Spare Change News

Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Diane Patrick: Face Up to Domestic Violence

    Beatrice Bell Spare Change News First Lady Diane Patrick was at the Tip O’Neill Federal Building in Boston recently to discuss her experiences living in an abusive first marriage for seven years. She managed to move on and today is married to Gov. Deval Patrick. This is her talk as recorded and transcribed by Beatrice…

  • In Harvard Square, Student-Led Shelter Offers Beds through the Winter

    Julie Monrad Spare Change News On a beautiful November Saturday, enhanced by crisp, cool air and the sun setting fire-red leaves aglow, a group of Harvard students gathered at the University Lutheran Church in Harvard Square, ready to clean. These students, armed with cleaning buckets and scrubby pads, were preparing for the annual November 15th…

  • Editorial: Charlie on the MBTA

    Remember the old folk song about Charlie on the MTA, the man who never returned? It’s now called the MBTA, and the modern-day Charlie may never return because T service can be so erratic and unpredictable. Charlie is likely to jump back into his car and further plug Boston’s hopelessly clogged arteries, which is exactly…

  • Poetry: Westwood Lodge, 1980–1990

    Westwood Lodge, 1980–1990 By Sarah Hanna And then again, you go west, to that perennial Resort at the end of the bending street, row of pines, Where Sexton strolled through noon, made mocassins, And danced in a circle: the Summer Hotel. Why every tumid season, cicadas burning blue, Beetles mounting one another, chewing all the…

  • As the Sun Sets Over Port-au-Prince

    Jacques Fleury Spare Change News In honor of my mother Marie-Evelyne, an iconoclast in her own right In Haiti I grew up taking blood baths, basking in the epoch of oppression. My nation was occupied by the French, and despite my French influence, I consider myself a Creole poet and not a French Creole poet.…

  • More Students, Less Money For Higher Education

    Adam Sennott Spare Change News Enrollment at publicly funded colleges is up, driven by a demand for an affordable college education and, for many students, a focus on workforce development with the real-life connec- tions to regional employers that are found at community colleges. At the same time, state support for those state and community…

  • Tales from the Wandering: Stories based on the lives of the homeless in Boston

    Tales from the Wandering Stories based on the lives of the homeless in Boston Spotting Your Own Skin For the better part of the next ten years, the Black Smoke stayed within orbit around a variety of couches and TV screens in the tristate area. In the beginning, he’d pour out of the room and…

  • Poetry At Occupy Boston

    Following this short piece is a poem I read at Occupy Boston Poetry. As I walked into the camping area I was impressed at the organization of the occupation. The people had a logistics tent, a media tent and a staging area where they would hold meetings and entertainment. It was truly an honor to…

  • Fight Addiction Your Own Way

    Aaron James Spare Change News Fourteen months since a lick of alcohol has touched my lips! There have been many close calls. I have actually opened a can, only to end up flushing it down a thirsty toilet. I have had many nights of hell, bringing myself to the breaking point, nights where I truly…

  • Candidates for Council-at-Large Speak at Rosie's Place Forum

    Beatrice Bell Spare Change News On October 6th, 2011 the ladies at Rosie’s Place met the candidates for city council. Will Dorcena is running to be a Council-at-Large member and he hopes to work at Boston City Hall to help people in the different Boston communities. He wants his daughter to have a better life…

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