hi folks, this is a little off-topic (for some) so apologies in advance: i spent the evening at the "Occupy Seattle" camp in Westlake Park @ 401 Pine St., just a few blocks from our conference hotel. their new website is: www.occupyseattle.org and they are also on Facebook (but trying to shift traffic to the website as well). if you are: 1) interested in helping them with tech support while you're here in Seattle for AoIR 2) interested in donating hardware/software to the camp, specifically: • deep cycle batteries • solar cells • teach-ins: 4:00-6:30pm • networking gear: routers//switches/access points • load balanced web hosting • social media endorsements • access to any data on current internet trends • projector • fast wi-fi everywhere 24/7 • useful information/reports on how the internet can be used to help movements/effective tactics from other protests (eg, Egypt) • information on mesh networking and/or 3) a local to the Seattle area and interested in helping with ongoing IT support PLEASE contact me OFF-LIST. i'll coordinate drop-offs of equipment 2x this week (end of the day, Tuesday and Thursday) and put people in touch with the working group handling IT for "Occupy Seattle" while i'm in town for the conference. the camp also needs some basic supplies for people who've come from out of state for the protest: Blankets (at least 40) Coats (any rain gear) Storage containers (plastic bins for organizing supplies) Cleaning supplies (brooms, dustpans, mops, buckets, and disinfectant) Epsom salts EPI pens (if you're a super allergic to bees, this is a special shout out to you!) If you would like to donate cash at the AoIR (you can email me @ qcentral@indiana.edu and I'll meet you anywhere to pick it up), I would be happy to go shopping for the items above and get them to the camp (I'll make a run Tuesday and Thursday). My personal goal is to help them get another portable toilet out there for overnight campers. They don't have PayPal set up on their website yet but they hope to soon so that's another option if you'd help out down the road. : ) Thanks for considering this request for help while we're all citizens of this fair city (apologies, again, to those who feel the list is not the proper forum for this request). Best, Mary _______________________ On sabbatical until January 9, 2012 Mary L. Gray, Ph.D. Associate Professor Communication and Culture Affiliate Faculty, Gender Studies Adjunct Faculty, American Studies Adjunct Faculty, Anthropology Indiana University 800 E. 3rd Street Bloomington, IN 47405 Email: mLg@indiana.edu URL: www.indiana.edu/~qcentral Phone: 812-855-4379 Fax: 812-855-6014 BLOG for "Out in the Country, Youth, Media, and Queer Visibility in Rural America" (NYU Press 2009) @ http://queercountry.fromthesquare.org/