Metaboston

Brookline's Surveillance Project

Brookline could get a set of a dozen cameras to watch roadways in the event of a crisis but residents are raising serious questions about their effectiveness and surveillance by police when no crisis exists.

"Residents also said they were also concerned the cameras could be abused by members of the Police Department, who could use them to spy on or intimidate certain individuals or classes of people, even though that behavior is expressly prohibited by the policy, and could result in criminal prosecution.

Abram Chipman, a Washington Street resident who holds a weekly vigil in Coolidge Corner protesting the war in Iraq, said he would feel less comfortable knowing police could be watching his activities. Joan Lancourt, a resident of Beaconsfield Road, said she worried the cameras would have a “chilling effect” on political protest in Brookline.

“I was dismayed, because the potential for self-censorship is real,” she said.

Critics have also questioned the usefulness of the cameras, citing a variety of studies showing that the presence of police cameras has little effect on crime rates. Several residents noted that London’s crime rate has climbed, despite an enormous number of surveillance cameras.

[Police Chief] O’Leary has acknowledged that the camera’s usefulness in reducing crime rates is still unproven. But supporters have stated repeatedly that the primary purpose of the cameras is not to prevent crime, but to help public safety officials coordinate an evacuation from Boston in the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster.

Maybe they could just leave the cameras off until there is a crisis.   (Image:  Subcircle/Flickr)

Coolidge Corner Internet Theater

At The Coolidge is an internet video series where Tim Jackson interviews someone from the Coolidge Corner Theatre about what is currently playing.

A good way to provide background and additional information about the films that are playing like the series of Russian films playing through November discussed in this clip. This extra background is something that is really important to get attention in a crowded media environment and should help people get interested in a movie they might otherwise not make time for. 

"At the Coolidge" is part of a more expansive video section called Coolidge Internet Theater.

Watch Indiana Jones with BU Archeologist Curtis Runnels

The Coolidge Corner Theatre's Science on Screen film series brings local scientists into the movie theatre to talk about movies related to their field. See what a real archeologist thinks of Indiana Jones and wash away thoughts of the Crystal Skull.

“Before the film, we'll have a special talk by archaeologist Curtis N. Runnels on real archaeology versus how it’s portrayed in the movies. (We’re thinking there a lot fewer whips involved.) Runnels is Professor of Archaeology in the Archaeology Department at Boston University. Trained in archaeology at the University of Kansas (B.A. 1972) and Indiana University (MA 1976, PhD 1981) he taught at Stanford University from 1981 to 1987 before moving to BU, where he is also Editor of the Journal of Field Archaeology. He has carried out archaeological research in Greece, Turkey, and Albania since 1973 and has published numerous scientific articles and books.

Info:
September 1 at 7:00pm

Antiplex: Site for Independent Movie Theatres in Boston

Antiplex is a site that lists each day's showings of finer cinema from the independent theatres in the Boston area:  Cambridge's Brattle and Harvard Film Archive, Brookline's Coolidge Corner Theatre and Boston's MFA.

The layout (sample above) is fairly simple although does include stills and trailer videos.  The most useful feature is its aggregation of the frequently changing schedules of art houses that don't conform to the Friday changeovers common to the multiplexes.

Brookline Mural Photos from Sarah Hearts Design

Sarah Hearts Design will be featuring photos of murals along Harvard Street in Brookline.  Today's is a nice trompe l'oeil tribute to the Kennedys by Joshua Winer.  (Image from Sarah Hearts Design)

Pill Hill in Brookline

High Street "Pill Hill" Hill is a quiet urban oasis:

"It’s no accident that the Pill Hill, named for the many doctors that settled here in the late 1800s, has remained unchanged for much of the century. For the last 50 years, an association of neighbors has had a hand in nearly every adjacent development, from the Muddy River to medical offices, to keep it from encroaching on their hill.

Today, the High Street Hill Association, named for the hill’s older and more formal label, is thought to be the oldest continuously operating association in Brookline, and has become a model for other neighborhoods." (Map:  High Street Hill Association)

Video Screens Connect Brookline and Roxbury

Video screens in Coolidge Corner and Dudley Square will allow residents to explore each others' experiences in John Ewing's new project called Virtual Street Corners.

