SpeakOutSouthbridge!

Sometimes you just have to count your blessings

2010-03-17T00:31:32Z

Picture the weather that we've had the last few days.

Heavy amounts of rain, 40 plus mile an hour winds.

It isn't until something happens to us, or friends of ours, that you put some things into proper perspective.

I'm lucky. I have a great family: a beautiful, caring wife and two beautiful and thoughtful children.

For me, that's about all that I need in life. Toys don't really matter that much to me (although at one point in my life, they did).

A friend of mine who lives on the North Shore met me yesterday to tell me a horrific story that makes anything that I have seem trivial in comparison.

He's a nice guy, who's getting divorced from his wife--tomorrow.

Last week, he was pulled over by the police for an expired registration, and had to spend $300 on a crappy car that he's getting rid of in two weeks to get it registered and inspected.

Then, yesterday.

When I saw him, he looked like death warmed over. I was worried because he has a newborn child.

He had been up all night, at his soon to be ex's house, as she had called him in a panic.

Their child, thankfully, was fine.

However, they were taking on water in their basement, and it was rising fast.

He rushed over to the house, and quickly started getting the water out of the basement with two pumps. Then the water level rised over the basement window. He showed me pictures of it, and it's frightening.

Outside, it looked like a natural lake was forming. It was all from the rain.

He called out the Fire Department in the wee hours of the morning, and the DPW came along with them.

The firefighters got the gas and electric shut off, and then walked around to the back of the house by the bulkhead.

Then it happened: the firefighter sunk in mud up to his neck, and nearly disappeared, were it not for the quick thinking of my friend and a DPW worker who extracted him.

To say the firefighter was in shock is an understatement. This brave fireman was scared, realizing that, had no one been there, he could have died, and disappeared under the house.

My friend was distraught over this, but thankful.

Then he noticed that the hole that was created when they pulled the fireman out was allowing the lake of water to get into the basement.

Six feet of water.

He showed me pictures of his kids toys floating, and his washing machine floating, but no sign of the dryer.

The problem? No flood insurance.

You bet I got on the phone and quickly got some (although there is a 30 day wait), but I don't ever want to experience what he's going through.

The foundation may have been compromised, and the house may have to be demolished.

He's lost precious memories, not to mention the essentials, like his boiler.

So, all things considered, I have it quite good. Life is, at times, a challenging game of navigation through a very complicated world.

For my friends sake, all I could do was say a prayer for him and his family...and I am buying a lottery ticket tomorrow for him.

Maybe this St. Patrick's Day, he can get some Luck of the Irish.

And now, a few mintues with Andy Rooney

2010-03-15T00:31:00Z

I usually don't agree with Andy Rooney, but I do on this point:

Ronald Reagan – Socialist

2010-03-13T21:25:00Z

Obama is a Socialist!

Or so we keep being told.

After all, during his campaign, he spoke of the need to engage in the “redistribution of wealth”. Remember Joe the Plumber?

But what about Ronald Reagan?

There is no way that I can change the rabid opinions of those who are dead set to see the current President fail.
But there has to come a point where facts outweigh belief.

Adam Smith is considered the father of Capitalism. His book, “The Wealth of Nations”, published in 1776, was the basis for the beliefs of those who now promote free markets and reduced taxes. But this father of Capitalism, certainly no socialist, said, “The subjects of every state ought to contribute toward the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities; that is, in proportion to the revenue which they respectively enjoy under the protection of the state.” That is an endorsement of progressive taxation.

John Stuart Mill, in the mid 1800’s, first separated politics from economics. Mill observed that economics was concerned with production, while politics was concerned with distribution.
During the early years of the Republic, mainstream Capitalism and mainstream political philosophy accepted a progressive tax system and the distribution of the fruits of production by the political system. This is not socialism. It is the heart of traditional fiscal policy.

From the end of World War II until the 1980’s, with a few notable exceptions, our country maintained a pattern of economic stability and growth coupled with business and social cohesion. The greatest economic upheaval resulted from the OPEC oil embargo of the 70’s. Overall, however, we grew and prospered.

