VOTE TODAY - 7 am to 8 pm

[ron_newman]

Today is the special election for U.S. Senate. Please vote. Polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm.

If you don't know where your polling place is, look it up at http://WhereDoIVoteMA.com . Somerville residents can also find their polling places by using this form.

DSLJ moderator surrealestate will be working the polls at Ciampa Manor today. Stop in and say hi to her.

DARBI Lunch Weds at JohnnyDs

[candyleonard.livejournal.com]

The DARBI monthly networking lunch takes place Wed., Jan. 20, from noon to 1:30 at Johnny D's. Please RSVP at DARBIlunch@gmail.com.

This is a great opportunity for work-at-homers with cabin fever (and anyone else who is interested) to meet other people who live and/or work in the neighborhood. Our first two lunches each have drawn a good crowd -- please join us this time around.

Cost: $10 for DARBI members and $12 for non-members. The fee includes a salad, sandwich and non-alcoholic drink.

Latest on Senate Race

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Links, Anything you hear/read that may be of interest. I think THIS, if proven, would get interesting. Could they be so stupid?

"The Senate campaign of Democrat Martha Coakley said this evening that ballots pre-marked for Republican rival Scott Brown have been given out at several polling places across the state."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/01/coakley_campaig_3.html

Edit: It turns out, this is probably nothing of importance (though there may be other cases we don't know about).

Purchasing health insurance

[pjmorgan.livejournal.com]

Are there any local groups such as small business associations, etc, that pool together to purchase health insurance? mahealthconnector.org quoted me in the high 200s for a high deductible policy. That's acceptable to me (and doesn't seem as inordinately high as people talk about), especially since I never get sick and rarely go to the doctor, but I'd like to see if I can get either a smaller deductible or a lower premium or both. My alumni association doesn't do group health insurance in Mass.

What do people who run small businesses in Somerville do? (I'm not going to get married to save $100 :-) )

Capsule Summary: We Didn't Win

[docorion.livejournal.com]

As many of you know, I worked for the Martha Coakley campaign for Senate. It's clear at this point that Scott Brown is the Senator-elect. I wish him luck, for I suspect he will need it.

Having said that, I want to thank all the residents of the Davis Square community who came out to vote. In Somerville overall, Coakley beat Brown 3:1. I credit that at least in part to the efforts of the crack GOTV team we had here, which *beat the streets* over and over again in the past 4 days. Also the hot phone team. I know a lot of you really wished we'd stop calling - and I can now promise you we will no longer call - but we made a ton of calls from Somerville, and I thank everyone who worked the phones with me. Especially the three kids from the Winter Hill School (with their teacher) who came out to Somerville HQ to hit the phones with us. They were phone call *machines*, and worked about three hours solid. They were an example to the adults in the room. I also want to call out Jack Connolly, who helped us out immensely with the use of his Davis Square office nights, weekends and holidays as well as election day, and his staff, who were unfailingly hospitable and helpful. Bob Trane brought pizza and drove people around Ward 7 on election day to help get out the vote. Michael Albano let us use his office on Broadway (not in Davis, but I feel he deserves his credit, too). There are doubtless other folks I am forgetting-feel free to remind me.

This was my first serious campaign-meaning the first one in which I had a role throughout the process, from declaration of candidacy to election day. I learned a ton, met some excellent folks, and had a good time, despite the outcome. I encourage everyone to get more involved in the political process-there are always things which need doing, and you meet the most interesting people. It was a good campaign, and now it's time for the next challenge.

3 CRT TVs on the curb

[misterthorn.livejournal.com]

I just put out two 17" TVs and one 13" with a built-in VHS player at the curb of 208 Cedar St, if anyone wants 'em. There's even a >80% chance that they work! :)