There is another public safety committee meeting on the Maxpak site demolition on Monday. They flyered the neigborhood with a notice. I am out or town and don't have the notice with me, but my guess its at 6:30, same as last time.

From what I hear it will be a followup and continuation of the <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/davis_square/1996500.html">previous meeting</a>. While public safety meetings don't normally allow public comment and questions, last time they did.

There's a sign on the fence saying buildings are coming down on or around Dec 1.

Ger, I think you'll be in Hong Kong? :(


Code Duello: Hamilton & Burr! New show announced: Sunday, 12/27 at ImprovBoston, Cambridge MA!

Oh, and in case you didn't notice, Abbie the Cat went and told the story of the first Thanksgiving and what do you know, that ol' Restaurant Joe made his way into the story again. I think he's Abbie's favorite ancestor.

K* and I met up at around 8am to head over to Target.

Surprisingly, it wasn't crazy at all. I picked up a 1TB external hard drive for $60 before taxes. Good thing too. As I'm trying to copy files from the old HD to the new HD, the old HD keeps making freezing and making awful sounds. I have three VERY LARGE files to finish copying and then I'll be done. I can't wait. However, it's taking longer than I want it to thanks to the old HD being all geriatric (it's about 5.5 years old).

I also picked up "The Dark Knight" on DVD for $4. I was going to watch it tonight, but I want to get the HD clean up done first.

After Target, we went to Best Buy where K* discovered that the Panasonic Lumix isn't sold in stores. I guess it is available online only. Weird. That and the store didn't carry any Panasonic cameras. Weird again.

Then, we went shopping for girly stuff at New York & Company and Ann Taylor Loft. For once, K* did not buy a single item at NY&Co. Unbelievable! At the Loft, I picked up two sweaters and two long sleeved t-shirts. It totaled at almost $90 after all discounts.

I thought that was the end of my shopping adventures, but the Burlington Mall found me buying a few more things. I finally found a pair of warm booties to wear around the house (cold feet is so horribly painful - you have no idea) and that set me back $25.

Our final stop was at The Body Shop, and they had the best deals of all. Any three items for $30. It didn't matter what the item was nor what size it was. So, I got items that I usually pass over because I think they are expensive and not necessary: face cream, hemp body butter, and a gel moisturizer. The retail on that was $64. K* ended up with hemp body butter too, but also picked up some Honey shampoo and conditioner. She almost picked up the smaller bottles, but the sales associate pointed out that she should get the larger bottles since there was no price difference.

What amused me the most was that at The Body Shop, both SAs were talking to K* and never me. Do I look that young and/or broke? Even though I was the one with more bags? XDDD

Anyway, another Black Friday over and done with. Yes, I spent too much money, but the HD doesn't count. I've been looking for a decently priced one for the last two months. I guess the slippers don't count either. I've been wanting them for about a month now.

It stinks that it's still raining. I wanted to walk to the market since it's still early. Bah, I guess I'll go in the morning.

What is this thing called?

I know it's named for someone at Tufts, but can't think of anything aside from that...

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Nov 29th at 7:00pm for Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans at the Coolidge Corner Theatre . Look for Sean wearing a nametag in the theatre lobby about 15 minutes before the film. As always, after the film we will descend on a local establishment for dinner/drinks/discussion.

( Film Synopsis )

Apparently, the Somerville Theater used to play the movie Alice's Restaurant in the Somerville Theater for folks who were in town, or so I heard yesterday. They no longer do this, and I wonder why not; I think it would be a blast to go to that during the day before Thanksgiving dinner. The 30th anniversary edition of the song was played at the event I attended yesterday, and it was actually quite a lot of fun to listen to it along with folks who had never heard it before. Who knows, maybe they will bring it back...

Happy Thanksgiving, folks:)

Someday, I swear, I'll finish this piece I started long ago on the Roxy Theatre in New York City. Since putting the project aside for a bit I've made a lot of new friends, and wanted to make sure I shared the drafts I had so far with you. Hope you like it.

1. Sic Transit Gloria
2. Let There Be Light

The next part's to be The Boys and the Girls of the Roxy, but the last part would be the saddest, about its decline and stuff. Not so much fun to chronicle, but hey. Anyway.

Happy Thanksgiving, and I assure you the tradition 'round these parts is on its way soon.

I SUMMON THE SPIRIT OF COWBOY GENE TO BRING US MIRTH AND JOY!

