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Passion
This past March I changed jobs and although I knew work would be more challenging I did not expect it to become consuming. However, a project I’ve been working on which I’ve referenced in the past most recently in, work, work, work, has really consumed almost every waking moment for the past two months. I’m really proud of the job I’ve done, but I’m also very much looking forward to putting this project behind me and taking a well deserved vacation.
One week from this Saturday, I will leave on my annual trip to Brasil, and I can hardly wait. The distance and travel will help me relax and forget about work. I have always been someone who takes pride in my job and in my new role working in the healthcare sector that has never been more true. However, my greatest passions include spending time with friends and family, travelling and meeting new people, and spending time around a table enjoying food and conversation. You could say this is my holy trinity of happiness.
So with one week to go before November 20th when my firm hosts our nation-wide 12-city broadcast from Washington, D.C. and 9 days before I leave for my annual trip to Brazil I wanted to take a moment to write my thoughts, share them with the tens of readers who visit this blog 🙂 and count my blessings that I’m lucky enough to have a great job and the means to get away from it to relax and really enjoy what life is all about.
I can see Brazil is fast approaching and I’m excited by what I see.
9 days and counting…
Asphalt as art
One of the things that I really like about my neighborhood is that there is always something just a little bit curious happening. When I woke this morning I was surprised to see a dozen or so people across the street from my home huddled around several tables snapping pictures and engaging in some sort of silk screening process.
After watching pedestrians walk-up and talk to the industrious crew, I decided to walk over to see first hand what was happening. As it turns out this is a group of urban artists who are creating limited edition prints steamrolled onto tar paper to commemorate a forthcoming publication that “promotes the urgency for greater creativity in the design of asphalt spaces.”
At first blush this might sound a bit crazy, but as Paula Meijerink – Asst. Professor of Landscape Architecture at Harvard University (the woman in the lower right corner of the photos below) explained, this is an affordable, 100% recyclable material that is cheap and readily available. The publication these prints are being developed for is intended to “inspire change by exploring the properties of asphalt and asphalt spaces” and to spur new and creative uses for this material.
Kudos to Paula Meijerink, Boston-based illustrator and designer James Kraus of Art Guy Studios, and the small team of helpers who dedicated their Saturday to this project. If you would like to learn more check out their cool website at http://www.onasphalt.com.
Tagged Art and Film, BosGuy, Boston, Boston Guy, South End, SOWA
Seth Meyers: Short and Curly
To lighten the mood on election day,I thought I would share this video which I initially saw on OMG! It is an SNL video that made me laugh and I hope will for you too. Way to go Seth Meyers.
http://player.ordienetworks.com/flash/fodplayer.swf
See more funny videos at Funny or Die
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Pop Culture
An open letter to red states
Here is a humorous open letter to red states that is circulating the internet…
Dear Red States:
If you manage to steal this election too we’ve decided we’re leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we’re taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren’t aware, that includes CA, HA, OR, WA, MN, WI, MI, IL and all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California.
To sum up briefly:
You get TX , OK and all the slave states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches.
We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood.
We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom.
We get Harvard. You get Ole’ Miss.
We get 85% of America ‘s venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get AL.
We get two-thirds of the tax revenue. You get to make the red states pay their fair share (finally).
Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22% lower than the Christian Coalition’s, we get a bunch of happy families and you get a bunch of single moms.
Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we’re going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they’re apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they don’t care if you don’t show pictures of their children’s caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq,but we’re not willing to spend our resources in Bush’s Quagmire.
With the Blue States, we will have firm control of 80% of the country’s fresh water, more than 90% of the pineapple and lettuce, 92% of the nation’s fresh fruit, 95% of America’s quality wines, 90% of all cheese, 90% of the high tech industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.
With the Red States, you will have to cope with 88% of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92% of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100% of the tornadoes, 90% of the hurricanes, 99% of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100% of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and UGA.
Additionally, 44% of those in the Red states believe that evolution is only a theory, 53% believe that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61% of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals then we lefties.
