I spent part of the Labor Day weekend up in New Hampshire at my parent’s new house on Lake Winnipesaukee. The weather was beautiful and the new home a tranquil location even with my newborn niece, Abby, and two nephews, Jack (5) and Austin (3).
The only real drawback to the place is that it takes 2 – 2.5 hours and while the destination is worth the drive, it is hardly pretty getting there. Construction on the house only just finished so next summer it will be interesting to see just how often we make it up to spend time outside of Boston and with family for quick get aways out of the city.
Boston’s South Station is located at the edge of the financial district (also straddling the leather district, chinatown and fort point channel) on Atlantic Avenue and Summer Street in Dewey Square. In addition to servicing buses and the local subway (MBTA system), regional bus and train service leaves from this busy station 24/7. I regularly hop on the Acela for business trips to NYC and always enjoy walking through this beautiful building which has been renovated many, many times (most recently in 2001 and 2005) without compromising its architectural charm.
The train station first opened at the start of 1899 and the exterior still looks much as it did back at the end of the 19th century.
Today, I was stopped nearly dead in my tracks when I read the headline, O’Malley defends role at Kennedy rites. For those not in the know, O’Malley is the Cardinal of Boston and he attended the funeral mass for the late Sen. Kennedy mostly as an observer, leaving the ritual service to priests who had a closer, more personal relationship with Ted Kennedy and the Kennedy family.
The “beef” which some of the more conservative constituents of the Catholic faith stems around Kennedy’s unwaivering support for abortion rights. While I understand the strong feelings many Catholics have regarding this issue, I was stunned because in nearly every other important teaching of the Catholic church Senator Kennedy was a stalwart supporter… – Opposition to the death penalty – Support for social programs that provide food, aide and training for the poor, sick and mentally ill – Early and ardent supporter of civil rights
It never ceases to amaze me that if a person has spent a life time of service supporting and championing causes (often unpopular) such as opposing the death penalty or creating social welfare programs as Kennedy did – the fact that he also supported abortion nullifies his good works. The hypocrisy of many if not most of these conservative Catholics is that they too pick and choose where their personal faith leads them astray from church teaching. How many of these conservative Catholics support or have been quiet in their defense of the death penalty? How many were opposed and worked to close down Guantanamo for human rights violations? The Catholic church is equally committed to those causes and as such these individuals should then by their own measure be denied communion as they clamoured for Kennedy and others who supported abortion rights. Regardless, even if these critics have lived an exemplary life and not waivered in their support for these and other programs which the church supports – perhaps they have lost their ability to realize the greatest teaching of all – love & forgiveness.
Faith is a prickly subject because it often comes from a perspective of moral superiority, which leaves me cold and continues to distance me from the church I once held so dearly and found much comfort in attending. I was pleased that Cardinal O’Malley did not remain silent and used his blog to chastise those critical of his decision even if I no longer consider myself a practicising Catholic.
Fox TV replayed the pilot episode of glee which initially aired in mid May. I have high hopes for this new program. For those who appreciate music and dancing as well as a bit of wit and juvenile drama, this will be the show of choice. Fox will be airing episodes on Wednesdays at 9pm. Check out the clip below for a sample of what you can expect.
Despite the fact that I’m not necessarily new to blogging, I still struggle to effectively leverage all the bells / whistles that blogger provides. It is no less infuriating knowing that this is about as easy a GUI as exists and technical neophytes (c’est moi) are “supposedly” able to use these tools without issue.
My biggest frustration right now is that I’ve noticed the blogs which do post my entries in their “Blog List” seem to all have this entry (see poor John Rogers’ ugly mug to the left). I’m flattered and appreciate that people do this, but sadly that post is quite old, dating back to January of this year. It’s painful to admit ones limitations and post them front and center but after several failed attempts to fix this problem I feel like I’m left with one of two choices: 1) Rip my computer from the wall while incoherently screaming profanities and throw it out my window 2) Ask for help. Ignoring how cathartic option one might be and focussing on potential harm that would come to innocent pedestrians some 4 stories below my apartment, I’ve opted for the second choice. Any techies out there willing to be my blogger-sherpa? I would just like to caution that I need you to use small words and make no assumptions. My technical knowledge is about as deep as the kiddie-pool. If not, I might have to reconsider option one. Note to little sister and brother — I’m serious when I tell you that you need to re-double your efforts to meet and fall madly in love with someone who works in I.T.
Last week I included a vlog about dating etiquette because the person so succinctly (and with humor I might add) described his personal frustrations with dating. At one point in the commentary he references a bad date and so I’ve inserted the “bad date” here for any to watch. I would however, recommend that if you have not seen the first clip to scroll down 3 entries or link here to watch it.
I have several friends who love waking up early. They enjoy a morning ritual that I’ll never understand nor want to mimic. By contrast, I never really feel my best until my work day has concluded and even if I don’t go out regularly, I stay up probably later than I should.
Sadly, Boston is an early to bed – early to rise kind of town. I think it has something to do with their maritime heritage and Yankee sensibilities which give us ridiculous sayings like “the early bird catches the worm”. Yuck, I hate worms… I would rather stay up and hear the voices from friends enjoying a late night conversation over a bottle of wine at a restaurant or from an open window in an apartment. However, as I walked home from Backbay tonight, there was no hushed conversation to be overheard – actually, there was hardly another soul in sight.