... I forgot to work on the review last night. Ooops. I'll definitely work on it today!

Anyway, not all of you celebrate Thanksgiving, but I'm seriously thankful for the friends I have today. You've made 2009 aka being-31 less sucky.

Although Thanksgiving came quickly, I'm glad for it too. For me, it signals the countdown to the end of the year (and as I said before it's been a sucky year for me).

So, the plan today is to:
1) go to the gym
2) start my final project for class
3) make cauliflower, aka fake mashed potatoes
4) have dinner at Sister #1's house

Tomorrow? K* and I are doing Black Friday shopping. I need a new external hard drive. My old one has started to make really questionable sounds. We also want to buy DVDs. I think I also want some new clothes. Don't worry - no, new coat these year, although I really want this Soia & Kyo coat...

Subject line says it all.

Comment away!

(The RED LINE TRAIN pulls into the DAVIS station.)

DRUNKEN YOUNGSTER: DAAAAAAAVIS! DAAAVISHQUAYAH IS NEXT!!
DRUNKEN YOUNGSTER'S FRIEND: He has a future in announcing.

i'm going backwards. rather than upgrading my mac laptop, i'm looking to downgrade it to osx 10.4 (tiger).

does anyone know where i can find a copy of an older apple operating system?
almost everyone i see in the cafes with macs are running updated leopard or snow leopard. if anyone has upgraded lately, and no longer needs their original osx 10.4 disks, maybe we can work out a deal ($, box of kickass cupcakes, ?).

ideas? thanks!!

Somerville Police Chief Anthony Holloway is one of a dozen short-listed candidates for the post of police chief in his hometown of Clearwater, Fla.

“Chief Holloway has done an outstanding job during his first 18 months here in Somerville and we certainly hope he will stay,” said city spokesman Tom Champion. “His hiring was part of an ongoing reorganization and reform process on which we have made enormous progress. Of course, there’s still plenty of work still to be done and it would be great to have him here to help see it through.”

http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/news/x826021989/Somerville-Police-Chief-interviews-for-Florida-job-after-18-months

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/somerville/2009/11/somerville_police_chief_a_fina.html

As ninamazing brought up in her own post, last evening's The Daily Show was one of the best in awhile. Go watch it here.

Tonight I am:

Going to the gym for pre-Thanksgiving, last-chance work out.

Attempting a gingerbread cheesecake.

Prepping appetizers for tomorrow.

Cleaning the entire apartment while Lori, her father, and Samantha go look at houses with their realtor... James Joyce.

On Thanksgiving I am:

Going to the Everett High vs. Cambridge Rindge and Latin football game. GO TIDE!

Watching percyweasley13's kitten Zinger; am very excited.

Hosting seven people in my tiny apartment.

Giants/Broncos, Raiders/Cowboys, not sure about Packers/Lions because... come on.

Giving thanks for everyone in my life, my health, my job and the Boston Red Sox.

In other news:

miss_andromache lands in Boston on Friday! I can't wait!

New York for The Daily Show on Tuesday and Wednesday. Bonus: I get to see Aiah!

Steve's "Leaving for Chicago" going away party on the 4th.

Christmas Cards!
If you gave me your info in the past and wish to receive a card this year, don't comment. If you want to be taken off the list, please let me know. If you're NOT on the list and want a card from me (and the roommates) just comment over here.



...prompt me for some fic! I've got time...

Anyone know of a good place for lemon merengue pie? The future in laws want me to bring one over for Thxgiving and I want to buy one that's actually good. Thanks!

(I recall reading a similar post months ago, but LJSeek - like my school's FinAid Office - is complete crap)

I'm about to enter repayment on yacht's worth of student loans, and since I also have a convoluted future educational expense, I'm not sure which of the repayment options to choose. The loan servicing center can't advise on plan selection, and considering my dubious financial savvy, I don't trust myself not to make a grave error.

Can anyone suggest a person who could sit with me for an hour and help me select an option? Someone like Suze Orman, but local and <$150/hr? If they are good, I may also save up my shekels and use him/her to sort out my other finances.

*sigh*
Should have just gotten a yacht.

should i drive to work tomorrow or take the T?

not worried about the morning, but heading back home at noonish... would traffic back through the city (north from dorchester) be crazy by then? or not bad?

Not in Davis, but in Somerville and there are several Davis artists showing/represented.

On Saturday, Dec. 5, 11 am to 5 pm there are THREE art/crafts fairs in close proximity.
Somerville Museum, Union Square and Washington Street Studios are ALL having sales of original work by local artists.

