Foot Heads Arms Body -- Popcorn by The Colonel #74

The title above was an actual headline in The Times of London when Michael Foot became the head of a nuclear weaponry panel.

Isn’t it sad how Cyber Monday got so commercialized?

The thin shell of snow this morning shocked us. We had just bought a good snow blower. When we last did that, it didn’t snow for a year.

One small part of the Borough of Manhattan (different entity but same territory as New York County) is on the North American Mainland: the Marble Hill neighborhood surrounded by the Bronx.

Is it truth or myth that the name Bronx originated from the Bronk family’s having owned large tracts of land in the area, so it became known as “the Bronks’.” We can’t be troubled to Google it or Snopes it, but the name sounds Dutch, like Dave van Bronk.

Moomins. In the children's tales of Tove Jansson, Moomins were a race of small, shy, fat, hibernating creatures inhabiting the forests of Finland. Jansson received the Hans Christian Andersen award in 1966 for contributions to children’s literature, but starting in 1968, she wrote six novels and five books of short stories for adults. Jansson’s sigoth was Tuulikki Pietilä. The Irish form of “Jannson” is “McKeon.”

Words of comfort to raconteurs: “If some of your jokes don’t bomb, you’re not taking enough chances.”

Chuck Norris can sit in the corner of a round room.

Doesn’t “Take The A Train” have too many articles? Shouldn’t it be either “Take A Train” or “Take The Train”?

“Photographers — idiots, of which there are so many — say, ‘Oh, if only I had a Nikon or a Leica, I could make great photographs.’ That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard in my life. [Great photographs are] nothing but a matter of seeing, and thinking, and interest.” --Andrea Feininger

“At a certain point in a drunk’s career it does not matter all that much whether he’s actually been drinking -- that’s just the way he is.” --David Foster Wallace

“[O]ur greatest laws are hidden, our greatest wisdom is authorless, and our most valuable treasures are in our hearts.” --Name withheld by request

“I don’t get no respect in my apartment building. The super told me to wipe my feet in my apartment before I go out into the hall.” --Rodney Dangerfield

“On the contrary!” These were Henrik Ibsen’s last words. His wife had just remarked that he seemed much improved, and would be quite well again. Ibsen sat up in bed and objected, as it turned out, with no little justification.

“MRCA” stands for “most recent common ancestor.” Try looking at everyone you meet today and speculating on the date of birth of your MRCA. Demographics can be counter-intuitive. For example, almost everyone of Northern European stock is a direct descendant of Charlemagne.

Speaking of Charlemagne, December 25 is the 1213th anniversary of his coronation as the first Holy Roman Emperor. That is, if Christmas was celebrated on December 25 in A.D. 800.

It’s a cosmopolitan world. Legal documents in international trade are sporting references to the “Gregorian calendar.” For the avoidance of doubt, no doubt.

Comeback to bad pickup line: “I’m sure the police consider you a person of interest, but I don’t.” Implied threat? Mailed fist inside velvet glove?

This line from The Who’s 1967 “I’m a Boy” is metrically perfect. It sounds like a series of nails, each hammered down with a single blow: “My name is Bill and I’m a headcase.”

Follow your bliss for a week and find out if it’s two-timing you.

The Christmas carol for persons with paranoia is Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Us.

Schizophrenia: Do You Hear What I Hear?

Alzheimer’s: Walking in a Winter Wonderland, Miles From My House, in My Robe and Slippers

Social Anxiety Disorder: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas While I Sit Here and Hyperventilate

We asked Woody Allen how how his 25 years of psychotherapy was going. He said, “Slowly.”

If drones are going to make home deliveries, can they also do our shopping? Can you imagine drones duking it out at Filene’s Basement?

If it’s an “exaltation” of larks, a “pride” of lions, a “murder” of crows, what’s a group of drones? Put your nominations into a comment.

With climate change, New Englanders don’t have to move to Florida anymore. Just stay alive, and Florida will come to you.

Greenbelt Management Announces Application for Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facility In City

City-based cultivators aim to serve patients, create jobs in Connecticut’s new medical marijuana market

Greenbelt Management today announced that the company has submitted its application to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection to become a licensed producer of medical marijuana.

“We are proud of our application to the Department and of the team of professionals we have assembled to meet the needs of Connecticut’s patients,” said Jason Nickerson, President of Greenbelt Management. “If we are fortunate enough to be selected, we have the experience, the resources and the track record necessary to successfully begin production and meet all of the Department’s deadlines.”

