It's Doppelganger Week on FB! (Alternate title: Famous Gingers throughout history)

Happy Doppelganger Week! Over the past couple of days, you may have noticed that some of your Facebook friends have changed their profile pic to reflect a celebrity that the resemble. Or, more likely, a celebrity that they think they resemble ("Yes, Grandma, you do look just like Angelina Jolie!").

This seems to be the latest in a string of FB profile-pic theme weeks (Baby pictures! Wedding pictures! Sonograms! Rorschach tests!). Thanks to co-worker Chandra for tipping me off, as I have missed the last couple of theme weeks. Or, more accurately, had been donating my profile pic to the Coakley for Senate effort (By the way -- did you see SNL last night? YIPES!).

Anyway, I am at a bit of a loss, as I don't have any celebrity doppelganger. The closest I ever came was in the form of a Staples ad a couple of years ago that featured an abundance of bobblehead dolls that all looked EXACTLY LIKE ME. Seriously, people would stop me in the street and ask me about the ad. Regrettably, said ad does not seem to exist on the internet, despite my frequent youtube searches.

[The other celebrity doppelganger moment occurred shortly after I lost the council election when a woman stopped me in Charlestown and said, "You look exactly like Matt O'Malley." "No, ma'am," I replied. "I'm much better looking." She agreed.]

While I would love to put up a David Caruso picture -- the unofficial King Ginger -- I don't think it's a representative facsimile of me. While I do appreciate a good pun, punctuated with YEEEEAAAH!, the similarities end there.
There are plenty of fictional character that could make my list. They include, but are not limited to: The Heat Miser (I'm too much), Howdy Doody (Who are you calling a dummy?), Archie (For the record, I would've picked Veronica) or Beeker (Mee mee mee).I guess when it comes down to it, the only celebrity that I've been told that I resemble is unknown outside of Boston (even here, he's only quasi-famous). Ladies and gentlemen, I present former WHDH meteorologist, Todd Gross:
Sigh. Maybe I'll just go with Angelina Jolie like Grandma.

Pags '12

Here's my senate candidate speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on MSNBC, and here he is on CNBC. I love the jacket.

This guy should be an elected official.

If you support

Healthcare for all/Equal rights and opportunities/tackling tough economic problems/energy efficiency and renewable sources/supporting seniors/protecting children and families/public education/honoring our veterans/peace in the Middle East/bringing our troops home/and keeping America Safe*, then please join me in casting your vote for Martha Coakley tomorrow.
Polls open at 7am and close at 8pm.

*This is Martha's platform.
This is Scott Brown's platform.
The choice could not be more clear.

Hypocrisy, thy name is Leno

Although it has a FunnyorDie watermark in the lower left-hand corner, this 2004 video is absolutely legit:



I hope Conan's people play this for the NBC pinheads during contract negotiations. It will be the biggest courtroom surprise since Mike Brady dropped his briefcase.

In conclusion, Jay Leno is an ass.

Un-PC

Sorry, Dude. It's been real.

Big News Ootw faithful readers (and by that I mean you, Ma!), I have made a significant change in my life.

In case you missed @KathrynRBurton's tweet, I have purchased a Mac (or, Apple, as I call it). After a lifetime of proudly carrying the PC banner, I have finally succumbed to the temptress of hipness and ease.

I purchased a MacBook Pro the other day and couldn't be happier. After years of scoffing at my pro-Mac friends, I now admit that they were right: Mac's are remarkably easier to use, fast, and efficient.

In fact, I decided to make this change when, after starting a new job, it took my old laptop approximately 45 minutes to "warm up." Plus the whirring sound was only slightly less embarrassing than the "You've Got Mail!" exclamation that greets my checking e-mail. Finally, I was unable to a.) connect to a printer (any printer), and b.) use our web-based shared file system.

Enough was enough.

I hot-footed it over to Best Buy (Motto: Our sales staff will actually go out of their way to be unhelpful!) and plunked down a few (okay, countless) simoleons to purchase this sleek machine.

