monday was the christmas party

for the half door. this year they combined all of the joints. they all closed and employees (and a few SELECT friends) of tisane, plan b in west hartford and plan b at one way fare in simsbury went to the cadillac ranch in southington

shawn and al got two school buses (i was dubious but i actually got on!), we all left from plan b in west hartford. i can personally say a good time WAS HAD BY ALL. here are a few pictures. i apologize, i missed getting shots of at LEAST 1/2 of the people (maybe more). next year!

justin goodman of connecticut for animals and uchc kills monkeys has sent along a note about chocolate. did you know, right here in manchester, we have a VEGAN chocolatier? well we DO!

divine treasures

Almond Toffee Crunch:Our Number One Seller! Fall in love with the classic blend of crunchy toffee, powdery-soft ground almonds and the most luscious, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate that you will ever experience.

Ingredients: Organic Dark Belgian Chocolate, Non GMO Soy Nuts, Almonds, Gluten-Free/Vegan Natural Flavoring.

Divine Treasures - Parkade Plaza - Middle Turnpike West, Unit 404 - Manchester, CT 06040 - 860-643-2552

this is the comment i made on the article

i am praying....... please tell me this is 'satire'. PLEASE
(that's all i wrote THERE)
and here i am writing:
i am incensed. i'm a woman. i would NEVER vote for hillary in a million years. i don't read 'the star' and i don't effing 'NEED TO BE PLACATED' by the likes of joel stein (or anyone else for that matter). 'a pick of young chicks' indeed. if he's being 'funny' that's one thing. if he's serious he damn well has a f**king LOT TO LEARN. put down the porn joel and open your listening ears.

How To Placate Women If Clinton Loses
JOEL STEIN
You know how ladies, when they don't get what they want, can go a little crazy? Am I right, fellas? Right now, they're pretty upset about losing their first chance at a female president. This would have empowered little girls, shattered sexist beliefs about female incompetence and forced men around the world to view a woman as an agent of power instead of a sex object — all of which, it turns out, are important to women even though they buy Star magazine. Ladies are complicated.Because women do most of the voting, and the shopping and the TV watching and the book reading — porn really must take up a lot of men's time — they need to be placated. Which shouldn't be hard. You know how when your dog dies, your wife wants to get a puppy right away? That's what America has to do. We need a replacement Hillary.Because while women are sad that Hillary Clinton seems poised to lose the Democratic nomination, they're even more dejected that there appear to be no women with enough political stature to run for president next time. That's why Barack Obama and John McCain need to pick female running mates. Either that or we're going to have to find some money in the federal budget for 150 million flower bouquets...........

a cool little story on sit-n-knit on channel 3

i missed it (it was on yesterday morning) but the video is at the link below. sit-n-knit really IS a cool place. if you're ever in the hood (a store in wethersfield and one in west hartford - with one opening in bloomfield soon) DO stop in!

Sit'N Knit In West Hartford
Owners Barbara and Richard Fabian of Sit'N Knit in West Hartford have opened their store because there was nothing like it around. With walls and walls of yarn, thousands of different colors and materials, the store can look overwhelming -- but the Fabians said that if you show up with no experience, they'll teach you how to knit for free............

oh boo-hoo

the residents around west hartford center (WHO ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY VOTED FOR BLACK AND BLUE SQUARE MIND YOU) are up in arms because service workers (i made a funny squinty face showing my distaste at the words 'service workers') ARE EFFING PARKING FOR FREE, FREE I TELL YOU on THEIR side streets! oh my goddess OFF WITH THEIR HEADS or better yet, BURN THEM AT THE STAKE! of course everyone involved in black and blue square SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THE PARKING ISSUES PRIOR TO BUILDING (and RUINING MY TOWN CENTER) the monstrosity that is known as black and blue square. the townspeople should have thought of that PRIOR TO VOTING to HAVE that monstrosity know as black and blue square built! (can you guess i voted against it TWICE?)

as i mentioned in a previous posting, even whole foods is marking the tires of cars parked in it's lot. i didn't hear that second hand by the way, I SAW IT WITH MY OWN EYES.

i know of at least ONE more store leaving the center - due to high rent AND parking problems for it's customers. how many more in the future?

(p.s. wait until we all get our tax bills that reflect 100% of the new assessment. we'll see who is smiling then. - oh not me or mine. we're already NOT smiling and we'll continue not to smile then too. HOWEVER, WE'LL HAVE MORE COMPANY)

Seeking Parking Solutions
By DANIEL P. JONES Courant Staff Writer
WEST HARTFORD - Finding affordable parking has long been a challenge for service-sector workers in West Hartford Center, and the problem has worsened with the opening of Blue Back Square.Now town officials, working with merchants and state transit managers, are trying to come up with solutions that will alleviate the problem and also satisfy nearby homeowners who complain that workers are parking for free on residential streets.One proposal, according to Mayor Scott Slifka, who organized a transportation summit earlier this week, is to make the town hall parking lot available to workers at reduced rates during evenings and weekends, when the lot is typically not full. Another proposal envisions Blue Back Square and West Hartford Center workers driving to state park-and-ride commuter lots, where they would catch a Connecticut Transit shuttle. Over the next week, the town expects merchants to provide information on how many workers they employ and where those workers commute from. The town plans to share the data with CT Transit......

he's an ass

i really never thought i'd say it, but i did and i really think it too. in the past he has done some great things. he has made the us a safer place to live. now he's just pissing me off.

i really do see him as a self-centered, SELF-ABSORBED, look at me - i want attention because everyone else is getting it and i'm being ignored, type. sure, he has a RIGHT to run. but he has NOT a chance, not a prayer to win. why f**k things up? i'm not voting for hillary NO MATTER WHAT. if by some odd chance barack obama does not get the nomination and hillary does, i will NOT vote for any republican currently running for president nor WILL I VOTE FOR RALTH NADER. stop being a baby ralph, you're not doing anyone any good in this manner.
Nader Adamant He's Not The Spoiler (and i'm adamant he IS the spoiler)
By JESSE A. HAMILTON Washington Bureau Chief
WASHINGTON — - Ralph Nader gets the same questions over and over. Why would he want to steal votes from the Democrats? Why does he insist on these third-party stunts? How come he wants to spoil the election?To which the stubborn Connecticut native replies: Why aren't more people doing it?It's become something of a habit for the man from Winsted, now entering his fifth encounter with presidential politics. In an interview Tuesday, still in the first few days of his latest campaign, Nader wields his usual Socratic method, asking as many questions as he answers. "Why are they so keen on denying voters the free choice of their candidates?" Or, if other candidates want him to stay out, "Why don't they pick up these progressive issues?".......

he does have a point though, when he says this:

"The Democrats have got to stop whining, stop scapegoating and look in the mirror and ask how they've continually lost instead of landsliding in election after election against the worst Republican Party in history," Nader said.But he added something about his home state senators: "Dodd's silence on Lieberman is really amazing."Lieberman, who describes himself as an "independent Democrat," has been campaigning for the Republican front-runner, Sen. John McCain. Nader said Dodd is willing to openly criticize him (Dodd also called Nader's announcement "somewhat of a yawn") but not his fellow senator. "Why doesn't he look at Lieberman as imperiling the prospects of the Democratic candidate? It's political bigotry.".......

keep your fingers crossed

this is TRUE (and how could it NOT be i ask you???)

good news good news good news


Sen. Dodd to endorse Barack Obama
By ConnPolitics.tv Editor, on Feb 26, 2008
Washington (AP) _ Democratic Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut plans to endorse former presidential rival Barack Obama.
Dodd will endorse his colleague, a senator from Illinois, in Cleveland today, according to a Democratic official close to Dodd who requested anonymity because no formal announcement had been made.
Dodd’s support, coupled with his liberal credentials, could provide a boost for Obama as major contests near in big states such as Ohio and Texas on March 4. Obama has won some key Democratic endorsements in recent weeks, including Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy, a close friend of Dodd.
Obama and rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton had been vying for Dodd’s support since he exited the presidential race after a poor showing in the Iowa caucus last month. ........

'he had the "EXPERTS" duped???????????? WTF?

WHY? because he was a doctor? WHY? because he SAID he wasn't a pedophile? what a load of shite all wrapped up in a pretty package. when you get a shiteload of complaints spaning DECADES against a doctor (or anyone for that matter), one should see that red flag being hoisted

Why Wasn't He Stopped?
The prestigious Institute of Living repeatedly declared Dr. George Reardon safe to practice medicine. Now, the institute says the experts were duped.
By HILARY WALDMAN And DANIEL P. JONES Courant Staff Writers
During the same stretch of time that Dr. George Reardon was allegedly fondling youngsters in his office at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, a psychologist across town at the Institute of Living reached this conclusion:"Dr. Reardon is not a pedophile."Sparked by complaints, the state Department of Public Health — which has the authority to lodge formal charges against doctors and initiate disciplinary hearings — had asked the prestigious institute to examine Reardon to determine whether he was a child molester. A psychiatrist and a psychologist conducted three separate evaluations of Reardon between 1988 and 1993, with each examination spanning several weeks.

"One of the tragedies is the decision of officials at the health department not to proceed [with disciplinary action in 1987]," said Susan Smith, an Avon lawyer who represents about half of Reardon's alleged victims. "They allowed the doctors at the [Institute of Living] to be the judges in the case."

snow

yesterday february 22, 2008. i am lucky enough to work for a company that allows me to work from home time to time. when it's bad out, that's exactly what i do. these were taken from my back porch and my front yard.

this is NOT right

and i hope hamden really does look into this AND make changes immediately. let's just say you don't care about animals at all (which of course isn't true in my case. but let's just say that). IT'S DANGEROUS TO HUMANS to dump the carcass of a dead animal over a cliff. it would bring disease and perhaps other predatory animals into the area.

Dead animals dumped off cliff
by News Channel 8's Annie Rourke
Hamden (WTNH) _ There is a gruesome site at the bottom of a cliff in Hamden. The remains of several dogs have literally been dumped at a transfer station.
"I wasn't expecting what I saw, to be honest," said Sharon Bass, editor of the cyber paper the Hamden Daily News.
As editor, Bass gets a lot of tips from readers. So when she came out to the Hamden transfer station, she wasn't sure what she'd find.
"This person told me that they had seen the animal Hamden control officer take a dead dog, what appeared to be a dead dog, out of his truck and throw it down the cliff," Bass said.
When she looked down the cliff she saw four or five recently deceased dogs among the bones of older carcasses.
News Channel 8 has confirmed, this is the new policy in Hamden of how to dispose of dead animals, wild or domesticated. It is a cost-saving measure, the town used to pay for mass burials or cremations of unclaimed pets who had been hit by a car, or strays that had to be put down. ...........

mark, the ramp is done!

(my friend mark was in the avon mountain crash. he was seriously injured and life star-ed out of there. he is well now and writing a book which i have had the pleasure of reading the first half of. when published, none of the profits will go to mark. so i'm telling you now, WHEN it's published, everyone HAS to buy a copy or two)
Avon Mountain runaway truck ramp set to open

Associated Press
AVON, Conn. -- State transportation officials say a runaway truck ramp on Route 44 in Avon is set to open Friday, more than two years after a fatal wreck and five months after a second crash.Work on the $2.8 million ramp began in November and is the first such ramp built in Connecticut, according to acting Transportation Commissioner Emil Frankel. Gov. M. Jodi Rell ordered safety measures in the area after a tractor-trailer lost its brakes and slammed into a furniture store in September. No one was seriously injured. However, four people were killed in July 2005 when an out-of-control dump truck barreled into the same intersection and hit several vehicles, including a commuter bus.........

the saltmarsh sharp tailed sparrow

is in danger. will we continue to ignore global warming? will we allow waste to continue to pollute our land and air?