Greenbelt Management was founded in 2012 by brothers Jason and Matthew Nickerson, both originally natives of New Hartford, Connecticut. Greenbelt was established to develop a highly efficient and appropriately-scaled medical marijuana production facility, one that would not only be capable of serving patients of Connecticut’s palliative marijuana program with the highest quality medicine, but would also be a stable and longstanding local business for years to come.

Greenbelt’s application reflects a number of important attributes making the company uniquely well-positioned to serve the medical marijuana market in Connecticut:

• Zoning approvals already secured: In August, Greenbelt received zoning approval from the Middletown Common Council to site its operations in a 15,000 sq. ft. space in the city-owned Remington Rand building.
• Self-financed: Greenbelt is entirely self-funded by its principals, and does not rely on any outside investors.
• Long and successful record of business development and management: Greenbelt President Jason Nickerson currently serves the Director of Development for Torrington-based C.H. Nickerson and Company, Inc., a general and environmental contracting firm established in 1939.
• Greenbelt team includes industry-leading experts: Greenbelt partner Denver Relief Consulting is the consulting arm of the second oldest and one of the largest production and dispensary operations in Colorado and offers unrivaled industry-specific expertise in cultivation, management, security and other critical pieces of the medical marijuana industry.

“Success in the construction field often boils down to meeting specifications and hitting deadlines,” said Nickerson. “I am proud of my background with a Connecticut general contracting firm that has decades of solid performance in both of these respects. This experience is also reflected in Greenbelt’s ability to work closely with the Department to ensure a smooth launch and stable cultivation operation. Connecticut’s medical marijuana market is only going to be launched once, and we know we can get it right.”

“Denver Relief is proud to have the opportunity to partner with Greenbelt Management,” said Kayvan Khalatbari, principal at Denver Relief Consulting. “We have participated in the launch of medical marijuana markets in Vermont, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., and know that in Connecticut, Greenbelt offers the right combination of real world experience, financial acumen and sound planning to make it work.”

Contra Dance Friday at Wesleyan

If you like traditional folk music and dance, and you haven't made it to one of these events yet, you're missing out!

Contra dancing is an energetic folk dance and a great way to meet new people. Beginners absolutely welcome. Live music. Snacks provided.  You don't need to bring a partner -- just show up, and people will ask you to join in.  All dances are taught, and the music is full of energy -- it gets you moving!

For more info, check out http://wescontra.blogspot.com or emailwescontradance@gmail.com



Friday December 6
8-11 PM
Place: Beckham Hall, Fayerweather building, Wesleyan Campus (on Wyllys Ave)
Cost: free, (optional donation)

These dances encourage newcomers (for many of the students this is a first attempt at organized dancing), and the mix of all ages creates a wonderful feel of community in the room -- contra dance regulars, Wesleyan students, Middletown folk & local teenagers all sharing the space.

Music will be provided by the band Velocipede, two talented young people from Maine, and calling will be provided by Luke Donforth, from Burlington, VT.  Both the dances and the music will be lively and fun!

Hope to see you there!

Nineteen Students Accepted into MxCC’s New Honors Program

A select group of 19 Middlesex Community College (www.mxcc.edu)  students has been accepted into the new Honors Program at the College, including Caleb Earley, Rebekah Roy, Gregory Schneider, Kendel Souza, and Shane Wickham  all of Middletown; Stephen Brier-Gagliardi, Melissa D’Amico, and Harsh Patel of Meriden; Jackson Doyle and Marcin Malek of Durham; Benjamin Gelfand of Madison; Anthony Iuteri and Linsey Ochenkowski of Northford; Kristen Jalbert of Wallingford; Katherine Schroeder of Ivoryton; Ethan Dumack of East Haddam, Hunter Spitale of Old Saybrook;  Marissa Sutera of Cromwell; and Imran Tariq of Rocky Hill.

The Honors Program was designed to be a rigorous and well-rounded academic option for incoming, first-year students who meet specific academic requirements. The program features a lower teacher-student ratio, faculty mentoring, more independent study opportunities, and early entrance into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.  Additionally, the program features exceptional educational experiences, cultural excursions, and engaging opportunities for leadership and individual excellence.  

