At work recently I’ve been involved in some conversations about what distinguishes Amherst (especially downtown) from other places. Here’s my answer: we are a mix of urban & rural and of young/modern and old/historical. I jotted down this diagram on some scrap paper, and here cleaned it up to show to you. The way these ...

I’ve been setting up my new phone, a Samsung Galaxy S III on Straight Talk. I switched to it from my Samsung Nexus S 4G on Credo Mobile for several reasons: Credo is on the Sprint network, which is not as robust as I would like in Western Mass. My Credo plan was getting expensive, ...

Since I’m leaving my job soon, I’m in the midst of evaluating what I want to do next. That means thinking about what Jobs I would like, but even more fun, it involves thinking about what I want to do with the free time that I will have when not spending 16 hours a day in ...

I just submitted a letter to the Editor to Pioneer Magazine. There was an article in the May edition decrying the focus on arts & culture in economic development, and below is my response. I’d link to the piece, but it’s not online. More Art = More $? Here’s the Problem by Brian Snell A spectre is ...

This weekend, I will be spending a lot of time at the Taste of Amherst, staffing the BID’s tent. We’re giving away a bike from Laughing Dog Bicycles to someone drawn from those who Like our Facebook page or sign up for our email list. It could be you. Also, this is a perfect opportunity ...

At the end of this month, I will be leaving my job at the Amherst Business Improvement District, where I have worked for the past year. Even though it has been demanding and stressful, I have greatly enjoyed this work, and leave on good terms. In the broad sense, I intend to continue doing “this ...

I write this from an Amtrak train, on my smartphone. I haven’t been on Amtrak since my cross-country train adventure almost two years ago. When I walked into the train a few moments ago, it evoked memories of all the amazing experiences I had then. But this time, I’m not getting off in Sandpoint, ID ...

I’m running for Town Meeting in Amherst this year, and I’m pumped about it. Once every ten years, after redistricting, all 240 seats in Town Meeting are up for reelection, and 2012 is that year. There are 24 seats in each of the ten precincts. The candidates receiving the eight highest vote totals get 3-year ...

As the second snowfall of the winter melts to slush here in Somerville, my final semester of graduate school is barreling toward its finish. In the final semester of UEP, it is normal for students to take only one or two courses, and to spend the rest of their time working on their thesis. My ...

I just read this article detailing the advise given to the Republican Governors Association by GOP strategist Frank Luntz. See the article for his full advise, but here are his basic points: Don’t say ‘capitalism.’ Don’t say that the government ‘taxes the rich.’ Instead, tell them that the government ‘takes from the rich.’ Republicans should ...