Bostonist

Who Is Clark Rockefeller? Clark Rockefeller Movie on Lifetime Tonight

Kerry Skemp — 2010-03-13T11:00:00-05:00

Every weird news event needs its own Lifetime movie, and now the Clark Rockefeller case follows in the pregnant teens' footsteps. Rockefeller (aka Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter) saw sentencing, but is now closed cinematically as well. Tonight at 9, Lifetime presents Who Is Clark Rockefeller?, starring attractive, dark-haired Eric McCormack of Will and Grace fame as the creepy, pale Rockefeller. Oh, Will, how far you have fallen.

There's really no need to watch the movie, as its poster answers its titular question: Clark Rockefeller is a con man, a husband, and a kidnapper. But if all of our exciting plans for the evening fail, we'll be tuning in, and maybe even liveblogging the thing. So if this dreary Saturday's got you down, take heart: there's a bright shining Lifetime movie waiting at the end of it.

NYTimes Honchos Take the Money and Run

Rick Sawyer — 2010-03-13T10:33:44-05:00

Where all those Boston Globe wage concessions went: The New York Times's publisher and CEO both got $5 million, give or take, in 2009 bonuses. [Via UHub]

Sports Redux: Pace Thyself

MJG — 2010-03-13T09:25:32-05:00

The Celtics didn't make any rumored changes to the starting five and routed the Indiana Pacers 122-103. But, the bench and its 26 first-half points provided a spark to help the Celtics quickly open a first-half lead. At the end of the first quarter, Marquis Daniels scored a bucket, Nate Robinson buried a three-pointer and Glen Davis blocked a shot to put Boston up six, 29-23.

Robinson added three more treys as the Green pulled ahead 45-32. The starters padded the advantage to 67-47 at the break.

Paul Pierce paced the Celtics with 20 points and Rajon Rondo added 16 and 11 assists. Davis and Robinson each finished with 15 points off the bench. Robinson had five three-pointers. The bench finished with 54 points.

A good win? Yeah. Doc Rivers, though, put it in perspective. "One game doesn't fix anything," he said.

In an ideal world, Matt Cooke will be willing to answer for his hit on Marc Savard and defend himself against whichever Bruins player gets to him first. Savard's mother might be first in line defending Boston's injured center. Rollande Savard reportedly told the Ottawa Citizen:

If I would have been there, I would have hit him myself. He should be out. That kid shouldn’t be playing. He should be penalized. We all know it shouldn’t be allowed in the game and we hear this stuff about new rules taking effect next year. That’s bull. Do something now.

Savard was partly commenting on the NHL's lack of punishment for Cooke but "do something now" could be the B's mantra for their bad intentions for the entire Pittsburgh roster on March 18, As for the idea that the expected retribution be visited upon Sidney Crosby, well, Steve Buckley was right: Don't do it. The league won't overlook any runs at Crosby.

The idea of Ben Watson leaving the Patriots to join the Cleveland Browns is easy to accept. However, it means the team needs to find someone else to play the position. The Globe says the tight end options are slim in free agency which makes drafting one a possibility. On the other hand, Kevin Faulk is staying in New England.

While personnel moves like that are interesting, the news that Wes Welker is also recovering from a torn rotator cuff sheds an entirely new light on his status for the 2010 season. Bostonist wonders if this affects Bill Belichick's plan for building next season's squad.

Boston Blotter: Lynn Restaurant Shooting, Mass. Baby Killing, Miranda rights

MJG — 2010-03-12T16:47:04-05:00

Blotter siren

-- A 30-year-old New Hampshire man faces over 20 assault and weapons charges for shooting an AK-47 in the China Lion restaurant in December. His lawyer says he has "mental health issues." The suspect is being held without bail until an April 6 dangerousness hearing. [Lynn Daily Item]

-- A Massachusetts man is in jail while awaiting trial for allegedly killing his girlfriend's 15-month old son in Maine. [Globe]

-- The Supreme Judicial Court ruled 4-3 against a Winchester man suspected in a 2007 murder claim that he wasn't read his Miranda rights. The court ruled his rights were not violated because he had access to his attorney before questioning began. [UHub]

-- A man from Ware, Mass. was man sentenced to two years in federal prison and three years of probation after he pleaded guilty to possessing explosive chemicals and ammunition. [Globe]

-- A Somerville woman was assaulted by another passenger on a Mass Health transport van on March 2 in Cambridge. The victm was called an idiot by the suspect and allegedly punched in the face several times. [Somerville Journal]

All charges alleged until proven under law.

Bite Size News, March 12: Heroic Edition

MJG — 2010-03-12T16:08:23-05:00

Image by Stacy Kissel from photos tagged "Bostonist" on Flickr.

Rescue crews worked all night trying to save dolphins stranded in Wellfleet. So far, two died and six were set free. [WCVB]

MBTA driver Charice Lewis stopped her train short of a woman who fell onto the tracks in November. Today, she's getting the Community Recognition Award for her quick reaction. [WHDH]

A 76-year old Everett man named Edward Power died after trying to rescue his 80-year old bedridden sister from an Everett fire. Edna Power was killed in the fire while her brother passed away at Massachusetts General Hospital. [WCVB]

Cambridge philanthropist Ray Tye died Wednesday at the age of 87 after battling cancer. [Boston Herald]

The West Newton 101st National Guard Finance Detachment returned from Iraq on Friday. [WCVB]

Beacon Hill Senators unanimously passed an anti-bullying bill Thursday. [Boston Globe]

Will it rain on Southie's parade Sunday? [WBZ]

The state's film industry tax credit isn't dead yet. [Boston Globe]

Thanks to This Week's Advertisers

tien mao — 2010-03-12T16:00:00-05:00

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Bostonist.

Palladium Boots, ready to help you explore your street, your city, or the world.
American Apparel, with its 3 Boston area locations, you can look your best at anytime.
GroupOn, using collective buying power to bring you one ridiculous coupon each day.

If you're interested in advertising on Bostonist or any other site in our network, check out our online mediakit.

Tonight: Ólöf Arnalds at T.T. the Bear's

Liv Gold — 2010-03-12T14:00:00-05:00

Image courtesy of Ólöf Arnalds

A few of us are stopping by T.T.'s tonight in Central to check out Ólöf Arnalds, the Icelandic vocalist who Bjork recently signed to her One Little Indian label. Arnalds will be performing early, around 6:45 p.m. Expect photos from the event early next week.