"From June 12 - June 21, 2008 (with an “opening” on June 18, from 4-7pm) the storefronts of Brookline Booksmith in Coolidge Corner, Brookline and Stash’s Grill in Dudley Square, Roxbury will be transformed into large video screens, providing pedestrians of each neighborhood with a portal into one another’s worlds. Running 24/7, life-size screen images and AV technology will enable real-time chat between residents of the two neighborhoods. Though only 2.4 miles apart and connected by the Route 66 bus, few people from either neighborhood ever visit the other. Using technology developed to bridge geographical distances, Virtual Street Corners instead traverses the social boundaries that separate two cultural and transportation hubs with important historical connections."

Brookline: A "Brainy Place" to Retire

In an effort to re-use material, US News comes up with a list of retirement spots for the educated.

"What makes the difference? A city with a large local university might offer a colorful slate of arts or educational events nearly every evening. Some suburbs have found a way to create unique learning opportunities for residents, who still have an easy route into the neighboring metropolis.

U.S. News consulted our list of more than 1,000 Best Places to Retire and came up with 10 retirement destinations that attract highly educated folks."

One problem:  It seems like a lot of places on the list, including Brookline, are relatively expensive spots which has got to be a significant retirement consideration.

Cambridge Delivery Tricycles: The New Amsterdam Project

A psychiatrist decided that using delivery tricycles could help wean America from its dependence on cars and trucks so he started a company, the New Amsterdam Project, to test it out:

"In a city choked with diesel-spewing delivery trucks, the fledgling New Amsterdam Project (NAP), a Cambridge-based cargo-hauling          company, is pedaling toward profits aboard an emissions-free fleet of urban "cargo trikes."              

China, India, and other developing nations have long utilized bicycle-based delivery for many goods – but are shifting toward engine-powered vehicles. Across North America, bicycle delivery services exist in several cities. Yet pedal-powered hauling for cargo has been largely a no-show in the United States.

      

That makes NAP stand out for its sole focus on human-powered cargo delivery, says Andrew Brown, the company's founder and CEO. A psychiatrist by training and lover of all things bicycle-related, Mr. Brown launched the company last fall and now finds himself dividing time between cycling to companies where he counsels workers – and making deliveries."

The idea could be compelling for companies concerned about their carbon footprint but Mr. Brown needs to consult a branding expert.  The New Amsterdam Project is a really obtuse name; it sounds like a wonky think-tank or nonprofit in New York and then there's that TV show about a detective who can't die.

Brookline Police Advise on How to Deal with Wild Turkeys

The Brookline Police recommend following these guidelines if you are confronted with a wild turkey, especially now during turkey mating season:

"Don’t feed turkeys — Keep wild things wild! Feeding, whether direct or indirect, can cause turkeys to appear tame. However, they are capable of bold aggressive behavior, especially in breeding season.

Keep bird feeder areas clean — Use feeders designed to keep seed off the ground, as the seed attracts turkeys and other wild animals. Clean up spilled seed daily. Remove feeders in the spring, as there is plenty of natural food available for all birds.

Don’t let turkeys intimidate you — Don’t hesitate to scare or threaten a bold, aggressive turkey with loud noises, swatting with a broom or spraying water from a hose.

Cover windows or other reflective objects — If a turkey is pecking at a shiny object, such as a window or car, cover it or disguise it.

Protect your gardens or crops — You can harass turkeys searching for food in your gardens. Dogs are effective in scaring turkeys away. Netting is another option."

The Origins of Chobee Hoy

You've heard her name on local NPR stations.  But how did Chobee Hoy (and other women) get started?

"When Chobee Hoy was growing up, it was simply understood that her brother would assume her father’s wholesale furniture business.

“It was never even a thought that I would take it over,” she said, saying she eventually married, had three children and never developed professionally.

After her children entered adulthood, Hoy found herself unhappy in her marriage.

