Massachusetts

Jason Collins becomes first openly gay active athlete

At 34 years of age, Jason Collins finds himself in an interesting spot. After finishing last season with the Washington Wizards via a trade from the Boston Celtics, Collins is now a free agent. Standing at 7 feet tall, Collins has been in the league since 2001. He was drafted 18^th overall in the 2001, after being named an All-American at Stanford University. He was part of the New Jersey Nets first ever NBA Finals berth in 2002, and after 2008 season became somewhat of a journeyman.

Image:

Seven amazing luxury spas

Vacations take many forms, from going on an epic adventure to just laying around the house and enjoying some time off. Sometimes, however, one wants to get pampered and enjoy living like a king for a while. For these purpose, there are spa resorts. Naturally, the quality of spa resorts varies greatly. Most cities have local spas where one can go and get a massage or some other relaxing treatments for a reasonable price.

Image:

Weathering the arts in Rocky Neck

One of the most charming fishing and arts communities on the East Coast can be found in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The first time I visited Rocky Neck, it was early summer and friends had a place out on the little peninsula. Most mornings we could watch two locals in the shallows – a pair of geese. Their long white necks floated imperiously above startling bright feathers as they moved between pilings and anchored skiffs.

Image:

When are you coming back, Nathaniel Starbuck?

For those who love Bernard Cornwell’s Richard Sharpe series and hanker for another character of the same vein (swashbuckling hero) in the same era (19^th century), he has another series of novels that is just the ticket.

Image:

Links for February 8, 2013

A massive snowstorm packing hurricane-force winds has knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of customers in Massachusetts and has shuttered a nuclear power plant. boston.cbslocal.com

Climate change in daily life?

One of my favorite debates when it comes to talking about the environment at the bar is the difference between weather and climate. A hot 100 degree day in San Francisco would be erratic weather, not necessarily indicative of a larger, deeper change in the climate of the city. Climate is a description of the prevailing weather conditions over a long period of time. Weather is whatever is happening at a given moment.

Image:

Your water bottle is illegal

Let's say you head out from your apartment or house to go downtown and run some errands. When you leave, it's cloudy, so you're wearing a sweatshirt, and you figure you won't be out that long anyway. Two hours later, the sun is out in full force and you're sweating, having trekked all over the downtown to get everything done.

Image:

Pages