Saltmarsh Sparrow May Find Itself In Harm's Way

Global warming could threaten dependency on local coastal habitat
By Judy Benson Health\/Science\/Environment ReporterE-mail: j.benson@theday.com

Though perhaps not as dramatic as polar bears drowning in rising Arctic seas and melting ice, the perils of a little sparrow that depends on the salt marshes of southeastern Connecticut for nesting could be a local indicator of the effects of global warming.
In the Connecticut State of the Birds 2008 report released last week by the Connecticut Audubon Society, the saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrow is named among six threatened species that depend on specific types of habitat in Connecticut for their survival.
“This could be the first Connecticut species to go extinct if sea levels continue to rise as they are,” said Milan Bull, senior director of science and conservation at the Audubon Society. “With global warming and sea-level rise increasing, our coastal salt marshes are at great risk, very great risk.”
The saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrow, a migratory species that spends May through November in the marshes of southeastern Connecticut, is “arguably the bird for which conservation actions in Connecticut are most important in terms of ensuring long-term survival,” the report states........

picture: The loss of habitat is a threat to the existence of the saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrow, according to a report released by the Connecticut Audubon Society.

don't forget there's a lunar eclipse wednesday night!

how cool!


The lunar eclipse will create a stunning effect in the sky. (Elliot Severn/Boothe Memorial Astronomical Society)

Stargazing eclipsed by lunar event
RICHARD WEIZEL rweizel@ctpost.com

STRATFORD — On a particularly dark and misty night last week about a half-dozen people ranging in age from 11 to 60 gathered around a high powered telescope in a small two-room observatory at Boothe Memorial Park.
It wasn't the best of nights to be stargazing, but that didn't seem to deter this group.
Instead, they talked excitedly about what it's like when they can look up beyond the night sky and see planets, stars and galaxies — some as close as Venus and Mars, others that are light years away, and likely don't even exist anymore.
Now, these astronomy buffs, members of the 55-year-old Boothe Memorial Astronomical Society, are getting ready for something special — a major astronomical event they will view from the park Wednesday when up to 500 people are expected to turn out to watch a total lunar eclipse between 10 and 11 p.m.
"People will come and spread out on blankets and lawn chairs, or just stand and gaze up and see something special," said Mark Holden, the society's vice president and Trumbull resident, who has been a member for 30 years. "Society members will set up about a half-dozen of our own telescopes that are just right for seeing the eclipse, and people can line up and take turns."
The eclipse, which allows the moon to be gradually covered by the Earth's shadow, culminates in the moon appearing to be engulfed in an "eerie coppery glow," society members said, that some describe as reddish orange..........

not just state, but local police

too! i HATE people who are driving and on their cell phones. it's dangerous AND stupid. i see TENS of them each day. bust them ALL
while i'm bitching, TURN YOUR EFFING LIGHTS ON WHEN THE WEATHER IS BAD. THAT'S A STATE LAW AS WELL

Eyes On The Road!
Police Looking For Inattentive Drivers
State police have been ordered to crack down this week on drivers whose inattentiveness threatens the safety of others, particularly those using cellphones."Twenty-five percent of all crashes involve some form of driver distraction," Gov. M. Jodi Rell said in announcing the launch today of "Operation Safe Drive." The crackdown runs through Friday, a time when many students are out of school on vacation. "I have directed the state police to focus on the strict enforcement of distracted driving offenses, especially cellphone use while driving," Rell said in a press release. "Distracted driving is dangerous to everyone. Some distractions, no matter how minor, interfere with a driver's ability to properly maintain control of his or her vehicle. The fine for [hand-held] cellphone use while driving is $100, but the consequences of being distracted while driving can amount to much more." ......

as i said over on this posting

at ravings of a semi-sane madwoman I SURE DO HOPE BRUCE WILLIS IS AVAILABLE
Conn. towns respond to satellite warning with caution, wary jokes
SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn.—Emergency officials say they're ready for the extremely remote possibility that a disabled U.S. spy satellite could crash in Connecticut.
more stories like this
Federal officials recently sent guidelines to all U.S. municipalities on how to respond, although the Navy hopes to shoot down the dead satellite before it reaches land.
They say the likelihood of the satellite crashing and injuring anyone is extremely remote and that no one should be alarmed.
Emergency officials in several Connecticut towns say they're prepared, just in case........

a shout out to hannah kluger and

the rest of the brave AND moral AND smart other glastonbury high students who protested the IMMORAL, ILLEGAL AND UNJUST war in iraq (including mary-kate james, emily jessen). no other names were available in the article. i'm proud of you!

Students Protest The War In Iraq
By NOMAAN MERCHANT Courant Staff Writer
GLASTONBURY - — With the war in Iraq about to enter its sixth year, a group of students from Glastonbury High School made their voices heard Friday.About 25 of them braved cold, windy weather to attend a rally at the intersection of Main and Griswold streets, holding signs listing the war's costs and calling on politicians to recall U.S. troops."I just strongly believe that violence has to end," said senior Hannah Kluger, the rally's organizer. "And the war is costing a huge amount of money." Kluger talked about the rally to students in the school cafeteria and in hallways, in addition to printing fliers and creating a group on the social networking site Facebook. .......

a link to a post

from one of my favorite blogs. the cool justice report by andy thibault (even though this article is not by andy). andy is quite the renaissance man. i've never met him, but he and i both live in connecticut. i'm in the process of reading one of his books right now, law and justice in every day life. it's fascinating. i've told him i love reading the book, but the stories are scaring the HELL out of me (they deal for the most part with connecticut cases).

andy has taken up causes (i don't know if that's the correct terminology. i don't know if HE would describe it that way) from billy smolinski to avery doninger AND LOTS in between.

