Spanning the Web

Taking you around the internet for your afternoon enjoyment.

Ethics ruin everybody’s fun: A Big Dig contractor is being investigated by the State Ethics Commission for allegedly giving Red Sox tickets to a senior inspector who was permitting the contractor’s work. [WCVB]

Cue the outrage in 3, 2, 1: Universal Hub readers are upset that the MBTA police are conducting random bag searches today for a training drill. So much for a T police official’s assertion that, “No one ever seems to get too upset about it.” [Universal Hub]

Zero to hero: Advocacy group Pre-K Now labeled Gov. Deval Patrick a “hero” for putting $15 million in the budget to expand the state’s early education program. Last year, the agency criticized him for not fulfilling his campaign promise to increase funding. [Boston.com]

Newton North gets more expensive: Newton’s aldermen approved an additional $56.3 million for the state-of-the-art high school. The additional funds mean the school may cost as much as $197.5 million. [Newton Tab]

And here’s what Bostonista and Chowder have for you.

Where did we put that damn lip balm? We’ll never suffer through chapped lips again now that we have the Very Intelligente Pocket.

Yogurt, wine, and paintings: Just another week of events in Boston’s restaurants.