Democratic Candidate "Comes Out" to his Dad....

By Stephanie Burke

Carl Sciortino Jr. is a Massachusetts state representative who is running in the Democratic primary for the Congressional seat vacated by Edward J. Markey, who was elected to the Senate. The special election in the heavily Democratic district is set for Dec. 10, with the primary on Oct. 15. Sciortino is facing seven other Democratic candidates.

Sciortino is openly gay and “pokes fun” at that status in his new tongue -in -cheek ad campaign.  Personally I think the ad is adorable.  The ad includes his father, Carl Sciortino Sr., who his baffled at the fact his son is….a “Massachusetts Liberal!”

The ad has father and son going back and forth on views such as assault weapons and buffer zone laws.  However, the ad does show that even though they may not see eye to eye the love is still there! I think there is an amazing underlying message that families disagree but in the end, no matter what, there is love!

Take a look at the ad below and feel free to share your thoughts.

Kevin Garnett's Concord Mansion hits the market

By Stephanie Burke

 In June we learned that Kevin Garnett would not be returning to the Celtics.  Instead he was part of a trade that sent Garnett and Paul Pierce to Brooklyn.  The players who once bled green would now be Nets.  So it was inevitable that they would soon sell their homes in the Boston area.  Well Kevin Garnett has put his 11,000 square foot mansion on the market.  This home located in Concord, MA and is listed for $4.8Million. The Garnett's called this home for the past six years. The property sits on 13 acres and has five bedrooms, 5 full bathrooms, two half bathrooms, and a four-car garage. Check out the photo galary below!

Kris & Bruce Jenner Confirm Split!

By Stephanie Burke

After 22 years marriage Olympic great Bruce Jenner and Kardashian matriarch, Kris Jenner, have called it quits.  In a joint statement released via E! News they said, ""We are living separately and we are much happier this way. But we will always have much love and respect for each other. Even though we are separated, we will always remain best friends and, as always, our family will remain our number one priority."

Rumors of a split have been swirling for months.  I have to say that anyone who watched their reality show, Keeping up with the Kardashians, probably isn't that surprised! I mean I've only watched a handful of episodes and I saw that coming a mile away! 

According to TMZ Bruce is living in Malibu while Kris is in the family home in Calabasas with the couple's two daughters Kendall and Kylie.

Red Sox beat Rays...headed home for ALCS

 By Stephanie Burke

Last night the Boston Red Sox took on the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in game four of the ALDS.  After winning the first two games in the series the Red Sox seemed unstoppable.  Then Monday night the Rays came alive grabbing a win and forcing a game 4.

I don't know about you but this game last night had nervous! I have faith in the Sox but I couldn't help but wonder if the win on Monday gave the Rays the fire they needed to come back and win! Luckily that was not the case and the Sox took the win.

Now the Sox will head home to Fenway to face either the Oakland Athletics or Detroit Tigers in the ALCS. Game 1 is Saturday night....GO SOX

Trying to make sense of the Government Shutdown? Me too!

By Stephanie Burke

I am by no means a “political person”.  I don’t pretend to know everything about anything but I do try to stay “informed”, as best I can about what is going on in the world.  I do vote because, as a woman, I think it would be a travesty not to. I mean everyone should vote but especially woman who had people fight for them to have the right to vote! But anyway I digress, and that is another blog for another time. 

As of yesterday our government is “shutdown” and many federally funded parks and landmarks are closed.  In addition to that thousands of government employees have been furloughed and are not getting paid while the Republicans and Democrats fight this out.  I should mention however that those who came up with this genius idea of a shut down are still getting paid.  The higher ups that make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year are still pulling in the money but the average person who lives pay check to pay check will not be paid.  OK so it doesn’t take a genius to see that this is wrong on so many levels. 

Apparently this all started with “Obamacare”.  As of Oct. 1 “Obamacare” went into effect and people are now required to have health insurance.  However, “Obamacare” is hated by Republicans and they took the “We are taking our ball and going home” approach to dealing with it.  Yes ladies and gentlemen our elected leaders decided that they would get into a staring contest and hold thousand of American workers pay checks hostage while it played out. 

