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Global Whating?
By CaraBayles on Wed, May 14, 2008 5:19 pm
del.ico.us
reddit!
FINALLY, polar bears are endangered.
Hot enough for ya?
All things ROFL: the Army
By CaraBayles on Mon, Apr 21, 2008 5:24 pm
The US Army has a virtual guide named Sgt. Star. They had a life-size virtual version of him at the ICA.
He's here to answer your questions. The Dig interviewed him for the hell of it:
Hello, I'm SGT STAR the United States Army's Virtual Guide.
Please type your name below.
[I typed no]
SGT STAR: Welcome No. How can I help you today?
no: how much does the army pay?
SGT STAR: The United States Army pays on a government scale, according to your rank and time in service. In addition to this basic pay, special duties or skills may qualify you for specialty pay. The Army also provides allowances for housing, meals and uniforms, to offset the cost of living. Soldiers are paid on monthly/semi-weekly schedule reported to you on your Leave and Earnings Statement on the 1st and 15th of the month. Here's More: Salary Discussion Board
no: are you a real boy?
SGT STAR: That is a good question, however, I am not positive that I understand what you are asking. Try rephrasing your question. I understand simple questions best.
no: what are you wearing?
SGT STAR: I'm wearing the Army's new Army Combat Uniform, or ACU. The digital camouflage pattern is suitable for just about any situation, while it's new construction allows it to be worn comfortably under body armor. It was introduced in April 2005, and I have to say that it is quite possibly the most comfortable and versatile uniform I've ever worn!
no: it's ugly.
SGT STAR: Displayed below are answers that I believe are related to your question.
Here's More:
Soldier Creed
no: are you single?
SGT STAR: I am married, Mrs. STAR is my boss.
Nice guy. If only the army could amass a fleet of Sgt. Stars, so real people could come home.
Do you think I'll get in a lot of trouble with the US government for this? Crap.
UMass Dean resigns?
By CaraBayles on Tue, Apr 8, 2008 5:42 pm
Rumor has it that Adenrele Awotona, Dean of College of Public and Community Service (CSPC) at UMass Boston, resigned today. Awotona was unpopular among the school's faculty, who recently wrote a letter calling for his resignation.
CPCS has a strong history of political activism. Its alumni include Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, former congressman/current CEO of Citizens Energy Corp Joe Kennedy and Sen. Steve Tollman.
Super Tuesday
By CaraBayles on Wed, Feb 6, 2008 2:15 pm
Is there a big difference between how Cambridge liberals vote and how Boston liberals vote? And how does the densely populated metropolis of Somerville add up?
Now you can find out, by checking the Globe's sick voting map!!!
Give that man a raise!
By CaraBayles on Tue, Feb 5, 2008 1:23 pm
"Delinquencies, assault & battery, rape, arson and carjacking…That crushing workload and range of challenging issues is not uncommon across all court departments," Chief Justice Robert Mulligan testified, in an ironic role reversal, at last week's hearing before the Compensation Advisory Board.
Pay increases for the state's 441 judges, constitutional officers (including the governor and the secretary of state), and legislative leaders (namely, Speaker Sal DiMasi and Senate President Therese Murray) were at stake.
Justice John Greaney sited a report from the National Center for State Courts that ranked Massachusetts 45th in judge salaries after adjustments for the cost of living. But in salary dollars the state ranks 21st, paying its trial judges $129,694 annually, and its high court judges $145,984 (incidentally, that's more than Deval Patrick's $140,535 income, which is the 14th highest governor salary in the country).
Paul Guzzi, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and chair of the advisory board, said the fact that neither constitutional officers nor legislative leaders came to the hearing was of little significance.
"They may be relying on the judgment of the commission," he said. "We certainly have data that will put us in a position to decide about their pay."
While the independent committee will include hard numbers in its recommendations, the legislature ultimately decides on the budget. With the state's deficit, and the national economy in a nose dive, Michael Widmer, President of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, says it's a contentious time for the legislature to dole out raises to politicians.
"Having this informed process won't remove politics from the situation. But it's important to pay our state leaders a salary commensurate with their responsibilities," he said. "I'm not concerned from the expenditure point of view—we should pay what we should pay—but I am concerned about the timing in terms of public reaction. I think people will have stronger reactions when they're hurting as opposed to when the economy's booming."
Guzzi said that the economy and budget are considerations, but "We're concerned with the overall issue of whether or not and how compensation helps to attract and retain quality people."
The second (and last) Compensation Advisory Board hearing will occur Wednesday, February 6th at 6 pm, at the UMass Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester. Anyone can testify
MoveOn likes Obama
By CaraBayles on Fri, Feb 1, 2008 4:30 pm
MoveOn.org endorses Obama, in a final, pre-election push (don't forget to vote for whoever on super duper Tuesday, kids).
But who will Swift Boat Veterans for Truth endorse?
NON-NEWS
By CaraBayles on Thu, Jan 24, 2008 1:39 pm
Rocky backs McCain
Unfortunately, we think Stallone may be confusing blockbuster movie magic with reality. It sounds like he's casting McCain in the role of president:
"There’s something about matching the character with the script and right now, the script is being written and the reality is pretty brutal and pretty hard edged, a rough action film, and you need somebody who’s been in that to deal with it."
Poor guy. Won't someone take pity on him and make him retire?
Break in at Romney HQ
Daniel Bradley and Michael Sauer allegedly took a computer from Mitt Romney's presidential campaign HQ on Commercial Street. When police dragged the suspects out of their car, two empty cans of Budweiser (the king of beers) fell out. District Attorney Daniel Conley doesn't believe the theft was politically motivated…it's just a couple of bros who wanted a new iMac.
WHERE'S WHITEY?
By CaraBayles on Thu, Jan 24, 2008 11:07 am
ECONOMY DROOPS, SOME GUY WEEPS
By CaraBayles on Wed, Jan 23, 2008 12:30 pm
This was on the cover of today's Metro.
Where did this come from? How were we to know?
Oh, right. People have been predicting this forever and ever.
Chances are, it will probably get worse before it gets better.
MITT'S FIT
By CaraBayles on Sat, Jan 19, 2008 11:53 am
Glen Johnson, long-time reporter for the Boston bureau of the Associated Press and, by extension, an expert on all things Mitt Romney, called out the former Massachusetts governor during a press stop at a South Carolina Staples (PLEASE note: Romney is playing with an 'easy' button at the beginning of the video...it didn't help him in the exchange that followed).
Romney proudly declared, "I don't have lobbyists running my campaign. I don't have lobbyists that are tied to my--"
"That's not true, governor, that's not true," Johnson interrupted. "Ron Kaufman is a lobbyist."
Kaufman works for the Washington-based lobbying firm Dutko Worldwide, and often sits with Romney on his campaign plane. But Romney argued Kaufman was an "advisor," not a "strategist," because he's not on the payroll. Romney and Johnson proceeded to argue semantics for a while. After the press conference, both Romney and his press secretary, Eric Fehrnstrom chastised Johnson.
Our favorite moments from the exchange were Johnson saying "So Ron's just there, window dressing. He's a potted plant," and Romney telling Johnson, "Listen to my words, Glen. Listen to my words," with a pained smile plastered on his face. Romney also asked Johnson onto his plane, so he could show him his organizational flow chart.
