May 2009 – Pie and Coffee

508 #70: Papers and Poolz

508 is a show about Worcester.

This week, Mike is joined by Brendan Melican and Cha-Cha Connor.

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There’s a good show tonight at the Firehouse. The Catholic diocese is closing 2 more parishes. A Worcester woman is missing. Street vendors are being put out of business by new city regulations. (Video)

We read the African Radiant and mention Rep. Jim McGovern’s February letter to President Obama (PDF) asking for the 17 Uighurs at Guantanamo to be released into the U.S.

We read Worcester Magazine’s stories about panhandling and the Worcester Vegetarian Dining Guide. We mention Twitter.

The Pulse profiles the designer of the Veg Dining Guide.

This week’s InCity Times includes 2 mysterious items. The Worcester TwitCab is closed.

We contemplate the new Park Avenue CVS location through the teachings of Jim Collins.

We glance at the Catholic Radical. Cha-Cha talks about the situation with the City’s pools. The Telegram & Gazette website is still partly broken. We don’t have time to discuss Jeff Barnard’s “Worcester City Council: Bad for Business.”
Continue reading “508 #70: Papers and Poolz”

Brandon Darby and other items

This week’s This American Life has a great piece on activist Brandon Darby, who became an FBI informant whose work led to the conviction of 2 young RNC 2008 protesters.

I’d never heard of him before fellow RNC arrestee Drew Wilson told me about him; turns out several of my friends worked with him and admired him.

If you’ve listened to the radio piece, it’s worth reading Scott Crow’s critique. (Scroll past the first few comments to see it.)

Worcester Chopped Sea Clams
Holmes looks up trademarked items named after Worcester.

The Foundation of All Activism . . . Dental Floss
Erik Marcus makes a point about taking care of yourself.

508 #69: Vegetarian renaissance

508 is a show about Worcester.

This week, Brendan and Mike talk about: odd police reactions to a Supreme Court ruling; the future of the T&G and a new electronic edition; Worcester’s best vegan date spots; and the underground music scene.

If you’d like to leave a comment for next week’s show, the number is 508-471-3897.

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508 #68: WPI and PILOT

508 is a show about Worcester.

This week, I talk to Brendan Melican. Topics include inaccurate predictions, the Telegram & Gazette’s website troubles, and WPI making non-tax payments to the city.

If you’d like to leave a comment for next week’s show, the number is 508-471-3897.

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To get an e-mail each week alerting you of the new episode of 508, join the e-mail list:

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The 100 Days Campaign is over

Though there will likely be a trial later in the summer for those arrested April 30, the 100 Days Campaign to Close Guantanamo and End Torture is now over.

Yesterday we went down to the bus stop where we’ve begun our day so many times, and rode down to the White House to join the long-time Friday vigil there and mark the anniversary of the Catholic Worker.

We finally got a good picture of the entire “core team.”

Matt Vogel, Amanda Daloisio, Sr. Takako Ichikawa, Tobias and Matt Daloisio, Mike Benedetti, Lydia Wylie-Kellermann, Carmen Trotta, and Tanya Theriault

I’m planning to mull things over for a month before writing anything about the successes and failures of the campaign. Thanks for all the support and love!

Happy 76th birthday, Catholic Worker movement!

Today, May 1, is the 76th anniversary of the publication of the first edition of The Catholic Worker newspaper, generally recognized as the beginning of the Catholic Worker movement.

Art Laffin of the DC Worker read The Aims and Means of the Catholic Worker at the weekly Friday White House vigil today:

Matt Vogel, managing editor of The Catholic Worker, shares his thoughts:

More thoughs on the anniversary from the Oklahoma City CW.