In the 1980’s there was a dramatic change in economic and tax policy, spearheaded by Ronald Reagan. He spoke of “trickle down” economics and embraced the “Laffer curve” that proclaimed that as taxes are reduced government revenues would rise.
The result has been a thirty-year pattern of tax cuts to upper income individuals and corporations, contrary to the pattern that had existed over the prior fifty years.

Over the last thirty years these policies have resulted in the greatest redistribution of wealth since the great depression. This redistribution of wealth has been from the lower and middle classes to the wealthy.

Let’s look at the FACTS:

As a result, the real income of most families declined relative to that of the upper income beneficiaries of these policies.

In fact, as Lawrence Sommers has noted, from 1979 to 2008, those in the bottom 80 percent of the income distribution lost 7 percent of their real annual income. Those in the top 1 percent gained 7 percent of their real annual income—and 43 percent of all their income was attributable to the shift in income distribution—in other words, to greater inequality. The magnitude of the transfer is $640 billion for the top 1 percent—or a gain of nearly $600,000 per family—and a decline of $7,000 for each household in the bottom 80 percent of the distribution.

In addition, the average hourly income of the American middle class, the foundation of any democratic system, was slashed:

The wealthy and corporations should pay their proportionate share. Any short-term gains in revenue have proven to be unsustainable. We have seen greater volatility in our financial system than in any time since the 1920’s. Boom and bust cycles have become more frequent and increasingly more devastating. And it is clearly the result of the “Reagan Revolution” You can believe whatever you want. You can believe that chanting and dancing around a bonfire will bring rain to relieve a drought if you want to. But a thirty-year trend line is a reality, not an abstract belief.

If the issue is socialism, the “redistribution of wealth”, then the facts prove that Ronald Reagan was the biggest (and most successful) socialist in American history. The policies he instituted, and that his acolytes have pursued, have resulted in the greatest redistribution of wealth since Herbert Hoover, to the detriment of the vast majority of Americans.

Of course, opponents of the current Administration then point to the debt burden that our country has incurred. They overlook the fact that the debt reached a postwar low in 1981, but more than tripled during the Reagan Era, due to the Republicans’ failed Trickle Down Economic Theories, Reagan started out as the head of the world’s richest nation – but ended with the U.S. as the world’s largest debtor. Clinton began to reduce the debt. It peaked in 1996 and declined after that, demonstrating the possibility of total elimination of the debt in the future. The curve bottomed out in 2001 and began its current rapid ascent under GW Bush’s direction.

Perhaps the issue should be the size of the government. After all, Conservatives rail against big government. However, Federal employment grew by 61,000 during Reagan’s presidency—in part because Reagan created a whole new cabinet department, the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Under Bill Clinton, by contrast, federal employment dropped by 373,000.

The issue is not socialism. The issue is the preservation of the economic welfare of the American middle class that is the heart of America. It is an issue of maintaining a balance between those who, because of God-given gifts, social position or political advantage can gain wealth and the core of America, and their children, who aspire to those lofty heights. It is not socialism or communism; it is the preservation and perpetuation of the American dream.

Today's Southbridge Evening News

2010-03-12T09:39:00Z

Dear Readers:

DOES THE FIRST AMENDMENT APPLY IN SOUTHBRIDGE?

Today's Southbridge Evening News is carrying a story that I am facing a criminal harassment charge.

The online version reports, “Town Council Vice Chairman Albert D. Vecchia Jr. said Wednesday the complaint involves him, specifically that Martinek was pretending to be the councilor on the Internet.”

Apparently Al didn’t appreciate the “AppleVechia” tweets.

Anyone who can read should know what SATIRE is.

Anyone who has read this website knows I DON’T want to be Al Vecchia.

I have NOT been arrested.

I have NOT been charged by the Court.

Al is being … well Al.

Buy the paper. Read the article. Read the Tweets that are reported in the article.

Now, I don’t blame the paper for reporting what they’re reporting. They have a job to do, and that’s ok. They report, you decide.

Unfortunately the headline is similar to, “Boy Locked in Refrigerator Eats Own Foot!”.

I assure you, readers, that once my attorney allows me I will speak to the facts, or he will, whichever makes the most sense.
But I tell you my opinions all day, every day. I will not be intimidated. I won’t shut up.

I know that SpeakOutSouthbridge.com has an intelligent base of readers, and I know that you can draw your own conclusions and form your own opinions. I look forward to hearing them and sharing them with Southbridge.

