When people find out that I advocate for low-power community radio the first question they ask is, “How far do those stations go?” I tell them, the beauty of community radio is not how far it reaches but how deep it reaches. A quick example:
June 12 2008 | sound & image and on communication | No Comments »
“What would my brother- a US Ranger currently on duty in Iraq- think of me and my seven year old daughter being a shield for an Iraqi-born anti-war artist?” I asked myself as she and I took a step closer to each other tightly holding hands as we moved through the crowd of angry protesters outside the aptly named Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy on Monday night. Earlier that day I received an email from the Sanctuary informing me that the Iraqi born Waffaa Bilal’s art had been censored by the President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and consequently the exhibit was moved to the Sanctuary where protesters gathered outside. The protest was called publicly by the Troy Commissioner of Public Works, Bob Mirch. Subsequently, the Sanctuary- a beautiful church being lovingly restored- was closed in what appear to be spurious code violations.
March 18 2008 | undoing violence and on communication | No Comments »
For the seven.1 people in the world- you know who you are- who are super interested in the fascinating but small vanguard we call Community Networks– I bring you an interview with Bill Comisky. Bill is an antenna designer in Chicago who moonlights as a volunteer on two community based networks in Chicago. When I* interviewed him in March, one network was “dark” — that is turned off- and the other network was humming along. He gave me his take why both projects chose open source software, the appeal to volunteer on community technology projects, asset building from the ground up, and the struggle to keep one net going and get another back up. (*A chipmunk named Betty actually conducted the interview.)
October 17 2007 | sound & image and on communication | No Comments »
“I’m hoping a series of feminist interventions will erupt from shesgeeky like a labia majora in all its glory.”
On a nearly daily basis, I feel the disconnect between the very arbitrary and abstract places that my work takes me and the larger questions that tug at my heart. How in the world is municipal broadband infrastructure remotely related to questions of economic empowerment or social justice - never mind Gender Equity! continue reading »
October 16 2007 | feminist interventions in geek culture and on communication | 1 Comment »
I have to credit my angry teenage daughter for helping me realize that when gender and technology mix, *disempowered* is often interpreted as *disinterested.* She also gets major credit for solving her own problems with a bit of active resistance.
When my daughter Manda was a freshman in high-school she came home excited because her technology class was about to spend several weeks playing with cool programmable robots. But before I explain the ensuing disappointment she suffered, the agony, soul searching and eventual victory– let me take a self-congratulating minute to give myself props for having raised a girl who likes to play with robots. How did I do it? continue reading »
October 14 2007 | feminist interventions in geek culture and on communication | 1 Comment »
Here is a somewhat edited recording- a rough cut that will be edited into a larger piece- of the The Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour. I took this tour in 2002 as part of the Lackawanna Ambassadors program. Our tour guide was a retired miner who worked in the Drifts about 100 miles south of Scranton. The most exciting part of the audio for me are the ambient sounds. I will use them wantonly throughout the edited piece. Lee the tour guide is everything that you want in a tour guide, a knowledgeable and authentic sounding character. Lee gives the dish on mining terminology, what causes the most fatalities in mines, proper blasting technique, and other sordid details of life underground. Note that the parts when everyone gets quiet– that’s when we are descending and ascending underground in complete darkness.
Feel free to use this rough cut for non-commercial purposes. If you do use it, please drop me a line and let me know for goodness sakes what use you were able to put it to.
September 28 2007 | mining and sound & image | No Comments »
Recently my father informed me there is a big difference between Open Source and Open Sores. How many others are confused by these gifts that keep on giving?
September 12 2007 | humour and on communication | No Comments »
A favorite old blues song heavily altered by Jerome Lindberg. Me singing and on guitar.
May 22 2007 | sound & image | 1 Comment »
Writing, singing, playing, recording and editing all performed by the little red hen right in her very own kitchen studio.
Feel free to use for non-commercial share alike porpoises.
May 28 2006 | personal writings and sound & image | No Comments »
Dear Faculty and Students,
In consultation with the Board of Trustees, out President has determined the path to excellence in spite of our current budget crisis. We expect that these innovative measures will both enhance the quality of education demanded by our university community as well as save us millions. continue reading »
October 21 2005 | humour and personal writings | No Comments »
