The Top Left Corner

Above: The Course of Empire — Destruction, by Thomas Cole; (American, Lancashire 1801–1848 Catskill, New York); 1836; Oil on canvas; 33 1/4 × 63 1/4 in.

Welcome to today’s show!

We talked about some stuff…

* LIGHT (OR NOT) * Denmark launches a children’s show about a man with a giant penis. Let the “Great Dane” jokes commence.*   Thanks to a provision tucked into the coronavirus relief bill signed by President Trump in December, the US military has 180 days to disclose all it knows about UFOs, or “unidentified aerial phenomenon,” which seems to be the new term of art among military and national security types.*   Produced by Jeff Jenkins (“Keeping Up with the Kardashians”), “Bling Empire” focuses on the real lives of ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ a wildly wealthy group of Asian and Asian-American friends (and frenemies) living what appears to be fabulous lives in Los Angeles attending extravagant parties and going on expensive shopping sprees, but there is much more happening beneath the surface. It follows their journey living in America as they straddle the traditional Eastern culture that values keeping a “low profile,” with the Western culture that embraces the openness and transparency of the modern world. Revolved around Kelly and her friends, the unscripted series will bring the first-ever all-Asian American cast to reality audiences around the world. https://youtu.be/ilDYquHLJ_k   LOCAL * A police stop last week in North Adams last week caught our eye. From a write-up in the Berkshire Eagle, two men were arrested after officers found a gun and “several ounces” of marijuana in the vehicle they were driving. Hasn’t Massachusetts legalized marijuana? Well, yes, but the rules can be confusing. Here’s a quick rundown of the Massachusetts laws governing marijuana.*   What are some alternative policing models, and how might such a model be implemented in Williamstown? Depending on how our police reform efforts unfold here, then it might look something like what the town of Amherst is contemplating. THE COMMONWEALTH * Uber has lost an important case in the Mass Supreme Judicial Court. We’ll run through the facts and talk about the broader implications of the ruling.* SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) — The FBI is warning of plans for armed protests across the nation beginning this week and leading up to the presidential inauguration. The FBI said armed protests are being planned at all 50 s...

Welcome to this week’s show!

Stuff we talked about:

LIGHT (OR NOT)

* Is your cat cheating on you? This writer recounts her experience as the “other human” for a neighborhood cat named Eddie who would stop by for tuna, belly rubs, and a snooze on the couch and then head back to his “real family.” It made us wonder whether anyone ever “owns” a cat.

LOCAL

Pittsfield City Councilor-at-Large Yuki Cohen, known also as the owner of popular late-night destination, Methuselah Bar & Lounge, on North Street; submitted photo.

Our guest today is Yuki Cohen, (scrub forward to the 51-minute mark to go directly to the conversation) who was elected as an at-large member to the 11-seat city council in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in January 2020. Cohen also owns and operates the downtown Pittsfield late-night destination Methuselah Bar & Lounge. Recently, Methuselah was the subject of a complaint for violating the City of Pittsfield’s COVID-19 regulations. We’re thrilled to have Yuki join us today to talk about that and other issues facing small businesses trying to survive in the midst of the pandemic. Yuki, welcome to the show. Follow Yuki at Methuselah on Facebook and Instagram (and perhaps TikTok one day!) Links mentioned during the conversation. The exchange traded fund, SPDR (SPY).  

* Advocates Concerned for Pittsfield Unsheltered as Winter Deepens. By Brittany Polito for iBerkshires (Pittsfield, Saturday, Jan. 2): The Recovery Learning Center, an organization that helps connect homeless and unhoused people with resources reports 72 such people in Pittsfield right now, although the real number has got to be larger. Anthony Maffucio, the city councilor representing Ward 7, told iBerkshires, “I don’t believe our homeless are being well taken care of, I believe the city is painting a pretty picture when there’s not one there. People are treating these individuals like a pack of wild animals and not like human beings, and I have an issue with that.” Compounding the homelessness crisis was the closure of the shelter at St. Joseph’s, run by ServiceNet under a contract with the city, in July.* Jan 4, 2021Williamstown Select Board eyes next steps in police reform, chief search By Scott Stafford, The Berkshire Eagle January 4, 2021WILLIAMSTOWN — The Select Board moved closer to consensus Monday on steps it will take to reform the Williamstown Police Department and find a new chief.While no votes were taken, the board seemed to favor seeking an independent probe of the department, in light of allegations of racial bias and sexual harassment contained in a federal lawsuit that since has been withdrawn.• Williamstown Select Board Favors Investigation of Police Lawsuit Alleg...

