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Sloan holding ‘Steady’ with catchy hooks 30 years on

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:34:22 GMT

For the Canadian band Sloan, there are endless possibilities in writing harmony-driven, intensely catchy, three-minute pop songs. Enough possibilities in fact to keep the same lineup going for 30 years and counting.“Playing in a band is something I’ve wanted to do since I was very young,” says singer/guitarist Jay Ferguson, who hits Brighton Music Hall with the band on Wednesday. “Each time we make a record, I still don’t feel that I’ve become cynical about enjoying what I do. There’s a lot of people who turn what they love into their career, and it turns them off to what they loved about it — like people in record companies who have to sit and listen to demo tapes all day, or someone who loves to ski and becomes a ski instructor. We’ve never been like that.”Sloan’s new album “Steady” doesn’t pass four minutes on any of its 12 tracks, and the hooks keep coming even when the lyrics get mournful. “I think a little restriction is a good thing,” Ferguson says. “With a smalle...

Biden owns botched Afghanistan withdrawal: Letters to the editor

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:34:22 GMT

Pointing fingersBiden wants to rewrite the history books on the shameful withdrawal of the U.S. from Afghanistan.  A brief document created by the his administration’s National Security Council with input from Biden himself is quick to blame President Trump.  Biden owns the botched withdrawal.  He left $80 billion worth of weapons, ammunition, and vehicles behind.  Our troops left the Bagram Air Base in the middle of the night without telling our Afghan allies.  President Trump had left a detailed plan for an orderly withdrawal with specific criteria  that the Taliban had to adhere to or the withdrawal would stop.  This plan was thrown out by Biden.  Former Marine Sgt. Vargas-Andrews spoke at a congressional hearing on the withdrawal and said, it was a “catastrophe” and an “inexcusable lack of accountability.” Biden’s blame game is Joe’s weapon of choice.  I’m tired of it.Donald HoughtonQuincySchool shootingsThere is an urgent need to develop new means to protect our students ...

Ex wants $$, and to take baby to Greece

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:34:22 GMT

Q. I am a German citizen living and working in the U.S.  I had a relationship with a former colleague who was here from Greece but returned there.  Six months ago, I had a baby here who is a U.S. citizen but also has rights to German and Greek citizenship.  I listed him on the birth certificate.  When she was born, he and I were getting along.  He signed the papers so I was able to get her a U.S. passport to take her to Germany over Christmas.Things have gone downhill recently.  He is not working and insists that I have to pay him child support because he needs to maintain a home for her to spend time in with him.  His mother calls me almost daily demanding that I let my daughter spend the summer in Greece.  The father wants to come here and visit but wants me to pay for all of his travel including visiting relatives in Los Angeles and Chicago.I am concerned he is going to come here to visit, get our daughter a Greek passport and leave the country with her.  Can I do anything to pre...

Jacob loves rap music & video games

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:34:22 GMT

Jacob, who likes to go by Jake, is an athletic teenager. Jake enjoys engaging in activities like fishing, swimming, and basketball. He also has shown interest in lacrosse and martial arts. Jake is performing at grade level and enjoys spending time with his peers at school.His social worker feels he would do best in a family with at least one female. Jake would do well with older children in the home or children similar in age. He would do best in a home that is active and has clear expectations.Can I Adopt?If you’re at least 18 years old, have a stable source of income, and room in your heart, you may be a perfect match to adopt a waiting child. Adoptive parents can be single, married, or partnered; experienced or not; renters or homeowners; LGBTQ+ singles and couples. As an adoptive parent, you won’t have to pay any fees, adoption from foster care is completely free in Massachusetts.The process to adopt a child from foster care includes training, interviews, and home visits to dete...

Put a local spin on Record Store Day

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:34:22 GMT

Record Store Day is April 22. You can celebrate locally at Newbury Comics and Vinyl Index and Somerville Grooves and a dozen other record shops. Want the local connection to go a little deeper? Go to a Boston area shop and buy one of these three RSD-exclusive releases with a Boston connection (and one that has nothing to do with our city but is too good not to pick up).“Live & Dangerous Boston 1976,” Peter ToshEverybody knows the Wailers. Everybody should know Word, Sound and Power.After Peter Tosh split from Bob Marley’s outfit – he had too many great songs of his own to record – Tosh formed backing band Word, Sound and Power. This 1976 concert from Boston, available for the first time on vinyl, is a testament to that band’s might and malleability. On a collection of Tosh’s recently written gems, his musicians stretch and contract, build towers of rock and wallow in fat, loose reggae grooves.When Tosh does a tender tune such as “Why Must I Cry,” the band sits back. When he boom...

