BEAN COUNTER: VOLUME 15, ISSUE 4

In his annual state of Massachusetts address Governor Deval Patrick proposed a 5 percent, semi-annual increase to all MBTA, turnpike, tunnel, and bridge fares and tolls. Hey, on the bright side, that extra moolah will means we won’t ever have to endure a half-dozen “Out of Service” buses driving on by in below zero degree weather, right, Deval? Right? MINUS 9

A city solicitor continues to draft an ordinance that would ban Styrofoam take-out containers from Somerville in an attempt to rid the area of any offensive, unhealthy, or environmentally harmful items. Bros beware. PLUS 2

Hurting for cash after his video game start-up declared bankruptcy, former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling will be selling his iconic bloody sock from the 2004 World Series in an online auction. Schilling would sell the pair, but the damn thing went missing in the dryer. MINUS 1

Massachusetts’s lawmakers proposed a bill to prevent the mislabeling of seafood. Suspicion of this mishandling came about when lawmakers realized the gas station sushi they ate was not in fact “fish.” PLUS 3

Boston College’s marching band will perform in the Inaugural Parade in Washington
D.C. on Monday. This, reportedly, gives students a leg up in the bragathon with
Boston University. MINUS 2

A Watertown resident attempted to pay off a fine with counterfeit bills and was promptly arrested … and then deported because it turns out he had been in the country illegally. Shoulda quit when you were only slightly behind, bud. EVEN

THIS WEEK’S TOTAL: MINUS 7

LAST WEEK’S TOTAL: PLUS 5