Category Archives: Boston

On restricting access to Boston’s exam schools

Dear Mayor Walsh, My wife and I have lived in Boston, in a house we own, since 1997. We have five kids, the oldest of whom was just graduated from Boston Arts Academy and has been admitted to Boston University as a Menino Scholar. We expect to stay in Boston until our youngest child is… Read More: On restricting access to Boston’s exam schools »

#GlobeDelivery also fails to NOT deliver to people who DON’T want papers

(See the previous chapter of the Globe Direct saga.) To the staff of the Boston Globe and everyone else who has anything to do with your vile “Globe Direct In association with redplum” weekly advertising circulars: When I asked you over and over and over again for six months to stop mailing me your advertising circulars…… Read More: #GlobeDelivery also fails to NOT deliver to people who DON’T… »

Annissa Essaibi-George property-tax cover-up raises doubts about suitability for office

Dear Ms. Essaibi-George, Before today, my wife and I were unreservedly looking forward to voting for you in the upcoming election. Now, however, we’re no longer sure you’re the kind of person Boston’s City Council needs to fairly and effectively represent its residents. We’re worried that you’re just another hypocritical politician who places your own… Read More: Annissa Essaibi-George property-tax cover-up raises doubts about suitability for office »

Boston2024 just won’t take no for an answer

Dear Boston2024, Let’s look at some pictures, shall we? Here’s a picture of my front door: Hey, look, there’s a sign posted next to the door! Maybe you’re finding it a little hard to make out. Here, let me zoom in à la CSI and highlight the important bit: Gee, that’s strange, there’s an obvious sign… Read More: Boston2024 just won’t take no for an answer »

Initial thoughts on Olympic bid documents

The Boston 2024 committee has released most of the documents which it used for its bid to become the U.S. representative in the competition for hosting the 2024 Olympics. I’ve reviewed most of the documents, and here are my initial thoughts. There are four things that stand out for me: 1) The polls they did… Read More: Initial thoughts on Olympic bid documents »

EZ-Pass Massachusetts credit card replenishment stupidity

I’ve had my share of run-ins with the incompetent bureaucracy of EZ-Pass Massachusetts (née “MTA Fastlane”), but somehow they’ve avoided being deservedly mocked on my blog. Well, the free ride is over. Several months ago, I had to change the credit-card number associated with my EZ-Pass account, because of a lost credit card. Unfortunately, EZ-Pass tried… Read More: EZ-Pass Massachusetts credit card replenishment stupidity »

MBTA’s “Transit Diary” a failure before it has even begun

The MBTA is currently beta-testing a project & corresponding web application called “Transit Diary“. Its purpose is to collect data directly from riders about their experiences riding the T, presumably to help the T evaluate how well it is serving riders’ needs and where service-improvement efforts should be focused. Unfortunately, Transit Diary employs obsolete, inferior… Read More: MBTA’s “Transit Diary” a failure before it has even begun »

Olympics in Boston: Just Say No

I have lived in Boston since 1989. I have been a homeowner here, in Brighton, since 1997. My wife and I have five children, all of whom were born in Boston, and two of whom are in Boston Public Schools. We are Bostonians. And we absolutely, positively, do not want Boston to host the Olympics in 2024.