Peace out,
Blue States
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Politics
Happy Halloween
Here are a few photos from halloween past in Boston. The last few years have been quite mild, and I’m hoping the same will be true tonight for all the kids in the neighborhood looking to show off their costumes. However, this morning had a chilly start so maybe costumes with lots of padding and layers will be popular this year.
Props to the website PunditKitchen.com where this picture was posted.
ARTcetera 2008
AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts (AAC) is a leading AIDS Service Organization (ASO) in the country. Founded by the amazing Larry Kessler in 1983 as one of the nation’s first ASO’s, AAC provides so many services to such a diverse community it is hard for to me imagine what life would be like without this amazing agency. You can read more about AAC and their important work here.
On Saturday, November 1st this great organization will host their biannual event, ARTcetera. In addition to quite possibly being both the most unique and most fun fundraiser this city offers, ARTcetera is significant because it raises approximately $500,000 in discretionary funding for the agency. This money is used by the agency to support programs too cutting edge or risky for Federal or State Government funding.
Started back in 1985 as a response from the Boston Arts Community to the AIDS epidemic this fundraiser has grown in numbers and has become the largest modern art auction in New England. If you have the inclination and would like to have a guaranteed great night out this Saturday, November 1st, consider attending this year’s ARTcetera. Tickets remain available and can be purchased online. Link here to buy your tickets today.
Posted in Philanthropy
Tagged AIDS Action Committee, Art and Film, BosGuy, Boston, Boston Guy
I’ve booked a quick trip to Puerto Rico – my first visit to the island – in late January / early February to escape from the cold that will undoubtably be gripping Boston. I’m looking forward to the quick trip, but now have to find a place to stay. The nonstop airfare on JetBlue was too good to let pass so I booked the tickets this weekend. Now I’ve posted a question on TripAdvisor.com to identify potential places to stay. If anyone happens to have a suggestion, please feel free to share your opinion in the comment section.
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Travel
Yes we can – I hope
I remember when the Republican Revolution led by Newt Gingrich (R) overtook the House of Representatives in 1994 ending the Democrats 40 year majority in the lower house. That night the Republicans picked up more than 50 seats in the House and nearly 10 seats in the Senate. As a Democrat (and a liberal one at that) the night was quite depressing.
Fast forward 14 years to present day and the discontent that was so clearly levelled against the Democrats in 1994 seems to be this time aimed at Republicans. Most Americans blame the economic problems we face, the quagmire that is referred to as the ‘war in Iraq’ and the diminishing prestige of the United States in the world squarely on the shoulders of President Bush and the Republicans who controlled both houses of Congress for nearly 8 years.
The wave of frustration is sure to provide the Democrats with some remarkable wins on November 4th. The real question remains how much of that frustration will turn into voting out Republican incumbants? Names like Sununu, Dole and Coleman all seem vulnerable and states like NC, FL and GA all have competitive races that might result in Republican incumbents losing what even two months ago were presumed to be ‘safe’ seats. Check out the RealClearPolitics Election ’08 to track the latest Congressional, Governor and Presidential polls.
The potential for a landslide in Presidential, Congressional and Gubenatorial races next week is a mixed blessing. Democrats will inherit a huge budget deficit, bailout promises that must be followed, a country poorer and more disenfranchised as well as a world that is openly hostile to the U.S. due to our ‘cowboy’ foreign policy that showed disdain for diplomacy and tainted our reputation by endorsing the use of torture.
The challenges for the next U.S. President are certain to be many and so it is with baited breath that I wait for Sen. Obama to win what seems to be a potential for a landslide victory – debunking my predictions that he would only win by 2-3% back in August when I wrote Ms. Piggy for President. Without a friendly Congress ready and willing to work with a President Obama I don’t think the country would have a chance to get through this difficult time.
