Massachusetts

The taste of the water:

I cannot discern any taste or smell at all in filtered Boston tap water, which is perfect for me.

The Boston accent:

The Boston accent is much less pronounced than it used to be I haven't heard anyone who sounds like JFK, not even his brother, Ted. Even Ted's accent was more obvious than most people I run into daily. You can still hear some accent in people from certain parts of town, but not as strong as JFK's. More like Ben Affleck in Good Will Hunting.

I am sorry about that because I have always loved the variety of American accents. I think broadcasting may be causing us all to sound more like each other, along with more people moving from one state and region to another.

Boston Harbor

When I first moved to Boston, I occasionally met widows of men who had actually earned a living and supported-their children by fishing off the piers in Boston proper. They, their wives and their children ate the fish, too.

By the 60's, the filth in the harbor had entered pop culture, via a novel and a song.

By the time Dukakis ran for President, Poppy used the condition of Boston harbor to claim that Poppy had a better environmental record than Dukakis.

Surrounding cities sued. Finally, Judge A. David Mazzone, a federal district court judge, ordered the Boston harbor clean up after the federal government sued. Mazzone is now buried on Deer Island in Boston harbor, the site of the sewage plant that played a pivotal role in the clean up. (I guess it was supposed to be an honor?)

The clean up occurred well before I moved to Boston From everything I've heard, though, the change was dramatic. But, there are still no fish in Boston harbor

But, there are still no fish in Boston harbor.

And, how could I not.....