After getting acquainted all weekend, I can only offer two pieces of criticism. 1.) Whither right click? and 2.) The control button serves no redeemable purpose. Kind of like the human appendix. Or the Kardashian sisters.

Everything else about the Apple is a home run!

In addition to the ease of use for a troglodyte like me, this computer has many wonderful programs, like Garage Band. At first I was assumed that Garage Band was the same thing as Guitar Hero, primarily because the icon is a guitar. [I played Guitar Hero once with my Godson, John Patrick. Naturally, he kicked my tuchus. The loss was tempered by the fact that the then-9 year old an I were rocking out to Ozzy's Crazy Train. Aye, aye, aye.]

Anyway, I am unsure as to what exactly Garage Band is, but it seems to be a program that one uses to create and edit music. There's even a voice record function, although I don't know where the microphone is (control button?). Needless to say, guess who spent part of Saturday night recording himself singing Brother Loves Traveling Salvation Show and Arthur's Theme? Why yes, ladies, I am single!

Anyway, I can't be certain, but I think my version of both songs may now be on iTunes. I'll wait for the royalty checks.

So that's my big news. While I am hopeful that this new machine will result in more blogging, I am certain that it will result in more singing.

Did Ben Linus convince the White House to move the SOTU?

Double Yipes!Obama won't speak night of Lost premier

January 8, 2010

WASHINGTON—Good news for fans of "Lost" -- the president doesn't plan to mess up the television show's season premiere.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says he doesn't foresee a scenario in which President Barack Obama's State of the Union address will fall on Feb. 2, the same night the show's final season debuts.

The State of the Union is traditionally held at the end of January, but there have been rumors that the White House could move the speech to early February in hopes of having a health care bill in hand.

Gibbs says a date for the address will be announced soon.

Coakley for Senate

Although I find this small boomlet of Brown-is-closing the gap polling stories to be highly dubious; I'll be phone-banking for the Attorney General this weekend. Join Team Pags in supporting Team Coakley.

The thought of a conservative Republican winning Ted Kennedy's seat is simply calamitous.

Dear MTV:

Under extreme duress, and despite putting up one helluva fight, I was forced to watch an episode of Jersey Shore the other day. Congratulations MTV, you have officially ruined television.

Snookums.

I'm not saying that JS is as torturous as the Ludovico technique from A Clockwork Orange.
I'm saying that it's worse.

Jersey Shore makes Keeping Up with the Kardashians seem as poignant and cinematically influential as Roots!

Remember, MTV, your apex? You showed videos? And had that Game Show about television shows? And a legit journalist giving news briefs at the top of the hour?

Somewhere, Adam Curry is crying.

Are we not drawn onward, we few, drawn onward to new era?

Ladies and gentlemen of the blogosphere-

I am back.

After a Camdenesque sabbatical, I am beginning 2010 right. And what better way to rekindle my blogging prowess than on 01/02/2010; a day which happens to be a palindrome? (Not for you, Europe!)

Had I been a faithful blogger over these past few months, today's entry would be entirely about palindromes. Instead, I am going to reflect on the past decade. (Fear not, there will be several palindromes sprinkled in throughout the text).

So many dynamos!

This was a fascinating and wonderful time-span for me, as it coincided with my third decade. Over the past ten years: I graduated college and moved back to Boston. I met some friends who are as dear to me as my own family; and lost some family members who were cherished friends. I fell in love easily, and fell out of love less so. I ran for office and ran marathons. I bought a condo and ate PB&J for dinner for months on end to make my mortgage payment. I worked a variety of tough (and incredibly different) jobs.

And I loved every minute of it.

The end of the decade gives way to ubiquitous top-ten lists that just about every news organization/news show/website breathlessly announces to anyone who will listen/watch/read. These ostensibly reflect the top news events/makers of the decade. It is tough to take them seriously, when the Susan Boyle phenomena outranks the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004.

The aughts or oh's or what have you, represented a crucial time in American History. We began by worrying about computer clocks recognizing the date and quickly had a reason for real fears. We made history and learned a lot about ourselves -- and each other.

In capping the most important moment of 2000 -- 2009, my initial instinct was to cite the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01. A day that left a horrible, yet indelible mark on this country's history. For me personally, it was heightened by the fact that I watched the billowing smoke from the Pentagon from my Washington DC apartment on that spectacular fall morning. Like countless Americans, that day will always haunt me.

Yet, I think a less profound/yet more important moment occurred approximately 10 months prior. The razor-thin election between then Governor George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore had as much of an effect on this decade as anything else. Although, we probably didn't know it at the time.


[I am not diminishing the massacre that happened on 9/11 nor am I using this as an excuse to Bush-bash. Indeed, I think President Bush's early response to 9/11 was admirable and counted myself among the 90% of Americans who supported our president at that time. Ultimately, it was his cowboy diplomacy and ill-fated invasion of Iraq which caused me to question his judgement.]

The election of 2000 was really a remarkable event that had deep ramifications that went well beyond our understanding. I would argue that this would have been a markedly different decade had Al Gore won the electoral college vote that year. The fact that he came so incredibly close to doing so -- Bush's Sunshine state margin of victory was 537 votes -- makes the magnitude of that close campaign all the more heightened. 537 votes is akin to turnout in one Boston precinct in an off-election year.

Had Gore won Florida (or even requested a full state recount in the immediate aftermath of the election), this decade would have been decidedly different.

The 9/11 terrorist attacks, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, climate change, the response to Hurricane Katrina, the financial market's meltdown all would have been dealt with differently. An incumbent President Al Gore would have presumably run for reelection in 2004 which would have prevented John Kerry from running. This is noteworthy, as it would have been therefore unlikely that a state senator from Chicago would have delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic convention. An Al Gore presidency probably would have prevented an Obama one (at least in 2008).

I am not partisan enough to suggest that a Gore presidency would have given way to a Utopian decade. However, I am sure that even my conservative friends would admit that these past ten years would have been incredibly different had several hundred Floridians cast different ballots (or cast them correctly in Palm Beach county). I believe that 537 votes represented the most significant change in a decade's progress in human history. For good or ill, the extraordinarily close election of 2000 would ultimately become the defining moment of the past ten years.

In conclusion: Yo, bottoms up! US motto, boy.

***

Now, it's your turn: what moment/event/occurrence do you consider the most noteworthy event of the past decade. Let us know in the comments section.

Stop the Earth, I want to get off.

From the unnecessary gift department:A Snuggie for dogs. Sigh.

Outrageous

Cops: 5 SoCal kids victims of 'ginger' attacks.

Dear Rochies:

You know you're still my number 1 girl, but I've got to be honest with you.

There's a new Whole Foods in Dedham that has a trail mix bar, milk in glass bottles, and homemade chocolate peanut butter.

I think it might be time for us to see other people.

Pags for Senate!

(Be sure to watch this all the way until the end -- I thought they were asking about ice cream, too!).

60th Vote

What a precocious toddler in the last shot (nephew #3).

Paging Mr. Blackwell

Working on a campaign in which election day is less than a month out, means that your day begins at 6am and lasts until 11pm.

Thus:

1.) You become Wurreyface-esque with your infrequent blogging.

2.) No time for laundry.

Thankfully, the good people at the 24-hour CVS on Centre Street in JP (across from Costello's, not the one across from the Alchemist) sell tee-shirts and socks. I have stopped there just about every three days for the last couple of weeks.

As such, my wardrobe is now furnished by: Hanes, "Dress Circle," and Botany 500.

There goes my shot at landing on Boston.com's Most Stylish Bostonians.

Speaking of the campaign, look who's in second place in this 7News/Suffolk Poll! (And, to the Field Director's delight, look who's crushing with the question: Which candidate has waged the best campaign?).

Also, check out our new ad with a special appearance by my Uncle Skip, cousin Jess and Harv, and a brief cameo by the nephews.

Happy 40th

Sesame Street!

