Flying High! by NCFO

[david-grana.livejournal.com]

Today is the last day of the American premier of Flying High by the North Cambridge Family Opera. In short, Flying High is the story of a wildly successful but unhappy pop star and a band just starting out, and how they both seek fulfillment in the unscrupulous world of the music industry. As with all NCFO productions, the cast is an ensemble of kids and adults and great entertainment for people of all ages. There are two shows today: 1 PM and 5 PM, though I recommend the 1 PM one since my wife is participating in it :) Admission is free, but donations of $10 for adults and $5 for kids are highly recommended and encouraged.

We hope to see you there!

March Mapping Madness! (in April)

[kgradow1.livejournal.com]

Next weekend, Parts and Crafts is teaming up with the Public Laboratory for Open Science and Technology  (PLOTS) for a day of balloon mapping and aerial photography in Somerville.

When: Saturday, April 7, from 10 am - 1 pm
Where: Hodgkins Park   (Holland Ave, between Davis and Teele Squares)
Who: Kids, adults, and everyone in between.
Cost: Free! (rsvp at http://bit.ly/Hz5bvI so we know you're coming!)

Some of you may be familiar with our previous attempts at aerial mapping. We're trying again, this time with a better anchoring system  (and a little help from our friends). 

What is grassroots mapping? It's an inexpensive way to make high quality maps, using balloons, kites, cameras, and simple map-knitting software.

How does it work? By attaching a small camera shooting in continuous mode to a balloon or a kite, you can take high-quality photos of your neighborhood, town, or city and then "knit" them together into a map using the free software Mapknitter.    For this Saturday, we'll be using a weather balloon, a rig made out of a plastic bottle, a cheap point-and-shoot camera, and a lot of string. Details here: http://publiclaboratory.org/tool/balloon-mapping

Why make our own maps? Maps are often used by those in power to exert influence over territory, or control territorial narratives. "Grassroots mapping" attempts to invert this dynamic by using maps as a mode of communication and as evidence for an alternative, community-owned definition of a territory. PLOTS got its start in grassroots mapping by mapping the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf Coast, putting cameras on balloons in the Gulf Coast and working with the Louisiana Bucket Brigade to document damage that was underreported by the state. (modified from PLOTS website)

How do I get involved? Come to the mapping next Saturday at Hodgkins Park! If you're on this list but not in Boston, you can also check out the March Madness site to find a training in your area: http://publiclaboratory.org/madness    

Powder House Circle traffic violations

[somerfriend.livejournal.com]

I've grown increasingly alarmed at the cars running red lights at Powder House Circle.  You take your life into your own hands crossing through there.   Having a walk signal isn't enough to ensure you will survive, you have to make sure no cars are close enough to reach you if they don't decide to stop for their red light.  I shudder to think how dangerous it would be to cross if one was a senior or not able to move quickly.

I realize the design of the rotary is somewhat confusing for the driver and somewhat easy to miss the traffic light as they go around the circle, but I don't really care, one of the most basic part of driving is obeying traffic lights and not injuring people.  

So I guess I'll take this to an alderman, or resistat, or the committee on traffic or something.  Just wondering if there have been efforts in the past.  It seems to me a camera should be installed there and fines issued.  Could be a revenue generator for the city.