Anyhow, let me conclude by saying this:

I have done nothing wrong.

This is a clear case of First Amendment rights, and our Free Speech, being attacked by a man who’s campaign slogan, ironically, is “let the people speak”.

It’s hard to do that with a boot on your throat.

God Bless America, and God Bless our Freedom of Speech.

I need your help!

2010-03-11T00:55:00Z

I'm having a major brain cramp, and need some help.

I know this clip of the Stay Puft Marshmallow man/woman reminds me of someone.

I think it might be a Town Clowncilor, but I can't figure out whom.

Help!

With apologies to the readers!

2010-03-10T23:49:00Z

Yes, folks, for the last time, WE ARE BACK!

Unlike the season on Dallas, when Bobby Ewing realized it was all a dream, well, the last two weeks has been that way for all of us.

So, forgive me for acting like I took the small bus to school.

Funny thing about our Constitution, it's alive and well, I'm glad to report.

So, over the next few days, I'm going to try and put every single darned post right back up where it belongs!

If you get some emails in error, my apologies in advance, but it's most important that the people of Southbridge have a voice, and that they freely excercise, in the proper manner, their First Amendment right to Free Speech.

Now, you may have some Clowncilors running that have one foot on your throat and the other on the Constitution.

However, in the end, this country is still a country of laws, and Goddamn it, I'm thankful to be living here!

SPEAKOUTSOUTHBRIDGE!

"Let the People Speak!"

2010-03-10T23:46:00Z

Or not.

Yes, let them speak, while you've got your foot on their throat!

Maybe this slogan is worth revisiting, as a better alternative?

A dedication

2010-03-10T23:40:00Z

For a very, very "special" person.

Enjoy!

A final thought for the night

2010-03-10T00:51:00Z

As one reader mentioned earlier today, the last two weeks has been like trying to keep up with Lost.

Confusing, but I aim to correct that.

Good news is that almost all of our readers are back in full already.

So now, I want to ask you all a favor:

Send the link to SpeakOutSouthbridge to five friends or neighbors in Southbridge, or in surrounding towns, people that care about this town, and want to get involved, and not lie dormant any longer.

Simply copy this link, and ask them to forward it on to five friends as well.

www.SpeakOutSouthbridge.com

I was going to say, "together we can", but please, ignore that!

Don't Tread on Me

2010-03-10T00:44:00Z

Enjoy!

Some things need no explanation

2010-03-10T00:28:00Z

If I have to explain this, well, ask someone else:

Being that this is Southbridge, remember, we're frugal!

2010-03-10T00:11:00Z

Leave it to our Acting...I mean, Acton Board of Health Director, Jim Morin, to not be able to figure out how to electronically send out an email with a PowerPoint presentation, but spend nearly $6.00 to mail it.

Anyway, I'm guessing that what he didn't want to have you see in color are several references to Casella on his proposed "website".

Amazing he could get help (from Casella?) to make a mock up that he couldn't email.

But his technology will be better.

See it for yourself, and see if you catch it.

Keep in mind, Casella has a non-compete for two-years, but it doesn't look like it according to this:

Brought to you by Casella. Hey, that's what it says.

Hmm...who makes out in this deal?

PS Mailing a letter to Acton also costs $0.44.

Save the town some damn money, will you? And I'll waive my usual scanning fees for you this time.

Your tax dollars at work in Southbridge

2010-03-10T00:02:00Z

I live exactly 1.89 miles from Town Hall.

Now, most people would send out a letter and pay the $0.44.

That is, unless you work in a government job in the Town of Southbridge, where money is so aplentiful, that they could spend $5.88 to send out thirteen, count them, thirteen pages of excuses.

First, the postage:

I wonder how many Recycle points that cost Town Hall?

Oh, that's right, they don't believe in RecycleBank.

They're much more efficient.

Coming soon!

2010-03-09T02:41:00Z

I was promised by Jim Morin that he's sending me his recent presentation (gratis!--gosh, thanks!).

Once I have it, it will be going up here, on SpeakOutSouthbridge.

By the way, I'll make a prediction:

Within the upcoming months, SpeakOutSouthbridge will become Central Massachusetts' most visited blog.

Watch.

Wait.

See.

You're damn right, I'm back!

