Author: Ruby Sinreich

I have to admit, I hadn’t heard of Live 8 until Brian told me he was getting a backstage pass to blog it on Saturday in Philadelphia, but it looks pretty cool! (You know it’s a big deal when Pink Floyd reunites for it!)

Unfortunately, the Live 8 website sucks (a. it has no useful info, and b. it keeps crashing my browser) but here’s some info about the concerts and the cause (“make poverty history” – cinch!). The Philly line-up seems to have missed out on most of the talent, especially the African performers that are at most other events, but at least they got Stevie Wonder! (The concert in Rome has both Duran Duran and Tim McGraw.)

There have been a lot of valid critiques of Live 8, but it’s still interesting to see the incredible integration of blogs and mobile media into the event. Technorati has all kinds of special stuff set up for it like tags for each location, a Treo-specialized page, and contact information for G8 officials. Even the BBC has a bunch of special mobile features like a Live 8 blog and a site for mobile phones.

With all this activity swirling around, it’s easy to forget what this is all about. Celebrities getting good PR. Er, I mean pressuring the powerful “first world” global cabal known as the G8 to forgive the debt that has allowed rich nations to cash in on developing nations without helping them get ahead.

” This is without doubt a moment in history where ordinary people can grasp the chance to achieve something truly monumental and demand from the 8 world leaders at G8 an end to poverty.

The G8 leaders have it within their power to alter history. They will only have the will to do so if tens of thousands of people show them that enough is enough.

By doubling aid, fully cancelling debt, and delivering trade justice for Africa, the G8 could change the future for millions of men, women and children.”
– Bob Geldof

Brian has been blogging some interesting thoughts about this and linking to others, such as a collection of “African and Afrophile voices discussing Live 8… critical and skeptical voices as well as supportive and optimistic ones.” Check it out at AudioActivism.org.

My coworkers at PPFA were joking that I was leaving just in time. It turns out they were right!

Moderate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor just announced her resignation from the supreme court! This is not gonna be good. A Rehnquist retirement would mean Bush replacing bad with bad, but O’Connor is at least moderately pro-choice and Bush is sure to nominate the most right-wink kook he can find.

Oh woe is us…

Today is the last day of my job. I just sent this message to the hundreds of great people I have worked with at Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

Today is my last with PPFA! My grant-funded position is not being continued. Although I am very excited about moving on the next phase of my professional life, I am really sad to be leaving the Planned Parenthood family.

I want to let you all know how incredibly fortunate I feel to have worked with you. This job has been a great opportunity for me to prove my ideas by seeing them put into practice in the field, and to learn from all of you.

In my 2 1/2 years at PPFA, I traveled to 20 different states and met or spoke to people from almost every affiliate in the country! Every person I met – from the geeks to the technophobes – has taught me something about nonprofits, technology, and political organizing.

Seeing the fruits of my labor in your successful online efforts is the best reward. And there have been lots of rewards! Every single e-mail you send and action you promote adds up to to one incredible, national movement. Don’t forget that big picture. You are all doing such wonderful work.

I also have to say that this job has been FUN. In addition to the cool public affairs staffers around the country, I have worked with some amazing organizers in the field department. The field managers – whose roles seems to keep growing exponentially – do an incredible job of tying us all together. Our collective efforts simply wouldn’t be possible without them.

Many of you have asked what is next for me – and this is where the good news comes in. I am returning to my former life as a freelance consultant. I will be providing online advocacy advice and implementation to a wide range of progressive organizations and campaigns – possibly including Planned Parenthood affiliates! Feel free to drop me a line at lotusmedia.org.

I just want to say again what a wonderful experience this job has been for me. I want to thank Jen Frazier for hiring me and being a really great manager (quite an underappreciated skill). I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to work with you all on this critical cause at this historic time.

If you want to talk to me about consulting services or just keep in touch, you can always find me at www.lotusmedia.org.

Keep the faith,

= Ruby

Sorry for all the flying photos. I never get bored of looking out the window.

My world tour (OK, not “world” really) included 7 different airports in the last 4 days. Tomorrow is my finale at PPFA!

En route from MSY to PDX via IAH. Much to my surprise George Bush International Airport (IAH) turns out to be very nice. Trust me – I know airports.

Tonight we went to a benefit auction/rock show for the Durham Troika Music Festival. Apparently the city of Durham has pulled their support so the event is going Triangle-wide this year. (Get it? Troika ~ threesome. Clever!)

Just yesterday word got out that this would be the LAST show at the lovely Ooh La Latte, a coffee shop-bar-interior decoration masterpiece. The place looks like the fantasy bedroom of a very cool 10-year-old girl, with funky colors, patterns, and shapes; Barbie dolls in awkward positions; stuffed animals hanging from the ceiling; vinyl furniture; and kid’s clothes on the walls. It’s sad to see it go.

Has anyone heard of this new site called Rojo? It appears to be an RSS aggregator plus tagging and social software. It’s free to sign up “… but Rojo reserves the right to charge for the Service or any portion thereof.”

I only found the site because I had a bunch of hits from it in the log of one of my other blogs. Could be referral spam for all I know.

Is anyone out there using this?

I was really excited to learn several months ago that my aunt Penny Rakoff, who often designs large public art projects, had worked on a light rail station in Minneapolis that highlighted the economic history of the place. (See this PDF.) The station features tiles with photographs of people in the historic marketplace and also of “Bloody Friday” a 1934 strike at which the police fatally attacked the workers.

A trip for work this week took me to Minneapolis and right to the Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue station she designed! I was really impressed with the train system, it was very cheap simple to use and nicely-integrated into the varying developed environments around it. So I took a bunch of pictures with my phone:

The entry to the LRT station from the airport.

The stations are very clean and well-lit. Of course they are brand new.

Here comes my train.

These guys were freestyling and sining acapella jams the entire way. Like the other passengers, I smirked and pretended not be entertained. They were pretty amusing.

Buying tickets was a snap. Similar to the DC Metro but easier.

Ads for iPods (and Target) are all over Minneapolis.

Some of Aunt Penny’s pieces: