In sixth grade, Mrs. Signori asked us to define "freedom." What does it mean to be "a free country." "Yes, Suzanne?" Suzanne Bronsard lived across from my grandparents. We saw each other after school, but weren't what you'd call "friends." I liked her. "Um?" Suzanne started. "It means we could do what we want? Um...when we want?" Hm, I thought. That sounds dangerous.
No matter…
"You know, I think it's about envy. I think it's about class warfare." ( Mitt Romney, The Today Show, January 2012 )
"Of course there are exemptions for those who make money from capital gains, which is legal....so vote for someone to change the laws...each person, rich, middle class and poor look for all of the exemptions and tax loop holes that they can find. If not for those spending money, our economy would be cra…
So you're chatting with your favorite conservative friend. You present a fact-based, well-researched position. That's when they pull out the "I don't believe it" card. You guys. I am so sick of it I can't even. Not only is "I don't believe it" a conversation-stopper, doesn't it kinda sound like your friend will gladly re-engage in an adult conversation, if only you could provide some facts? Oh, woul…
Former Republican congressional staff member Mike Lofgren wrote a truly brilliant piece that should be taught in schools when our democracy has been totally and completely obliterated by our wealthiest citizens, only it won't be because after they're done destroying jobs, they'll be coming after free press, national parks and public land, and then, education. History, as they say, is written by the victors. If we don't do somethi…
Visitors marvel at how often we talk about traffic. The fact is, navigating in and around Boston takes a special kind of grit, and way more than a puny map. Boston sucks the joy out of car ownership. Making it home at a reasonable hour is an accomplishment, and yeah, we wanna talk about it. Don't be mad. Imagine the entire Dunks-torqued citizenry collectively compiling a series. How I Survived My Commute Today, Nobody In History Has Ever Par…
"God gives us our rights, not government." -Janine Turner, actress, Tuesday August 28, 2012, addressing the RNC
My initial reaction to some second-rate actress making such an outrageous declaration was, "Oh for the love of fuck. The chick from Northern Exposure? Seriously?" As is our wont these days, that's just what I posted on Facebook.
An old friend and staunch conservative from small-town Connecticut replied to my po…
"I hope (chicken place)
will make gazillions of dollars. This is a still free country and people
will vote with their money." (August 2, 2012, Facebook, Author Withheld)
I will never craft a response to the "chicken thing" that could surpass the wisdom and clarity of Wayne Self's July 30th essay in his "Self's Fulfilling Prophecies" blog. [ Update: blog change ]. Like Mr. Self, I too acknowledge the absurdity…
Dear White Christian Lawmaker, I just don't understand how you're getting away with it. Has the nation gone so numb at this point that no one is willing to stop you? Have people forgotten that as state leaders you are not endowed with any sort of divine status? Put simply, you aren't actually allowed to legislate based on your personal religious beliefs, signing bills into law based on nothing but scripture. Not any more. I see you, si…
These things are good: ice cream and cake
a ride on a Harley
seeing monkeys in the trees
the rain on my tongue
and the sun shining on my face
These things are a drag:
dust in my hair
holes in my shoes
no money in my pocket
and the sun shining on my face * Roy Lee "Rocky" Dennis
(December 4, 1961 – October 4, 1978 )
Though people asked the question with varying degrees of d…
One of my buddies confided that he can't stand it when his other single friends goad him into going "tom-catting around" on a Saturday night. I laughed, because I hadn't heard that expression before, yet it so neatly captures what the vibe of that evening was going to be; but then I felt bad for laughing, because the expression really bothers my buddy, here he was confiding that his dick-swinging trim hunter pals would tease h…
T Max had been slipping into despair. His Brian Eno tribute show was coming up, and he was running out of time to find a bass player with the required chops. Then one day in spring, he called. He was very excited. "Have you ever heard of Joe Kowalski?!" I had not. "Lexi, you won't believe it! He nailed it!" This guy we never heard of, Joe Kowalski, apparently came over, auditioned and dazzled on an 8-string bass. I couldn…