Editorial: Boston Stronger!

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:34:22 GMT

Writing “anniversary” this weekend is too celebratory. It’s the last word to use when recalling the heartless bombing at the Boston Marathon a decade agoAnniversary is for the Fourth of July or a wedding day, unless you’re divorced.Words matter and the running of the marathon tomorrow is an example of the resilience and determination of this city — not about two Chechen terrorists who brought anguish to the finish line.It’s not an anniversary — it’s a day when we double down on what it means to be a Bostonian. We’re a tough bunch. The weather can be crazy and beautiful — sometimes on the same day. Our loyalty can be obnoxious or admirable. We can be guarded or genuine, depending on the occasion.The bombs that went off on Boylston Street 10 years ago yesterday shattered lives and resulted in a deadly week as cowards Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev attempted to run. They didn’t get past the gauntlet of police who drew th...

Leubsdorf: A spoiler alert for 2024 presidential election

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:34:22 GMT

Throughout modern American history, opponents of the two major parties have sought to shake up the political system by creating so-called third parties to give voters an alternative to the Democrats and Republicans.Some have attracted substantial votes, but none has won. Initial polling strength tends to drop as elections near. In 1992, billionaire computer tycoon Ross Perot momentarily led both major candidates but eventually dropped to 19%, still the most for any modern independent.Perot carried no states, almost certainly affecting the outcome less than the debate. Several other independents have had a greater impact, but usually as spoilers who tilted the ultimate result.That could well happen again in 2024 — most likely helping Donald Trump and the Republicans — thanks to plans by an independent group called No Labels to field an independent ticket in as many states as possible.No independent candidacy has had more of an impact than former President Theodore Roosevelt’s 1912 de...

Goldendoodle’s spoiling for a fight

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:34:22 GMT

Dear Dr. John,My wife and I have a two-year-old Goldendoodle and a four-year-old mixed breed Shepherd. Every time the Doodle sees another dog, he wants to lunge and get into a fight. Thankfully, we always have him on leash. Despite that, he has gotten to two dogs and broken their skin fighting for which I had to pay the vet bill. Now, even our own two dogs seem to get grumpy with one another. Can you share any possible solutions that might curb his aggression? What could be the cause? We have had him since he was a puppy, he is neutered and healthy, and always sweet with all people. We are at wits end. W.S.Dear W.S.,Sometimes, one does not know the causative agent behind any given dog’s aggressive tendencies. It might have been one episode of which you were completely unaware, there could be an underlying health issue. Sometimes there was a lack of socialization as puppies, sometimes it is being protective of you or possessive behavior, and the longer it is allowed to continue, it c...

‘Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ focused on No.1 as series wraps up

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:34:22 GMT

Amy Sherman-Palladino specializes in unusual love stories. “Gilmore Girls,” her breakthrough series, celebrated a mother-daughter bond, one strengthened by their mutual love for junk food and quipping like Rosalind Russell in “His Girl Friday.”In “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” her second masterpiece, the lead character has never had much time for her kids. She’s been too obsessed with another passion: herself.You may not have noticed that selfish streak when the show first premiered on Amazon Prime in 2017. We were too busy admiring the brilliant zingers and collection of hats.Watching a 1950s-era housewife rise through the stand-up comedy ranks in New York City was the perfect premise for a fashion show. The costumes, Skittles-colored backdrops and nods to the past were straight out of an old MGM musical.That trend continues in the final nine episodes, three of which premiered Friday (subsequent ones will drop every Friday).Midge Maisel’...

Should you follow your dream – or stick to day job?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:34:22 GMT

Q. My ultimate career goal is to work in marketing for a movie studio, move to L.A., the whole nine yards. But I am working two jobs in retail and really like it! Should I ditch the day dream and stick with retail?A. First, I want to commend you on two things: for having a specific dream and second, for enjoying your current jobs.As for ditching the dream and sticking with retail, only you can decide that, but let’s dive into some action steps that can help you make this decision. (And dear reader, this may apply to you, too — what if you’ve had a dream and a new skill/interest/role ignited a spark along the way? Questions of when to you drop it, should you still pursue it, regrets of “what if” are common questions.) My initial reaction: Pursue both. Career paths aren’t necessarily always linear and upward — there’s some zigging and zagging at times.You may want to put pen to paper or type in the notes section of your phone, put your p...