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State House Rangers 50; Rest of State 39
2007-05-29 14:37:00
An article by Lisa Wangsness in today's Boston Globe describes the uneven balance of Park Ranger distribution in the Great Commonwealth. 50 rangers are assigned to the Stat e House , while the rest of the state has a total of 39. There are only 17 rangers to patrol the urban parks closer to the city, while another 16 guard state watersheds. That leaves 6 rangers to patrol the rest of the areas, including only 1 ranger in the Western District. Curt Rudge, Massachusetts' chief park ranger is quoted as saying that "I honestly will tell you, there is nowhere in the state, in my estimation, in the state parks that I know my program is doing an adequate job."
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City Building Defaced
2007-05-27 23:56:00
Parking at the North Adams Public Library parking lot this morning, I notice the city cleaning fresh vandalism off the back of the newly remodeled building. Some idiot had spray painted "NAPD" in nice bright orange paint on the back of the building. I asked a few of the local teenagers what "NAPD" stood for, and was informed that a group of boneheads at the local high school has borrowed the acronym from the police department, changing the meaning to "North Adams Pot Dealers," and forming a gang-wannabe based out of "MoFo," or Mohawk Forest. Regardless of what they are trying to form or their intentions, it just irks the crap out of me that they feel the need to "express themselves" (the PC definition of graffiti) by defacing city property. I hope someone who knows who did it comes forward and rats them out (unlikely) and prosecution results from the tip.
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Happy Birthday to...Me!
2007-05-23 12:56:00
Yes, today is my 43rd birthday, so I'm celebrating by selling shoes and sports apparel from 9:00am until 9:30pm...some celebration...
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Lacking History
2007-05-18 12:45:00
The Eagle's editorial today discusses the fact that students today are still way behind when it comes to history. Read the editorial and make your own decisions, but as for me, majoring in Hist ory was a "major" mistake. Unless someone wants to teach history, there is no job market out there. Even then, the positions are few and far between. When my position with the Great Commonwealth ended last October, I sent out 15 resumes, and received my only offer from Olympia Sports, my current employer. So, I toil away selling shoes and sports apparel in a job I'll never go any farther in while making student loan payments on a degree I'll never use. Bitter? With myself, yes. I have always been a History buff, but it's no degree to have if you want to succeed in the real world, unless you want to teach.
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Hoosac Wind Project Suffers Setback
2007-05-18 03:06:00
I'm only sorry Professor Billings is away on vacation and has to miss this one. PPM Energy of Portland, OR, the company that purchased the rights to the wind project from enXco back in February of 2006 (they saw them coming, eh?) has had the wetlands permit for the project pulled because of inaccurate information provided by enXco in applying for the permit. Ryan Hutton has the story in Thursday's Transcript. I tried to go to the projects'website, but you are only taken to a site promoting online gambling. How ironic!
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Clarksburg Sinks to New Voter Apathy Low
2007-05-17 12:35:00
What do you call it when less than 3.2% of registered voters in your town vote to re-elect you to the Board of Selectman? A victory, if you're Debra LeFave, Queen of the Town of Clar ks burg. Garnering a whopping 37 votes, she easily outdistanced a handful of people receiving write-in votes to pick up a third term as Supreme Commander of that tiny "suburb of North Adams." 8 votes went to the write-ins, and 67 people left their ballots blank. Voter apathy? To the extreme. I think she ran unopposed, as did the rest of the candidates for town offices, because no-one wants to serve with those currently in command in Clarksburg...Jennifer Huberdeau has the Transcript's take on events in C-Town.
