Attn: Massachusetts artists. @masscreative.bsky.social is doing a Town Hall with the Health Connector to talk about what you need to know about this year's open enrollment. Details at the link.

Yeah, that's not going to do it.

Giant of exotica Tak Shindo was born this day in 1920 in California. He was one of 120,000 Americans interned in camps in the 1940’s. (It CAN happen here!) After all of that, in 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a language instructor. www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4U5... #veteransday

This kind of reminds me of the time when I was ten and I told my sister if we could go see the movie I wanted to see this time, we would go see the movie she wanted to see next time. She fell for it. But I lied.

Birthday music.

“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.” - RFK

PUT THAT FORK DOWN NOW.

Some music for Cambodian Independence Day

Congratulations to those who voted for this!

The House Committee is likely to send a CRIMINAL REFERRAL to the DOJ claiming the president of this university lied about diversity initiatives. The lawyer quoted in the article is correct -- it's a political lynching, and Washington is the first Black president to serve the school. wapo.st/3JOvitB

It was my honor today at the State House to present the Anna Elliot Tichnor award on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners to Kim Charleson, Executive Director of the Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library. Kim has spent her career making library materials accessible to all.

13 years ago this evening, we elected Elizabeth Warren to the United States Senate. She remains the only woman ever elected to the Senate from Massachusetts.

This might make a great sitcom.

"(T)he two Democrats won so decisively because they also flipped a crucial sliver of voters who said they supported Mr. Trump in 2024." Keep talking to the Trump voters you encounter.

Point missed.

Today would be a really good day to start this, which we've been asking for since February.

On this day in diversity in 1935, Parker Brothers launched the game Monopoly, after acquiring it from a guy named Darrow who stole it from Elizabeth Magie, creator of "The Landlord's Game." www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K8w...

Today in diversity: Mary Sherman Morgan, who invented the liquid fuel that powered the rocket that boosted the first U.S. satellite in 1957, was born this day 1921. It probably goes without saying that she overcame some things, but I looked it up, and she did, in fact, overcome a lot of things.

Headed out to vote in a few hours. In the Boston City Council at-large race, I will proudly cast a vote for my friend Alexandra Valdez. If you are a Boston voter, I hope you will consider giving her one of your four votes.

The Week in Birthdays. And a bit of baseball.

Noting ten musicians we've lost since All Souls Day last year.

Songs about saints, for All Saints' Day.

I am excited to be speaking on November 12 at the annual meeting of the Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester. If you live up that way, I would LOVE to see you. It is open to the public. It's a public library!

On this day in 1886, The Statue of Liberty, a generous gift from the people of France, given to commemorate the centennial of the American Revolution, was dedicated by President Cleveland.

“Go Down, Moses” is a spiritual, but as Judge Milton Wright points out, with its refrain of “Let my people go,” it's also a protest song. Check out his performance, featuring ‪@dcolley.bsky.social‬ (@vaporsofmorphine.bsky.social) on sax & @sargie11.bsky.social & Erica Mantone on backing vox. #wsayo

The Week in Birthdays (and some other thoughts).

Billy Ruane died fifteen years ago today. I wrote this last year, when the film came out.

SONG OF THE DAY: Bob Marley & the Wailers. “Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)” #wsayo A hungry mob is a angry mob “SNAP Benefits: Trump Administration Rejects Use of Emergency Funding Amid Shutdown” (Newsweek) m.youtube.com/watch?v=S4cD...

As we ready the 4th edition of @whichsideboston.bsky.social this week, I thought I'd post a video of my favorite performance so far. I CAN'T CHOOSE! It's Milton Wright! No, it's Ezra Furman! No, It's Veronica Robles! No, it's Jon Butcher! Just watch all of them! www.youtube.com/@WhichSideSe...

It’s National Bologna Day, which just goes to show that everyone and everything has a lobbyist.

Chicago Archbishop: "These actions wound the soul of our city. Let me be clear. The church stands with migrants."

Finished this yesterday, and LOVED IT. She knows what's wrong, and knows how to fix it. If I were in charge of hiring, she would be the Commissioner AND the Queen. Great stories about Alex Bregman, The Spaceman, Rich Hill, Dusty Baker, and so many other characters. bookshop.org/a/98365/9780...

Steve Locke's amazing, provocative, beautiful show at MASS MoCA closes on Saturday, 11/8. If you don't see it by then, you will not see it, and frankly, I worry about that. I managed to see it twice, and wish I could go again. well.https://massmoca.org/event/steve-locke-the-fire-next-time/

Attention fans of poetry and baseball (which have similar attributes).

We finally posted some video from the September @whichsideboston.bsky.social. @sullivanjames.bsky.social and I are grateful to all who participated. Here you will find some amazing performances you won't see anywhere else! www.whichside.boston/2025-09

I am delighted to be invited to speak at the annual meeting at the Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester on November 12. I'll be discussing the importance of standing up for public libraries, now more than ever. Please come say hello if that's your library!

Thanks to @wbur.org for this nice piece on @whichsideboston.bsky.social, the music series @sullivanjames.bsky.social and I (with help from a small army of friends) conjured over the summer. We will keep going until someone makes us stop!

To say @massago.bsky.social deserves another term would be a gross understatement. Attorneys general like her give me hope. I hope you Massachusetts folks will join me in doing everything we can to help her win. It's as much for the rest of the country as it is for us.

A league of her own, coming to Boston!

You’re at like 11. I need you to dial it back to about seven.

“Doing and making are acts of hope, and as that hope grows, we stop feeling overwhelmed by the troubles of the world. We remember that we — as individuals and groups — can do something about those troubles.” - Corita Kent

Birthdays this week. And old woman yells at cloud.

SONG OF THE DAY: John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, “Power to the People” #wsayo Say we want a revolution We better get it on right away Well get on your feet Into the street “Millions expected to flood streets at ‘No Kings’ protests targeting Trump” (Fox News) m.youtube.com/watch?v=4Epu...

With the power vested in me (which is none), I hereby declare that the next member of the press to make a pun about Phil Eng driving, merging, or otherwise navigating a vehicle of some kind, will suffer no consequences despite the fact that they really should.

@sullivanjames.bsky.social Everyone be safe today. and by that I mean SPF50 or higher.

Japanese man with authorization to work in the United States excels at America's Pastime.

ICYMI (And you probably did, because it melted).

The grifter family is raiding the closets and trying to give away your stuff. But there are hero librarians.

Yes, yes, I know it's No Kings Day. But it's also World Menopause Day. Of course I have a playlist for that.

SONG OF THE DAY: The Linda Lindas, “Racist, Sexist Boy” #wsayo Poser Blockhead Riffraff Jerkface “Fallout over racist group chat reportedly involving leaders of Young Republicans groups” (NBC News) m.youtube.com/watch?v=J5Ah...