Off Message

7 Questions for B.J. Mendelson, Author of "Social Media is Bullshit"

by Tyler Machado Posted on October 13, 2012 at 6:07PM

Social media gurus: You're on notice. Humorist and social critic B.J. Mendelson has three-quarters of a million people following him on Twitter, but if you ask him, it's all a load of bullshit.

The Scoreboard: This Week's Winners and Losers

by Paul Heintz Posted on October 12, 2012 at 4:00AM

Each Friday here at Off Message headquarters, we bring you the week's winners and losers in Vermont news and politics. This week, we were a little light on winners — but there's always plenty of losers to go around.

Welch Celebrates National Coming Out Day With Goofy-Ass Photo

by Paul Heintz Posted on October 11, 2012 at 5:44PM

To celebrate National Coming Out Day, the "NOH8 Campaign" on Thursday released photos of 26 members of Congress posing with duct tape over their mouths and the "NOH8" logo on their cheeks. Among the Congress-folk featured?

Council Poised to Disband Burlington Telecom Advisory Group

by Kevin J. Kelley Posted on October 11, 2012 at 3:42PM

The Burlington City Council will be asked at its meeting next Monday to disband a Burlington Telecom citizens' advisory group that it created eight years ago. City Council President Joan Shannon (D-Ward 5, pictured) says she's confident her colleagues will approve the resolution transferring the responsibilities of the BT Advisory Committee to another existing BT oversight panel known as the Blue Ribbon Committee.

(AUDIO) Annette Smith: Wind Development Like "a Terrorist Has Landed in Your Community"

by Kathryn Flagg Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:17PM

Write-in candidate for governor Annette Smith amped up her rhetoric on wind energy today during an appearance on WDEV-FM's "The Mark Johnson Show," comparing wind turbines to "a terrorist" landing in your community. "Don't shoot the messenger.

Source Watch: Ex-VSEA Employee's Letter Calling for Dismissal of Union Chief

by Paul Heintz Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:11PM

In this week's dead-tree edition of Seven Days we brought you a story about the tumultuous tenure of Vermont State Employees Association executive director Mark Mitchell. In the past five weeks, six of the union's 19 staffers have left — and several told Seven Days that Mitchell's the reason.

Morning Toke: Rolling Stone Calls Shumlin Top Pot Politician

by Paul Heintz Posted on October 11, 2012 at 9:05AM

Gov. Peter Shumlin will tell you he's working hard to get tough things done. That he's fighting to create jobs and grow Vermont's economy.

F-35 Opponents Claim 'Fundamental Error' in Air Force Data

by Kevin J. Kelley Posted on October 10, 2012 at 5:39PM

Opponents of basing F-35 fighter jets at Burlington International Airport are claiming the Air Force "severely underestimated" the number of housing units in Winooksi that would be exposed to unhealthy noise levels generated by the planes. Jim Dumont, a Bristol attorney representing foes of the BTV basing scenario, told the Air Force last week that it had made a "fundamental error" in its draft study of the environmental impact of stationing up to two dozen of the stealth fighters at BTV.

Video: In Its First Ad, Liberal Super PAC to Push Pearce for Treasurer

by Paul Heintz Posted on October 10, 2012 at 4:44PM

**Updated below** The liberal super PAC Vermont Priorities will run its first ad starting Wednesday and, as expected, it will back Democratic State Treasurer Beth Pearce. The 30-second ad will air during the morning and evening news on WCAX-TV Thursday and Friday and will also run for a week on cable television, according to Todd Bailey, the group's consultant.

This Week's Issue: October 10, 2012

by Tyler Machado Posted on October 10, 2012 at 4:15PM

The news stories you'll find in this week's print-and-ink version of Seven Days... Several former employees say the new head of the Vermont State Employees Association is doing big damage to the organization.