Cambridge Skyline, New Kendall Square

These images were captured on Saturday June 7, 2014 near the intersection of Ames Street and Main Street near Kendall Square. It is quite a change from 1970 when I arrived in Cambridge. The V&T is gone replaced by upscale restaurants and office buildings. Even the Volpe Center wild turkey left the area and was last seen at Harvard University near the river dorms. High tech research is centered in this area. It is a potential new economic interest that may be capable of competing with Harvard University for influence within the state government. We can only wait and see. Until then Harvard University dominates the state government, throwing crumbs to the rest of us.  


This is a view of the Cambridge skyline looking toward Boston from Third Street near Munroe Street. 


One of five images at the intersection of Ames Street with Main Street. 


One of five images at the intersection of Ames Street with Main Street. 


One of five images at the intersection of Ames Street with Main Street. 


One of five images at the intersection of Ames Street with Main Street. 


One of five images at the intersection of Ames Street with Main Street. 


Street name embedded in the sidewalk


MIT alumni celebration tent


Is the Whitehead Institute racist? Why not the Black and Whitehead Institute?


Strata Center with its skewed lines


Is MIT the only national university with a railroad running through the middle of its campus? 

MIT Develops Through-The-Wall Tracking Technology

http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/11/mit-3d-motion-tracking-tech-can-see-you-through-walls/

MIT's 3D motion-tracking tech can see you through walls, no camera needed
BY JOSEPH VOLPE
December 11, 2013

Addiction By Design: Machine Gambling, Coming To Boston Soon, Book Review

Posted September 26, 2013 2:46 AM ET; Last updated October 12, 2013 7:25 PM ET



Addiction By Design: Machine Gambling in Las Vegas
Natasha Dow Schull
Princetion University Press 2012

Natasha Dow Schüll is a cultural anthropologist and associate professor at MIT's Program in Science, Technology, and Society. Her new book, ADDICTION BY DESIGN: Machine Gambling in Las Vegas (Princeton University Press 2012), draws on extended research among compulsive gamblers and the designers of the slot machines they play to explore the relationship between technology design and the experience of addiction. Her current, ongoing research concerns the rise of digital self-tracking technologies and the new modes of introspection and self-governance they engender. Her documentary film, BUFFET: All You Can Eat Las Vegas, has screened multiple times on PBS and appeared in numerous film festivals.
This is a very well researched book on video gambling. Schull spent ten years attending corporate gaming conferences, and interviewing addicted gamblers. She found the compelling factor is not winning, but "getting into the zone." She tells of gamblers who ignore others who get ill and they just keep gambling. The machines are able to gather information about every time the player touches the machine. When they get near their losing limit the house sends out "ambassadors of luck," who have hand held computers, with vouchers for free dinners to keep the players at the machines.


The casinos can estimate how much a person will lose in a lifetime. Some stories show that the players are highly intelligent and intentionally play to lose as a way of helping bring on death. Their inability to cope with human interaction is a reason why the video machines are attractive. The machines eliminate uncertainty. The players know they will win or they will lose. No uncertainty. The only decisions they have to make are which cards to keep and which ones to throw. The objective is to keep playing as long as possible. Winning is an interruption. Some innovations came to the US from Australia. What struck me as problematic is that the way that the gambling industry gathers information about their players, is a pattern used by the military, and by corporations to try to control a person's actions and spending behavior.

That is the addiction which casinos bring to an area. Boston, Massachusetts voters will decide where they want their casino to be. It is an issue in the Boston Mayor's race to be decided on November 5, 2013.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304626104579123383535635644.html?mod=WSJ_hp_EditorsPicks

October 11, 2013, 1:56 p.m. ET
How Often Do Gamblers Really Win?
New data provide some answers on the real odds on gambling

By MARK MAREMONT and ALEXANDRA BERZON
* * *
Uploaded on Jan 14, 2011
Las Vegas casinos increasingly pay attention to their customers - their likes, dislikes, moods and patterns - in order to create an engaging experience. As Natasha Schull explains, the stated goal of these new designs is "customer extinction" - the moment at which the customer is out of money. This talk, essential viewing for anyone interested in the design or user experience of electronic gambling machines.

