I'm with Karl Rove, at least on this: Condoleezza Rice should replace Roger Goodell as head of the National Football League. Goodell has been a toady for the owners, who get fat profits from leaving the game just where it is. Despite lip service to the contrary, they have accepted barbaric behavior from the players …
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In Scotland, what’s really under those kilts?
The domino theory, used by the United States to justify military intervention in Vietnam, has always been fallible. In Southeast Asia, neighboring Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy. Thailand is a parliamentary (if unstable) democracy. The Indonesian archipelago is a republic. But this week's vote in Scotland to determine whether the land of bagpipes, kilts, golf, whisky and North …
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Observations on state primary 2014
The Y chromosome was in short supply among top winners in yesterday's primary. The result is that party candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, state treasurer, attorney general and, in my home county, district attorney and governor's council, are all women. (So, too, with unopposed candidates for state auditor, state senator and state representatives.) The women's vote may …
Market Basket deal: time to celebrate
It's hard not to be happy that the Market Basket board approved Arthur T. Demoulas' buyout of the supermarket company. Not that I shop there; there isn't one near me. But my sister does, and praises its bargains. What makes a mere onlooker happy is the sense that for once the little guy won, that …
Market Basket a real-life “Tyrant” drama
The dueling Demoulas brothers remind me of nothing so much as the hot new Fox dramatic series called Tyrant. Bassam "Barry" Al-Fayeed, the son of a corrupt and murderous Middle Eastern dictator/president (pick your model), has fled to the United States to become a pediatrician. Married with two children, he is the "good" son, who returns …
Is there any reason to stay with Verizon?
This month has brought several scam calls from a man with an Indian or Pakistani accent claiming to be from the IRS. FTC take notice! Also, proving what a fraud the national Do Not Call Registry is, there have been daily calls from a 406 MT exchange, with caller ID cleverly popping up the name "Evelyn Davis," …
Boston Harbor cruise says a lot about the Hub
A gorgeous day and a cruise of Boston Harbor celebrates how far we have come in creating a world class destination. A two-hour sail on the 80-foot schooner Adirondack III is a treat accessible to everyone from Rowes Wharf. For me, as a journalist who covered harbor issues during the '80's and '90's, there was particular …
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Israel’s dilemma: how much is too much
President Obama said again today that Israel has a right to defend itself against the 1500 missiles Hamas has recently lobbed from Gaza into Israel and tunnel incursions to kill and capture Israeli citizens. But this morning he expressed concern about "the rising number of Palestinian civilian deaths and the loss of Israeli lives." The Hamas missiles …
Andris Nelsons brings new electricity to Boston Symphony
Who would have thought that so much of Boston would be abuzz about the new music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra? The arrival of director (designate until September) Andris Nelsons at the BSO's Tanglewood Music Center (TMC), the world's leading summer classical musical festival, in Lenox, MA this past weekend has generated enough electricity to …
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The mice will play
When the cat's away, the mice will play. In terms of congressional financing, the cat is public disclosure. Given the do-nothing Congress' indifference to its abysmal public image, I probably shouldn't be shocked that the House has just quietly watered down its rules for reporting trips taken by legislators that are paid for by private groups. Since …
