Harvard is putting all the money it has (see: "Harvard's Rich, Bitches!") to some truly good use by expanding financial aid packages to students. Here's the details from the AP: The university said it would replace all loans with grants, and spend up to $22 million more annually on aid, mostly targeting middle- and upper-middle class students. Families earning under $60,000 already pay nothing to attend the world’s richest university, with an endowment of nearly......

It's official. You can now put Charlie in your cell phone or on your computer. The T has a big, fat announcement on its home page, featuring an image of a gleeful woman. She's happy now, but she hasn't seen the charges that will result from all her text messages. Anyway, Bostonist has signed up. You can choose the "mode of service" you prefer: commuter rail, subway, bus, silver line, and boat. (Thank goodness......

Tourfilter DJ Night River Gods (125 River St., Central Square) Thursday, November 29, 9 p.m. -1 a.m. Free! If you're not already a member, you should definitely join Tourfilter.com. It's a music fan's dream: a comprehensive site that lets you track your favorite bands and get e-mail updates when they're coming to town--or, in the case of local bands, playing near you. The site's also a great way to get to know new bands, since......

The Globe published a long piece about the mystery still surrounding Army specialist Ciara Durkin's death in Afghanistan in late September. Durkin, who was from Quincy, was shot in the head, although the Army called it a "non-combat-related incident." Her family is not satisfied with that explanation, and the Globe report provides evidence that someone on the base may have had it out for Durkin. In one event, Durkin wrote an e-mail saying, "Ok. so......

A kind tipster sent along an e-mail announcing a special website devoted to David, the Somerville LARPer who is currently competing on "Beauty and the Geek." Some of David's college friends have decided to give their friend a boost and find him a date. They have built the site in his honor, and they list all kinds of reasons why a woman want to meet him in person. If you are interested in a geek......

We wondered what happened to Peter Berdovsky and Sean Stevens from the Aqua Teen Hunger Force incident. Berdovsky, also known as "Zebbler," has made lemonade out of the experience. After the Cartoon Network and viral-marketing company Interference, Inc., hung him and Sean Stevens out to dry, Berdovsky made a comeback and has been named one of the top 20 VJs in the world by DJ Magazine. No doubt a little ATHF publicity helped to......

Next Food Network Star Auditions Tuesday, November 6, 2007, 11:00 am-4:00 pm Flat Iron Tapas Bar & Lounge, Bulfinch Hotel 107 Merrimack St., Boston More info Auditions are being held for a new season of The Next Food Network Star. Last time, the show plucked Tommy Grella from Methuen out of a lineup because of his oversized personality, body type, proportions, and ever-present stogie. Unfortunately, homesickness got the better of him, and he left early.......

--After a series of positive experiences, Urban Paramedic has reconsidered the Guardian Angels: "People may disagree over the value of Guardian Angel patrols, but they certainly deserve credit for believing in what they do." --The Food Monkey has an epiphany thanks to Jacoby Ellsbury's winning a free taco for America. --On Common Ground evaluates the Globe's choices for this year's Top 25 Most Stylish People and finds this year's list to be an improvement over......

Street-cleaning day is dreadful on so many levels because it is all too easy to forget to move one's car. And then there are the annoying repetitive announcements that are boomed into homes: "You will be tagged and towed, you will be tagged and towed." But Boston has announced that they will start a program that sends e-mail reminders to residents when they need to move their cars. Matt Viser of the Globe reports, The......

Hillary Clinton at Wellesley Thursday, November 1, 2007, 10:00 am-1:00 pm Alumnae Hall, Wellesley Campus 106 Central Street, Wellesley More info--you will need to print out a confirmation e-mail to attend! Here's a word to describe Hillary Clinton--bold. Right after former Massachusetts governor and presidential aspirant Mitt Romney equated her policies to a "House of Horrors" and said she was nothing more than an "intern," she's blazing into Romney's old stomping grounds. Of course, Clinton......

