Bostonist

Kerrigans: Autopsy Report "Inaccurate"

MJG — 2010-02-09T21:39:02-05:00

The Kerrigan family rejected Daniel Kerrigan's autopsy results, which were released earlier today by the Middlesex District Attorney's office. Kerrigan family attorney Tracy Miner said "The Kerrigan family does not blame anyone for the unfortunate death of Dan Kerrigan." The results were called "premature and inaccurate" by Miner.

Boston Blotter: JP Groper Nabbed

Rick Sawyer — 2010-02-09T16:50:19-05:00

Blotter siren

-- Boston police arrested the man that they say forced his hands down the pants of a 19-year-old woman in Jamaica Plain during the morning of February 4th. The suspect allegedly attacked the woman at the corner of Seaverns Ave. and Centre St.—near City Feed and Supply—before running to the Green Street T station, where authorities caught him on camera. Raphael Cox was arraigned this morning and held on $5,000 bail. [Suffolk County DA]

-- Elysee Bresilla, a 31-year-old from Roslindale, was found guilty of the 2006 shooting murder of Doowensky Nazaire, which happened outside of the Phoenix Landing night club in Central Square, Cambridge. [Somerville Journal]

-- Carolyn Riley, a 35-year old Hull woman, was convicted today of second degree murder in the overdose death of her 4-year-old daughter. [Herald]

-- Former state senator Anthony Galluccio's mom and sister are sad that he's in jail for being a drunk. [Cambridge Chronicle]

All charges alleged until proven under law.

Robo Coco: The Conan O'Brien Robot

Kerry Skemp — 2010-02-09T16:30:00-05:00

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If you've been missing Conan O'Brien, whose now-defunct Tonight Show is airing in reruns until Jay Leno brings old man smell to late night again, have no fear: Robo Coco is here. A very special Etsy crafter brings us robotic Conan O'Brien, a tiny wind-up toy body with a polymer clay Conan head. No longer must you watch O'Brien's awkward movements only on screen: now, experience them live and in person with this robotic toy, which recreates O'Brien's insane jittering in uncannily accurate form. Sadly, the robot is already sold out (really, how many of these could you make?), but perhaps the creator will manufacture a second run if pressed. Barring that, buy something else from this impressively odd artist (John Larriva).

Presented By:

2010-02-09T16:30:00-05:00

Bite Size News, February 9: Two Trains Go Bump Edition

MJG — 2010-02-09T16:05:43-05:00

Image by bringmespears from photos tagged "Bostonist" on Flickr.

Two MBTA Green Line trolleys collided at the Boylston Street station on Tuesday. Boston fire officials called it a "fender bump.'' [Boston Globe]

Let it snow! [WCVB]

Before the storm hits, one supermarket has the supplies you need to survive. [Universal Hub]

Complaints are being made about Toyota Highlanders and faulty sun visors. [WCVB]

Rep. Bradley Jones of North Reading proposed a bill to ban sexting. [Boston Herald]

Sunday's accident at the power plant in Middletown, Conn. that killed five workers has caused a Brockton city councilor to rethink his support for a similar plant in the city. [Brockton Enterprise]

Coca-Cola is making tons of money while people are put at a higher risk of pancreatic cancer by drinking soda. [Reuters]

Rep. John Murtha, the first Vietnam combat veteran elected to Congress, died yesterday at age 77. [AP via Yahoo!News]

Czech it: Bruins to Open 2010 Season in Prague

Rick Sawyer — 2010-02-09T15:24:55-05:00

The NHL has just announced that the Bruins and five other hockey teams will begin their 2010-2011 season in Europe. The Bruins are set to the Phoenix Coyotes in Prague. The other teams on the trip include the Minnesota Wild, Carolina Hurricanes, and Columbus Blue Jackets. Is the NHL trying to sabotage its European recruiting efforts by sending these sad sacks overseas?

The Hub-o-sphere: February 9

cheap_robv — 2010-02-09T14:30:00-05:00

-- The Kells is closing, and someone made a valid argument to keep it open: "I'd rather have a place like the kells there to keep everyone who wants to go to a place like that in one spot." [lemmingtrail]

-- Have you voted in "Best of Boston" poll yet? [The Phoenix]

-- If a write-in candidate could win any category, it could be Janaka Stucky for "Best Poet." [The Wooden Spoon]

-- Voting for the New England Urban Music Awards is also open. [NEUMA]

-- A cartoon that puts Scott Brown's victory in perspective -- it's Ted Kennedy's fault. [Matt Bors, Idiot Box]

-- In case you care, one of the "Real Housewives of NYC" was in town shilling for low-cal sandwich bread. [We Are Not Martha]

-- For some reason, we were curious if Manny Ramirez had sold his condo yet. Looks like it's still for sale at $7.9 million. [LRG Boston Real Estate Blog]

-- Which came first: the Hub-o-sphere or the Mediavore? Our format isn't wildly original, but we just noticed the similarity. [Grub Street Boston]

Did you see something bloggy/webby/techy with a local angle? Let us know. Or think you can do this better? Maybe you should try.