The first cultural outing took place on November 21 to the Connecticut Forum’s “Big Thinkers” lecture at the Bushnell Theater.  The event featured best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell, one of the world's most celebrated thinkers and authors, whose bestselling books, “The Tipping Point,” “Blink,” and “Outliers” have influenced the way people think about, discuss, and view the world. Douglas Brinkley, History professor at Rice University and author of the award-winning and best-selling books “The Great Deluge,” “Tour of Duty,” “The Boys of Pointe du Hoc,” “Parish Priest,” and most recently, “Cronkite,” joined Gladwell on stage. The focus of the evening was leadership, success, and thinking big – all of which have been subject of study for the group of honor students.  

Before the lecture, students visited the Wadsworth Atheneum, the country’s oldest public art museum, and took a guided tour through the museum’s stately galleries and collections.  During both events, students were connected to a history of thought as expressed in art and public speech that ranged from the Romantic period to the new frontier of social media communications.  For some of the students, this was their first trip to the museum and to the Bushnell Theater – and was a trip that changed how they view their own futures.

“We want our honors students to think big, and this excursion reinforced that message,” said Adrienne Maslin, MxCC’s Dean of Students.  “Everything that was discussed and highlighted focused on leadership, teamwork, and interdisciplinary learning – and paralleled the readings and discussions these students engage in while on campus"

The Honors Program supports and encourages broader thinking about issues, topics, theories, and events – and helps students make connections on individual, social, and global levels. Extracurricular events, such as the one on November 21, aid in enriching the students’ experience.  Ultimately, students are encouraged to find value in all they study and to reinforce the idea that all knowledge is connected. 

Dr. Eva Jones, MxCC professor and Honors Program advisor, said, “The trip to the Wadsworth Atheneum and the Connecticut Forum was a way to extend our academic studies outside of classroom. Throughout the program and these extracurricular experiences, students are able to make connections to their other classes and to their own futures.”  

Volunteers needed for tax preparation assistance

Volunteers are needed for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to help low- to moderate-income households prepare and file their taxes to ensure they get back the money they have earned.

Through this national program, volunteers are trained and certified by the IRS to ensure that working families and individuals are filing for all of the appropriate tax credits. The program also helps people avoid costly fees associated with tax preparation and rapid refund loans.

The program is looking for volunteers for two VITA sites located in downtown to provide free basic tax preparation assistance for eligible taxpayers. Tax preparation assistance is offered January 25–April 9, 2014 at the offices of Middlesex United Way and the North End Action Team.

No prior experience is necessary. Volunteers complete training and are certified by the IRS. Training will be held from January 6-9 or January 13-16, 2014 in the evening. Volunteers must attend consecutive evening sessions. You will be trained to let filers know if they qualify for additional tax credits, such as the federal and the state Earned Income Tax Credits and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. VITA volunteers must complete a minimum of one 4-hour shift per week during tax season in the late afternoons and evenings or on Saturdays; maintain confidentiality of all client information; and interact with the public in a helpful and supportive manner.

In 2013, the two VITA sites in our city helped nearly 450 County residents file their taxes for free and returned $578,000 back to taxpayers. Those who filed with VITA sites had an average Adjusted Gross Income of $20,053 and received an average refund of almost $1,620, money they have earned. This impacts not only those who filed their taxes, but also their families and the local economy.

For more information about volunteering, contact David Morgan at dmorgan@wesleyan.edu or (860) 346-1522.

VITA is a free program offered by the federal government. Local sites are coordinated by the Middlesex VITA Coalition, a partnership of Middlesex United Way and the North End Action Team. The Middlesex VITA Coalition receives support from the Connecticut Association of Human Services.

ODDFELLOWS PLAYHOUSE and CT HERITAGE PRODUCTIONS present Oliver! A Musical Adaptation of Dicken’s Classic Novel.

Oddfellows Playhouse and CT Heritage Productions present an exciting staging of OLIVER!, written by Lionel Bart and directed by Peter Loffreddo, featuring a multigenerational cast. The Tony-Award winning musical tells the story of orphaned Oliver who must navigate and escape the hostile world of servitude in Victorian London with wits and courage. Classic songs and indelible characters offer an entertaining and engaging show this holiday season, with performances December 6-14, 2013.   

*We will be collecting non-perishable food items at all performances to be donated to the St. Vincent De Paul soup kitchen in Middletown, CT.

DATES & TIME:    December 6,7,12,13,14 – 7:30pm.  
                                   December 8th – 2:00pm Sunday Matinee.

