-hearted songs. (I am prohibited by statute from singing in public, but did manage a few lines of The Lumberjack Song for old time's sake.)

And then it was on to home. I watched the Red Sox and while the ladyfolk enjoyed Cinderella on the big screen.

At bedtime, Cassie and I looked for, but could not find, the Jasmine doll that she absolutely had to have before she could sleep in peace. Not the little figurine nor the other two Jasmines, but one in particular who'd gone missing. She said her prayers through her tears and then was quiet and then asleep. In a short while, we were as well.

Crime in suburbia

From The Landmark (subscription required):

[Editor's note: There were just 4 suspicious items this week.]

Holden

Monday, July 26

8:52 p.m. Suspicious person in black clothing behind residence, Manning St.
10:16 p.m. Several teens at restaurant causing disturbance, Main St.; told to leave
10:56 p.m. Port-a-potty tipped over, Larkspur Rd.

Tuesday, July 27

5:02 p.m. Child bitten in face by neighbor’s dog, Brennan Way

Wednesday, July 28

7:25 p.m. Two males taking things from home under construction, Mixter Rd.
8:37 p.m. Gun shots, South Rd.

Thursday, July 29

8:03 a.m. Drilling rig vandalized, Quinapoxet St.
3:34 p.m. Black bear in yard, Main St.
9:16 p.m. Loud construction equipment, Mixter Rd.
11:35 p.m. Caller wants to file complaint against PD for towing vehicle

Friday, July 30

9:38 a.m. Several calls regarding black bear, Wachusett St.
4:10 p.m. Bear at Trout Brook, Manning St.; everyone removed from area
10:01 p.m. Bat in house; advised to call pest control

Saturday, July 31

8:54 p.m. Trailer came unhooked, Chapel St.

Sunday, August 1

1:49 p.m. Black bear in yard, North St.; advised to keep kids/pets inside
4:36 p.m. Two males going door-to-door, Mark Bradford Dr.
10:39 p.m. Youths setting off fireworks, Mt. View Dr.

Paxton

Tuesday, July 27

4:53 p.m. Criminal complaint for unregistered, uninsured vehicle, operation of vehicle with revoked registration, West St.

Wednesday, July 28

7:50 a.m. Request for officer to escort individual to rental property, Ridgewood Rd.
10:04 a.m. Former tenants at caller’s home, requests officer, Ridgewood Rd.

Friday, July 30

9:50 a.m. Bird hung up on fishing line near pond, West St. Firefighter rescued bird
7:07 p.m. Leicester PD requests animal control officer regarding rabid raccoon

Saturday, July 31

1:44 p.m. Two horses loose in middle of Richards Ave.
8:27 p.m. Possible burning of construction materials, West St.
8:35 p.m. Speak to group of youths about trash around basketball courts, West St.
9:04 p.m. Family argument, officer requested, Streeter Rd.
9:40 p.m. Fireworks, West St.

Sunday, August 1

4:35 p.m. Keys in door of building with no one around, Pleasant St.

Princeton

Monday, July 26

7:26 a.m. Stone walls at Beaman/Hobbs Rds. being dismantled. Police tell them cease and desist
11:31 a.m. Report of lynx in back yard, Coal Kiln Rd.

Tuesday, July 27

2:07 p.m.Bottles thrown from window, Hubbardston Rd.

Wednesday, July 28

1:51 p.m. IPod found in cemetery, Connor Ln.
9:39 p.m. Gunshots, Hickory Dr.

Thursday, July 29

11:33 a.m. Annoying phone calls, Main St.
12:56 p.m. Keys lost, Worcester Rd.
7:13 p.m. Request for police to remove person from Wachusett Mtn.

Friday, July 30

12:06 a.m. Motor vehicle accident, Greene Rd., vehicle found, no occupants. K-9 unit requested from Westminster. Vehicle owner found
3:03 a.m. IPod found at accident scene, Mountain Rd.

Saturday, July 31

8:47 p.m. Gun shots, Old Colony Rd. area
9:12 p.m. Narcotics, three vehicles parked on Old Colony Rd.

Sunday, August 1

6:21 p.m. Dog found lying in mulch, Worcester Rd.
7:08 p.m. Two dirt bikes on Up Road to summit of mountain
8:38 p.m. Vehicle locked behind gate, Mountain Rd.

Rutland

Monday, July 26

12:37 p.m. Problem with local business

Tuesday, July 27

12:25 a.m. Suspicious vehicle, Barre Paxton Rd.
8:47 a.m. Black bear in yard, Clealand Cir.
12:23 p.m. Problem with neighbor
2:27 p.m. Suspicious red pick-up; assessors’ officer.
3:35 p.m. Black bear in driveway, Horizon Rd.
8:43 p.m. Dirtbike on Rail Trail, Pommogussett Rd.