Blogtopus courtesy of bionicteaching and a Creative Commons license.

hub-o-sphere, series of tubes

Daniel Kerrigan's Death Ruled Homicide; Son Mark Kerrigan Not Yet Charged

Kerry Skemp — 2010-02-09T14:00:00-05:00

Daniel Kerrigan, father of figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, died two weeks ago after struggling with his son Mark in his Stoneham residence. The cause of death for Daniel Kerrigan has been identified as a heart attack following an altercation, with the manner of death ruled homicide. Mark Kerrigan, who pleaded not guilty to earlier charges of assault related to the incident, is currently under psychiatric observation. No additional charges have been made in the case thus far. [Globe]

Photo of the Day, February 9, 2010: From the Garage

Liv Gold — 2010-02-09T13:00:00-05:00

Image tagged Bostonist by MeredithBaker.

We’re suckers for natural framing, and this one by MeredithBaker is on the money. The perfect exposure lets us see some detail inside the parking garage itself, as well as the buildings and roofs just beyond it and even the skyline in the far background. Lovely composition and great photo.

Back Bay Smoke-Out: Condo Owner Sues Over Secondhand Smoke

Rick Sawyer — 2010-02-09T11:24:25-05:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/e_hmm/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Should you be able to sue your neighbor for smoking in the building?

According to the Globe Back Bay condo owner Alyssa Burrage did just that. And won. Burrage, an asthmatic, complained that her downstairs neighbors—and fellow condo owners—didn't do enough to keep the secondhand smoke from the cigarettes they smoked inside from harming her. The parties settled out of court for an unspecified amount, and Burrage has since moved out of her condo. Smoking at home is legal under Massachusetts law. The neighbor, Michael Schofield, said he settled the suit because it would be cheaper than bringing the case to trial.

But Burrage isn't done suing yet. She also sued her real estate broker, claiming that he misrepresented the smoking situation in the condo building. This particular he-said-she-said suit will go to jury trial today, and tobacco law attorneys are waiting with bated, presumably nicotine-free breath, for the verdict. If Burrage collects, it could mean big liability concerns for condo groups and real estate brokers—and possibly the end to smoking in one's own home.

What do you think readers? Answer our poll after the jump.

Should condo owners have the right to enjoy their property free from the secondhand smoke of their neighbors?(polls)

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Science by the Pint: Google Maps and GPS

Kerry Skemp — 2010-02-09T11:00:00-05:00

Science by the Pint
with Jeff Blossom and Lex Berman
Redline (59 JFK Street, Cambridge - Harvard Square)
Tuesday, February 9
7 pm, free!

Sponsored by Science in the News, a Harvard PhD student organization dedicated to exploring the science behind news reports, Science by the Pint is a new series that aims to promote dialogue on scientific issues between scientists and regular folks. Whether you're persistently skepchickal or only question the occasional odd-seeming science report, Science by the Pint should offer a fun, informal way for you to learn a thing or two about various scientific topics.

Tonight, Science by the Pint puts itself on the map with a geographic theme, asking geographic information systems specialists Jeff Blossom and Lex Berman to explain how they used their geographic expertise to obtain critical data for the Haitian government to help direct action in the recent quake's aftermath. Geographic information doesn't just have large-scale uses, though: it can help us in our daily lives, whether we navigate from place to place using GPS or Google Maps, and more trivial topics may be touched on as well.

Science by the Pint promises to be a thought-provoking tradition. Get in on the ground level with tonight's first incarnation, which comes complete with a drawing for gift certificates and beer, and 5% of Redline proceeds going to Haiti relief.

Sports Redux: Eagles Take Home the Beanpot

Kelly Greene — 2010-02-09T10:41:32-05:00

Boston College and Boston University's showdown during the Beanpot final on Monday demonstrated just why their rivalry still has legs - and why a BC/BU showdown can entertain even those without any connection to the schools.

While BU jumped out to the early 1-0 lead, BC skated its way to a 4-3 victory in front of a 17,565 crowd during the Beanpot final at the Garden on Monday night. While the 3-1 lead the Eagles had generated by the second period (which increased to 4-1 in the third) could have deterred the Terriers, BU was determined to make a game of it, chipping away and finally narrowing the lead to one point with a clutch Colby Cohen goal with 2:46 left in the third. As BU head coach Jack Parker put it post-game, "We certainly put on a pretty good show for the Garden faithful.’’

Steve Whitney, Carl Sneep, Chris Kreider and Barry Almeida notched the goals for BC, while Kevin Shattenkirk, David Warsofsky and Cohen scored for BU. At game's end, Eagles goaltender John Muse earned MVP honors.

Given the way the Beanpot tourney slots are put together year after year (where you'll never see BC and BU face off in the first round), we're hesitant to refer to Monday's earlier game as a consolation matchup. Instead, the Northeastern/Harvard Beanpot showdown ended with the Huskies on top, 4-1. After Harvard's incredibly chippy and spirited play last week, it could have been surprising to see the Crimson looking flat - if you didn't consider that the team was playing its third game in four nights.

On the pro side, it's all about trades today and whether or not the two active Boston pro teams will make moves before their respective teams' deadlines. Has Ray Allen played his last game in the Garden as a member of the Big Three? Are the Bruins, who face off against Buffalo tonight, seriously considering Tim Thomas as trade bait?

Photo by Bostonist's Victoria Welch.

Bite Size News, February 8: CT Explosion Edition

cheap_robv — 2010-02-08T16:00:00-05:00

Image by Acidgalore from photos tagged "Bostonist" on Flickr.