“I kept putting off getting a divorce because I couldn’t figure out how to make a living,” she said. “I didn’t know how to do anything. I knew how to type.”

She eventually divorced, and her friends encouraged her to become a real estate broker."

Some interesting observations in the article for any aspiring entrepreneur.

Eve LaPlante Discusses Samuel Sewall

Eve LaPlante will discuss her ancestor Samuel Sewall, the judge in the Salem Witch Trials and the book she has written about him on March 16.

Info:
March 16, 2 p.m.
Hunneman Hall
Brookline Main Library
361 Washington St.
Brookline, MA

Street photography underground: photos of T riders and and deserted subway tunnels in a new exhibit by father and son photographers B.D. and Ben Colen

Street photography underground:  photos of T riders and and deserted subway tunnels in a new exhibit by father and son photographers B.D. and Ben Colen whose joint exhbit

"Alone Together: Beneath the Streets of Boston, will be featured from Jan. 21 - Feb. 29, 2008 in the Brookline Arts Center gallery. 

B.D.'s photos of human drama in the subway system come out of his daily commute from Brookline to Cambridge, and the people and stories he witnesses in the subways. His son, Ben Colen, approaches the subway system differently: Ben’s oversized prints were made in the dark and empty spaces of the subway tunnels after hours.

'What struck me as a I observed my fellow T riders, and what inspired me to undertake this project,' says B.D, 'was the sense that so many of us are completely isolated and self-absorbed, even as we make up a crowd. Individuals reading, or listening to music; couples joined in whispered conversations; we are all alone, together.'

B.D. Colen T photography slide show (image above B.D. Colen) (via boston.com)

Ahla Tours: Jewish Food in Brookline

Ahla Brookline Food Tour, a new tour company started in May 2007, is taking visitors on a three-hour stroll around Brookline's Jewish food highlights.  The tour is the inspiration of Julia Goldberg and Leonard Naimark, a husband and wife team of entrepreneurs who have lived in Russia and Israel and offer tours in English, Russia and Hebrew.  The tour offers visits to a variety of restaurants with history and cultural commentary on the various offerings.  Tours run on Sundays at 10:30am and cost $38 per person.

Reflections on Brookline's Maimonides School

NYU law professor Noah Feldman takes a look at his yeshiva day school Maimonides of Brookline with a mix of appreciation for his education and regret over the strict boundaries embraced by Orthodox Judaism.  The article develops interestingly from the incident that prompts his reflections:

"A number of years ago, I went to my 10th high-school reunion, in the backyard of the one classmate whose parents had a pool. Lots of my classmates were there. Almost all were married, and many already had kids. This was not as unusual as it might seem, since I went to a yeshiva day school, and nearly everyone remained Orthodox. I brought my girlfriend. At the end, we all crowded into a big group photo, shot by the school photographer, who had taken our pictures from first grade through graduation. When the alumni newsletter came around a few months later, I happened to notice the photo. I looked, then looked again. My girlfriend and I were nowhere to be found.

I didn’t want to seem paranoid, especially in front of my girlfriend, to whom I was by that time engaged. So I called my oldest school friend, who appeared in the photo, and asked for her explanation. “You’re kidding, right?” she said. My fiancée was Korean-American. Her presence implied the prospect of something that from the standpoint of Orthodox Jewish law could not be recognized: marriage to someone who was not Jewish. That hint was reason enough to keep us out."

It develops into an exploration of the conflict between tradition and modernity.

      

Belgian Beer in MA

Growing interest in Belgian beers in Massachusetts where the brews are still relatively unknown, with insight from David Ciccolo, the owner of local beer oasis The Publick House, and Dan Shelton of Belchertown-based Shelton Brothers the prime Massachusetts importer of Belgian beers.  Like the author of the article Philadelphia was a great source of Belgian beer knowledge--hopefully we'll get the same enthusiasm here. (via Brew Like a Monk)

Here's an encyclopedic guide to Belgian beers in all their glory and variety.