Unlike Camden the Grouch, I, along with Google apparently, celebrate your milestone.

Here's Oscar singing the song that I hum every Tuesday morning as I'm pulling out the barrels. It's been stuck in my craw (on trash day) for the last couple of decades.



Slainte!

Boston Votes: 2009 Council At-Large

Overview

Tuesday's election gave the Boston City Council two fresh faces alongside two incumbents. With the departure of Councilors Flaherty & Yoon, who gave up their seats for unsuccessful runs for the mayoralty (and deputy mayoralty?), a talented and diverse field emerged after the September preliminary election. In that race, incumbent Councilor John Connolly topped the ticket, followed by his colleague Steve Murphy. First-time candidates Felix Arroyo and Ayanna Pressley would round out the September top four. These results would remain the same after Tuesday's balloting. The only difference would stem from those candidates who found themselves in positions four through eight.

Murph misses ticket-topping bragging rights by just over 300 votes.

All victorious candidates were able to grow their numbers in the final election dramatically. Freshman Connolly was able to defend his spot as the ticket-topper by receiving 51,308 votes. However, veteran Murphy, who came in second place (5,000 votes behind) in the preliminary election, narrowed the gap considerably. On Tuesday, Murph finished a solid second with 50,962 votes. Arroyo, who will become the second Latino on the council (the first being his namesake) again place third with 45,099 votes. Pressley, the first woman of color to serve on the council (and doubler of the council's overall female population), rounded out the victory circle with a fourth place win from 41,847 votes.

Finishing fifth with 30,173 votes was Tito Jackson (quick story: Tito, an old friend, asked me to record a robo-call on his behalf. I happily obliged and recorded it last week. The day before the election, my cell phone rang. "Hi, Matt O'Malley." I answered. The voice on the other end replied: "Hi, this is Matt O'Malley..." It was spooky).

Andy Kenneally fell from a fifth place preliminary to a sixth place finish in Tuesdays election with 24,215 votes. Tomas Gonzalez moved up a bit from an eighth place preliminary to a seventh place finish on Tuesday with 18,297 votes. And Doug Bennett rounded out the field in eighth place (after coming in a surprising seventh in the preliminary election) with 16,817 votes.

Best and Worst

John Connolly won five wards outright (1, 2, 3, 5 ,and 20). He placed second in eight wards (6, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 21, and 22) and showed third in two wards (4 & 18). He did not come in fourth in any ward, however he did place sixth (his worst showing) in Ward 12.

Steve Murphy won seven wards outright (6, 7, 13, 16, 18, 21, and 22). He placed in five wards (1, 2, 3, 5, and 20). He did not show in any ward and came in fourth in seven wards (4, 8, 9, 14, 15, 17, and 19). His worst showing was in Ward 11, where he placed 6th.

Felix Arroyo won five wards outright (8, 9, 10, 11, and 19). He placed in three wards (4, 15, and 18) and showed in seven wards (3, 12, 13, 14, 17, 21, and 22). He came in fourth place in four wards (1, 2, 5, and 20). His worst showing was his fifth place finishes in wards 6, 7, and 16.

Ayanna Pressley won two wards outright (4 and 17). She placed in three wards (11, 12, and 14) and showed in seven wards (5, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 19). She came in fourth place in five wards (3, 13, 18, 21, and 22). Her worst showing was her sixth place finishes in Wards 1, 2, 6, and 7.

Tito Jackson won three wards outright (12, 14, and 15). He placed in three wards (8, 9, and 17) and showed in one ward (11). He came in fourth place in one ward, as well (10). His worst showing was his eighth place finish in Ward 1.

Andy Kenneally did not come in first or second in any ward. His best showing was his third place finishes in five wards (1, 2, 6, 7, and 20). He came in fourth in one ward (16). His worst showing was his eighth place finishes in four wards (4, 9, 12, and 14).

Tomas Gonzalez did not come in first, second, or third in any ward. He came in fourth place in one ward (11). His worst showing was his eighth place finishes in nine wards (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 16, 20, 21, and 22).

