How large is the building you're in? A multi unit building with proper insulation is definitely possible to be that efficient. Proper insulation, plus sharing walls/floors with other units gives you more heat for free/less heat loss to the outside.

Even a modern SFH with good insulation can be pretty cheap to heat if insulation is good and the windows / doors aren't drafty. Most of us just have early 1900s units that weren't updated properly or at all in some cases. Mass Save like programs should really do more to encourage landlords to upgrade.

I don’t know what it’s like post covid, but there’s the Boston Gender Free Contra Dance. In the past it’s mostly been 30 and up but occasionally 20 somethings.

They’re somewhat strict about precautions because the dancing is energetic, and hence rapid breathing plus there are a few regular seniors who need to play it safe.

If someone doesn't vote in an election, that is the equivalent of not voting for that person. The idea that membership of a racial group should mean that you vote for a particular candidate is -of itself, a racist concept.

From the article: "Three lines that serve environmental justice populations — Newburyport/Rockport from North Station to Beverly, Fairmount from South Station to Readville and the entire Providence/Stoughton Line — would be electrified first, by Dec. 31, 2024."

Sorry, but what the heck does that mean?

How old are you?

Club Cafe is gay. Queereoke at the Midway is very queer but tends to be a lot of AFAB people. Both pretty young scenes. This Sunday in JP there's a meeting of the Cambridge Men's Group (https://www.meetup.com/cambridgemen/events/289639090/) presumably a bit of an older crowd. There are also a few "OUT at Time Out" events coming up, just search gay men's Boston on meetup and you'll find some stuff.

If you already have good hobbies for meetup groups (frisbee, dog groups, board games, etc) just go to the things you enjoy. Boston is a pretty gay place, usually there will be another gay guy in the group and depending on how good your 'dar is you can just chat them up.

Uninstall grindr. Try Hinge, tends to be a bit more relationship oriented. Bumble could also work. If you're kinky, might even want to give AFF/Fet a try.

What is it with you and your consistent bad takes?

Sean Ellis was 100% involved in that murder in some way

DA chooses what cases and what charges to pursue

These are not exclusive, and it's... notable... how highly correlated race and wealth are. It might be that solutions that address one significantly address the other, and I don't think advocating for solutions for one excludes also advocating for solutions to the other. Addressing the cost of housing, the functioning of public transport, and access to affordable childcare and quality public schools address both issues.

I believe that. JFK used to be my stop, and as frustrating as that summer was, it was only for a few months and I don't remember it being as bad as it is now.

This is me. I used to connect from the RL to the OL as part of my commute, but after getting fucked over by both lines repeatedly, and often on the same day, now I just walk from Broadway to Back Bay when the weather permits.

This is so underrated and baffling to me. I’m from NY originally and our commuter rail isn’t great but there are at least 10 between 7-10 am. Why can’t Boston do the same?? It makes no sense.

This is so underrated and baffling to me. I’m from NY originally and our commuter rail isn’t great but there are at least 10 between 7-10 am. Why can’t Boston do the same?? It makes no sense.

Not even "soon," it's already here!

Roslindale (American Legion Highway) and West Roxbury (VFW Parkway) might be a little closer.

It’s a public space, fuckin cry about it dude

It's even harder to compare than gasoline prices though. Everyone might have a different supplier of gas, or even a different source of fuel. The OP's bill is for natural gas from National Grid from the looks of it, but other folks may have Eversource as their supplier. Some people might not even use natural gas and may get oil heat, and some might not even use gas at all so they'll chime in with their crazy high electric bills but that's even more insane to compare since every town gets a different rate agreement with the power company.

And then to go a step further with your pickup truck vs compact car example, some people may drive vastly differently than others! I may drive my pickup truck at exactly 55mph on the highway, while you're off going 90mph and rolling coal at every stop light in town. My gas tank will go a lot further than yours. Just like my heating bill will be cheaper than yours if I set my heat to 60° F and you set yours to 70° F.

And in addition to all of this, we all have vastly different insulation in our housing units. So even if I have the same pickup truck as you do, my engine might be really poorly maintained and so I'll blow through diesel fuel while you're running on eco mode with a fresh oil change and tires rotated last week.

I've tried to compare heating bills to others and it just brews confusion and frustration. The only comparison worth looking at is year over year changes. Make sure you're using the least energy you can to keep the house as comfortable as you can afford. If it's widely different from year to year maybe call your landlord and ask them to service your heating system, or suck it up, or try to move to a move efficient house/apartment. Really little you can do besides turning your thermostat down as far as you can bare. Easier said than done though.

Ah, yes, no arguments with anything you've said there, just wasn't sure what obstacle to electrification itself you were seeing.

That said, it may be cheaper to just electrify it rather than deal with a unicorn in terms of equipment if we are at the point of full electrification elsewhere and still can't make a decision on the extensions. I agree it'll likely be one of the last to do anything with.

Being a low-frequency branch doesn't inherently mean it can't be electric - NJT's Gladstone Branch runs a relatively similar operation that way. (mostly single-track, often requires a transfer to a different service to get to where you likely want to go).

>you lose an hour milling about at South Station

Or at North Station. Yay for no North-South Rail Link?

That's nothing to do with the fact that you use less gas in warm weather than cold weather.

Whatever you or I set our thermostats to, whether or not you or I wear a sweater, we will use less gas if the outside temperature is higher and more if it is colder.

The amount of power to maintain a temperature in a house is proportional to the temperature difference between inside and outside.

Agreed. Never had a Jewish mayor, but Mike Ross's loss doesn't suggest to me that we have an antisemitism crisis here.

I'm a white dude who voted for Campbell in the primary and Wu in the general, mostly on the basis that Campbell seems to me more likely to use her political capital to help people who need it, and Michelle... doesn't want to make enemies.

But it's hardly like Campbell failed to land on her feet, and I look forward to her work in her new role.

Cornwalls in Kenmore used to…. Not sure if they still do

It's really embarrassing that West Roxbury and Roslindale are about to be even more grossly underserved by public transit and Wu is saying nothing publicly (despite it being her own neighborhood) because white people.

Can't be electrified may not be the right term... there's a shared track issue where it essentially can't run any faster than 60 minutes no matter what so the goal of electrification is moot for the Needham line and in fact will only become worse as other lines run more frequently. Others have explained it on here better than I can. Essentially the MBTA's only plan for better serving the line is to sunset it; extending the OL from Forest Hills through West Roxbury and extending the D line from Newton through Needham. The OL extension would be expensive but fairly doable; the Green line would be a nightmare and is highly unlikely anytime soon. Needham would rather limited service than no service for some long period of time... they know the legislature allocating huge funds to serve one millionaire town is slim in this climate. And they have the power to cock block West Rox/Roslindale.

Essentially the most likely and least expensive 10 - 15 year solution (which would also serve the greatest number of workers, particularly lower income workers) is expanded rapid bus service through West Roxbury to Roslindale Village and extending the OL one stop to RV. I'm actually surprised elected officials haven't yet begun loudly clamoring for it.

So? You're still taking a picture of a stranger in public and posting it online to make fun of them