Good information is hard to find.  That is an obvious statement. However, it still surprises and frustrates me that as I get older, I become less trustworthy of media.

I used to blissfully read the Globe, Herald, and Lowell Sun.  That was when Newspapers were relevant.

I used to watch Channel 5 for weather, Channel 4 for sports and eventually Chanel 7 for sensationalism. I’d watch ABC news and CNN. Once the internet got going there were some good “home pages” with news.

After being “out in the world” and out of college, and being part of the work force, things just didn’t always add up.  I say “out in the world” even though I never lived a whole year in another country, but I think growing up around here still counts.

I think two things happened; the news got worse at reporting the news and I got more discerning as I gained more experience being, you know…around.

At some point, it was pointed out to me that the news isn’t there to inform you.  It’s there to sell ads. Then the internet really started getting cooking and it was really good at directing content to you and selling ads. But it created a massive echo chamber.

Luckily, I am cynical enough to be untrusting, but curious enough to read into things on both sides.

I talk to people on all sides and come up with my opinions. I’ll watch a good reel and listen to a good pod cast.  I love a good cheesy documentary or gossipy column.

But I’m fact checking that shit.  When it comes to looking into things that matter, I do my homework.

With that in mind, here are some quick observations:

Joe Biden is like a meat puppet.  He’s Weekend at Bernie’s/Walking Dead gone.  He shuffles along as if he has no idea where he is.

I like old people. I am pretty much one now.  But Joe is 30+ years older than me.

If he was sharp, his age wouldn’t matter, but the man is gone.

Run someone else.  Anyone else!

I would have jumped on RFK Jr. If he was too “truthy” for the Dems, they could have found someone else. Maybe Charlie Baker?

Hell, I would have run him from either party.   I’m still mad about his overreaches in Covid, but I’d vote for him and his goofy grin in a heartbeat.

There is no way Biden is making decisions.  Which brings up the question: Who is?

Who do we blame for all that is going on? Who do you credit if you think something is going right?

I won’t get into all the issues, but let’s just say my list of what sucks is longer than what’s great right now. And for every indicator cited to say things suck or they don’t, there’s another to refute it.  Data is very manipulative.

What I can trust is that most people don’t feel super awesome right now.

We hear “the economy is great” while we pay $100 for an onion and can of tuna. We hear “wages are up! Unemployment is down!”

But you need to sell a kidney and your favorite heavily subsidized child to afford a shitty new house made of paper that costs $500K.

What I do find irrefutable is that Sleepy Joe must go.

Ezra Klein has been doing PodCasts on what a convention looks like if Biden drops out.  Even the cheerleaders know they have a losing team.

At least Joe Biden has an excuse.  Can someone explain Horror Maura Healy to me?

The last straw was her pathetic crocodile tear filled interview with WCVB about taking the rec center in Roxbury and turning into a refugee shelter. During Black History Month, mind you.

Her handling of the wave of people shipped to us has been horrible.

Are they asylum seekers? Migrants? Refuges? Illegals?

My understanding is that they are here under a much-stretched usage of “Asylum Seekers” because their homeland is overrun with gangs.  If that’s the case, shouldn’t people from most major US cities be eligible for asylum?

Anyhoo…she’s handled this situation very poorly.

Not too long ago we were lamenting the plight of the multitudes of homeless families, veterans, and “I want to live on the streets so I can do my own thing (drugs)” folk. Now the floodgates are open.

Of course, the Newton’s and Hamilton’s haven’t seen much impact from this.

Locally, if you want to hold an event, you have to go to Dracut.  Middlesex Community College can’t be happy about their new neighbors.  They won’t be long for Lowell if this situation drags on like a two lane bridge rebuild over a narrow canal.

Healy’s response is to cry, cut programs in the state due to a lack of funds (state revenues are up from last year but they are behind projections) and shrug her shoulders.

Now, I will give her credit. She had enough time to find a job for her paramour.

What will she screw up next?

The state legislature is to blame, too.  But you know who the biggest suck bags are in this? The State Republican Party.

Instead of finding a Charlie Baker/Bill Weld centrist candidate, they run their nut bags in this wing nut state.

Locally, things have been ok.

The Council has been weird.  Kind of motionless lately.  Which is fine.

Things got ugly in 2023.  The unity and harmony that was first around after the first district elections has degraded into infighting and grand useless gestures.  I’m over it.

Luckily the city does seem to be progressing.  Winterfest seemed to be a success.  The city hasn’t gotten into any legal trouble lately.  The High School hasn’t flooded yet this year, and downtown seems pretty stable!

Finally, with the high holiday approaching (March 17th) I’ve researched the tasty beer around and found that Guinness has less carbs than you might think.  It has the fewest of the real beers, and not that many more than shitty beers.

And with St. Patrick’s Day coming up, here is where you can get this tasty, low ABV beverage:

In the Can
Fuse Bistro

In a 16oz Glass from a Keg
Cobblestones
Warp and Weft
Worthen
Tremonte

On Draught and Poured Perfectly and Properly into a 20oz Glass
The Old Court

Bonus
Mandarin has Murphy’s in the Can.  That’s right. You can get steamed dumplings with a Murphy’s.  This is a great town!

And so those are my observations for the day. Don’t just read stuff and take it as truth.  Look up the authors.  Look up the web site. Fact check.  And drink locally.