In the meantime, you can preview some tracks off her album Við Og Við or watch this entertaining video she made as a student at the Icelandic Art Academy.

Photo of the Day, March 12, 2010: Signs of Spring

Liv Gold — 2010-03-12T13:00:00-05:00

Image tagged Bostonist by MeredithBaker.

Photographer MeredithBaker reports that the front yard of her Brighton home is carpeted with these tiny purple crocuses, which makes us pretty jealous. We love the colors—the vibrant greens and violets shooting through the brown dead leaves. They remind us that spring is near.

If you have an opinion about where we go on our next photo walk, then respond to our awesome one-question poll on surveymonkey!

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Capuano to Vote "No" on Health Care? Friday Health Care Megapost

Rick Sawyer — 2010-03-12T11:40:33-05:00

Representative Michael Capuano, photo by A.P. Donovan.).

Is everybody's favorite foul-mouthed Somervillian congressman about to vote "no" on health care reform? Report has leaked out that Michael Capuano, our congressman and possibly yours, might not vote with the Democrats to pass Obama's health care bill. And bloggers are freaking out.

The source of the concern is an e-mail Capuano sent to his supporters yesterday, in which he expressed his misgivings about both the viability of Democrats' legislative tactics and substantive issues in the health care reform act itself. He wrote:

Therefore, I have been focusing on how exactly the Senate bill affects Massachusetts before I decide how much I will leave to "trusting" the reconciliation process. Trust is hard to find in Washington these days and I will have to make that decision myself.

Among his substantive objections are the lack of a public option to control insurance costs, cuts to funding for "disproportionate share hospitals," those hospitals that most frequently serve the indigent, and a "value index" that would adjust payments to doctors to the detriment of those working in Massachusetts. He also fears that payments to Massachusetts, as an "early expansion state," will be lost during Senate reconciliation, when state-specific benefits are expected to be slashed.

Capuano is not alone in his concerns about the affects that Senate reconciliation might have on funding for Massachusetts. John Kerry, an "ally" in Obama's health care efforts, has reportedly gained assurances that $500 million in Medicaid funding for Massachusetts will not be absent from the final bill. Our other Senator was uncharacteristically silent on the issue.

Meanwhile, Massachusetts health care experiment is about to fizzle out and die. Massive health insurance costs have driven state regulators to revisit the income floor under which residents are required to have health insurance. Though the move will not affect those receiving health insurance throught their employer, predictably, the state's poor will be among the screwed as the state's landmark safety net lets them drop.

Sports Redux: Bruins Come Alive!

Michael Femia — 2010-03-12T09:10:09-05:00

Matt Slocum / Associated Press

Offensive struggles? What offensive struggles?

The Bruins put more goals on the board last night than they did in the entire month of February - well, that's how it seems - exploding for a 5-1 win in Philadelphia that showed they still have a little spunk in them. The big winner of the day was Patrice Bergeron, moved onto the first line after Marc Savard's injury (which they now confirm is probably season-ending), with a goal and two assists. The B's had a 2-1 lead until late in the second, when Bergeron and David Krejci scored 46 seconds apart to leave the Flyers with nothing left to do except try to start a fight. As seen here, Dan Carcillo had the will to start something, but little to back it up except for a wispy mustache.

So what caused the offensive explosion? It might have been the closed-door meeting that the team had with GM Peter Chiarelli before the game. Blake Wheeler didn't want to go into specifics, but said, "What I can say is that everyone was inspired. He touched on the things that everybody has to take care of. Hearing it from him, it definitely lights a fire." We're left to wonder what motivational tools might be in Chiarelli's repertoire.

It was probably written before the game, but we still note with interest Steve Buckley's column about the heart of the Bruins, where he suggests that since they're honoring the gritty 1970 team before the Pittsburgh game next week, they might want to decapitate Matt Cooke while they're at it. He does say they shouldn't take it out on Crosby, but we doubt the fans at the Garden will agree.

We'll admit, the Patriots aren't what they used to be, but we still have to dust off the "Bad Career Move" notebook with the news that tight end Benjamin Watson has joined the Cleveland Browns. Um. Good luck, Ben.

John Lackey threw three strong innings, and old friend Jason Bay went 0-for-2 as the Sox beat the Mets in Grapefruit League action. Bay hasn't gotten hurt yet, which makes us wonder if he really feels comfortable in the Mets organization.

And if you're still able to read anything about the Celtics without your vision going blurry and showing other signs of PTSD, we recommend Chris Forsberg's column on ESPN, where he has some suggestions for how Doc can shake the team out of its winterlong stupor.

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2010-03-12T09:10:09-05:00

Boston Blotter: Murder in Roslindale, New Inquest in '86 Bishop Shooting

Rick Sawyer — 2010-03-11T16:37:21-05:00

-- Boston police investigated a murder in Roslindale this weekend. The killing happened on Stillman Road, and cops found wrapped packages of "white rocklike substance" at the murder scene. [West Roxbury Transcript]

-- Judge Mark Coven of Quincy District Court has ordered a fresh inquest into the 1986 shooting death of Seth Bishop at the hands of his sister, Amy Bishop, the suspect in the shooting spree at the University of Alabama-Huntsville. The inquest will also examine the police investigation of the incident. [Herald]

-- Somerville cops arrested an Arlington woman who allegedly lost it in front of the Somerville Hospital and started dumping her drugs everywhere. [Somerville Journal]

-- Kids are allegedly still sexting. [Metro West Daily]

All charges alleged until proven under law.

The Scott Brown Harassment Lawsuit: Gawker's Non-Story

Rick Sawyer — 2010-03-11T16:30:19-05:00

Not suitable for children. Or those without health insurance.

More pretend news from the world of blogs and other disreputable online infotainment hucksters. Gawker has uncovered a defamation lawsuit filed in 2000 against Scott Brown. Nothing like a shady non-story to keep Thursday afternoon interesting.

Hamilton Nolan, who wrote the piece, is shocked—shocked—that the Democrats didn't bring up the lawsuit during the January's U.S. Senate election that sent Brown to Capitol Hill. (For our part, we're shocked by the other things the Democrats didn't bring up—like the fact that they were running for the seat.) But why would the Democrats have made a big deal about the lawsuit? It was dismissed in Brown's favor a week after it was filed.

