Long gone, but now back… sort of. :)
Q: Why are so many people from Boston so quick-witted and quippy? A: Overlooking that you forgot to add “handsome, intelligent, and saintly,” I’ll try to answer your question: I think it’s the local emphasis on education. Boston’s culture is in part the result of over 400 years of continual investment in education, as explained…
Reader David Palmer asks: “What is wrong with gentrification? Isn’t it good that old neighborhoods get rebuilt?” It’s a mixed bag. Yes, it’s good when truly decrepit, decaying buildings are replaced with newer stock. No one benefits from falling-down, boarded-up, housing stock. But when merely old — not decrepit — buildings are replaced, the rents…
Autumn felt awfully brief this year; encroached upon by a lingering summer on the front end, and now by an abrupt winter on the back end. Permalink: https://wp.me/paaiox-hF Want free notification of new content like this? Click here! Have a comment? Want to ask Fred a new question? Click here!
Reader Patti McIntyre asks: “What are some good hiking spots around Boston that I can access by public transportation?” Some of my favorites: Middlesex Fells Reservation, 2,200 acres (890 ha) of woods, hills, and lakes north of the city. Many access points; depending on where you want to go, you can use the T Orange…
A reader asks: “Why does Boston have so many universities compared to other cities?” Boston benefits from almost 400 years of continual investment in education. For example, Harvard University was founded in 1636, just six years after Boston itself. That wasn’t an accident: From its founding, up to the American Revolution (when the British occupied…
Reader Ross asks: “What’s your experience of Uber in Boston, Mass?” The Uber service and drivers here are OK; but (IMHO) Uber as a corporation sucks: known for bad business practices, criminal investigations, institutionalized misogyny, etc. Why give money to a company like that? I use Lyft instead. It has some corporate issues of its…
Q. Is it easy to find a public bathroom in Downtown Boston? (via Quora) A. It’s not hard, but they’re not always obvious. For example, many Boston streets have large, circular kiosks with advertising on the outside. These are actually public restrooms, although they are not obviously so, until you see the door. They cost…
I needed a break from the incessant bad news, and so went for a walk in the rain from today’s Nor’easter. It was glorious, from the lower elevations still in Autumn foliage to the very windy summit. Thank you, Nature. Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/3JfRYZXJ1bJA1vDz50 Samples:
Q: How did Massachusetts get its name? (via Quora) A: The name is an Algonquin Indian place name, variously mangled and interpreted by European explorers and settlers. The History of Massachusetts web site offers several interpretations: ● From the Algonquin “massa” meaning “great” and “wachusett” meaning “mountain place” or “large hill place;” probably referencing the…
Q: What are some tips and tricks for getting the most out of using the Boston T? (via Quora) A: Here are three things I’ve learned. Manage The Costs: Use a CharlieCard instead of paper tickets. The NFC-based CharlieCards are free (ask at any Info kiosk), speed your entry to the T (just wave your…