Wednesday, July 28

8:24 a.m. Black bear, Clealand Cir., Environmental Police called
2:30 p.m. Numerous calls reporting black bear activity

Thursday, July 29

9:20 a.m. Orange and black bike in bushes, Main St.
1:27 p.m. Parent wants officer to speak with his 3-yr.-old boy about crawling out of car seat
1:43 p.m. Truck lost load of crushed stone, Barre Paxton Rd. DPW will handle for Mass Highway

Friday, July 30

1:20 p.m. Female wants to fight woman
8:21 p.m. Two retrievers in yard, Jonathan Cir.
9:50 p.m. Loud party, Dakota Trail

Saturday, July 31

6:24 a.m. Two cows in Pommogussett Rd.
9:41 a.m. Gunshots Barre Paxton Rd.

Sunday, August 1

9:28 a.m. Dog stuck in swamp, Jamie Ann Dr.
12:29 p.m. Trash falling out of red pick-up, Main St.
10:53 p.m. Loud noises, Bushy Ln.

Sterling

Tuesday, July 27

1:39 p.m. Vehicle driving slowly, taking photos, Belmont Dr.
11:12 p.m. Car with flashing lights, beeping horn, Beaman Rd.

Wednesday, July 28

1:03 p.m. Horns sounding Redemption Rock Trl.
8:25 p.m. Neighbor dispute over trash dumping and fencing, Chestnut Ave.

Thursday, July 29

8:03 p.m. Large group of loitering youths, Worcester Rd.

Friday, July 30

10:47 a.m. Owner trying to catch llama, Ford Rd.
3:54 p.m. Two gray foxes in her yard, Redemption Rock Trl.
8:50 p.m. Fireworks, Wilder Rd.
10:35 p.m. Person hit dog, Maple/Bird Sts.

Saturday, July 31

1:28 a.m. Pool party noise complaint, Heywood Rd.
9:30 a.m. Dog barking for several hours, Griffin Rd.
12:46 p.m. Suspicious men in vehicle trying to sell contractor tools, Rugg Rd.
1:50 p.m. Black bear seen, Legg Rd.
2:58 p.m. Skateboarders surrounded vehicle and yelled obscenities at driver, Maple/Bridge Sts.

Sunday, August 1

12:59 a.m. People arguing, Laurelwood Rd.
9:03 a.m. Disturbance, construction work, Williams St.

Taxi guy's spirit captcha'd

It's good to see Jeff back on the air. We've missed his voice.
This morning, he posted a brief note, Wormtown Taxi: The Tennis Court, about the now-infamous tennis court in Worcester. (See Telegram article, City has advantage in tennis court dispute, for details.)
When I went to Jeff's blog to post a comment, I was presented with this Captcha image. 

Re: the mosque in New York City

The arguments against the mosque a few blocks from the site of the 9/11 attack in New York  (background here) are two-fold:

• A procedural argument that the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission erred when it declared that the building on the proposed site is not of historical value and could therefore be torn down.
• Islamic terrorists attacked us. Here, for example, is a note from a press release from the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), founded by Pat Robertson. The ACLJ has filed suit to prevent the mosque from being built:
  Opponents of the Ground Zero mosque proposal argue that it is insensitive to build just two blocks from spot where the Twin Towers once stood a place of worship to the same religion that 9/11 terrorists cite as their motivation for the attacks.

Should we then not permit Roman Catholic churches near schools because a few priests are pedophiles?

Dept. of "I'm just sayin'" - sports edition

Is the world better off because we've given these guys this much money in the past year?

via 2010 Fortunate 50 - SI.com
And, as you scan the list, you have to wonder what players with real talent would be making. How much would you have to pay Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Jim Brown, Joe Namath, Bobby Orr, and the like? 

Headline writers, be careful

A study published in the August 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that a 35-minute treatment program, implemented in hospital's emergency departments, can result in a reduction of violent behavior and alcohol misuse. A good outcome, indeed.
The title of the article is Effects of a Brief Intervention for Reducing Violence and Alcohol Misuse Among Adolescents.
So far, so good.
Now, the commonly-used abbreviation for emergency department is ED, with the result that a headline writer at Medscape (free registration required to read article) used the following: ED Intervention May Reduce Aggression, Alcohol-Related Outcomes in Teens.