Rites Of Passage, Quick Silver Dance Company

Scroll down for video trailer

Simmons Hall Associate Housemaster Steven Hall, gave a tribute for MIT Police Officer Sean Collier who was killed after the Boston Marathon Bombing. The audience stood for a moment of silence in his honor.

Quicksilver Dance's third annual performance at MIT's architectural wonder, Simmons Hall! Eight marvelous dancers take you back in time to experience evolutionary history in Epoch Tales; play with the subconscious genius of advertisements in Got Art? and enthrall you in the world of turn-of-the-20th-century Spain with several new sections of Festivals and Visions.

They're raising $4,000 to support the dancers in Rites of Passage! Every dollar you give goes directly to the artists involved in bringing the show to life. Donate and learn more about the project. They offer  great perks for donations from $5 up - like a dozen delicious cookies from Huttenhouse Home Bakery!

Rites of Passage is a proud part of the Cambridge Science Festival, an annual celebration showcasing the leading edge in science, technology, engineering, art, and math. A multifaceted, multicultural event every spring, the CSF makes science accessible, interactive and fun - like "Epoch Tales," a showcase dance inspired by evolution. Be Curious!

See web site for upcoming events at
http://quicksilverdance.com/

Quick Silver Dance Company gave a concert, Rites of Passage, at MIT's Simmons Hall (known as "The Sponge"). The event was part of the annual Cambridge Science Festival. The connection to science is the portrayal of evolution in dance.


MIT's Simmons Hall

Eight dancers performed interpretations of classical paintings, advertisements and evolution. Revealing my musical tastes and how old I am my favorite was Frankie Sings, We Dance. . .Ok, Pop? It's a video of Mariah Steel and Virginia Byron dancing around the MIT campus to Sinatra singing "All Or Nothing At All." In a classroom, outside on the grassy malls of MIT, inside the infinite corridor at MIT, and on the steps of Stata Hall.


Frankie Sings, We Dance... OK, Pop? from Mariah Steele on Vimeo.

Epoch Tales exhibited movement of water animals. PBS in Boston, WGBH is showing in April 2013, a four part series Australia's First 4 Billion Years: Awakening. Some parts of this dance piece reminded me of the ancient animals shown in that feature -- how they moved in water and on land. The dancers did not show attacks on and devouring of smaller animals by larger ones that happens in real life. Perhaps that aspect was omitted due to the graduate thesis of Mariah Steele, about "using dance in peacebuilding." It was more of how the animals inspected each other, and mated during their travels in the water. Movement of sports teams can also be seen.

Art | Facts was part video showing advertisements accompanied by music and performances by Amy Caine, Jennifer Roberts and Nicole Sao Pedro-Welch. The humorous text written and read by Mariah Steele was humorous and got many laughs for the audience.

Peregrine (2005) is described as a following "a young woman's journey of self-discovery in relationship to those around her." Dancers, Hans Rinderknecht and Mariah Steele show differing degrees of success in doing and being with another.

Festivals and Visions (Part II - Premiere) shows how people lived and played in early 20th Century Spain. A full length (14 sections) production of this piece will be shown in July 2013.

Other videos of Quick Silver Dance Company can be viewed at:
http://vimeo.com/user2236023

MIT Police Officer Killed After Boston Marathon Bombing

MIT police officer Sean Collier, 26, was ambushed in Cambridge MA by Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Boston Marathon bombing suspects April 19, 2013 early Friday morning, police said.

MCNA Looks At Central Square Development

Mid Cambridge Neighborhood Association held a public forum to discuss the proposals to develop Central Square and a zoning change requiring City Council approval. Four panelists appeared at the Spaulding Hospital Cullinane Center on Tuesday February 13, 2013.


Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

John Pitkin former President of MCNA,  and City Council candidate chaired the meeting.


Jonathan King (left) and John  Pitkin

Jonathan King, Professor of Biology at MIT, explained there is a possible tsunami of high rise development in the city. He noted there is one proposal to tear down one half of the Newtown Court project to build a high rise on Main Street. He said MIT needs graduate student housing. He mentioned the problem of increased traffic due to any high rise development. One study suggested that there would be an increase of 30,000 car trips daily passing through Kendall Square, coming from Cambridge Street, Broadway, and Central Square. Not from Boston. There is a total of 18 million square feet planned.


