Melrose, MA|News|
Five Things to Start Your Black Friday
A few facts, figures and tidbits before heading out with the other crazed shoppers.

About Chris
Email: Chris.Caesar@patch.com
Phone: 781-606-4139
Hometown: Hampton, NH
Birthday: July 5
Beat: Editor for Malden Patch
Chris was born in New York but moved to his adopted hometown of Hampton, NH when he was nine years old. He's taken the whole New England thing wicked friggin' serious ever since.
He graduated from Clark University with a degree in international relations and philosophy, and has masqueraded as a journalist ever since, in both Southern California and New Hampshire.
This is a major plus, as he possesses no other marketable skills.
Your Beliefs:
“Facts are stubborn things.” - John Adams
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism.
However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.
This disclosure is not a license for us to inject our beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way.
And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Politics:
“Politics is the shadow cast on society by big business.” - John Dewey
"Every government is run by liars and nothing they say should be believed." - I.F. Stone
I am a left-leaning libertarian, in the sense that I want to preserve human liberty but also envision a free society in which we progressively tax the rich – sorry, rich dudes. Basically, I want the government and other institutions to stay the hell out of my personal life, and also feel international corporations will be more of a threat to liberty in the long-run than any government.
I have voted for Nader in every Presidential election, though the votes were in Massachusetts and California – had I lived in a swing state, I admit it would've been a harder decision.
Religion:
"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything." - Nietzsche
I'm an agnostic atheist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnostic_atheism), or as Richard Dawkins once summarized: “I am agnostic only to the extent that I am agnostic about fairies at the bottom of the garden.”
That being said, I am always up for a friendly discussion about the metaphysical, and have a long-standing invitation to any proselytizer at my doorstep to come inside for a cup of coffee.
A few facts, figures and tidbits before heading out with the other crazed shoppers.

A few facts, figures and tidbits before heading out with the other crazed shoppers.
Books make great holiday gifts. Give your loved ones these books as stocking stuffers this holiday season.
Find out what places are open and closed on Thanksgiving in Malden.
The Chinese singer wowed audiences in Malden this week.
Officials say the new equipment will mean timelier and less costly responses to reports of tagging in the city.
The mayor told WCVB news that the city has no appropriate zones for the operation of such a facility.
The 125th anniversary of the Thanksgiving rivalry will be broadcast live on the city's website for the first time this year.
If you could open one kind of business in the city, what would you do?
Start your holiday shopping at locally owned stores during Small Business Saturday.
Start your holiday shopping at locally owned stores during Small Business Saturday.
Missed come coverage? Here are our top stories this week:
News from communities near Melrose. Click on the links to read more.
News from communities near Malden. Click on the links to read more.
The company, well-known for its Twinkies, Wonder Bread and cupcakes, announced it was going out of business today. Customers are making last minute runs to the local Malden store for some liquidation deals.
Tell us which photo you think best represents Malden.
Melrose-based Busy Bee Bakery and their boca negra and hand painted cookies will be featured during a food segment on Channel 5's Chronicle on Tuesday, Nov. 20.
Do you hate Pay As You Throw? Contribute your views for a solution on the city's new survey.