if i was ever in a jam, i hope i'd have someone like andy at my back


Column: Top Connecticut Lawyer Delineates Ethics Rules On Telling The Truth

Liar, Liar Pants on Fire: The Rules For Lawyers Have Changed" The lawyer is mandated to remedy the falsity, even if it means informing the court that the client is lying ... Thus it is not only truth by others, but as importantly, truth from attorneys that is mandated."By RICHARD MEEHAN The Cool Justice Report http://www.cooljustice.blogspot.com/
Feb. 15, 2008
EDITOR'S NOTE: This column is available for reprint courtesy of The Cool Justice Report, http://cooljustice.blogspot.com/
The Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) are the Bible governing lawyer ethics. Despite the cynicism of some wags, we do try to police ourselves as a profession and adhere to a code that places respect for the process above all other considerations.Lawyers have always had an obligation to be truthful with the court. Overzealous representation should not lead to an attorney misrepresenting the facts or misleading a court on issues of legal authorities. Traditionally, the RPC required that an attorney not participate actively in presenting false testimony before a tribunal. That rule has been amended to demand even more of lawyers.Rule 1.6 of the RPC requires lawyers to maintain client confidences. The sanctity of the attorney client privilege is no less than the sanctity of the seal of the confessional between priests and penitents.But what is the lawyer's responsibility when he learns that a client has given false testimony? Does the privilege mandate attorney silence and allow a subversion of the truth finding purpose of the judicial process? No.................. (read the rest at the link above)

a shout out to

supervisory assistant state's attorney stephen preleski who charged (the ALLEGED) dog torturer with a crime that carries a stiff sentence. it's about time. animals suffer. there was NO justification for what was done to that dog. if indeed the dog bit the child (and i'm believing she did. HOWEVER, she was in a cage and from what i understand was ALMOST ALWAYS IN A CAGE), i blame the adults FULLY. i could accept having the dog put down (humanely) if she was vicious. i cannot and will not accept having holes drilled in her head. may the person responsible for this (the one accused is pleading NOT GUILTY BY THE WAY) serve the MAXIMUM time allowed by law (and have this stay with him for the rest of his life)
Animal Cruelty Defendant Denounced
Protesters Attend Court Hearing For Man Accused Of Drilling Holes In Pit Bull's Head
By DON STACOM Courant Staff Writer
BRISTOL — - Outraged by allegations that Severino Cruz drilled holes in a pit bull's head, dozens of animal rights advocates protested Thursday morning as Cruz appeared in Superior Court.Cruz, 32, pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty charges in a brief hearing, then walked with his lawyer through a crowd of angry protesters who shouted "killer." Cruz was initially charged last month with cruelty to animals and disorderly conduct after police in Plainville determined he bored holes into the dog's head because the dog bit his 8-year-old son. Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Stephen Preleski on Thursday added a new, more serious charge against him: maliciously maiming or killing an animal. If Cruz is convicted of that felony charge, he could be fined $5,000 and sent to prison for up to five years."I reviewed the case and charged Mr. Cruz with what I feel are appropriate charges," Preleski said later. ....

YOUR (certainly not mine) senator, da liebs

voting for TORTURE. (imagine this happening to OUR men and women). so if this is ok, what's the NEXT step? the rack? the iron maiden?

Lieberman says some waterboarding OK
By PETER URBAN
Article Last Updated: 02/15/2008 01:39:42 AM EST
WASHINGTON — Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman reluctantly acknowledged Thursday that he does not believe waterboarding is torture, but believes the interrogation technique should be available only under the most extreme circumstances.
Lieberman was one of 45 senators who voted Wednesday in opposition to a bill that would limit the CIA to the 19 interrogation techniques outlined in the Army field manual. That manual prohibits waterboarding, a method where detainees typically are strapped to a bench and have water poured into their mouth and nose making them feel as if they will drown.
The Senate passed the measure.
"We are at war," Lieberman said. "I know enough from public statements made by Osama bin Laden and others as well as classified information I see to know the terrorists are actively planning, plotting to attack us again. I want our government to be able to gather information again within both the law and Geneva Convention."
In the worst case scenario — when there is an imminent threat of a nuclear attack on American soil — Lieberman said that the president should be able to certify the use of waterboarding on a detainee suspected of knowing vital details of the plot.......

if you're in the bristol area tomorrow

february 14th, why don't you show up at the hearing of saverino cruz. he (allegedly) did something so horrid to one of his dogs, it's beyond belief. the following is from susan at ourcompanions.org

Dear Animal Loving Friends,

Many people have been horrified by the recent cruelty case in Plainville, CT in which Saverino Cruz took a power drill and brutally drilled several holes into a dog's head. http://plainville.ctcitizens.com/story/police-charge-two-men-animal-cruelty

Our Companions has received many calls and emails from heart-sick animal lovers asking what they can do to help pursue justice for this unthinkable crime. We have been in touch with the Plainville Animal Control Department and have been advised that there are ways that you can make a difference.

1) Attend the Hearing that is scheduled for Thursday, February 14th at 9AM at Bristol Superior Court. (131 North Main Street, Bristol, CT 06010 ). A large show of public support to prosecute Mr. Cruz to the fullest extent of the law would help make an important statement about the serious nature of this crime.

2) Write to the Prosecutor Steven Preleski (same address as the Superior Court) and encourage him to seek the maximum punishment for this crime.

3) Consider adopting a pitbull. The Plainville Shelter has several loving pitbulls that are in desperate need of a home. You can help this very misunderstood and needy breed by opening your heart and home to a homeless dog. Check out Lucky, just one of the many sweet and loving pitbulls that desperately needs a good home. http://search.pet finder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=9935606

4) Please forward this email to your animal loving friends and encourage them to also take action!

Thank you for caring and I hope you can attend the hearing on 2-14-08.

CONNECTICUT FOR ANIMALS connecticutforanimals.blogspot.com
www.uchckillsmonkeys.com

i thought they said the devil was NOT going to speak

at choat? well he's speaking TODAY and no one is invited
Karl Rove To Speak February 11
Edward J. Shanahan, Headmaster of Choate Rosemary Hall, released the following statement at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Monday, January 28, 2008:
"I am pleased to announce that Karl Rove will be coming to the Choate Rosemary Hall campus on Monday, February 11, 2008 to speak with our students.
Mr. Rove originally accepted our invitation to speak at Choate’s commencement in early June. However, after meeting with our seniors last week and reading their emails regarding this subject, it was quite clear to me that our students much preferred a visit during which they might engage Mr. Rove in some thoughtful conversation about his experiences in public life. In addition, both the students and I had some concerns that, because of the public nature of our commencement exercises, we ran the risk that their graduation day might be disrupted by outsiders. When I relayed that information to Mr. Rove over this past weekend, he graciously understood our students’ interests and our concerns.
In Mr. Rove’s words: ‘I would not want 12 minutes..........