Jonathan King

Bill Cunningham, Alliance of Cambridge Tenants, publisher of The Bridge, and many other community efforts for 40 years said there is no benefit to low income people, from these proposed developments. He reported there is a reduction of state and federal rent subsidies. Residents cannot keep up with the rent increases. He estimated that about fifteen percent of Cambridge housing is affordable due to subsidies. He added the economic and ethnic diversity of the city cannot be maintained. There never has been less economic diversity in the city.

We're headed for a city of biotech professionals with the highest levels of rents; only one kind of people. They want to bring in high tech scientists who can walk to their jobs. He did not explain who "they" are. He said he thinks working class people are no longer wanted in Cambridge.


Lee Farris (Left) and Bill Cunningham

Lee Farris is in Area 4 and worked for affordable housing for more than 20 years. She reported that Cambridge is the fifth most dense city with a population over 100,000 in the United States. The kind of retail that will come with these high tech workers is not the kind that is accessible to working class citizens. She argued that economically diverse retail is needed in the City. She said she respects city officials and has some common ground with them.


Stuart Dash

Stuart Dash, Director of Community Planning for Cambridge's Community Development Department (CDD), reported that the city has a lot of information on its web site regarding traffic studies. He responded to a question about increasing car traffic and mass transit. Dash said surprisingly in Central Square auto traffic was decreasing. Someone said that young people who came to Cambridge for college want to live in "the place they have grown to love." One resident asked for the definition of middle income housing. Dash responded for a family of four it was 80 to 100 percent of the median income, which currently is $100,000. It is more or less with more or less people. Moderate income housing is 60 percent of the median income.

Dash added that it is not possible to predict what will happen in the future. Some residents left being extremely disappointed. They expected to learn how to predict the future (and what it would be) so they could make their plans and bets, and buy some stocks and bonds. [Just kidding.] Dash said no one knows how much construction would be happening in 20 years. As an example there was not much besides the Holmes Building in Central Square. He said "it comes in spurts."

It is curious that in Cambridge during the slow economy, civilians oppose construction projects. In other regions they are desperate for any kind of jobs. But in Cambridge there is wealth beyond comprehension just like in Cambulac when Kublai Khan ruled the Mongols. It seems as if long term Cambridge residents want to bring back the past. They seem to reject the present and the future. Dash explained that the Northpoint project was begun then stopped for two years due to unforeseen difficulties, and is now getting restarted.

One resident asked about the sustainability of the public schools noting that 60 percent of the students live in public housing. There is not much of an issue with subsidized lunch verses paid school lunches. Dash revealed there was a robust dialogue within the CDD on how to manage the coming growth. The Governor's plan is to fund MBTA expansion with new signals and seatless cars. He responded to a question asking if the Historical Commission was looking at some buildings in the path of some of the high rise proposals. They are.

John Pitkin observed that the community and the city want the same outcome. They differ on how to get there.

Jonathan King reported that MIT wants to put commercial projects on their north campus between Main Street and Memorial Drive. Others want graduate student housing there. He said Forest City (the developer won't build housing there.)


Esther Hanig (left) and Jesse Kansom-Bemanav

Jesse Kanson-Benanav, Chairman of A Better Cambridge, blogs at View From The 'Bridge, said the free market does not support affordable housing.

Bill Cunningham said he speaks for all of the low income people and that they want to keep things the way they are now. They do not want any major zoning changes. He said they need more jobs. He explained how inclusionary housing works. Community must give a bonus to the developer in order to get inclusionary affordable housing. People who live in affordable housing may not be able to afford to shop in the retail stores in place to serve market renters. Who will support a church in the neighborhood? This too must be considered. People can undo whatever misguided projects are approved by removing the officials.


Esther Hanig

Esther Hanig, a member of A Better Cambridge, and The Central Square Advisory Committee,  revealed "The world is imperfect. There are not enough resources." She wants people to send an email to their state reps supporting increased taxes for increased benefits. Do you think she is a Democrat? She argued that density is required for low income housing. She supports mixed economic housing. She reported that when she grew up people of all classes knew each other and went to school and lived amongst one another.