On Sunday, Dec. 6 the Somerville Museum will continue for a second day with jury selected artists, mulled cider and snacks, and the Somerville Museum itself with it's current Mosaics show.

We'd love to see you here!

Not sure why I didn't see this one go round the first time out, but here's a (really really crummy watermarked version; sorry, couldn't find the clip anywhere else w/o resorting to Hulu) clip of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's recent appearance on Saturday Night Live where, for his monologue, he performs Make 'Em Laugh from Singin' in the Rain.

Did I mention he gives it the full-on Donald O'Connor treatment?

Yes, with that part.
Oh and yes, with that part too.

And you can tell he is about the happiest fella ever by the end of the number. As well as the most exhausted. Given the nature of live TV and the backstage hustling, I sure hope he had a few moments to catch his breath before his next sketch.

Is there anyone on here that has type 1 diabetes that has an endocrinologist they like?

I've been especially RAGEy as a feminist lately, and it feels like everything I read makes me ragier and ragier.

FIRST, it was this awful Method soap commercial, where a woman is OMG-hilariously harrassed as she's taking a shower by a bunch of frat-daddy acting cleaning bubbles. The comments on Jezebel are enough to thoroughly trash it for every reason I can think of so I don't need to get into how little humor I find in the "dropping the soap" portion of the commercial. Or, as a woman who has come face-to-face with a violent peeping tom, how little I appreciate our cowering bodies being used for a punchline to hawk soap.

THEN, there was this serious of inexcusable Reebok commercials where women are either leered at or reduced to a pair of talking breasts. Again, I don't need to dissect all of the Fail here - Jezebel's commenters do just fine in my stead.

ADDITIONALLY, I know that just about nobody is with me on this, but I consider the slur "douche" to be extremely sexist and vulgar. Which is why this article and its comments make me ragey (note: the commenter named "Kowalski" is not me). See the comment taking offense at the word "moron." Things like that - the way modern feminists trip over themselves to avoid disrespecting everybody but women - are starting to make me think that the movement has come unhinged.

On top of of all of that, there's the Sarah Palin Newsweek cover that few on my side of the aisle can be honest about (it IS sexist and she IS also selling her sexuality, which is why that picture was taken in the first place).

And finally there's Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck actually calling female legislators "prostitutes" -- NO NEWS SHOW SHOULD EVER TAKE THESE PEOPLE SERIOUSLY AGAIN - EVER. Treat them the way we treat David Duke. Acknowledge their existence and vitriol, but continue to allow them free speech. But never ever talk about them like their opinions on politics matter. Don't invite them on The Today Show, don't invite them to speak at national political gatherings, and do treat anyone who considers them an ally with utter disdain.

I'm not one to have a persecution complex, but I feel like this stuff adds up to an attack against women. And I'm exasperated and all sorts of pissed off at all sorts of feminists and anti-feminists.

As posted on mbta yesterday, the MBTA have got together with NextBus to start a trial run of an online feed that provides the current location and estimated arrival times of their buses. Only five routes are represented at the moment - the 39, 111, 114, 116 and 117 - but the feed is freely available, so developers can tap into it and use the data to create pages that can make a decent guess at telling you when your bus is going to arrive.

There's a page that went up last week that plots the current location of buses by route on a Google map, written by Joe Shaw. I also threw a next bus ETA predictor together last night (and then had dreadful nightmares about buses) which should work on IE and Firefox at least - you can search for nearby buses by route and the stop where you're waiting. If anyone here uses these routes and can say whether the pages are at all accurate, and if they work from mobile devices like the iPhone, that would really be appreciated - I can't test them myself yet because the buses for the trial run are nowhere near me.

Also, if you want to see the service expanded to other routes, you could email the MBTA through their contact page and let them know that there's demand for this kind of service - I contacted them myself yesterday in the hope that encouragement might speed the process up a bit. You never know, it might help.

The XML feed and instructions for accessing it can be found at http://www.eot.state.ma.us/developers/realtime/ .

Updated: My page has now been reworked to make it more mobile-friendly, using a single page with GET parameters.

Coakley, now the front-runner in a special election for the United States Senate, never pressed the Boston Archdiocese for any prior complaints against Geoghan. I'm not sure why this isn't getting as much press as it should be. But there it is.

And here's some delightful individuals at a Sarah Palin book signing event.