An earlier announcement on clinicaltrials.gov used this title: ED Intervention to Reduce Risky Behaviors in Drivers.
ED, of course, is also a commonly-used euphemistic abbreviation for another, um, condition. (No links are required here. All you have to do is sit down to watch a TV show with your parents or children in the room and wait for the awkward silence when the advertisements start.)
A lifetime spent sharing the roads with Massachusetts drivers leads me to suspect that some kind of ED intervention might indeed reduce aggressive and risk driving. 
Your mileage may vary.

Ask not and all that

As a card-carrying liberal, I'm obliged to believe that collective action (i.e., government) can bring much good to many people. As a guy trying to get a couple of things done (sign up for fall classes at a local community college, sign up for Medicare), I get close to the idea of term limits for administrative personnel.
First off, I do have to note that there are some truly spectacular performers who work for government agencies. My advisor at school is a class act - a knowledgeable teacher with a commitment to quality education, compassion, and good humor. Another person in another agency remembers critical details about my life, speaks to those circumstances with respect and concern, and does good things on my behalf.
The three people who staffed the windows at the college, however, worked very hard at the task of doing nothing useful and making it seem as though it was my fault. They talked among themselves when they could, looked down at stack of papers rather than up at the people waiting for help, asked arcane questions, and gave orthogonal answers.
(Although this piece, Colleges serve the people who work there more than the students who desperately need to learn something., focuses more on academic practices, the attitudes certainly trickle down to the front lines.)
The Gardner Social Security office is tucked into a corner of the former Heywood-Wakefield building complex. A police officer sits at a desk in the corner of the very small waiting room.The signs warning about the symptoms of H1N1 outnumber all of the other signs. You use a touch screen get a deli counter ticket.
When my number was called, I went up to the window, took a seat, and explained my mission and circumstances. The person behind the counter told me that the person who usually does this was out to lunch. She then said that if I wanted to have Medicare Part B start on October, I couldn't fill out the forms now. "This is way too early," she said.
"I need a red pen," she said, fumbling around the desk. (This wasn't her regular desk. and she didn't know where anything was.)
I handed her my red Pilot^® pen. "Is this red?" she asked. She used the red pen to write SEP in red on the top of the page. She used blue ink for the rest of the form.
, in She sternly warned me not to sign or date the piece of paper she filled out and then said that I had to deliver it to the Worcester office anyway.

I can accept that people in government (and in business and in life) make bad decisions that cost us money and waste our time. (Stimulus Slammed: Republican Senators Release Report Alleging Waste - ABC News). We're all gonna make mistakes, big ones for sure.
I have more trouble with bad attitudes. At least try to pretend that it's not all about you.

Dept. of "I'm just sayin'"

Is the world better off because we've given these guys this much money in the past decade?

via The Decade's 25 Top Earners - The Wall Street Journal Online - Interactive Graphics

Then, of course, Mr. Boffo explains it all.

More on non-canine dog food

The phrase "eating your own dog food" has been around for a long time. It refers to the practice in the software world of using the products that you develop to help ensure that they're ready for the real world. (More about dog food history here, Eating your own dog food in the 1960s .)
Aron Ain , the CEO of Kronos, Inc. was interviewed for an article in yesterday's Boston Globe business section. His company makes a wide range of highly-regarded workforce management software products, stuff that helps you manage various aspect of your HR and business operations.
A popular new product is called Kronos Retail Labor Index. Ain describes it this way:

The Retail Labor Index is meant to measure over time how many people are applying through our [job application] tool at thousands of locations . . . and how many of those they end up hiring. . . .

Sounds great.
In 2009, Kronos had to lay off 250 workers because of the downturn in the U.S. economy. Asked how many of those people were hired back, Ain replied, "I don’t know." He went on to say that people moved around, that there were jobs in different geographical areas, and so on.
If only there was a product that could keep track of who applied for what jobs in what locations....

Hurricane preparedness

New Englanders will go through an elaborate drill this evening to make sure that our emergency weather nerds are at the ready,

via http://ares.ema.arrl.org/local/2010_Hurricane_Hudson_Mass_Drill_Participants_Doc_Rev_1.pdf
The purpose of the simulation?

To exercise communication networks during the response phase of a severe storm scenario in the face of significant infrastructure damage to landline and cellular telephone, and loss of commercial power. EMA’s should strive to report damage assessments to state and federal authorities before and simultaneously with resource requests. EMA Managers are also encouraged to practice simulated recovery operations at their discretion as a training opportunity.

Meanwhile, the folks in Florida, where hurricanes hit often, know that the most important thing to do is to close the bars.

Of course, Floridians don't accept the idea that you should ride out the storm without booze:

"You're going to watch your kids there [at home] with no air-conditioning as your food's rotting, and you're really not going to drink?" [one bartender] asked. "There would be a revolt."