A few weeks ago, two campaigns began in Worcester, encouraging people to e-mail their politicians.
Continue reading “E-mail campaign lessons”
Bloomsday approaches, and other items
I’ll be in Worcester for a couple more weeks, then in South Bend for most of the summer. There follow some items about this fine city.
Television: I agree with Big Dog.
The WCCA TV13 video stream is back, hopefully in a new, stable configuration. Check it out.
Crime: Today I was walking down the street with my friend when we saw a guy we know from the neighborhood, a former guest at the Catholic Worker, being questioned by cops. Then they cuffed him.
My friend approached the cops and said, “I know that guy, can I talk to him?” A cop said, “No, we’re arresting him.” Then they took him away.
Bloomsday approaches: The 16th is Bloomsday, when we Joyce-lovers celebrate Ulysses. The Worcester County Poetry Association has plenty going on in Worcester.
Continue reading “Bloomsday approaches, and other items”
Kerry: Who got the story?
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
(Appeared the next morning)
NECN
(Nightly news. The headline is “Senator Kerry in Worcester to talk business.”)
WCCA
(Appeared that afternoon.)
Worcester Independent Media Center
(First IMC pix posted within the hour.)
Continue reading “Kerry: Who got the story?”
More Darfur pix are up
Just a note that a couple hundred more Darfur-related pix are now available.
Locals to Kerry: no more war
Locals holding signs reading “Bring the Troops Home” met U.S. Senator John Kerry at Worcester’s Broadway Diner this morning. Despite Kerry shaking several of their hands, many remained frustrated with his lackluster efforts to withdraw troops from Iraq.
Paul Giorgio and John Kerry. Photo: Kevin Ksen.
Many local bigwigs were there. The response from passers-by was very positive.
This sign was too big to hold tight. Photo: Kevin Ksen.
My Photos.
Kevin’s much better Photos.
Video: Demonstrator Michael True (AVI)
Worcester Indymedia has more coverage.
At a February 2005 visit to Worcester, Kerry called for military expansion.
(WCCA has some video of Kerry talking about public access funding at an event later in the morning.)
Real Solutions meeting
This meeting is open to the public. 300 Pleasant St, 7PM. (Neighborhood Network Center.)
See also: rsworcester.org
Worcester will vote to drop $50,000 on “wayfinding”
A reader writes:
remember that Wayfinding grant a ways back?
turns out it’s a “matching funds” grant
the City will vote on Tuesday to appropriate $50K to match the grant funds!
June 13, 2006
TO THE WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL
COUNCILORS:I respectfully recommend that Nine Thousand One Hundred Thirteeen Dollars and Twenty Eight Cents ($9,113.28) be transferred from Account #91C780, Citywide Capital Equipment, and appropriated to Account #14C707, Signage Program. This transfer, in addition to the $40,886.72 available balance in the Signage Capital Account, is needed to provide the $50,000 in matching funds to the Worcester Cultural Coalition for the “Worcester Finding Your Way” wayfinding initiative, per the request of Julie A. Jacobson, Assistant City Manager for Economic & Neighborhood Development.
Respectfully submitted,
MIchael V. O’Brien
City Manager
Jule Jacobson, Assistant City Manager:
The $50,000 in required matching funds to be provided by the City can be allocated from previously approved, allocated, and unexpended funds remaining in an expired signage account that was established to fund a signage program several years ago.
Pictured: Screwed-up sign on Main Street.
Inhospitality in Philly
Geno’s has instituted an English-only cheesesteak-ordering policy.
As a mitigating factor, “Vento said his staff is glad to help non-native speakers order in English and has never turned someone away because of a language barrier.”
Does Geno’s have any bilingual workers? If both customer and worker speak the same language, doesn’t it slow down business to force them to translate their order into English?
The article only talks about language problems vis-a-vis immigrants; what about foreign tourists?
And what, exactly, is the point of this policy, anyway?
Happy Birthday Mike Leslie
NB and I went down to the visionary junk shop Happy Birthday Mike Leslie yesterday and did a news story on the store. (If the “Play” link doesn’t work, try “Download.”)
I put up some photos on Flickr. To get a sense of the store, look at this photo at the highest resolution. Yes, that’s a fabric giant squid hanging from the ceiling.
I love this store. It is like revolution in action. Or like something better than revolution in action.
Reminds me of the Diggers’ “free store” Trip Without A Ticket:
If Someone Asks to See the Manager
Tell Him He’s the Manager
Crouse watch
Local radio personality Tom “Mr. Hetero” Crouse says he will support the impeachment of President Bush if the UN grants NGO status to 2 gay rights groups with US support.
KK: I wish Tom Crouse would move to Worcester.
Mike: Yeah! I don’t think of him as being my nemesis or anything.
KK: He’s my entertainment.
Mike: Yes! Exactly!
In case you think Crouse is a fool, check out his latest:
I would be someone who would be considered his political base, and I am not buying it. I do not believe the President cares about a marriage amendment. If he did there would have been a constant drumbeat for one, like we have heard from him on other issues that he really cares about, like making the tax cuts permanent. As a supporter of the President I am disappointed with his transparent effort to pander to a base that for the most part left him a long time ago.