Archive for February, 2008

One of the most annoying commentaries about Senator Barack Obama campaign is that if he wins the election people around the world will take a more favorable view of the United States. Seth Gitell gives you good reason – if you needed any – to think that that brave new world probably wouldn’t come about [...]

Last year I poked fun at trade magazine Selling Halloween for writing that sexy costumes would be the in-thing in 2007. After all, sexy Hallowen costumes have been a Halloween staple for several years and probably then some. For 2008, however, Selling Halloween is seeing a bit of a different trend: The little less sexy [...]

Tatte opened its very first location Tatte Patisserie & Cafe, last Wednesday at 1003 Beacon Street in Brookline (in the place that used to be French Savoy Bakery). I stopped by today but sadly didn’t have time to linger. I did, however, try a flourless pecan brownie and a couple of pieces of cinnamon rose [...]

Several inches of beautiful light snow fell over eastern Massachusetts yesterday. Behold and enjoy a few photos of the sudden winter wonderland:

MassInc held a breakfast forum couple of weeks ago to discuss the state and direction of Massachusetts’ labor market. I was unable to attend but a partial transcript is available on the organization’s website (free registration required). Below are a couple of quotes to whet your appetite: Moderator Paul Grogan, The Boston Foundation, on the [...]

It takes a nuclear family to raise a child. The United States Census Bureau has released the 2004 for data for what it calls living arrangements of children in America. Just under 60% of children lived with their married biological parents, down from 61.2% in 2001. Marriage remains a crucially important social institution. The poverty [...]

We’re in the offest of off-season for football players but it’s already preseason for NFL cheerleaders. The New England Patriots Cheerleading Squad hold their 2008 auditions on Saturday, March 8. The final round will be held on March 22, when the 75 finalists try to make the 24 slots on the squad. More info at [...]

There’s much one can say about Dunkin’ Donuts, but the coffee peddling giant isn’t a baby killer. Dunkin’ Donuts is apparently pleased with the results of its “flatbread” and “personal pizza” trials and is now planning on rolling out the concept nationwide in an attempt to increase sales after the morning rush. I’ve visited stores [...]

Another day, another billion. Having worked out a compromise with the legislature over a billion dollar life-sciences bill, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is reportedly getting ready to hawk his next billion sized project: Commuter rail service from Boston to New Bedford and Fall River (two crummy cities in southeastern Massachusetts that have yet to overcome [...]

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi have stitched together a 10-year $1bn initiative to boost the so-called life-sciences industry in the state. The governor thinks the plan will help create 250,000 jobs while the Speaker hasn’t committed to a number. That seems a tad optimistic. The Bristol Myers Squibb plant in [...]