Category Archives: Boston

Mea Culpa on Westboro Baptist Church visit

Last week, I received, via email sent to one of my synagogue’s contact email addresses, a flyer from someone at the Westboro Baptist Church, announcing the protests they were planning on holding this week in front of Jewish institutions in Boston. I was appalled, and my initial reaction was to make a big deal out… Read More: Mea Culpa on Westboro Baptist Church visit »

The Vilna Shul: We just don’t feel like removing you from our mailing list

November 26, 2009 Jack Swartz, President The Vilna Shul 18 Phillips Street Boston, MA 02114 Dear Mr. Swartz, I am writing to you because my efforts over the past two years to resolve this matter through The Vilna Shul’s executive director, Steven Greenberg, have been unsuccessful. Over two years ago, I embarked upon an ambitious… Read More: The Vilna Shul: We just don’t feel like removing you… »

Is it just my imagination, or does the selection at the Allston Stop & Shop really suck compared to the nearby Shaw’s?

November 22, 2009 Store Manager Stop & Shop 60 Everett Street Allston, MA 02134 Dear Sir or Madam, I like your store for several reasons: it is the closest supermarket to my house; I like the “Scan It!” system; and you give five cents back for reused bags. Unfortunately, these positives only go so far,… Read More: Is it just my imagination, or does the selection at… »

How to lower your phone + internet cost from $80 per month to $50 per month: buy your own cable modem and kick Comcast to the curb

Comcast was charging me $95 per month for internet and phone service.  That was too much. I got them to lower it to $75 per month, but I had to pay extra for all non-local and long-distance calls.  That was still too much. They raised the equipment charge for my cable modem from $3 to… Read More: How to lower your phone + internet cost from $80… »

Comcast sneaks in back-door rate increase by increasing “equipment charge”

UPDATE: If you would like to help me call attention to this, Comcast’s most recent attempt to cheat its customers, please Digg this article. In a classic Gotcha Capitalism strategy, Comcast in Boston has just informed their VoIP and Internet customers that they are raising their monthly rate by $2 without actually admitting they’re doing… Read More: Comcast sneaks in back-door rate increase by increasing “equipment charge” »

Honda Village continues to send me junk mail in deceptive envelopes

[You can read the whole series of Honda Village postings here.] Since I first wrote about them in June, Honda Village has sent me many more pieces of junk mail enclosed in envelopes that do not have their name or return address on them and that have been intentionally designed to make the recipient think… Read More: Honda Village continues to send me junk mail in deceptive… »