The timeline goes like this. In 1988, Jennifer Firth, a Wrentham selectwoman, worked on Scott Brown's state senate campaign. Sexy things did or did not transpire between Firth and Brown, and she quit the campaign. Two years later, Firth filed suit against Brown, alleging sexual harassment and a pattern of official and unofficial regular harassment, including defamation, the basis of the suit. A few days later, her attorney quit the case, claiming that Firth's allegations lacked "good grounds," and the judge dismissed the suit with prejudice.

That means that Brown won.

Now, we all know how effective the Democrats have been when it comes to marshaling unproven allegations of sexual harassment against male Republican politicians. After all, it was how they kept Clarence Thomas off the Supreme Court and Arnold Schwarzenegger out of the California governor's mansion, right? There's no way that such a strategy can backfire.

We're all feminists at Bostonist, so it's difficult for us to admit this, but the electorate does not care about sexual harassment—especially when the alleged harassers are manly Republicans who drive trucks. The American imagination is still overwhelmingly dominated by images and ideals of male supremacy and its counterpart—male supremacy thwarted. For many, a male politician who doesn't sexually harass anybody is something of a sissy. (Note: This doesn't apply to male politicians who allegedly harass other dudes.)

So, no, we're not shocked that the Democrats didn't unearth and publicize this lawsuit. It would only have played into Brown's macho man act—a poor, white podunk at the mercy of an emasculating harpy. Actually, given how bad Martha Coakley's campaign was, we wouldn't have been surprised if they had tried that.

Bite Size News, March 11: Hey Edition

cheap_robv — 2010-03-11T16:00:00-05:00

Image by Anthony Shea from photos tagged "Bostonist" on Flickr.

Hey, Patrick Kennedy. Your rant succeeded in bringing attention to the war debate -- in a way. [CBS]

Hey, Amy Bishop. Stay calm even though you've been fired after your tenure-hearing shooting. [WAAY]

Hey, school kids. You may have to plan ahead and buy it before your junk food before school in the future. [Boston Globe]

Old Ironsides will keep blasting cannons and the national anthem twice daily to the chagrin of wine-drinking neighbors. [Boston Herald]

Most people are pissed about the lack of Downtown Crossing progress, but many are pleased that the Columbus Center project has folded. [Boston Globe]

The city of Brockton is fighting a car wash over its artificial lawn. [Enterprise News]

ABE, one of "50 Best Robots Ever," will never return to Woods Hole after being lost off the coast of Chile. [Cape Cod Times]

Previously on Bostonist: Nomar technically retires with the Red Sox.

Rhode Island Keeps it Weird: Providence America's Third Craziest City

Kerry Skemp — 2010-03-11T15:00:00-05:00

Providence: so weird, even the fences are lubed. Image tagged Bostonist by mer-made

Tina Brown's Daily Beast is always embarking on strange, sensationalistic "studies" that pronounce Emerson dangerous, or BC delicious. We often question their results, but this time around they might have gotten one thing right: Providence is pretty crazy.

The Beast recently ranked America's "craziest" cities, using not Girls Gone Wild per capita but psychiatrists per capita, stress levels, eccentricity, and drinking levels. Boston's sobriety may have killed us; we ended up a relatively tame #31 on the list, our ranking boosted in part by the book made of human skin that lives at the Athenaeum (for serious).

But Little Rhodie rose near the top, with Providence's number of shrinks per head (teehee) and massive amounts of drinking pulling the tiny town ahead of Las Vegas, New Orleans, Austin, and other purportedly odd cities to win the bronze medal of weirditude. Achievements like beadmaking and lighting water on fire may have helped as well.

We buy Providence at #3, and San Francisco at #2, but we're not so sure the craziest city in the country is... uh... Cincinnati? Hmm. [Daily Beast]

Drinking in Boston: The "St." Stands for Stout

Llalan — 2010-03-11T14:00:00-05:00

Remember what you drank last St. Patty’s Day? No? That’s distressing but not surprising. Odds are, though, that if you weren’t guzzling something “lite” dyed green, you were having yourself a stout.

What kind of stout, do you suppose? For Guinness is not the only one out there; in fact, it’s not even the only Irish example. But first, what makes a stout? They are easily recognizable from their dark brown to black opaque color and many appear (and feel) creamy. That’s not always the case, though; what does tie almost all stouts together is the use of roasted barley, which gives the style a dry feel and a toasty taste that can range from coffee to chocolate.

The traditional Irish brew, and probably the most common, is called the Dry Irish Stout. They will feel light in your mouth, yet still creamy: two seemingly mutually exclusive sensations, but anyone who’s had a Guinness knows the touch on their tongue. After Guinness the other two big guys are Murphy’s and Beamish, both of whom are owned by Heineken. A few more local brews that come recommended include Gritty McDuff’s Black Fly Stout, Bluefin Stout from Shipyard Brewing, and Riley’s Stout from Paper City Brewing.

Another essential type of stout is the Oatmeal Stout. Oats are actually thrown into the mash, creating a super-smooth, sweetish stout. Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout is probably the best known of them, followed closely by Young’s. If you’re still staying local, both Ipswich and Wolaver’s have oatmeal stouts.

More hearty stouts after the jump!

Photo courtesy [puamelia] on Flickr using Creative Commons License

And then there’s the ever intriguing milk stout. It too is sweeter than your average dry Irish stout, but the sweetness cuts the roasted taste a bit. The milk stouts get their name because they are brewed with the unfermentable sugar, lactose. It doesn’t break down and thus sweetens the beer. Young’s Double Chocolate Stout is, of course, a famous example, and the Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery in North Carolina does it quite well. But around here you can try the Left Hand Milk Stout or Sam Adams Cream Stout.

Lastly, we mustn’t ignore the Russian Imperial Stout. According to BeerAdvocate, the English brewed a strong stout to export to the Balkans in the 1800s; the Russians were particularly taken with it, especially the Russian Imperial Court, hence the name. The alcohol by volume is high and the tastes of roasted, chocolate, and other malts are even bigger. A number of great breweries make imperial stouts including the Rogue Imperial Stout, North Coast’s Old Rasputin, Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, and even Great Lake’s Blackout Stout. Close to home you can try imperial stouts from Sam Adams, Smuttynose, Left Hand, and Clipper City (their Heavy Seas Peg Leg always being a crowd favorite).

