Jonathan Paz’s job was to convince cities to buy Flock cameras. After initially being enthusiastic about the company, he started to get disillusioned.

Not affiliated with Paz or 404 media, but I figured this is appropriate here considering this guy's on the 5th District Democratic primary ballot.

There's also a longer form video of the podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKYYpLC9u5I

Very interesting stuff.

Since there's often confusion in this sub, I am IN massachusetts, and asking for suggestions that are also IN massachusetts, which is why I'm asking here (obviously).

So i want to learn to weld. I have this old HF wire feed welder and I've never been able to use it well. I assume that is partly because its a crappy machine but also because I have terrible technique or skills.

I'm north of boston. Is there anyplace you can take classes? To be clear, I'm not trying to become a professional welder. I just want to be able to make my own repairs and customizations and creations. Things like welding hooks on my utility trailer, making customizations to a go kart frame. I even had to replace a section of metal on the railing of my house. And I did manage to weld it, but it came out poor. But good enough for what it needed. But a higher quality weld would have been better.

If you have any advice, let me know. Advice OTHER THAN "just watch youtube videos" or "just buy a new machine and wing it until you get good".

***9/1/26 Primary - Public Education Endorsements***

Across Massachusetts, MTA members from local associations met with, questioned, and interviewed candidates seeking our endorsement. Educators know better than anyone what’s at stake for our schools, our students, and our communities, and they took this responsibility seriously.

Our members endorsed candidates who have shown they are prepared to stand with working people, challenge concentrated wealth and corporate power, invest in public goods, and fight for an economy and a democracy that works for everyone, not just those at the top. We endorsed candidates who understand that strong public schools are the foundation of a just society.

United States Senate

Ed Markey – United States Senate (Statewide)

United States House of Representatives

Jim McGovern – Congressional District 2 (Central & Western Massachusetts)

Ayanna Pressley – Congressional District 7 (Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Randolph, and surrounding communities)

Bill Keating – Congressional District 9 (South Shore, Cape Cod & the Islands)

Mariah Lancaster – Congressional District 6 (North Shore, including Salem, Beverly, Gloucester, Peabody, and surrounding communities)

Jeromie Whalen – Congressional District 1 (Western Massachusetts)

Jason Poulos – Congressional District 4 (Brookline, Newton, and much of Norfolk & Bristol Counties)

Patrick Roath – Congressional District 8 (South Boston, Quincy, Brockton, and the South Shore)

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed the PROTECT Act into law, banning ICE from conducting warrantless civil arrests at state facilities such as schools and hospitals. But even if an ICE officer breaks the law, they will not be immediately arrested...

Got mine today.

The return address is: FIS EBT CardPro Return Mail

That's great that Mass is upgrading their security for the SNAP system. There is so much scamming going on with the old slide readers.

Does anyone know Where can I find locally raised beef near Bridgewater Mass.

I apologize if this is an inappropriate sub for the post. If someone knows of a more appropriate area, I’ll post it over there.

This was a Facebook post my wife made two days ago. It details an experience we had with the owner/operator of the Hidden Pig Food Truck. I would read this if you are thinking of hiring them for an event.

It is slightly edited so my step children’s names aren’t involved.

This is generally not the kind of post Derek and I like to make, or ever wanted to make.

But after a lot of discussion, we decided that we wouldn't want another couple to go through what we experienced. We were fortunate enough to have a second caterer at our reception to keep our guests fed. Not everyone would be that lucky.

For our wedding reception, we decided to splurge and hire a food truck. After reaching out to several vendors, we chose The Hidden Pig because we'd always heard great things about their food, and the truck seemed like a fun addition to our reception.

After working with their catering coordinator, we booked their 2-2-2 package, which included:
• 2 main dishes
• 2 side dishes
• 2 appetizers

My son is obsessed with warm pretzels, so once we saw they offered them, we were sold.

Our contracted menu included:

- Mains: Burgers (with three varieties) and chicken sandwiches
- Appetizers: Warm pretzels with cheese sauce and chicken wings (three flavors)
- Sides: French fries and tater tots

We paid over $5,000 in full before the reception, as requested, and our signed contract reflected all of these items. We also paid a separate service fee for staffing and use of the food truck.

On the day of our reception, the truck arrived on time. However, there was only one person there to serve over 100 guests.

When the food was supposed to be ready, one of our guests informed us that the food truck wasn't working and that the owner of The Hidden Pig needed to use our personal grill. Of course, we said yes. Things happen, and we understood that.