The Middletown power plant explosion has left 5 dead and 12 injured. [NY Times]

A plan has been proposed to stimulate job growth in the Bay State. [Boston Globe]

Let's hope it works, because the state wants to borrow money from the federal government to pay unemployment benefits. [WBUR]

Another candidate has entered the gubernatorial race to represent the Green-Rainbow party, since formerly Green Grace is running in the Democratic primary. [South End News]

Over the past few years, Suffolk County prosecutors have found a way to lengthen sentences for gun-wielding offenders. [Boston Herald]

Justin Timberlake can now put his dick in a pot after receiving his Hasty Pudding award. [Harvard Crimson]

Jeremy Renner visited Cambridge on Saturday night to pick up his Boston Film Critics award for his performance in "The Hurt Locker." [Boston Globe]

Bostonist Hides Sharp Objects After Howie Carr Agrees With Us

MJG — 2010-02-08T15:41:47-05:00

That Bostonist found humor in the Scott Brown/Patrick Kennedy "joke" spat is no surprise. That Howie Carr's reaction to a fairly predictable development was similar to ours is disturbing. We feel the need for reflection, repentance, and possibly some self-flagellation. Hey, it worked for Pope John Paul II. Fortunately, Carr's complete lack of tact sent him well beyond where we had gone. We feel a bit better knowing that.

Scott Brown: 41st Vote or Campaign Prop?

MJG — 2010-02-08T15:14:21-05:00

What kind of change does Scott Brown really represent?

Senator Scott Brown is fond of saying he is the 41st vote. He's also an "independent voter and thinker," or so he says. Bostonist thinks you can't be independent and always be the 41st vote. Anyway...

Senator Brown faces a test of his "independence" today with the looming confirmation of attorney Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board. Republicans, including Senator John McCain, who we'll get back to, can hold up this nominee now that Brown has replaced Ted Kennedy. The GOP, according to FoxNews.com, doesn't like an article Becker wrote in 1993.

In what has to be a pure coincidence - what else could it be? -, Politico reported Brown will campaign in March for McCain. We think the campaign swing might be more effective if Brown and McCain had a few votes in common.. but Bostonist is no expert on getting mavericky.

Photo of the Day, February 8, 2010: Alewife Station

Liv Gold — 2010-02-08T13:00:00-05:00

Image tagged Bostonist by Mike Cialowicz.

We’ve been at this T station a million times, but we never saw it quite like this. Photographer Mike Cialowicz pits the weird, seemingly undulating seating structure against the regulated grid of the brick floor. We like how the once familiar station suddenly seems extraordinary.

Kells Closing

LyetteAnn — 2010-02-08T12:50:30-05:00

You may think it's a sign that God hasn't completely abandoned humanity to hear that Allston hellhole The Kells is closing to make way for the fourth Boston-area location of Tavern on the Square, but Bostonist knows better. Remember when Harvard dug that big hole in the ground that was supposed to become a new campus and Allston's rats relocated to, well, everywhere? Yeah, so where are all the dude-bros, meatheads, douchebags, brawlers, bimbos and tramps who hang out at the Kells going to go now? Batten down the hatches at your favorite watering hole, kids. It's going to be infested. Here's hoping the building's new owners have the good sense to disinfect every surface and check in the basement for any bodies of missing co-eds.

Middlesex Fells Trail Planning Workshop Tonight

Kerry Skemp — 2010-02-08T11:00:00-05:00

Middlesex Fells Trail Planning Workshop
McGlynn School Auditorium (3002 Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford)
Monday, February 8
6:30 to 8 pm
[DCR Announcement]

Do you love the Middlesex Fells? Do you want to have input on its trails? Now's your chance, as the Mass Department of Conservation and Recreation is holding a planning workshop to let people voice their opinions about Fells trails. Plans for the 2500-acre reservation spanning Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham and Winchester will be developed in the short-term and long-term, beginning with an inventory and culminating in a draft trail plan by April 2010.

Image of Fells trails in 1895 from BPL Maps used with Creative Commons license.

Sports Redux: Pats Fans: Feel The Schadenfreude

Michael Femia — 2010-02-08T09:30:37-05:00

Sure, our team may have been unceremoniously thrown out of the playoffs. We may be getting older, showing weaknesses, and be in for a few years of uncertainty and anxiety. But for a few hours, last night, it didn't matter that the Patriots were firmly in the middle of the NFL pack, because we got to watch the Colts unravel on national TV on the game's biggest stage.

It was a great football game, unless you live in Indiana. Two offensive powerhouses played a defensive first half, then the Saints threw everything off kilter by recovering an onside kick to start the second half. It led to a one-point lead at the end of three, and the Saints did a good job keeping Peyton Manning from getting any real rhythm going. The Colts missed a field goal, the Saints drove and scored (and got a two-point conversion), and Manning threw a killer pick-six interception to Tracy Porter to activate the old Manning face and seal the deal. Congratulations to the Saints, who we liked to go all the way ever since they dismantled the Patriots back in November.

As for our local winter teams, there was a bit of a reversal of fortune yesterday. The Celtics turned into the Bruins, in that they had a big lead at halftime, then watched it completely disappear in the third quarter, as the Magic won the third 36-11, and the game 96-89. "I thought we played like crap," explained Doc Rivers. "When we get a good lead, we relax and teams take advantage of it." If there was a silver lining for the C's, it was that Marquis Daniels played pretty well in 13 minutes, in his first game back in like forever. Whether that's a silver enough lining to make up for the fact that the C's can't beat any of the top five teams in the league is up to the individual viewer, but we don't see how it could be.