Doug Bennett did not come in first, second, or third in any ward. He came in fourth place in two wards (6 and 7). His worst showing was his eighth place finishes in eight wards (8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, and 19).

Curiouser and Curiouser

Interestingly, no ward produced an order of finish that mirrored the citywide average.

A quick note from an also-ran

Great job to the bottom four finishers. You all added class and character to the race and we Bostonians are better off for your running. You all did yourselves, you families, and this city proud by standing for election. You should all do it again sometime! (Particularly you, Tito Jackson, whose strong numbers in communities of color show that you would absolutely be a powerful contender for the District 7 seat currently held by embattled Councilor Chuck Turner).

Ward-by Ward Analysis

Ward 1 (East Boston)
*Home ward of Andrew Kenneally
Connolly, 2290 votes
Murphy, 2249
Kenneally, 2117
Arroyo, 1427
Bennett, 918
Pressley, 729
Gonzalez, 697
Jackson, 519

Ward 2 (Charlestown)
Connolly, 2557 votes
Murphy, 2138
Kenneally, 1177
Arroyo, 1148
Bennett, 1080
Pressley, 951
Jackson, 503
Gonzalez, 348

Ward 3 (North End/Chinatown/Downtown)
*Home ward of Doug Bennett
Connolly, 2903 votes
Murphy, 2597
Arroyo, 2158
Pressley, 2008
Bennett, 1389
Kenneally, 1115
Jackson, 1069
Gonzalez, 829

Ward 4 (Fenway)
Pressley, 1767 votes
Arroyo, 1734
Connolly, 1609
Murphy, 1531
Jackson, 1126
Gonzalez, 515
Bennett, 503
Kenneally, 423

Ward 5 (Back Bay/Beacon Hill)
Connolly, 2808 votes
Murphy, 2590
Pressley, 2322
Arroyo, 2135
Jackson, 1190
Bennett, 1004
Kenneally, 717
Gonzalez, 615

Ward 6 (South Boston)
Murphy, 3134 votes
Connolly, 2972
Kenneally, 2157
Bennett, 1577
Arroyo, 1017
Pressley, 920
Jackson, 437
Gonzalez, 416

Ward 7 (South Boston)
Murphy, 2831 votes
Connolly 2443
Kenneally, 1722
Bennett, 1190
Arroyo, 1141
Pressley, 936
Jackson, 603
Gonzalez, 528

Ward 8 (Roxbury/South Bay)
Arroyo, 827 votes
Jackson, 730
Pressley, 671
Murphy, 556
Connolly, 522
Gonzalez, 326
Kenneally, 166
Bennett, 153

Ward 9 (Roxbury/South End)
Arroyo, 1297 votes
Jackson, 1136
Pressley, 1106
Murphy, 774
Connolly, 695
Gonzalez, 662
Bennett, 240
Kenneally, 178

Ward 10 (Mission Hill/Jamaica Plain)
Arroyo, 1838 votes
Connolly, 1244
Pressley, 1201
Jackson, 1113
Murphy, 1074
Gonzalez, 858
Kenneally, 381
Bennett, 256

Ward 11 (Jamaica Plain/Roxbury)
Arroyo, 2590 votes
Pressley, 1981
Jackson, 1866
Gonzalez, 1285
Connolly, 1266
Murphy, 1094
Kenneally, 327
Bennett, 210

Ward 12 (Roxbury)
*Home ward of Tito Jackson
Jackson, 2077 votes
Pressley, 1887
Arroyo, 1659
Murphy, 750
Gonzalez, 578
Connolly, 499
Bennett, 134
Kenneally, 115

Ward 13 (Dorchester: Savin Hill/Harbor Point/St. William’s)
Murphy, 1657 votes
Connolly, 1525
Arroyo, 1418
Pressley, 1410
Jackson, 1031
Kenneally, 608
Gonzalez, 592
Bennett, 528

