Author Archives: jik

Seat belt law opponents are either idiots or liars

To: letterstotheeditor@bostonherald.com To the editor: It has been painful to watch the avalanche of flawed statistics and discredited urban legends wielded by opponents of a primary enforcement seat-belt law in their foolhardy efforts to stop a law which would undeniably save lives. Jonah Goldberg informs us that since there are states with higher traffic fatality… Read More: Seat belt law opponents are either idiots or liars »

Better for city employees to work than take the T

To: letterstotheeditor@bostonherald.com To the editor: Councilor Michael Flaherty’s idea to slash the city’s motor pool by having workers ride the T is a brilliant strategy for doubling the number of employees on the payroll.  How else does he expect to maintain the same level of productivity when workers are forced to spend half the day… Read More: Better for city employees to work than take the T »

It’s hard to catch the bus when the MBTA tells you to wait in the wrong place!

To: CabotSuperintendent@mbta.com Mr. Houghton, Thanks to a helpful bus driver this morning (the driver of the inbound 554 bus that passed through Newton Corner at around 8:20), my daughter and I finally found out the real explanation for why we missed the 554 bus from Newton Corner to Newtonville on Monday and Tuesday of this… Read More: It’s hard to catch the bus when the MBTA tells… »

MBTA 2, Passengers 0

Mr. Houghton, Being a glutton for punishment, and having no better option, my daughter and I set out this morning once again to take the T from Brighton Center to Walnut Street in Newton, changing buses in Newton Corner. We were stationed at 400 Centre Street by 8:17, waiting for a 554 bus scheduled to… Read More: MBTA 2, Passengers 0 »

Last week, Comcast exceeded expectations; this week, not so much

I just sent this: Mr. [name elided], Thank you for your email and voicemail message. I’m sorry to say that it appears the issue with my account is not yet resolved. Early Saturday morning, Comcast sent out a service announcement with the subject “The new Comcast.net is now live”. Like all the previous service announcements,… Read More: Last week, Comcast exceeded expectations; this week, not so much »

The MBTA fails, yet again, to provide a minimal level of acceptable service

To: CabotSuperintendent@mbta.com Cc: <Steven.Baddour@state.ma.us>, <Rep.JosephWagner@hou.state.ma.us>, <Steven.Tolman@state.ma.us>, <Rep.KevinHonan@hou.state.ma.us>, <mayor@cityofboston.gov>, <Mark.Ciommo@cityofboston.gov>, <Michael.F.Flaherty@cityofboston.gov>, <Stephen.Murphy@cityofboston.gov>, <John.R.Connolly@cityofboston.gov>, <sam.yoon@cityofboston.gov>, “‘Governor Patrick’s Office (imailagent)’” <gov.webmail@state.ma.us>, “‘Halbert, David’” <David.Halbert@cityofboston.gov> John Houghton Superintendent, Cabot Bus Garage MBTA Dear Mr. Houghton, They say that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.  If so, then I must… Read More: The MBTA fails, yet again, to provide a minimal level… »