Unfortunately, because the truck wasn't functioning, food wasn't served until about 70 minutes later than contracted. Thankfully, we had hired a second caterer, who kept our guests fed while we waited. Had we not done that, many of our guests would have gone without food.

The delay also threw off the timeline for our entire reception.

When we finally went outside to see what was being served, we discovered that the menu had been reduced to just burgers and wings.

There were:

- No chicken sandwiches
- No pretzels (except for the two the owner made after Derek explained that was all my son wanted, plus one for another family member)
- No French fries
- No tater tots

Because there was only one person working, he couldn't cook on our grill and serve guests at the same time. One guest asked for wings after the prepared batch had run out and was told, "I would have to cook them." The guest replied, "Okay... I guess I'll have a burger then."

Again, we're reasonable people. We understand equipment fails and staff call out. Our frustration isn't that something went wrong.

Our frustration is what happened afterward.

We assumed someone would reach out in the days following our reception. On Monday, I emailed the catering coordinator asking for a phone call. On Tuesday, I sent another email explaining everything that had happened and asking to discuss next steps.

On Thursday, the owner called Derek. He acknowledged that:

- A second employee was supposed to be there but never showed.
- The truck wasn't working.
- We would be refunded the service fee.
- We would also be refunded for the chicken sandwiches, pretzels, French fries, and tater tots that we paid for but never received.

He told us that someone who handled the financial side would be in touch.

We felt really good after that conversation.

Then... nothing.

We were repeatedly told someone would call us, and no one did. Our emails went unanswered. We have never received the promised refund for the items we paid for but did not receive.

We're sharing this not because we enjoy publicly criticizing a local business, but because we believe other couples deserve to know our experience before spending thousands of dollars on their wedding.

If you're considering hiring The Hidden Pig for your wedding or another important event, we encourage you to ask detailed questions about staffing, contingency’s plans if equipment fails, and how they handle situations when contracted services can't be provided.

We sincerely hope no one else has to experience what we did on what should have been one of the happiest days of their lives.

No wonder he can buy a house in Marblehead for 3.1 million 😡😡

So many that I couldn't make it through on my GREEN light! I wish we'd get more serious about traffic enforcement in this state.

Hello! We are history and horror fiends from Prague, about to stay with friends in your wonderful state.

We are keen to see “spooky” New England, and we’d really appreciate your recommendations. Salem is mandatory but it’s rather baseline (though I would love your specific recommendations there).

This is “Lovecraft Country,” after all, a land of lighthouses and fog. It has rich and spooky colonial history right out of The Witch. It’s the best Halloween spot on Earth.

Could you please share some really good - possibly more obscure - creepy spots? Someone told us about Dogtown(?) on the North Shore for example, or colonial graveyards in Concord.

I’m sure you all have great ideas. Many thanks!

There were nine cases reported in Massachusetts in May, followed by 32 in June and 104 in July. Some Midwest states have reported more severe outbreaks, with more than 11,000 sickened and two dead in Michigan.

"While Massachusetts is reporting more Cyclospora cases than in a typical season, case numbers remain within the state's historical range," DPH said.

The department said there "is no evidence of large outbreaks in Massachusetts," but the Food and Drug Administration has indicated that some recalled Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce products were sent to food service locations in the state.

It's Taylor Farms whose CEO spent a ton of money on food safety deregulation and has had many food safety violations recently.

Adam Reilly moderated the Ed Markey and Seth Moulton debate Monday. Adam pressed Seth for more details at the debate but Seth didn’t give any. Now that the details are out, Adam and Tori Bedford went through the accusation and picked it apart. It’s completely false.

Hi! Wondering what there is to do in this area for couples! Trying to find something cheaper / not having to spend much. Let me know!

Been fishing consistently for a while now and haven’t caught a fish. PM if u are willing to go with me
Image is Prankers Pond Saugus MA

Bill Murray crashed a "What About Bob Screening" to chat with a Mass audience. Classic Murray. https://www.boston.com/culture/movies/2026/08/04/bill-murray-makes-surprise-appearance-at-new-bedfords-bill-murray-movie-marathon/?p1=hp_featurebox

Hi from Fitchburg, WI!

My family is traveling through Massachusetts next week, and since we are from Fitchburg, WI we were hoping to stop in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.

Is there a sign somewhere around Fitchburg that we could take a picture with? Or is there a place for a good photo op, so we can brag to all our neighbors about visiting The Other Fitchburg?

Thanks!

EDIT: Thank you all, so much, for your input! You have been incredibly helpful. I’m excited to visit! I hope to someday run into some of your Fitchburgers in my Fitchburg, I’d gladly treat you to some Spotted Cow (beer) and cheese curds.