Tag: somerville

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Communique 017, the last on Boston Free Radio, airs today!

Good morning, Unsettlers. Apologies for the lack of updates here! A few weeks back, The Unsettler became a twice-monthly podcast, rather than a weekly podcast, as there was simply too much research, art-making, and prep work to be done between communiques. As of August, The Unsettler will be on hiatus from regular broadcasting, doing DIY communiques as inspiration strikes and time allows.

Don’t fret! The backlog will stay available via SoundCloud and iTunes, even as the show moves away from live material.

Please tune in for our final BostonFreeRadio installment this evening at 6 p.m. ET to hear a great interview with candidate for Somerville Ward 3 Alderman, Ben Ewen-Campen that covers radical and progressive battles in and outside of local mainstream politics.

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New schedule for live communiques, podcasts

Hello Unsettlers!

You may have noticed a lack of activity here, which is the result of other projects taking up a good portion of my time this month. I’m scaling back The Unsettler to accommodate these other creative outlets, and hoping to keep (improve, even) the quality of future installments of the NEU.

The 1st, 3rd, and occasional 5th Monday of each month, you’ll be able to catch The Unsettler on BostonFreeRadio.com at 5 p.m. ET; 2nd and 4th Mondays will be reruns. That means you can expect new podcast updates twice monthly on our SoundCloud and iTunes (leave a review and rating, if you have a moment).

Thanks for your support!
Eljasz

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Communique 011: Human Tater Tots of the Alt-Right

Stream or download on SoundCloud or iTunes.

Another bullshit week in suck city with Elias and Athena.

Talking Points: Starting on time is weird; maker space? I barely even know her space!; DIY stab vests; Athena enlists in the Pride military; the top of my nose; disingenuity; LAN party politics; Mother-Daughter Forklift Race 2017; National Mamas Bailout Day; FRIT ain’t SHIT; Wake Up the Earth; Reportback: Rally Boston to Stand Against Hate; the human tater tots of the alt-right; Comey sent homey; Spicer beats around the bush; once, twice, three times *totally not* under investigation; comrade Trump?!; community engagement; Rate! That! Praxis!; interesting reads; the return of Hoagy Carmichael.

Related Links:
Black Lives Matter is bailing out women for Mother’s Day (Brandon E. Patterson, Mother Jones)
Somerville Got Astroturfed (Matt Lavallee, Medium)
A free speech clash on the Common (Nicole Fleming, The Boston Globe)
Drinking From the Cup of Fascist Tears: Boston Report Back (It’s Going Down)
After James Comey’s Firing, Who Will Stop Trump’s Tinpot Dictatorship? (Mehdi Hasan, The Intercept)
After Trump fired Comey, White House staff scrambled to explain why (Jenna Johnson, The Washington Post)
Trump to send arms to Kurdish YPG in Syria (Al Jazeera)
Richard Spencer Was My High-School Classmate (Graeme Wood. The Atlantic)
French workers protest by ‘booby-trapping’ plant (Al Jazeera)

 

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Communique 010: Live from the Middle of the Muff

Communique 010 is up now! Athena and Elias discuss seizing the memes of production, and the week in absurd bullshit.

Talking points: The one that went away; weld-done, Tungsten Notaro; professional segue derailer; soda pop-ulism; fruit goth; flavorblast the state; new musiiiiiic; indoor brocialists doin’ the dew; Pepe is dead/long live Pepe!; s/o to Matt Furie; Jay Babcock’s NEW’sletter; quis troll ipsos trolls; #BostonRally; the return of Hot Cops; Alton Sterling’s killers go free while a woman faces a year in prison for laughing at Jeff Sessions; I apologize (I don’t apologize); affordable housing struggles in JP/Rox and Somerville; Day of Deluge; more FKJ PhD/NEU crossover; what is late-stage capitalism?; a manual macaron; Democracy Now feat. Anthony Kiedis; everything is terrible.

Special thanks to musicians Ross Ingram (Magic Landing), Thick Shakes, Beware the Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion, Dan Gonzales, Chris and Horsewind.

New Mountain Dew – DEW.S.A (Mtn. Dew Kid)
Pepe the Frog creator kills off internet meme co-opted by white supremacists (Elle Hunt, The Guardian)
Day of Deluge: Call Mayor Joe ALL DAY
Rally Boston to Stand Against Hate
Officers Won’t Be Charged in Black Man’s Shooting Death in Louisiana (Rebecca R. Ruiz, The New York Times)
Woman found guilty and faces year in jail for laughing at Jeff Sessions (Clark Mindock, The Independent)
Why the Phrase ‘Late Capitalism’ Is Suddenly Everywhere (Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic)
French election results: The maps and charts that explain how Macron beat Le Pen to become President (The Telegraph)
Focus shifts to Senate after House GOP passes health-care bill (The Washington Post)
Edward Crawford: Ferguson, Mo., Activist in Iconic Photo Found Dead From Gunshot Wound (Kirsten West Savali, The Root)
Mysterious death of New York judge was initially called a suicide. Now, police think it’s suspicious (Barbara Demick, The LA Times)
11 Things Every Anarchist Should Be Doing (Justin King, The Fifth Column)

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Communique 008: Happy Belated Inhalants Day!

