Community Powered Wi-Fi

Posted by Marc at 7:09 pm Activism, Invention, computer, eletronics 1 Response »
Feb 282009

The Personal Telco Project is a Portland nonprofit dedicated to the idea that people should have a bigger say in how their electronic networks are operated.

They began in 2000 by turning people’s houses and apartments into wireless hotspots (or “nodes”), and then set about building networks in public locations such as parks and coffee shops. If you’ve tried to connect to a wireless network while at a local cafe, chances are you’ve connected to one of these.

Here’s a google map that shows the expansive reach of their current nodes (green) and also locations that are listed as a potential note (yellow):


View Larger Map

Zoom out and you’ll see that the network reaches into Gresham, Beaverton, and Vancouver, Washington.  There is a more interactive map on their website.

How does it work? Their website describes the network as simply local businesses and individuals who have voluntarily opted to share their wireless signal. Participants only need to modify their router settings to unlock access and let members of the community know that they are part of the Personal Telco network. This makes your network public but Personal Telco volunteers can help you if you want to keep parts of your network private. With a grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust, volunteers have also been able to initiate new hotspots:

Personal Telco believes that telecommunications should be driven by the community, not corporations. Companies like Comcast, for example, can set very high rates for their internet services, partially due to a legal loophole by defining what they offer as “entertainment” rather than communications. Legalese does a very good job of illustrating how the corporate world has no interest in the participatory potential of new technologies.

Like many cities, Portland has watched wireless initiatives come and go, with MetroFi being one of the larger services to end its operations last year. The private company won the city’s bid to cover the metropolitan area but their business model of using advertising to fund their service had failed. The network they began to build around Portland has left a number of their transmitters behind, which has led some to suggest that a community-driven effort, such as Personal Telco, put them to good use. The hardware will be considered forfeit if MetroFi does not remove them by April, which is very unlikely at this point. Continue reading »

Weekly Updates for 2009-02-22

Posted by admin at 7:25 pm twitter No Responses »
Feb 222009

R.I.P. Gocco

Posted by Marc at 1:40 am Arts, zines 2 Responses »
Feb 172009

Times are tough for “analog,” or non-digital, media these days.  Last year, Polaroid announced it was ending production of its namesake cameras and film.  As supplies run thin, many enthusiasts are racing to find the last caches of film, and paying hefty prices for them.

shuju-ocac-class2

Photo: Gretchin Lair

As personal computers make a easier and cheaper tool for self-publishing, enthusiasts are saying goodbye to another lesser-known, but equally-cherished product: Gocco.  The Gocco is a tiny printing machine brought to us by the Japanese Riso company and a favorite of DIY printmakers.  To find out more about the device and its demise, I spoke with two master Gocco printers at Portland’s Independent Publishing Resource Center, Gretchin Lair and Shu-Ju Wang.

“It’s a very easy to use silkscreen printing system that uses flash bulbs to expose pre-coated screens,” says Wang.  “You can go from artwork, through exposure and inking, to print, in 5 minutes or less. It’s also very portable and suitable for small workspaces.”  “I say the Gocco is magic!” adds Lair. “Its many geniuses include using non-toxic materials to print & clean up and the ability to print with multiple colors on the same screen (which avoids registrations hassles). ”

save_goccoFor a few years, Riso had been theatening the end of its product, and the Gocco community responded with a “Save Gocco” campaign that seemed to keep hope alive.  The Wurst Gallery, an online gallery based out of Portland, held a show at the time to raise awareness and exhibit the work of local Gocco artists.  But last Summer the last machines rolled off the line, with inks soon to follow.

I asked Lair and Wang a few more questions to see how they’re dealing with the final nail in Gocco’s coffin.

What is your favorite way to use Gocco?

Edible Gocco Crepes

Edible Gocco Crepes, Photo: Gretchin Lair

Shu-Ju Wang: I’m not sure that I can list ONE favorite way to use the Gocco, they’re all my favorites. You can do very ‘traditional’ Gocco printing — graphic images on card sized paper — this is very functional, very utilitarian. You can print a lot of greeting cards or business cards very quickly. But I also love the different ways you can expand beyond that — CMYK printing; printing over-sized prints (larger than the print bed will allow); printing with an open screen; printing on food using edible inks. I’ve used all of these techniques to create fine prints and artist’s books (well, except for the printing on food part). I’ve produced and editioned about 40 prints and artist’s books since 1999. Actually probably more. I love to teach the Gocco too. It’s always so priceless when you pull the first print and you hear everyone gasp.