Stuff we talked about:

LIGHT (OR NOT)

  We think; therefore, it is. In explaining the hypothesis that the universe simulates itself into existence. Physicist David Chester elaborated: “While many scientists presume materialism to be true, we believe that quantum mechanics may provide hints that our reality is a mental construct. Recent advances in quantum gravity, such as seeing spacetime emergent via a hologram, also is a hint that spacetime is not fundamental. Employees as Guinea pigs — sad, screwed over Guinea pigs. There have been way too many stories like this lately, but here’s a particularly cruel one from our 2020 Scrooge slush pile. The web domain registrar and hosting company GoDaddy sent its employees an email in mid-December promising them a $650.00 bonus. Turns out it was a test to see how adept GoDaddy’s workers were at spotting phishing scams. Everyone who responded to the email failed. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9087667/GoDaddy-slammed-cruelty-sent-500-employees-email-saying-getting-650.html Fun fact: GoDaddy’s CEO, Aman Bhutani, takes home a base salary of $1 million/year according to the company’s latest SEC filings.

LOCAL:

The show must go on eventually…but until then, what? The New York Times is reporting on the looming “cultural depression” that’s about to hit the performing arts. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/26/arts/unemployed-performer-theatre-arts.html To be clear, we’re not worried about Tom Cruise or Cardi B. According to the article, the median full-time professional performer’s salary is a little over $40,000.00 for musicians and actors, and around $37,000.00 for dancers and choreographers. Our cultural institutions here in the Berkshires are an immensely important part of our economy, but they don’t seem to be getting the kind of support they need from local, state, and federal government. We’ve already lost the 2020 summer season. Can our music venues, theaters, museums, and individual artists ride out a repeat in 2021? Stephen Sheppard, an economics professor at Williams, has done some interesting work on the relationship between the arts and economic growth. Here’s a paper of his from 2013 describing how cultural institutions create permanent local prosperity: https://www.arts.gov/sites/default/files/Research-Art-Works-Williams1.pdf Is Charlie Baker listening to our show? He seems to have taken one of our suggestions, specifically the one where we told him Massachusetts needs to give small businesses (and their workers) money while they’re suffering through the pandemic. Unfortunately, the money will be distributed through the Massachusetts Capital Growth Corporation, which places onerous paperwork requirements on applicants for the money and requires a whole bunch of follow-up from recipients on how they spent their grants. What exactly is the hangup our political leaders have about simply giving people money? https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/23/business/baker-unveils-668-million-relief-plan-help-small-businesses/?s_campaign=breakingnews:newsletter The government of British Columbia in Canada has different ideas. In 2018, a population of 50 unhoused people were given $7,500.

LIGHT

  An illegal winery was busted at an Alabama wastewater treatment plant last week. Let’s hope everyone got their holiday orders in… https://www.al.com/news/huntsville/2020/12/illegal-winery-found-at-alabama-wastewater-plant-authorities-say.html

  Our closest star, Proxima Centauri, is only about 4.2 light years (or about 427,000,000 million miles) from us. Recently, scientists have been picking up a radio signal from the Proxima Centauri star system that is either being generated by an unknown natural process or by “technology.” New neighbors? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/alien-hunters-discover-mysterious-signal-from-proxima-centauri/  

LOCAL:

  After 16 years on the job, Williamstown’s Chief of Police, Kyle Johnson, has resigned. Shortly after news of the resignation was made public, Scott McGowan, the officer who blew the whistle on misconduct at the WPD, dropped the federal lawsuit he’d filed in Springfield that alleged, among other things, sexual harassment and retaliation by the chief. Is this really going to lead to “healing”–and what would that even look like? We’d prefer a WPD that has earned the trust of all the residents of the town it serves. That doesn’t seem like too much to ask, but the Williamstown Selectboard hasn’t exactly covered itself in glory in its handling of this matter. https://www.iberkshires.com/story/63764/Williamstown-Police-Chief-Resigns-Litigant-Says-He-Will-Drop-Suit.html?source=most_read

  We’ve been saying this for weeks: Local restaurants are being failed by local, state, and federal lawmakers. It’s unforgivable to put the full burden of weathering the pandemic on local small businesses while big Massachusetts corporations suck up billions in federal aid. The hospitality industry is the backbone of our economy here in the Berkshires, but we know from experience that we’re often an afterthought to the Beacon Hill crowd–it’s time for that to change. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/16/lifestyle/restaurants-arent-failing-they-are-being-failed/?s_campaign=breakingnews:newsletter

  The COVID situation here in the Berkshires is not good. On Saturday, December 19 alone, there were 41 new confirmed cases. The total number of deaths since the pandemic began here in the Berkshires is 119, when both confirmed and probable deaths are counted. https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-dashboard-december-20-2020/download By contrast, Taiwan (population 23.9 million) was reporting seven (7) total deaths as of December 2: https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/12/02/news/world/taiwan-reports-highest-covid-cases/803700/ There are lots of reasons why we’re doing such a bad job here in the US, but failure of leadership has got to be among the top three.  

