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Articles by Mike Crawford
The kidney transplant that formed a Bruin-Buckeye bond
As a Bruin, Hernando Marroquin ’74 bleeds blue and gold through and through. But in July 2023, the Ohio State Buckeyes became a vital part of his life, thanks to a kidney transplant from a Midwestern donor. Marroquin had been experiencing symptoms of kidney failure since the summer of 2021, and after connecting with Dr. Anjay Rastogi, head of nephrology and the CORE Kidney Program at UCLA Health, he was placed on the transplant waitlist and became a candidate for the program.
A Big Ten Bruinprint: UCLA’s bold new era
When UCLA officially joined the Big Ten Conference on Aug. 2, 2024, it didn’t just shuffle opponents and game times — it stepped boldly into a new era of Bruin athletics. For nearly 100 years, the Bruins called the Pac-12 home. Leaving behind decades of tradition wasn’t easy, but the promise of sharing the Bruin story nationwide, opening new doors for student-athletes and keeping our programs strong made the leap a bold but thoughtful step forward.
A Big Ten Bruinprint: UCLA's Bold New Era
By Mike Crawford UCLA Alumni Association When UCLA officially joined the Big Ten Conference on Aug. 2, 2024, it didn't just shuffle opponents and game times — it stepped boldly into a new era of Bruin athletics. For nearly 100 years, the Bruins called the Pac-12 home. Leaving behind decades of tradition wasn't easy, but the promise of sharing the Bruin story nationwide, opening new doors for student-athletes and keeping our programs strong made the leap a bold but thoughtful step forward.
'THE TOKIN' TRUTH'
In the late 1990s, as a head high school wrestling coach at Triton Regional High School in Byfield, Massachusetts, I was fiercely going at it with another competitive coach during an open mat off-season training in West Newbury. I took him down a couple of times using my best offense, but after the third time, he was pissed. The fellow coach caught me in a perfect-a vicious-lateral drop, full force, and I hit the unforgiving mat at the base of my spine (L5-L6).
A great product brief is the key to building alignment
A key step when kicking off any new product initiative is the authoring of a solid "product brief". This document is designed to provide clarity, alignment and direction to a diverse group of stakeholders (including your RnD team). Teams that have high quality briefs experience: Faster time to decisions: everyone knows the goals of the product, boundaries of the scope and can autonomously align their work towards that outcome.
Ask yourself these questions to determine if you’re setting the right goals
In the last post, I discussed thinking about systems (versus setting goals) as a way to continue to progress in your life and career. This week, I’m unpacking another key piece about goal setting: thinking differently about goals altogether. Think differently about goals In order to think differently about goals, it’s important to recognize that there are two types of “games” you can find yourself playing.
DJ STENNY: QUESTIONS FOR QUINCY’S CO-FOUNDER OF MARY PALMER
Creators of Mary Palmer “Like any business, an entrepreneur must know all parts of the business.” You go by DJ Stenny? How did you get that name? My whole life growing up in Quincy, I’ve been called Stenny. My father had gotten the nickname while serving in the Navy, the members of his crew would shorten his last name from Stentiford to Stenny. After I got out of the Marines I started to DJ in the Boston area and it was an easy choice to brand and market the nickname I already had.
DJ Stenny: Questions For Quincy’s Co-Founder Of Mary Palmer
Creators of Mary Palmer “Like any business, an entrepreneur must know all parts of the business.” You go by DJ Stenny? How did you get that name? My whole life growing up in Quincy, I’ve been called Stenny. My father had gotten the nickname while serving in the Navy, the members of his crew would shorten his last name from Stentiford to Stenny. After I got out of the Marines I started to DJ in the Boston area and it was an easy choice to brand and market the nickname I already had.
HAIL MARY MOTHER OF MALDEN
Malden Cannabis Licensing Enforcement Commission (CLEC) in action (2019) City Council prohibitionists get desperate Last week, in a 6-5 vote, the Malden City Council passed a non-binding resolve for the city’s Malden Cannabis Licensing and Enforcement Commission (CLEC) to hit “pause on soliciting additional applications for retail marijuana licenses.” Their reasoning: “so that the city can solicit voter feedback at the next municipal election on limits on the number of establishments allowed...