The Bruins, meanwhile, were outshot and outhustled by Montreal, but still came away with a 3-0 win, their first in a long long long long time. The 2-0 lead the B's built up (Adam McQuaid and Marco Sturm) wasn't that surprising; what was shocking was that the B's supported Tuukka Rask with good defense and Rask never let the Habs get the better of him. "Our goaltender was unbelievable," bubbled Coach Julien, who probably had postgame remarks already prepared about how these things happen and you just have to keep fighting through them. They visit Buffalo tomorrow.

Around the Ist-a-Verse

Rick Sawyer — 2010-02-07T15:17:55-05:00

Photo by James Calder.

DCist is busy digging out of the great Snowmaggedon of 2010.

Londonist discovered an alpine ski lodge, some abstract art, a treasure-trove of antiques and several tube-carriage offices, all in the unlikely setting of East London's rooftops and alleyways.

Gothamist was amazed when a Best Buy shopper was doodling on her desk. Oh, and when a 9-year-old was almost suspended for a Lego-sized toy gun. Oh, and when ?uestlove wondered about NBC's Black History Month cafeteria menu.

Phillyist reported from the Miss'd America pageant in Atlantic City, former home of the Miss America pageant.

Torontoist has been interviewing the members of the Kids in the Hall one by one by one, now that the much-loved comedy troupe is back on TV with a new mini-series, Death Comes to Town.

Shanghaiist got shoved into overcrowded subways by new professional subway shovers.

Bostonist toyed around with a naked Scott Brown action figure.

LAist was exited to announce that a light rail line and route connecting Santa Monica to Downtown had finally been approved.

Chicagoist followed PETA's battle to get the controversial "Lobster Zone" game removed from a local bar (PETA won).

Seattlest checked out the strange case of a photographer sued for taking a picture of Seattle public art.

SFist recoiled at senate candidate Carly Fiorina new campaign attack ad, which features swine, sheep and furries.

Houstonist focused a spotlight on the local music scene.

Presented By:

2010-02-07T15:17:55-05:00

Sports Redux: "Bad Luck, Story of My Season, Nothing Can Go Right"

Michael Femia — 2010-02-07T10:16:45-05:00

Michael Dwyer / Associated Press

So sayeth Milan Lucic, whose overskating led to the game-tying goal yesterday at the Garden, as the Bruins' tour through the various circles of Hell continued with a 3-2 shootout loss to Vancouver, their 10th in a row.

Once again, if the game were only half an hour long, the B's would be sitting pretty, as they jumped out to a 2-0 first-period lead on power play goals by Zdeno Chara and Michael Ryder. But the Canucks then apparently told goalie Roberto Luongo to just sit tight the rest of the way, 2 goals is all the B's are good for, and it worked. Although they once again outshot and outworked their opponents, they and their beleaguered fans had to sit tight and watch Vancouver catch up on a second-period goal by Mason Raymond and the tie-er with 5 minutes left by Pavol Demitra (the goal that made Lucic do the above soulsearching). "That’s the kind of goal you get when you shoot the puck. We don’t, though," said Tuukka Rask, also feeling the existential angst that's gripping Causeway Street.

By the time the Bruins outshot the Canucks 7-1 in OT, and it had inevitably proceeded to the shootout, Claude Julien knew how everyone felt: "I guess it’s to the point you dread to be in the shootout." Yeah, pretty much. Miraculously, the Bruins are still only two points out of the playoffs, and now embark on a 4-game pre-Olympic road trip starting today in Montreal.

Also playing today are the Celtics, who are feeling a little bit better this week after beating three inferior teams. Which means today's jaunt with Orlando (who the C's have only beaten once, on Christmas, since last spring's playoff series started to unravel) is a good test to see if the recent struggles are anything that will carry into the spring. Good news for the C's: Paul Pierce seems to think his foot feels well enough to take the court today.

Dan Shaughnessy, earning his paycheck once again, has unearthed the previously unconsidered fact that Archie Manning is in a tough spot, what with the team and the city he's loved and been identified with for decades being matched up in the Super Bowl against his son. Now that's reporting! Wait 'til Dan discovers that a win for New Orleans would mean good things for a city still feeling the effects of a major natural disaster. We'll be right here waiting.

Patrick Kennedy: Brown's a Joke; Brown: Kennedy Mean-Spirited

MJG — 2010-02-06T11:48:39-05:00

Image from Wikipedia.

After weeks of erie politeness between the Kennedy clan and Senator Scott Brown, Representative Patrick Kennedy (D - RI) termed Brown's successful campaign to replace Senator Edward Kennedy "a joke" as he suggested Brown's expedited swearing-in was a political move designed to obstruct the Democrats' agenda. Brown responded by calling Kennedy's comments “mean-spirited” and said he simply wanted to "solve the problems" of citizens.

After Senator Kennedy died, his family essentially avoided the special election except for perfunctory endorsements of doomed candidate Martha Coakley. Brown won and got obligatory congratulations including a D.C. photo-op with the Rhode Island Congressman. The only hiccup was Joe Kennedy saying he maybe, sorta, shoulda run. No shit, Joe.

The ironic thing with a Kennedy calling Brown's campaign "a joke" is that Ted Kennedy's initial bid for Senate in 1962 was derided as a joke by primary opponent Edward J. McCormack, Jr. who famously said "Teddy, if your name was Edward Moore instead of Edward Moore Kennedy, your candidacy would be a joke."

Bostonist wouldn't be surprised if Ted Kennedy's younger son was not aware of this ironic fact.

