A weekly quality of life check-in of Worcester
Every classroom in the Belmont Street School is vandalized in psychotic fashion, with damage estimated at hundreds of thousands of dollars. Can we put in a plug for corporal punishment? -7
Worcester woman wins the Miss Tall Boston contest, though at a relatively demure 5-10 she’s hardly of Yao Ming dimensions … which, come to think of it, would look really weird. +2
U.S. Dept. of Labor reports that Massachusetts had fewer jobs at the end of the last decade than it did at the beginning, a phenomenon not seen since World War II. Thank goodness there are still employment opportunities for people composing silly little ratings systems for former New England mill cities. -2
Creedence would have loved Monday in Worcester. And I wonder, still I wonder, who’ll stop the rain. But spring-like temps worth the wet. +1
Sam’s Club announces outsourcing of its in-store product-sampling department — those nice folks who dole out bits of German sausage on toothpicks and thumbnail-size chunks of pound cake in tiny pleated cups. To free-food junkies, those people aren’t just our suppliers, they’re family. -3
Seven months after Planned Parenthood asked to buy ad space on city buses to make the outrageous, politically-charged declaration that they’ve changed addresses, the WRTA gives the go-ahead … under legal duress. Loved the “we were too busy working on our budget to give it much attention” excuse. -2 (for the delay)
Federal deficit at $1.35 trillion. How’s your Chinese? -3
Despite being organized last minute, Haiti relief event at Union Station raises an impressive $17,000. +4
Avatar surpasses Titanic as the most profitable movie of all time, and puts much needed fannies in the seats at the convent-quiet Showcase North. +2
The family of a Kenneth Howe who died in State Police custody files suit after the coroner rules his death was a homicide caused by blunt trauma. Forget the criticisms that they’re just seeking a payday — this is as justified as lawsuits get. +3
This week: -5
Last week: +1
Year to date: +4