Hail Mary Mother Of Malden
Malden Cannabis Licensing Enforcement Commission (CLEC) in action (2019) City Council prohibitionists get desperate Last week, in a 6-5 vote, the Malden City Council passed a non-binding resolve for the city’s Malden Cannabis Licensing and Enforcement Commission (CLEC) to hit “pause on soliciting additional applications for retail marijuana licenses.” Their reasoning: “so that the city can solicit voter feedback at the next municipal election on limits on the number of establishments allowed...
Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Co. is picking up momentum: Here’s the current playbook
By Mike Crawford Sunday Jul 19, 2020 at 7:01 AM Football fans know the best plays can take time to develop. Fans of the big-league project that is the Hall of Fame Village Powered by Johnson Controls have been waiting for signals that the sporting and entertainment destination will indeed materialize and yield a touchdown for the community.
KOBIE EVANS OF PURE OASIS ON HOW MASS CANNABIS CAN BECOME MORE EQUITABLE NOW
Photo via Pure Oasis “I think Massachusetts will end up being a cautionary tale in terms of how you can do it, but other states will learn to do it better.” Kobie Evans owns Pure Oasis with his business partner Kevin Hart. It’s the first black-owned cannabis dispensary in the City of Boston, and if that’s not a big enough accomplishment, the pair recently had a star turn on an episode of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj on Netflix.
Obligation
Before retiring from active ministry I tried not to bring my personal political views too blatantly into my sermons. My congregations included people of all political leanings. I did not want anyone to be hesitant to talk with me because we may be on different sides of a political issue or not hear the Gospel for fear of an outside agenda. I thought I did a reasonable job until at a fellowship hour after worship I was told that it was glaringly apparent that I was a liberal.
Save Us from the Time of Trial
I have been praying the Lord’s Prayer a lot these days. Time was when I prayed it mostly on Sundays during the worship service or as part of a committee meeting at church. But these days I pray the Lord’s Prayer several times a day. You see I’ve timed myself and it takes me 21.87 seconds to say the prayer out loud, just over the recommended time to spend washing one’s hands during this pandemic. Early on I tired of singing the birthday song or the alphabet song over and over again.
Good Fences
I recently attended a workshop on healthy boundaries. The denomination I serve requires people involved in active ministry to attend such an event every several years. The purpose of the workshop is to prepare and remind people working in the church to recognize and honor the boundaries of others and to protect our own boundaries. Anytime people enter into relationships with other people there arises a need to observe and defend the integrity of one another’s boundaries.
DISPENSARY WORKERS NOTE UNSAFE CONDITIONS DURING PANDEMIC AND ALWAYS
“Nobody was really wearing masks at all, then I kind of made a stink about it because I saw what was growing, the mold that was growing, and if you are going to be cleaning, you should have something protecting your face.” In January 2018, I wrote an article for DigBoston titled “Is there moldy cannabis in Mass?” It featured former employees from New England Treatment Access (NETA) turned whistleblowers, one of whom said, “Mold was an issue at both [NETA’s] Franklin cultivation center and the...
There Is a Season
I’ve been thinking lately about gardening. Perhaps it has arisen out of the article I wrote a week or so ago about gratitude. Perhaps it is because in the spring an old man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of sunshine and a warm breeze upon his face. Perhaps it has to do with a more primal call to turn soil and plant seed. Regardless, the thought of the garden is heavy on my mind as suddenly planting season is upon us.
Garden variety gratitude
I came across a poem on Facebook the other day. The poem is “Seed” from “Mysteries of the Home” by Paula Meehan. It caught my attention because the subject is the early spring garden. I fancy myself a gardener, but if that title is bestowed based on the efficient production of abundant produce I am unworthy of that honor. I believe I am entering the 60th year of apprenticeship with only the hope a gardener, or would-be-gardener, can muster for an abundant harvest this season.