Egyptian Lovers Offer Free Lectures Tomorrow at MFA

Rick Sawyer — 2010-02-06T11:25:36-05:00

Those who can't get enough of Egypt, Egypt should make their way to the MFA tomorrow afternoon where two Belgian Egyptologists (is there really any other kind?) will present free lectures on their recent discoveries.

Harco Willems, of Leuven University, will discuss the giant statue of Djetihoptep and the Middle Kingdom's "displays of power and authority." Marleen De Meyer, also from Leuven, will discuss the "excavation of the 4,000-year-old tomb of Henu," which sheds light on funerary beliefs in the Middle Kingdom. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Forays into Middle Kingdom Egypt is a free presentation at the Museum of Fine Arts. Tickets are required and are available at the box office. The lectures take place tomorrow, Sunday February 7, at 2 p.m.

Midway Marathon: Haiti Relief Benefit in JP

Kerry Skemp — 2010-02-06T10:00:00-05:00

Haiti Relief Benefit
Midway Cafe (3496 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain)
Sunday, February 7
Noon to 2 am
$5

Another day, another Haiti benefit. This one, though, is a marathon: fourteen hours of rock at the Midway in JP. If you're not the Super Bowl type, you'll have an entire day of non-football-related entertainment. And even if you are the Super Bowl type, you can have at least six hours of fun before kick off. It's win-win for everyone, except the team that loses the Super Bowl. The non-Colts/Saints lineup is:

Noon - Dr. Bin Laden 2012
1pm - Confidon
2pm - Patrick Yerby
3pm - Seven Shades of Grey
4pm - Cosmic Moxa
5pm - NADZ
6pm - Culprit Policy
7pm - Wicked Hangin’ Chads
8pm - Liquid Confidence
9pm - The Dead Beats
10pm - 2am - DJ Leah

Sports Redux: Uncomfortable

MJG — 2010-02-06T08:27:08-05:00

AP Photo/Mary Schwalm

The Boston Celtics needed a 24-14 surge in the fourth quarter to beat the New Jersey Nets, 96-87, on Friday night. The Nets led the game 73-72 after three quarters, which necessitated the furious comeback in the first place. Color us underwhelmed at this victory.

Yes, the 4-45 Nets who sit 27.5 games out of first place in the Atlantic division and have won one road game on the 2009-2010 schedule forced the Celtics into a fourth-quarter rally to improve to 32-16. With Paul Pierce sitting out a second-straight game, scoring in the stretch fell to Eddie House, who scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter to spark the comeback.

Ray Allen took over as the C's primary scoring threat with 26 points (three three-pointers) and seven rebounds. Rajon Rondo finished with 17 points and 11 helpers. Brook Lopez led the Nets with 19 points and six boards. Devin Harris had 17 points and eight assists.

Eight years ago yesterday, the Patriots were parading an unexpected Super Bowl victory around Boston. Tomorrow, they'll watch two teams who beat them play for the NFL's top prize. With head coach/football jedi master Bill Belichick deciding not to hire an offensive coordinator or a defensive coordinator, meaning he will have an even bigger role coaching the defense, can we still trust in Bill to return to the big game in short order?

We can, however, seemingly count on Adalius Thomas to be ~~amicably parting ways with New England~~ grossly overpaid by another lucky franchise in 2010. Thomas chatted with 98.5 The Sports Hub about his issues with Belichick. Keep talking. More cash for Vince.

Bostonist loves the Bruins and wants them to succeed. But, we had to laugh at the "rumors" that they were serious about trading for Ilya Kovalchuk. It made no sense, not to mention being completely unrealistic, to think the Bruins would pull off a deal like that. Which roster players would ardent fans want to flip - Dupont's terminology - to Atlanta for Kovalchuk? Daniel Paille wouldn't have been enough B's fans.

But, a non-playoff team doesn't do that trade. The team Boston had last year that is a Cup contender, does. Or, should. This year's club needs to figure out if Milan Lucic will ever score 20 goals in one season.

Lou Merloni says his BFF Nomar Garciaparra has at least one year of baseball left in him.

Boston Blotter: IMs OK for Pervs, Home Invasion in Charlestown, Hospital biting, Caning

MJG — 2010-02-05T16:38:57-05:00

Blotter siren

-- The Supreme Judicial Court ruled that it's legal for sexual predators to contact children using instant messaging since IMs are "typewritten" and the law covers just "handwritten materials.'' The Court reversed the 2007 conviction of Matt H. Zubiel for attempted dissemination of materials harmful to a minor. Justice Francis X. Spina wrote that Beacon Hill must update existing laws to account for technology. [Globe]

-- Police are investigating an apparent home invasion in Charlestown. The victim alleges three men and a woman forced her into her apartment at gun point for money. The suspects referred to the female suspect as "K" and one of the males as "Lok". A witness reportedly saw a 2002 red Acura and a silver/champagne Toyota sedan with leave the scene. Anyone with information on this crime can to call 617-343-4571 or the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-(800)-494-TIPS. You may also text the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). [BPDNews.com]

-- A Connecticut man was arrested for assault and battery with a deadly weapon after biting security guards at the Cambridge Hospital. Two intoxicated men were asked to leave the hospital waiting area, refused to leave and took on a “fighting stance” as security guards approached. A witness alleged the suspect was “high or drunk." [Cambridge Chronicle]

-- On Wednesday at 5:30 a.m., a woman reported a man following her near the Shawmut MBTA station. The man exposed himself to her and then grabbed the victim’s buttocks and swore at her. The victim said she hit the suspect with her cane. [Citizen Observer]

All charges alleged until proven under law.

Bite Size News, February 5: Fired! Edition

MJG — 2010-02-05T16:05:08-05:00

Image by bringmespears from photos tagged "Bostonist" on Flickr.

Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis fired Justin Barrett, the Boston police officer who referred to Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. as a "banana-eating jungle monkey." [Boston Globe]

The White House says President Obama plans to meet with the Dalai Lama later this month. No date was announced, however the Dalai Lama is expected to be in Washington, D.C. on February 17-18. China is displeased. [CBS News]

Jeff Vinik, a Red Sox minority owner and former manager of the Magellan fund, is about to buy the Tampa Bay Lightning. [WBZ]

An emergency room nurse from Foxboro shares her stories from her 11-day tip to Haiti to treat earthquake victims. [Attleboro Sun Chronicle]

Jillian Fennimore of the Cambridge Chronicle has been named “Journalist of the Year” by Suburban Newspapers of America. [Cambridge Chronicle]

Is the threat from H1N1 over? [WBZ]

Consider this a PSA: Nude Internet pics probably have nothing to do with your job. Hence, NSFW. [StyleList.com]

Puccini's La Rondine this weekend in Fort Point

sloan — 2010-02-05T14:00:43-05:00

What draws young people into the opera, leads them to pour their fresh talent into the old wineskins of a foreign art? And why does a monolingual schlub like this Bostonist--whose primary engagement with culture is a daily trip to 7-Eleven--find joy in watching and half-understanding them? And why don't we all live in Fort Point?

None of these questions were answered during the Boston Conservatory Opera Program's presentation of Puccini's La Rondine, which is being held this weekend at Midway Studios in Fort Point due to ongoing renovations at the conservatory's home in the Fenway.

The story, set in this production in the Paris of the late 1940's, is simple enough for non-Italians to follow (though flat screens on either side of the stage also display subtitles): Magda, the mistress of a rich man, gives up the comfort of her position to seek romantic love. Kristen Norwark is wonderfully emotive in the lead role, and her love at first beer chemistry with Ruggero (John William Gomez) feels natural. Highlights also include Matthew Grills, in a great comic role as the poet Prunier, and Jacquelyn Vina, who is a joy to watch in every scene as the maid Lisette.

The whole night was alive with youthful energy, from the crowded room to the visible orchestra. It's fitting that the conservatory found a temporary residence in Fort Point: nowhere else does Boston feel so big and urban and artistic. It's like Kendall Square for people who fell asleep in physics.

Remaining shows this weekend: February 5th and 6th at 8 pm, February 7th at 2 pm (a different cast will perform Friday and Sunday.) Midway Studios, 15 Channel Center St. $22 general admission, $12 seniors, $7 for all students with valid ID. Box Office: 617-912-9222 or click here to buy online. Cast photo by Michael Fein.

Dog Blotter: Hey, Rhode Island: Don't Operate on Your Own Dogs!

MJG — 2010-02-05T13:18:32-05:00

Certain things seem obvious, so obvious that it goes unsaid that they shouldn't be done. At least one Rhode Island man failed to read the memo that explained it's a dumb friggin' idea to perform surgery on your own dog to treat a cyst. The gang at the Rhode Show - think Fox & Friends in a trailer park instead of a modern TV studio - seemed more worried about the financial ramifications of playing Operation on Fido than the idea of an untrained person treating a sick animal. The owner/surgeon said he couldn't afford a veterinarian for the patient/victim, a 14-year old lab named Nakita. The owner pleaded no contest to animal cruelty charges last week.

Photo of the Day, February 5, 2010: Clear Skies

Liv Gold — 2010-02-05T13:00:00-05:00

Image tagged Bostonist by material guy.

Happy Friday from all of us at Bostonist. We chose this photo by material guy because we like the crisp colors and wide open sky. It’s supposed to snow almost two feet in parts of the mid-Atlantic this weekend, but we in Boston don’t have to worry. Thirty-five-degree high, live it up!

Scott Brown Is No Everyman, Drinks Obamabeer

Kerry Skemp — 2010-02-05T11:10:00-05:00

Boston is the least drunk city in America. So it's not very fitting that we should be represented by a shot-and-a-beer type Senator. After being sworn in yesterday, Brown apparently downed a shot (of Irish whiskey, at least) and a beer (Bud Light, Obama's choice in this summer's beer summit) at DC's Dubliner pub, betraying not only his non-drunk constituents in Boston but also his own party by choosing Obamabeer. This is not a good start, Scotty. We just hope you didn't get in that truck after drinking. [Gawker]

Boston Not As Think As You Drunk It Is: Least Drunk City in America

Kerry Skemp — 2010-02-05T11:00:00-05:00

According to a new list created by Men's Health, Boston is officially the least drunk city in America, blasting the stereotype of the drunken Masshole into oblivion. Drunkenness statistics were compiled based on liver disease death rates, alcohol-related car accidents, DUI arrests and penalties, and binge drinking frequency. NYC accompanies us in the 10 least drunk cities, so perhaps public transportation lowered our DUI stats and overall rankings. Car-bound California and Texas each took three of the ten most drunk spots, with Fresno, Riverside, and Bakersfield imbibing for Cali and Austin, San Antonio, and Lubbock doing the Lone Star state not so proud. [USA Today via Hidden Boston]

Sports Redux: Party Like It's 1925

Michael Femia — 2010-02-05T10:46:47-05:00

1925. Coolidge was President. The New Yorker debuted, and The Great Gatsby was published. Yogi Berra, Robert F. Kennedy, and Malcom X were born. And the Bruins had a nine-game winless streak.

