1

Cambridge Seeks Citizen Input on Future Tech Needs

|

Having completed an excellent three-evening course on Dreamweaver  just this week at Cambridge Community Television in Central Square,  I urge Cantabridgians to take part in one of the focus groups to be conducted in early October–all related to the Cambridge’s technology future  and the role of Comcast, which, by law, sponsors CCTV, in the community.

Here’s the info–lifted in its entirety, I confess–from an email CCTV sent to me yesterday.

 

* Have you ever watched Cambridge City Council or School Committee meetings, school sports, Democracy Now! or BeLive?
* Have you ever wanted to engage in a community dialogue about important issues in Cambridge?
* Would you like to share your ideas about how our community can use our local cable channels?

The City of Cambridge is seeking participants for a series of workshops on the future of cable service, community media and technology.

You are encouraged to participate, propose new ideas for consideration and help us explore the opportunity we have right now for the City to provide new technological resources to all communities within Cambridge.

Six focus group workshops will be held at Cambridge locations listed below. The presentation of each workshop will be identical, but discussions will focus on different aspects of community life. Choose one based either on your interest or your schedule.

* Participation is free and open to the public.
* Registration is required by Friday, Sept. 25, 2009:  – via telephone to 617-349-4302 (if leaving voice mail, include name, organization, address, phone, email, and which focus group you are attending
– or register online here.
Local Government Departments and Agencies
October 6, 2009
10:00 am – Noon
City Hall Annex
344 Broadway
 
Health/Human Service/Social Service Organizations and Agencies
October 6, 2009
2:00 – 4:00 pm
City Hall Annex
344 Broadway
 
Senior Citizens and Organizations Serving Seniors
October 7, 2009
10:00 am – Noon
Central Square Library
45 Pearl Street
 
Nonprofit, Civic, Community, and Faith Based Organizations
October 7, 2009
6:30 – 8:30 pm
Media Arts Studio
454 Broadway
 
Arts/Culture/Heritage Organizations
October 8, 2009
10:00 am – Noon
Media Arts Studio
454 Broadway
 
Educational Institutions, Educators, and Youth
October 8, 2009
4:00 – 6:00 pm
Media Arts Studio
454 Broadway
 
The City of Cambridge and its municipal channel, CITY TV-8, have teamed up with community partners CCTV (Cambridge Community Television, Channels 9 & 10) and CEA (Cambridge Educational Access, Channels 98 & 99) to coordinate this process to identify the community’s needs and interests in future technologies.  The focus groups will be conducted by The Buske Group, a nationally recognized public policy consulting firm hired specifically to help the city with the cable license renewal process.For more information, visit CCTV’s website or call 617-349-4302.

New Cambridge Observer is a publication of the Harris Communications Group of Cambridge, MA. We also publish Harriscomblog.



Free Vista, Comcast help: you get what you pay for and a new social life

|

I know there’s nothing more boring than other peoples’ computer problems but now that I’m in my 61st hour of  Microsoft Vista difficulties and my sixth day of being unable to use Comcast email for my business,  I’m going public  in hopes that Microsoft and Comcast will take note and send reinforcements–or of finding  a lawyer who would like to start a class action suit or two.

If anyone is interested in either saga or has any advice, I’ll  be happy to post the details (or email them–should that become a possibility).  In the meantime, I look forward to continuing my newfound friendships and morning, noon and late night phone calls with the tech support communities in India, New Jersey, Nova Scotia, Boston, Newfoundland, and North Carolina . Everyone has been most gracious and sympathetic, and I do appreciate finally having a social life.

AMH
PS–Did you know that Microsoft will help with Vista issues for free? From the support web site, it looks like you have to pay $59 per call or online chat–so I wasted three months emailing back and forth with 24-hour response time.  According to the site, free support is available only for Service Pack I  will be available only through March 31, 2009, but at the rate my case is being resolved, it should be available for years to come.  Click here for the url.

New Cambridge Observer is a publication of the Harris Communications Group of Cambridge, MA.