COLLECTING PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT DONATIONS IN THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
“Every hospital I have volunteered with the last few days has a strong plan in place to treat the sick and is maintaining a strong positive, hopeful spirit.” Cheryl Nadolny has a bachelor of science degree in nursing and has studied infectious diseases. Her specialty as a nurse at one local hospital was wound care, while she currently works for a detox recovery outpatient group as a sobriety coach, and as a secretary for a recovery group on the North Shore.
50 medical docs warn of Massachusetts coronavirus emergency
Follow @theyoungjurks & @mikecannboston on Twitter & join The Young Jurks Facebook group We are ten days behind Italy which is forced to leave many elderly people to die, because they don't have enough equipment. If you are still working especially with the public, please stop immediately. Written by physicians in Boston.
NONI GOLDMAN OF FOUR TREES PUSHES FOR SOCIAL CONSUMPTION IN HOLYOKE
Noni Goldman got into the cannabis industry in 2016 with a 50,000-square-foot greenhouse.
Noni Goldman Of Four Trees Pushes For Social Consumption In Holyoke
Noni Goldman got into the cannabis industry in 2016 with a 50,000-square-foot greenhouse.
MIDNIGHT MASS: SOCIAL JUSTICE, HOUSING ARE PRIORITIES FOR FRESHLY ELECTED CITY POLS
>> Home / NEWS+OPINIONS / News / MIDNIGHT MASS: SOCIAL JUSTICE, HOUSING ARE PRIORITIES FOR FRESHLY ELECTED CITY POLS “You can’t speak up on the development issue if you are taking a lot of money from developers” On my live-streaming show and podcast The Young Jurks, we recently interviewed the faces of five winning municipal campaigns, four of whom were first-time candidates, about how they won their seats and what they hope to achieve in office.
THE MAINE EVENT: THE VAPE BAN IS ONLY THE LATEST REASON THAT IT’S WORTH TRAVELING OUT OF MASS FOR CANNABIS
>> Home / COLUMNS / MAINE EVENT: THE VAPE BAN IS ONLY THE LATEST REASON THAT IT’S WORTH TRAVELING OUT OF MASS FOR CANNABIS The Mass Department of Public Health has never been a friend to medical cannabis patients. In 2013, the DPH created regulations that effectively killed the state’s medical cannabis caregiver program. Back then, along with activist Michael Malta and other patients, I staged a demonstration outside of its office to protest the sabotage.
MASS CANNABIS MICROBUSINESS APPLICANTS DEMAND CHANGES
PHOTO VIA BEANTOWN GREENTOWN Frustrated with the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission’s application process and newly proposed delivery regulations, microbusiness applicants and their supporters are planning to rally at the State House this Wednesday, May 8, and have organized an online petition. According to their event page: Small Local Micro Business has been left out of the Massachusetts cannabis industry … We are gathering to show those in power that we will not remain silent.
THE DELIVERY MAN: HOW CANNABIS BUSTS HARM HOMEBOUND PATIENTS
Grant Smith of Belmont is a disabled medical cannabis patient advocate with a unique perspective on the value that unlicensed cannabis delivery services offer homebound patients. We interviewed him about why he’s pushing for big changes in the way that the state licenses operators. What conditions do you use medical cannabis for? I fell seriously disabled in May of 2014 due to complications following a surgery.
How to leverage stories and live video on social media
Social media usage is continuing to increase, spurring more innovation and ways to spread a company's message while providing a platform for companies to share educational industry news and re-purpose other assets.
VOMIT GOOD, CHRONIC BAD
>> Home / COLUMNS / VOMIT GOOD, CHRONIC BAD Boston politicians may love sports parades even more than they hate weed Depending on what you’re looking for in a spectacular, this month’s New England Patriots victory parade through Downtown Boston had it all—violent brawls, more than a dozen arrests, massive MBTA commuter delays, and fans relieving “‘themselves into bottles’ and leaving ‘foul puddles’ of piss on train floors.” If you said anything about it online, you were likely to be trolled...
