The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

An Important Anniversary

Posted on | January 14, 2011 | 7 Comments

On this day a year ago, I arrived in Boston to cover the Scott Brown campaign. I’d taken a train from D.C. — leaving at 3 a.m. — and arrived at 11 a.m. in downtown Boston where I was picked up by Pete Da Tech Guy, whom I’d never met before. The tales of what ensued over the next six days — yea, verily! — they are the stuff of legend.

Because I couldn’t afford a hotel (hell, I could barely afford the train fare) Pete let me crash on his sofa in Fitchburg. He drove me wherever I wanted to go. He took me to restaurants and rallies and churches. He introduced me to people who became sources for some of my stories. And he turned out to be quite a resourceful reporter himself. He has that rare and essential journalistic skill, the ability to strike up conversations with complete strangers.

Pete is, as his nom de blog suggests, a computer technician by trade. He’d been laid off from his job and was doing whatever PC repair jobs he could hustle up while trying to find another job. He wasn’t blogging with the idea of making a living at it. But over the course of the past year, he applied himself to the task with tremendous ardour.

And he prayed diligently.

Lo and behold, he is not only an increasingly successful blogger, but also a columnist for the Examinerhis latest column just got the ‘Lanche — and he has now started his own Saturday night radio show on Worcester’s WCRN 830 AM, a 50,000-watt powerhouse. (All presidential candidates need to know that Pete’s show reaches all over New Hampshire, and his advertising rates are surprisingly affordable.)

Go visit Da Tech Guy — and be sure to hit Da Tip Jar!

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