COST:            $18 adults, $10 students and seniors

PLACE:        Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington Street, Middletown

 

MORE INFO:    Call (860) 347-6143  
 

TICKETS:         oddfellowsplayhouse.ticketleap.com

Kirtan by Shubalananda at The Buttonwood Tree, Wed Dec 4 at 730pm

Kirtan by Shubalananda and friends
at The Buttonwood Tree
Tonight, Wednesday, December 4 at 730pm

All are welcome to join us for call-and-response chanting from the traditions of India.
Featuring Ashley Flagg on vocals and harmonium, and Middletown's Joseph Getter on bamboo flutes and hand drums.

Suggested donation: $15
The Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St.,
Middletown, CT 06457
venue: http://www.buttonwood.org/
more info: http://shubalananda.com/

Serra "Corrects" Devoto, Boyce "Corrects" the Correction and a Further Correction From an Anonymous Commenter

UPDATED

As you may have already read, the Common Council voted unanimously Monday to appoint Dan Russo to the vacant seat on Planning and Zoning, and voted 7-3 to appoint Phil Pessina to the vacant alternate seat on the P&Z.

In what was an enlightening foreshadowing of partisan sparring on the Council, and on the P&Z for that matter, Council members who spoke cited the charter, precedent, party privilege and tradition as reasons for making the appointments.

The Council voted Russo in despite his absentee record (missing 40% of P&Z meetings), and despite pleas from a number of residents to seat Democratic alternate Beth Emery, who has an exemplary attendance record.  Russo, for his part, claimed that his absences never threatened quorum, and that illness, family duties and business travel had kept him from meetings.  Predominantly, Council members cited precedent for appointing Russo because in the election, he was the Democrat with the next highest number of votes.  Ironically, when it came to appointing the Republican alternate, the same Democrats ignored the precedent they had used earlier.  Despite pleas from Republican Council members to seat the next highest Republican vote getter, Vincent Szynkowicz, the Democratic majority voted to appoint Phil Pessina, who had  not run for a P&Z seat.

In defending his vote for Russo, Councilman Tom Serra, corrected what he called an error in testimony by Planning and Zoning member Stephen Devoto.  Devoto argued that the next-highest-vote-getter precedent had been ignored in the past when Quentin Phipps was appointed to the P&Z over next highest vote getter David Boyce.  Serra claimed that Boyce was not appointed because he was a city employee, and that law forbids such an appointment.

Russo was Chair of the Democratic Town Committee when Phipps was appointed.  In a statement last night, Boyce made this clarification:

"Mr. Russo asked to be appointed because he was the second highest vote getter, just like I was in 2009.  However he (Russo) passed me over for the alternate (Phipps).  Now that he (Russo) is the second highest vote getter, he pleaded to be appointed instead of the alternate, and got his wish, breaking past practice.  Majority Leader Thomas Serra stated tonight at the meeting that I was not appointed because I was a City employee.  What rule or law is he citing?...If that was the case, why was I allowed to run in the first place, and why was I allowed to be elected to the Board of Assessment Appeals and appointed to the Human Relations Commission?  Chapter 2, Section 3 of the City Charter states 'No elected official in the Government of the City, during the full term of the office for which said official was elected, shall be eligible for appointment to any salaried position except to the positions of Corporate Counsel and Mayor's Administrative Assistant(s) within the City Government.  Persons being so appointed must resign from elected office.'  No violation there since I'm an employee...not an elected official being appointed to a city job.  And if he is citing the Hatch Act, no violation there because my job does not get federal funds, and furthermore, if it did, the Hatch Act would allow me to be appointed to finish out and (sic) elected officials term."


An anonymous commenter points to Connecticut State Law:

David you need to read State Statutes 7-421(e) :

(e) Any municipal employee shall have the right to serve on any governmental body of the town in which such employee resides except any body which has responsibility for direct supervision of such employee. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, (1) no such employee shall serve on any of the following unless such employee is permitted to serve pursuant to the provisions of a municipal charter or home rule ordinance or serves because of membership on the legislative body of the municipality: (A) Any board of finance created pursuant to chapter 106 or any special act or municipal charter; (B) any body exercising zoning powers pursuant to chapter 124 or any special act or municipal charter; (C) any body exercising land use powers pursuant to chapter 125a or any special act or municipal charter; (D) any body exercising planning powers pursuant to chapter 126 or any special act or municipal charter; or (E) any body regulating inland wetlands and watercourses pursuant to chapter 440 or any special act or municipal charter; and (2) any municipality may, by ordinance adopted by its legislative body, authorize such employees to serve on (A) any body exercising zoning powers pursuant to chapter 124 or any special act or municipal charter; (B) any body exercising land use powers pursuant to chapter 125a or any special act or municipal charter; (C) any body exercising planning powers pursuant to chapter 126 or any special act or municipal charter; or (D) any body regulating inland wetlands and watercourses pursuant to chapter 440 or any special act or municipal charter.