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Happy Birthday, Mayor Barrett.
2007-05-16 12:54:00
I'd like to wish Mayor John Barrett III of the fine City of North Adams a happy 60th birthday today, May 16th. Here's to many more years, both in life and as Mayor. Here's a nice article by Clarence Fanto in today's Eagle...
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Kids Are Bad For The Planet
2007-05-07 13:02:00
That's right. "Experts" have concluded that having more than two children per family should be looked down upon in the same manner as driving a big SUV (I love my Dodge Ramcharger, thank you), frequent flying, or not reusing plastic bags. So, all you tree-huggers with more than two kids, SHAME ON YOU!
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White Refs Whistle African-American Players More Often
2007-05-03 12:36:00
Here's the results of a study that was a waste of time, money, and resources. An academic study (can you believe this?) of NBA officiating found that white referees called fouls at a greater rate against African-American players than against white players. Shouldn't these folks be solving global warming or studying the benefits of marijuana to the snack food industry or something? African-Americans make up what, 97% of the leagues players? Doesn't that suggest that more fouls would be called on African-American players? What a waste of time...
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Happy Birthday...
2007-04-30 12:43:00
I totally forgot to mention that yesterday (April 29th) was the second birthday of "The Blazer Blog." 1,800 posts and countless more comments later, it has become like a family pet to me...here's to another fun year...
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Bosley Pushes Dairy Help
2007-04-28 14:43:00
1st Berkshire State Representative Dan Bosley, along with 11 other House colleagues, have sent a letter to Governor Deval Patrick urging him to include funding to help the state's local dairy farmers. In a stroke of pure genius, the Governors' Deputy Press Secretary, Cyndi Roy, has basically said the Guv has no intention of helping the farmers. I guess he must be in need of some new towels in the Beacon Hill office bathroom, or maybe some custom pinstriping on his Executive ride. If no help arrives, and you read it here first (I hope), we will have no choice but to buy $5.00 a gallon milk from a Midwest dairy co-operative here in New England within 5 years. I suppose that would also clear up some land for development for second homes here in the county, just in case the Guv wants his friends close by during those moments of leisure he enjoys in Richmond... Here's Hillary Chabot's story in yesterday's Eagle.
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MCLA: Get Rid Of BET
2007-04-17 15:07:00
So, here's the promised Imus post. A couple of things about Imus. Yes, his comment was out of line and ridiculous. I have only listened to him on a few occasions, when radio reception was failing me and all I could pick up on the way to work was 1420AM out of Pittsfield. I never understood the celebrity he achieved. The politicos and celebrities he courted (Joe Lieberman, John Kerry, Andrea Mitchell, Maureen Dowd, Christopher Dodd, etc) couldn't wait to appear on his show. He was your standard issue shock jock, some say the "father" of shock jocks. If you were 18-29, borderline stupid, or a liberal, you found him amusing. Racism and misogyny are not funny anymore. Of course, since the comment, Imus has spent his time apologizing to men of high standards of morality, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who called New York "Hymietown" and the Reverend Al Sharpton, whose resume' includes the Tawana Brawley, Crown Heights and Harlem riots incidents. Sharpton is going to milk the Imus story t...

