How many minutes does it take you to drive off your street onto a bigger street in the morning and later, head home for the night? Do you get stuck there at that intersection and others along the way, blocked by cars stopped in front of you—after your red light turns green? These are...
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JP Observer: We need to learn specifics about Russian propaganda
Everyone on Facebook can check to see if they unknowingly interacted with a post from a Russian agency trying to influence the presidential race and American politics in general during the 2016 campaign. Facebook (FB) estimated before Congress in the fall that 126 million users were exposed to those posts and ads. In addition,...
JP Observer: Ice activities here show vivid, recent climate change
Crowds of people ice skated securely on Jamaica Pond daily in winters from the mid-1800s to less than 100 years ago. Thick blocks of ice were commercially harvested from it to sell locally and for export including by ship. The iced over pond supported trucks and teams of horses easily. Earlier this month, after...
JP Observer: Speech is money: It’s OK to voice opinions to other legislators in D.C.
A record-breaking number of people contacted Washington with their opinions during the first two months this year, according to an article in the March 6 New Yorker. “Members of Congress claim that, Senate-wide, the call volume for the week of Jan. 30, 2017, more than doubled the previous record; on average, during that week,...
JP Observer: Community people participate in Alzheimer’s studies
Not so long ago, it seems, getting Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was thought to be only a matter of fate. A person either came down with the chronic, debilitating disease—usually later in life—or didn’t. Much about it was a mystery. Now a center just several stops from JP on the Route 39 bus in the...
JP Observer: More details, examples of Russian meddling needed
We can be sure the Russians tampered with the presidential election in 2016. Our intelligence agencies and almost everyone in Congress, no matter their party, agree that Russia intervened and say they have evidence to back them up. On Jan. 6 this year, the Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National...
JP Observer: Fear itself: President’s behavior keeps us constantly scared
Every few days since Donald Trump was elected president, it seems there’s something new from him—or something resuscitated—to frighten us. We have to be hyper-alert, constantly assessing and triaging the danger he’s causing: How likely is this to go wrong? Did it already? To what degree? Am I personally vulnerable? How far does this...
JP Observer: Boston needs to opt for cleaner electricity
When it comes to climate change, no reasonable opportunity to lessen the effects of fossil fuels on the environment should be turned down. Right now, the administration of Mayor Marty Walsh is being very cautious about a movement to adopt what’s called “Community Choice Energy (CCE).” Many individuals and groups in JP, including local...
JP Observer: Holiday decorations come from collaboration
‘Tis the season to talk about holiday decorations in the Jamaica Plain business districts. What?! Temperatures are in the 80s and 90s these days! Strange as it seems—just as retail stores look ahead when ordering stock—the local business associations have to start thinking about decorating the business districts now for the winter holidays near...
JP Observer: Historic arts school celebrates decade of progress; honors three leaders
The Eliot School of Fine and Applied Arts has seen dramatic, positive change in the past ten years. A celebration of that progress and three Jamaica Plain residents who were key to building the programs and stability of the local nonprofit took place last month at a supporter’s home in JP. Long-time board members...