A very good friend of mine is giving love another try… what I mean by this is that she has decided to be more proactive and attempt to find true love over the next 365 days. To maintain her focus, provide an insight into what it is like to be a single woman living in Boston and to record and share her stories (humorous and otherwise) she has created a blog called My Quest to Find a Husband. The blog boldly states “I have made pact with myself to do everything I can, within reason of course, to find a husband within the next year!”
Thus far there has been no dating drama shared – I suppose she needs to go on a date for that to happen. However, her first few entries showcase her wit and self-deprecating nature assuring the blog will be an easy read for anyone who visits the site. So far she has written about an evening out with girlfriends at a restaurant she favors (check out the embarrassing wardrobe malfunction of sorts that happened to her), pseudo-stalking at the gym, and online dating frustration (which knowing my friend seemed very restrained) we’ll see how long that lasts.
Check out the blog – www.husbandquest.blogspot.com. I’ll have to be sure to share with my friend the vlog that I posted late last night about dating etiquette (immediately below this entry).
I stumbled across this video from WGB. What an absolute riot. This 8+ minute vlog about dating etiquette is worth the watch. If you’re single and frustrated with dating or just curious, check it out. I thought it was funny, but then again it is 3:00am so maybe I’m just getting punchy. However, I’m fairly certain that come tomorrow, I’ll still find this pretty funny.
Looking back at my past few posts the balance that I usually try to maintain with regards to subject matter and interests seems to be quite lopsided. The debate about healthcare and politics in general account for several of my most recent entries. This week’s flashback is no exception. In light of the recent death of Ted Kennedy, I wanted to post this photograph of Ted, Jack and Robert.
I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to shake Senator Kennedy’s hand and thank him for his work in the U.S. Senate. In 2008 I was also able to hear him speak when I attended the Fenway Health Community “Men’s Event” and Senator Kennedy accepted the Gerry Studds Award. His speech that night to the sold-out crowd of 1,300 (mostly gay men) was inspiring because of the passion he showed for a cause which he did not need to champion but did so with gusto because of his conviction that GLBT rights were worth fighting for.
Sen. Kennedy was a political giant, but he was also part of the political landscape here in New England and in particular in Massachusetts. For as long as I’ve been alive (longer actually) he has been the state’s senator. It is strange to miss someone whom I did not know and who has such an incredible legacy. Unlike his three older brothers, his life saw tragedy but was not tragic – anything but actually.
Sorry for all the recent melancholy. I do promise to inject more humor and diversity into my future posts.
“For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.” Sen. Kennedy, 1980 Democratic National Convention, NYC
Senator Kennedy’s fight with cancer made news of his passing this morning less of a surprise than it might have been otherwise. However, it does not make his death any less bitter or sad for someone like myself – a proud, self-proclaimed liberal.
Regardless of ideology, Sen. Kennedy will be recalled as one of the most influential politicians of the 20th century. He authored more than 2,500 bills in the United States Senate – of which, several hundred became public law. I’ve listed some of the more recognizeable bills.
Healthcare Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act of 1990 Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in 1997
Civil Rights Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title IX of the Higher Education Act 1972 Pregnancy Discrimination Act in 1978 Civil Rights Act of 1991 Civil Rights Act of 2008
Note how Kennedy’s 1980 speech even then addressed concerns for reforming our nation’s healthcare system, “I will continue to stand for a national health insurance…We must not surrender…Let us insist on real controls over what doctors and hospitals can charge, and let us resolve that the state of a family’s health shall never depend on the size of a family’s wealth.”
I stumbled across this video clip on Modern Fabulosity, a blog I enjoy reading, which generally focuses on pop culture.
The clip explains the positive impact a public option would have on the healthcare system. I think anyone who reads this blog (especially lately) would recognize how much I am in favor of improving the current system so keep in mind my personal bias. If this clip helps you understand the benefits of a public option, please feel free to steal, swipe, or share with others.
For 10 years starting in the late 70s and running through the late 80s Speaker Tip O’Neill an Irish-Catholic from the streets of Cambridge, MA dominated the U.S. House of Representatives. He became extremely powerful because he was able to break (or cause gridlock) in the House. However, his ability to work with anyone and get legislation passed was what helped build his legacy.
Nancy Pelosi has earned her place as Speaker and she certainly is fluent in partisan-speak (as was Tip). However, she has yet to learn the nuanced voice of restraint and bi-partisan dialog, that made men like the former Speaker O’Neill giants in Washington, D.C.
With healthcare reform and the President seemingly under seige, it makes me yearn for the deft political ear and approach this political giant brought to bear while working with three Presidents (two of them Republicans).
Tip O’Neill happened to live and serve in a state transfixed by the Kennedy aura (I am one of them), but he deserves his own place in history as one of the longest serving Speakers (1977-1987), an effective legislator and a champion of social causes and justice.
Representative Barney Frank a Democrat from MA has long been reviled by many conservatives. Like most members of Congress, Frank can be quite pompous and downright arrogant. However, unlike most members of Congress, Frank also has brass balls, is not afraid to speak his mind and is exceptionally intelligent. His left leaning bias aside, the so called “Blue Dog” Democrats and other moderates would do well to take notes on how Rep. Frank handled himself at a recent town hall.
Near the end of the Town Hall a woman stepped to the podium and asked, “Why do you continue to support a Nazi policy?” Frank handled this exchange in much the same way many of those who are disrupting other town halls should – directly and by calling them out for what they are – hateful rhetoric not based in truth, fact or reality.