Media barred from covering Rove speech at prep school
WALLINGFORD, Conn. -- The media have been barred from covering a speech by former presidential adviser Karl Rove to students at a prestigious prep school on Monday.Mary Verselli, spokeswoman for Choate Rosemary Hall, said Headmaster Edward Shanahan and Rove decided mutually to exclude the media. The prep school, which is the alma mater of President John F. Kennedy and two-time Democratic presidential nominee Adlai Stevenson, is limiting attendance to students and staff due to space restrictions in the auditorium, she said......

for the most part

i have no issues with the hartford police department. EXCEPT their issuance of PARKING TICKETS. my very first ticket ever (not THIS storm by the way) was for parking on a hartford street during a (practically non-existant) snow storm. by the way, the snow plow(s) NEVER came down the street that day. NEVER, and it is a busy street with an entrance and exit to the highway on it. so i KNOW how these people feel. i was going to take all sorts of pictures of OTHER non-ticketed cars on practically every street in hartford, but i didn't. i just didn't want to go downtown and argue. i'm glad these people DID

Storm Of Anger
250 Appeal Tickets Given On Day City Banned Parking, Snow Fizzled

By JEFFREY B. COHEN Courant Staff Writer

The city was prepared for a big snowfall. The parking ban was in place, and city police were enforcing it.But when the snowfall on Jan. 14 was less than expected, and a blizzard of parking tickets fell anyway, a lot of motorists took exception.More than 250 irritated people — a record-setting number, according to municipal officials — jammed the small lobby of the city's parking citation office Friday, coming to complain about the $99 tickets they got for parking on the street during a big-storm-turned-smaller-than-expected on Monday, Jan. 14...........

picture: DAVID PUTTERMAN, of Burlington, fills out a form on Friday to appeal the parking ticket he received on Jan. 14, a day when a parking ban was in effect in Hartford because of a snowstorm that proved to be less severe than expected. More than 250 people jammed the small lobby of the city's parking citation office to complain about the $99 ticket they got that day. (MICHAEL MCANDREWS / February 8, 2008)

unfavorable opinion

my big fat ass. i think he's a STEAMIN' PILE o' scheist

Once darling of the Dems, Lieberman's support booms among GOP

HARTFORD, Conn. -- During his four terms in the U.S. Senate, Joe Lieberman says he has visited more than 130 Connecticut diners to meet with constituents.But increasingly, more Republicans may be inclined to share a proverbial "cup of joe with Joe" than the Democrats for whom he'd been the party standard-bearer for decades. Lieberman, the Democrat-turned-independent who was his party's 2000 vice presidential nominee, is now viewed unfavorably by two of every three Connecticut Democrats polled during the Super Tuesday presidential primaries, according to exit poll data...........

west hartford taxes

this article is eye opening. why would ONE person's home go up 184% and another, whose house is HUGE and in an EXCLUSIVE neighborhood only go up an insignificant amout? the bigger home was worth more than the lesser home at the beginning, but at the end of the re-evaluation, it was worth LESS* than the smaller home in a less exclusive neighborhood? (my father's home went up an incredible amout as well. i don't have the info in front of me but if my mind serves me, i believe it went up almost as much as 184%). seems the RICH KEEP GETTING RICHER and the little peeps gotta pay the piper even though EVERYONE danced, not just them (*when i say worth less, i don't mean that literally. i mean it's TAXED at a lesser rate)
well mr kennedy, i do feel for you. i feel for my soon to be 81 year old father as well

Thursday, February 07, 2008 West Hartford Reval Madness Rates for a tiny house on the water go up 184 percent
Jennifer Abel
Some West Hartford residents think the town is jacking up property tax bills based on subjective factors, like the relative prettiness of a view from the backyard.
"They ran up the assessment because of my 'water view,'" said George Kennedy, who lives in the 2,100-square-foot Cape house where he spent his childhood. It's a nice house, but nothing spectacular, especially by West Hartford standards.
His three-quarter-acre lot hugs the edge of Woodridge Lake, which is 450 feet wide where Kennedy's land borders it. On the lake's opposite shore sits Tunxis Road, and if you like the way sunlight glitters off the windshield of tractor-trailers zooming down a busy thoroughfare, you'll agree the view from Kennedy's backyard is gorgeous........

do we really want our

local police departments to be migra? i know i sure as shite DO NOT. i want them to be POLICE NOT immigration enforcers.

i appear to be in the minority in the united states. i really don't hold immigration as top priority. i really don't hold with the notion immigrants (yes, even ILLEGAL ONES) are bringing our nation to it's knees. (guess who i hold responsible for THAT feat? yeah, king george and his ENTIRE COURT).

if we could just concentrate on GOOD SOLID POLICING - protecting and serving the public (ALL of the public) then the world would be a far better place. how about protecting us from domestic abuse? how about protecting us from home invasions (i really HATE that term. when the hell did we start using 'home invasion' any damn way???)? how about answering our 911 calls in a matter of seconds? how about assisting us in all the ways you are SUPPOSED to?

Connecticut City Plans to Team Its Police With Federal Immigration Agents
By JILL P. CAPUZZO

DANBURY, Conn. — When baseball season begins, Mayor Mark D. Boughton will probably throw out the first pitch again for this city’s Dominican baseball team. On Sundays, he sometimes can be found on the sidelines at the soccer games organized by many of the ethnic communities here. And he makes it a point to be at the annual Hajj festival held by the sizable Muslim population.
But on Wednesday night, Mr. Boughton, who governs a city of nearly 80,000 residents — 90,000 when illegal immigrants are included — and the Common Council are expected to approve a plan that would require the local police to work with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in rounding up workers who are in the country illegally.
“The intention is to target criminal aliens,” the mayor said in an interview. “It’s not going to be the horrible thing the opponents think it’s going to be. On the other side, it’s not the sweeps and roundups the far right want it to be.”......

he won connecticut!

