For ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
saxikath...
Apr. 26th, 2007 09:57 am...who asked about Adam's Off Ox.
I'm still going to look in Brewer's tonight, but here's a first-cut answer.
I'm still going to look in Brewer's tonight, but here's a first-cut answer.
For
Apr. 26th, 2007 09:57 am
Civics -- The Breakfast of Champions!
Oct. 31st, 2006 02:17 pmThere are two or three women whom I tend to see on the bus or waiting for the bus in the morning. One of them was commuting with me this morning, so we got to talking about all sorts of things. And about two minutes before her stop came up, she asked me this morning, "So, can you explain to me what Question 4 is all about?"
Well, Brookline's ballot question 4 is all about the Community Preservation Act (the CPA). In May, Brookline Town Meeting approved bringing the CPA in front of the town's citizens (a vote required in order to be eligible for the CPA money). And so I explained -- while attempting to be as neutral on the issue as possible -- what the CPA was, why it was on the ballot, and where people could get more information. I concluded my shpiel just as the bus got to her stop, so she thanked me for the information, said she'd probably ask me to explain it again next time we see each other (probably some time later this week), and then she got off the bus.
Almost immediately, the woman sitting in the seat in front of me turned around and asked me to explain the CPA again. So I did, and this woman thanked me, saying that everything she'd seen about the CPA had confused her, and now she had a better idea of what the question was about. Almost immediatly, a guy sitting across the bus aisle from me leaned over. "So what's the deal with Question 2?" he asked.
Question 2 (a statewide question) deals with cross endorsement. In other words, a candidate could appear on the ballot under more than one party's endorsement (for example, under the Democratic Party and under a third party, such as the Green-Rainbow party). This type of voting exists in New York and Connecticut already. So I gave him a quick overview of the issue.
As I finished up the explanation, the bus pulled into the final stop, and we all headed our separate ways. I hope that these folks -- and a couple others, who looked as if they were paying attention to my explanations -- research the issues further and go and vote on 7 November.
Well, Brookline's ballot question 4 is all about the Community Preservation Act (the CPA). In May, Brookline Town Meeting approved bringing the CPA in front of the town's citizens (a vote required in order to be eligible for the CPA money). And so I explained -- while attempting to be as neutral on the issue as possible -- what the CPA was, why it was on the ballot, and where people could get more information. I concluded my shpiel just as the bus got to her stop, so she thanked me for the information, said she'd probably ask me to explain it again next time we see each other (probably some time later this week), and then she got off the bus.
Almost immediately, the woman sitting in the seat in front of me turned around and asked me to explain the CPA again. So I did, and this woman thanked me, saying that everything she'd seen about the CPA had confused her, and now she had a better idea of what the question was about. Almost immediatly, a guy sitting across the bus aisle from me leaned over. "So what's the deal with Question 2?" he asked.
Question 2 (a statewide question) deals with cross endorsement. In other words, a candidate could appear on the ballot under more than one party's endorsement (for example, under the Democratic Party and under a third party, such as the Green-Rainbow party). This type of voting exists in New York and Connecticut already. So I gave him a quick overview of the issue.
As I finished up the explanation, the bus pulled into the final stop, and we all headed our separate ways. I hope that these folks -- and a couple others, who looked as if they were paying attention to my explanations -- research the issues further and go and vote on 7 November.
...I think I've found my new profession.
As is not uncommon for us on Tuesdays,mabfan and I met for lunch today. On days that we meet at Park St., we tend to meet on the inbound (at that point, of course, "inbound" is meaningless, since the inbound/outbound designation for the subways is in relation to Park St.station); towards North Station) Green Line platform, near the schedule rounder. And there's a set of benches flanking a T map (the spider map on one side, the extended Green line map on the other side). It's not uncommon for people to stop at the spider map, get an idea of where they're going, and keep moving. Sometimes, people will pause and look confused, and if I can, I'll offer to help them out. At most, this happens once or twice during the time I'm waiting for mabfan, if I end up waiting for him.
Today, however, I arrived four minutes ahead ofmabfan and settled myself on one of the benches. In those four minutes, six different groups of people (three pairs, two singles, and a three-person group) stopped to look at the maps. I ended up giving all of them almost identical directions (because of the six groups, five of them were actually looking for the opposite set of tracks, heading back out toward Kenmore and beyond).
It used to be that the Information booth at Park St. was staffed most days, but now it seems that almost every time I go past it, it's dark. So I started to think that, should I ever want to get out of the word biz and do something that would make me absolutely no money, I could set up a folding chair at that spider map, hang out a "Directions Given" sign, and give people directions to wherever they're trying to get on the T.
As is not uncommon for us on Tuesdays,
mabfan and I met for lunch today. On days that we meet at Park St., we tend to meet on the inbound (at that point, of course, "inbound" is meaningless, since the inbound/outbound designation for the subways is in relation to Park St.station); towards North Station) Green Line platform, near the schedule rounder. And there's a set of benches flanking a T map (the spider map on one side, the extended Green line map on the other side). It's not uncommon for people to stop at the spider map, get an idea of where they're going, and keep moving. Sometimes, people will pause and look confused, and if I can, I'll offer to help them out. At most, this happens once or twice during the time I'm waiting for mabfan, if I end up waiting for him.Today, however, I arrived four minutes ahead of
mabfan and settled myself on one of the benches. In those four minutes, six different groups of people (three pairs, two singles, and a three-person group) stopped to look at the maps. I ended up giving all of them almost identical directions (because of the six groups, five of them were actually looking for the opposite set of tracks, heading back out toward Kenmore and beyond).It used to be that the Information booth at Park St. was staffed most days, but now it seems that almost every time I go past it, it's dark. So I started to think that, should I ever want to get out of the word biz and do something that would make me absolutely no money, I could set up a folding chair at that spider map, hang out a "Directions Given" sign, and give people directions to wherever they're trying to get on the T.
British Grammar/Style References Sought
Sep. 11th, 2006 08:34 pmkuroshii asks...my RL friend aboxofeyes does copyediting. she is now wondering:
"I was putting this off for no particular reason, but now I find I really do need a good British English reference book, ideally the UK equivalent of the Chicago Manual of Style."
i thought that either you or someone on your FL might be able to help reccommend something for her. (pleez? thanks!)
Ask Rabbi LJ -- Eruv Edition
Aug. 24th, 2006 10:39 amCan anyone out there tell me if it is OK to anchor the pole on which you have your eruv string to a tree? This is for an eruv for a private residence where there is not a metropolitan eruv.
ETA: It appears that it is permissable providing that you first establish the pole as a separate entity prior to lashing it to the tree for anchoring.
ETA: It appears that it is permissable providing that you first establish the pole as a separate entity prior to lashing it to the tree for anchoring.
An Odd Culinary Question
Jul. 6th, 2006 02:41 pmCan soy milk be soured the way cow-milk can? For recipe-related purposes. Specifically, for this recipe-related purposes.
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Passing Along an AskNomi Question
May. 28th, 2006 07:18 amA friend of mine is trying to find someone to make her some clothing. My friend will supply the fabric and pattern plus pay for any notions needed and will pay, as well, a fee for the sewing itself.
Anyone out there know of anyone in the metro Boston area who fits the bill?
Anyone out there know of anyone in the metro Boston area who fits the bill?
And Another Meme
Apr. 26th, 2006 01:03 pmI know I still need to respond to the previous one (I hope to get to that today or so) plus post my response to baiacou's assigning me a letter in the letter meme, but here's another participatory meme. I got it from celli, who got it from sophia_helix, who called it "stupidity amnesty," which I think is an excellent name for it.
How many times has someone on your friends list posted about something and you were really confused, but you didn't want to ask because you knew you SHOULD know? How many times have you felt 'guilty' asking a close LJ friend a question that should be 'obvious'?
Well, here's your chance.
If you've missed a few things, missed an entry and are confused, ask me any thing. Even something EXTREMELY basic, like where I live! I'm not allowed to get even slightly irritated at any of the questions - we've all missed things before.
baiacou's assigning me a letter in the letter meme, but here's another participatory meme. I got it from celli, who got it from sophia_helix, who called it "stupidity amnesty," which I think is an excellent name for it.How many times has someone on your friends list posted about something and you were really confused, but you didn't want to ask because you knew you SHOULD know? How many times have you felt 'guilty' asking a close LJ friend a question that should be 'obvious'?
Well, here's your chance.
If you've missed a few things, missed an entry and are confused, ask me any thing. Even something EXTREMELY basic, like where I live! I'm not allowed to get even slightly irritated at any of the questions - we've all missed things before.
From the AskNomi Mailbag
Dec. 29th, 2005 07:56 amHere's a recent AskNomi question-and-answer exchange:
Hi - I am taking you up on your offer of no question to wierd :)
( For more about AskNomi, come to the Arisia panel about non-Google research! )
Hi - I am taking you up on your offer of no question to wierd :)
( For more about AskNomi, come to the Arisia panel about non-Google research! )
You've Got Questions? We've Got Answers!
Jun. 9th, 2004 09:04 amWelcome to a new feature here in Nomi-ville: periodic peeks into the AskNomi mailbox.
( Today's Question )
( Today's Question )
...on behalf of asciikitty:
She's looking for a book. I know there are some librarians and other book lovers on my list (nah, really? :-) ); can any of you help her out?
(and, boy, have I decided I need an AskNomi/research nerd icon. Yet another thing to put on the ever-growing to-do list)
ETA: Found! And in under half an hour. How I love this braintrust of mine. *hugs assembled multitude. Yeah - even you, over there, lurking in the corner.*
asciikitty:She's looking for a book. I know there are some librarians and other book lovers on my list (nah, really? :-) ); can any of you help her out?
(and, boy, have I decided I need an AskNomi/research nerd icon. Yet another thing to put on the ever-growing to-do list)
ETA: Found! And in under half an hour. How I love this braintrust of mine. *hugs assembled multitude. Yeah - even you, over there, lurking in the corner.*