Vomit Good, Chronic Bad
Boston politicians may love sports parades even more than they hate weed Depending on what you’re looking for in a spectacular, this month’s New England Patriots victory parade through Downtown Boston had it all—violent brawls, more than a dozen arrests, massive MBTA commuter delays, and fans relieving “‘themselves into bottles’ and leaving ‘foul puddles’ of piss on train floors.” If you said anything about it online, you were likely to be trolled relentlessly by dedicated Pats fans.
IMPAIRED LAWMAKING: BAKER, DELEO, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT LOBBY FOR NEW CANNABIS OUI LAWS
>> Home / COLUMNS / IMPAIRED LAWMAKING: BAKER, DELEO, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT LOBBY FOR NEW CANNABIS OUI LAWS Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and House Speaker Robert DeLeo are making a case for the Commonwealth to punish impaired cannabis drivers, and they’re seemingly doing so at the bequest of the law enforcement lobby.
RAPPERS + SUBSTANCE = W.O.K.E.
As individual MCs and with their other projects and collectives, Lateb and Oblivious have touched Greater Boston’s hip-hop scene in various capacities over the past several years, bridging the heady underground sound that has dominated around here since the aughts with more contemporary rap that bumps nationally. Collectively, however, they are W.O.K.E., touching on topics ranging from creeping fascism and artificial intelligence to prison and debt.
The marketing appeal of the PESO model
While each aspect of the PESO model - paid, earned, shared and owned - is different, they work together to garner results and create a cohesive message.
‘WE NEED TO PUT OUR MONEY THERE AND NOT ON PROSECUTION’
State Rep.-elect Nika Elugardo knows the dangers of illegal drug trade Sign up for our free newsletter at talkingjointsmemo.com and get all your cannabis news in one place While a lot of politicians claim to understand the war on drugs or the dangerous nature of illicit markets, State Rep.-elect Nika Elugardo has unique firsthand knowledge. Her dad was a dealer.
Why the dysfunctional family of marketing needs to be reworked
Everyone's family is a little dysfunctional. From pushy aunts to weird uncles and estranged cousins, we all have those odd relatives that just don't seem to be on the same page as the rest of the family. This is so prevalent, in fact, that Dave Ramsey said: "There's crazy in every family. If there's none in yours, it's probably you." This same type of dysfunction plays out in marketing programs across the country every day.
UCLA Football: Kelley, Kelly, and the Bruins Strike Gold
The UCLA football team managed to get their first win of the season as the Bruins dismantled the California Golden Bears behind a solid performance across the board.Berkeley, Calif. – It was a long time coming, but it finally happened. Under the tutelage of first-year head coach Chip Kelly, the UCLA football program claimed its first win of the 2018 season with a 37-7 victory over PAC-12 rival Cal.
A FAMILY THAT GROWS TOGETHER
After receiving city of Newburyport Planning Board approval for a special permit for a small cultivation business in August, it looked like RiverRun Gardens would be one of the first locally owned micro applicants to get licensed by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission. That was then and this is now.
A Family That Grows Together
Local family-run Riverrun Gardens still fighting for a license After receiving city of Newburyport Planning Board approval for a special permit for a small cultivation business in August, it looked like RiverRun Gardens would be one of the first locally owned micro applicants to get licensed by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission. That was then and this is now.
How brands can use video in their marketing
As video becomes more ingrained in a company's marketing strategy, it becomes easier to see other places it can be applied.
REP. CARVALHO TAKES HIGH ROAD IN DA'S CONTEST
A graduate of Madison Park High School, UMass Amherst, and Howard University School of Law who has represented the Fifth Suffolk District, including his home neighborhood of Dorchester, since 2014, Evandro Carvalho isn’t running for his seat on Beacon Hill again. Instead, the Cape Verdean immigrant is one of several lawyers and assorted politicians who are squaring up to fill the open seat that longtime Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley will leave vacant upon leaving office.