“A lot of the footage was police officers being very, very scared and reacting quite violently. And that’s not what they’re supposed to do.”— Eoin HigginsTweet

STATE: Special Guest: Eoin Higgins: https://twitter.com/EoinHiggins_

This is the Top Left Corner, episode number 85, part one. This extended show celebrates the work of two local authors who have the distinction of being selected as writers in residence at Herman Melville’s Arrowhead for the year 2020. In this first segment, we speak with Robin Catalano, whose writing in local, regional, and national publications has made hers a much sought after pen, especially in the world of travel writing.

Virtual Author Reading & DiscussionatHerman Melville’s ArrowheadJoin Summer 2020 Writer-In-Residence Robin Catalano and Winter 2020 Writer-In-Residence Kevin O’Hara for a special evening of readings, written from Herman Melville’s study!Free and open to the [email protected] or call 413-442-1793 to reserve your spot and get the link

Although, as the Travel & Leisure editor for the Greylock Glass, Robin’s work may be familiar to you, this is quite likely one of the first times you’ll get to hear her talk about her work in her own voice. after you’ve listened to this show, you’ll have two other immediate chances to connect with Robin — first via a live reading sponsored by Herman Melville’s Arrowhead Friday, November 13 at 5:00. E-mail [email protected] or call 413-442-1793 to reserve your spot and get the link.

Be sure to visit Robin at her personal blog, and at her new coastal-focused travel site, Once More to the Shore.

Virtual Author Reading & DiscussionatHerman Melville’s ArrowheadBecket Athenaeum’sAuthor ReadingsresumeNovember 14 via Zoomwith travel writerRobin CatalanoPre-registration Required

Also participating in the reading with be the guest of part two of this show — Kevin O’Hara, the Donkey Man, known affectionately for decades throughout the Berkshires for his wit and charm, and of course his   enchanting storytelling ability, whether in print or in person.

More on Kevin in the next segment. Right now, let’s go to our conversation with Robin Catalano, here on the Top Left Corner.

Robin Catalano believes in the power of storytelling to connect communities and cultures. For more than two decades, she’s applied her creative approach to travel writing for magazines, books, blogs, and websites, and has published more than 100 articles and 2,000 blog posts. Her work has appeared in a variety of national and regional publications, including Travel + Leisure, Fodor’s, the Boston Globe, Gourmet, Matador Network, Travel Awaits, Berkshire Living, and Berkshire HomeStyle. She is also the force behind Once More to the Shore, a new coastal travel blog launching this fall.

The Travel & Leisure editor of the Greylock Glass, Robin holds a master’s in English and creative writing from the University of Rhode Island. She’s a frequent speaker at conferences, including the past three Women in Travel Summits. She has also led a variety of writing workshops, and has edited more than 350 books for clients such as Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Inner Traditions International. As a book coach, Robin helps independent authors take their ideas from concept to print.

This is the Top Left Corner, episode number 85, part one. This extended show celebrates the work of two local authors who have the distinction of being selected as writers in residence at Herman Melville’s Arrowhead for the year 2020. In this first segment, we speak with Kevin O’Hara, whose writing in local, regional, and national publications has made hers a much sought after pen, especially in the world of travel writing.

Virtual Author Reading & DiscussionatHerman Melville’s ArrowheadJoin Fall 2020 Writer-In-Residence Kevin O’Hara and Spring 2020 Writer-In-Residence Robin Catalano for a special evening of readings, written from Herman Melville’s study!Free and open to the [email protected] or call 413-442-1793 to reserve your spot and get the link

Be sure to visit Kevin at his website and take a look at the books he’s written that are sure to transport you to the rich world of his adventures and upbringing.

FIRST HOUR

Guest: Nancy Stenberg,Female caucus representative to the 2nd Hampden-Hampshire Senate District

Dear State Committee member,

I would like to extend my thanks to Attorney Cheryl Jacques for her thorough and transparent independent review of the actions of Democratic State Committee staff and volunteers during the Alex Morse for Congress campaign.

I would also like to thank Vice Chairs Deb Kozikowski, Leon Braithwaite, and Personnel Committee Chair Mark DiSalvo for discharging the duties assigned to them.

Mayor Alex Morse is a resident of my state committee district, the 2nd Hampden Hampshire Senate district. We have also been friends for at least 10 years. When he shared the information with me about this situation, I said “I will demand an investigation on your behalf.”