Ward 14 (Dorchester: Blue Hill Ave/Columbia Road)
Jackson, 2364 votes
Pressley, 2223
Arroyo, 1971
Murphy, 1220
Connolly, 816
Gonzalez, 735
Bennett, 209
Kenneally, 181

Ward 15 (Dorchester: St. Peter’s/Ronan Park)
Jackson, 1073 votes
Arroyo, 946
Pressley, 918
Murphy, 808
Connolly, 610
Gonzalez, 390
Kenneally, 248
Bennett, 215

Ward 16 (Dorchester: St. Brendan’s/St. Ann’s/St. Mark’s)
*Home ward of Ayanna Pressley
Murphy, 3685 votes
Connolly, 3505
Pressley, 2364
Kenneally, 2019
Arroyo, 1769
Bennett, 1229
Jackson, 1079
Gonzalez, 722

Ward 17 (Dorchester: Codman Square/Lower Mills/St. Greg’s)
Pressley, 2674 votes
Jackson, 2236
Arroyo, 2201
Murphy, 1811
Connolly, 1638
Gonzalez, 887
Kenneally, 475
Bennett, 355

Ward 18 (Hyde Park/Mattapan/Readville)
*Home ward of Steve Murphy & Tomas Gonzalez
Murphy, 6319 votes
Arroyo, 5715
Connolly, 5415
Pressley, 5197
Jackson, 3948
Gonzalez, 3199
Kenneally, 2075
Bennett, 1334

Ward 19 (Jamaica Plain/Roslindale)
*Home ward of Felix Arroyo
Arroyo, 4183 votes
Connolly, 3251
Pressley, 3165
Murphy, 2449
Jackson, 1988
Gonzalez, 1633
Kenneally, 1032
Bennett, 599

Ward 20 (West Roxbury/Roslindale)
*Home ward of John Connolly
Connolly, 8076 votes
Murphy, 6870
Kenneally, 5234
Arroyo, 4108
Pressley, 3856
Jackson, 2599
Bennett, 2514
Gonzalez, 1538

Ward 21 (Allston)
Murphy, 2241 votes
Connolly, 2192
Arroyo, 2132
Pressley, 1997
Jackson, 708
Kenneally, 627
Bennett, 515
Gonzalez, 504

Ward 22 (Brighton)
Murphy, 2584 votes
Connolly, 2472
Arroyo, 1685
Pressley, 1544
Kenneally, 1121
Jackson, 778
Bennett, 665
Gonzalez, 440

Boston Votes: 2009 Municipal Election

As is quickly becoming tradition, below, please find my analysis and overview of yesterday's mayoral election. I was heartened by the number of people I saw at the polls yesterday who told me how much they enjoy my channeling my number-crunching inner-geek.

Overview
In a climate where incumbents were losing or facing much closer-than expected results, four-term incumbent Mayor Thomas M. Menino again proved that he is the exception to the rule. While Councilor-at-large Michael Flaherty put up a valiant fight, Menino again romped.

Winning 57% to Flaherty's 42%, Menino won a broad victory across the city. Communities of color in particular, provided Menino with a firewall of support that made his defeat impossible.

Floon Effect?

Flaherty and his troops should be commended for waging a serious campaign, and their inclusion of vanquished preliminary opponent Sam Yoon as a "running mate" was an inspired move. Indeed, Team Floon helped narrow the gap in many progressive wards where Flaherty barely registered in September. Some of this made up lost ground can be explained by the increase in voter turnout (which hit over 31% by day's end), but certainly the unorthodox pairing of these two colleagues gave Flaherty some extra-oomph leading into yesterday's vote.

It worked in some progressive wards (Flaherty narrowly won affluent Ward 5, after coming in 3rd in the prelim), but seemed to have a negligible effect in communities of color. In predominantly African-American wards 8, 9, and 14, Menino's numbers were solid -- and Flaherty didn't stand a chance.

Highlights (or lowlights, depending on your candidate preference)

After winning just 3 wards in the preliminary election (South Boston and Charlestown), Flaherty won 5 yesterday (Charlestown, Back Bay/Beacon Hill, his native South Boston, and part of Dorchester). Menino carried the remaining 17 wards. This is impressive for Flaherty, as Menino won all 22 wards in his 2001 and 2005 reelection fights.

