Shouting fire in a crowded theater is a terrible thing to do. Opening fire is a horror of a whole order of magnitude. Most of America is struggling to make sense out of 24-year-old neuroscience student James Holmes' rampage, which so far has resulted in the deaths of 12 people and injured 59 others, some of whom may …
Continue reading Colorado shooting scares, saddens and stymies us
Last Tuesday, Congressman John Tierney did what he should have done many months ago. He held a press conference and faced questions about what he knew and when he knew it regarding his brother-in-laws' illegal activities. For Tierney, there were no new revelations. Too bad he waited until he was backed against a wall by the two …
Continue reading Tierney v. Tisei: Time to focus on the issues
While tens of thousands of Boston concert-goers were being herded from the Esplanade to a tunnel under Storrow Drive under threat of storm, Ogunquit, Maine was celebrating July 4th as tradition would have it: simple and lovely. Standing on the Marginal Way, overlooking the water, the friendly, appreciative crowd could see the fireworks unfolding along the coast: …
Continue reading Ogunquit fireworks preserve charm of yesteryear
Thanks to CNN and Fox, Thursday's SCOTUS announcement was an emotional roller coaster. Like the Dewey-beats-Truman headlines, they both were so eager to be first that they were wrong. Shame on them. This time, print media at least made a stab at reading the Supreme Court decision before pronouncing the individual mandate dead. And, of course, it wasn't. …
Continue reading Health care – the end of the beginning and the beginning of hard work
It's the next phase of silly season. U.S. Senate candidates Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren are to-ing and fro-ing about how often they'll debate one another and in what settings. So far, she has agreed to four televised debates and he, to two televised debates and two radio debates. Included among those she has agreed is one …
Shortly after my blog criticizing New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed ban on sugary drinks in containers of more than 16 oz, I read the Boston Globe's Yvonne Abraham piece offering an alternative solution, and it's worth passing along. Massachusetts exempts most food products from the state sales tax, now at 6.25 percent. Given how …
Continue reading A more sensible approach to sugary beverages
Aaron Deveau was only 17 when he crossed the center line while texting and killed Daniel Bowley, Jr. of New Hampshire, the father of three grown children. Deveau, now 18 years old, is the first person to be convicted under a law making it a crime to injure someone while texting. Even without the specific texting …
Continue reading Conviction in text-driving killing should be a wake-up call
In 1978, I was covering Republican U. S. Senator Ed Brooke’s reelection campaign for the Boston Phoenix. Both on primary and election day, I was glued to him. Where he went, I went. Sometimes it was meet-and-greets with people. Sometimes it was consultations with staff. The possibility of defeat hung in the air, but he …
Continue reading With public figures, the personal gestures can unsettle
Marjorie Arons-Barron 