Greetings on a Monday...
2007-04-16 13:25:00
I'm off to work on a cold, rainy Monday . I'm preparing a post on the Imus controversy, with a suggestion for MCLA. I hope to get it posted this evening. Have a dry day!
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You Can't Make These Headlines Up...
2007-04-16 01:11:00
Global warming rally cut short by cold weather... my favorite line from this story by Martin Griffith of the Associated Press is "The storm prevented the use of solar ovens for a potluck picnic, Stiller said, and caused the planned two-hour demonstration to break up after about an hour."
More About: Make , Head , Line , Headlines , Lines

More on Global Warming
2007-04-10 01:58:00
A great article from MSNBC/Newsweek, by Richard S. Lindzen, who is the Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Meteorology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Interesting reading...
More About: Global Warming , Global , More , Ming , Armin

...And They Warn Us About Global Warming...
2007-04-08 14:30:00
CNN gives an overview of the recent cold snap, and Accuweather.com gives us the reasoning.
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Williams Education Tops $45,000 Per Year
2007-04-07 15:20:00
While Mrs. Etman and I have lamented the cost of our son's education at Siena College ($32,000+ per year), the cost to parents of students at Will iams College will top out at a cool $45,140.00 next year, according to James Kolesar, director of public affairs at Williams College. That makes my MCLA History degree look like a bargain. Of course, that could also explain why I'm toiling away at Olympia Sports instead of Gettysburg or Antietam battlefields also. Read Bonnie Obremski's story in Friday's Transcript here.
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Patriotism: "Crazy Aunt in the Attic?"
2007-04-07 14:48:00
Myrna Blyth, in a recent article on National Review Online, writes about how, in her words, " Patriotism has become something that nobody really wants to talk about." Read the article here, and tell me what you think.
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Mountain View Gets State OK
2007-03-24 15:10:00
Well, in the continuing saga of the Mountain View vs. The Town of Clarksburg, it looks as though the owners of the Mountain View have prevailed in their appeal to the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission. The ABCC has ruled that the town must reinstate the liquor license and if it does not, the commission will use its power under state statute to issue a license to the owners of the Mountain View. The town had until March 21st to re-issue the license, but apparently the postman can deliver to the owners of the Mountain View, the Milazzo's house, but doesn't deliver to Town Hall in Clarksburg. They claim to not be in receipt of any letter from the ABCC yet, which Clarksburg Select Board voice Debra LeFave claims to have been sent by "Pony Express." So, the 21st has come and gone with no action from the board, which doesn't see the need to call an emergency meeting on the matter. In today's Transcript story by Jennifer Huberdeau, The Voice of Clarksburg is quoted as...
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Maine, Vacationland....
2007-03-23 11:35:00
I'll be in Westbrook, Main e today at the corporate offices of Olympia Sports...I'll update you tomorrow...
More About: Cat , Vacation , Land , Maine

Happy St. Patrick's Day
2007-03-17 15:08:00
A Happy St. Patrick 's Day to all from The Blazer Blog. Here's a bit of Irish knowledge from "Fantasy Ireland:"Contrary to popular belief, the shamrock is not the official emblem of Ireland. Ask any head of state or diplomat. Officially, that honor goes to the Celtic harp. But in the hearts and minds of people all over the world, the shamrock is the symbol of Ireland. You could say the shamrock is the emblem of Irish culture. After all, the shamrock is without a doubt the most universally recognized symbol of Ireland. It has such power to define Ireland in the minds of people that it is used in the official logos of many major Irish organizations, like Fáilte Ireland, the Irish Tourist Board, for example. It is also the emblem of the official airline of Ireland, Aer Lingus. Every year on St. Patrick's Day, Aer Lingus flies freshly cut shamrock to the Irish embassies all over the world so that Irish diplomats and uniformed personnel can uphold the "Wearing of the Green" tradition ...
More About: Rick , Trick , S Day