The Key Findings portion of the report clearly shows that Gus Bickford, a DSC member and our current party chair, violated DSC bylaw 2(d) which prohibits staff of the DSC from participating in a contested Democratic Primary campaign.

This portion of the report goes on to mention that our executive director, Veronica Martinez, exercised “poor judgement” in her interactions with CDMA members. We have a personnel committee headed up by Mark DiSalvo and I will leave it up to them to make a recommendation on this.

Fellow members, the Recommendations portion of the report show that we, the members of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee, have a lot of work to do to ensure that something like this does not happen again.

The first task at hand is to elect a new chair, to lead us in a new direction, on November 12th.

Democratically yours,

Nancy Stenberg

SECOND HOUR

Guest: John Prusinski,Massachusetts Democratic Socialists of America Ecosocialist Working Group

Press Release: 11/07/20

The Ecosocialist Working Group of Massachusetts Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) Proposes a Just Green Stimulus Plan for Massachusetts

Boston, MA – As our economy reels from the impact of the COVID-19 virus, the Massachusetts Legislature will be appropriating funds to address the pandemic and the resulting economic recession. At the same time, they must address the climate emergency and extreme inequality backstopped by white supremacy and racist policing.

The Ecosocialist Working Group of the Massachusetts Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) announces a Green Stimulus Plan for Massachusetts to restart our economy and combat climate injustice. The plan will create hundreds of thousands of good paying, green union jobs to build safe and healthy homes and renewable infrastructure, and increase community resilience.

The Green Stimulus that the DSA proposes directly addresses environmental racism by prioritizing environmental justice and communities of color, particularly Black, immigrant and indigenous communities, throughout recovery. (See MA bill H.4264)

The DSA’s Green Stimulus Plan embodies the “5 Principles for a Just COVID-19 Relief and Stimulus,” (https://www.fiveprinciples.org/) put forward by over 300 environmental, justice, labor, and movement organizations earlier this year. The 5 Principle are: (1) Health is the top priority, for all people, with no exceptions; (2) provide economic relief directly to the people; (3) rescue workers and communities first, not corporate executives; (4) make a down payment on a regenerative economy, while preventing future crises; (5) protect our democratic process while ...

LIGHTER ITEMS

First footage ever captured of the elusive “ram’s horn” squid, which can only be described as the “Beaker of the sea”: https://www.sciencealert.com/first-ever-deep-sea-footage-of-a-ram-s-horn-squid-has-scientists-freaking-out 

LOCAL

Williamstown to retain embattled police chief

https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/williamstown-to-retain-embattled-police-chief/article_f229fed0-1a0d-11eb-8231-13b6cfd3ee52.html

Town Manager Jason Hoch announced at Tuesday’s Select Board meeting that he would retain the services of Police Chief Kyle Johnson, amid calls for the termination of both men.

Chad Topaz’s statement on Racism in Williamstown:

https://chadtopaz.com/racism-in-williamstown-ma/

And the insane public records request he just filed with Williamstown PD on Friday, below.

Related:

Williamstown Select Board Pleads for Patience, Asks for Respect for Police

https://www.iberkshires.com/story/63343/Williamstown-Select-Board-Pleads-for-Patience-Asks-for-Respect-for-Police.html

Williamstown Prepares to Protect Potential Post-Election Protests

https://www.iberkshires.com/storyOld/63457/Williamstown-Prepares-to-Protect-Potential-Post-Election-Protests.html?source=most_comments

(Only so much the police can do against white supremacists, notes Williamstown manager.)

“Where we’re less well equipped because there is only so much we can do with 10 or 12 of our people protecting those edges is what may happen as people pass through those edges [of protests],” Hoch said.

The Eagle is reporting that Williams College reported 2 new COVID-19 cases since the last round of testing, which is really bad news for the school and the rest of us, given the enormous amount of resources that Williams has put into testing and contract tracing. I will look for a link and provide it if I find one.

North Adams Public Schools refuses to acknowledge receipt of a Greylock Glass public records request AND refuses to identify RAO for NAPS.

State tells North Adams parent that NAPS did NOT report case of COVID-19 and DESE commissioner says conversation that Superintendent Malkas claimed to have had with commissioner and assistant commissioner never took place.

Wary of ‘harsh’ tone, selectboard refuses to endorse letter blasting Great Barrington Declaration

https://theberkshireedge.com/wary-of-harsh-tone-selectboard-refuses-to-endorse-letter-blasting-great-barrington-declaration

Local news peg for a discussion of agita over tone and “civility” in our politics more broadly and how it’s a trap the Left can’t allow itself to get caught in ever again.

