Demonstration by Whose Food?

Quick video of the demonstration before the Hi-Lo forum Monday night.

Orange Line Switch to SPTO

In an attempt to save money and alleviate the budget deficit, MBTA officials are switching the Orange Line to a Single Person Train Operation (SPTO), scheduled to start June 26^th, 2010.

The switch to SPTO, which was recommended by the Federal Transit Administration to minimize operating costs, could save the MBTA $1.5million annually without any employees being laid off.

The new program reduces the number of operators of Orange Line train from a motor person and train attendant to just one motor person. The motor person will then be responsible for the train attendant’s duties, which include door operation and station announcements.

At a Malden information session Wednesday, the last of three public information meetings held in Orange Line neighborhoods, residents voiced their concerns about safety and disability services on single-driver trains.

Tom Gilbert a disabled Boston area resident said “were the most vulnerable, when they cut manpower.”

Reggie, another disabled Boston area resident who has ridden the MBTA since the 1970s, said the MBTA should really be most concerned about “what are they going to do if a situation happens and they don’t have the manpower to back it up.”

MBTA officials said safety would not be sacrificed just to cut costs. Tina Beasley chief of Orange Line operations, said safety is the top concern and that “nothing is set in stone.”

Other commuters at the Malden session, such as one Boston commuter were angered that “The Agency [MBTA] has made its decision without coming to we the public.”

Beasley reassured commuters that if the new single-drive program is “not safe or doesn’t work we will scrap it.” But residents still said their concerns were ignored, echoed by another commuter in the meeting, “you said we’re going to do this whether you like it or not.”

Although many in attendance at the meeting agreed that the MBTA needs to cut costs, they said that this wasn’t the way. Many felt that better practices catching fare evasion on the Green line and monitoring those who try to beat the system would generate revenue and won’t sacrifice safety.

MBTA officials at the meeting assured commuters that they had taken steps to protect passengers such having the platform agents to assist passengers at peak hours (Monday through Friday from 6am – 9am and 3pm – 7pm). On off peak hours MBTA officials said they will have train attendants on every other car to make sure that commuters feel both safe and informed.

FOIA Request

My request for Howard Zinn's FBI surveillance records. It's a process.

April 14, 2010 Tea Party in the Boston Common

On April 14th 2010 the Tea Party Express held a "Tea Party" in the Boston Common. I have been to the last three "Tea Parties" in Boston and I can definitely say that this was the largest of the three. The Boston Police Department estimated crowds at around 5,000. All in all it was a fairly tame gathering. Other than the occasional yelling match, most people in and outside the crowd were polite and respectful.

One last thing. What is the "lamestream media"? Can anyone explain? Nobody at the rally really could define it and any definition I was given, seemed to forget about a few pundits and organizations that apply their own slant to the news.

Below you will find a quick video of the day's events including a few interviews.

Scroll down for some more photos.

Contributing photographer: Serena Lenauer

Women in Transportation

Susan L. Quinones, the first Latina MassDOT Chief of Staff, said “always feel free to ask for what we want and what we need” at the Partners in Transportation seminar “Writing women back into history”.

The event brought together women from across the state, to honor them for their achievements in the transportation field.

The program included speeches from women who have made an impact on both their communities and industry. Quinones, the keynote speaker at the event reinforced the point that “we mustn’t let fear paralyze us…because we have to remember the worst thing anyone can say is no”.

In a later interview when asked about her achievements Quinones said, “I am just so proud to be able to have the accomplishments that I do have”.

Awards were also given out to Charice Lewis and Jacqueline Osorio, the two MBTA workers who saved the life of woman who fell onto the MBTA Orange Line tracks at North Station. Because of their quick thinking, they were able to stop the train just before crushing the woman. Charice Lewis the driver of the Orange Line train, said in her acceptance speech, “this is a great opportunity because growing up I heard James Brown say it’s a man’s world. Well it’s not anymore”.

Chief of Orange Line operations for the MBTA Tina Beasley said that “if it wasn’t for inspector Osorio giving the radio transmission for motor person Lewis to stop her train, it may have turned out completely different, so I am completely honored”.

Although the focus of the event was on women’s achievements, men were not absent from the event.

Chief Operating Officer of the MBTA John C. Lewis was in attendance, to show his support for his employees being honored. When asked about what he is doing to help break the glass ceiling and increase diversity, Lewis said he is “empowering women within transportation to allow them to have other opportunities that they typically wouldn’t have in this type of environment”. Lewis believes that the MBTA is doing a good job, “I have been to other transit agencies around the nation and you don’t see too many women within management positions and if you were to look at my staff I have a very diverse staff with women in all types of leadership roles”.

Although transportation agencies in Massachusetts have come under fire in the past because of unfair hiring practices, currently two out of the five board members for MassDOT are women.

Spyware Legislation in MA.

A pending bill filed by Rep. Daniel E. Bosley D-North Adams could provide users further protection against the dangers and annoyances of spyware. Spyware, are programs designed and placed on users computers to gather and track their information in an attempt to steal private data, passwords, and Internet history.

As the Internet becomes part of peoples’ everyday lives lawmakers on Beacon Hill begun in 2007 drafting legislation to curtail abuses committed by companies and individuals.

Bosley did not return multiple requests for comment but in a 2004 Berkshire Eagle article said “[spyware is] becoming more prevalent. It's not a commerce issue, it's a privacy issue…a person should be able to make an informed decision about whether they want this stuff on their computer."

The legislation, which was proposed January 20^th, 2009, attempts to curtail spyware and make the use of it a civil penalty that could carry an initial fine of $100 and up $100,000 for a pattern of such violations. The current law helps to define and level monetary penalties for intentionally creating and distributing spyware.

But even the best intentions by lawmakers can come up short. Leonid Reyzin a Professor of Computer Science at Boston University said in an email conversation that “[he] suspects much of [the legislation] will be out-of-date quickly, as spyware adapts”.

Even with rapidly changing technology and spyware creators’ ability to adapt to new laws he still said however “legislation will help” but law makers must be careful in the words they use because “It’s very difficult to write legislation that regulates technology in the way you want to regulate it and I could see how if the legislation is not written write or if it’s not interpreted by the courts right it could actually stifle innovation in very significant ways”.
Stop Badware, a Cambridge based organization created with the intention of eliminating viruses, spyware, and other bad software, explained on its website that even if the intent is not malicious, any software that doesn’t allow specific user control is “badware”.

“Some badware is not malicious in its intent, but still fails to put the user in control. Consider, for example, a browser toolbar that helps you shop online more effectively but neglects to mention that it will send a list of everything you buy online to the company that provides the toolbar. In this case, you are unable to make an informed decision …”

Maxim Weinstein Executive Director of Stop Badware, further explained that with legislation being proposed through out the United States “a lot of the importance right now at government level is providing law enforcement and regulators with the authority and resources and training they need to go after cyber crime”. But Weinstein made sure to make the point that he doesn’t “ know if there is a silver bullet [to stop cyber crime] on the government side”.

Currently the legislation is being read over by representatives in both the house and senate and a public

Global Post Article - Vancouver

Did this for my internship over at Global Post. A suggestion for a spring break destination.

Click here to view on their website.

Vancouver, British Columbia

Oh Canada! The 2010 Winter Olympics might be over, but there are gold-medal deals to be had.

Students looking for an international trip that doesn’t break the bank or involve the anxiety of non-English-speaking countries will find this a pleasant option.

Vancouver is the kind of place where foodies, extreme sports enthusiasts and fishermen can be found sitting at the same cafe table. This northern city has been compared to a mix of San Francisco and Seattle, because of its temperate climate and vibrant art scene. Outside of safety and convenience, Vancouver’s unique geographic location allows people to go off and snowshoe on the mountains and on the same day kayak down the water, according to Tourism Vancouver.

Although Vancouver is not particularly well known as a party destination, it has a pretty unsung night life, with Granville Street providing endless opportunities for dancing up a storm in the nightclubs, laying low with slices of 99 cent pizza and cheap beers, or enjoying a quiet cocktail in one of the area's serene bistros.

A host of deals and promotions posted on Tourism Vancouver’s site give plenty of incentive for college students to head north, including a third-night-free hotel offer for travel through April 30.

Nonstop flights originating from Boston run about $744 on Expedia, but a cheaper travel route to Vancouver — if you don't mind a little extra travel time — can be had by flying from Boston to Seattle for $450 and hopping on a bus to Vancouver for just $30, saving you a few hundred dollars that could be spent down on Granville St.

With an ample selection of hostels and three-star hotel accommodations downtown for about $60 a night, you will easily be able to find a place to lay your wary body for a very low price.

And if you're looking to strap on your skis and hit the slopes, the Whistler/Blackcomb site offers a wide range of lodging, airfare and ski-and-stay deals to combat its post-Olympics slump. In addition, quieter slopes mean no lift lines and more powder for your punch.

Being that it is Vancouver's off-season for tourism (it is much more visited during the summer months), and since hotels and restaurants are looking to fill rooms and seats left vacant from
the recent ending of the Olympics, everybody has a chance to win, at the least, a great vacation deal in Vancouver.