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  • We Love Our Spam, Scam & Robo Call Blocker

    Faced with the upcoming election season, we decide to invest in a call blocker for our landline. We've only had it for a short time but are already enjoying the benefits. No more nightly call from a number that comes up as Quincy and is reported to be spam when we do a reverse number look-up over on WhitePages.com. 

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    The evening after we installed the call blocker that call came in. We hit the "Block Now" button and haven't seen that particular spammer on our incoming call list again.

    No more calls for the business that keeps printing our phone number instead of their own on everything from company directories to business cards. We had a list of the numbers that kept calling us looking for them and entered those manually into the call blocker. While we do feel sorry for the people trying to reach the business when their call is disconnected, we've pleaded with staff members from the company for years to stop giving our number as theirs. 

    We also used the shortcuts provided in the device's users manual to block all withheld, private, unknown, international, out-of-the-area, international calls with 00 prefixes, and unavailable callers. Most of our friends and family reach us via text or our cell phones so we don't expect that to shut out many legitimate calls. 

    The equipment comes with 200 "known spam" numbers blocked. Obviously, we are benefiting from that because we've entered only 14 numbers (as of this post) and are already amazed at how few spam and robocalls we're receiving. 

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    We did our research and found hundreds of positive reviews and a strong customer service support system for CPR Call Blocker V202. We ordered ours from Amazon and had free delivery with our Amazon Prime membership.  

    Both of us keep remarking on how nice it is to be free of those spam, marketing, and political calls. As the candidates begin to call, we'll just block their numbers as they arrive. 

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    We still have our special answering machine message that we told you about in our post "Sick of Political and Polling Phone Calls?" And, we've added our land line numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry. While we still believe that we should all have a right to an "opt in" rather than an "opt out" choice for all calls, this is certainly a step forward for this household. 

    Watch for updates on this post as we get more use out of this call blocker.

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    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2016 Penny Cherubino  

  • What’s Open or Closed on Presidents’ Day in Boston 2016 & MBTA Schedule Changes, Parking, Trash & More

    Here's a rundown of what's open and what's closed in Boston on Presidents' Day and the MBTA schedule changes, plus information on Boston trash pick-up and parking information for February 15, 2016. 

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    We publish these resource pages early to assist you in planning your holidays. We'll keep updates coming as new information is published. Follow us on Twitter to learn about updates.

    Restaurants, bars: Open

    Convenience stores: Open

    Supermarkets:
     Open

    Retail stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Liquor stores: Open if the owners choose

    City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.

    Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both banks and the stock markets in the United States closed. Some international markets are open. In recent years, we've noticed some banks keep some branches open at unexpected times so check with your own bank.

    Parking, Boston trash, and MBTA after the ad.

    This weekend is a great time to start your tax preparation. Step one, order your software by following this link to Amazon.You can even download some versions right from the Amazon Download Store. Shopping Amazon from here keeps information like this coming your way. 


    Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply.

    Boston Trash and Recycling:

    The city has changed the way it publishes the schedule for holidays so that you now have to go to the city site and look up your specific address in order to get information. 

    MBTA Schedule for Presidents' Day, February 15, 2016

    For a short time before the holiday, a complete list of schedule changes with appear at this link.

    Briefly:

    • Blue, Orange, Red, Green and Mattapan Lines will operate a Saturday schedule.
    • Silver line will operate a weekday schedule.
    • Commuter Rail trains will operate a Saturday schedule. 
    • Buses and trackless trolleys will operate a Saturday schedule. Check this link for bus routes that will not operate. (Note: this link will only work up until the holiday.)
    • Hingham, Hull, and Charlestown Boat Service will operate a regular weekday schedule.
    • THE RIDE will operate a Saturday schedule, but contact your local RIDE contractor for details.

    For more information on routes, schedules, and fares, contact the MBTA at 617-222-3200, TTY 617-222-5146, or check the MBTA’s website www.mbta.com. 

     

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    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: ©2010 Penny Cherubino

  • Dog Breed Health Issues with a Link to a Comprehensive List by Breed

    Just as human genetics put us at higher risk for various health issues, the health challenges that you might face with different breeds of dogs can be somewhat predicted, monitored, and perhaps avoided.

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    Healthiest Breeds

    If you wanted to choose a dog based on the probability of good health, you might be best to adopt a mixed breed or a working dog that is still used for its original purpose like a Foxhound or Australian Cattle Dog.

    In a post on the 10 Healthiest Dog Breeds, Jennifer Coates, DVM veterinary advisor to petMD.com had an explanation for those choices. “A recent study showed that mix breed dogs were significantly less likely to develop ten genetically based diseases, including some types of heart disease, musculoskeletal problems, allergic skin disease, and hyperthyroidism.”

    As for those working dogs she said, “When breeders focus on function instead of just good looks, they naturally weed out the dogs that develop debilitating illnesses or injuries.”

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    Examples of Health Issues by Breed

    Bulldogs, Shih Tzus, and other breeds with what appear to be pushed in faces can have brachycephalic syndrome that can lead to severe respiratory distress.

    Breeds with bulging eyes, like Pugs and Boston Terriers, are at risk for eye problems. Have your vet brief you on what to do if an accident causes your dog’s eye to dislocate from the socket.

    Large breeds, such as German Shepherds and Labs, can have hip dysplasia. This can also happen in Golden Retrievers who may also suffer from allergy, eye, and heart problems.

    Giant Breeds, like the Great Dane, do have shorter life spans and must be fed carefully to prevent bloat and rapid puppy growth that can cause Wobbler Syndrome (a neurologic disease). Bloat is also a problem with German Shorthaired Pointers.

    Dachshunds can have back problems. Mitral valve disease is common in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Greyhounds suffer from malignant bone cancer more than any other breed. Epilepsy can occur in Poodles along with hypothyroidism, Addison’s disease, and Cushing’s syndrome.

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    Here's That Link to More Information for Your Dog

    The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association has published an extensive, cross-referenced “Guide to Congenital and Heritable Disorders in Dogs." Once you know about the conditions that might occur in your dog, you can work with your veterinary team to keep a watch and take preventative steps.

    Should you have your heart set on a particular breed, (like the adorable King Charles puppy above) despite what you learn about health issues, work with a responsible breeder who will be open about how their breeding program has addressed these issues. Ask for multiple references to people with dogs from their line who are free of the conditions.

    Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

    Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

     

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    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino (adapted from a previously published City Paws Newspaper column)
    Photos: ©2011-2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Ask @UniversalHub for the Best Crowdsourced Answers In Boston

    Funny how people find a way to get great answers to their questions. Lately, I notice more and more people who direct queries on so many topics to Adam Gaffin (@UniversalHub) and those who follow him on Twitter.

    What's happening

    Since Universal Hub (UH) is one of the most reliable sources of hyperlocal information in Boston, people do ask what's going on when they see police or fire action in their area. 

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    Sometimes the requests are a bit delicious like this one for onion soup.

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    Or, kindhearted as in finding a place to donate something.

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    Or, an opinion from others about a product you might want to buy. 

    Sometimes when the replies flood in, you'll find them gathered as a collection on Universal Hub like this on the best Southern-style Biscuits and Gravy. When you come across one of these, be sure to click on and read the comments posted directly on the UH post.

    Ed and I both rely on Universal Hub for breaking news and fun information and we highly recommend you do the same. Follow @UniversalHub on Twitter and stop by the Universal Hub site a few times a day, especially when you see something that makes you wonder, "What's happening?"

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    Words: Penny Cherubino

  • Smash & Grab: Broken Windows Cost Us All!

    At one of the first crime watch meetings I attended after moving to Boston, a community policing officer told us that some thieves would break you car window to get a single quarter visible in the cup holder. 

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    After a recent rash of broken car windows on our block, a detail police officer, who happened to be on the scene and spoke to the car owners, told me that the only thing stolen from those cars was change. I've been thinking about that ever since.