History may not repeat itself often, but for the Bruins, it has. Last night's loss to Montreal, which at least earned them a point for the shootout, matched their longest losing streak in 80 years. Goalie Tuukka Rask, whose grandfather might actually have been alive in 1925, summed it up:"I don’t know whether to cry or laugh here." He could have laughed about the fact that the B's once again outshot their opponents (47-25 in this case, which is insane), played harder, and dominated most of the offense. But then he'd have to cry about the fact that, once again, either the foe's goaltender was playing out of his mind, or his teammates (in the immortal words of Bob Cousy) couldn't hit a bull in the ass with a handful of rice.

The Bruins jumped out to a 2-0 lead, their largest margin since...we're going to say 1942. Mark Recchi scored on a power play (if you've just started following hockey, a power play goal is what happens when you spend a period of time on the ice with more skaters than your opponent which doesn't end with booing from the home crowd) late in the first, and Blake Wheeler added a goal in the second. But Montreal evened it late in the second with goals from old friend Glen Metropolit and just plain old Roman Hamrlik. The Habs' Brian Gionta scored the only goal in the shootout. The B's may or may not have been using sticks on their attempts.

Claude Julien, who's probably just about out of ways to describe losses to the press without swearing in French, says the team is trying to stay positive. "You don’t have a choice. You don’t get out of this by just quitting and saying that we don’t have answers." Guy should write for LOST. Also, apparently Quebecois swears tend revolve around religious blasphemy and not bodily functions. Just in case you thought we didn't do any tangential research.

The Bruins have five more games to slog through before the league takes a couple weeks off for the Olympics. (Incidentally, the first Winter Olympics were held in 1924. So it's all coming full circle.) The way things are going, we fully expect them to go on a run so their momentum will run out.

Apparently, there's some big football game happening this weekend, and fortunately we have celebrities to tell us who's going to win. The starting lineups for the Puppy Bowl have been announced, so you can start wagering on that.

The Blanks from 'Scrubs' Will Be Here in A Week!

Thomas Attila Lewis — 2010-02-05T10:39:52-05:00

Sam Lloyd from "Scrubs" talks about his band: The Blanks from Thomas Attila Lewis on Vimeo.

We met Sam Lloyd at Griffith Park in Los Angeles to take a ride on the same train line that Steve Martin drives in "The Jerk". Sam explained that his band, The Blanks, are going to be performing in Boston on February 12, at the Wilbur Theatre. The Blanks are the a capella band that appears in the TV series "Scrubs" on NBC and ABC (and now in syndication on Comedy Central) and are associated with Sam's character, Ted the Lawyer.

The Blanks show features many of the songs that they sang in "Scrubs" as well as plenty of live comedy performance. You can see a clips compilation of some of their songs in the below YouTube video and learn more about the band at their website as well as in this article on our sister site LAist. Three of the four Blanks are locals and this is planned to be quite the homecoming.

Who: The Blanks
Where: The Wilbur Theatre
When: Friday, February 12th at 10pm

Sam Lloyd from The Blanks at Griffith Park in Los Angeles

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Boston Sci-Fi Film Fest Starts Today

Rick Sawyer — 2010-02-05T10:30:03-05:00

Fans of independent science fiction movies will have full schedules over the next two weekends as the 35th annual Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival unreels at the Somerville Theatre. The festival starts tonight with the recent Mexican dystopic feature Sleep Dealer, which screens at 7 p.m. Past festivals have consisted only of the 24-hour science fiction film marathon, and this year marks the first time the festival has taken place over the course of a week.

In addition to a slate of features (Mutant Swingers From Mars stands out), the festival also includes three separate programs of indie shorts—often the best part of any film festival—and the capstone 24-hour sci-fi marathon. This year's "'Thon" features Kelli Maroney vehicle Night of the Comet (1984) and David Cronenberg's creepy zombie film Rabid (1977), featuring a foaming-at-the-mouth Marilyn Chambers.

The Boston Sci-Fi Film Fest begins today at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville. The full schedule is available here.

Shake it Up in Davis: Boston Shaker Opens Today

Kerry Skemp — 2010-02-05T10:00:00-05:00

Davis may have its pizza problems, but soon the square will be better equipped than ever to drink those problems away. Boston Shaker opens today at noon at 69 Holland Street, offering up all the fancy fixin's needed to create fabulous cocktails. From Hawthorn strainers (those funny ones with the coil around the rim) to celery bitters to cherrywood muddlers to cocktail elements you didn't know existed, the Boston Shaker will have enough boozing implements to keep you blissful for a decade.

When we talked to Boston Shaker founder Adam Lantheaume last year, he commented on the ritual of cocktail preparation:

It's a way of pampering yourself. I'm going to take my time, I'm going to savor the experience of making it, I'm going to savor the experience of drinking it. I love cracking open a beer, too, but it's a very different experience. The crux of it is being a good host—to yourself.

Boston Shaker is "Your Friendly Neighborhood Cocktail Supply Shop," and its opening has been long-awaited by many cocktail enthusiasts. Stock up tonight so you can be a good host to yourself and drink away the weekend (and many weekends thereafter) in bliss. There will apparently be live-tweeting of the opening (@thebostonshaker and @svillelocal1st), but we kind of prefer live drinking, ourselves.