Get out the vote
CNNBC Video – Obama Loses by 1 Vote
If you would like to customize a video to send to your friends you can follow the link and send this humorous clip.
http://s3.moveon.org/swf/embed.swf
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Politics
Medical Research Project
In late September I wrote about participating in a medical research project at Mass General Hospital that studies how low levels of testosterone in men can contribute to diminished bone density. Earlier this week on Wednesday, October 22nd, I had my first follow up visit. Nurses took blood and urine samples, and I was once again injected in the belly with small pellet of Zoladex. I also was given new supplies of the Androgel which I rub each night on my shoulders and the Arimidex which comes in pill form that I take each night. The clinician had me once again fill out a survey to note any potential side affects, but I have not noticed anything different. Perhaps I am receiving a placebo, but it is probably more likely that I’m clueless because I’ve been so absorbed with work.
I did conduct a quick Google search, I was able to find a number of publications addressing this study but the articles are so filled with medical mumbo-jumbo I could not really understand what they were saying so I pretty much gave up trying to find anything I could add to shed more light about this study.
As I mentioned in my initial blog entry, I would encourage everyone to consider signing up for medical studies, because we all rely on research to identify new / better cures and treatments. Most studies – like the one I have volunteered to undertake really only have temporary side affects and do not compromise a person’s health.
Boston Theater Offensive
The Boston Theater Offensive sometimes referred to as “Out”Fest has started and will run through November 8th. The festival describes itself as a cutting edge, queer theater festival. I’m not sure if I would refer to the productions as ‘cutting edge’ but it is definitely queer themed theater.
This year Varla Jean Merman graces the festival with her show, “Varla Jean Merman Loves a Foreign Tongue”, and I’ve purchased my tickets to see her on Thursday, November 30th. Tickets to several other shows are also available if Varla does not strike your fancy, but I would encourage anyone in the area to support the theater offensive and check out this year’s line up. Getting tickets is easy and the prices are very reasonable. The performances are in a comfortable but intimate setting meaning that even seats in the ‘way back’ are not all that far from the stage.
If you’d like to read more about the Boston Theater Offensive’s 17th annual Out on the Edge Festival, Terry Byrne of The Boston Globe has written an article, “Outfest Connects with Community” about this year’s festival – just don’t forget to buy your tickets.
Tagged BosGuy, Boston, Boston Guy, Gay, The Boston Globe, Theater
Take on Me: literal video version
My friend Tom forward me a link from this site called forward.com. Both of us were HUGE fans of Aha in the 80s and even bigger fans of the video, Take on Me, because at the time it was unlike anything being played on MTV. Anyway, this spoof, appropriately named “Take on Me: literal video version” was well done and made me laugh when I watched it so I thought I would post it on my blog to share. What do you think?
http://current.com/e/89390593/en_US
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Pop Culture
I really like what I do
In an attempt to avert the train wreck that is Game 4 in the ALCS and shake my sour mood, I thought I would spend some time writing about what I’ve been doing at work these past few weeks.
For nearly 5 months, I’ve been focused on a project designed to get people thinking about healthcare reform. There are so many pressing issues we face individually and as a nation, but providing affordable, quality healthcare for our children and each other has long been a top priority for individuals, families and businesses (at least until the recent financial meltdown).
I am working with a handful of colleagues and a business partner to coordinate a ‘national town hall’ that will begin with a satellite broadcast in Washington, D.C. to address the president-elect’s healthcare reform policies. The broadcast will be viewed in 15 other cities around the country in late November. Immediately following the broadcast, each host city will have their own local town hall with a panel of healthcare experts that include policy wonks and government types, providers (i.e. hospitals, doctors, etc), payers (insurers), local employers and families. These local town halls will address problems and challenges they face and try to identify how the president-elect’s reforms can best be implemented.
Despite the long hours and work involved, I have really enjoyed this project and am finding it very gratifying. I would like to think that encouraging this type of dialog serves to raise awareness, educate us all and hopefully work towards developing implementable solutions both on a national and local level. We will see… There remains much work so if my postings become little more than humorous photos you will know why. I’ve timed my annual trip to Brazil to start two days after this huge event occurs. I hope that the flight down is one filled with feelings of satisfaction from a job well done.
BosGuy 