After definitively telling Bostonist that a scabies outbreak happened at Harvard's Pennypacker Hall, the school's University Health Service (UHS) sent out an e-mail saying might not have been scabies after all. Maybe. The memo from UHS sent Wednesday afternoon states that the results are inconclusive and that the ants in the Pennypacker pants resulted from "unknown" causes. Ivy Gate Blog has a copy of the memo, which says, "As is frequently the case with rashes,......

Halloween weekend is upon us, and much like last year's festivities there are far too many options to choose from. In addition to that, Boston has gone completely bonkers over the Red Sox kicking ass in the World Series, so you can be sure to find extra excitement in every neighborhood you party in over the next few days. (pssst! click image for larger flier) THUNDERDOME VIII Friday, October 26th Greek American Political Club 288......

--Mike Mennonno writes a wonderful post about the power of the Polaroid. Photo of the Day fans, take note: "It's hard to say whether the fleshiness of polaroids is an illusion of their application or inherent in the process, but Warhol's polaroids capture that same sinuous, sensuous seediness polaroids seem made for. You don't get that with digital, with its sharp focus and white light." --Newton Streets & Sidewalks had another encounter with a turkey.......

Residents of Harvard's Pennypacker Hall had to apply insecticide cream, and their personal items were fumigated when three residents of the dorm were diagnosed with scabies last weekend. According to Lena Chen and IvyGate, word had been going around that Harvard's University Health Services had misdiagnosed the students and that they just got attacked by some especially bloodthirsty mosquitoes. If so, then the whole insecticide cream-fumigation hurrah was all for nothing. Bostonist tried to track......

Effective today, Bostonist readers must register before leaving a comment on a post. The registration process is actually pretty easy. Enter a username, your e-mail address, and your password twice. Check your e-mail account to confirm your address and overall existence, and you're all set. You will get a snazzy profile page as a result. You can also add an avatar to dress up what you have to say. If you are concerned about your......

--Neighbors for Neighbors is concerned about what T Radio is going to do to the buskers who perform every day at various stops and provides a list of who to contact if you want to do something about it. --At Blue Mass Group, the president of NECN displays an obvious fear of bloggers. Yeah, we're really scary. --Susie thinks that her "obsession with all things pumpkin" will get out of control this fall. --Fabulously Out......

The MLB is no fun! A kind tipster just gave Bostonist the heads-up that the Chris Dodd Red Sox Raffle is now OFF and that anyone who donated will get a refund. The e-mail from Dodd HQ states, We have some bad news. Major League Baseball has asked the campaign to end our contest you entered to get a chance to go to a Red Sox game with Chris Dodd. Apparently, Post-Season tickets are different......

Darjeeling Limited Plus Q&A With Wes Anderson and Jason Schwartzman Brattle Theatre Thursday, October 11 7:00 pm Update: One commenter pointed out that the Brattle website isn't listing it yet and is showing Robert Reich reading at 6:00 pm and the Fantastic Film Festival starting at 10:00. Harvard Book Store, also sponsoring the Reich reading, sent out an e-mail saying the reading has been moved from the Brattle to the Swedenborg Chapel. Update to the......

Sit back and imagine that you're with the Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure, and it's your job to distribute disks chock-full of names and addresses for those who have professional licenses in the state of Massachusetts. You distribute these disks because marketing firms want them thanks to the public records law. That doesn't sound so hard. So you use the office's new software to gather and generate this information. Then you let it run and......

Authorial Intent spotlights readings throughout the area. All events are free unless otherwise noted. Michelle Wildgen, You're Not You, Wednesday, October 3, 7:00 pm, Brookline Booksmith. In Wildgen's debut novel, which is enjoying glowing reviews, Bec, a drifting college student, takes care of Kate, an older, sophisticated woman dying from ALS. The two grow close, and soon Bec is taking care of business for Kate - such as carrying out a clever little way to......