Aaand we’re back! Elias and Athena bring you another weekly roundup of late capitalist fuckery as the masses clamber for fully automated luxury queer space communism. Download or stream Communique 008 on SoundCloud or iTunes!

Talking points: Post-Patriots; Back from the Brink; Narcy Narc; Running Far, Slowly, for Free; .8 of a host does 0% research; internshit; sway (not power); floor sweepings in the Nazi cola; Raytheon–whatta crazy feelin’; Trump: war profiteer; when a Father of All Bombs and a Mother of All Bombs love each other very much; energy chunks; vote for Ben Ewen-Campen; shocking developments; libertarian municipalism; Make AntiFa Sexy Again?!; who’s in their lane; Happy Belated Inhalants Day; Happy Slight Dehydration Day; the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising; small acts of resistance; Athena’s upcoming show; Bill O’Reilly got fired!; more like Henry Dolt, amiright?; s/o to Chapo; nuke volleyball; the Alex Jones meat sweats; don’t get directions from Trump; will Mass get a non-racist flag?!; let’s take down Casey Affleck next.

Related Links:
Sorry, Pepsi Haters, But Social Justice Needs Capitalism (Samuel Hammond, LiberalCurrents.com)
Donald Trump personally profited from missile-maker Raytheon’s stock jump after his Syria attack (Tom Boggioni, RawStory)
Trump’s For-Profit Presidency Takes Ugly Turn as He Makes Money by Attacking Syria (Hrafnkell Haraldsson, PoliticusUSA)
US drops ‘largest non-nuclear bomb’ in Afghanistan area populated by Isis members (Tom Batchelor, Will Worley, Mythili Sampathkumar, The Independent)
Father of All Bombs (Wikipedia)
Ben Ewen-Campen for Ward 3 Alderman, Somerville
Prospects for Social Democracy in the US: Insights From a Syndicalist in Sweden (Enrique Guerrero-López, Adam Weaver, Truthout)
IGDCAST: Louise Rosealma on Berkeley and It’s Implications
4/20 Is Bourgeoisie Bullshit, Proletariats Don’t Smoke Pot We Do Inhalants! (William Todd, Clash)
Remembering the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (Marcus Barnett, Jacobin)
Bill O’Reilly’s publisher stands by him after Fox sacking (Danuta Kean, The Guardian)
Chapo Trap House – Episode 100: Chapo Goes to College
Alex Jones’ first day in court went just great (Sam Barsanti, A/V Club)
Activity Spotted at North Korea Nuclear Test Site: Volleyball (William J. Broad, The New York Times)
Changing views may lead to re-examination of state seal (Andy Metzger, The Lowell Sun)
“All Star” By Smash Mouth But All Instruments Are Bill O’Reilly Saying His Name

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Events & Actions: Monday 4/3-Sunday 4/9

Monday, April 3rd

Tuesday, April 4th

  • 3:00-4:30 p.m. – We March On: Continuing the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr at the Parkman Bandstand (50 Chestnut Street) in Boston. I”n 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King led a march that ended at the Boston Common Parkman Bandstand. We will carry his legacy for social justice forward by hearing from movement leaders and workers demanding a livable wage at 3:00PM at the bandstand. At 4:00 PM, we will march to the State House to call on elected officials to support our movement.”
  • 4:00 p.m. – Next CBA subcommittee meeting (to discuss CBA proposal w/ USNC working group) at Community Action Agency of Somerville (66 Union Square)
  • 6:00-7:15 p.m. – A public address by Dr. Moncef Marzouki (Former President of Tunisia, 2011-2014) at the John F. Kennedy, Jr. forum (79 JFK Street) in Cambridge. Moderated by Tarek Masoud, Sultan of Oman Professor of International Relations. Middle East Initiative Faculty Affiliate, Harvard Kennedy School
  • 7:00-9:00 p.m. – 350 (Boston Node) Meeting at First Church on Eliot Street in Jamaica Plain.

Wednesday, April 5th

  • 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. – Immigrants Advocacy day at the Statehouse. The day will start with a speaking program from 10:00-11:00 a.m., followed by the lobbying visits to legislators. “We (DSA’s contingent) will meet at 10:00 at the bottom of the steps opposite the State House in Boston Common (corner of Beacon St. and Park St.), marked on the map below. We will be there from 10:00-11:00 a.m. for the speaking program, and then move into the State House to visit legislators.)
  • 6:00-8:00 p.m. – Help welcome new Bikes Not Bombs Executive Director, Elijah Evans, at 5 Alveston Street in Jamaica Plain
  • 7:00-8:30 p.m. – Commission on Energy use and Sustainability at 167 Holland St in Somerville.
  • 7:00-9:00 p.m. – Boston Food Not Bombs has its weekly planning meeting during this time at Encuentro 5 (9 Hamilton Pl Suite 2a) in Boston. This is, of course, the long-running, non-sectarian, but definitely radical free food organizations that’s been serving in MA for decades now.
  • 7:00-9:00 p.m. Black & Pink has weekly volunteer drop-in hours on Wednesdays, as well. They’re at First Baptist Church (633 Centre St) in Jamaica Plain. “Bring a laptop, if you can. If not, you can help write birthday cards!”