So celebrate St. Patty’s day with a stout (of any variety) and let us know what your own favorite is…if you remember.

]]>

Photo of the Day, March 11, 2010: Nickerson Beach

Liv Gold — 2010-03-11T13:00:00-05:00

Image tagged Bostonist by aaronbbrown.

We're really into long-exposure, neutral density filter photos at the moment, so it was hard not to go with this picture. We like the texture and contrast of the sedimentary rocks in the foreground and the dreamy smoothness of the water behind. Photo taken at Nickerson Beach by AaronBBrown on a Canon Digital Rebel XTi, using a 10-20mm lens with a ND110 filter.

If you have an opinion about where we go on our next photo walk, then respond to our awesome one-question poll on surveymonkey!

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Reel Hub Recommends: The Hurt Locker at Stuart Street Playhouse; The Fugitive at HFA

Eitan Kensky — 2010-03-11T12:30:00-05:00

Ty Burr, not yet killed by Ebert, brings tidings (how else can you refer to a post ending 'get thee hence'?) that the Stuart Street Playhouse will be showing The Hurt Locker from March 12 to 18 and possibly longer if the movie proves popular enough.

This is good news. Even if you're of the opinion that The Hurt Locker is only marginally better than Point Break (as one area movie blogger recently argued), it's still undeniably worth experiencing in the theater, where the film's tremendous sound and high intensity make it as immersive as the visually arresting Avatar. In Burr's words, The Hurt Locker is "a diminished experience in the home environment."

Combine this ersatz-rerelease of The Hurt Locker with Saturday's screeing of John Ford's The Fugitive at the HFA and you'll have a great weekend at the movies. [Boston Globe]

Coco Comes Home: Conan O'Brien "Prohibited" Comedy Tour Tickets on Sale

Kerry Skemp — 2010-03-11T12:00:00-05:00

Conan O'Brien is now legally prohibited from being funny on television, so he's decided to be legally funny in person instead. The Brookline native, sometime-robot, and short-lived Tonight Show host is going on tour to share his hilarity with the United States of America. He'll be in Boston (at the Wang) on June 4. Get your tickets now; we're reasonably sure they'll sell out fast.

Unlike, say, Norm MacDonald, O'Brien is not known as a standup comic. He started as a writer, had stints on SNL and The Simpsons, and has been doing late night since 1993. Fittingly, then, his tour is described not as standup but as featuring "music, comedy, hugging, and the occasional awkward silence"—not to mention Liza Minelli songs (Chicago only). Alternately, it's half-assed. We look forward to both halves of the ass. We think.

[Conan Tickets]

The Art of the Steal Review: Barnes Collection Movie Comes to Boston

Eitan Kensky — 2010-03-11T11:00:00-05:00

It's fitting that a movie whose ethos are so thoroughly grounded in the muckraking tendencies of the Age of Dewey (not-decimal) should be even somewhat connected to progressive education. Sure, the majority of the new film The Art of the Steal, which examines attempts to move an art collection to Philadelphia, is spent agitating for individual property rights. However, the reason we come to care deeply about the fate of the Barnes collection is that the movie persuades us intellectually.

We see Barnes less as a "cantankerous old man who died without a friend in the world" (as one participant in the sometimes-lively IFFBoston Q & A we attended put it [whew! Michael Kinsley would not be happy with us]) than as a man with an idiosyncratic pedagogical vision and the money to carry it out. The Barnes of The Art of the Steal—and almost nowhere else—is an unabashed hero at the vanguard of a progressive education that emphasized learning how to experience art over collecting previous appreciations. (See this Randolph Bourne article, thankfully internetized by The New Republic, for an introduction.)

But we're getting aside ourselves. The Art of the Steal is fundamentally a movie about the CONSPIRACY perpetrated by a cabal of politicians (local and state), philanthropists (famous and not), local universities, and—above all—the Pew Charitable Trusts, to move Barnes' art collection from its home in blue-blooded Merion, PA to a new museum in Philadelphia. That their machinations involve dismantling private property rights and manipulations of testacy make the film wildly engaging, even when we can't completely suspend our disbelief. The connect-the-dots conspiracy is convincing in the way that all conspiracy theories are convincing, and even more so since the interviewees are remarkably amusing and the film's narrative voice is so determined and earnest. Good editing helps tremendously.

A more complete perspective is available, but The Art of the Steal is high entertainment, no matter where you stand on the issues. The film comes to Kendall tomorrow.

The Future of Higher Education: St. John's and UPhoenix Face Off

Kerry Skemp — 2010-03-11T10:00:00-05:00

Classic College Meets Online Opportunities: Whither the Future of Higher Education?
Thursday, March 11
5:30 - 7pm
Askwith Hall at Longfellow Hall (13 Appian Way, Cambridge)

Have you been thinking about going back to school? In this economy, plenty of folks are. And, if you're working part-time or not willing to relocate for school, an online degree can seem like a good idea. But we may also be witnessing a rejuvenation of classical learning: the Great Books are coming (and not at the expense of science). So should you pony up for in-person instruction or try to save some time and money by engaging online?

Tonight, the Harvard School of Graduate Education presents Dr. William J. Pepicello, President of the University of Phoenix, known for its online degrees, and Christopher B. Nelson, J.D., President of St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland, known for its liberal arts approach and Great Books program. The presidents will debate the merits of different approaches to instruction. Part of HGSE's Askwith Forums, the event will examine specialized online instruction and a comprehensive liberal arts approach.

Because our liberal arts degrees have qualified us so well for... uh... blogging, Bostonist might be stopping by to see what online education has to offer. Will you be there? What do you think of online degrees?

Sports Redux: Another Week, Another Rock Bottom

Michael Femia — 2010-03-11T09:30:45-05:00

Maybe this will be the one that gets to them. The collapses against Orlando and Cleveland didn't do it. The close loss to LA didn't do it. The having to struggle just to get by Detroit and Washington didn't do it. And the loss to New Jersey didn't do it.