The Trash Problem
2007-03-16 01:21:00
I left this issue alone, mainly because my employer is mentioned, but after some thought I thought I would speak up. The trash problem around the Steeple City Plaza isn't a tenant problem. It is a property owner problem. The businesses that lease space there shouldn't be responsible for picking up trash or placing receptacles around the space. First Hartford is the responsible party. They own the plaza. They are supposed to maintain the property. Trash accumulation is an unfortunate consequence of owning a downtown property. In Pittsfield at the Berkshire Crossings Plaza where my store is located, the plaza owner has employed the "challenged" students from Pittsfield High to come over every morning to walk the plaza, picking up trash. They have also placed many trash receptacles around the entire plaza. As for the Steeple City Plaza, if the North Adams Olympia Sports store was my store, I would take the initiative to pick up the trash in front of my store myself, just to make the ...
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More Fun From "Deval's House."
2007-03-10 12:54:00
Seems there is this former judge who thought he deserved a larger pension. His wife is a state senator, who just happens to be one of "The Cadillac Man's" biggest legislative supporters during the last gubernatorial campaign. Legislature tries to enact a bill that would have raised his pension. Bill doesn't pass when other legislators figure out that the bill targets the former judge specifically. Here comes the Guv to the rescue. He appoints the former judge to a state position, that will eventually increase the former judges' pension to a higher level than the dead bill would have. It's nice to have friends in high places, eh judge? Andrea Estes writes about this in today's Boston Globe.
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Patrick: Missteps or "Learning Curve?"
2007-03-08 13:13:00
Governor Deval Patrick certainly is having a bit of a tough time adjusting to his new job. A list of the "missteps" so far, compiled by Matt Murphy of the Berkshire Eagle includes:His use of a state police police helicopter to fly to official business on Cape Cod and in the Berkshires. His decision to upgrade his state car from a Ford to a Cadillac. He apologized and agreed to pay the difference between the leases, about $500 a month.His decision to refurbish his Statehouse office with new furniture and drapes. He said he would pay for the $27,000 refurbishing.The hiring of a chief of staff for his wife, Diane, at a salary of $72,000. She is the first, first lady since Kitty Dukakis to have a chief of staff.His phoning a top Citigroup executive on behalf of ACC Capital Holdings, the parent company of Ameriquest Mortgage, which has been accused of predatory lending practices and is now struggling from loan defaults.Now, I know there is an "adjustment period" to deal with, but c'mon....
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Patrick Continues The North County Cuts
2007-03-03 16:59:00
Governor Patrick has begun the budget slashing, but it seems to me that his sword is aimed at North Adams in particular. News today of the cut of $350,000 from the budget of MCLA is money that would help fund the college's part in both the Berkshire Compact and the Berkshire Wireless initiative, two important programs. This comes on the heels of the news of a $325,000 budget shortfall in the city, thanks to Governor Patrick's money-pen. Has Governor Patrick forsaken the area after the strong show of support for him in the recent election? Both articles come from Jennifer Huberdeau at the North Adams TRanscript...
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Mountain View: "No Action."
2007-03-01 12:47:00
The Town of Clarksburg had only two words for the owners of the Mount ain View at their meeting Wednesday evening: "No Action ." This mean that the owners will now re-appeal the town's (read: Debora Lefave's) decision to the Massachusetts ABCC, with a likely showdown in Superior Court. Get ready to open up your wallets at Town Meeting, rersidents of Clarksburg. The line item for town legal services is bound to be going up signifigantly. The Berkshire Eagle story from Jessica Willis can be found here.

Virginia Says "We're Sorry."
2007-02-25 01:24:00
A story from CNN.com tells of the Virgin ia General Assembly's unanimous vote today expressing "profound regret" for the state's role in slavery.
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Don't Pahk Your Cah In Nassif's Yahd
2007-02-22 02:35:00
A great editorial from The Transcript today. My personal gripe with parking lots around the city has to do with all the people who believe the parking lots of the local convienience stores are there to let them sit there with there vehicles running (where's old Al Gore when you want him?) scratching lottery tickets until the run out of change and are forced to head home. Free up a few of the spots for people who are there to buy the goods they sell, and for God's sake, don't park in front of the air hose. Some people may need to use it.
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Clarksburg Loses Appeal Of Mountain View's License Denial
2007-02-22 01:59:00
The state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission has ruled that the Town of Clarks burg was wrong in denying the renewal of the liquor license for the Mountain View Restaurant because the board believed it wasn't a restaurant any longer. In its official ruling, the ABCC ..."disapproves the action of the local board with the recommendation the local board renew the Mountain View license for 2007." Board Chairperson Deborah LeFave is quoted in the Transcript as saying "The commission can't make us do anything." Sounds like this board is going to be costing the residents of Clarksburg many more dollars in legal fees before this is over. Jennifer Huberdeau's story from the Transcript is found here.
More About: Ense , Lark

No Postings
2007-02-15 12:06:00
Nothing here until Saturday. I have to work 8am-9:30pm today, and 9am-11:30pm tomorrow (inventory) so there will not be much time to write. Have a good couple of days...
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