For the latest episode of The Silver Mountain, Bruce “Snow Ghost” Russell and I talked to Fr. John Madden, pastor of St. John’s Catholic Church in Worcester. Fr. John talks about being a priest, organizing a soup line, Dorothy Day, and the Catholic Worker movement.

More notes at Landlubber.

508 is a show about Worcester. This week’s panel is Brendan Melican, civic gadfly Jo Hart, and Mike’s sexy body.

The question: What do you want the candidates to be discussing as they compete for votes in this year’s City Council election?

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You can watch 508 Fridays at 7pm on WCCA TV13.

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You can watch 508 Fridays at 7pm on WCCA TV13.

[0:35] It’s snowing.

[1:20] An attacking pit bull was stabbed to death in Worcester.

[2:50] We are still not convinced that the city’s anti-pit bull laws are helpful.

[3:55] The eighth of nine puppies stolen from the Sterling shelter is back.

[5:20] Brendan makes a point about libertarianism.

[5:50] Clifford updates us on Stone Soup. The building burned down 2 years ago.

[16:34] Marty Lamb still hasn’t called us back about being on the show.

[17:50] Some people have suggested listening to this radio program about marketing Piedmont. Others have suggested it’s not worth listening to. Mike suggests reading the evergreen “I Think We Should Start Talking About Starting A Band.”

[19:20] It’s the anniversary of Tom Lewis’s death.

[20:20] Clifford tells us about E.L. Doctorow’s Worcester connection.

[21:30] Public officials are mad that video poker on Lincoln Street might disrupt lottery sales. Mike talks about video poker in WV.

[25:52] Worcesterites have been demonstrating in Lincoln Square against US military activity in Libya (and elsewhere).

[26:51] Mike endorses the WooDaddy Waffles brunch (Sundays, Moynihan’s, 11am-) and Energy Barnraising at the Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center (this Sunday, 11am).

[27:48] Mike complains that Mayor Joe O’Brien continues to spam him.

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[1:00] Michael, Claire, and Paul talk about Worcester’s Center for Nonviolent Solutions.

[6:40] Is there anything to say about the bouncer video?

[7:30] We talk about the postponed white supremacist meeting at the library.

[18:05] Mike tells about “a cultural moment.”

[27:05] Recap of past topics and response to comments.

Bonus link: We never got around to discussing Gene Sharp till after the taping.

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[2:14] Mike, despite being contradicted by yesterday’s news, thinks Barbara Haller won’t run for re-election in 2011, but an anointed successor will take her place.

[3:15] Mike prediction: The City Hall skate rink won’t be operational.

[4:34] Mike prediction: Stone Soup will be rebuilt.

[5:06] Mike prediction: Worcester will get Google Fiber.

[5:28] Mike prediction: Marty Lamb will appear on 508.

[6:14] Brendan prediction: Not much will change.

[7:29] We revisit the 2009 predictions.

[9:10] Brendan won’t say if Mayor O’Brien will be re-elected.

[11:20] There’s a Youth Poetry Slam on Saturday, 4pm at Clark.

[11:37] There’s an Aldi being built.

[12:23] Brendan wonders why Worcester has so many more supermarkets these days.

[14:00] T&G: Police arrest 24 Assumption students at off-campus party:

Twenty-two of the students in court yesterday agreed to take part in a diversion program, instead of being arraigned on alcohol and other charges.

[16:43] Some City Councilors want to increase property taxes on apartment buildings.

Excellent Gary Rosen column:

“But, Councilor Rosen,” you ask, “didn’t you join the large majority of your colleagues the previous four years and vote for the lowest residential tax rate for homeowners (a.k.a. the highest possible tax rate for Worcester businesses)?” Yes, I plead guilty as charged. However, I’m now suffering some regret as I see how shortsighted those four votes were.

T&G:

[Councilor Palpatine] said he believes classifying such properties as commercial entities would probably lead to a significant reduction in the commercial-industrial tax rate.

[24:40] Mike had a good time at “The Next Big Thing” at the Palladium. Brendan thinks “pay for play” events in Worcester have tended to be among the better ones.

[26:28] Bruce will be a Wise Man in the Christmas pageant at Pleasant Street Baptist Church, 5pm Sunday.

[26:24] Brendan explains the coming widespread vehicular surveillance of Worcester drivers.

This program will be cablecast on WCCA TV13 in Worcester at 7pm tonight, and on the homepage at wccatv.com.

