Friday, February 29, 2008

Lunar Eclipse February 20, 2008

Lunar Eclipse February 20, 2008

Bicycle and Plow Hazard

[Someone removed the metal plate at Broadway and Prescott Street over the weekend of March 1,2, 2008]

A metal plate 30 inches by 40 inches one inch thick was dropped on Broadway near Prescott Street after the snow storm on February 22, 2008. It is a hazard for bicycles and for snow plows. Snow is expected on Friday February 29, 2008.

Parts 1, 2, 4, 5 of 5 William F. Buckley, Jr. and Noam Chomsky

Part 1 of 5 of William F. Buckley and Noam Chomsky debate.

Part 2 of 5 Noam Chomsky and William F. Buckley, Jr. April 26, 2006.
Part 4 of 5.
Part 5 of 5.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Cambridge MA City Council Roundtable February 25, 2008

The City Council met in a "round-table" on February 25, 2008 to discuss the City Council's goals. They did not discuss the primary goal of city council i.e., to get re-elected. The City Manager again lectured the Council about Mass General Laws Chapter 43 Section 107, which prohibits Councilors from interacting with any City Manager appointees except for informational purposes.
This clip which is part of the meeting is about 40 minutes long.

Snow Halts Library Construction Cambridge MA

An 8-inch snow storm stopped the construction at the new Cambridge Main library site.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Street Hole Lost Its Cover

At the Bus Stop on Broadway near Fayette Street in Cambridge MA a large hole about 12 inches in diameter lost its cover. It may have disappeared during the snow storm on Friday February 22, 2008.
The City replaced the cover for this hole on Tuesday February 26, 2008. The power of video.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

ENOUGH ROOM TV December 17, 2002

Silence OF MA US Senators John Kerry and Edward Kennedy About the Church sex abuse scandal and the 19 homicides by Boston FBI informants. Media treatment of Trent Lott's hate speech is compared to the 22 alleged murders by Boston FBI informants. Abusive Cambridge MA policies that drive people from the city is revealed by the Director of CCTV. Councilor Simmons has an unequal focus on discrimination. Martha Coakley was elected Attorney General of Massachusetts in 2006. Cambridge City Council has yet to speak publicly about the murder of Daniel Furtado by Cambridge Police. Susan Fleischman never apologized for her tirade on December 10, 2002.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Woman with a Disability Dies After Dispatcher Delay

A Bucks County PA woman with a disability died after her call to emergency dispatchers was put on hold. Her bed was on fire. She was unable to get out. Unanswered is the question why she was alone.

ENOUGH ROOM TV DECEMBER 10, 2002

About 5 minutes before my scheduled air-time, the Executive Director of Cambridge Community Television, Susan Fleischman entered the studio and unleashed a 5-minute verbal assault including threats, accusations and insults. I was upset for the entire broadcast. A former boxer literally pulled Fleischman out of the studio. Her eyes were bulging and she was foaming at the mouth. I put up with continuing harassment at the station until February 1, 2005. It was no longer reasonable to spend 8 hours preparing my show then have it sabotaged by the staff. CCTV receives $850,000 annually from the City plus private contributions. Robert Hall, Sr. died in 2007. When I would call in to report that a show was being broadcast with no audio the response was, "You're annoying the staff." Jarrett Barrios resigned from the MA state Senate in 2007 with $500,000 in campaign funds. He uses it to influence local elections. He works as a lobbyist for a Human Services Corporation. After 12 years James Bulger remains an alleged "fugitive." FBI officials get frequent reports of sightings in luxurious vacation spots where they spend taxpayer funds searching for him.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Florida Deputy Dumps Man from Wheelchair

Hillsborough County Florida Deputy Sheriff with 20 years experience dumped a quadriplegic man from his wheelchair in the booking area of a jail. Three deputies watched and did nothing. Two others observed the incident afterwards and no report was made of the incident. You can see one of them laughing. This is only one incident that was captured on video tape. It is a direct result of the politicians, the journalists and the courts ignore persons with disabilities. They are seen only as a consumer of goods and services from human services corporations and the caring professions. These corporations and professionals make campaign contributions to politicians, who write laws that favor the provider of goods and services over the vulnerable person with a disability.
Later reports reveal that the Deputy was arrested and charged with assault. She was suspended without pay.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Christopher Walken, Cowbell Cured!

Christopher Walken, living proof of the curative powers of Cowbell, received an award from Harvard's Hasty Pudding. He speaks seriously here, with no Cowbell and no FatBoy Slim moves. He brags about his intimate knowledge of Cambridge. [This clip stolen from Matt Dunning at the Cambridge Chronicle.]

Friday, February 15, 2008

2008 Town Gown Report MIT Cambridge MA Planning Board

Theresa Stone Executive Vice President and Treasurer, Steven Marsh, Managing Director of Real Estate, and Richard Amster, Director of Facilities Planning and Construction gave MIT's report this year. They described their plans and the current projects. One Planning Board Member asked about more ground floor retail in the Kendal Square area.