(not all states, unfortunately). i'm so PROUD OF US! (and i'm talking about obama in case you didn't know)

February 5, 2008
Obama, McCain Take Connecticut
One day after drawing 17,000 people to an electrifying rally in downtown Hartford, Barack Obama won an upset victory Tuesday over Hillary Rodham Clinton in Connecticut's earliest and most closely contested Democratic presidential primary.
February 6, 2008
Clinton, Obama Look Ahead
Hillary Rodham Clinton captured needed states Tuesday night even as Barack Obama ate into her traditional base of support on a topsy-turvy night on which a ballot victory was not the only measure of success..............

and here are town by town results

we knew something was going on at bishop's corner

when we found out they didn't renew (the VERY popular) macaroni grill's license. westfarms, the center, black and blue square (which i spit on) and now a revitalized bishop's corner. it's already fairly difficult to find a parking place there on EITHER side by whole foods or marshall's. the foodmart/post office side isn't quite so bad, but i have a feeling it WILL be. we'll see what they do. i'll wait to make my judgement

Bishops Corner: Plans For Fresh Face
By KENNETH R. GOSSELIN
WEST HARTFORD
In 1953, Lord & Taylor opened its first store outside the New York area at a quiet crossroads known as Bishops Corner, bringing with it big-city glitz, glamour and fashion.The center created a retail buzz and drew shoppers from all over Greater Hartford. It spawned a wave of retail development and the rise of the suburban mall in the area as people and commerce headed out Albany Avenue from the city.Now, 55 years later, can this aging, tired shopping center create magic again — this time in a mature suburb?The owner of what was once Lord & Taylor — now a Marshalls — and a retail and office complex next door is expected to unveil plans as soon as this spring for a major redevelopment of the two properties, which could include the demolition of the half-empty Marshalls building and adjoining parking deck.The developer, Edens & Avant, isn't giving details. But early talks with town officials — who will help shape the plans — point to a walkable "town center" with small shops and one or two large anchor tenants. The project could cost as much as $100 million, town officials said.........

vote today - and please remember......

(hat tip to boing boing

today at 5:30

barack obama at the xl (CIVIC CENTER) center. doors open at 3:30 and it's FREE AND OPEN TO ALL. you can just show up!

Details Of Democratic Visits Announced
Two Of Three Events Open To The Public
................ "Stand for Change" rally in Hartford will feature Sen. Barack Obama at the XL Center, formerly the Hartford Civic Center. Accompanying Obama on stage will be Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy and Connecticut Reps. John Larson, D-1st, Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd, and Chris Murphy, D-5th.Doors to the XL Center open at 3:30 p.m., and the program is scheduled to begin at 5:30. The event is free and open to the public. Reservations are unnecessary. For more information call 860-729-4632 or visit http://www.barackobama.com...........

yes we can

change

hope

vote

i'm leaving work a bit early on monday

for a dental appointment. i have my fingers crossed i can somehow attend the obama stop (but i don't have my hopes up)
(i just posted rosa delauro endorsed obama, and i knew chris murphy and john larson endorsed him the other day)

At Last, Connecticut Gets A Turn
Clinton And Obama Could Cross Paths As They Bring Battle To State On Monday
By MARK PAZNIOKAS Courant Staff Writer
Over 48 dizzying hours, Connecticut has become a Super Tuesday battleground, with Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama placing new emphasis on a small state once solidly in Clinton's column.The Clinton campaign abruptly announced Thursday that their candidate was returning to Connecticut on Monday, the day before Democrats go to the polls here and the same day Obama is holding a rally in Hartford.Clinton is intent on shoring up support in Connecticut, a state where one poll gave her a 14-percentage point lead two weeks ago, against the buzz of an Obama visit and a late burst of endorsements................
.............Obama was endorsed Thursday by U.S. Rep. John B. Larson, D-1st District, the highest-ranking House Democrat to back a presidential candidate, and freshman Rep. Chris Murphy, D-5th District...............

i was wondering who rosa was going to back

now i know (and i'm happy)

Rosa Will Back Obama
DeLauro, Feminist Congresswoman, Will Endorse Today
By MARK PAZNIOKAS Courant Staff Writer
U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, whose job before Congress was helping to elect Democratic women as the director of the influential feminist group EMILY's List, is endorsing Barack Obama over Hillary Rodham Clinton.The Clinton campaign will counter the endorsement by DeLauro, whose husband was the pollster for President Clinton, with a "women's tour" across Connecticut on Sunday led by Ellen Malcolm, the president and founder of EMILY's List.The endorsement by DeLauro, D-3rd District, is part of a flurry of last-minute moves that will culminate in Connecticut appearances by Clinton and Obama on Monday, the day before Democrats vote in Super Tuesday presidential primaries and caucuses here and in 21 other states...........

beth and ernie

another friend or relative of yours?

Conn. man tries to sell pot online
Conn. Man Nabbed When Cops Answer His Ad Trying to Sell Marijuana Online
If you're looking to sell high-grade marijuana, Craigslist may not be the place to do it. A man learned that the hard way when the "buyer" who contacted him turned out to be an undercover officer, Stamford police said. Police said Steven Zahorsky, 24, posted an ad for "Mary Jane in Fairfield County." The ad offered a half-ounce of "A plus" marijuana for $220 and the same amount of "B plus" marijuana for $160..............

i want to print his name

and i want everyone to know what he (allegedly - since he's pled NOT GUILTY and he's not gone to trial yet) has done to his two greyhounds (retired from racing and adopted by him). one was dumped from a car in connecticut. HALF the weight she/he should be. the other dumped in rhode island and dead

Dog lovers protest outside Danielson court in animal cruelty caseBy DUSTIN RACIOPPI
Norwich BulletinDanielson, Conn. -
Louise Coleman felt remiss Wednesday morning as she stood outside Danielson Superior Court with five other protesters, each holding a greyhound on a leash. Last May and June, Coleman, director of the Hopkinton, Mass., dog adoption agency Greyhound Friends Inc., allowed Kevin Schneider, an acquaintance of hers, to adopt two greyhounds. She said it was a mistake that won’t happen again. Schneider pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of animal cruelty after being arrested Jan. 18 by Troop D in Danielson. His case was continued until March. According to Eva Longo of the Northeast Connecticut Council of Government’s Animal Control Division, Schneider, who lives in Watertown, Mass., dumped a dog on the side of Route 6 in Killingly after months of what appeared to be improper care of the animal.According to a written account from Michael McCann, president of The Greyhound Project, a Killingly man watched Oct. 27 as someone in a black sport utility vehicle let the dog out while the vehicle was still rolling...............

