August 2003

Just a few photos I took a few weeks ago while wandering around Harvard Square. Click each image for a larger photo.

A banner hanging up outside the Harvard Square T.

Someone drew an enormous circle/canvas on the sidewalk area across the street from Wordsworth. Michael added a map of the United States.

A performance artist puts on his makeup.

Howard Dean’s zany Internet team is unveiling DeanLink, another opportunity for Dean supporters around the country to connect with each other. It’s similiar to Friendster but looks more useful and focused on politics. And it’s all about our favorite guy in politics. A few hours after I set up my account, Frank in Tulsa, Oklahoma sent me a message via the DeanLink website. Upon first glance I figured it was someone working directly for the campaign sending out welcome notes to newcomers. The note from Frank was actually an interesting, thoughtful note from a Dean supporter who used to live in my part of the world and thought he’d say hi.

As if there weren’t enough reasons to be won over by Howard Dean and his stunning campaign, now we have DeanLink. What will they think of next?

It’s hard to rely on my good intentions
When my head’s full of things that I can’t mention
Seems I usually get things right
But I can’t understand what I did last night

“Good Intentions” - Toad the Wet Sprocket

I aspire to update the homepage of sooz.com on a mostly daily basis. I either need to try harder or find some more free time or … both! Wednesday night we met up with two of Michael’s coworkers and a few of my pals on the roof of the Museum of Science’s parking garage to check out Mars. There were tons of people there which was cool to see. We decided that the event could have been a slow motion flash mob.

We didn’t make it to New York City today for Howard Dean’s rally in Bryant Park tonight, alas. Mike is enjoying the festivities close to the stage according to the IM messages he sent me a few minutes ago. Apparently we should look for the red Philly for Dean banner stage left about 10 rows from the front and we’ll be able to see his group. The event is being broadcast on CSPAN2 at 9:30pm EST for those of us who can’t be there in person. It’s also being broadcast live on the web at www.websoapbox.com.

Rose Polenzani recorded “Girl”, a new song on her 4-track, and shared it for download in the listening room of her website. It’s a fun little tune that is a departure from her usual style of folk+rock. It’s definately more rock than folk. Good stuff!

Rose has several shows with Lorna Hunt during the rest of August into September. She’s also performing at the Annual Cutting Edge of the Campfire Festival at Club Pasim. The four-day event takes place on Labor Day Weekend and Rose performs in the round with Dawn Landes, Karaugh Brown, and Daniel Burke on Friday, August 29th in Harvard Square. It’s $10 for a 1-day pass, $18 for the whole weekend.

Visual artist and performer Cynthia Von Buhler escaped Boston for New York City last year. Tonight she’s hosting a reception at CVB, her new gallery and loft space. Based on photos on the website, the space looks very interesting and includes a large gallery, darkroom, theater and more.

Is there anything like this in Boston?

Michael wrote an excellent theme song in honor of John Ashcroft’s multi-city tour promoting the Patriot Act. Rumor has it a holiday carolling book is in the works, too.

I was hoping the Mass For Dean group would be able to get a bus organized for the upcoming Howard Dean rally in New York City on Monday, August 26th. Mike in Philadelphia (who is responsible for the Phillies jersey that Dean wore at the recent rally in Philadelphia) contacted the Mass For Dean group about a bus from Boston to New York City but apparently they aren’t organizing anything for that event and focusing on a Portsmouth event instead.

I’d really like to go to the New York City event and it would be great to see a bunch of other Boston area people there, too. Should we organize our own bus? Post a comment or send me an email if you’re interested. The Philly For Dean group organized a bus that costs $20 round trip per person and includes lunch and movies in the bus. Why not do something like that from Boston, too! It might be a few dollars more but probably not much.

Update 8/22: There’s just not enough time to make arrangements for a bus. Maybe another time!

While George Bush is on a month-long vacation in August, Howard Dean’s Sleepless Summer Tour takes place in cities around the United States. The rally finishes up in New York City’s Bryant Park on the 26th from 8:30pm-11pm at 42nd Street between 5th and 6th. If my notebook computer didn’t weight 4,000 pounds I’d bring it with me since Bryant Park has free Wi-Fi. Too bad the tour it isn’t coming to Boston, too. The tour runs Saturday, August 23 through Tuesday, August 26th with stops in Falls Church, Virginia, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Spokane, Washington, San Antonio, Texas, Chicago, Illinois and New York City.

Kristen Fischer, a senior editor at ESPN.com wrote an article a couple weeks ago about the Kobe Bryant case that is actually worth reading compared to the bizarro coverage most of the press has given it. One news program shortly after the story broke went on and on about how Kobe’s product deals might be affected. Regardless of what is or isn’t the truth, it’s sad to see people more concerned about selling shoes than human beings.

But she’s a woman, you say — no, she’s a girl, but we’ll get to that later — and most likely an attractive one, so she should have known better. She should delve into the male psyche and know that he only wants one thing.

He’s a 24-year-old married man with a child, but this 19-year-old girl should be smarter. She should know the score. How convenient for him, that she holds the key to all accountability. (full article)