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    As I walked by a pile of broken glass later that week, I took a few photos with the thought of submitting one as a cover shot for the Back Bay Sun.

    That cover ran this Tuesday with the headline, "Broken Windows." My caption reads, "Shattered auto safety glass is a common sight on the sidewalks of the Back Bay. Last year, more than 700 cases of “larceny from a motor vehicle” were reported in Police District D4. Officials urge drivers not to leave any property in view inside a car including change, clothing, electronics, and bags."

    We All Pay

    While it seems that the car owners just lost change, they also had their planned day rearranged, followed by the hassle of scheduling window replacement. Everyone who pays auto insurance chipped in to pay for that glass repair. The homeowners where the car was parked had to clean up the mess. Finally, those who walked by were reminded of the crime which can have an impact on a person's sense of security.

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    This led me to research the crime stats to see if this is really as common as it seems to be when you walk around the streets of Boston. Along the way, I found information on the Boston Police Department's "Don't be a Victim!" campaign that is underway in some neighborhoods with high "Larceny from Motor Vehicle" reports.

    Here's a link to the 2015 crime statistics so you can check the neighborhoods where you park. 

    Related Post:

    Broken Bricks Boon to Boston Bandits

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    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2016 Penny Cherubino and parking meter and sign courtesy of the Boston Police Department.

  • Here’s to February and Early Spring with Champagne Charles de Cazanove Stradivarius

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    Here comes February! And, we’re reaching for another sparkling wine to welcome this often unpredictable weather month. Instead of relying on that pesky groundhog to predict an early spring and put us in a good mood, we’re placing our faith in a reliable Champagne house that has served us well.

    Having featured and enjoyed the bubbles of Charles de Cazanove twice in 2015, it only makes sense that their Champagne Stradivarius has real promise (and besides, we’re intrigued by the name).

    Here’s what people are saying ...

    The winemaker calls Charles de Cazanove Stradivarius 2000 …

    • A symphony of meaning and passion
    • Its unique flavour … provides an original harmony
    • Bouquet opens on ripe fruit, walnut, and almond aromas
    • A powerful, hearty finish

    Wine Enthusiast gave Stradivarius (91 points) describing it as a …

    • Ripe, beautifully integrated Champagne
    • Beginnings of nutty, toasty maturity
    • Full in the mouth with a delicate and creamy mousse
    • Not for aging … an impressive wine to drink now  

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    Bauer Wine & Spirits, where we purchased our bottle, had the most intriguing tasting notes …
    • Yellow-gold
    • Deep, toasty aromas of orange marmalade, gingerbread, brown butter
    • A hint of floral honey and a livelier touch of lemon curd
    • Supple in texture and gently smoky
    • Broad candied citrus, poached pear flavors, late notes of buttered toast & spices
    • Fully mature Champagne finishes with strong thrust, clinging honey, pear notes & very good persistence

    Talk about a morale booster, how could we pass up an opportunity like this? Our notes to follow.

    Oh, and, maybe we’ll slip some to Punxsutawney Phil just to loosen the guy up, a little. Cheers!

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    Champagne Charles de Cazanove Stradivarius 2000

    70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, 12% ABV
    $49.99 @ Bauer Wine & Spirits, 330 Newbury St., Boston

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    UPDATE (02.01.16) –

    We toasted February with the Stradivarius, then chose the descriptions from above that we think fit best.

    • Definitely a unique flavor
    • Almond and brown butter aromas
    • Nutty, toasty maturity
    • Full in the mouth
    • A hint of floral honey, gently smoky
    • Broad candied citrus, pear notes
    • Powerful, hearty finish

    While this Champagne is not the lighter, everyday style we’re accustomed to, it is a nice change on the right occasion. And with certain foods, like the French onion soup we enjoyed with it tonight, it was outstanding.  

    UPDATE (02.02.16) – On a personal note, Thanks Phil.

     

    Related Posts:

    Charles de Cazanove Rosé Champagne – One Happy Surprise!

