Rushton Pushes Resident Complaint iphone app

Check out this NECN interview with Rick Rushton who is pushing for a rollout of a citizen complaint iphone and blackberry app where Worcesterites can snap a picture of a "complaint" and send it to the city via the app, and it will be tagged with the gps coordinates of the problem.

This video is worth watching all the way to the end, in the last 10 seconds they talk to a kid of about 13 years old sitting on his bike who says and I'm paraphrasing "everybody loves phones nowadays, its something the kids could have fun with"....

With the current state of budget and DPW workforce this hardly seems like something to be chasing a software developer for at this point. Give it 12 to 16 months and I could see an app like this out there for short money if any at all. If the city is paying any firm any money to develop a Worcestercentric app I don't think that makes an sense.

17 Minutes of Mediocrity

17 lousy minutes of 4th of July fireworks... On the 5th! And a "grand finale" that probably clocked in at all of 60 seconds. Lame. Maybe the fireworks money could have went towards the pools!

The view from the Quabbin earlier today was much better.

NECN on Standard Foundry Demolition

The Standard Foundry Building and the supposed future site of the "South Worcester Industrial Park" is located just 4 short blocks from the lofts. In a strange way I'll miss passing by the bizarro graveyard that made up a couple of the back streets separating this parcel and the railroad tracks. Sort of a bombed out scene from 21 Days later.

Pretty much sums up Jim McGovern's quote of "...In this area, it looks blighted, and its falling apart, because it is, but it reminds you of what once was here..." With the way things move in this city and even moreso this neighborhood I'm sure this project will play out over a long timeline. But I will cross my fingers for real business, with real buildings and a real workforce... But I won't hold my breath.

Worcester Freerunning

Just happened upon these vids on youtube.

Be on the lookout for these kids flipping around downtown!

Rene Gagnon HOOD Opening Party and Prints

Even though we saw most of the Rene Gagnon show over the weekend I was still making sure that I went to the opening party tonight. Kudos to Rene and the folks at The Narrows for a really cool night. As someone who was born and raised in Fall River it was cool to be able to drive to Fall River and check out an event of this caliber in a great space in a old mill right on the Taunton River with the sun setting over the Braga Bride and the Battleship Massachusetts. Nice gallery space and a huge performance area for bands and such complete with rows of church pews.

Since Rene and I went to the same high school but a couple years apart there was a small smattering of guys there that I recognized from high school. My graduating class was probably 800 kids and I pretty much have not talked to anyone from it, or my school for that matter in at least 10 years. So being at something where even half a dozen people that I went to school with was worth a chuckle.

I picked up the one print that features the Braga Bridge and have developed a short list of original pieces that I liked and will have to mull some stuff over. But I think my first big original piece purchase will be coming from this show in some fashion.

Oh yeah the prints... The pictures above feature the 5 limited edition HOOD show prints. These should be the first pictures of them on the internet right now. If my memory serves me the prints are all in editions of between 10 and 50. All prints that didn't sell at the opening should be available on Rene's website within 24 to 48 hours or so.


Rene Gagnon Fine Art
The Narrows Center For The Arts

HOOD- A Solo Exhibition by Rene Gagnon

Narrows Center For The Arts
Fall River, MA
Now thru August 15, 2009
Opening reception this Thursday 6/25 6pm-11pm

We went to Fall River today to take in Rene Gagnon's solo show titled "HOOD" on its first day open to the public and in advance of Thursday night's opening party.

The show looks great, it was hard to pick favorites but we whittled it down to a few. We certainly hope to be taking home one of the originals from the show. There are going to be 4 limited edition show prints as well. I was hoping that those might have been hung today, but no such luck. Those will be a surprise on Thursday night. I'll probably want them all!


Rene Gagnon Fine Art
Narrows Center For The Arts

Swallowed by a cottonball