If the Celtics are going to find that magical extra gear that will allow them not to completely humiliate themselves once the playoffs start, they'd better start looking now. Because we're ready to switch to baseball. The C's embarrassed themselves in front of an ever-shrinking home crowd last night, getting scraped off the floor by Memphis, a team that's young and improving, but still have no business leading by 20 points from almost the opening tip.

Since we don't even know where to start pointing fingers (no defense, no offense, no hope), we'll just throw in some quotes from guys who you'd think would be sick of saying things like this. "We're not looking down to May and April right now, right now we need to be taking care of March. That's the mindset. We've got to do it soon, and do it immediately," said Kevin Garnett. "It’s a lot of people’s first time in the building . . . performance-wise you want to do everything you can to show people enjoyment," said Ray Allen, who may not be aware that most of the crowd these days seems happy just to get on Jumbotron and have a chance at a free T-shirt. And Doc Rivers, on the "two minutes to go" announcement, said, "When they announced that, that was the only good message this entire game." Ho ho ho. Now if you can do something about the apparent fact that the team's quit on you.

One guy who still thinks the C's can find the on-switch is Rasheed Wallace. "You’ve always got to believe. I haven’t given up on this team, I’m not a quitter," said Rasheed after finally huffing and puffing his way to the other end of the court for his press conference.

The Nomar press conference/retirement went off as planned yesterday, and everyone's happy that a rocky relationship finally got a happy ending. Well, almost everyone. Dan Shaughnessy was in the cockpit of the Drive-Nomar-Out-Of-Town bandwagon in 2004, and he's not going to forgive and forget. At least Dan has the self-awareness to call himself "the fly in the punchbowl", which is very nearly what consider him.

The Bruins will try once again to right their ship tonight in Philly. At least if things don't work out, Dennis Wideman has a sweet couch to watch the playoffs on.

Sen. Scott Brown Inks Book Deal

MJG — 2010-03-10T19:19:19-05:00

Scott Brown's Senate career is going quite well about one month into it. He's helping another Senator keep his job, he knows where to eat, and he's very popular in Massachusetts. Now, he has a book deal. HarperCollins signed Brown to produce the unnamed book for a 2011 release. Jonathan Burnham, senior vice president and publisher of HarperCollins, said Brown's story is a "vitally important book" that will "inspire" people. Sarah Palin’s book “Going Rogue” was published by HarperCollins. (Insert crayon joke here.) [New York Times]

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2010-03-10T19:19:19-05:00

Boston Blotter: TSA Goon Charged with Child Rape

Rick Sawyer — 2010-03-10T16:37:02-05:00

Blotter siren

-- Sean Shanahan, a TSA employee whose responsibilities include patting down airline passengers, was arrested yesterday on multiple charges of sex crimes against a minor, including statutory rape. The 44-year-old Winthrop man is sure to become the poster boy for privacy advocates who oppose the TSA's full-body scanners. The alleged victim, a 14-year-old girl, was reportedly a friend of Shanahan's daughter who would spend the night at their house, giving Shanahan the opportunity for the alleged rapes. [Herald]

-- Boston detail cops nabbed David McKinney, another alleged miscreant from Winthrop, on numerous charges including robbery, kidnapping, and assault with a dangerous weapon. McKinney had been considered among Boston's "most wanted." [BPDNews]

-- Boston cops took on a JP landmark when they raided the Super Mario Store on Washington Street. Police allege that the store was selling counterfeit clothing, which is nothing short of shocking. [BPDNews]

-- Cambridge cops say that they found cocaine in a Malden man's buttocks and marijuana in his crotch. Considering that you snort one and smoke the other, we're guessing that, if the allegations are true, the suspect has some serious crotch hygiene deficiencies. [Cambridge Chronicle]

-- A woman was groped by a man after he exposed himself to her early this morning in the Blue Hill Reservation in Quincy. [Herald]

All charges alleged until proven under law.

Bite Size News, March 10: Costs & Fees Edition

MJG — 2010-03-10T15:59:59-05:00

Image by justin.parmelee from photos tagged "Bostonist" on Flickr.

A meeting of 20 mayors hosted by Mayor Thomas Menino of Boston wants a 2012 ballot question to allow cities and towns more flexibility to reduce municipal health care costs. [Boston Globe]

Two unions representing 14,000 workers agreed to contract concessions expected to save Massachusetts more than $40 million and reduce potential layoffs. [Metro West Daily News]

After having to backtrack on increased fees, the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) rolled out new "no wait" services. [WBZ]

The Supreme Judicial Court ruled a Massachusetts law that requires stored guns be secured does not violate the Second Amendment. [Universal Hub]

Boston public schools cafeterias have been cited for multiple health code violations. [Boston Herald]

We know Sunday night's Oscar show omitted Farrah Fawcett from the "In Memoriam" tribute. Well, the Academy also snubbed Ricardo Montalban. They snubbed Khan. KHAN!! [MTV.com]

Two animals used for scientific research at Brigham & Women’s Hospital died, and an animal-rights group claims the hospital wasn't punished enough. [Boston Herald]

Copy Machines have hard drives that can be easily compromised for nefarious purposes like identity theft. [WBZ]

The price of your Sam Adams beer won't be increasing much this year. [Wicked Local]

If you haven't found a reason to support healthcare reform then consider this: Rush Limbaugh says he'll travel to other countries for medical treatment if Congress enacts healthcare reform. Talk about a cost cutter. [AOL News]

Bostonist Review: Kingsley Flood, "Dust Windows"

cheap_robv — 2010-03-10T14:00:00-05:00

After a slow, sci-fi swooshing at the beginning of "Dust Windows", Kingsley Flood's debut CD, the listener is treated to 11 tracks of down home, rockin', sweet & savory Americana.

After the swoosh, a fiddle intro whines and winds around a bass line to tug you by the ear into the first song. As soon as the verse of "Back in the Back" begins with a boy on a roof as "the waters are rising" (New Orleans?) then just as quickly jumps "half a world away" to a boy who "kills to be saved".

It's easy pay attention to the symbolism-laden lyrics whether you can figure out all the clues. Songwriter Naseem Khuri sings with care for every word in a clear, slightly nasal rasp that suggests other intelligent writers like Jeff Tweedy or David Lowery.

Additionally, almost every chorus hangs on a big, catchy hook that makes it easy to sing along on second listen -- if not before the song is over. We were singing "Cathedral Walls" while walking home the other night.

More after the jump, including two mp3's.

Unlike most albums lately, the dynamic mix of mood and tempo makes for compelling listen from beginning to end. The band drives the music around in a rootsy chassis, but the vigorous roar is coming from a rock engine.

There's also plenty of hot guitar from the twangy goodness of "Devil's Arms" and "Roll of the Dice" (which gives a nod to Beacon Hill). On the bouncy "Cul de Sac", mandolin dances around the song particularly when it's punctuating the each line of the first verse.

While it's not surprising to hear tasteful fiddle playing throughout, we were startle to hear so much trumpet on various tracks such as the loping rag of "Stoop Cats" or the frenetic end of "A Little Too Old."

All in all, it's a delightfully raucous 40-plus minute ride on rootsy wheels.

If you didn't catch Kingsley Flood when they recently headlined a night of the New England Americana Festival, they're playing the Middle East (Upstairs) on Saturday, April 3rd.

MP3 -- "Cul de Sac"
MP3 -- "Cathedral Walls"

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Photo of the Day, March 10, 2010: Popcorn Kitten

Liv Gold — 2010-03-10T13:00:00-05:00

Image tagged Bostonist by GirlieErin.

We plunged back into the archives for today's irrepressibly cute Animal Wednesday photo. And yes, we chose a kitten photo—but note that there's also delicious popcorn, and the whole image is quite well composed. The point of greatest contrast is close to the center, where the red cushion and white popcorn kernel meet. Our eyes are drawn to that spot, and then guided easily up to the kitten's eyes and out along it's ears and legs. Taken by GirlieErin on a Canon 40D.

If you have an opinion about where we go on our next photo walk, then respond to our awesome one-question poll on surveymonkey!

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Grown Ups’ Norm MacDonald returns to Boston at the Wilbur Theatre

Kerry Skemp — 2010-03-10T12:00:00-05:00

Old Norm MacDonald had a farm? Pic from MySpace.

Post contributed by Angie Frissore, Boston Comedy Examiner.

Norm MacDonald
Wilbur Theatre
Saturday, March 13
7pm and 9:45 pm
[Tickets]

Norm MacDonald is a stand-up comedian.

It’s easy to forget this fact, given that most associate MacDonald with his long-running stint on Saturday Night Live and his various movie and television roles. Since then, MacDonald has cut several comedy albums and has a busy career as a voice actor, having voiced characters in the Dr. Dolittle movies, Farce of the Penguins and Family Guy. The Canadian funnyman, who got his big break at Montreal’s Just For Laughs festival back in 1987, is getting back to his stand-up roots and returning to Boston’s Wilbur Theatre on Saturday, March 13, to remind us all of why we love him so.

It would only seem fitting that MacDonald would return to Boston, given that his newest feature film, Grown Ups, was filmed in the Bay State during the spring of 2009. Grown Ups, which opens on June 25 and stars Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, and David Spade, is a comedy about five friends who reunite to spend Fourth of July weekend together at a lake house to honor the passing of their childhood basketball coach.

Be sure to catch Norm MacDonald live at the Wilbur Theatre on Saturday, March 13 at 7:00 pm and 9:45 pm. The Wilbur Theatre is located at 246 Tremont St. in Boston’s historic Theatre District. For ticketing information, log on to thewilburtheatre.com or call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.

Mountain Lion Coyote Sighting in Duxbury

MJG — 2010-03-10T11:36:17-05:00

A contractor in Duxbury reported seeing a mountain lion last week and snapped pictures of the animal’s tracks in the snow. State wildlife experts reviewed the tracks and confirmed it was really a coyote. Once Bostonist figures out how it's possible to confuse a mountain lion with a coyote, we'll have more to say. [Globe]

Get a Little Iceland In Ya... Naturally: Taste of Iceland Festival

Kerry Skemp — 2010-03-10T11:00:00-05:00

NASA image of Iceland from space

We recently contemplated Roni Horn's installation of simple, clear columns of glacier water in Iceland. Now, the glacier water is coming to us, as the Taste of Iceland Festival visits Boston from tomorrow through March 17 (backing off just in time for a taste of Ireland on St. Patrick's day).

The festival is meant to raise awareness of Icelandic culture as well as IcelandAir's new direct flight from here to Reykjavik. The country itself may still be in massive debt after a series of bank failures, but the airline is here to provide a sampling of what you might experience if you take this newly available journey.

The festival offers everything from the delicate Icelandic folk music of Ólöf Arnalds (TT's, Friday) to DJ Baldur's rowdy jams (Middlesex, Friday), and even the culinary stylings of Thorarinn Eggertsson, on hand at Rustic Kitchen throughout the festival. There are also Icelandic films showing at Kendall, including "Reykjavik Rotterdam" and "Country Wedding." Globe Corner Bookstore will host several events throughout the week, and is also a good place to pick up a book or several on traveling to Iceland—or elsewhere.

Perhaps best of all, not only is everything Icelandic, it's also free (except, you know, the actual plane ticket to Iceland). View the full schedule of events and begin planning your taste of Iceland.

Google Maps: Now with Biking Directions

Kerry Skemp — 2010-03-10T10:30:00-05:00

Biking to Annisquam, tagged Bostonist by sandcastlematt

Just in time for spring, Google Maps has rolled out one thing we always wanted: biking directions. The new feature keeps your wheels on bike paths (mapped through a Rails to Trails partnership) and in bike lanes as much as possible, avoids hills, and achieves other goals critical to a pleasant bike ride. The routes aren't necessarily the most efficient: getting from Harvard to the State House sends us down along the Esplanade, when we'd probably just take Broadway for the mileage and time it would save. (If you disagree with a listed bike route, you can report a problem).

Still, it's super helpful to have a coding system on the bike maps (green because biking is environmentally friendly?). The various lines have the following meanings:

Dark green indicates a dedicated bike-only trail;
Light green indicates a dedicated bike lane along a road;
Dashed green indicates roads that are designated as preferred for bicycling, but without dedicated lanes

Our Boston Bike Map has served us well for years, but we might start using the Goog to roll places: even as far as Annisquam. Problems will only surface if (when) we run out of battery, don't have a signal, or break our mobile device in a crash... gulp.