More interestingly, Flaherty claimed a total of 72 precinct wins scattered across the city. He won 7 precincts in Ward 2 (Charlestown), 2 in Ward 3 (Downtown), 2 in Ward 4 (the Fenway), 9 in Ward 5 (Back Bay/Beacon Hill), sixteen in Wards 6 & 7 (South Boston), 2 in Ward 10 (Mission Hill), twelve in Wards 11 & 19 (Jamaica Plain), 7 in Wards 13 & 16 (parts of Dorchester), and fifteen in Wards 21 & 22 (Allston/Brighton).

Menino won 179 precincts across the city. He could claim shut-outs (winning every precinct) in Wards 1 (East Boston), 8 (Roxbury/South Bay), 9 (Roxbury/South End), 12 (Roxbury), 14, 15, 17 (various parts of Dorchester), 18 (Mattapan/Hyde Park), and 20 (Roslindale/West Roxbury). The only Ward where Menino lost every precinct was Ward 6 (South Boston).

Best and Worst (Redux)

Excluding the unnecessary polling location Ward 1, Precinct 15 (Harbor Islands), where one person cast one ballot for Menino (and thus gave him 100% of the vote), the Mayor's best showing percentage-wise was Ward 14, Precinct 9 (Dorchester), where he defeated Flaherty by a margin of 82.35% - 17.65% (196 - 42 votes). Flaherty's best showing percentage-wise was Ward 6, Precinct 8 (South Boston), where he defeated Menino by a margin of 75.78% - 23.76% (488 - 153 votes).

In terms of raw numbers, Menino earned the most votes in Ward 18, Precinct 20 (Readville), where he received a whopping 714 votes to Flaherty's 233. Flaherty captured the most raw votes in Ward 7, Precinct 3 (South Boston), where he out-polled the Mayor 597-273.
[The worst raw vote totals for both candidates (excluding the Harbor Islands) comes from Ward 21, Precinct 2 (BU) where Flaherty defeated Menino with a vote of 17 - 9.]

Boston Battlegrounds

Menino and Flaherty tied in three precincts in the city. In Ward 1, Precinct 7 (East Boston), both men received 129 votes; in Ward 16, Precinct 2 (Dorchester), they both received 141 votes; and in Ward 22, Precinct 1 (Brighton), they both received 222 votes.

There were three wards that were separated by less than 100 votes. The closest, Ward 16(Dorchester) saw Flaherty defeat Menino by 45 votes (3157-3112). Menino took Ward 22 (Brighton) by 58 votes (2306-2248). Flaherty won Ward 5 (Back Bay/Beacon Hill) by 72 votes.

Ward-by-ward breakdown (with preliminary results from 9/23/09)

Ward 1 (East Boston)
Menino 2984 votes (In the preliminary, Mayor Menino received: 2145 votes)
Flaherty 1927 (In the preliminary, Councilor Flaherty received: 924 votes)

Ward 2 (Charlestown)
Flaherty 2243 votes (preliminary: 1172 votes)
Menino 1800 (preliminary: 1088)

Ward 3 (North End/Chinatown/Downtown)
Menino 3195 votes (preliminary: 2006 votes)
Flaherty 2600 (preliminary: 868)

Ward 4 (Fenway)
Menino 1824 votes (preliminary: 1030 votes)
Flaherty 1554 (preliminary: 340)

Ward 5 (Back Bay/Beacon Hill)
Flaherty 2544 votes (preliminary: 613)
Menino 2472 (preliminary: 1215)

Ward 6 (South Boston)
*Home ward of Michael Flaherty
Flaherty 3663 votes (preliminary: 2495 votes)
Menino 1452 (preliminary: 888)

Ward 7 (South Boston)
Flaherty 2988 votes (preliminary: 2005 votes)
Menino 1796 (preliminary: 1203)