--Bad sound at the Iron & Wine show launched a debate about bum acoustics in most Boston venues. (Bostonist can feel their pain after multiple sound issues during Sxip's Hour of Charm at the A.R.T.) --Adam G at Universal Hub saw the craziest advice at Paul Revere Park. --Bad Transit made another brief appearance by posting a commuter's tale of woe when his monthly pass triggered a "See Attendant" message. --Joel Brown muses upon the......

--Everyone's got an opinion about Governor Deval Patrick's casino plan. Dan Kennedy at Media Nation, who also cross-posts at Blue Mass Group, has been taking the anti-casino view and offers an interesting post about how the new revenue Patrick has been discussing is just "rearranged money." --Britney Spears still will not go away. Onward Charles has discovered video trance remixes of that weird "Leave Britney Alone!" guy. Where does he she* find this stuff? It's......

--The production team for Bachelor No. 2 got kicked out of St. Leonard's Church in the North End. They had planned to shoot a scene inside the church, but the church's priest, Rev. Antonio Nardoianni, got wind that the crew had redecorated Umberto Galleria and named it "Cheezus Crust." Apparently Nardoianni missed the hidden commandment "Thou Shalt Have a Sense of Humor." But the location scouts probably should have put two and two together and......

Yacht Rock Bulfinch Yacht Club 234 Friend St., Boston Saturday, September 22 9:00 pm - 2:00 am $12, 21+, and get a few bucks off with a secret password What is Yacht Rock, you ask? Two filmmakers, J.D. Ryznar and Hunter Stair, dramatized the origins of their favorite smooth pop tunes from Kenny Loggins, Toto, and other similarly coiffed songbirds. Actors take on the parts of the yacht rockers as they write their songs, cuss......

Because, uh, pretty soon you won't be able to comment as a guest anymore. Registration to the big par-tay that is the -Ist-a-Verse will soon be required. The following message comes straight (with a few chasers) from our brother in "-ist," David Topping of Torontoist: By now, you've probably noticed our new profile system, rolled out in July. In the system, people who comment on Bostonist are split into two groups: those who have......

The next Four Stories reading will be on October 1, 2007. Kris Frieswick, Jake Halpern, Michael Lowenthal, and Hank Phillippi Ryan will be participating. The evening's topic is "Love and Money: Tales of Making It, Having It, and Losing It," and the readings will take place at The Enormous Room. For more details, visit the Four Stories site. To prepare, check out Bostonist's interview with Jake Halpern. Many of us spend our days in front......

"Authorial Intent" is Bostonist's attempt to bring you the best readings in the area, all tied up with a shiny bow. Diane Ackerman, Wednesday, September 19, 7:00 pm, Harvard Book Store. More info. In The Zookeeper's Wife, fiction writer, nonfiction writer, and poet Ackerman returns with the true story of zookeepers in Poland during World War II who hid Jews from the Nazis. The LA Times calls the novel "a shining book beyond category." Jonathan......

"Authorial Intent" is Bostonist's fledgling attempt to wrap up all the readings in Greater Boston. Steve Almond, Thursday, September 13, 7:00 pm, Brookline Booksmith. Read Bostonist's interview with Steve Almond. His latest book is named (Not that You Asked). Rest assured, if you ask, Almond will answer. In great and glorious detail. Brookline Booksmith's latest e-mail blast warns that, if you plan on attending, you better bring candy if you know what's good for you.......

--Sports radio hosts Dennis & Callahan have signed a five-year contract to stay on at WEEI. The station had locked them out during the negotiations. In the midst of the dispute between Dennis & Callahan and WEEI, news came out that Dennis & Callahan might move from WEEI (850 AM) to WCRB (99.5 FM). That would be an interesting move given that WCRB is a classical station. But, fear not, classical fans. Program Director Mark......

Welcome to "Series of Tubes," in which Bostonist rounds up developments among local bloggers over the past week. If you want to make sure your blog is on Bostonist's radar, please e-mail caroline@bostonist.com or leave a link in the Contribute section. --David at Blue Mass Group describes the horrible conditions animals must endure at the Wonderland and Raynham dog tracks. His post and the facts described within are more than enough to make a person......