Sports Redux: If I Were Shortstop For Just One Day

Michael Femia — 2010-03-10T09:25:53-05:00

Image from Wikipedia.

Andy Warhol was misquoted! Turns out, what he meant was that in the future, everyone would be the Red Sox shortstop for 15 minutes. Or maybe he just meant Nomar Garciaparra, who will reportedly come to Fort Myers today for a press conference in which he'll sign a minor league deal, put on a Red Sox cap, retire and take a job with ESPN as an analyst. Or be packaged with Mike Lowell, we're not sure.

It's kind of a nice but meaningless gesture, an interesting end to a career that started with Nomar being the putative savior of the franchise - a fan favorite whose name rolled off the tongue in the thickest Revere accent, a man whose name could easily be sung to the tune of "Hava Nagila" (a fact Bostonist learned from the guys sitting behind us at a Sox/Sox game at Comiskey), a guy who sparked thousands of debates over whetha Nomah was betta than Jeta (he was, for a while). Then there was the injury, the trade rumors, the bitter feelings, and the trade that landed Doug Mientkiewicz, Orlando Cabrera and Dave Roberts. Which turned out to be one of the best deals the Sox ever made, even if it subjected us to several years of horrifyingly mediocre shortstopping. But now Nomar's coming home, and retiring as a Red Sox. Which means he's technically eligible to have his number retired (though those rules have fuzzified lately), and every time Marco Scutaro makes an error or hits into a DP all year, we'll wonder about the one that got away. Again.

Speaking of the Red Sox, while Dan Shaughnessy is in Fort Myers searching for ridiculous stories, we've got one here, as Jerry Remy's new restaurant is going to be selling "season passes", which cost $500 for the year and lets you breeze past lines and always have a table waiting for you (they can't guarantee that a peasant won't touch your cloak, though, that probably costs extra). If you think it's a cynical way to grab cash from the sizable portion of [shudder] Red Sox Nation that likes to throw money around to show how awesome they are at being fans, and that nobody has THAT high a money/sense ratio, you should know they've already sold 170 of them. You can also buy Destination Packages from the club, some of which include Yankees tickets bundled with a stay at a local fancy hotel and a gift bag, which if you're really lucky will include a lifesize statue of Dustin Pedroia. They start at $799.

All this is better than talking about our local teams' action last night. The Celtics sputtered through another fourth quarter, lost to Milwaukee, and Ray Allen is miffed that he got only three shots off. In Toronto, the Bruins got a point but are still mad about losing in OT to the Leafs. They didn't have Zdeno Chara on the ice last night, and may not have Marc Savard back for the season. But at least the NHL is finally motivated to maybe do something about the kind of hits that knocked Savard out.

Brown, Romney, Palin vs. Health Care

MJG — 2010-03-10T09:07:55-05:00

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

Three prominent politicians, two from the Bay State, found themselves commenting on the health care reform President Barack Obama is advocating this week. Whether they wanted to or not.

On Monday, Senator Scott Brown called the health care plan being pushed by some Congressional Democrats "wrong" at the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) conference. Brown knows his audience and sticks to his message: no backroom deals, state's rights, jobs, no reconciliation. Brown is also clearly not talking to Bostonist. "As I speak to people all across this country, they’re not really talking about health care,” he said. Come to Bostonist's kitchen for health care talk.

Mitt Romney has been selling books all across America as a not so subtle precursor to a possible 2012 presidential campaign. A Herald report suggest his time as Governor of Massachusetts, specifically his health care reform plan, could again be his fatal flaw. The Herald reported conservatives are making Romney's plan an issue since it subsidizes abortions, or at least one blogger said so on Twitter.

And, of course, what health care reform blog would be complete without a Sarah Palin reference. The latest from Wasilla is that her family went to Canada for health care when she was just a kid in Skagway, Alaska. Her father took her brother to Whitehorse in Canada’s Yukon Territory a couple of times in the 1960's. Canadian style, universal single-payer health care death panels must have scarred the future former less-than-one-term governor for life.

Bite Size News, March 9: Women's Edition

MJG — 2010-03-09T15:41:55-05:00

Image by ropro22 from photos tagged "Bostonist" on Flickr.

She formed half of an iconic pair of furniture pitch people in the memorable Bernie and Phyl's Furniture ads, and now Phyl Rubin is going public with her 40-year battle with multiple sclerosis. [WCVB]

WBZ-TV won't renew the contract of sports reporter Alice Cook, a former Olympic figure skater. In 2008, Channel 4 dropped Bob Lobel from its sports roster. [Boston Herald]

Lisa Stump of Andover lost a ring that she considered an heirloom. She found two other rings as she searched for her rings. [WBZ]

Comic legend Betty White says she will appear on "Saturday Night Live" at some point and in some capacity. [Boston Globe]

With another night of competition on tap tonight on "American Idol," the best friend of Cape Cod's Siobhan Magnus is speaking out about Idol. [Cape Cod Times]

The Mass. Department of Transportation plans to study handrails in some Big Dig Tunnels to see if there is a connection to seven fatalities. [WBZ]

While Gov. Deval Patrick railed against pricey vacation pay perks, some of his current and former staffers were taking advantage of similar benefits. [Boston Herald]

The Boston Zoning Board of Appeals approved the controversial Fenway Bark "doggie hotel" that will offer 24-hour dog care. [Universal Hub]

For the second straight week, gas prices in Massachusetts are up. [Boston Business Journal]

A director and a producer nobody has ever heard of have used the Oscar-winning documentary short film called "Music by Prudence" to fuel a feud worthy of two second graders. [Salon.com]

RJD2 at the Paradise

Liv Gold — 2010-03-09T14:00:00-05:00

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Oscillating between absorbed, head-down humility and wide-eyed, costumed pageantry (picture a robot suit with voice-processing software) hip hop artist RJD2 played a sold-out show to adoring fans at the Paradise last night.

The set was tight and expertly produced. RJD2, born Ramble John Krohn, worked funky samples into beat-heavy mixes, pausing periodically to layer in melodic and ambient tones from a fleet of keyboards, drums, and guitars.

