Seven Days Blogs: 802 Online

Real VT: Gender Identity at the Statehouse

I know it's not really a novelty anymore, but I can't help feel a little thrill every time I whip out my laptop and blog from the Statehouse in Montpelier. There's just something exhilerating about sneeking my slightly subversive perspective into these hallowed halls. I highly recommend the experience.

Today I'm here for the floor debate on H. 865, the gender identity and expression bill. I'm sitting in the plush Cedar Creek Room. Just got done interviewing Ace McArelton, builder and part owner of Black Sheep Books. Ace was born female, but considers himself "genderqueer." He says, "I don't feel like a man, and I don't feel like a woman. I feel like a transgender butch. That's a great way of describing it for me."

Ace is here to support the bill, along with a whole passel of queer activists. This is a shot of him in the Cedar Creek Room, sitting next to that nekkid slave lamp that caused all that fuss last year.

Also ran into Euan Bear, who recently stepped down as editor of Vermont's GLBT newspaper Out in the Mountains. I asked her what she was doing here, now that she's no longer an official member of the fourth estate. She shot back, "I'm a citizen. I'm allowed." So true, so true!

UPDATE, 6:46 p.m.: I should also mention I had a lengthy conversation with Kevin Blier, from the Center for American Cultural Renewal. He opposes the bill, which passed on a voice vote in the House tonight. I first encountered Blier at last fall's "Freedomfest," a gathering of conservative and libertarian activists looking to galvanize a new right wing in Vermont. At the time, he told a workshop I attended that defeating the gender identity bill was one of his group's top priorities this legislative session. But I guess they lost this round of that fight.

I enjoyed talking with Blier. We'd spoken over the phone briefly after I wrote a story about Freedomfest — he didn't appreciate my characterization of his organization, and let me know in no uncertain terms. But this time we spoke sitting just inches apart on one of those little Victorian-era loveseats they've got positioned throughout the Statehouse. Man, those benches are TINY.

We agreed to disagree about things like two moms raising a baby boy (I'm for it, he's against it). But I walked away really appreciating the fact that I live in a country where two people who disagree so passionately about something like that can have a civil conversation. And what better setting for that than the building in which our little state works out its differences? Man, I love the Statehouse.

UPDATE II: But wait! Burlington Rep. Jason Lorber just called me to say that there will be more debate about this bill tomorrow. Apparently it's not a done deal yet. Stay tuned... Here's a link to today's AP story about the bill.

UPDATE III, Wednesday 2:45 pm: I was listening to the legislative session today and it sounds like the House just passed H. 865, the gender identity bill. Voice vote, no debate. On to the Senate...

More BFP TV!

I'm finally back from maternity leave. Still sleep deprived and distracted, though, so please have patience with me.

A bunch of interesting stuff happened while I was away, and I hope to get to it all this week, but first allow me to draw your attention to the latest web video offering from the Burlington Free Press. The BFP has been experimenting with video lately. The segments are narrated by their online editor, Allison Lazarz. This one features farmer Art Meade, the subject of today's BFP cover story about niche farming.

I really admire the outside-the-box spirit of incorporating video on a newspaper website (though the video itself is more conventional than I'd like). I'm glad the BFP is making this leap. They're obviously investing some resources in this project, because the production quality is pretty good -- though frankly the stream I'm getting is a little garbled by feedback. When Meade's talking, the goat bleating in the background overwhelms him, as does some electronic beeping. Sounds unfortunately trippy. Anybody else have this feeback issue?

Has anybody else watched this video? What do you think of the BFP branching out this way?

Comic Strip "Survivor"

Seven Days is holding an online contest to decide which comic strips we should pull from the paper. We currently run more than 10 comics, and are trying to decide which to nix, and whether we should bring back some old faves (e.g., "Troubletown" and "Story Minute.") We may pull just one, or more than one. You can check out the different strips on the contest's intro page.

Not in the running: Tim Newcomb's editorial 'toons, Andy Singer's "No Exit," James Kochalka's "American Elf," and Alison Bechdel's "Dykes to Watch Out For" are all staying.

The contest ballot is set up IRV-style, just like those for Burlington's upcoming mayoral election. One thing's different, though: instead of choosing your favorite first, voters need to rank the comics in order from least funny (1) to the one that most tickles your fancy (10). Remember, you're voting for the one you want to see gone.

Polls are open through Sunday, February 26.
Please tell us what you think!

