CHANGE

It's a new year and many folks start the new year by making a few resolutions. For some, there's the traditional resolution of loosing weight, quit smoking, earn their high school diploma, finish the college degree they started and the list goes on and on.

One of the hardest things about resolutions is that most people make them and within a few weeks they've given up and 'cashed in those chips'.

If you've made a resolution and are comfortable sharing it with the Worcester Is MAJOR! readers, we'd like you to post it in the comments section.

It's a New Day

In times like we're experiencing, I look for more Positive Innovators (PIs) such as Will.i.am who inspire people to Dream BIG! This song does it for me every time I hear it and I decided to share it with y'all.

Economy: Change won't be so fast

President-elect Barack Obama warned on Friday that economic recovery won’t be as fast as he completed his Cabinet, after naming the secretaries of transportation, labor, trade and small business policy.

“It will take longer than any of us would like — years, not months. It will get worse before it gets better. But it will get better if we are willing to act boldly and swiftly,” Obama said — and he promised to do just that.

Obama declined to put a price tag on an economic stimulus plan he will propose, but signaled that it could be huge because of his priorities: creating jobs, getting the economy back on track and fixing financial markets among them. “That is going to cost a significant amount of money on the front end,” he said.

Change is Inevitable

We've heard alot about 'Change' for the past 2-years and now it looks
like Worcester is seeing some changes of it's own when it comes to how
the City spends it's tax payer's dollars.

When City Councilors (read: Clancy) are talking about spending $450k
on a playground
that is said to revitalize a neighborhood and serve as a 'gift' to the
neighborhood that had to deal with foul odor from the compost site, it
take residents to stand up and say 'No!'. Thank goodness Clancy and
others listened, but we also have to thank the failing economy for
knocking some folks down a peg or two. Now, if we can only get them to
do away with the outdoor ice skating rink. So much for being original
and basically copying Boston.

As the housing market continues to head south even more, the question
that begs to be asked is whether the government will bail out the
automotive industry
or will some of them fall by the wayside? We'll have to wait to see
what is to come.

Change is here and just as a wise man once told me, "Change is
inevitable, except from vending machines."

The Pain & The Cure

With the economy continuing to head south faster than a pole dancer at one of the many gentleman's clubs in Worcester, the price of gasoline continues to go down to a rabble-rousing round of applause.

In times like these we have to find solace where we can get it and nowadays, that solace is scarce.

Senators in Washington, D.C. continue to grill the automotive industry execs and ask why folks like Joe-the-plumber should have to bail the industry out.

Obama chose Eric Holder to be the Attorney General and, once he makes it through the vetting process, he would be the first Black man to head the Department of Justice.

Folks in Loveland, Colorado have decided to pay it forward and spread a little joy to customers that love coffee.

And last, but not least, we look to the holidays to be a time where people slow down a little, get together with friends and relatives, break break and give thanks for what they have.


And here's a Christmas message from the President and the First Family:

Politics: The Road

As the Presidential candidates are crisscrossing various states, I had to share a few of my favorite pictures with you from the Barack Obama campaign that I thoroughly enjoy. I hope you enjoy them too?

Music: Calypso in Support of Obama

Red Ride: Obama: You Make Us Proud

Obama: Wassup

This was too funny and dead on not to post!

Politics: Best Obama Blog

When my friend, Stanley Lumax, sent me an email detailing what his blog was going to be about and the concept, I thought it was a GREAT idea.

The execution and the interviews with the various Obama supporters is raw and unfiltered and I love it.

One of my favorites thus far is Greg the artist that was posted on Sunday, October 19th.


Check out Change is Gonna Come and be sure to post a comment about what you read and hear. The blog includes videos too.

Change does affect VOTING

My polling station has been changed.

Who said change is inevitable...except from vending machines?

Have HOPE & CHANGE been used?

Have both words been used too much? Well, Obama hopes that you're not tired of both words. Take a look at the most recent grassroots video.

Obama on Fathers

Change is inevitable

"Change is inevitable, except from vending machines"
- Author unknown

This statement couldn't be more true, especially these days when those running for City Councilor, Councilor-at-Large and the Mayoral seat are grabbing for headlines. Sure, the fact that they want the "big seat" or the responsibility is something to be commended, it still doesn't sit well with residents that many of these men and women are doing nothing more than stroking their ego. Oh, the word ego evokes feelings from every person, even the homeless person on Main Street.

The fact that today is August 17th, and Mayor Lukes, Councilors Irish, Palmieri and now Perotto, who has taken the approach to gaining name recognition by taking the high road calling on his competitors to, "to dispense with the political sniping and concentrate on the issues." as printed in Richard Nangle's article in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette Newspaper.

Earlier this week, at the City Council meeting, Councilor Philip Palmieri directed some strong comments about "doing better and working harder" towards Robert Moylan, DPW Commissioner, regarding the litter and graffiti in the city. Commissioner Moylan responded by stating that DPW, for the past 10 years has loss positions, and is "doing more with less". During this exchange, Moylan commented that DPW has picked up and removed over 2 tons of litter in the city and needs more man power and money to correct these issues. Doesn't it always come down to money? Well, it does take money to pick up all the trash that many residents casually throw in the streets, or in the case of the Granite Street neighborhood, folks drive southbound, towards Route 20 and dump their tires, mattresses, bed frames and whatever else they don't want to pay to have removed along side the Street.

As I wrote in my post earlier this week, a large issue facing the City of Worcester is the lack of PRIDE. People who have called Worcester home for many years, have seen Worcester go from an industrial blue-collar city to one where many businesses left or couldn't afford to do business in the US due to outsourcing and cheaper labor costs elsewhere. Coupled with the fact that Worcester doesn't have any significant destination sites that would attract people from throughout New England or from around the world to visit the city.

Worcester hasn't done a good job of marketing itself as a "College City" because the colleges and universities themselves don't communicate often or see the benefit to cross-marketing to get the best students to select a college/ university in Worcester. The so called "brain drain" is in full effect, and it doesn't seem that people care that many graduates choose to leave Worcester and Massachusetts for that matter. When key factors such as the cost of living and the salaries that graduates are being offered are out of whack, it should come as no surprise that graduates are leaving the city in high numbers and moving to states such as Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia in record numbers.

Again, as the city moves into a serious time when "Change is inevitable", there should be no surprises when September 11th comes and we find some politicians shocked and upset to how residents voted.