Monthly Archives: January 2010

Scott Brown Steals Mass. Senate Seat

January 19, 2010

Stunning Race Outcome Sends Republican to D.C.

Martha Coakley’s stunning upset to Scott Brown in the Massachusetts Senate race tonight is not about dissatisfaction with the economy and the Obama Administration. It’s about a talented but bland candidate who stacked up less favorably in comparison to her charismatic male opponent.

Whether you’re the engaging Sarah Palin or the pragmatic Hillary Clinton, if you’re a female,  you’ll face vicious critics. Coakley’s regional bid didn’t generate the same level of nastiness that the two national female candidates experienced during the 2008 Presidential campaign but only because the timeline was short and took place over the Christmas holiday when many were distracted, leaving less time for scrutiny. But make no mistake, Coakley lost votes because of her gender and because we still struggle with subconscious beliefs about female roles in this country.

That combined with her cool persona cost her the election.

read more »

Sphere: Related Content

Posted in: Ramblings – No Comments

January 16, 2010

A Stand-up Guy, The Boston Globe, January 10, 2010 (watch his Letterman performance)


Sphere: Related Content

Posted in: Boston Globe Archives – No Comments

Eddie Brill on Letterman Yesterday

January 16, 2010

The Best Laugh of My Week: Thanks Eddie

Read my Sunday Globe interview with Eddie.


Sphere: Related Content

Posted in: Best Laugh of the Week – No Comments

A Flap or Two Before Green was Cool

January 15, 2010

Newsday, published June 9, 2008.

By Joyce Pellino Crane

Just out of the camera shot was the clothesline carousel I wrote about in this humorous Newsday essay. To my right: Dad, Mom, my sister, and brother (front).
Just out of camera shot was the carousel clothesline I wrote about in this humorous Newsday essay. To my right: Dad, Mom, my sister, and brother (front).

The shouting matches started shortly after my family moved into the Dutch Colonial house across from the town’s public high school.

Mrs. Gibson, a widowed socialite with a butler, a poodle, and a two-toned Cadillac, had never expected to see a family of Italians next door.

But there she was in her twilight years battling the reality of a changing society. The tony New York suburb, known for its debutantes and coming out parties (this was an era when coming out wasn’t followed by “of the closet”) was being infiltrated by the nouveau riche with last names ending in vowels. Mrs. Gibson wasn’t ready for it.

They arrived with screechy station wagons, smudge-faced kids, and religious statues on the front lawn.

She upbraided. My mother retorted. The words got nasty.

read more »

Sphere: Related Content

Posted in: Essays – No Comments

Calmness in Our Lives

January 13, 2010

This arrived in my inbox yesterday (with a different photo). The unknown author gave me the best laugh of my week!

Tranquility

Tranquility

“I am passing this on to you because it definitely works, and we could all use a little more calmness in our lives.

By following simple advice heard on the Dr. Phil show, you too can find inner peace.

Dr Phil proclaimed, “The way to achieve

inner peace is to finish all the things you have started and have never finished.”

So, I looked around my house to see all the things I started and hadn’t finished, and before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of White Zinfandel, a bottle of Bailey’s Irish Cream, a package of Oreos, the remainder of my old Prozac prescription, the rest of the cheesecake, some Doritos, and a box of chocolates.

You have no idea how freaking good I feel right now.

Pass this on to those whom you think might be in need of inner peace.

Happy New Year!”


Sphere: Related Content

Posted in: Best Laugh of the Week – No Comments

Westford Man Charged with First Degree Murder in Wife’s Shooting

January 12, 2010

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

MIDDLESEX DISTRICT ATTORNEY

15 COMMONWEALTH AVE WOBURN MA 01801

For Immediate Release                         Contact: Jessica Venezia

781-897-8325

Charges Upgraded In Connection With Saturday’s Shooting In Westford

Westford Man Now Charged With Murder Of Wife

WOBURN– Charges have been upgraded in connection with a shooting that occurred Saturday night in Westford, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.

Frederick Leduc, 45, of Westford, was arrested yesterday and charged with armed assault with intent to murder, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal discharge of a firearm, and illegal possession of ammunition in connection with the shooting of  his wife, Karen Leduc, 43, of Westford.  The victim, Karen Leduc, who was in critical condition since the incident, has now died and the intent to murder charges against Frederick Leduc have been upgraded to first degree murder.

Frederick Leduc remains hospitalized and a bedside arraignment on these charges will occur today at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston at 2pm.

According to authorities, at approximately 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening, Westford Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office responded to reports of a shooting at 48 Forge Village Road in Westford.  Upon arrival, authorities located a male, the defendant, and a female, the victim, evidencing obvious gun shot wounds.

The defendant was life-flighted to Massachusetts General Hospital.  The female victim, identified as Karen Leduc, 43, was life-flighted to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester and has now died.

Westford Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office conducted an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the shooting.  It is alleged that the defendant purposefully shot the victim, and then intentionally shot himself after an argument.

The investigation remains ongoing.

These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The Assistant District Attorney assigned to the case is Suzanne Kontz.  The Victim Witness Advocate is Dora Quiroz.


Sphere: Related Content

Posted in: Hometown Tragedy – No Comments

Charges Filed In Connection With Saturday’s Shooting In Westford

January 11, 2010

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

MIDDLESEX DISTRICT ATTORNEY

15 COMMONWEALTH AVE WOBURN MA 01801

For Immediate Release                       Contact: Jessica Venezia

January 11, 2010                                  781-897-8325  

WOBURN– Charges have been filed in connection with a shooting that occurred Saturday night in Westford, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.

Frederick Luduc, 45, of 48 Forge Village Road in Westford, has been arrested and charged with armed assault to murder, illegal possession of a firearm, and illegal possession of ammunition.  Luduc remains hospitalized and an arraignment on these charges has not yet been scheduled.

According to authorities, at approximately 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening, Westford Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office responded to reports of a shooting at 48 Forge Village Road in Westford.  Upon arrival, authorities located a male, the defendant, and a female, the victim, evidencing obvious gun shot wounds.

“This is a troubling case where we allege that Frederick Luduc shot the victim, who remains in very critical condition,” District Attorney Leone said.  “We continue to develop the facts of the investigation and additional details will be released at the time of the defendant’s arraignment.”

The defendant was life-flighted to Massachusetts General Hospital where he remains in stable condition.  The female victim, identified as Karen Luduc, 43, was life-flighted to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester and remains in critical condition.

Westford Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office conducted an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the shooting.  It is alleged that the defendant shot the victim and then shot himself.

The investigation remains ongoing.

The Assistant District Attorney assigned to the case is Suzanne Kontz.  The Victim Witness Advocate is Dora Quiroz.


Sphere: Related Content

Posted in: Hometown Tragedy – No Comments

January 11, 2010

FEW DETAILS RELEASED IN WESTFORD DOUBLE SHOOTING, The Boston Globe, January 11, 2010

WESTFORD – Authorities investigating a Saturday night double-shooting declined to give details about the incident yesterday but assured residents of this pastoral community that the crime in a wooded neighborhood near the high school was not random.


Sphere: Related Content

Posted in: Hometown Tragedy – No Comments

January 10, 2010

TWO PEOPLE HURT IN WESTFORD SHOOTING, The Boston Globe, January 10, 2010
WESTFORD – Two people were shot in a home in this quiet suburb northwest of Boston yesterday, authorities said.

Westford authorities responded around 7:30 p.m. to a Forge Village Road address, where they found an adult man and an adult woman shot.

Sphere: Related Content

Posted in: Hometown Tragedy – No Comments

Installed by SimpleScripts