STATE

Gov. Baker’s stated “confusion” over ranked-choice voting is hilarious:

https://www.wgbh.org/news/politics/2020/10/27/baker-opposes-ranked-choice-voting-in-mass

Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources launches the Mass MassGrown Exchange

https://massnrc.org/farmexchange/

Which is not quite as useful as the tool the Pioneer Valley based organization, CISA, has had for at least a decade:

Above: Political message painted on hay bales prior to arson; photo courtesy Megan Whilden; via Facebook.

Are you concerned with the security of your housing situation?

Rental assistance programs in Mass:

https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-assistance-to-keep-your-family-housed https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-getting-help-with-housing-costs Tenants’ rights: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/tenant-rights Legal help: >https://www.masslegalhelp.org/housing/ https://www.masslegalservices.org/FindLegalAid >https://www.nolo.com/

In this episode, we talk about:

Freak wind storm:

https://www.iberkshires.com/story/63268/Powerful-Storm-Rips-Through-the-Berkshires.html

Holiday Farm Hay Bale Political Sign Arson

https://www.iberkshires.com/story/63301/Dalton-Man-Charged-With-Setting-Fire-to-Biden-Harris-Sign.html

North Adams Public Schools have reported the first positive case of COVID-19

https://www.iberkshires.com/story/63283/North-Adams-Schools-Report-First-Case-of-COVID-19.html

Great Barrington Declaration https://gbdeclaration.org/

Demonstrators In Boston, Somerville Call For Extension Of Massachusetts Eviction Moratorium https://boston.cbslocal.com/2020/10/12/demonstrators-rally-boston-somerville-massachusetts-eviction-foreclosure-moratorium-covid-19/

The EARN IT legislation that could end any semblance of privacy on the internet:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/03/earn-it-bill-governments-not-so-secret-plan-scan-every-message-online

Massachusetts is facing 20,000 new eviction cases starting October 17th. Not people — complaints. Let’s say that half of those are families with two adults and two children. That pushes the number of people newly out on the streets closer to 50,000. That’s more than the populations of Pittsfield and North Adams combined.

There is legislation in the works to extend Mass’ eviction moratorium:

https://www.patjehlen.org/news/covid-housing-stability-act-sd2992hd5166

A summary of the bill is here:

Click to access Summary%20of%20Housing%20Stability%20Bill.pdf

TLC Episode 88

Above: Antenna Telephone and communication towers; photo by Serd Thongchai, via Shutterstock.

Special Guest: Cecelia (Cece) Doucette, MTPW, BATechnology Safety EducatorDirector, Massachusetts for Safe TechnologyFounder, Understanding EMFsEducation Services Director, Wireless EducationCity of Boston Legal Comment to FCCHiBR Conference @ NIHExpert Forum on Wi-fi in Schoolshttps://www.youtube.com/embed/OYzUyWPHc20?html5=1Additional YouTube EMF TalksGeneration Zapped Award-Winning FilmEMF Conference for Health Practitioners

wirelesseducation.org

The wireless phenomenon has enveloped our world. Most of us use smartphones, tablets and Wi-Fi constantly. Research is telling us, however, that using these devices for sustained periods can have a negative effect on our health as they emit microwave radiation. Wireless Education is dedicated to the delivery of education for safer use of wireless technology in our homes, places of work, schools and other public buildings.

It is our sole aim to present this complex scientific information in a non-biased, easy to understand way, so that we can all learn to use wireless technologies safely. We have researched medical and scientific information so you don’t have to (although we encourage independent investigation too!).

Topics of Conversation

LOCAL• Peggy-Anne Oleskiewicz, 73 resident of Williamstown and co-owner of Pedrin’s Diary Bar in North Adams died at home on Friday of undetermined causes. • North Adams Superintendent Barbara Malkas continues to withhold which North Adams Public School was host to the recent positive COVID-19 test of a student,citing HIPPA and SERTA rules.

• Rockwell’s ‘Four Freedoms’ exhibit back in Massachusetts (Jason)

https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/berkshire-county/rockwells-four-freedoms-exhibit-back-in-massachusetts/

• Tower Siting / health affects (there’s a tri-town board of health meeting Monday nightSTATE• Clarity around Question 1 -— lots of propaganda coming in the mail Good summary from WBURhttps://www.wbur.org/news/2020/09/14/2020-ballot-question-1-right-to-repair-explainer

Fantastic fear campaign ad:https://www.heraldnews.com/news/20200728/new-tv-ad-makes-link-between-mass-question-1-and-predators

• Eviction Crisis — “Legislature ponders housing crisis response as eviction ban expires”