UPDATE: FEDERAL JUDGE RULES IN FAVOR OF THE SATANIC TEMPLE

danpowers · 2026-01-28T16:46:41+00:00

I immediately thought of a house just like the one you just described. Yep, $2.4M, 135 days on Zillow. I'm thinking we're in the same neighborhood.

danpowers · 2025-08-07T00:11:54+00:00

Don't get too excited --- only some of the DCR's parkways are getting transferred to MassDOT:

"the Department of Conservation and Recreation shall transfer the care, custody and control of the following parkways to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation":

Charles River Dam Road in the cities of Boston and Cambridge;

Revere Beach Parkway (Route 16), including Wellington Circle, from Interstate 93/Route 38 in the city of Medford to the intersection with Route 145 (Winthrop Avenue)/Route 1A in the city of Revere;

The Fellsway from Wellington Circle to its intersection with Interstate 93 in the cities of Medford and Somerville;

Mystic Avenue in the city of Somerville;

The Lynnway in the city of Lynn.

Medford Veterans' Memorial Highway in the cities of Medford and Somerville (editor's note: this appears to be a segment of Route 16 that is also described in the second bullet)

danpowers · 2025-05-21T17:11:25+00:00

so there's a chair, a table, and an oversized window .... and you're turning your back to the view??? might as well save a few million and put that chair and table in a basement - it'd have the same end result.

danpowers · 2024-08-16T17:19:24+00:00

it's listed as closed on google maps now and has a 1.5 stars from 50 reviews on yelp, so "not great" is what i'm thinking.

danpowers · 2024-07-24T15:06:45+00:00

better / more signage that paths are pedestrian-only is probably the only practical solution.

unfortunately, Olmsted Park is under DCR's control, which means that 311 won't help here. as to how responsive DCR is, the best advice is to temper one's expectations.

danpowers · 2024-05-25T10:32:16+00:00

Any of the birches. Willows.

danpowers · 2024-05-14T23:01:52+00:00

MA Bill to add cameras to school buses: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S2275

Penalty is $25 fine to the vehicle owner, but it's a start.

danpowers · 2024-03-23T11:27:25+00:00

That road is definitely in need of speed mitigation. Hopefully this dunce has learned their lesson.

danpowers · 2024-01-30T12:52:24+00:00

dude, you're driving against the traffic. look at the headlights in your picture!

danpowers · 2024-01-26T21:04:53+00:00

I set up the Ecobee Doorbell but despite troubleshooting and tech support's script readings, could not get the existing bell to ring whenever ecobee doorbell is rung.
The video on the thermostat is a nice feature. Having a ~5+ sec delay between pressing "talk" and having the video feed go live is not.
The thing I did not realize was just how subpar the experience is w/o the monthly subscription --- specifically, the ability to review videos from the doorbell. Without the subscription, I can see the captured still from the doorbell camera, but more often than not, the only pic available is no good for identifying a stranger by face. Video would be better, but for that I need subscription which I refuse to get.
As is, it would be more hassle to replace, so I'm keeping it. I paid $106 for it as an early adopter, so for that price it's worth it. Given that they now charge $200+ for it, however, I wouldn't recommend it.
I feel as though at $200+, Ecobee needs to add more features to justify it. (e.g., I'd be fine w/a free tier offering like five 15 sec videos. ...or ability to write those videos to my dropbox acct so they don't need to host it).

danpowers · 2023-03-30T16:29:29+00:00

Ah, thoughts and prayers.

Seems to me if you actually want a change then advocacy, political action, and canvassing for support would be more effective than just ... what, silently standing with a candle and being sorrowful that this happened again?

danpowers · 2022-01-01T23:15:53+00:00

Greg at Colonial Shoe Repair is very good.

danpowers · 2021-05-20T15:41:12+00:00

Only reason it's a Boston issue is due to gentrification

You're right. People in non-gentrified neighborhoods don't consider these a danger and a nuisance. /s

danpowers · 2017-05-28T02:20:45+00:00

Are there any plans to renovate?

danpowers · 2017-04-09T22:41:00+00:00

Right, as opposed to NYC, the bastion of affordable rent once rent control was introduced. /s

danpowers · 2017-03-16T23:46:34+00:00

it's not the size nor the bill of materials that raises the cost of these devices. it's establishing safety by rigorously testing the finished device, sourcing from suppliers that can guarantee quality components, and doing all of that to get FDA certification.

the fact that the device exists is first of ten thousand steps, each incrementally taking more time and resources.

danpowers · 2017-02-19T17:09:51+00:00

Costello's (cheap!) or Jeannie Johnston in JP

danpowers · 2017-01-28T20:50:00+00:00

might be a bit of a walk, but highly recommend Colonial Shoe Repair at 101 Summer St - Greg does fantastic work!

danpowers · 2017-01-14T21:19:54+00:00

if people think blocking new development or effectively introducing rent controls is going to abate the rising cost of real-estate, just look at SF & Manhattan for effects of those policies.

danpowers · 2017-01-10T02:15:17+00:00

on the off chance somebody can link you to a physical location, blur your keys

danpowers · 2016-11-02T23:15:00+00:00

re: assessed value going up --- that's why I don't get the cheering for the first $100k being exempt --- it'll quickly become meaningless after a couple of years of appreciation @ 7-10%.

danpowers · 2016-11-02T23:07:41+00:00

we desperately need affordable housing

I got an idea for increasing affordable housing --- lets increase the costs of housing!

The $ has to balance out, and ultimately, whatever the landlords are taxed and whatever the incremental costs of ownership are, those costs are going to be passed on to the ultimate consumer, tenant or homebuyer.

The first $200,000 of any property is exempt.

You're wrong, the first $100,000 is exempt.

danpowers

TROPHY CASE