Brookline Resident Yang Jianli Released by Chinese

Democracy activist Yang Jianli of Brookline was released from prison in China having served five years on charges "of illegal entry into the country and spying for Taiwan."  Unable to be admitted to China under his own passport because of his role in the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, he "returned to China in April, 2002 on a friend's passport to view labor unrest in the northeastern part of China. He was detained when trying to board an internal flight."

Brookline Mosaic Project

Mosaic artist Bette Ann Libby (left) is leading a mosaic project to decorate columns outside Brookline Town Hall and you can donate your  broken "high-fired" dinner plates or other ceramics for the project (in a bin outside Town Hall).  Volunteers will also help with installing the mosaic.  Contact for more information on the project at 617-327-5171 or at libby_clay@hotmail.com.

Brookline's Hasidic Rapper

Following, to some degree in the footsteps of Matisyahu, Brookline-raised Nosson/Niz (Nathan Isaac Zand) is part of a small but growing Jewish hip-hop community.  The clip below shows him with mentor Matisyahu in Boston.

Beer Geeks: Beer Advocate of Brookline

Lengthy and very interesting article by the NY Times' wine guy Eric Asimov on Beer Advocate, the website and now magazine devoted to the appreciation of fine beer in the land of Bud Light, and its founders brothers Jason and Todd Alstrom.

Asimov suggests at one point that beer fans are still an outsider group: 

Without the pastoral mystique that has been appropriated by wine producers or the suave, sophisticated imagery of the wine drinker, beer lovers have largely retreated to the antistyle precincts associated with such proverbial social outcasts as computer nerds and science fiction fanatics. Bizarre facial hair, unflattering T-shirts and strange headgear are standard equipment among beer geeks.

But Todd Alstrom points out that beek geeks may be more avant garde than outsider:  "Before the Internet, computer nerds felt on the outside but now they’re accepted,” Todd said. “I think beer geeks are the same way. We’ll look back 10 years from now and remember what it was like.”

Jonathan Lethem at the Coolidge Corner Theatre

Reminder that Jonathan Lethem will be speaking tonight at the Coolidge Corner Theater courtesy of the Brookline Booksmith.  The new novel is about a band and the reading will also feature music:  "Chosen to create their own song based on lyrics penned by Jonathan and featured in You Don’t Love Me Yet, local starlings Hallelujah The Hills will perform their incredible rendition of 'Monster Eyes.' The first 50 people to buy the book will receive a free Hallelujah the Hills cd featuring 'Monster Eyes'!"

Jonathan Lethem/Gary Shteyngart

Two of the more interesting and innovative (youngish) authors in the U.S. (Jonathan Lethem and Gary Shteyngart) will be making stops in the Boston area. And, not surprisingly, they'll be reading from recent work at two of Boston's most interesting bookstores. 

Lethem's reading, through the Brookline Booksmith, will be held across the street at the Coolidge Corner Theater ($2) on March 27th.  He'll be discussing his new novel You Don't Love Me Yet.  The story of LA alt-rock band enmired in plagiarism has gotten mixed reviews (scroll down) but Lethem's great books like Motherless Brooklyn and Fortress of Solitude that we can't wait to hear him sell us on this one.

Lethem's recently wrote an appropriated essay on plagiarism in Harper's and has tried an experiment with optioning his new novel.

Meanwhile, Shteyngart will be reading from his very funny and clever satire Absurdistan (new to paperback) at the Brattle Theatre (through the Harvard Bookstore) on April 16th.  Absurdistan describes the story of the 325 pound son of the 1238th richest man in Russia as he faces exile in an oil plutocracy from his consumer paradise, the U.S.

Xbox 360 Event: Coolidge Corner Theatre, April 21

From our sister site Metaboston TechNews comes this information about an upcoming video game competition to be played on a High Definition movie screen. A great idea:  "TheDigitalArcade.com and Brookline's Coolidge Corner Theatre are proud to present, "THE POWER OF X", an all night multiplayer gaming event featuring two top titles for the Xbox 360. On April 21st, gamers will experience the Xbox 360 like never before; on a 70 foot, High Definition Digital Screen ..."  Games to be played:  Gears of War and Guitar Hero II.  Coolidge Corner will also be showing game movies like Silent Hill.