NOTE: This post is a little late (I wrote it October 13)  but in some ways it still applies because it is cold and rainy in Boston today too on October 20. As of today, Thursday Oct 20, Occupy Boston is in need of bales of hay. Probably to stem the tide of a lot of rain in the past few days.

I was taking the ferry from Provincetown, and it was a windy and rainy day. I biked off the ferry bringing some tarps from the hardware store and a loaf of portuguese bread. When I told the staff at the hardware store about this they were all thumbs up for Occupy Boston and were very supportive.

astrodime delivery of tarp and portuguese sweetbread

I talked to Andy at the Logistics tent and asked him a few questions about his role. I asked him what the most challenging part of his role was and he said “the rain”. I asked him what they might need more of, and he said “good weather”. But he did say moms in minivans have been dropping off food and much needed necessities.  This weekend, Occupy Boston did get better weather on the weekend, but now the rain is back. Word is that they need raincoats, not the poncho that Andy is wearing because those don’t work that well.

Andy at Logistics, Occupy Boston

In addition I took some other pictures which I am sharing. Below is a picture of “main street”. I was standing next to a reporter for New England Cable News Network (NECN) and he was preparing his copy..”the road to main street is lined with plywood”. He seemed pretty supportive.

main street, Occupy Boston

the sign says it all

I know that the Massachusetts Teacher’s Association supports Occupy Boston, but you can see from the sign that it is pretty rainy..anyone out there in the rain is pretty supportive. I know that the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) supports the Occupy movement as well.

As I walked around, I noticed there were so many reporters on the scene at the time..some dressed in suits, standing next to their cameras. Here’s one now looking for the media tent.

"Where's the tent?"

Below is a long shot of the encampment. if you want to read more about the protest this past weekend, look at AstroDime correspondant Gina Kamentsky’s post right before this one. And hope for some sun later today for Occupy Boston!

-sam smiley

wide shot, oct 13 2011

Some of the graphics that are being produced as this movement grows are wonderful, the image above is a condensed version of a fold out ( it’s 36″ long” and hard to scan!) that I was given by a member of the American Friends Service Committiee. The impact of this was immediate and powerful. Another image I love is this flag which is popping up all over the place.

Finally, here’s an interesting juxtaposition caught near South Station at the end point of the march. I love the multi layered meaning which emerges here.

trusty bike basket with stencils and chalk

I thought a lot of the impact of social media on this gathering..lots of hand held signs but very few flyers. A media tent. And despite what the mainstream media says, a pretty coherent message..i really don’t think “anarchy” is a good way to describe this, although it is the word that mainstream media and “spinners” of the story are saying. Not everyone is holding the same sign but they generally seem to be there for the same reason..the effect of the economy problems of the U.S. on the largest groups of people, while the ruling class emerges unscathed from any financial disasters.

Here is where I am getting my information:
Twitter is most up to date:
#OccupyBoston

A great news site, I love how they “occupied” the Globe concept.
http://occupybostonglobe.com/

And the Occupy Boston web site proper
http://occupyboston.com/

various posters on a tent

I saw lots of these posters

Dewey Square Oct 11 4pm

119 gallery screening

The first one was at 119 gallery in conjunction with its show titled “Ecology”. We showed work by Mexican artist Gilberto Esparza, and a collaboration that animator Karen Aqua and musician Ken Fields made with the Sidney Gutierrez Middle School in Roswell, New Mexico. This also featured an interview with biologist David Morimoto on urban ecologies.

Ecology show opening

The second screening will be at the Helltown Workshop in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and in addition to including the above works, it will include an edit of “La Jam del Sur”, a graffiti party in Buenos Aires, and a video on the incoming tides in Hatches’ Harbor in Provincetown. It will be on Tuesday August 9 at 8:00 PM, in conjunction with the work of Joey Mars.

Here’s a link for more info!

AstroDime is proud to say that we will be presenting a 20 minute preview of Intransit V.7: Ecology y Callejero.

Check at the 119 Gallery web site for more info!

http://www.119gallery.org/?p=6073

Here’s our preview of the preview. Come take a look!

Oscar Aranda is the founding member of the Sociedad Ecología de Occidente. He is a biologist, and his work currently revolves around saving sea turtle eggs from the busy tourist beach of Puerto Vallarta.  His partner Mar Zuloaga Lopéz is the marketing director. The following is a video taking in the spring of 2011. For more info, or to donate or ask questions, go to http://www.vallartanature.org/.

QUESTION 1: If you had an iCAN (TM), how often would you use it and what would you use it for?

Only as often as necessary

I’d use it to sing to myself and test my own reaction to my lectures. I’d use it several times a day. (5 to 10 times)

At least once a day for meditating on difficult problems.

Secret meetings with myself.

During lent for confession.

I do wish I had a pipe-based trans-home communication system.
Control of personal soundscape

Often, for whispering sweet nothings at my neighbors who shout back and forth at each other across the street. (Quiet by example)

I don’t think I would use it.

Once in a while, not very often.

Looks like it has multiple uses -a quick plumbing solution -2nd communications, after all has a lot in common with plumbing.

Very frequently

Frequently unknown confidential conversation.

Testing quality, timbre or my own voice.

I mean, I can’t imagine a time during the day when I wouldn’t be using the

I’ll use it always as a necklace, and would be able to communicate all the time.

Once a week at parties.

All the time for everything.