John Shishmanian/ NorwichBulletin.com
Protesters meet outside Danielson Superior Court Wednesday, January 30, 2008 after the arraignment of Kevin Schneider of Watertown, Mass. on animal cruelty charges. From left are Michael McCann of Boston, Virginia Gamache and her grandson Izy Roby of Willimantic, Linda Jensen and Jennifer Donley, both of Plainfield.

now we can have

MORE buttons made! i am still proudly displaying my "the kiss" (between da liebs and king george) button. now i get a NEW 'the kiss' button! chrissy and king george! how lucky CAN a grrrl get i ax y'all?

(courtesy think progress - SOTU: Bush Gets A Kiss )

ravings of a semi-sane madwoman: once again i'm NOT preaching#links#links

ravings of a semi-sane madwoman: once again i'm NOT preaching#links#links

daisy waiting for her mom

(while mom was eating brunch at the half door this past weekend)

daisy could NOT have been sweeter if she tried. what a face!

whew!

you guys did it and i'm PROUD! one of the evil ones, one of king george's court is NOT going to give your commencement address! get up stand up...stand up for your rights

you really have made me proud!

Karl Rove drops prep school speech
Karl Rove Withdraws From Conn. Prep School Commencement Speech After Students Protest
Following protests from students, former presidential adviser Karl Rove has withdrawn as this year's commencement speaker at a prestigious prep school, the school's headmaster said Monday. The choice of Rove as speaker for the June commencement at Choate Rosemary Hall had led some students to plan to walk out of the ceremony. Others had sought to bring comedian Stephen Colbert to campus for an alternate speech.
Instead of commencement, Rove now will speak at the school on Feb. 11, headmaster Edward J. Shanahan said. Shanahan said he will deliver the commencement address at the school, the alma mater of John F. Kennedy and Adlai Stevenson........

and here's the orignial article from the student newspaper (BEFORE karl was dropped as commencement speaker)
Karl Rove to be Class of ’08 Commencement Speaker
By Alexandra Cooper ’09
In an email to the Choate community, on Tuesday, January 15, Headmaster Ed Shanahan announced that Karl Rove will replace Senator John Warner as the commencement speaker on June 8th, 2008. Mr. Rove served as the former Deputy White House Chief of Staff under George W. Bush’s administration, and was a key player in Bush’s election as president. Before Rove worked for the current Bush administration, he spent much of his career as a political advisor for primarily Republican candidates, such as Senator John Ashcroft. Mr. Rove will join a long list of Commencement speakers that have included journalists such as Peter Jennings, politicians from both parties such as Dick Cheney (when he was Secretary of Defense) and Senator Chris Dodd. “We select speakers from all walks of life, with different points of view. That is what we should be doing as an educational institution. We should be putting in front of students and faculty a wide spectrum of ideas,” commented Headmaster Shanahan, “We have commencement speakers from outside of the school community so that someone comes in with a message for graduating students about the world that they are about to engage in. Karl Rove is somebody who has dedicated a significant portion of his life to service, and has been an extremely influential person.”........

LEGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lego Brick Turns 50!

MaryEllen Fillo JAVA

It'll be a big party this afternoon at 1:58 p.m. at Lego headquarters in Enfield as the company marks the 50th year of the famous Lego brick.Some career highlights of the brick:There are about 62 Lego bricks for every one of the world's 6 billion inhabitants. .............

(unfortunately i didn't see this until now. the story was written yesterday so we all MISSED THE PARTY) dang it

(lego posting on the reformed pirate)

lego games

picture of lego sculpture: http://www.lugnet.com/~1444/sculpture/space

from

the cool justice report
Via Hartford Business Journal http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news4373.html
i had NO idea this was happening in our fair state (so it's happening ALL over). shocking

OUTRAGEOUS & DESPICABLE: Connecticut Gulag
Connecticut's Secret Prisoners Contract With Feds Codifies Secret Political Prison System AG’s office contests FOI Cover documents about federal detainee sheld in state prisons By Laura Schreier Hartford Business Journal Staff Writer 01/28/08
Federal officials admit they keep detainees in covert prisons around the world, most notably at Guantanamo Bay, where many were held for years before their names were released to the public. But it comes as a surprise to some state officials that federal detainees are also held, secretly, right here in Connecticut. It’s all part of a contract between state and federal authorities: In exchange for a per-inmate fee, state officials agree to house federal prisoners arrested by homeland security. Connecticut has had such a contract with the federal government since 1995, but it was only after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that new regulations clamped down on information about those prisoners. According to legal arguments by state Assistant Attorney General Henri Alexandre, state authorities are prohibited from releasing any information about the federal detainees held behind bars in Connecticut prisons. That means that Connecticut could be holding detainees at any time, without a formal charge, said Lisa Siegel, counsel with the state’s Freedom of Information Commission. “This is a surprise to all of us, that there are secret prisons [in the state],” Siegel said. “The real harm of this regulation is that people are held now — we can’t get any information on them.” ...........

a shout out to principal donald j. slater

i went to hall (LONGGGGGGGGGGGG before principal slater's term mind you). i didn't realize the current principal had been stationed in iraq. i for one am glad you're home (even though it's been a couple of years) safe and sound. thank you for serving

Service Gave Official New Perspective
In November 2003, Donald J. Slater, principal of West Hartford's Hall High School, announced he was headed to Iraq for a tour of duty with the Connecticut Army National Guard's 118th Area Support Medical Battalion. Slater, whose Newington-based unit assisted with medical aid and evacuations in Iraq, would spend 17 months away including pre- and post-deployment operations. Since his return to work at Hall in March 2005, Slater said he has gained new perspectives on leadership and education.Almost three years have passed since Slater returned from Iraq after a yearlong deployment. He has held the top job at Hall since 2002, first on an interim basis and then as principal.Slater, 42, prefers not to discuss the details of his work in Iraq. But, he is quick to acknowledge how his tour of duty in the Middle East has affected him as an educator and leader of one of the top high schools in the state........

in my

original posting i KNEW the id cards were a mistake. i KNEW nothing good would come of them.