Ward 8 (Roxbury/South Bay)
Menino 1224 votes (preliminary: 740 votes)
Flaherty 580 (preliminary: 137)

Ward 9 (Roxbury/South End)
Menino 1637 votes (preliminary: 1049 votes)
Flaherty 905 (preliminary: 185)

Ward 10 (Mission Hill/Jamaica Plain)
Menino 1818 votes (preliminary: 1153 votes)
Flaherty 1212 (preliminary: 336)

Ward 11 (Jamaica Plain/Roxbury)
Menino 2198 votes (preliminary: 1367 votes)
Flaherty 1784 (preliminary: 332)

Ward 12 (Roxbury)
Menino 2278 votes (preliminary: 1633 votes)
Flaherty 953 (preliminary: 210)

Ward 13 (Dorchester: Savin Hill/Harbor Point/St. William’s)
Menino 2066 votes (preliminary: 1446 votes)
Flaherty 1508 (preliminary: 624)

Ward 14 (Dorchester: Blue Hill Ave/Columbia Road)
Menino 3342 votes (preliminary: 2369 votes)
Flaherty 736 (preliminary: 264)

Ward 15 (Dorchester: St. Peter’s/Ronan Park)
Menino 1659 votes (preliminary: 1160 votes)
Flaherty 736 (preliminary: 221)

Ward 16 (Dorchester: St. Brendan’s/St. Ann’s/St. Mark’s)
Flaherty 3157 votes (preliminary: 1858 votes)
Menino 3112 (preliminary: 2128)

Ward 17 (Dorchester: Codman Square/Lower Mills/St. Greg’s)
Menino 3333 votes (preliminary: 2251 votes)
Flaherty 1638 (preliminary: 542)

Ward 18 (Hyde Park/Mattapan/Readville)
*Home ward of Mayor Menino
Menino 9637 votes (preliminary: 6616 votes)
Flaherty 3558 (preliminary: 1492)

Ward 19 (Jamaica Plain/Roslindale)
Menino 3337 votes (preliminary: 1895 votes)
Flaherty 3125 (preliminary: 844)

Ward 20 (West Roxbury/Roslindale)
Menino 7418 votes (preliminary: 4578 votes)
Flaherty 5240 (preliminary: 2639)

Ward 21 (Allston)
Menino 2234 votes (preliminary: 1474 votes)
Flaherty 1614 (preliminary: 419)

Ward 22 (Brighton)
Menino 2306 votes (preliminary: 1557 votes)
Flaherty 2248 (preliminary: 939)

Attention all NKOTB Fans:

Donnie Wahlberg: Vote PAGS!

Boston Votes: 2009 City Council Election

On Wednesday night, I'll be moderating a city council forum at a Dorchester Fall Social & Candidate's Night.

Here's their press release:

The strongest neighborhoods consist of well-informed citizens who unite to know not only the issues, but their neighbors as well.

To that end, four of Greater Neponset's civic associations have joined forces to present a Candidates Night / Fall Social.

You are cordially invited to come listen to the At-Large candidates for the Boston City Council while renewing old acquaintances or making new ones. Politicking & Socializing….what a great way to spend an Autumn evening !!

This event will be a catered affair with food & drinks for all.

Jointly Sponsored by:
Pope’s Hill Neighborhood Association
Cedar Grove Civic Association
Clam Point Civic Association
St. Mark’s Area Civic Association

Date:	Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Time:	7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location:	Richard J. Murphy School
Street:	7 Worrell Street
City/Town:	Dorchester, MA

The organizers have provided me with a list of questions. They all deal with serious and important concerns facing Bostonians. These are the main queries -- all of which were written by the Dot consortium (and not me) -- that will make up the crux of the evening.

However, I'd also like to include a couple of entertaining questions throughout the course of the night. I want to give the candidates an opportunity to tackle the tough issues like: What is your favorite Boston sports moment? Or Where's the best pizza in the city?

I'm looking to you for some more suggestions. Please have at it in the comment section or e-mail me (heymattomalley@aol.com) if you'd prefer.