Archive for August, 2006

New England Patriots cut Martin Gramatica

Wednesday, August 23rd, 2006

New England Patriots have released Martin Gramatica, who the team signed earlier this year after Adam Vinatieri left via free agency for Indianapolis Colts. Then in April Patriots drafter kicker Stephen Gostkowski in the fourth round, more or less assuring that Gramatica wouldn’t play for the Patriots in the regular season, as I guessed when [...]

Metropolitan Boston’s population grew 0.4% from 2000-2005

Wednesday, August 23rd, 2006

Metropolitan Boston’s population grew by 19,495 from 2000 to 2005, according to population estimates by the United States Census Bureau released last Friday, from 4,391,344 to 4,411,835. The 2005 figure is, however, some 14,000 less than the 2002 population estimate. It’s also about 7,000 less than the 2004 estimate. The natural increase in population was [...]

The Channel 7 newscast meltdown

Tuesday, August 22nd, 2006

Channel 7 in Boston (WHDH) experienced a pretty substantial meltdown in the production of its newscast last week, so substantial the station felt compelled to switch to a feed from MSNBC. Radio Equalizer has a post on the debacle, and you definitely want to watch the clip from the aborted newscast. The old porn stunt [...]

For a moment, I thought Willie McGinest had left New England

Tuesday, August 22nd, 2006

And he has. The defensive end/outside linebacker now plays for Cleveland Browns, yet he seems to be clinging to his glory days with the Patriots, wishing the team had not given former San Diego Chargers star Junior Seau the same number both players have worn since their college days: 55. Willie McGinest isn’t entirely happy [...]

I won’t have Brandon Gorin to kick around anymore: New England trades offensive tackle to Arizona

Monday, August 21st, 2006

New England Patriots have traded veteran offensive tackle Brandon Gorin to Arizona Cardinals for an undisclosed draft pick. Here’s what I wrote after New England’s game against Arizona Cardinals last Saturday: He’s obviously not a bum, but he is just a cut below where the rest of New England’s starters are… The emergence of Billy [...]

Time Magazine is one stupid college-guidance counselor

Monday, August 21st, 2006

In the August 21 issue, Time Magazine wondered “Who Needs Harvard?” Well, kids, here’s the thing: If you’re ever admitted to an Ivy League school, any Ivy League school, just say “yes” and don’t let yourself be misguided into doing otherwise by people who themselves said “yes” to Harvard, Princeton, Dartmouth, Yale, Columbia, Penn, Brown, [...]

Hail, Hail, New England! New England Patriots to choose new touchdown song

Monday, August 21st, 2006

The New England Patriots are looking for a new song to play after the team scores a touchdown in Gillette Stadium: The options are: The 1812 – Overture Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love – Van Halen Elevation – U2 Song 2 – Blur Thunderstruck – AC/DC Yeah – Usher I’m always partial to AC/DC, but for [...]

Something for MSNBC to give a spin

Monday, August 21st, 2006

Last Saturday night Swedish newsprogram Rapport inadvertently – but repeatedly – showed bits and pieces of a hardcore porn movie. Here’s a rough and edited translation of part of an article in daily tabloid Expressen: Rapport‘s midnight broadcast went off without a hitch. Until the second minute. That’s when premium cable channel Canal Plus started [...]

Sleep deprivation, now extra painful

Monday, August 21st, 2006

Boston Red Sox drop fourth straight to New York Yankees. And they do it well past 1 AM, just to make it that much worse on everybody. Nice bunt, Youk. The painful details. Update: Adam has collected the combined Red Sox angst, anger, and annoyance of Boston bloggers: Games 1 & 2 Game 3 Game [...]

Lobster – wild winds couldn’t drive me away from you

Monday, August 21st, 2006

We went up to Glocester to check out the Waterfront Festival, only to discover that it had been cancelled after a storm ripped through it. No lobster bake for us, sadly. I feel really bad for all the vendors who got rained out. Instead we went to The Lobster Pool Restaurant in Rockport and devoured [...]