Enough already, let's get back to the issues that are important!

I know, I know, I know!

2010-03-07T19:11:00Z

Hey, y'all!

I know from your emails that you're getting dizzy with the "site's up", no, the "site's down".

Sorry, some behind the scene stuff I'm working on.

For the tender hearted readers (hee-hee)

2010-03-05T01:24:00Z

I feel like Wolfman Jack tonight.

Sending this out to Carol in Wichita. A regular caller on the "Wolfman Jack" show.

Or something like that.

It's a beautiful day!

2010-03-05T00:57:00Z

As Carol Ann said in Poltergeist:

"They're baaaack"

Southbridge Little League Registration

2010-02-18T23:57:00Z

An important message regarding Southbridge Little League registrations:

Southbridge Little League Registration

BREAKING NEWS--MEMO FROM MORIN TO CLARK

2010-02-17T23:56:00Z

Please send this to everyone that you know:

"For cy 2009:

6000+ households (HHs) are serviced curbside

4846 HHs have recycling toters

938 HHs of the 4846 HHs have set up a Recyclebank account with a user name and password

187 HHs of the 938 HHs have redeemed rewards

This MEANS that 3% of HHs have benefitted from RecycleBank rewards.

Casella pays $1.00 per HH, per month=over $72,000.00 per year

We want to REALLOCATE the $72,000.00 per year that Casella pays RecycleBank BACK into the TOWN to BENEFIT more than 3% if SOUTHBRIDGE HOUSEHOLDS

We all feel that RecycleBank has failed to follow through on their part in the following areas:

- lack of technical and on the ground support

- lack of outreach to local vendors encouraging their participation

-coupon value has decreased over the past two years

-lack of control of contract.

If RecycleBank goes:

Points will stop accruing

HHs will have the opportunity to redeem their coupons until a time to be determined

96 gal toters REMAIN

Single stream recycling REMAINS

Every other week recycling REMAIN

If RecycleBank goes, the $72,000.00 is Reallocated to

(I need to put the other info in another email to follow:

RecycleBank stamps on toters have to be covered with waste ban stickers $500.

Health Department website with user registration and bulk item $30,000.

registration and reuse w/once a week pick-up

Electronics registration w/once a month pick-up $15,000

Curbside education $6,500.

Recycling receptacles next to trash receptacles on Main Street $10,000.

Grants for schools and neighborhoods $10,000.

Water and sewer rebates: $72,000/6000HHs=$12.00 a year per HH (this does not include price to implement system and pay)"

"Time of death, 2400 hours, Sunday, February 28, 2010"

2010-02-17T22:48:00Z

Well, people, I can't be any more blunt than this:

You have no chance of saving the RecycleBank.

None. Nada. No way.

Not that I'm not helping to try, but in this town, as in many (but much worse in Southbridge), side deals and agreements are made in advance of filling in the people, because apparently, there are so many other people than us than are so much wiser.

Or so they think.

Some things that I didn't print the other day after my conversation with Jim Morin, that struck me today:

- The mention of a "side-letter" that he has...more on what that's all about as he tells us, I'm sure;

- RecycleBank never had a chance, because for "three years they've failed". This from a department that is, how old?

- When I asked why Southbridge, in the last three years has had no appreciable gain (or loss) in recycling, despite having thousands of 96 gallon bins out, I was given the run on sofa's excuse (mine is out tomorrow, by the way). That is statistically improbable, no, impossible. What's more likely is that the total tonnage that they recycle amount is being divided by is the total coming into Southbridge, not the total from Southbridge. There is a BIG difference.

- Morin trusts the numbers from Casella, who has to pay for this benefit, but not the RecycleBank, who has to prove the data. Although they have provided the data, Morin believes this data are "bullshit".

- Morin believes that the small group of people that voiced concerns over RecycleBank represent the whole town. Basically, it's a failure, and going away, because of those of you with concerns. Wise decision (sarcasm).

- I asked Morin, why not try to give the people a win? We've had a site-assignment thrown down our throats, a Registry move away, and now, this. We, the Sheeple, just can't win, with so many people smarter than us.

- Morin believes that with his 20 years of experience, he can devise a better program, with pay as you throw. Yes folks, belly up to the bar to pay, and watch that recycling rate increase! How about accurate data and we'll get the true reading. Over 70% of households recycle at least once a month.