How market research drives successful launches
Launching a new product or service can be intimidating after investing substantial years and man-hours into development. A launch is a key defining moment for a company, and the stakes are high. It is important to make sure the key messages customers will receive are right, but sometimes there can be internal disagreements on what's the best thing to say to external audiences.
3 ways to advertise on social media
The most important thing to remember when marketing in 2018 is to meet your customer where they consume content.
3 ways to keep content marketing fresh in 2018
Content marketing should work with your other marketing strategies to produce one seamless plan.
IS THERE MOLDY CANNABIS IN MASS?
Anne Hassel had high hopes for a new career when she applied for a job serving medical marijuana patients at New England Treatment Access (NETA), a registered medical dispensary (RMD) in Massachusetts. A licensed physical therapist, she believes in the efficacy of cannabis and says that she appreciated how NETA was presented “as having a new business paradigm, one of worker input and responsive management.” That was then.
THE YEAR IN MASS CANNABIS
You might think that after ignoring voters and advocates for decades, a November 2016 ballot initiative that legalized marijuana—against the wishes of most elected officials in Massachusetts—would ring in a 2017 that was glorious for local reformers. But that’s just not how things work around here. Instead, the longstanding cannabis community was made to battle reefer-mad power brokers at every turn.
The Year In Mass Cannabis
As expected, the struggle continues in the recreational era You might think that after the ignoring of voters and advocates by politicians for decades, a November 2016 ballot initiative that legalized marijuana—against the wishes of most elected officials in Massachusetts—would ring in a 2017 that was glorious for local reformers. But that’s just not how things work around here. Instead, the longstanding cannabis community was made to battle reefer-mad power brokers at every turn.
WHY BOSTON DESPERATELY NEEDS A MAYOR OF CANNABIS
Most people know that last year, Massachusetts voters passed a ballot initiative to allow regulated sales of marijuana. What fewer people appear to realize, however, is that the same initiative also allows cities and towns to permit on-site consumption. By the end of 2018, the Commonwealth is expected to at least have open adult-use cannabis dispensaries similar to liquor stores.
STONEWALLED: MEET THE ACTIVISTS AND BUSINESSPEOPLE BACKING #DISOWNSTONE IN BOSTON
With upcoming events in Los Angeles and Boston, the Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition (CWCBE) is facing a boycott first proposed by influential leaders in the cannabis industry, among them members of the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA). Their primary grievance is a single, truly awful keynote speaker, Roger Stone, a self-described political dirty trickster who, in one of his most recent ugly feats, helped Donald Trump win the White House.
LION CHEF: TV COOK AND MC DANIEL PONTES-MACEDO BRINGS VICTORY HOME TO BOSTON
INTERVIEW BY MIKE CRAWFORD AND THE YOUNG JURKS @MIKECANNBOSTON A lot of people, myself included, always kind of knew that Daniel Pontes-Macedo would land in the spotlight. It’s in his blood, and was only a matter of time. Or rhyme. Or even thyme, as you might say, since he has been showing off his culinary skills on season eight of the Fox competition show MasterChef.
DAVE’S NOT HERE: HOW A PROTEST AT SPEAKER DELEO’S HOUSE BECAME A PROXY FOR POLITICAL POSITIONING ON CANNABIS
At the end of June, as Massachusetts lawmakers worked to dismantle the cannabis bill passed by voters last year, my team at the WEMF Radio show “The Young Jurks” announced that we were calling for a protest outside of House Speaker Bob DeLeo’s home in Winthrop. We expected some possible pushback, but we weren’t expecting it to come from MassCann/NORML.
DOWN TO THE WIRE: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CO-CHAIR OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON MARIJUANA POLICY
State Sen. Patricia Jehlen, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Marijuana Policy, gave a harsh reception to the truly awful House bill introduced last week which aims to mangle legal cannabis in Mass. The legislation, which was sponsored by the other chair of that committee, Rep. Mark Cusack, would have overturned the will of voters by, among other things, more than doubling the marijuana tax passed in November. I had the opportunity over the weekend to interview Sen.
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