    Join Us as We Toast February 2015 with Charles de Cazanove Champagne

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post :  Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wie Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

    The Food Lover's Guide to Wine

    The New Wine Lover's Companion

    The Wine Bible

     

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    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino

    Photography: © 2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino, bottle display photo courtesy of Charles de Cazanove

  • Ways to Report Pedestrian Dangers & WalkBoston “Ped 101” Advocacy Training

    The BostonZest team are walkers. We don't own a car. We use mass transit, if we must, but most of the time we get where we need to be as pedestrians. Naturally, we really notice the failures to ensure pedestrian safety on the part of our city and state authorities. We try to be advocates for pedestrians and now we have a few tips for you on how you can join us. 

    Report safety issues

    Report Transportation Dangers

    The City of Boston has set up a mapping system where you can report safety issues in the transportation system. We have already used this to mark intersections where traffic gridlocks, where walk lights don't last long enough, and where walk lights are missing.  

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    You can also consult this map to find places where you might want to exercise a bit more caution as you travel. (You might also take a look at this map that shows where accidents have already been reported by police.) Both are part of the city's Vision Zero program.

    If your concern needs a more immediate correction, use the 311 system by calling 311 on your phone, reporting the problem on the 311 phone app, sending a tweet to @BOS311, or reporting through the website. 

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    WalkBoston Pedestrian Advocacy Training Programs

    To learn more about how you can become a better defender of pedestrians, consider attending one of the Ped101 training sessions.

    WalkBoston says:

    "This session is helpful if you're interested in learning about: 

    • walkability, urbanism & the associated lingo (what's a "tight turning radius"?),

    • making neighborhoods safer for people walking & running,

    • how you can advocate for change in your own community."

    Take advantage of this opportunity to stand up for those who walk around the city. 

    Additional Reading: Make Walking THE Priority where you will find a link to a thoughtful piece on the mistaken priority system used by our transportation planners and a much better priority approach.

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    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Artwork: courtesy of the City of Boston and WalkBoston

  • Interesting Tidbits About the Boston Common Frog Pond

    Another day, another Twitter question to answer. This one came from Adam Gaffin over at Universal Hub. He asked if the proper name for the pond on the Boston Common was "Frog Pond" or "The Frog Pond." I went to the city's web page on the facility that uses "Boston Common Frog Pond," and to the group that manages it which refers to "The Boston Common Frog Pond." 

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    Then I wondered about what term was used historically to name this spot. As you can see, this postcard (circa 1901-1907) from the Boston Public Library's print collection says, Frog Pond.

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    Leslie Jones titled this photo (circa 1918 – 1920) Frog Pond Boston Common. (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection.)

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    This 1900 postcard from the New York Public Library's Collection uses The Frog Pond, Boston Common.

    Interesting Tidbits

    Next I turned to books on the topic to see what those editors decided was the correct term. And it was here I began to find interesting bits of history and lore about the Frog Pond. Some are repeated in a few sources and others can't be verified. 

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    In his 1903 "Boston A Guide Book," Edwin M. Bacon writes, “Near by lies the historic “Frog Pond,” so called, as the town wits have it, because it was never known to harbor a frog. The real frog pond was the Horse or Cow Pond, a shallow pool where the cows slaked their thirst or cooled their legs, which lay in the lowlands about the present band stand. The present pond is the survivor of three marshy bogs originally within the Common. It was the scene of the formal introduction of the public water system in 1848, for which celebration James Russell Lowell wrote his Ode on Water.”

    We do know that in early days, the Boston Common was used to pasture animals and many sources describe three ponds and four hills on the site. Reports vary as to the source of the Frog Pond's water source. Some say it was spring fed, while others say it was just a muddy puddle at the bottom of Flagstaff Hill where the Soldiers & Sailors Monument now stands. 

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    Postcard from the Boston Public Library Print Department collection.

