Michael Forbes Wilcox -

The Great Promise of Brain Research at Harvard

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:44:51 -0500

My friend, John Robison, and I have both been supportive of the work being done at the TMS Lab of Harvard Medical School. John has written a nice blurb on his blog (oh, how I hunger for alliteration!):

http://jerobison.blogspot.com/2010/02/join-me-feb-9-for-evening-at-harvard.html

I plan to attend this event, and have personally sent invitations to several people I know in the Asperger's community.

As I learn more about the functioning of the human brain, I become more and more astounded at how little science knows! The brain, it seems, has a mind of its own (so to speak), and is far more plastic (i.e. changeable) than was thought just a few short years ago. Discoveries of such things as mirror neurons have changed the way we think about autism and other learning and coping differences.

Steven Como of Pittsfield and Bernard L. Jones of Colrain appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:45:52 -0500

PATRICK-MURRAY ADMINISTRATION APPOINT THREE
TO THE BOARD OF THE SOLDIERS’ HOME IN HOLYOKE

HOLYOKE —Governor Deval Patrick announced today the appointment of three accomplished advocates for veterans to positions on the Board of Trustees of the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke. Bernard L. Jones of Colrain, Margaret Oglesby of East Longmeadow and Steven Como of Pittsfield will serve seven-year terms on the Board, overseeing the work of the Soldiers’ Home, which provides long-term care and residential services to honorably discharged wartime veterans. “These three individuals have demonstrated exceptional commitment to Massachusetts’ veterans,” Governor Patrick said. “Their insights and leadership will ensure that those who have served our country with honor and distinction will continue to get the services and supports they need to make meaningful contributions to the Western Massachusetts community.”

Red Lion Inn: Suzanne Bump for Auditor

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:40:15 -0500

Please come to the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge at 6 PM on Friday, January 29, 2010 to support Suzanne Bump in her bid to become our next State Auditor.

See here for a flyer with more details.

Thank you, Alford!

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:02:41 -0500

My town achieved quite a distinction in yesterday's Democratic Primary, being the only town in the state to be carried by Alan Khazei!

Lenox: Have breakfast with Alan Khazei on Monday, December 7 @ 8 AM

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:31:36 -0500

Please come meet Alan Khazei over breakfast in Lenox on Monday morning at 8 AM.

Alan, as you know, is my choice to be our next Senator.

He will be in Lenox on Monday morning, December 7, 2009 between 8 and 9 AM at the Haven Restaurant:

I support Steve Grossman for Treasurer

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:19:31 -0500

Yeah, I know -- the Senate Primary is not even over yet, and here I am talking about 2010!

Another Key Endorsement for Alan Khazei

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:08:34 -0500

The Editors of the blog Blue Mass Group have endorsed Alan:

http://www.bluemassgroup.com/diary/17891/bmg-endorses-alan-khazei-for-us-senate

Wesley Clark endorses Alan Khazei

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:52:19 -0500

FORMER N.A.T.O. SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER AND FOUR-STAR GENERAL WESLEY CLARK ENDORSES ALAN KHAZEI FOR U.S. SENATE

BOSTON- Former N.A.T.O."

Boston Globe Endorses Alan Khazei for Senate!

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:13:12 -0500

Read the endorsement here:

http://www.alanforsenate.com/page/s/GlobeEndorsement

More polling numbers: Khazei skyrockets!

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:28:38 -0500

Khazei surged ahead in this latest poll, as analyzed here in the Boston Phoenix. It's hard to compare polls from different organizations (different methodologies, different selection of respondents, etc.); still, the fact that Khazei came from dead last to being now right in the pack is very significant. With Coakley actually losing a little ground, and Pagliuca stalled, a continuation of this trend could very well put Alan within striking distance within another week or so!

More commentary here: http://bluemassgroup.com/diary/17837/poll-update-rasmussen-has-very-different-numbers

Khazei Sneaking Up?

I tend to be skeptical of Rasmussen polls, but here goes... of likely Dem primary voters:

Lies, Damn Lies, and Polling Statistics

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:36:04 -0500

This blog post was sent to me by a fellow Khazei supporter.

It makes the point that the polls done so far in this race are worse than meaningless...

Left Bank of the Charles

Monday, November 23, 2009

Lies, Damn Lies, and Polling Statistics

We’re looking at the latest Boston Globe poll on the Senate race in Massachusetts and something doesn’t add up."

Khazei interviewed by Steven Colbert

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:13:18 -0500

My friend Tela writes:

Click on this link to see Khazei at his best, with Colbert.

Khazei Endorsed by Mayor Bloomberg

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:22:17 -0500

From a friend, who saw it on Blue Mass Group:

Thu Nov 12, 2009 at 21:46:02 PM EST

Following on the heels of Nancy Pelosi's endorsement of Mike Capuano, Alan Khazei has announced that NYC Mayor and Medford native Mike Bloomberg has endorsed him -- and, perhaps more importantly, "will host a fundraiser next week at his private home in New York to show his support." Can't wait to hear what the take from that one is! :-)

David :: NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg endorses Khazei

My personal appeal to you to get invovled! Williamstown Canvass Kick Off, for Khazei, Saturday, Oct. 31

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:34:45 -0400

The information below is from Tela Zasloff, and provides details of how you can make a difference in this Senate campaign. I urge you to take the time to do so.

Many of my political friends will remember Tela from her devoted activism during the Obama campaign. She and I spent some time together in Pennsylvania (where she grew up), and she was a force majeure behind getting the Williams College phonebank going and in doing postcard-writing campaigns to various Primary states.

Her energy and enthusiasm are now directed at an equally important cause: electing a progressive, activist, bridge-builder Senator from Massachusetts. She and I (independently) arrived at the same conclusion: Alan Khazei is the right candidate, and we are supporting him fully and enthusiastically.

See my post at http://www.mfw.us/on-board-with-khazei

His last name, in case you haven't heard it pronounced, rhymes with "crazy" -- as in "crazy like a fox!" Which, coincidentally, brings us to Mollie Fox. Mollie, from Northampton, and her co-worker, Matt Rush, of Lenox, are coordinating the grassroots effort here in Western Mass.

I know that many of my political activist friends are very involved in municipal elections right now, and I wish you all well in those efforts. For those not so preoccupied, this Saturday provides a wonderful opportunity (see below) to show how much Western Mass supports Alan Khazei.

Please forward this information to your network. You will be hearing more from me -- and more from the campaign if you sign up on the website: http://www.alanforsenate.com/

Thank you for your consideration!

Michael

Bianchi decries Ruberto assault ads

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:05:38 -0400

The Mayoral campaign in Pittsfield seems to be rather heated, to say the least!

The latest issue of the Pittsfield Gazette (evidently not yet on their website) contains a couple of articles about the story below (which is from their website, a link is given at the end).

One, under "Opinions" (page 22 of the October 22 issue) opines, "It's ironic that Ruberto has sunk to a lower level than any Pittsfield candidate in decades right now. ... If voters see through this insulting smear, Ruberto could face the same fate as the council and the mayor in 1991 -- who were sent packing on election day."

Under "Partisans unfairly rewriting history" by Dan Valenti (page 23) is a long review of the history of the 1991 events, concluding with, "Support of Jimmy Ruberto can be justified but not by the false denigration of Dan Bianchi."

All of this puts me in a rather awkward place. I have had a good personal relationship with both of the candidates over the past few years. Both have been stalwart supporters of Deval Patrick, though quite frankly Dan was the earlier supporter, of the two.

After much deliberation (and before hearing about this rather arcane [to a non-Pittsfield resident] incident), I have decided to back Dan in his bid to become Pittsfield's next mayor.

Both candidates, I believe, have exhibited a true concern with the future of Pittsfield and its citizenry. For me, it was a tough choice. Dan's political philosophy is definitely closer to my own, and I have witnessed him reaching out to people in his ward in ways that have favorably impressed me. Beyond that, I have seen him push other people into the spotlight, and be content to see positive results, without taking credit for his encouragement and actions. To me, that is truly impressive; and, again, more in tune with my own personal style.

So, fwiw, mark me down as an enthusiastic Bianchi supporter.

20.OCT.09"