It's to the benefit of the Board of Health and Casella to look like stars.

To Casella, they can shine to their shareholders.

To the BOH, they can try to pretend they can do it better.

Morin objected to RecycleBank's trying to add--gasp!--advertising to their model to increase revenue.

Heaven forbid! Just like Casella adding MSW to C&D for their benefit.

The Holy horse shit about getting mercury out of the ground is great.

How many of you, after the run on sofa's, are going to toss out your cellphones, TV's and old CRT's?

I know, it's right after you through out the Atari.

In other words, we are getting into yet something else that we have no experience in.

You think the numbers won't reflect a rousing success?

Think again.

And our Town Manager, who has his own issues in asking what I believe to be illegal questions of candidates for positions in town, seems to think that the $72,000 isn't a major change worthy of noting.

I sure as hell want to know where the hell it's going to...and I can tell you who it's NOT going to.

Only in Southbridge, people, only in Southbridge.

“When you hit the people in the pocketbook, then they pay attention.”

2010-02-16T21:35:00Z

I spoke with both Jim Morin of the Board of Health, and Scott Lamb, COO of RecycleBank.

What I'd like to do is to present the facts that I heard from both of them, and reserve my opinion until the end of this writing.

According to Lamb, the three year contract that they have with Casella ends on March 1, 2010, and Casella gave a verbal non-renewal of the contract to RecycleBank last Tuesday, February 9, 2010.

Morin stated that he decided, after hearing the complaints from twelve or so residents at a recent Board of Health (BOH) meeting not to renew the program, since it hasn't shown appreciable gains in net recycling over the last three years.

When Lamb spoke to Bill Hanley at Casella last year regarding their intentions, and what he wanted to do with the agreement, he had no comment at that time, and would let RecycleBank know.

Casella asked them for language to provide to the people of Southbridge as to what they can do with their points.

Lamb stated that he had sent numerous emails to Morin and Melissa Joyce, but Morin "never engaged at all".

Casella was an original investor in RecycleBank, before signing the contract for services with them, but are now looking to divest from that agreement, since it's "not for them".

Lamb states that there is a non-compete which prevents Casella from participating in a competitive program for two years, even preventing them from providing recycling data which would be used to calculate rewards.

Morin says this is not true, that Casella must provide the data by law.

But if there is a non-compete, which I would love to get a copy of, what is Casella's legal obligation?

So, here are some questions to ponder, and this is coming from a person that hasn't been happy with the rewards from RecycleBank, but thinks that the idea is great:

How did we go from virtually no recycle bins to 96 gallon containers, which everyone seems to be using, and have no increase in recycling rates?

Morin stated to me that he believes (anecdotally) that there are a large number of "out of town, illegal" trash being dumped that is keeping the recycle number stable, yet this is not backed up by proof.

However, we can't even seem to agree on how many containers there are that are being collected.

RecycleBank states that there are 6,652 containers in use. Morin's numbers show anywhere from 4,400 to 5,200.

How do you calculate the recycling rate?

There are many ways, but the cleanest way seems to be looking at the amount of recyclables divided by the amount of non-recyclable material.

However, although Morin stated that the latter number only includes Southbridge trash, the math doesn't add up.

He said that Southbridge has had a "run" on disposables like sofas. I asked how many sofa "runs" we've had over the last twelve months, and it's roughly 100.

Unfortunately, we didn't have a previous number to compare that "run" to. Was it 50 the year before? 75?

Regardless, that's a lot of sofa's distorting the recycle rate.

Morin told me that this has been a failure since the beginning, but no one communicated that to RecycleBank, and it's not the town's job to tell them how to run their business.

RecycleBank said that there is a 70% participation rate monthly. Morin disputes that figure, and said " they are playing around with the numbers, with the definitions. That's bullshit."

Yet the information comes from the pickups from Casella.

Casella will, by breaking the contract, not pay $72,000 plus per year into this program, which Morin promises in next weeks Town Council meeting, will be brought up.

However, if this money is coming from our taxes, and Casella is paid, but not RecycleBank, who makes out in the end? In who's best interest is it to no longer participate?

Morin says that the money will be re-used for other recycling programs, and he doesn't need the data from Casella to calculate it.