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Clips from episodes 10, 19, 37, 38, 40, 42, 46, 47, 50, 51, 100, 114, and 131.

Here’s a video recapping Witness Against Torture‘s January 2010 efforts to close Guantanamo. WAT will be back in DC in 2011, and you’re invited.

It’s tricky to make an issue video that focuses on the activism rather than the issue, doesn’t involve anyone directly affected by the issue, and ends with the problem unsolved. Potentially unsatisfying from every angle.

Anyhow, this video’s for those of you thinking of joining WAT’s work for the first time January 2011. Wish I could be with you next year.

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[0:42] The East Coast premiere of Matt’s documentary “Ciclovida” is tonight.

[10:55] Re-elected US Rep Jim McGovern had surgery for cancer.

[11;28] Re-elected state senator Hariette Chandler is suing her Republican competitor for lying in campaign ads.

[14:22] We are excited about getting Marty Lamb on the show.

[15:35] Anthony Hmura takes out an ad praising our troops, criticizing our wars saying “Compared to us, Hitler was a saint!”

[15:50] Mike thinks he missed a blogger beer, but it’s actually next week.

[15:55] Matt and Mike went to a “pop-up” restaurant in Worcester.

[16:45] We will start covering a T&G sale once the sale happens, not before.

[16:50] Worcester Assistant City Manager Julie Jacobsen is a finalist for Auburn Town Manager. Would Auburn make her move there? Would this make her a good candidate for PharmaSphere Scapegoat when that project officially collapses?

[17:27] More Ciclovida.

Next week: Worcester adopts widespread vehicular surveillance!

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[0:08] Brendan’s candidate, Steve Grossman, won the race for MA Treasurer.

[4:36] On Monday there was a Tea Party rally, and a counter-rally, in Worcester.

[15:30] Mike reads feedback.

[17:20] Jim McGovern won re-election as US Rep. Is he our most metal Congressman?

[19:00] McGovern didn’t do as well as one might expect.

[24:11] We think he’s, on-balance, a good Congressman.

[29:57] “Spammin’ John” Mahoney was elected state rep.

[30:30] Paul Franco, Mahoney’s opponent, actually linked to Mike’s “un-dorsement” of Mahoney. (Mike ended up endorsing a third candidate in the race, Ron Madnick.) We spend some time criticizing a local radio guy for stealing the term “un-dorse,” but of course it predates our coinage.

[33:30] Newspaper endorsements: Bump got none, still won auditor’s race.

[36:05] Should you vote? We’ll take this more seriously next time it comes up. Brendan mentions the George Carlin routine below.

[37:36] If we’re still doing the show next election, we’ll try some of the idea’s in Jay Rosen’s The Citizens Agenda in Campaign Coverage.

[42:00] What happens when 508 has no 30-minute time limit? We end up talking about The Wire.

[46:40] Idependent Jim Henderson lost the Secretary of State race to incumbent Bill Galvin.

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[0:45] Worcester Planning Board wants to restrict campaign lawn signs.

[5:19] Telegram & Gazette circulation falling fast.

[11:30] There’s a new newspaper called “CMP: Central Mass. Pride.” Also, there’s an interesting InCity Times article.

[13:20] Brendan received a creative Paul Franco mailing in a brown paper bag.

[14:39] The Northborough Tea Party sponsored a debate. We missed it.

[15:56] The Tea Party Express will be in Worcester Nov 1. Some locals will be having a counter-event to “Party Hard(er) Than The Tea Party.” Chris gives us the scoop.

[19:33] Bill “PIMCO” Gross writes: “Vote NO in November – no to both parties. Vote NO to a two-party system that trades promises for dollars and hope for power, and leaves the American people high and dry.” Mike tends to agree. Brendan wonders where on the ballot you will find this “No.”

[20:52] Still, there is an election coming up, and we have opinions of varying validity. You should look into the Jim Henderson vs. Bill Galvin race for Secretary of the Commonwealth.

[22:33] Mike likes Madnick for D13. He also wants to rename District 13 District 9. Brendan thinks Mahoney has put in the shoe leather to win this one.

[24:50] Brendan mentions the negativity of the Chandler/Higgins state senate race.

[26:00] Apparently Marty Lamb supporters have ran ads criticizing Jim McGovern’s activism against genocide in Darfur. If anyone has a YouTube link handy, please send it in.

[27:17] Brendan was on the Worcester marketing bus. Lots of good things coming along in the city!

What’s Mike wearing? Moiré-inducing patterns.

Pictured: The “No” hat trick.