    There are tales of women lighting fires under the great elm that once stood near the Frog Pond to do their laundry on the site. And forbidding smoking by the Frog Pond seems to have a long history. One book notes that in the mid-1800s people could smoke on the Common, only on weekdays and only near the Frog Pond. A later book cites that a law was passed forbidding smoking on the streets or on the Common. And, of course, today smoking is prohibited in all parks in Boston.

    In an upcoming post, we'll tell you a bit more about the arrival of municipal water in Boston and the celebrations that took place at the Frog Pond.

     

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    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2016 Penny Cherubino  and as noted in historic images.

  • Here Are More Good News Trends in Food for 2016

    Here's more from of our observations on the 2016 food scene. Penny did extensive research on this topic during the last few weeks of 2015 for one of her newspaper columns. We thought we'd share a few of the trends she spotted, here.

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    We Aren't the Only Ones Drinking More Bubbles!

    On the beverage scene, everyone is remarking about the growth in sales of sparkling wines. This is a great trend for so many reasons. Sparkling wine with its palate cleansing carbonation is a great match across a wide selection of foods. If you prefer wines with very low alcohol by volume (ABV on the label), many sparklers test in at 11% to 12.5% ABV. On the other hand, many red table wines are 13% to 16% ABV or more.

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    Less Wasted Food

    Don’t be surprised if you hear more about wasted food in the months ahead. It's already a big topic in the food media and may soon gain the attention of the popular press. Notice we are using the term, "wasted food" instead of "food waste." We think that simple change makes a difference in how people think about the problem.

    You might find broccoli stalks and leaves on your plate in the months ahead. Thrifty cooks have peeled, chopped, and used broccoli stems, asparagus stalks, cabbage cores, and cauliflower leaves for years. Now chefs are taking the lead in the movement to have less wasted food. Alongside “nose-to-tail” use of meat, you’ll see more of this “top-to-root” use of vegetables making its way onto menus.

    Look for less than perfect versions of produce items offered at lower prices in supermarkets. Let's hope our farmers hop on this bandwagon too and bring some of the food with cosmetic blemishes to market to offer to those who care more about nutrition and taste than looks.

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    Good Fat

    One article on this topic was headlined, “Fat is Back.” Slowly, we are learning that a low-fat diet may not be the best option and that some good fat is necessary for our health. One of the most popular good fats right now comes in the form of avocados. You’ll see avocado added to sandwiches and salads and used as the fat in frozen desserts.

    Fish like wild caught salmon, mackerel, sardines, and herring are other good fat options. Coconut oil, olive oil, whole eggs, cheese, and dark chocolate are all given a nutritional nod of approval when eaten in moderation. In the photo above, you see one of our favorite suppers – cauliflower and eggs in a coconut milk curry sauce.

    What food trends have you spotted? What trends in food do you wish would happen?

    What's on your Food Lover's shopping list?

     

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    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2011-2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Special Toys for Special Purposes for Your Sunday Dog

    Like many terriers, our Westie Poppy is a strong chewer. That means we don't leave her alone with something she might be able to destroy and chew into a choking hazard. Kong Extreme toys have been our answer.

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    Even as a tiny pup, Poppy could destroy a regular Kong in a sitting. Here she was in her exercise pen with her Kong Extreme chew.

    To address the separation anxiety she had as a pup, we stuffed a Kong with goat cheese and put it in the crate with her when we left her alone. To this day, she only gets this toy when she’s in her crate and she loves it each time she's offered one. Even when we return, she grabs it and runs happily around the place tossing and bouncing it. Now she runs to her crate when we hold up a Kong.

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    Poppy also loves squeaky toys but when she was young, she only had access to those under supervision.

    There are a number of comfort toys on the market to help puppies adjust to their new homes, address separation anxiety, or comfort a dog in a strange setting. Our first dog Sassy came to us with three knotted hand towels that had been slept on, played with, and generally embedded with the scent of her mother and littermates.

    This worked so well that we've used the same trick over the years for both rescue dogs and our own pups.

    Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

    Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

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    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubin- Updated and adapted for BostonZest from previously published material.
    Photos: ©2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino