marching with fish on School Street on the way back to school.

Diminished Democracy

Kleptocracy

"The effects of a kleptocratic regime or government on a nation are typically adverse in regards to the faring of the state's economy, political affairs and civil rights. Kleptocracy in government often vitiates prospects of foreign investment and drastically weakens the domestic market and cross-border trade. As the kleptocracy normally embezzles money from its citizens by misusing funds derived from tax payments, or money laundering schemes, a kleptocratically structured political system tends to degrade most people's quality of life. In addition, the money that kleptocrats steal is often taken from funds that were earmarked for public amenities, such as the building of hospitals, schools, roads, parks and the like - which has further adverse effects on the quality of life of the citizens living under a kleptocracy. The quasi-oligarchy that results from a kleptocratic elite also subverts democracy (or any other political format the state is ostensibly under)." source Wikipedia

peace on earth day...

Don't eat too much candy this weekend...

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The neuropsychology of zombies

Posted by Christopher Shea April 9, 2009 10:16 AM

A scene from "Night of the Living Dead"

Braaaains! Including the mediation of subcortical fear by the anterior cingulate gyrus! On Monday night, Science on the Screen at the Coolidge Corner Theatre will sponsor a showing of the classic zombie film "Night of the Living Dead," preceded by a talk by Dr. Steven Schlozman -- zombie enthusiast and assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

"Breakthrough on Broken Windows"

In Lowell experiment, crime linked to conditions

"As part of an experiment to see whether disorderly conditions breed bad behavior, this trash-strewn hot spot was eventually cleaned up." (Brenda Bond, Boston Globe)

Timely research report for Wednesday's neighborhood forum. It's a scientific fact - trash strewn streets breed crime.

For the Men in my life...

Obama-rama

Bankers pay capped at $500,000 if taxpayers are paying. God, I can't wait to see what the Greenwich papers are saying. You can't afford more than one McMansion on that salary, how are our financial elite going to cope without second and third homes? Personally, I'd make anyone who complains spend a day hanging out with an Iraq soldiers orphans.

"Obama said the measures were needed to restore trust in the financial system and make certain that "taxpayer funds are not subsidizing excessive compensation packages on Wall Street."