( Why is HIMYM so epic? )

Work is insanetown mccrazyville. Not only are some courses up in the air (which mean students' futures are up in the air) I'm not getting my standard yearly raise. (Bitch, bitch, bitch, I know.) This is the raise I'm supposed to get ANNUALLY, as in every year on my hire date. This is on top of not getting the raise I deserve for the SECOND job I'm doing.

Most of you saw my post last week bitching about the President's salary, blah, blah, blah. I'm heated. I can live on what I'm making, but I can't save. I can live on what I'm making, but not well. See: no car, no permanent housing, no retirement plan, no savings.

Not only have I been busting my ass here full time, I've been busting my ass at Michaels part time amid holiday insanity. Worked for ten hours on Sunday. What in the whatness?

Whatever, hope everyone's gearing up for an amazing holiday with lots of family and friends and food. Unless you're in Canada in which case your Thanksgiving already passed and is wiggity whack.

A little long-weekend gift from me to you. Music.
Right click, copy link location, change hxxp to http. @ megaupload.

David Gray | Life in Slow Motion

Collective Soul | Dosage

The Postal Service | The Photo Album

Keaton Simons | Can You Hear Me?

Belle & Sebastian | If You're Feeling Sinister

A Buttload of Holiday Songs | Spread Cheer!!!

Anyone have big holiday plans?

I'm aware that this event is not taking place in Boston, but I live here so I'm posting it here.

I purchased two General Admission tickets to the Brand New/Manchester Orchestra show at Lupo's on 12/03 and can't go. I'm selling them for $25 a pop. Basically saving you the $5+ in fees per ticket.

They're e-tickets (print at home) so, it's just a matter of me either A. printing them out for you, or B. emailing them to you after payment is received.

I really hope someone wants these, would be bummed if they went to waste.

EDIT:

Sorry folks, a friend took them off my hands!

The very last Davis Square farmer's market of the year will be tomorrow (Wednesday 11/25), noon to 5 pm in the Day Street parking lot. After that, no more markets until next May. I'll miss it.

Yes, yet another hair salon post! Snark away.

I need to rush out quickly while the babysitter is watching my sprogs and get my hair hacked into shape by a decent stylist. I live in Brookline, so I need somewhere local. And reasonably priced ($40 or less), but not Supercuts or the like. Any ideas, b0st0n?

The next meeting of the Davis Square Task Force will be on Tuesday December 1st, 7-9pm at the Tufts Administration Building, 167 Holland St. The agenda items are below. Please let Rebekah Gewirtz (rebekah@rcn.com) know if there are additional items you would like to see added.

Agenda for Davis Sq Task Force Meeting
Tuesday December 1, 2009, 7-9pm

7-7:10- Introductions

7:10-7:20 – Community Updates

7:20-8:30 – Development updates and discussion

• Citizens Bank storefront space (Staples proposal)
• Bowl and Board and Jimmy Tingle’s space
• 343 Summer St, also known as the Summer St shaft site
• Hodgkins Park update
• Sacco's Bowl Haven and Flatbread Company update
• 187 Elm St restaurant update

8:30-8:45 – Organizing committee of the Task Force – volunteers needed

8:45-9 – Next meeting date(s)

I hope this allowed even though it doesn't pertain to everyone in this comm directly. I tried finding a UMB community on LJ but either it doesn't exist or I just missed it. Fred Phelps (the God Hates Fags guy) is coming to OUR school. Here's some copypasta on getting involved in protesting his presence at our university.

FIGHT HOMOPHOBIA!
PROTEST FRED PHELPS WHEN HE COMES TO U MASS BOSTON!


On Tuesday December 1st, 2009 at 2:30pm The Westboro Baptist Church, the organization known for protesting the funerals of dead soldiers, Matthew Shepard, and other victims of anti gay and lesbian hate crimes by holding signs that read GOD HATES FAGS and AIDS IS GODS CURE FOR FAGS, is coming to OUR University! December 1st is International AIDS Day and U Mass Boston will be holding an International AIDS Conference so Fred Phelps and his band of bigots will be coming to protest.

RE INFO OR TO GET INVOVLED CONTACT: umbLGBTQ@yahoo..com

Help Organize the Protest!
Come to the FIRST Open Organizing Meeting
THIS TUESDAY Nov. 24th, @ 3:15 PM,
3RD flr Campus Center, Point View Lounge

UMB LGBTQ EQUALITY COALITION