The casting of the pod

I know that continuity is the most important thing with blogging, so I want to issue a mea culpa for not upholding 802 Online's regularly scheduled programming. Whereas Cathy usually posts once a day, I've eked out two posts in a week! That said, though, I have a bunch of stuff in the pipeline now, so things should move more smoothly between now and Ms. Resmer's official return.

In the meta-media-saturated blogosphere, I'm a bit behind the eight ball with this story, given that it was first posted on Monday and Slashdotted  later that day. But I think it's worth noting that earlier this week, The Ricky Gervais Show's  British comedy-variety podcast went to a pay-per-month subscription model. The offer is up now, and service starts February 28.

Arguably, this isn't all that new; NPR's been offering downloadable shows on a pay-per-episode basis via Audible.com for years (streaming is usually free). There's also no increased functionality from podcasting's main platform: individual podcasters still don't have a way to sell their own content directly through iTunes. This just seems to be the first time an independent producer has moved away from a donation model. Gervais already has a lot of recognition as a creator of NBC's "The Office," and media support from The Guardian, the UK paper that's consistently won awards for the best online daily newspaper. (The Guardian also publishes a print edition, the only full-color paper in the UK.) He's not exactly your average joe.

It'll be interesting to see how this pans out. Will the majority of podcasts continue to be labors of love, made and distributed for free (albeit with lots of ads in some cases, à la  central-Vermont expat and liberal talk radio host Thom Hartmann's progressive programs), or will subscriptions become more common? Should we care?

Any of the Friday Coffeebloggers care to offer their two cents?

Browsing in the stacks

For all of you laptop-toting Burlingtonians looking for free Internet access downtown, the Fletcher Free Library has just made its entire building into a wi-fi hotspot.

This is really cool, because there aren't many institutions within easy walking distance of City Hall that offer free wireless. There are, of course, several cafés and eateries downtown that offer it for patrons, and I'm usually happy to support businesses that have it, but being able to surf sans the obligation to buy something certainly has its merits.

Actually, you don't have to live within city limits to use the 12 desktop machines in the Fletcher Free's Computer Center — you just need to apply for a free Computer Center User card, which lets you log on but doesn't include the ability to check out library materials. No word on whether you need one of these dealies to actually get on the wireless network, but the press release seems to indicate that anyone who has a wireless-enabled laptop is welcome. You just need to establish a free account with your e-mail address and a password of your choosing. One thing to be aware of, though, is that unlike the hardwired terminals, which are monitored visually by reference librarians, the wireless network is subject to a filter program. For details, see the Fletcher Free's wi-fi access agreement and its general policy on Internet use.

Adelphia donated the library's internet connection. I wonder how much heat, if any, they're feeling from Burlington Telecom's launch?

UPDATE: Jessamyn noted that the wi-fi network's been up for a while, so I called Systems Librarian Robert Coleburn to get details. He said they've actually had it up and running for about 3 months, but after taking some time to work out bugs, etc. (hopefully including some of the filter issues Jessamyn mentioned in her comment), they're just now getting around to really promoting it. Hence the press release.

Online, off wires

Many congrats to Cathy and Ann-Elise on Graham's arrival. He's certainly quite the cutie!

I'll do my best to hold down the fort while Cathy's away, though I can't promise quite the same level of scintillating web-savviness. Comments are welcome! If you'd prefer to send e-mail instead, my address is meghan(at)sevendaysvt.com.

While trying to get a sense of how Vermont's various municipal (or not-so-municipal, but community-based) wireless & broadband projects are progressing, I noticed that the Vermont Rural Broadband Project's list of groups working for Internet access doesn't give any info as to when it was last updated. I'm not sure how old this list is, but I wonder whether any of these projects will show up on town meeting agendas on March 7? If anyone from Calais, Glover, Tunbridge, Marshfield or any of the other towns listed happens to know, I'd love to hear about it.

I also recently discovered MuniWireless, a clearinghouse of info on municipal wireless projects worldwide. (Esme Vos, its founder and main author, was profiled in the Wall Street Journal's Technology Report on Monday.) Apparently county-wide wireless hot spots are nothing new; parts of Michigan and New Mexico already have high-speed networks spanning hundreds of square miles. But now the trend is coming East. The most recent locale to join the large-scale wi-fi fold? Suffolk County, New York — i.e., Long Island. Cawfee tawk via Skype? Who'd've thunk it?

