First, there were the rumors about Tom Brady getting hair plugs. Now, our Governor shaves his head. The state of the Commonwealth's hair is in flux. The reaction on the internet to this news has been mixed: Boston Daily drew comparisons to Britney Spears' infamous head shaving. Local pundit Seth Gitell, though admittedly biased, praised Patrick for his "courageous leadership." Meanwhile, the majority of Universal Hub voters say that they don't care about the story......

While some Bostonians dismiss the Herald as a tabloid rag, we read the paper everyday. There's often more energy and swagger on the cover of the Herald than in whole sections of the Globe. For better and for worse, the Herald wields its front page like a blunt object. Previously we discussed how the Herald topped Heath Ledger's death and Tom Brady's ankle with the shocking news that Detroit's casinos were underperforming--and that that spelled......

Massachusetts' legendary senior Senator and national liberal icon, Ted Kennedy. Massachusetts' junior Senator and the 2004 Democratic nominee, John Kerry. Massachusetts' precedent-shattering Governor, Deval Patrick. None of the endorsements were enough for Barack Obama to win the Massachusetts primary. While we gave a lot of attention yesterday to Senator Obama's epic Boston rally, Seth Gitell was reminding people that--press attention and celebrity status aside--the two strongest political machines in the state belong to Boston's......

It's unfortunate that yesterday's Herald gave huge play to a superficial analysis of Detroit's casinos and their similarity to Governor Deval Patrick's gambling vision. Bostonist was tough on the piece, which made up for its lack of evidence with a few anecdotes and general confusion. Meanwhile, today's dispatch from the Motor City by Dave Wedge is substantial and nuanced---and buried alive under a host of Patriots stories that the Herald willed into existence. Wedge......

-- When the homeless meet gentrification, the homeless get treated like shit. Shocker. [Boston Globe] -- Not to worry, though. Governor Deval Patrick plans to eliminate homelessness in Massachusetts within five years. And he has a whopping $10 million set aside in his budget to do it. [Globe] -- The Herald, always eager to battle sensationalism in the media, reports that the new strain of staph, elsewhere described as "the new AIDS," is anything but.......

-- Call him Governor Patrick-agressive. Deval Patrick unveiled his 2009 budget, and it had a little surprise. $300 million of revenue is set to come from taxes on three casinos that do not yet exist. Patrick wants to license casino gambling in Massachusetts but faces heavy opposition in the legislature. It's a battle he has already won in his own mind. Nearly half -- $124 million -- of the speculative funds will shore up a......

It seems that Bostonist's call for submissions inspired you. Say hello to Gerard Sloan, who is already working the political beat! And we hope you'll meet more writers in the next week. Interested in joining the team? Read our call for columnists and e-mail jobs@bostonist.com. Despite polls showing large leads for Barack Obama in the Democratic primary, the Granite State used its moment in the national spotlight yesterday to give Hillary Clinton a narrow victory......

Here comes red meat for the Weekly Dig's Media Farm: Yesterday the Globe decided to share the holiday cards it received with the public and show just how uncool the great unwashed really are. In fact, whoever put the slide show together said as much: "You may not have received Christmas and other holiday cards from the likes of Caroline Kennedy, Bob Kraft, NASCAR, and the Red Sox -- but we did." Now we're......

Your 2007 World Champion Red Sox continued their celebratory tour with a visit to the State House yesterday. The event was hosted by Governor Patrick and numerous elected officials. Both (!) trophies were prominently displayed on the front lawn of the State House, the golden flags matching quite nicely with the gleam of the famous golden dome. Governor Patrick kicked off the event, and while his oddly-accented proclamations made some chuckle (JAAYYsun VARRRiTECCKK), his enthusiasm......

Governor Deval Patrick is mulling over an idea that would lease bridges and roads to corporations. Casey Ross at the Herald has the details: If approved, a deal to privatize could mean leasing the Massachusetts Turnpike, Tobin Bridge or Big Dig tunnels to for-profit companies that would pay billions of dollars for the right to collect tolls from motorists for their use. Under such arrangements, the company leasing the road or bridge is responsible for......

--A bank robbery happened in West Roxbury yesterday, followed by a wild police chase in Dedham. A woman in her 20s did the usual routine of handing a note to a teller and getting some cash. But that's not the exciting part. As she left the Hyde Park Savings Bank, she hopped into a red mini-van (a mini-van as a getaway car?). A bold off-duty police office followed in hot pursuit. The officer got off......

The Executive Office of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is taking a giant leap into 2005. Deval Patrick will podcast. Shoot he might even blog. Local leaders are already doing it. Menino is doing it. O'Malley is doing it. So why shouldn't Governor Patrick jump at the chance to bring his message directly to the people? It's a cool idea, we just wish he was going to make it a warm and fuzzy fireside vlog. The......