Category Archives: Boston

Education Reform As A Distraction

Posted on November 16, 2016 by mikethemadbiologist

From a Massachusetts activist who successfully opposed the pro-charter referendum Question 2 (boldface mine): For a short while in Boston last night, we were ecstatic. We beat the privatizers on Question 2, and we beat them across the state, with … Continue reading →

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Yes, New Construction Can Raise Housing Prices (And Rents)

Posted on September 1, 2016 by mikethemadbiologist

What triggered this post was a tweet by Noah Smith: https://twitter.com/Noahpinion/status/767481124159229952 And another one by Brendan Nyhan: Insane SF polling data on what effects people think a 10% increase in housing supply would have on prices https://t.co/jRhMDFTsDF — Brendan Nyhan … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, DC, Housing | 3 Comments

Cutler Majestic

Posted on June 29, 2016 by mikethemadbiologist

The Cutler Majestic Theater, Tremont St., between Boylston and Stuart, Theater District, Boston:

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Old Stomping Grounds

Posted on June 25, 2016 by mikethemadbiologist

As I mentioned earlier this week, I returned to Boston for a conference. Some pictures from my old stomping grounds (which might be familiar to long-time readers). The Public Garden: Corner of Clarendon and Comm. Ave.: Fireman’s Memorial, Dartmouth and … Continue reading →

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Mass Transit Helps Drivers: The Boston Edition

Posted on March 16, 2016 by mikethemadbiologist

Or, as more than one transportation expert has put, “You’re not stuck in traffic, you are the traffic.” Yvonne Abraham (boldface mine): Take Monday’s news of an MBTA fare increase, an average rise of 9.3 percent — despite protests, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Transportation | 1 Comment

Gentrification Is Not the Same As Bidding Up

Posted on March 1, 2016 by mikethemadbiologist

When election season isn’t on us, one of the things the chattering class likes to discuss is urban gentrification–in no small part because it affects a good number of them. While that ignores the far larger and far more difficult … Continue reading →

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How Not To Redesign a Crosswalk

Posted on January 12, 2016 by mikethemadbiologist

If I still lived in Boston and worked in Cambridge, this would probably get me killed: The “High-Intensity Activated crossWalK,” or HAWK, signal installed by city officials outside Biogen Inc. is so complex it requires its own set of directions. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Transportation | 6 Comments

Transit and Accountability in Boston and D.C.

Posted on November 28, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

Having grown up in D.C. and the surrounding area, I, unfortunately, am accustomed to just how inept local government can be (yes Northeasterners, it can be worse. Much worse). This is disastrous in the long run: Like it or not, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, DC, Transportation | 1 Comment

The Deep Implications of Dumb Transit Ideas

Posted on September 4, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

Recently, I’ve come across two very stupid transit ideas, both of which demonstrate lazy pessimism. The one you probably haven’t heard about is Boston Councilman Steve Murphy’s proposal for personal travel pods: The Boston City Council tomorrow considers a proposal … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, I For One Welcome Our Silicon Valley Overlords, Transportation | 3 Comments

The Tragedy Behind the Trump-Related Beating

Posted on August 26, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

By now, you might have heard about the two South Boston men, inspired by Donald Trump’s racist rhetoric, who beat a homeless Mexican immigrant. Here’s the heart-breaking part (boldface mine): The 58-year-old victim, who has requested privacy, suffered a broken … Continue reading →

Posted in Basic Human Decency, Boston, Housing | Comments Off on The Tragedy Behind the Trump-Related Beating