Gretchin Lair: I love making cards, but I’ve probably printed on food more than I’ve printed on paper! For instance, I’ve printed a poem onto crepes for an “Edible Book Tea” party, and one year I printed a big bowl of “unnecessary” quotes onto mini pancakes for the IPRC Text Ball. Continue reading »

Weekly Updates for 2009-02-15

Posted by admin at 11:59 pm twitter No Responses »
Feb 152009
  • Mini Bike Winter has begun! http://zoobomb.net/minibikewinter/ #
  • Artists, musicians, and other cultural workers are gathering at People’s Coop Saturday 10am to address the economic & global warming crises #
  • The Masked Biker has posted to the Portland Mercury’s I, Anonymous: http://tinyurl.com/az8qfv #
  • What happened to Critical Mass in Portland? http://tinyurl.com/dd8eco #
  • Radical childcare collective forming in Portland: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2009/02/386320.shtml #
  • Just sent my press request to cover SXSW Interactive #
  • File-sharers can be just as protective of the content they handle: http://tinyurl.com/c3c4h4 #
  • First round of Amish Friendship Bread is in the oven! #
  • Portland Street Medics have renamed themselves “Rosehip Street Medic Collective” and they have numerous gatherings planned for February. #
  • The Independent Publishing Resource Center will begin offering screen printing classes this month: http://iprc.org/calendar.php#2.27 #
  • Upcoming brews of DIY brewer, Captured By Porches, include Red Emma Lager, Bavarian DunkelWeizen, Return of the Roggenbier, and White Rye. #
  • Bike Polo Championships coming to PDX March 7th-8th, reports @BikePortland #
  • Another spotting of “bike phantom” masked hero in Portland – this time helping a biker with a flat. #
  • Lightbar day 2 brings performance of Terry Riley’s “In C”. Photos here: http://flickr.com/photos/shootityourself/sets/72157613466235104/ #

A Restaurant Worker's Survival Guide

Posted by Marc at 10:22 pm Activism, Arts, Reviews, zines 2 Responses »
Feb 112009

On this site I hope to provide reviews of a variety of publications and other work of interest to the DIY community.  If you have a zine or other related work you’d like reviewed, feel free to send a copy.

Know Your RIghts!

From the Portland Restaurant Workers Association

For my first review, I am recommending Know Your Rights!: A Restaurant Worker’s Survival Guide.  This publication was recently published by the Portland Restaurant Workers Association (PRWA), which describes itself as “a community group of workers committed to promoting Solidarity, Support, & Education among food service workers in our city.”  The PRWA also recently teamed up with the Portland Central America Solidarity Committee to offer low-cost, highly interactive Spanish Language/Conversation classes, which you can learn more about here.

The small guide makes a handy resource to refer to, whether you’re unemployed, going through the hiring process, on the job, or getting fired.  At 1/4 page size, it’s also almost small enough to store in your back pocket.

Inside, the restaurant workers who wrote the zine present some resources for employment, legal services, and heath care, both local and national.  It also offers legal information that your employer is less likely to inform you of, such as your rights to be paid, and the terms for taking leave when you or a family member has a serious health condition or is the victim of a crime.  Of particular interest to restaurant workers is the issue of tips.  The guide points out that Oregon law does not address tips and even the U.S. Department of Labor fails to enforce federal regulations in the state.  The PRWA wants to hear more from restaurant workers about their experience with tips.  You can send your story to them at contact@pdxrwa.org.

Know Your Rights!: A Restaurant Worker’s Survival Guide is available to view at the Independent Publishing Resource Center.  You can also contact PRWA at contact@pdxrwa.org to get your own copy.  They plan to hold discussion forums this year to distribute, discuss, and receive feedback about the pamphlet.

Amish Friendship Bread

Posted by Marc at 6:15 pm Food and Drink 8 Responses »
Feb 112009
bag-friendship-bread

Yum!

Recently I was approached at a party by a stranger with a freezer bag filled with an odd substance.  He said it was for making bread and he would like to give it to me.  Normally I might be a little cautious about accepting plastic bags full of unfamiliar substances but he went on to explain that it was a starter culture to make a kind of sourdough bread.

Why was he giving this to me?  The recipe is actually designed so that the ingredients must be multiplied and then the larger mixture divided up so it grows among friends exponentially.  Pretty much the culinary equivalent of a chain letter.  This recipe didn’t warn me about being struck by lightning if I failed to pass it on, however:

** Do not use any type of metal spoon or bowl for the mixture
** Do not refrigerate the mixture
** As air gets in the bag, let it out.  It is normal for the batter to rise and ferment.

DAY 1 – Do nothing
DAY 2 – Mash the bag
DAY 3 – Mash the bag
DAY 4 – Mash the bag
DAY 5 – Mash the bag
DAY 6 – Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk – then mash the bag
DAY 7 – Mash the bag
DAY 8 – Mash the bag
DAY 9 – Mash the bag
DAY 10 – Pour the entire contents of the bag into a non-metal bowl.  Add 1 1/2 cups of flour, 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 1 1/2 cups milk and stir with a non-metal spoon.

baking-amish-friendshipbreadMeasure out 4 separate 1-cup portions of batter into gallon bags.  Keep a starter for yourself and give the others to friends with a copy of the recipe.  If you keep a bag for yourself, you will be making bread every 10 days.  This bread is very good and makes a great gift.  Only the Amish know how to create the starter.  If you should give all of them away, you will have to wait until someone gives you one back.  If a starter is not passed on to a friend on the 1st day, be certain to tell them which day the bag is on when you give it to them. Continue reading »

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