Awwww....

Isabelle in the garden...made famous in the local paper thanks to her Mema.

Ignorance on parade

These people live in an alternate reality.

Here's a visit to reality courtesy of the US Census Bureau's new report:

On every major measurement, the Census Bureau report shows that the country lost ground during Bush's two terms. While Bush was in office, the median household income declined, poverty increased, childhood poverty increased even more, and the number of Americans without health insurance spiked. By contrast, the country's condition improved on each of those measures during Bill Clinton's two terms, often substantially.

Lies about health care

The top 5 outright lies being spread about Obama's health care reform include:

1. You'll have no choice in what health benefits you receive.
2. No chemo for older medicare patients.
3. Illegal immigrants will get free health insurance
4. Death panels will decide who lives.
5. The government will set doctors' wages.

Newsweek debunks the lies in a concise, quick, easy to read article here.

Thank you Teddy

When I interned in the Senate back in the '80s, I was privileged to meet Ted Kennedy and work with his staffers on the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Policy.

Kennedy was outnumbered in the Senate at the time, which was then dominated by the Reagan Republicans.

But he never let up.

He was the Democratic liberal standard-bearer then...and he has been ever since. He was there for fair immigration and refugee policies when Republicans at the time were preaching their never-ending gospel of fear...it's the same fear-mongering tactic they are using today on health care.

Of all the people I worked with in Washington, my fondest memories and deepest respect went to Kennedy and his team. He and his staff have been the conscience of the Senate for years.

Just saying thank you for his life of service seems so small an offering...until you reflect on the fact that there are millions of us offering thanks and respect. In the next three days we will honor him in Boston and the size of the gatherings will testify to our thunderous thanks.

Ted Kennedy made so many things possible and believed so steadfastly in our government and our better selves - it's incumbent upon us to keep his spirit alive.

It was tough times for Kennedy and Dems back in the 80s...remember?

Incredible

Seeing McCartney at Fenway was sublime. For Dylan, it was like seeing Mozart. Unforgettable.

Definition of Joy

4th of July

My nieces and nephews are awesome.

Here are my favorite shots of them when they came to visit for 4th of July.

Gavin, the G-man


Isabelle, the Izzy


Ryan, the Rydog

Jessica, the princess

Awww...nothing like making art at the street fair with Mom.


Drew - posing here as the quintessential Marblehead kid - dripping wet after a dip in the hah-bah.

Drew and the Brown

All the pictures are here.

Campout 2009

It's that time of year again. Camp. Out.

It rained. We didn't care.


Kyle caught a huge freaking fish.

Brownie camped for the first time.

Jer and Dylan jammed.


Look! A picture of almost all the Ruffinos together...except Lauren...hey Lauren you should have been there!


Camping is really different with an iPhone. It's better.


The kids looking so nice.


The parents, embarrassing them. Hey - it was our Michael Jackson Thriller tribute.


Last year it was the Duck.

This year it was Cady who struck gorgeous glowing poses around the campfire.

It was great to catch up, hang out around the fire and jam.



All pictures here.

Media evolution morning

Forget paperboys on bikes. That's over.

The paper is now delivered by grown men with Brazilian names driving cars.

The Globe used to be fat with news, job listings and ads. Back before Monster.com and worldwide economic crises the Sunday jobs section was bigger that today's Sunday Globe. There used to be columns and columns of original journalistic fare. But round after round of Globe layoffs, including yours truly, have further shortened the column inches or replaced Boston-authored copy with syndicated fill. Today's Globe is a pamphlet of its former self.

Even so, paging through the Globe each day is such a long standing ritual at our house, we still subscribe.

Each morning the paperman drives over another thin, emaciated Boston Globe and deposits it on my lawn in a bag I will use for dog poop.

So today I walked out to pick up my pamphlet and was greeted by news of another local media outlet going to the dogs...


The Rock of Boston, WBCN, is over? The radio station that we lived down the street from, right next to Fenway Park? The one that broke bands like U2, Elvis Costello, The Cars and 'Til Tuesday- whose band members lived right in our apartment building in Boston? The station that broadcasts the Patriots and used to broadcast Howard Stern? The one that, well, used to be, at least, a fixture in Boston? Gone?

Well yes. Kind of. Not really. Yeah.

The station website says that BCN lives on. That they're moving it exclusively to the Internet, and broadcasting it not on 104.1 (which now becomes all sports talk station), but on 98.5 which used to be called Mix 98.5. And stuff about upgrading to HD format.

Whatever.

I guess I'll go take the dog for a walk so I can add more crap to the pile.

Facebook goes to the dogs

O.M.G. Brownie has a Facebook page.

My favorite part is the Info section