US – Tuesday, February 9
Plant blast under investigation
Federal investigators headed to Connecticut yesterday to determine the cause of an explosion at an unfinished power plant that killed at least five workers and hospitalized dozens of others.
 
Pressure grows for sanctions
International pressure for new sanctions against Iran grew yesterday after Tehran announced plans to make higher-enriched uranium and add 10 nuclear sites in a year, raising Western fears it wants to develop atom bombs.
 
Stern: I’d do ‘Idol’ for $100M
Howard Stern took to his radio show yesterday to address the rumors that he’s a possible replacement for Simon Cowell for the next season of “American Idol.” To sum it up? He’s not going for it.
 
Dancing while the skinny lady sings
You’ve heard of the jukebox musical? David Parsons and singers AnnMarie Milazzo and Tyley Ross of the East Village Opera Co. offer a jukebox opera, playing nightly at the Joyce. Eleven Parsons dancers share the stage with Milazzo and Ross, who clutch microphones cranked to 11 and stroll through the action. On the recorded soundtrack, three drummers create a wall of sound so loud you — well, I — want to hide under the seat. Digital video of abstract patterns, natural landscapes and stunning architecture change for each song.
 
‘Free’ ad leads to fraud suit
NEW YORK. A Wisconsin college student is suing credit firm Experian — the brains behind the ubiquitous FreeCreditReport.com jingles — for fraudulent advertising after she inadvertently signed up for a monthly $14.95 monitoring service.
 
Let me count the ways ...
‘Tis the season for writing love letters. But that can be a daunting endeavor, especially when you’re not sure where to start. Should you put it in verse, use flowery language, get erotic? As with almost anything in life, the simpler you keep it, the easier (and often better) it will be. It doesn’t sound that romantic, but think of your love letter as a laundry list of the reasons why you adore your sweetheart. It’s kinda like Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43: “How do you love your partner? Count the ways!” Here’s how to do it without rhyming or pulling out a thesaurus:
 
Updated 23:01, February the 3rd, 2009
 

Keown: The breast meal in Boston

When the state legislature voted to legally protect mothers breastfeeding in public, it prompted a string of posts on newspaper Web sites and blogs. Some were even read by people unrelated to the posters. When Gov. Patrick approved the bill last month, there were a few more.

They ranged from mothers, saying “about time,” and “it’s beautiful and natural,” to the uptight, saying “go to the restroom,” or “that’s offensive, put them away.” And one bloke complaining that nursing in view is like peeing on public property. As if he doesn’t do that.

I don’t know if I was ever breastfed, and I doubt that I will be at this point, but I do know that neither side has it quite right. I’ve never found much beauty in watching anybody eat, whether a baby sucking milk or a pin-up gnawing steak, but I’m not offended by it either.  

That, until now, a mother feeding her child in public could have been prosecuted for indecent exposure is ludicrous. That Massachusetts was one of only three states without protection on the books added another to that list of things that make us so proudly liberal in everything but rules. (Joining those prohibitions protecting us from casinos, alcohol sales on certain days, and shutting bars at 2 a.m. so we can get home in time to not go to church the next morning.)  

 There was a time in my giggling juvenility that a women nursing would have stopped me from ever finishing a book on a bus. Not because I wanted to watch — no more than I wanted to make cheap puns about how public breastfeeding sucks or that we should nip it in the bud and such. But because I was so unaccustomed to seeing things so natural that I’d keep looking over to see if she had finished yet.     

Fortunately I’ve grown up now. And reached a more developed conclusion. That so long as mothers respect that I mightn’t want to see their nipples any more than they want to see mine — and consequently feed with courteous discretion — I’d much rather a baby was eating within eyeshot than crying within earshot.

Thomas Keown
is a freelance writer living in Somerville. He can be reached at thomaskeown@hotmail.com.
 
 
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MMMpod
The February MMMpod features conversation from Ozzy Osbourne. Michael Emerson from "Lost" tells us about his days enjoying punk rock in Boston. We also dig up an old interview from the late great Howard Zinn. We have a song from Delta Spirit and The Soft Pack, who tell us where they got their name.

 
 
Metro Life Panel