Spare Change News

Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • I Salute Them

    “Nobody here is special.” That was the comment recently made by a staff member at a local women’s shelter. They made the comment in a snarky, insider tone. Apparently, the staff member was, in an indirect way, referencing a small change one of the shelter’s residents had made. The staff member was taking a pot…

  • The Fairy Queen And The Troll, Part One

    [Editor’s note: Read part two here.] Tam-Tam cast some diamonds on the fire and the hues of the rainbow reached its multi-colored fingers into the night sky. Waywis watched the flames. Both sisters waited for the coming of the Fairy Queen. They had been deeply immersed in their work for aeons and it was time…

  • A Child Left Behind

    Just a week ago, in the midst of the Department of Children & Families (DCF) controversy that began when 5 year old Jeremiah Oliver disappeared from his Fitchburg home late last year, a couple of things came to light. Over 95 children either directly or indirectly in DCF custody have died and it was found…

  • Vendor Profile: Angela

    Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel can seem so far into the future that it is difficult to see the bright side. Angela, a Somerville vendor in her early thirties, is living through dark times. In conversation, Angela does not shy away from talking about the mistakes she’ made and the difficult…

  • Poetry in Public: ‘Spare Change Flash Mob’ Takes Over Downtown Crossing

    Just as the clock on the old Filene’s building in Downtown Crossing clanged 12 noon on Saturday, February 8, a small group of people dressed in black lined up on Winter St. and crouched on the ground or on crates saying, “Spare change please . . . spare prayers please . . .” in unison.…

  • Keytar Bear: A Review of Boston’s Most Famous Musical Ursine

    If you can imagine a soothing blend of jojoba oils, Shea butter and WD40 being poured into both ear holes simultaneously, then you are approaching the aural pleasure of Keytar Bear. From the delicate pitch bend ribbon between two furry bear paws, Keytar Bear weaves a mellifluous blanket to warm the soul. The quintessence of…

  • High Time: Marijuana Dispensaries Come to Massachusetts

    In November 2012, Massachusetts became one of eighteen states in the U.S. to pass a law regulating access to medical marijuana. The state has been extremely thorough and cautious in determining how to successfully implement the law, especially when it comes to the rigorous application process for those who wanted to open dispensaries in the…

  • A Sheltered Life

  • Ten-City Initiative a Step toward Solving Air Pollution

    BOSTON, Mass.—Mayor Martin J. Walsh recently announced that Boston will join the City Energy Project (CEP), a new venture with the Institute for Market Transformation, National Resources Defense Council, and ten cities (including Los Angeles, Chicago, Orlando, Houston, Kansas City, and others), to reduce energy usage and curb greenhouse gas emissions used by their cities’…

  • Smart Growth Districts Promise Affordable Housing

    BOSTON, Mass.—Starting in April, communities across Massachusetts will be able to apply for a grant from the Planning Assistance Towards Housing (PATH) organization, a state group, to improve housing accessibility. To qualify for one of the $600,000 grants, the community must demonstrate how the money will be used to contribute to housing production. An application…

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