“No One Has Blinded Me! No One Is Hurting Me!” Polyphemus Cried, So the Other Cyclopes Went Away -- Popcorn by The Colonel #73

Odysseus didn’t get away with it, though, because of his hubris in telling the injured Polyphemus his (O’s) real name as his men and he were sailing away, dodging Polyphemus's blindly hurled boulders. Imparting this information enabled the Cyclops to pray to his divine father Poseidon for revenge, which prayer Poseidon granted, to Odysseus’s detriment. And yes, the plural of Cyclops is Cyclopes, pronounced sigh-KLOE-peez ( \sī-ˈklō-(ˌ)pēz\). The word means "wheel-eye." It may be that ancient Greeks found mastadon skulls and hypothesized that there were the skulls of one-eyed giants who had lived in an earlier age.

Poseidon's revenge seems unfair, since Polyphemus started the dispute by violating the ancient custom of hospitality (he was eating Odysseus’s men, two for breakfast, two for supper -- how rude, and how quickly it adds up). Didn’t Polyphemus (the name means “much spoken of” or “famous”) deserve to lose an eye, even if it was his only one?

MAKING MIDDLETOWN BIKE- AND PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY

Tuesday, December 3, 7 – 8:30 p.m.

Russell Library, Hubbard Room

123 Broad Street, Middletown

The Jonah Center for Earth and Art invites the public to a presentation by the city’s Complete Streets Committee.  After an introduction by Mayor Dan Drew, the program will describe plans to make specific Middletown streets and intersections safer and more inviting for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Previous Jonah Center programs on biking and walking in Middletown focused on the multi-use trail from Wesleyan Hills to Wesleyan University and the need to develop a “Master Plan” for such improvements to city streets and sidewalks. 

This program will include priority areas of Middletown identified by the Master Plan; proposed routes to connect residential neighborhoods to the downtown area, parks, and schools; a new sidewalk along Saybrook Road near the Stop & Shop; proposed improvements in the area of Veterans Park and West Street; Safe Routes to School programs; results of a recent bike-pedestrian traffic count; and state-wide advocacy for biking and walking.

For more information about the work of the Complete Streets Committee or these programs, contact John Hall at 860-398-3771 or send a message from www.thejonahcenter.org .

 

City Radio Station, WESU, Ticket Giveaway

From WESU 88.1 FM Radio Station
---------------------
WESU pledge drive kicks into gear with MGMT ticket giveaway!

 Donate online to WESU’s Annual Pledge drive by midnight tonight (Monday 12/2) and automatically get entered to win a ticket to see MGMT live at The Oakdale in Wallingford, CT Friday 12/6/13. 4 Lucky winners will be randomly selected from all online donors Tuesday, 12/3. We will also give away one more pair of tickets on Homegrown with Rob DeRosa this Thursday, 12/05 between 5:05 and 6pm!!

Don’t miss this opportunity to win a ticket to see everyone’s favorite Wesleyan band gone wild, MGMT, and support the first radio station to EVER to spin their tunes and support their music. Click the donate now button to get started!

More online at www.wesufm.org  

Wadsworth Mansion Holiday Bazaar This Sunday

Sunday December 8, 2013
10:00-3:00

The Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill Estate is hosting their annual Holiday Bazaar on Sunday December 8, 2013 from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at 421 Wadsworth Street
. Children are free and a $2.00 donation for adults would be appreciated but, not expected. Door donations will be dedicated to conservation projects at the Mansion.

Twenty eight vendors who sell at the August Open Air Market will be selling their handmade products. Hometown Bakery, a perennial favorite, will be selling their cardamom and cinnamon breads. Kimberly Conner will be selling their one-of-a-kind hats. Silks by Lucia will be offering their hand painted marbleized silk scarves, shawls, and ties. Cold Goats Farm will be selling their angora yarns as well as handmade mittens and hats. Several jewelers will be tempting shoppers with silver, gold, crystals, and gemstones.

The Middletown Garden Club will be selling wreaths and holiday arrangements. Additional offerings include wood furniture, pottery, and clothing. If you are just looking for a lovely respite David Alan Catering will be serving lunch in the lounge.

For a complete listing of vendors, visit www.wadsworthmansion.com.