Lee Farris

Lee Farris said high rise developments will cast shadows for two blocks away, and will create wind tunnels. She said low income housing can be profitable and wants the city to work within the current zoning ordinances.


James Williamson, was a candidate for City Council.

James Williamson stated that traffic on Broadway was increasing.


Cathy Hoffman, Former Cambridge Peace Commissioner 

Cathy Hoffman said that since rent control was repealed, no one knows what to do to maintain a diverse population. She said it was possible to get 18 percent of new development for affordable housing, or the developer could give money for affordable housing.


Stuart Dash

Stuart Dash said transferring development rights is unusual. He added, Harvard and MIT are in Cambridge. People will keep coming here to go to school and to work here. He did not mention Lesley University. He did not explain why.


Cathy Hoffman

Esther Hanig suggested "Get as much as you can get."

Jesse Kanson-Benanav said Cambridge values sustainability. He said he wants to live in Cambridge because he cares deeply about affordable housing. He added "I'm getting married and even with two salaries I can't afford to live in Cambridge."


Cathy Hoffman

Jonathan King said his family lived in Central Square for 40 years. His kids lost friends because of housing prices. He added, "Developers want to maximize profits." He expressed concern about young people and elders being unable to cross the streets due to heavy traffic. "If you can't move around the city, it will collapse."


Bill Cunningham

Bill Cunningham said he came to Cambridge to work in factories. "The same economic leaders that brought the nation to its knees five years ago, are still running the government."


Lee Farris

Lee Farris said she cares deeply about affordable housing. She said she owns a two-family house and it is the only way she could remain in Cambridge.  She said she fixed it up with her husband. She said she tries to balance her economic interests with her concern about affordable housing. Market rate units drive prices higher.

Radar Can See Through Walls

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/radar-technology-mit-walls/story?id=14773871


[Video embedded]
MIT Develops New Radar Technology: Military Could See Through Walls
By ALICIA TEJADA
Oct 20, 2011
ABC News

Mobile Mind Screening Checkpoints

This technology invades your mind and creates thought crimes. [Below comments by YouTube poster.] FEMA's Mobile Mind Screening Checkpoints informational video. Just look at how happy those people are.

At the next large event coming to you, watch out for these trailers. They can be setup at airports, concerts, arenas, etc. Anywhere they want. Gee, look at what your tax dollars do for you!

They make this look so good, that they never focus on how you lose your rights and freedoms.

Scenes around MIT

Scenes around MIT. Images captured July 28, 2011.



There is a limit to obesity tolerated at MIT.



Nukes at MIT



Where Scientists Can Relax and Be Appreciated



Evacuation Route Passes Right By MIT



Visiting Black Squirrel Enjoys a Snack Outside MIT



77 Mass Avenue



Celebrating Wisdom, 77 Mass Avenue



77 Mass Avenue

CRLS Brain Farm Exposed

Images of these stand alone brain pods (from the Invasion of the Body Snatchers) were captured before authorities were able to hide them. City officials plant them in the lawn between CRLS and the War Memorial in Cambridge MA. The pods provide evidence of the reported surreptitious human experiments being conducted by MIT's Whitehead Institute. "It is the first large scale experiment to grow human brains without a body in an academic setting," said an assistant to the primary researcher, who insisted on remaining anonymous. The four holes on the brain molds are for electrodes to be implanted in the cerebellum, the cerebrum, the amygdala and the frontal lobes. "We will prove that nature overrules nurture. By growing these brains with the genes from the geniuses at MIT and Harvard University, we will show that no matter how hard the government tries and how much they spend per pupil, they cannot overcome the human genome," revealed the parental liaison from CRLS. We can create the perfect human before we are done. Schools will be unnecessary within 25 years. It will be possible to balance the state budgets, and spend more on high tech military weapons.




















The four holes for implants can be seen in this image.



With implants in place, caps cover the holes. Pods are ready for being embedded in the ground to allow growth. Green shoots are already visible in this image.



Individual Wooden Plots in the CRLS Garden of Brain Pods



Individual Wooden Plots in the CRLS cemetery Garden of Brain Pods



Here's a better view of the individual cemetery plots for slim people only.