Mayor: E-mail shows immigration raid timing wasn't coincidence
By John Christoffersen
NEW HAVEN, Conn.—An e-mail sent by local immigration officials to their agency head the day after the city adopted an ID program for illegal immigrants suggests the timing of a raid soon thereafter was not coincidental, the city's mayor said.
more stories like this
Regional Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers told agency Director Julie Myers in a June 5 e-mail that New Haven's Board of Aldermen had voted 25-1 the previous night to make the city the nation's first to offer illegal immigrants ID cards.
City officials said the cards would help immigrants better integrate into mainstream culture by allowing them access to bank accounts and other services.
On June 6, ICE agents swept through the city and detained an estimated 30 illegal immigrants. Critics contend the raid was retaliation for the adoption of the ID program, a charge the agency has steadfastly denied.
In the e-mail to Myers, obtained by The Associated Press through a federal Freedom of Information Act request, agents wrote that because of the recent vote, the raid would likely draw significant news coverage..........

i KNOW this can be done

50 homes for 50 cats (or perhaps less than 50 homes if some take more than one cat). i'd be first in line EXCEPT i am wickedly allergic to cats. i love them, but i cannot live with them. there ARE 50 homes in connecticut and southern mass for these cats. it should BE NO PROBLEM.

50 Cats Need New Home Fast

EAST GRANBY, Conn. -- The clock is ticking for dozens of cats in East Granby that are facing a deadline with death. A woman caring for the cats is getting evicted, and if the animals don't get a new home by next week, they could be put-down. Holly Harris has rescued animals for more than two decades. In essence, she runs her own no-kill shelter of sorts. She spends her own money to vaccinate and fix the animals she takes in.
Recently though, the fire marshal deemed the apartment and barn in which she and the cats live unsafe and illegal. This means that she has only four days to find a good place for 50 cats to live.........

........Anyone who wants to help out and adopt one of the cats can reach Harris anytime by e-mailing her or by calling her at 860-371-9496. ...........

stupid connecticut criminals

( beth and ernie, do you know this dude too???)

Police: Driver arrested with pot after throwing bottles at truck
HARTFORD, Conn. -- State police say they found a half-pound of marijuana in a Waterbury man's car after they pulled him over for throwing bottles at a truck on Interstate 84.They say a trucker driving in East Hartford called police around 2 a.m. Thursday to report a road rage incident. The trucker, Francis Lescher of New Jersey, said a driver would not let him pass, then started slowing down and throwing bottles at his truck..........

when i read this yesterday

it absolutely STUNNED me. but then i realized, it was BOUND to happen, no?
i wonder what the good people of waterbury (home of holyland, usa don't forget) have to say about this?

Home / News / Local / Conn.
Disgraced ex-governor plans to take job in city with corrupt past
By John Christoffersen
NEW HAVEN, Conn.—Former Gov. John G. Rowland, who resigned amid an impeachment probe and spent 10 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to a corruption charge, plans to take a job marketing his hometown of Waterbury, a city with its own history of political scandal.

more stories like thisWaterbury Mayor Michael J. Jarjura has offered him a job as the city's economic development coordinator, but not everyone thinks Rowland is the right fit for a city that has sent two previous mayors to jail.

"I believe he's the absolutely worst person for the job," Lawrence DePillo, an unsuccessful mayoral candidate in Waterbury, said Wednesday. "It's another black eye for Waterbury."

Former Waterbury Mayor Philip A. Giordano is serving 37 years in prison for sexually abusing two girls. A decade earlier, former Mayor Joseph Santopietro was convicted of embezzling federal funds, bank fraud and tax evasion.

...................

YOUR (certainly not MINE)

senator from connecticut. democrat? NOT in this lifetime!

Lieberman tapped to McCain 'leadership team' in Conn
HARTFORD, Conn. -- Sen. Joe Lieberman has been named a chairman of Republican presidential hopeful John McCain's state leadership team.Lieberman, an Independent who caucuses with Senate Democrats, has endorsed the Arizona senator and campaigned for him in Florida, Michigan, New Hampshire and South Carolina. He is heading McCain's Connecticut campaign with Republican Rep. Christopher Shays.George Jepsen, former state Democratic Party chairman who supported Ned Lamont's successful challenge of Lieberman in the 2006 Democratic primary, said Lieberman's endorsement of McCain is an affront to Democrats who believed Lieberman when he said two years ago that he was committed to helping put a Democrat in the White House in 2008.........

it is january 22nd. blog for choice day

and it is the anniversary of roe v. wade. this year we've been asked why we 'vote' pro choice. well i don't think of myself as 'voting' pro choice. i just think of myself as PRO CHOICE. NO, NOT PRO ABORTION. PRO CHOICE. there is a great difference. i don't advocate abortion. i do advocate birth control and reproductive EDUCATION.

however, when a woman chooses to have an abortion, it is her right to do so. it is her right to feel safe doing so. it is her right for that choice to remain PRIVATE if it is her decision to have it so. it is her right to have a choice if there are health reasons (hers or that of the fetus). it is her right to have a choice if there are circumstances which may make having a child a tragedy. it is her choice and should be respected. it is her choice and NOT some old white rich dude's choice. it is HER choice and not YOUR GOD'S choice.

in almost all cases it is not an easy choice. but it is HER choice to make. it is HER BODY and HER MIND AND HER HEART.

we must never let back room abortions take place again. we must protect this choice we have and not let it be taken away by those who speak false words and judge us as evil. (by the way even those that 'oppose' choice have had abortions. they keep it deeply hidden because of the stigma they perceive. they keep it deeply hidden because of how their families and their men will react. well we all know many many many women who have made the choice to terminate a pregnancy. and yes, they DO come from all walks of life. all religions and all political views)

it's MY choice and i'm not letting YOU or anyone else take it from me

lassie says timmy fell down the well

well maxie saved george morris (it's the same thing)

Pint-Sized Pooch Gets Help For Fallen Owner
Maxie was on a mission.

The 4-year-old shih tzu romped away from owner George Morris while on a walk about 5 a.m. Friday, but the early morning game soon turned serious.

While going after the dog, the 69-year-old Morris slipped on ice in his condominium's parking lot and couldn't get up. That's when Maxie sounded the alarm........