If, as I suspect, the increased tonnage from Casella's collection of other towns is added in and used as the divisor, that would explain the anomaly that we have in this town with more people recycling, and no increase showing.

As for pay as you throw, as Morin said:

“When you hit the people in the pocketbook, then they pay attention.”

With another expected increase in water and sewer rates pending, one can only wonder:

How much more can the powerless citizens take before we rid the perception that our government is working not for us, but in the best interests of others?

I respect Mr. Morin and Mr. Lamb for their time, but in the end, at this point, I see only one winner:

Casella.

And one big loser:

The people of this town.

Again.

The illegal interpretation of the contract with Casella regarding RecycleBank

2010-02-15T00:16:00Z

February 14, 2010

Dear Town Manager Clark,

I would like to communicate with you my concern regarding the "ending" of the RecycleBank program that Casella is bound by on page 19 of the contract with the Town of Southbridge.

Reading through the contract, it appears that neither the Board of Health, its Director, Jim Morin, the Town Council, nor the Town Manager has either the power or the authority to arbitrarily change, add, edit or delete the conditions surrounding the terms contained therein.

It only states that it may be re-opened through certain justifications, and this once again appears to be a case of putting the cart in front of the horse in the Town of Southbridge.

Referencing page 33, item 27 specifically discusses the handling of dispute resolutions.

Once again, Casella is getting the best of theTown of Southbridge, as everyone in the town, with the ability to speak out against it in our government, appears to be turning a blind eye to the situation.

Should the program be a failure, we need as a town to discuss what would be deemed a success, what would be deemed a failure, and, in the case of a failure, what the appropriate remedy would be towards the citizens participating in the program, not an arbitrary decision without the input of the citizens of this town.

To offer to pick up items, free of charge, that most people have most likely disposed of, when the annual benefit per household is roughly $500 per year, is simply inadequate, not to mention illegal according to the terms of the contract, and let's Casella take advantage of the people of this town (again).

If Casella is unable or unwilling to fulfill their end of the contract, I would ask that it be terminated immediately.

Therefore, I am looking for an opinion (since lawyers don't rule, they render opinions), on this page and section, and look forward to a hearing with the people of town to suggest other ways for their recycling dollars to be used that is to the benefit of the people, not the corporation.

My suggestion, and it is only one, is to allow the people to apply the full amount, on a quarterly basis, to be used as a cash payment towards our water and sewer bills, and I would gladly bring this up in the appropriate forum.

I look forward to both your response, and that of Attorney Caprera.

Please let me know by the end of this upcoming week your response.

Regards,

Dennis J. Martinek

Donald Trump tells Al Gore what to do with his Nobel "Peace Prize"

2010-02-14T23:31:00Z

I couldn't have said it any better myself.

From a story in today's New York Post, it made me wonder why, after hacking all of those emails telling people to cover up the real data supporting "global warming", it's been eerily silent?

Anyway, enjoy:

Trump cool to global warning

Donald Trump is not a big believer in global warming.

"With the coldest winter ever recorded, with snow setting record levels up and down the coast, the Nobel committee should take the Nobel Prize back from Al Gore," the tycoon told members of his Trump National Golf Club in Westchester in a recent speech.

"Gore wants us to clean up our factories and plants in order to protect us from global warming, when China and other countries couldn't care less. It would make us totally noncompetitive in the manufacturing world, and China, Japan and India are laughing at America's stupidity."

The crowd of 500 stood up and cheered.

An open letter to Paul Zotos regarding "Common Sense"

2010-02-14T18:47:00Z

Paul,

Thank you for your time this week and your professional assistance preparing my programming for access channel presentation. I was impressed with your media system capabilities.

I’m sure you recognize the timeliness of my first “Common Sense” program and the need to get it on your “air” as soon as possible.

The recycling issue will be an important topic for discussion at the next town council meeting, and the public understanding of the issue will be important for informed debate. Incidentally I have several more productions in the “can” and will deliver them to you during the next week.

I plan to incorporate more of your hints to improve the presentation quality. I have spent some money on this project already, and I hope it was not in vain. I’m sure you share my hope that the cable access system will enhance our collective wish for a more workable local self government. In that regard please let me know when to expect to view the “production”.