Thursday, April 6th

  • 5:30-8:30 p.m. – Union United Monthly Meeting at 246 Washington Street in Somerville. “Union United is a coalition of stakeholders in Somerville…working together to create a community benefits agreement – a contract we can sign with the master developer and the City that will create a diverse, sustainable, and equitable Union Square.”
  • 6:00-7:00 p.m. – Zoning meeting at Somerville City Hall where folks will be protesting the waiver of affordability inclusion at Assembly Square.
  • 6:30-8:00 p.m. – Unheard Voices of Immigration in Jamaica Plain at 361 Centre Street Join JPNDC and Hyde Square Task Force for an evening of storytelling, testimonials and knowledge building that center the experiences of immigrant people. Free and open to all (snacks provided). For more information please contact Samantha
  • 6:30-8:30 p.m. – Cambridge Democratic City Committee meeting at Attles Auditorium (85 Bishop Allen Drive)
  • 7:00-9:00 p.m. YUM: A Taste of Immigrant City presented by the Welcome Project at the Somerville Armory. “Mayor Curtatone will be the keynote speaker and speak to the 30-year history of Somerville’s status as a Sanctuary City.”

Friday, April 7th

  • 10:00 a.m.-Saturday, April 8th at 10:00 a.m. – The 24-Hour Boston Hassle Telethon at SCATV to benefit the Boston Hassle and BRAIN Arts Org. BRAIN is a local org dedicated to bringing news about art and culture events to folks in the Greater Boston Area. They have a monthly paper (The Compass), they book shows (as The Hassle), they co-produce Black Market, etc etc. Show your support–tune in and donate!
  • 6:00-9:30 p.m. – Feminist Fiber Art Craft Fair at the Democracy Center (45 Mount Auburn Street) in Cambridge. Come check out some spooky art, make some art, and drink some tea with us! This small exhibit focuses on witchcraft. There will be spooky art on display, witchy pins, patches, and stickers for sale, and tables set up for you to make art with us!

Saturday, April 8th

  • 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. – Food Not Bombs cooks for its Saturday Central Square Meal in Cambridge. E-mail us for details.
  • 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. – City Live/Vida Urbana volunteer canvassing. http://www.clvu.org/volunteer?page=26
  • 12:00-3:00 p.m. – Black & Pink holds drop-in volunteer hours at this time each week at Swissbakers (168 Western Ave) in Allston.
  • 12:30-4:00 p.m. – Food Not Bombs’ Central Square Meal is served at this time each week.
  • 5:00-8:00 p.m. – A Night of Music and Solidarity: Show Up for the ACLU at Aeronaut Brewing (14 Tyler Street) in Somerville. Show Up invites you to an evening of music, beer, and unity to help raise money to support the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The event will feature: live music provided by: Erica Leigh, Nwasoul, and Miss Fairchild, hourly raffles of items donated by local businesses, a mailbox and postcard table to write to your local officials about what’s important to you, an art sale featuring the donated work of local artists, a Solidarity Photo and Video Project sharing with the world what you Show Up for, and booths featuring local organizations where you can get more information about how to get involved in making change in your own community.
  • 6:00-11:00 p.m. – Food Not Bombs’ Haymarket Produce Rescue happens during these hours each Saturday. Volunteers meet up near Faneuil Hall at Haymarket (corner of Blackstone and North, across the street from a Hard Rock Cafe) to rescue and sort produce destined for the compost heap or landfill and deliver it, by car, to shelters in the Boston/Cambridge area to stock them with food. Volunteers with cars are especially needed.
  • 9:00 p.m.-Sunday, April 9th at 1:00 a.m. – Persisting – Songs Written By Women at the Midway Cafe (3496 Washington Street) in Jamaica Plain. People are gathering to play their favorite songs written by women, and there are still slots left to fill: https://goo.gl/SzwIxF. 21+, $10. All proceeds to benefit Jamaica Plain Music Festival. There will be a raffle & food (more details to follow).

Sunday, April 9th

  • 12:00-1:30 p.m – Boston Homeless Solidarity Committee weekly meeting at Encuentro 5 (9A Hamilton Pl in Boston). All are welcome, including people who are currently experiencing or have experienced homelessness. For an idea of what will be discussed, including the proposed agenda, or to be added to their mailing list, please contact massbhsc@gmail.com.