Dec 9-15, 2009
Vermont’s New Crop of Educated Dairy Farmers Faces an Uncertain Future; A Court for Brain-Injured Vets; The Jazz Guys Say Goodbye
Parini Film Adaptation Makes Those NYC Arthouse Crowds Swoon
Last February I reported that an all-star movie adaptation of Middlebury prof Jay Parini’s novel The Last Station was in the works. The finished film hit big-city theaters on December 4, and it’s already been nominated for as many Spirit awards (for indie films) as Precious. That’s a lot of attention for a period piece…
A Good Excuse to Play Tetris
Reading the Sunday New York Times magazine is one of my favorite things to do over the weekend, but yesterday, I was disappointed to see that it was time again for the “Year in Ideas” issue. I normally don’t enjoy this issue. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever read it cover to cover, as…
Protesters Denounce Obama’s Troop “Surge” in Afghanistan
More than 100 people gathered in front of Burlington’s City Hall Saturday to protest President Barack Obama’s planned troop “surge” in Afghanistan. Braving bitter winds and temperatures in the twenties, the protesters listened to a wide range of speakers, from University of Vermont students new to the anti-war movement to some of its stalwart members.…
Comcast, RETN Settle Contract Dispute
The Vermont Public Service Board has dismissed a case involving a long-running dispute between Comcast and the Regional Educational Technology Network (RETN) over how public-access money was being spent in Chittenden County. The case was closed after the PSB accepted a settlement agreement between the two parties. That settlement agreement was filed with the board…
The Salmon Speech (video edition)
Plenty of folks expressed an interest in my column this week, in particular as it pertains to State Auditor Tom Salmon and his use of a taxpayer-purchased camcorder to record a speech at a political fundraiser in June. As I detailed in this week’s “Fair Game”, we at Seven Days decided to request that Salmon’s…
VT National Guard Send-Off in Pictures
Vermont National Guard soldier Matt Doyon (pictured at right, below) packed his Army duffel bag with an Xbox and the video game NHL ’10 for his deployment to Afghanistan. Fellow soldier Dan Baillargeon (pictured at left) packed an ultrasound picture of his unborn child, due in seven months. Both are 23 years old, both are…
Siegel’s “Big Fan” Deserves a Big Audience
This year’s celebrity blog postings offer one resounding conclusion: Sports, alcohol, sex and celebrity-dom do not mesh well. (They make for high ratings, though.) Today it’s Tiger Woods’ harrowing sex faux pas (whoops!) that yielded a laundry list of personal apologies and a golf-clubbed SUV. Yesterday, QB Michael Vick was released from an 18-month stint…
Federal Media Shield Law Goes to Full Senate
The Senate Judiciary Committee announced this afternoon it has reached a compromise on legislation to enact a so-called “shield law” that would prevent journalists from being held in contempt of court, fined or jailed for refusing to reveal confidential sources. Since April, the law has been shepherded through the committee by its chairman, Sen. Patrick…
House GOP Leader Announces Senate Bid
The 2010 electoral game of musical chairs continued Thursday with State Rep. Patricia McDonald (R-Berlin) announcing that she is running for a Washington County Senate seat being vacated by fellow Republican Sen. Phil Scott. Scott announced last week he is running for lieutenant governor to fill the seat being vacated by Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie.…
Death of the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party
I am all for the merciless assassination of ridiculous trends. And so is my best friend, our great poet laureate and statesman Jay-Z. In his seminal work of rapsmanship, “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune),” he decries the use of the voice modulation software that is destroying hip-hop. Preach on, Hova: “I know we facing a recession/…
The 20/20 Challenge: Killington (Week #1)
One Snowboarder’s Quest to Hit 20 Vermont Resorts in 20 Weeks
News Quirks
Curses, Foiled Again Police investigating a drive-by shooting at a home in Buchanan, Wis., found auto glass in the street and deduced the shooter had forgotten to lower his car window before firing five shots. Appleton’s Post-Crescent reported that a check of area auto glass repair shops led to Andrew J. Burwitz, 20, who admitted…
Free Will Astrology
Here’s the weekly astrological forecast for December 9 – 16, 2009. What’s your sign, baby? They’re all here… ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Indignation is one of the most rewarding of emotions,” writes Theodore Dalrymple, “as well as one that automatically gives meaning to life . . . There is nothing like irritation to get the…
Mountain Dog Photography Gives New Meaning to “Sit”
Kelly Schulze’s photographic subjects don’t always do what they’re told. Some won’t look at the camera. Others get up and wander away. More than a few of them bark at her. But that’s to be expected when you’re working with models of the canine variety. Schulze is the shooter behind Mountain Dog Photography, the only…
All I Want for Christmas, for Under $10
Getting By: How Vermonters Are Surviving the Recession
Wrestle Mania
U.S. national team grapplers chop, hike and swim their way to victory in the Green Mountains
Sisters Without Borders
A Burlington journalist recounts the stories of women in war-torn Baghdad
Letters to the Editor
Bad Argument I’d love to know how banning smoking reduces instances of bad behavior on the street [“Next Up for the Burlington City Council: an Outdoor Smoking Ban,” November 18]. What sort of bad behavior? Where’s the proof? Nonsmokers wanted to ban indoor smoking, and now make faces and complain about smokers standing on the…
![An Indian Wedding [SIV155]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sevendaysvt.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/episode155.webp?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
An Indian Wedding [SIV155]
12/5/09: The Burlington Chapter of Asha for Education raises money to help educate underprivileged children in India. Saturday night 50-60 dancers and performers from the local Indian community participated in An Indian Wedding event and raised over $4000. Related Stories
Picturing Vermont
Art Review: “The Art of Action,” Burlington International Airport in South Burlington. Through January 15.
B-Town Chef at the Bocuse d’Or?
Side Dishes: Daily Planet chef a competition semifinalist
The 20/20 Challenge (Explained)
One Snowboarder’s Quest to Hit 20 Vermont Resorts in 20 Weeks
Best Bites: Wings Over Burlington
150 Dorset Street, South Burlington 863-9464 Sometimes I’m craving fried chicken. Other times it’s ribs. More often than not, it’s both. That’s when I head to Wings Over Burlington. It’s not just the fact that I can get a half rack of ribs, half a pound of chicken tenders and fries for $14.99. It’s that this…
Gay Marriage Radio Documentary Tonight on VPR
Ten years ago this month, the Vermont Supreme Court issued the landmark Baker v. State of Vermont ruling that paved the way for civil unions, and later, for same-sex marriage, which we legalized here in Vermont earlier this year. I felt like I needed to point that out, in case you missed it somehow. Now…
“You Don’t Deserve to Call Yourselves Americans” — and Other Fallout from the 7D Norwich Survey
“People are going to think that this school is producing torture machines.” “Your article is biased with the purpose of making the population view this university as a place of training ill-minding people.” “Enjoy your holidays with your family and your nice lil paycheck…the real warriors will be just fine viewing your ignorance and insults…
Conservative St. Mike’s Students Screen Documentary Critical of “Global Warming Hysteria”
Last night, a conservative student group at St. Michael’s College screened a film called “Not Evil Just Wrong,” which promises to deliver information about “the true cost of global warming hysteria.” The screening took place as global leaders are gathered in Copenhagen for worldwide United Nations climate talks. Seven Days’ correspondent Kevin J. Kelley attended…
