Archive for March, 2009

“Documentary and stock transfer tax” receipts collected by state governments illustrate the growth and collapse of the debt-fueled real estate bubble. The figures below are for Massachusetts (MA) and the total for the fifty states (US) 2001 – 2008. Keep in mind that the figures are based on the states’ own reporting and some states [...]

As I recommended some time ago Massachusetts is taking steps to increase lottery revenue, although in a less straightforward manner than I suggested, and more in line with what Cleary Squared outlined last winter. (Globe link Via Universal Hub)

Not so natural conservatives. Can somebody tell Karl Rove?

The United States Census Bureau has released county population estimates for 2008. The new population statistics show that metropolitan Boston had a population of 4,522,858, compared to 4,392,345 in 2000, making it America’s tenth most populous metropolitan area. Middlesex county in Massachusetts remains America’s 22nd most populous county with 1,482,478 people. The Bureau estimates Suffolk [...]

Boston Globe reporter John S. Canellos is moved by a segment on a cable comedy show to proclaim that traditional news media – the mainstream media, if you will – “should live up to its own ideals” and not be duped by life’s many hawkers and peddlers. That’s rather slick of him. The people he [...]

Boston sports talk radio station WEEI has launched a new and much improved web site with a ton of content form the show, original content for the site, AP reports and other third-party material. Very nice work. Most room for improvement is on the team pages which right now are little WEEI-branded islands hosted by [...]

The hallmark of a look-at-me sports columnist is the ability to base criticism not only on nothing but on assertions that run against known facts. Kansas City Star’s Jason Whitlock makes a hedged but still ridiculous accusation against the Kansas City Chiefs General Manager Scott Pioli after the team traded a second-round 2009 pick for [...]

Revenue is dropping like a rock for governments at all levels in the United States and it isn’t any better in the countries that used to rake in the dough exporting to ever more leveraged consumers in the US. Here’s how an experienced city-level politician in Sweden describes this year’s budgeting process: This crisis is [...]

WJIB AM 740, the memories Station, Boston’s home of the Beautiful Music, finally has a web site, WJIB740.com. The Cambridge, MA, station is also in the midst of its fund-raising drive. WJIB, which plays “a pleasant mix of 30′s-through-60′s ‘adults-standards’ and softer hits from the 50′s through-80′s,” is funded by listener contributions. The 2009 budget [...]

Let’s spend the revenue from Governor Subprime Patrick’s carbon-usage fee on snow removal.