Jim Sottile

Why Sottile is right

2010-02-11T00:37:00Z

Jim Sottile shouldn't have to beg and plead to put his content, the way he wants to, on Cable Access TV.

When I heard the answer from the Town Manager, I was screaming, "if you have a letter for Jim, then read it to us, dammit!"

He's being stonewalled, plain and simple.

I like Paul Zotos, so this is not a rant against him.

It is, however, a rant against the powers that be to put his show on right away.

I had a show, Monique had a show, and now Gatti/Beinema have a show (although I haven't seen it).

Why shouldn't Jim have a show?

We keep bragging that we now have THREE, count them, THREE channels!

Great, more dead air.

We should put on everything and anything, or surrender two of those channels so that it at least appears we have a bunch of content.

I would love to have a reality show, "Marino's Barbershop", which would focus on following Joe and listening to him and the farts that go in their talk politics. That would be cool!

Or how about putting mikes on the Councilors, and hearing what they really think? That would be priceless.

Got insomnia? "A day in the life of Vecchia", or "30 minutes to a more sound sleep". Either title works.

If I want to put on a show exposing the absurdity of town politics, or even produce a show based on our Town Council (even though the real players would be better), I should be allowed to do it.

THREE channels people.

Hundreds of dead air time each week.

Short of Three Stooges re-runs, we just don't need two of them if we're going to turn people down.

How about "Focus on TIF's and Deferred Loan Payments". We could have an Irishman as the star.

Oh, sorry, we already do on the latter.

In case you missed it in yesterday's comments

2010-02-11T00:16:00Z

Yesterday, I said something that was part of a long answer, which is why many people didn't see it.

It's the reason I didn't run for Town Council, and I thought it was quite clever (and true, by the way).

I realize that it probably torpedoes any hopes I don't have of running for the Town Council, but one would think that those that read this blog at the SEN would have considered it for one of their quotes of the week?

Anyway, here it is again, and if the owner of Centerfolds wants to have me their as his guest, I'm available:

"Given the choice of sitting between a pair of boobs for two hours at a Town Council meeting, or at Centerfolds, I'll choose the latter".

C'mon, Walt, you know you want to print it!

A little "sumpin-sumpin" for Al Vecchia

2010-02-10T20:02:00Z

First off, since Councilor Vecchia, you are a public official, who doesn't seem to understand that you are a public official, and therefore subject to criticism, I offer you this reminder:

Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Now, that doesn't give someone the right to go around making things up, but a suggestion for you:

The more you run around sounding like a chicken with his head cut off and bitching and moaning about this site, the more publicity I get.

Thank you for that!

As for my opinions on your performance, read the Constitution. I know, I know there are lots of big words, but you can get help with them.

Please stop using your friends to try and stop me from writing what you've already said. You sound pitiful, and besides, the last time I called you, you hung up like a scared little school girl.

You're still trying to get me thrown off the subcomittee's because you don't like what I say about you?

Grow up. Whatever happened to let the people speak? I have thicker skin than you.

Where have you been for the Planning subcommittee? Remember you told me to go for General Government, since that's "where the power is?". See how well I took your advice?

I took it and ran the other way, the same as when you told me I shouldn't report cash.

The article about the guns and the letters, by the way, is a matter of record.

Shouldn't the people know? Shouldn't Chris and Dan know how two-faced you are with them?

Anyway, I dedicate this song to you. It's called Destroyer, but listen to the words. It sounds like it's about you.

Alphabet Poop

2010-02-10T15:25:00Z

Back in the halcyon days of my youth there came forth a social commentator who was sadly mischaracterized (as Samuel Clemens was in his time).

This visionary was the late, and sorely missed George Carlin.

Arguably his most infamous contribution to the uncritically self-unaware was his monologue on seven words you can’t say on television.

Regrettably, given the continuing hypocritical conventions, I can’t repeat that monologue in this venue. However, I have been reminded of it lately given the kerfuffle that has arisen over the use of the “R” word. I can only imagine what Saint George would have done with it.

The controversy has caused me to think about the approach that our enlightened society has taken over the last several decades to the evolution of the English language.

Currently there are six or seven words that are widely referred to by their first letter. These are:

the B word;
the C word;
the F word;
the N word (both versions);
the Q word; and
the R word.

