The Single Person’s Fiscal Lament

Posted by Amy Derjue on 10/13/2008 at 10:51AM | No Comments

1221493410 Couples are having a hard time dealing with the financial crisis. One member of the family wants to buy stocks while they’re practically worthless in the hopes of striking it rich on the next upswing, while their significant other feels the urge to load up on canned goods.

As a single person, it’s hard for me to work up much sympathy for these feuding couples.

The MBTA Drives Off in a Hyundai

Posted by Amy Derjue on 10/13/2008 at 9:45AM | No Comments

1223905304 Who knew the MBTA was feeling so lucky? The debt-strapped agency has decided to buy a fleet of commuter rail cars from Hyundai Rotem, a company that has never built commuter trains in the United States.

What could possibly go wrong?

Weekend Redux: What You Missed

Posted by Amy Derjue on 10/13/2008 at 9:18AM | No Comments

Just because you spent all weekend raking leaves, it doesn’t mean the world stopped moving. We round up the notable stories you missed.

Saturday
1219691444 The MBTA might not be raising fares in 2009, but they’ve got no problem jacking the price it charges to park in its lots and garages. Commuters who drive to the train will pay $2 a day more starting on Nov. 15.

The stock market had its worst week ever. We’ve witnessed history, everyone!

Some Boston politicians want nothing to do with the contest in the Second Suffolk District between Dianne Wilkerson and Sonia Chang-Diaz.

Secretary of State Bill Galvin is investigating the huge payday Sal DiMasi’s lobbying friends earned from Cognos.

Some state workers are going to have a tough Christmas. The state plans to announce layoffs sometime this week.

What’s News

Posted by Amy Derjue on 10/13/2008 at 8:36AM | No Comments

Your condensed guide to today’s daily papers.

1223901294 Jolted by the Chargers: The Patriots lost. Badly. Ugh. [Herald]

He’d rather die than live in Florida: Dennis, the manatee that was rescued from the cold waters off Cape Cod, died after arriving at SeaWorld. [Globe]

The Week That Was

Posted by Amy Derjue on 10/10/2008 at 5:48PM | No Comments

Chronicling the past week via quick links and pithy commentary (we love October baseball edition).

Wait, what? The Committee for Small Government uses some fuzzy math to argue for Question 1.

Making the economic crisis more fun: Economist Nancy Kimelman gives us the financial news drinking game.

We knew him when…: Our pal Mike Ross will (probably) become City Council President. Here’s how he did it.

Sarah Palin’s Excellent New Hampshire Adventure

Posted by Amy Derjue on 10/10/2008 at 3:50PM | No Comments

1223667778 Thank God gas prices are going down. Now we Bay Staters will be able to afford a trip to New Hampshire to see Republican vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin. Dover High School will host the Alaska governor for a town hall-style event on Wednesday morning.

We can just imagine her itinerary.

Damn Yankees: Kerry-Beatty Campaign Gets Nasty

Posted by Amy Derjue on 10/10/2008 at 2:37PM | 3 Comments

1223665245 Forget the infamous Barack Obama celebrity ad and the increasingly ugly comments that can be heard at John McCain rallies. They’re a child’s tea party compared to the rancor that’s erupted in the contest between John Kerry and Jeff Beatty.

PolitickerMA reports that the Kerry campaign alleges that Beatty is (prepare yourselves!) a Yankees fan.

Never have gutter politics been so despicable.

48 Hours of Freedom

Posted by Amy Derjue on 10/10/2008 at 1:55PM | No Comments

It’s the weekend. You can spend it lamenting the fact you don’t get Columbus Day off, or you can get out and enjoy it. Here are some other suggestions for your precious days of total freedom, prepared for you by Boston Daily.

Tonight
Trouble been doggin’ our souls since the bottom fell out of the American economy. According to the lyrics of Ray LaMontagne’s “Trouble“, we’ll be saved by a woman. Hillary Clinton supporters everywhere say “We told you so.”

And to think we stopped making art from everyday objects back in elementary school. Tara Donovan’s ICA Exhibit is now open.

Are you immune to pennant fever? The ALCS isn’t the only display of athleticism in town tonight. Night of Stars: Boston Ballet’s Gala Performance rings in the new season with performances by principal dancers from the New York City Ballet and our city’s talented ballerinas.

Sorry, we only take medical care from humans. Dr. Dog rocks the Middle East.

The Hill and the Hall Week in Review

Posted by Paul McMorrow on 10/10/2008 at 11:56AM | No Comments

1219415931 Each Friday, Paul McMorrow will take you inside the smoke-filled rooms and darkly-lit corridors of government to bring you the hottest and juiciest political tidbits. This Week: All the behind-the-scenes back and forth that led to Mike Ross’ ascendancy. Could it be that city council is growing up?

Mike Ross beat out Steve Murphy to win the Boston City Council presidency this week. The position comes with a nice big office, the chance to play mayor when the actual mayor blows town, and the honor of presiding over the city’s legislative body during both an economic meltdown and a contentious mayoral race. Congrats, friend.

But it’s only October. And the dreamboat Mission Hill pol already has this thing sewn up. These things usually don’t heat up until November, and don’t get settled until after a series of frantic, eggnog-fueled phone calls. It was a done deal before Hizzoner had a chance to have his say, even. What gives? How’d he pull it off?

Here’s how. READ MORE

Won’t Anyone Think of the Children?

Posted by Amy Derjue on 10/10/2008 at 11:13AM | No Comments

1223650800 Since it worked so well with our magazine’s nuns and buns ad, the Herald decided to start a minor kerfuffle by finding two women who are upset that the MBTA allowed advertisements for Zack and Miri Make a Porno on bus shelters.

“Children will see it and say, ‘That’s for me,’ ” [Wheelock College professor Diane Levin] said. “And because they want to understand what things mean, they’ll ask ‘What’s titillating, Mom? What’s porn?’ ”

We got one. Why not voice your outrage over the sperm donor ads on the Red Line? Those things creep us out.