Presented By:

2010-02-05T10:00:00-05:00

Davis to Drown in Wood-Fired Pizza?

Kerry Skemp — 2010-02-05T09:00:00-05:00

Image by Superhua used with Creative Commons license
The Globe has a new story up about the cursed restaurant space at 187 Elm St in Somerville, between Davis and Porter. In the past decade, Carberry's, O’Naturals, Boloco, Green Tomato II have all tried to set up shop in the space. Each venture ended up pulling out of the strange limbo that receives low foot traffic and feels too far from either square to venture to without a really good reason.

Now Pizzeria Posto is set to open at 187 Elm next month, offering wood-fired pizza and wine. But Sacco's Bowl Haven has been closed for renovations, planning to open in May with wood-fired pizza from Amesbury-founded Flatbread. Will Posto's winebar ambitions be shut down by (presumably) cheaper pizza half a mile up the road? Or is the wine-and-dine crowd distinct enough from the bowl-and-beer crowd to keep two wood-fired pizzerias in business?

Posto will open for real before the new "Flatbread Company at Sacco's Bowl Haven" officially debuts, but Sacco's will be open starting tomorrow for "bowling during construction," giving the already-established venue a bit of a jump on its high-class competitor. Both places appear to have liquor licenses (or at least wine/beer), so you'll be able to get sassy regardless of where you go.

Which place would you pick, or would you frequent each at different times?

Change Grace Ross Can Believe In

MJG — 2010-02-05T08:40:55-05:00

Grace Ross ran for governor in 2006 as the Green-Rainbow Party's nominee, and got under 2% of the vote. In 2010, she plans to run against Governor Deval Patrick for the Democratic Party's gubernatorial nomination. Patrick campaign spokesman Alex Goldstein said of Ross: "Governor Patrick welcomes Grace Ross to the Democratic primary...He looks forward to a vigorous and substantive discussion..." Translation: Good luck getting me to debate you. According to the Globe, one of Ross's ideas in 2006 was to allocate about $50 million to loan to small businesses, municipalities, and property owners for alternative-energy projects. Sounds reasonable. No chance. [Boston Globe]

Boston Blotter: Drug Busts in Hyde Park and Cambridge

Rick Sawyer — 2010-02-04T16:36:00-05:00

Blotter siren
-- Boston cops served search warrants in Hyde Park and Dorchester yesterday, netting heroin, cocaine, a few guns, and three suspects. One of those arrested had the tough luck of being spotted on the street after the search warrant had been served. [BPDNews]

-- In Cambridge, cops allegedly smelled freshly burnt marijuana during a traffic stop on Western Ave. When they searched the car, police said, they found several bags of weed. [Cambridge Chronicle]

-- The FBI is looking for a "trench coat bandit" who has held up banks on the South Shore. [Herald]

-- Somerville cops reported a man who slashed himself in an apparent suicide. [Somerville Journal]

All charges alleged until proven under law.

Oddblotter: Wheel Questions Guy "Wheely" Weird?

Kerry Skemp — 2010-02-04T16:30:00-05:00

Image by r_dorissa
We always thought the Wheel Questions project was a fun way to help people put their problems in perspective. If you've never seen the question wheel, it's a column placed in a public place (we've seen it in Harvard and Davis) alongside some cards. Write your question on a card, put it in the box, and the wheel questions guy will write an answer on the other side, then post it online and/or in public.

From "Why did I lose the girl of my dreams?" to "Can I slap my brother?" the wheel is a mess of questions both interesting and inane. Wheel guy's answers are remarkably level-headed, almost to the point of being too practical and methodical. We've often thought that he could stand to get a little bit spicier with his answers.

Turns out wheel guy's methodical question-answering may have been enabled by a super-crazy not-so-secret lifestyle. It looks like the question wheel guy, who identifies himself as Johnny Monsarrat (and also runs Weird Boston Events), could be the same Jon(athan) Monsarrat associated with a pair of unsavory incidents. Whether creating a Harvard/MIT "dating service" that was allegedly a platform for him to harass people, or hosting an underage drinking party, one J. Monsarrat has been up to some sketchy stuff.

Maybe Mr. Monsarrat should have asked the wheel: Should I harass people? Should I facilitate the provision of alcohol to minors? Let us hope the wheel would have said no on both counts.

All charges alleged, association of wheel with crimes not confirmed, etc.

Bite Size News, February 4: Cup of Tea Edition

cheap_robv — 2010-02-04T16:00:00-05:00

Image by sw_awesometown from photos tagged "Bostonist" on Flickr.

Sarah Palin says she's coming to Boston for a tea party in April. [Boston Herald]

Maybe Scott Brown will remember if he sees her. [Boston Herald]

Researchers say Walden Pond isn't the same as Thoreau knew it -- due to global climate change. [WBUR]

Boston isn't even "Titletown" when it comes to mutual fund companies anymore. [Boston Globe]

It seems that Saugus rats like going to school way more than kids do. [The Daily Item]

Don't expect any Kennedy Greenway development near Haymarket in the near future. [Boston Herald]

After claims of discrimination regarding jobs, the MBTA will conduct a review. [Boston Globe]

Good news for "true crime" authors: If your book suggests that the wrong guy is a murderer, he won't win his libel suit. (Maybe a foreword will be inserted in future editions.) [Cape Cod Times]

Congrats to Rafaela Oliveira for being the second-chance winner of lifetime season tickets for the Pats. [New England Patriots]