Other highlights from the show included a stream of surreal imagery that was projected behind the musicians—old footage from peanut commercials, swaying hips and sepia-toned conga lines, stills from Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and a series of stop-motion traffic shots. There was also a stretch where RJD2 pounded out rhythms with a small Super Mario doll. And the robot costume for the hit Ghostwriter was terrific.

The artist's latest album, "The Colossus," was released in January on RJ Electrical Connections. It marks the fourth solo album in his ten-year career.

Presented By:

2010-03-09T14:00:00-05:00

Photo of the Day, March 9, 2010: Passion Plunge

Liv Gold — 2010-03-09T13:00:00-05:00

Image tagged Bostonist by 16WadeSt.

Nice newsy photo of the March 6th Revere Beach Passion Plunge, which evidently is an event where hundreds of people plunge into icy waters to raise money for the Special Olympics. We're glad it's for a good cause. Shot by 16WadeSt with a Nikon D90.

If you have an opinion about where we go on our next photo walk, then respond to our awesome one-question poll on surveymonkey!

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Taking Filene's Basement (By Eminent Domain)

Rick Sawyer — 2010-03-09T10:06:07-05:00

Image tagged "Bostonist" by Mike Cialowicz.

Steven Roth, the developer responsible for the Hole That Was Once Filene's in Downtown Crossing, is about to feel the unmitigated wrath of the Menino Machine. The mayor has threatened to use the nearly boundless power of the Boston Redevelopment Authority to shut down Roth's project and even take over the site by the power of eminent domain.

Why the sudden fuss? Roth, a shady New Yorker, shared some surprisingly candid remarks about his strategy for collecting municipal subsidies with an audience of Columbia architecture students last week:

Why did I do nothing [about the big hole in New York that was to become the Bloomberg LP tower]? Because I was thinking in my own awkward way, that the more the building was a blight, the more the governments would want this to be redeveloped; the more help they would give us when the time came.

Sound familiar? The Hole That Was Once Filene's became a hot button issue during last year's mayoral election, and it's a constant thorn in Menino's side. We rarely get excited about using eminent domain to clear up alleged blight—it's usually just a way to screw poor people—but in this case, we've gotta say it. Go, Tommy, go.

[Hat Tip, UHub]

Sports Redux: Shoulders and Skulls

Kelly Greene — 2010-03-09T09:15:12-05:00

Photo by flickr user Dan4th

In an ideal world, NHL league disciplinarian Colin Campbell would take a look at the video of Penguin Matt Cooke hitting Bruin Marc Savard on Sunday and acknowledge that such a hit - one that resulted in a Grade 2 concussion and an unclear timeframe for the Bruins playmaker - was one that warranted a suspension. In an ideal world, one of the four officials on the ice would be looking at the part of the ice from whence a puck was just barely fired. In that ideal world, the Bruins wouldn't have to be taking a look at the roster to figure out who they're going to ~~brutalize~~ go after for retaliation when the Penguins make their way to the Garden on March 18.

It appears that we don't live in an ideal world, Campbell isn't an ideal disciplinarian, Cooke's "it was shoulder to shoulder" claim might be taken as fact and Sydney Crosby has reason to be nervous next Thursday.

However, first comes the Maple Leafs...again. (Phil Kessel still sucks, although we're growing increasingly tired of stating this obvious-in-Boston fact.)

The Red Sox brass seemingly decided that the middle of Monday's Red Sox-Cardinals spring training showdown (a 7-6 Boston win that featured three perfect Beckett innings and a Sox no-no going into the seventh) was the perfect time to showcase their commitment to the Remember Lugo Approach, one that's about short contracts. A total of 13 players were signed to one-year deals and, tucked into the list, were names including Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz and Daniel Bard.

How Much Can Scott Brown Eat For $7?

MJG — 2010-03-09T08:43:46-05:00

Scott Brown is currently America's newest Senator, one man in a wicked exclusive club with 99 other members. Bostonist is unaware of any attempts at hazing the rookie, eventhough we know John McCain is the one who would direct such shenanigans, but we know he's learning important lessons in legislating. He already knows where the cheap eats are found. On the radio Monday, Brown said the Senate Dining Room sells expensive soup, and the basement cafeteria buffets are a fiscally responsible $7. Brown the foodie said "I can eat. If I spent the money at the Senate Dining Room, I'd be broke in like a month. So I'd rather pay my $7 and go down and wolf down everything I can and that's in sight." [WCVB]

Bite Size News, March 8: Don't Park the Tenor by the Banner Edition

cheap_robv — 2010-03-08T16:00:00-05:00

Image by Lorianne DiSabato from photos tagged "Bostonist" on Flickr.

Brookline is considering a change in public parking rates to hit Sox fans on game days. [NESN]

Former Yankees tenor is moving to Boston after allegations of anti-Semitism soured his singing career. [NY Times]

The giant Celtics banner across from the Garden should've legally been removed years ago. [Boston Channel]

Does this tweet mean that Rachel Maddow will run against Scott Brown in '12? Probably not. [Boston Herald]

Diners haven't been discouraged to eat in towns that added a meals tax last year. Revenues are higher than expected. [Boston Globe]

New Hampshire is no longer home of the oldest living American. [Keene Sentinel]

If a nursing home resident in Mass is getting antipsychotic meds, there's a 1-in-5 chance that they don't need it. [Boston Globe]

Maybe they don't worry about overmedicating because many in nursing homes have waived their right to sue these places. [Boston Herald]

The Paramount Theatre has reopened after sitting dormant since 1976. [Boston Globe]

Hundreds jumped into the water at Nantasket Beach to benefit the Special Olympics. [Wicked Local Hull]

Local rapper Sam Adams topped last week's hip-hop chart on iTunes. [The Phoenix]

Matt Damon didn't win an Oscar last night, but Boston has a decent record at the Academy Awards. [Boston Globe]

The Secret Message in Copley Library

Rick Sawyer — 2010-03-08T14:33:43-05:00

It's not quite up to the standards of National Treasure, but Greg Ross dug up a secret message in the facade of the Copley Square branch of the Boston Public Library: "Moses, Cicero, Kalidasa, Isocrates, Milton, Mozart, Euclid, Æschylus, Dante, Wren, Herrick, Irving, Titian, Erasmus. These names form an acrostic, the first letters spelling the names of the firm of architects which has furnished the plan for the building." Sadly, the inscription was later removed. [Futility Closet]