I will grant that I may be ignorant of others (Note to Tweet – “OMG – LOL – BFF –F2W” ((That’s FUx2)) ).

There are a number of things that strike me as truly hilarious/absurd/pathetic about all of this.

Currently, the most striking is All-American White Christian diva Sarah Palin’s distinction between her criticism of the use of the “R” word by Rom Emmanuel – calling for his resignation over it – while excusing use of the same word by Rush Limbaugh as “satire”.

I hope that the executives at AMC are listening. One of my favorite movies of all time is “Blazing Saddles”. But, every time they show it the “N” word is bleeped.

Isn’t that satire? Doesn’t it ridicule the racist morons who use this word seriously? Shouldn’t we begin editing the American literary classic “Huckleberry Finn” by the aforementioned Mr. Clemens?

Then there are the hormonal rages that arise among women when a man uses the “B-word” or the “C-word”. However, I fail to detect any similar response or sensitivity of others when females employ a “P” word (referring to a portion of the male geography equivalent to the “C” – i.e. “pr_ck”) or another “B” word denigrating one’s paternity and a mother’s integrity.

Next there is the absolutely absurd need to substitute multisyllabic Latinate alternatives for their objectionable Anglo-Saxon counterparts. In the case of the “R” word we now hear “cognitively challenged”. Some are pushing to remove the “R” word from all existing state and Federal legislation as offensive. What will we do when the cognitively challenged are referred to as “Cogchimps”?

Or what about when the “C” word ends up having something to do with camels? (P.S. it’s already in the works).

Finally, here is the ultimate absurdity. I learned long ago (as I’m sure most of you did) that there is one sure way to make someone think about an elephant. That can be done by telling someone, “Whatever you do, don’t think about an elephant.”

In the same way, there is no more certain way to keep people aware of certain words – as well as the pejorative implications we are supposedly seeking to obliterate – than to refer to them as the “N” word, or the “F” word, or the “R” word, or the rest of it.

The only hope is that, so far, we’ve only corrupted 8% of the alphabet with this petty populist poop.

I know George Carlin could have said it much better.

Posted by Funky Wagnall

The New Southbridge High School

2010-02-09T20:04:00Z

Well, congratulations to all who worked so hard on the new High School.

I hope it's all that it appears to be and more.

Let's just hope that there is also a new form of discipline put into place, so that everyone that wants to learn, can.

Thank you one and all!

Support your Local Town!

2010-02-08T16:17:00Z

The Town of Grafton held a special meeting at their current Highschool on Sunday February 7, 2010 at 10am. Yes Superbowl Sunday. The people came to decide on whether or not to build a new Highschool. They are in the same situation as Southbridge.

There was so much support at this meeting that the 700 seat Auditorium filled up, the 1,000 seat Gym filled up and another space in the highschool was also opened to accomodate all of the people. About 2,000 people showed up for the special meeting. The majority were supporters but there were also a few non supporters present.
There was also a vote taken on whether to build the school or not by the people. The vote to build the school was won by a huge margin.

On the contrary, there was a meeting held at Eastford Road school onWednesday February 3rd, 2010, regarding the information leading up to the building of a new highschool in Southbridge. About 25 Adults showed up for this meeting at Eastford Road. I attended and have said on more than one occasion that I believe this school will end up costing more than it should. I won't say the number I have been using however but I will say that I hope the final cost comes when the project is completed, are relatively on budget or even under budget. I have also expressed great concern over the location because of the old dump so close to the location. I hope the land does not contain chemical toxins where there will be an additional cost to clean that ground as well.

This vote will go before the Town Council where a unanimous yes vote will occur. Just about everyone is already making that call on the way the Town Council will vote. If this writer had to call it on how many people show up tonight in person to support or not support the vote on the highschool, my guess would be about 35 people, which will include the FOS group and the regulars that attend every Town Council meeting.

Maybe we should form a "Support your Local Town" committee and work on gathering support for this town that is so sadly lacking on a regular basis.

Go Daddy!

2010-02-08T00:06:00Z

Something about that Danica Patrick!

Go see Go Daddy's 2010 Super Bowl® Commercials

Doritos Ad 2

2010-02-08T00:01:00Z

Enjoy!

You want a Doritos? You gotta speak