Stowe Reporter at the Olympics

Ok, I know I said I was on maternity leave — and I totally am — but the baby's sleeping right now, so I feel ok about recommending that you go check out the Stowe Reporter at the Olympics blog. I'm using a post from there for my post o' the week. Reporter Marina Knight is using her blog to provide a skiing-savvy Vermonter's perspective on the Olympics for the weekly Stowe Reporter. Cool.

It's a boy!

My amazing partner Ann-Elise gave birth to our son yesterday! Graham James Resmer — 8 lbs. 2 oz. — arrived at 3:39 yesterday afternoon. Moms and baby are doing fine. Thanks, everybody, for all the well wishes.

I will be taking a two-week break from blogging while I'm on maternity leave from Seven Days. Calendar writer Meghan Dewald will be filling in for me starting next week. I promise not to turn this into a baby blog when I return, but I couldn't resist posting this one picture. Isn't he adorable?

Welcome to the Vermont Blogosphere

Ok, I confess I'm a little behind in putting these links up. I've been dealing with a variety of other issues the past few weeks, not the least of which is my partner's pregnancy (four days past the due date and counting!). And there was that whole kerfuffle about Craigslist. And did anybody notice how many freakin' stories I wrote the last week of January? But now I'm back on the job. Until the baby comes, anyway.

Here, in no particular order, are the many new additions to my Vermont blogroll:

Sugar Mountain Farm: The personal blog of Walter Jeffries of West Topsham.

NoNAIS: Walter Jeffries' activist blog, opposing the USDA's National Animal Identification System. On his about page, he writes, "Since 2004 I have been trying to get the attention of our elected leaders, government officials and bureaucrats about just how bad the National Animal Identification System will be for small farmers and homesteaders. I feel re-soundly ignored by them. Most of them don’t bother to reply to my letters on this topic. The couple that have are strong supporters of NAIS, “all the way to the backyard” as they put it." So he started a blog. If you're interested in opposing the NAIS, you'll find everything thing you need to know here.

Hen Whisperer: This blog's subhead promises "Post Menpausal Ponderings," but lately it's become another flashpoint for the campaign against the NAIS. Written by an anonymous hen whisperer in "NW Vermont."

Orton Family Foundation: The infrequently updated blog of the Orton Family Foundation in Manchester. Contributors consider questions like, "What is a commons?"

Vermont Law School : Law students blogging.

Montpelier Matters: Morgan Brown's unofficial city of Montpelier team blog.

Vermont Slate: "Commentary and open discussion about Tablet PC programs in schools. A chronicle of the Tablet PC project at Vermont Academy." Infrequently updated.

Strictly Vegan: The no-meat, no-dairy blog of Vermont vegan cookie makers Liz Lovely. Answering questions like, "Where do vegans eat in Vermont?"

Analog Giant: Sports, music, culture, lefty politics. "K." Lives in Montpelier.

As Seen In VT: Cartoon blog! From the bio: "This is the temporary home of "As Seen In VT," a webcomic about my life in Burlington, VT. I'm a 23 year old art school drop-out and native Bostonian who's working full time and taking 3 classes at CCV. I'm basically self-taught when it comes to Photoshop and Illustrator, so there's going to be a lot of learning by doing here. As far as content is concerned, every strip of "As Seen In VT" has some real life basis, whether it's an exact transcription of a conversation I had or simply loosely inspired by something that happened to me. This is subject to change, but I'll keep you posted."

Greensboro Community Blog: As of February 8, there are two posts, but the first one got 129 comments. Obviously, people are ready to read more...

A big thanks to Morgan Brown, Vermont's most vigilant blogger, who tipped me off about a bunch of these. If I left anybody off, drop me a line: [email protected]. Can't promise I'll respond right away, but I'll get to it eventually.

UPDATE: Ooops, missed a few.

BurlingtonPol: Looking for dirt on Burlington's mayoral race? Try Haik Bedrosian's Burlington politics site.

Highgate:  Randomness from "TMoore" of Burlington who Casey tells me is a guy named Tanner.

DREAM blog: From the DREAM youth mentoring program. Infrequently updated.

UPDATE II: And more...

Rational Resistance: "Jack McCullough is a lawyer who lives in Montpelier, Vermont. He is involved in mental health advocacy and local and state politics."

More from the Floor: A sort-of blog by the legislative staff of Pat Leahy, featuring items like "Senator Reed Asks for LIHEAP Funding," and "Senator Talent Discusses BioMedical Science."

Radio Bean is expanding

It's true — Casey Rea wrote about it in his Soundbites column this week.