Again, I am not saying I’m an expert on politics by any means but this is how I see what is going on in the government right now:

1. The government shut down because the Republicans and Democrats couldn’t agree on how to fund “Obamacare”.
2. The Republicans are basically holding their breath like a child until they get what they want.
3. While they fight it out hundreds of thousands of people aren’t getting paid.
4. The people who called for the shutdown are still getting paid!
5. Most people don’t even realize that “Obamacare” and the “Affordable Care Act” are the same thing.

Horrible Movie Alert: Don Jon

By Stephanie Burke

Joseph Gordon-Levitt recently made his directorial debut with his new movie Don Jon.  The movie opened 09/27 and JGL not only directed but he also wrote and starred in the movie. In addition to JGL the movie had a great cast including Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, and Tony Danza...I mean come on Tony Danza! Who's the Boss himself...I had to see it.

I was a bit surprised when we got the the theater and this particular movie was empty.  It was pushing show time and there was only maybe six people (including us) in the theater. But then I thought to myself it is opening day so maybe it's a movie that needs to get a buzz before it pulls in the crowds.  Up to this point I had seen Don Jon a half dozen times a trailer to other movies. Also, it got great responses when it debuted at Sundance so I was expecting more of a crowd.  Anyway I did not let the lack of crowd sway me as some of the best movies had abysmal opening box office weekends.

The lights went down and after about 30 minutes of previews the movie finally started.  I found myself sitting there waiting for the funny...which is never a good sign. I've seen a lot of movies. I go as often as I can and I see all different kinds! There is no "type" or "genre" that is better than the other.  A good movie is a good movie and a bad movie...well you get the point.  Don Jon was not just bad it was terrible.  It was boring, predictable and left me wondering if I could get a refund! It was suppose to be about a guy who develops a skewed view on relationships from watching adult movies until he meets an older woman who helps him to find happiness and intimacy that could lead to true love. I suppose it was "about" that but the way this story was told in this movie could not have been less interesting. Not even Tony Danza could save this movie for me. It was only 90 minutes but it felt like eternity! Don't waste your time or money like I did! Thumbs down and a yuck for Don Jon!

Unlicensed Driver Stopped and Let Go. Involved in Fatal Crash Later that Day

  By Stephanie Burke

I was recently watching the news and a story came on about a horrific car crash in which two bicyclists were struck and killed.  On Saturday September 21, 60-year-old Pamela Wells of South Hamilton, and 42-year-old Elise Bouchard of Danvers were struck and killed while they participated in a 100 mile bike ride.  Two others were also injured. 

The person that hit them was identified as Darriean Hess, 20, of Seabrook, NH.  This same person was stopped at 12:46 a.m. Saturday for speeding in the same area where the fatal crash happened just eight hours later. Hess was originally stopped for going 59 mph in a 30 mph zone. It was also found that Hess had no license so a ticket was issued and Hess was ordered to wait for a friend to drive her car away, police said. 

At 8:30am Hess was driving again when her vehicle crossed the center line and struck and killed Pamela Wells and Elise Bouchard. 

I have to say I am a bit outraged by this.  I mean does it seem right to anyone else that an UNLICENSED DRIVER would be let go, and only issued a ticket, while someone who has had a license (although it may be suspended) would be arrested! I mean don’t get me wrong I don’t condone either action, if you have no license, suspended or otherwise, you should not be driving period.  It seems to me that both offenses should be punishable by arrest! It is unfortunate that in this case two persons were killed because of such an idiotic law. 

There are many reasons that a license can be suspended, but at least a suspended driver has had to pass a driving test! An unlicensed driver says to me that no one has ever tested the ability of this driver so wouldn’t it stand to reason that an unlicensed driver would and should be arrested! I hope that this tragic accident helps to open the eyes of the law makers and wheels start turning to change that law. 

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.