2008 Town Gown Report Cambridge College Cambridge MA Planning Board

Cambridge College Vice President of Finance, Administration and Student Services narrated the report. She revealed that their main building at 1000 Mass Avenue is entirely wireless connected.The building generates $750,000 per year in scholarship aid. Cambridge College has programs in Georgia, Virginia and Tennessee. Half of their students are graduates and half are undergraduates. They have no dorms, but their summer program is residential and held at Curry College. They use two other buildings at Prospect and Broadway and on Prospect Street between Bishop Allen and Harvard Street. Their biggest challenge is scheduling and they have no building plans for this year.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

2008 Town Gown Report Harvard University Cambridge MA Plannig Board

[Audio Flaw is Corrected]
Steve Ortmann and Thomas Vautin led Harvard's Town Gown Report. They were joined by Mary Power and Tanya Iatridis. Their 39-page bound print report included a list of properties in and around Harvard Square that the University uses that were formerly leased to businesses. Thomas Anninger, Planning Board member said he would prefer to see more businesses instead of the properties being used by the university. Mid Cambridge Neighborhood Association President Doane Perry agreed during public comment. For more information beyond this brief 10-minute video clip see Harvard's web pages at

community.harvard.edu/development
upo.harvard.edu
greencampus.harvard.edu
allston.harvard.edu
construction.harvard.edu

Cambridge MA Planning Board February 2008

Members of the Cambridge MA Planning Board in February 2008. Also appearing is Beth Rubenstein, Assistant City Manager for Community Development, and Tammy Hillery, audio recording services.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

2008 Town Gown Report Lesley University Cambridge MA Planning Board

The Cambridge MA Planning Board held its annual Town Gown Report on February 12, 2008 at the City Wide Senior Center. In this 8 minute video clip Joseph B. Moore, President of Lesley University described plans and current status. He revealed that Lesley is speaking with the Episcopal Divinity School on Brattle Street regarding mutual interests. He would not specify, but said that both schools would maintain their unique identities. He described their plans for the new properties on Mass Avenue at Wendell Street (currently National Car rental), and at Roseland Street (currently the North Prospect Union United Church of Christ). He reported that the new Tavern on the Square restaurant in the Porter Square Exchange is doing a brisk business. That the new Citi Bank branch is open, and that Starbucks withdrew from opening there. Lesley Vice President of Administration Marylou Batt, added to their presentation. They announced plans to create a national venue for artists to show their work and to give talks in Cambridge. This is an abridged recording of their comments.

Removing Ice and Snow from Cambridge MA Sidewalks

February 11, 2008, City Council meeting. Megan Brook states the problem of ice and snow on sidewalks. Her solution is increasing fines. Speaking as the Vice President for Government and Public Affairs for the Mid Cambridge Emergency Committee to stop wasting "the greatest source of untapped energy since scientists split the atom," -- the hot wind energy given off without fail each week by Cambridge politicians -- and to use it to clear the sidewalks of snow and ice (THE SOLUTION), Roy Bercaw suggests using some of the appropriations for alcohol abuse prevention to teach people how to drive when drunk. This is a public service announcement of DDAM, Drunk Drivers Against Mothers. Bercaw says that prisoners should be trained in alternative dispute mediation services. He notes that the Neighborhood Crime Task Force of 50 members did not have any persons with disabilities. The Task Force determined that drugs is a major cause of crime, but did not discuss drugs. Order 5 violates Mass General Laws Chap. 43 Sec. 107 regarding Plan E form of Government. It carries severe penalties, prison, fines removal from office and being barred for life from holding elected office. Bercaw answers how to prevent city employees from engaging in illegal activities. He began thanking the Council for amending the Human Rights Commission ordinances omitting persons with non physical disabilities from protections. He notes that they are not whole people, only half people.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

February 4, 2008 Roy Bercaw Speaks to Cambridge City Council

Speaking as the Vice Chair of the Mid Cambridge Emergency Committee for Equal Protection for New York Giant fans and for a parade of Victoria Secret models on Mass Avenue, Roy Bercaw asks who is protected by the Council order for Constitutional Rights?

TASERs Proliferating

In this clip from the TV show Cheaters, a private security guard uses a TASER on a man caught cheating on his wife. During the confrontation the man argues with the parking lot private security guard. The guard shoots the man. His wife does not know what happened to him. The Cheaters detective threatens him with another shot.
Here is an example of how technology designed for law enforcement purposes is not only abused by the police, but also by private persons who are not as strictly trained. Usually when the police use a TASER the victim is examined by an EMT or brought to a hospital. In this case the man just drives off.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

January 28, 2008 Roy Bercaw Speaks to Cambridge City Council

Speaking as the Chief of the Mid Cambridge Coalition of Coordinating Committees for an emergency appropriation to protect ice cream businesses that don't pay taxes, [See this link]

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/articles/2008/02/03/where_the_ice_cream_is_good_its_fans_loyal/

and to protect the Cambridge coyotes. He promotes a major project of DAMM (Drunk Drivers Against Mothers) urging the City Council to teach people how to drive when drunk in order to reduce accidents from drunk drivers. Bercaw suggests porta-potties for humans in city parks, or at least diapers. To increase the quality of life in Cambridge Bercaw wants to hire Lindsay Lohan, Susan Anspach, Madeline Stowe and Uma Thurman. To help reduce parking violations he wants the city to issue blue police plates to whoever wants them. He reports to the Council about the dangers of the Longfellow Bridge where trucks are banned from the left lanes. He answers the question raised in the Long Term Planning and Neighborhood Committee about how people will eat when fuel runs out.