Want to get in shape? Get a dog

Walking speed among the dog walkers increased by 28 percent, compared with just 4 percent among the human walkers. . . human walkers often complained about the heat and talked each other out of exercise, but that people who were paired with dogs didn’t make those excuses. Several studies reported…

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Hugh Cummiskey shot by rioters – 1833

The following account of an 1833 Yankee v Irish riot in Lowell was recently forwarded to me by one of Lowell’s foremost historians. Because it includes details of Hugh Cummiskey being shot by the rioters and because this is Irish cultural week, I’ve reproduced the story below: Riotous. On Friday…

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Secretary Clinton Calls on Some Sister Colleges

Erica Noonan writes  from the Globe MetroDesk of  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s initiative with five women’s liberal arts colleges – Barnard, Bryn Mawr and the Massachusetts colleges – Mt. Holyoke, Smith and Wellesley – now known as “The Sisters.” The focus of this partnership is “to increase the participation of…

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Saturday’s Tour of the Acre

Paul Sweeney sent along some photos of St Patrick’s historian Dave McKean (above and below) leading his annual tour of the Acre this past Saturday as part of the city’s Irish Cultural Week activities. Besides Paul’s photos, Corey Sciuto wrote a blog post about St Patrick’s Church that included some…

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