I'm on the other side of the casino issue from Sal DiMasi but this Globe story on the speaker and the gambling moguls is a little thin if you ask me. He played golf with an old friend with an interest in a casino and discussed the issue. In fact he often plays golf with friends with an interest in legalizing gambling and still over the years has persisted in his opposition. As far as it goes, that's the story.

Then we learn that he was invited to play golf with Donald Trump. Hmmm. And, the implication is, everyone is lying about the Trump connection. Evidence of a cover up? Essentially, here are the facts - stripped of references to "lily white suits" and "royal palm trees" - as reported or reasonably assumed:

Part 1

• Donald Trump tells his staff that he wants to play golf with DiMasi.
• An invitation is extended and someone reserves time at a golf club.
• The invitation is declined.

Part 2

• DiMasi's people state that he was invited to play with Trump but declined.
• A golf club scheduler says time was reserved.
• Trump says he invited DiMasi but it never ended up on his schedule or as he put it, "we were never scheduled".

None of that jumps out as being inconsistiant. From the time Trump extended the invitation until the time DiMasi declined, don't you think a wise assistant would have covered his bases by reserving time on a course, even if it wouldn't go on Trump's schedule until it was finalized?

Despite the effort expended by the writers, I'm underwhelmed by the evidence.

Posted by jjdaley at 6:39 AM | Permalink

First woodpeckers, now ice fishing. If the Globe keeps it up you'll be able to cancel your subscription to Field and Stream.

Was that a duck blind I saw in the marsh on Morrissey Boulevard?

Posted by jjdaley at 6:22 AM | Permalink

Did you know that nearly all McDonalds restaurants have wi-fi? AT&T has set up pay hotspots in most of the Golden Arches. But when is the last time you saw anyone surfing the web while wolfing a burger? You'll tend to see more laptops in Starbucks (which is switching to AT&T hot-spots from T-Mobile) but I doubt that many are surfing the web, especially on a casual, pay as you go basis.

Pay wi-fi doesn't get used as much as it should. It costs too much and it's hard to set up. I've tried in Starbucks and it's not easy. It takes ten minutes, a dozen page loads and scores of clicks just to set up a $10 day-pass on the T-Mobile site. It's not worth the effort for casual use.

Unless, of course, you already have an account. Then it's easy and free. So will AT&T change the Starbucks internet experience? I think so. And I think they'll extend the use of the service to existing AT&T / Cingular wireless customers (of which I am one.)

There seems to be a convergence of interests. First, there was the Apple / Starbucks partnership. Then, AT&T and Apple partnered and now Starbucks and AT&T have partnered.

With all these overlapping partnerships Starbucks could be the place where a new and viable wi-fi business model emerges. It could be win/win for customers and providers.

UPDATE: Here's more on this from Glenn Fleishman.

Posted by jjdaley at 6:19 AM | Permalink

I've gotten into the habit of reading Robert Cringely's weekly column when it's posted each Friday. It is, in my opinion, just about the best and most informed technology writing out there. Here's his take on the Microsoft / Yahoo! deal, which, by the way, appears to be falling apart.

Posted by jjdaley at 7:02 AM | Permalink

As Clinton re-calibrates her campaign, I will, for obvious reasons, have to re-calibrate my prediction of a Romney vs Clinton general election. Mitt's out, that part is easy, but that's not the only upset in sight.

The Democratic race seems to be playing out like the Superbowl: slim margin throughout with a late heroic surge by the underdog. Obama / Manning. Now there's a ticket.

(Speaking of football, Andy Rooney suggests we change, or rather, return the name of the New England Patriots to the Boston Patriots. You know, there's an argument to be made there.)

Posted by jjdaley at 6:53 AM | Permalink

Hold that Diet Coke. Studies suggests that artificial sweeteners will cause you to put on more pounds than sugar will.

Posted by jjdaley at 6:46 AM | Permalink

The Webkit engine could be the fastest web browser ever. Give it a shot.

Posted by jjdaley at 6:27 AM | Permalink

In yesterday's column, Joan Vennochi called out journalists for unbalanced levels of scrutiny in covering the Clinton / Obama contest. She makes a point.

Posted by jjdaley at 6:16 AM | Permalink

I'm happy to see that, with the national spotlight having moved on, things have gone back to normal in New Hampshire.

Posted by jjdaley at 7:07 AM | Permalink

Most police departments only have to worry about crime. In LA, the scope of police work is a little more broadly defined.

Early Thursday morning, the plan was executed with about two dozen police officers, a helicopter and a special team that took [Britney] Spears out through a gate in an ambulance with covered windows to prevent photographers from looking inside. Police blocked roads so she couldn't be followed.

The effort, which the LAPD estimates cost $25,000, was carried out with the help of the department's Crisis Response Support Section, a unit that deals specifically with the mentally ill. ...

Someday they'll make a movie about it all.

Posted by jjdaley at 7:05 AM | Permalink

I'm not sure why anyone would go to church to watch a football game but maybe that's just me. Apparently the practice is widespread and -- who would have thought? -- illegal.

Posted by jjdaley at 7:04 AM | Permalink