Saturday, February 9, 2013
Do you agree with the governor's decision or was it too drastic?
All non-emergency drivers were ordered off the roads on Friday when Gov. Deval Patrick issued an executive order banning travel during the blizzard. (Editor's note: The ban is lifted statewide as of 4 p.m. Saturday.) Patrick's executive order is being praised by some and bashed by others, reported The Boston Globe. While former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, who was in charge of the commonwealth during the Blizzard of ’78, praised the governor’s move, others called the order “tyrannical” and say the strict ban and hefty fines were too much, according to The Globe. Those caught violating the ban would face up to a year in jail and a $500 fine. What do you think? Do you agree with the governor’s decision or do you think the travel ban …
Monday, February 4, 2013
Which were the best Super Bowl commercials of 2013? Which were the worst?
Millions of sports enthusiasts around the world and in Wellesley watched Super Bowl 47 on Sunday. Likely, many tuned in just to watch Super Bowl commercials, just like they do every year. According to Ad Age, CBS essentially sold out its ad inventory for Super Bowl XLVII at prices averaging between $3.7 million and $3.8 million. More from Ad Age: The usual coterie of big sponsors is more or less on board again —hello, Pepsi! hello Bud Light! — accompanied by opportunistic, smaller brands that want to make a big splash, such as Century 21 and GoDaddy.com, both of which are also returning to the game. In addition to Ms. Patrick and Mr. Fogle, celebrities and pseudo-celebs on the ad roster will include Willem Dafoe, Amy Poehler, Bar Refaeli…
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Whether you are a regular to the flu vaccine or an “I never get it” kind of reader, the total vaccine story may not be one you’ve ever stopped to investigate.
Editor's note: The following originally appeared as a "Health Happenings" column on Milford Patch. "What are your thoughts on the flu vaccine?" is a question I am asked daily. It truly comes down to informed consent and personal philosophy. We live in a country with much propaganda for vaccines. I was checking out at Rite Aid this week and I heard the cashiers asking all the customers if they had received the flu shot yet. If someone responded with “No,” the employee would say “our pharmacy has them and it is free with your insurance, you really need to get one so you won’t get the flu.” … and a column was born. At this time of year everyone in the family over 6 months old is encouraged to have the influenza vaccine. This recommendation …
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Food ideas for people whose Turkey Day involves no turkeys.
In less than one week, we'll be doing the Thanksgiving scramble: Running to the inlaws' house, hitting the store for some last minute cranberry sauce, or checking on the bird in the oven every five minutes. What some consider the best meal of the year, fit for kings and gluttons, is centered around meat. Not all of us, for varying reasons, choose to eat meat, though. What is one supposed to prepare for those who don't eat turkey on Turkey Day? The answer is easy, and the options are many. Whether you're cooking for a vegetarian guest, or are a vegetarian yourself, Patch helps you out this week with five tasty recipes for a vegan/vegetarian Thanksgiving. 1. Tofurky: Funny sounding name, seriously tasty substitute. What you need: 1 Tofurky …
Friday, November 16, 2012
It's a little less than a week to Thanksgiving 2012. Are you prepared?
Most people plan Thanksgiving well in advance, but with so much time spent on the elections this year, Thanksgiving has kind of sneaked up on us. Would you believe Thanksgiving, and with it the traditional start of the holiday season, is one week from yesterday? If you haven't started planning for Thanksgiving yet, you're already in trouble, according to the website Epicurious. It suggests a six week prep time if you want to do the holiday justice. Are you prepared for Thanksgiving? And more importantly, in what has been a very contentious year, what is it that you can be most thankful for this year? Share your thoughts in the comments field below.
Friday, November 2, 2012
In this Letter to the Editor, Wellesley’s Chief of Police Terrence Cunningham writes to vote no on Question No. 3, which would make it legal for medical marijuana dispensaries to open in Wellesley.
The following is a Letter to the Editor submitted on Oct. 22 by Wellesley Chief of Police Terrence Cunningham: On November 6, Massachusetts voters will be asked to decide whether or not to permit the growing, sale and possession of “medical marijuana” (Question 3). If the initiative passes, 35 marijuana dispensaries will open across the commonwealth and people who claim financial and transportation challenges will be permitted to grow their own marijuana. The Town of Wellesley, through the Board of Selectmen and the voters, has moved methodically and strategically regarding alcohol licensing regulations, the current regulations don’t allow liquor stores or bars to operate. Ironically, should this ballot initiative pass a marijuana …
Friday, October 12, 2012
A look at marijuana dispensaries and effects in states with legalization.
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Friday, October 12, 2012
The following is a guest column by Marilyn G. Belmonte of the Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force: Marijuana Dispensaries In those states that have legalized marijuana for self-reported medical use, any resident can obtain marijuana for almost any symptom because the state laws are not written to confine marijuana only for the seriously ill. The wording of the laws list cancer, glaucoma and HIV but also list “any other illness” which leaves the law open to interpretation. The process of obtaining “medical” marijuana is fairly simple. First, patients need to find a doctor who will recommend marijuana. Marijuana is not a prescription drug, so doctors can only recommend the use. Most doctors do not recommend marijuana for their patients…
Saturday, October 6, 2012
The Boston Globe reports that the Transportation Security Administration unveiled new body scanners that show less details to TSA screeners. Does this cool the debate over the scanners, or are they still worrisome?
When full-body scanners at airports became prevalent at airports in recent years, it stoked a debate over whether the scanners are too invasive. Yesterday, however, the Boston Globe reported that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) unveiled new body scanners that show less details to TSA screeners. Instead of detailed images viewed in a private room by security personnel, the scanners initially only produce generic outlines of passengers, while still picking up on weapons or suspicious objects on a would-be traveller's body. When full-body scans were introduced, some protested that the images were too intrusive and that the scans themselves would be ineffective because they would not detect "low-density" materials like …
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
The new fall television season is well underway; which new shows are you sticking with?
Yes, I know, cable TV shows launch year-round. But network television still, mostly, stays with the annual fall tradition of launching a slew of new shows at once and calling it 'the new season.' Which ones have you tried? I was surprised by how much I liked the first episode of Last Resort (ABC) — and how much I, a fan of the BBC series, Sherlock, disliked the new Holmesian series Elementary on CBS. Not to rush to judgment, but there's only so much space on my DVR hard drive. While we're at it, not a completely new show, but what about the TNT series Major Crimes, which has just recently been spun out of the late, beloved The Closer? Of the new shows you have you seen — which do you recommend? Tell us in the comments section below.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Incumbent Scott Brown and challenger Elizabeth Warren squared off in their first debate Thursday night.
Republican Sen. Scott Brown faced off against Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren Thursday night in a debate televised by WBZ-TV. The Thursday debate was the first of four planned tilts between the candidates, and it saw disagreement between the two on just about every topic. Polls have seesawed over the last week, with Brown and Warren swapping small leads, as they have throughout the campaign. The debates may provide one or the other an opportunity to change voter minds and swing the election his or her way. Central to Thursday's debate was the focus on taxes, jobs and the economy. "He has said he will defend the top 2 percent and the top 3 percent...and will hold the other 98% of families hostage," Warren said, referencing Brown's …
JT
3:40 pm on Sunday, February 10, 2013
People should use their common sense in situations like this--but there are always some who won't and will endanger others in the process. The ban was good in that respect, and the $500 fine certainly should have made folks think twice if they were hesitating over driving or staying home for no particular reason. However, the threatened jail time was absurd--and enough's been said about that here… more ›