Published July 23, 2010

Pancakes play the leading role at the International Pancake Film Fest this weekend. (Olya/Flickr)

If you’ve never been to the Harbor Islands, you’ve been missing a real gem (or rather, 17 gems, all just a 45-minute or so ferry ride away from the city). There is plenty going on to get you out there this weekend, including a Food Network-worthy face-off and the masterful sounds of pianist Carmen Spada. Or just pack a picnic, hike a trail or play in the sand. You’ll feel like you’re hundreds of miles away from the city — if it weren’t for the stellar views of the Beantown skyline.

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Published July 23, 2010

Chief Justice Margaret Marshall in 2004 (AP)

When a Supreme Court justice retires, a window opens for the sitting president to solidify his legacy. For Clinton, it was Breyer and Ginsburg. For Bush, it was Alito and Roberts. For Obama, it’s Sotomayor and, it would appear, Kagan.

But what about Gov. Deval Patrick? In just one term as governor, Patrick has already appointed two justices to Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court. And with the retirement of Chief Justice Margaret Marshall in October, Patrick will appoint a third.

State judges aren’t usually famous, and most people probably don’t remember that Republican Gov. Bill Weld appointed Marshall in 1996.

But she will surely be remembered as the judge who changed gay marriage in America. She ruled with the majority in the landmark decision of Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, 2003. Marshall was also the Bay State’s first female chief justice.

If recent history is a guide, it’s unlikely Patrick will appoint someone outside of the high court to serve as its leader. That turns attention to Associate Justice Roderick Ireland, who is black, said former Justice John Greaney today on Morning Edition. Greaney said to also watch out for Justices Ralph Gants (his successor) and Margot Botsford. The Globe floated Justice Robert Cordy as another possible candidate.

Patrick said he wants to appoint someone with Marshall’s legal “touch.” Whoever it is, it will surely emerge as an issue in the final days of the 2010 gubernatorial campaign.

Published July 23, 2010

A Citgo sunset (Tyson Cecka/Flickr)

Boston’s favorite landmark, which you can see from anywhere and which has withstood five hurricanes, is going dark for a few months. And then really, really bright. The Venezuelan oil company Citgo is replacing 218,000 LED lights with more modern, environmentally friendly, weather-resistant ones.

The 45-year-old sign went dark for four years during the energy crisis. In 1982, when Citgo announced plans to dismantle it, the Fenway faithful staged an uproar. It stayed on until 2005, when the sign briefly went dark to replace neon tubes with LEDs.

It’s certainly one of the most photographed signs. Flickr has a group dedicated to the landmark. BU Today, Boston University’s in-house news staff, produced a great visual retrospective when Citgo announced the renovation plans earlier this year. It even showed up in my 30-second Boston fireworks video. And WBUR Web developer Will Smith once wondered, would we love it as much if it were a BP sign?

The company says the sign will be restored by Sept. 2, just in time for baseball playoffs.

Published July 22, 2010

Hi, sports fans. No doubt you heard about or saw the “am I dreaming this?” soccer game at Fenway Park last night. Reporter Curt Nickisch and photographer-intern Jeremy Bernfeld went and had a ball. Here’s what they brought back. –AP

I promise to talk about Scott Brown, soccer and Fenway Park in this post, and it’s all going to make sense. Mostly.

More than 32,000 fans attended the first “Fenway Football Challenge” Wednesday night at America’s most beloved ballpark. I am a soccer fan and I’ve been to a bunch of Red Sox games at Fenway, so I have to tell you, it was really weird, in a really good way.

Starting with the crowd outside before the game: There was a bagpiper playing jigs for tips. The usual Sox caps were out in force, but they were worn by folks in the green-and-white striped jerseys of Celtic Football Club. The Scottish club’s opponent, Sporting Clube de Portugal, drew a lot of fans from New Bedford and Fall River.

This uncanny rendezvous of the global sport and America’s favorite pastime had Garrett Quinn smiling big. The hardcore soccer fan used to work in Fenway concessions in high school.

“I just can’t get over it,” he said. “The way they’ve set it up. I never thought I’d see a soccer game at Fenway.”

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Published July 22, 2010

Gov. Deval Patrick in a C-130 on Wednesday

Gov. Deval Patrick made a surprise trip to Iraq on Wednesday. (His schedule is not being disclosed, so we don’t know when the governor will return.)

My question is, Why? What is worth the time and expense of a governor’s top-secret trip to Iraq?

In a statement, a spokesman said:

There are currently over 1,100 Massachusetts National Guard troops deployed in the region. The Governor serves as Commander in Chief of the Massachusetts National Guard, and felt it was important to check on our servicemen and women in harm’s way and to be briefed on the progress of their mission.

Patrick has no bearing on foreign policy, and there is nothing he can’t learn about our troops on the ground from his advisers. Can anyone tell me the benefit of these trips? It seems highly political — and an advantage his campaign rivals don’t have.

Published July 22, 2010

The first update to WBUR’s iPhone app is live now in the App Store. Download now on iTunes or tap the “Updates” button in the iPhone App Store.

Changes in version 1.0.1 include:

• Fixed iOS 4 crashes
• Background audio support (continue streaming after switching apps)
• Fast app switching (instantly return to your place when you come back)
• Improved swipe support
• Improved styling of news articles
• Expiration date on the virtual member card
• Other bug fixes and speed improvements

We built this app on your ideas, and we’re making improvements based on your feedback. Leave bug reports or feature requests in the comments. And if you left a 1-star rating on iTunes, please give the app another chance and revise your review.

• iTunes Store: WBUR iPhone app

Published July 21, 2010

Two in one week, Toto!

What’s with all the twista warnings lately? Not watches, mind you. Warnings are more severe and much less common. They come and go in a flash. There have been two tornado warnings this week in Worcester County, the most recent one just a few minutes ago.

Confused? (I was.) Here’s the National Weather Service definition of watch:

A watch is used when the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain. It is intended to provide enough lead time so that those who need to set their plans in motion can do so.

And the definition of warning:

A warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, is imminent, or has a very high probability of occurring. A warning is used for conditions posing a threat to life or property.

In other words, if you hear a warning, get moving. What to do if you get caught in a tornado? The NWS has a complete guide, but:

• Avoid windows.
• Get to the lowest floor — the basement, if there is one.
• If you’re in a car, park it safely and get out. Find shelter in a building.
• If you can’t find shelter, lie flat on the ground and cover your head. Stay away from trees and cars.

Watch out for severe thunderstorms throughout Massachusetts until 8 p.m. That’s a watch, not a warning!