[occupyaustin-it] Gathering Status + Questions

Mon Nov 7 23:40:54 CST 2011

>
> *Support* (Magnets: Jim, ?).  This new list would be dedicated to
> ensuring physical security of IT-related equipment, enabling connectivity
> and computing resources at the occupation, and maintaining on-going
> operational security.  This group should also serve as the IT team's
> primary interface w/ the on-the-ground occupation.  I was also thinking
> this group could take responsibility for managing donated assets (see item
> 5.0 below).

I'm available to provide some on-the-ground support, save my obligations
with life, work, and the Hackerspace. If required, I'd prefer to offer any
kind of infrastructure support necessary as well.

Speaking of magnets, I would like to formally ask if we would like to
> consider the working group magnets as "official IT team magnets."  Perks of
> that designation include association w/ the IT at occupyaustin.org email
> alias (often first point of contact), ability to speak on behalf of IT team
> at GAs, responsibility for our welcome at AllCity, and a heightened sense
> of responsibility/engagement with this team's efforts.  The call for
> magnets at the team and working group level should be considered always
> open.

I think that at this time, even for the sake of organization, it would make
more sense for this to be the way it is. I understand that could
potentially put more stress on the magnets, so it would be a very carefully
maintained balance. I think its worth exploring though if magnets view this
the same way.

A question for Tim and others here: how should we handle the somewhat
> surprising influx of donated equipment?  I feel this work should logically
> go under the "support" working group.  If we're in agreement - Tim, would
> you be comfortable acting as a magnet for that working group?

I can definitely help with this and act as a magnet if people think its
necessary. I certainly have an interest in assisting with support where my
presence can be of assistance. I've started to draft a procedure for
securely erasing the drives and designating drives as 'clean' and 'dirty.'
 Additionally, I'm going to start cataloging and sorting chassis whenever
the AllCity office is open for OA/IT.

Speaking of magnets, I would like to formally ask if we would like to
consider the working group magnets as "official IT team magnets."  Perks of
that designation include association w/ the IT at occupyaustin.org email alias
(often first point of contact), ability to speak on behalf of IT team at
GAs, responsibility for our welcome at AllCity, and a heightened sense of
responsibility/engagement with this team's efforts.  The call for magnets
at the team and working group level should be considered always open.
On Mon, Nov 7, 2011 at 6:09 PM, Gregory Foster <gfoster at entersection.org>wrote:

>  Hey all,
> Weigh in where you have points of information, clarifying questions, or
> perspectives you'd like to share.  I'd like to get all of this summarized
> for publication to the list by early AM tonight or tomorrow morning.
>
>
>    1. *DreamHost Status.*  Boyd was working with Jeremy to secure some
>    slice(s) at DreamHost, one of which would be used to provision an instance
>    of Chili for project/task management for the IT team.  Rod was prepared to
>    manage the installation.  Last I heard there was a problem installing MySQL
>    which hung up the effort.  Where are we at?  If necessary (and just good to
>    know), do we have alternative hosting options for this important function?
>    2. *Mailing Lists.*  I want to setup dedicated mailing lists for
>    established working groups.  If these resources are not
>    needed/wanted/redundant then please chime in.
>       1. *FreedomTower Operations* (Magnets: Charles).  FNF<http://freenetworkfoundation.org/>already provides a national
>       TowerOps list<http://knownelement.com/mailman/listinfo/fnf-towerops_knownelement.com>and a FT builders
>       list<http://freenetworkfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/builders_freenetworkfoundation.org>(see also their
>       OWS Solutions list<http://freenetworkfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/ows_solutions_freenetworkfoundation.org>).
>       This new list would be dedicated to the Austin occupation, our efforts to
>       collaborate/coordinate with the burgeoning network of FTs at occupations
>       around the country (see also proposed interocc working group at 2.8), and
>       our push to become a production hub for FTs for other occupations.
>       2. *Support* (Magnets: Jim, ?).  This new list would be dedicated
>       to ensuring physical security of IT-related equipment, enabling
>       connectivity and computing resources at the occupation, and maintaining
>       on-going operational security.  This group should also serve as the IT
>       team's primary interface w/ the on-the-ground occupation.  I was also
>       thinking this group could take responsibility for managing donated assets
>       (see item 5.0 below).
>        3. *LiveStream* (Magnets: John, Boyd, Jim?).  Dedicated mailing
>       list for the livestream team.  John, I'm just going to go ahead with this
>       for y'all.
>        4. *Sustainable Power Generation* (Magnets: Charles, Alan).  For
>       our efforts towards enabling solar, pedal, & wind power to get off the
>       (City's) grid.  We are already getting lots of traction & support in this
>       space.
>       5. *OccupyApps* (Magnets: Nolan, Brandon *maybe*, ?).  Per the last
>       email, application development.
>       6. *OccupyRadio* (Magnets: Lance, Boyd).  Since we will be liaising
>       with the existing OccupyRadio team, I'm going to hold off on provisioning a
>       mailing list for this working group until I talk to Lance & Boyd about
>       their plans.
>       7. *Balloon Mapping/UAVs* (Magnets: Greg, John?).  Per my<http://foojutsu.org/pipermail/occupyaustin-it/2011-October/000156.html>
>       earlier<http://foojutsu.org/pipermail/occupyaustin-it/2011-November/000211.html>
>       emails<http://foojutsu.org/pipermail/occupyaustin-it/2011-November/000310.html>to the list about this subject, I am making sure this project happens.
>       It's too cool and too easy not to make it happen.
>       8. *Interoccupation Communication/Coordination* (Magnets: Greg,
>       ?).  Per an earlier email thread<http://foojutsu.org/pipermail/occupyaustin-it/2011-November/000295.html>,
>       we have initiated dialogue with other occupation IT teams.  Based on that
>       interaction and anticipation of how things are headed, I believe this
>       function warrants a dedicated working group.  There are a LOT of different,
>       uncoordinated efforts occurring at this time so there is an
>       important synthesis function that must occur here, separating the wheat
>       from the chaff.  This working group will only become more important
>       as the occupy movement as a whole becomes more coherent.  We need to be
>       tapped in so we know how best to position ourselves.  There is also a vital
>       function to be served when it comes spreading the FreedomTower message and
>       coaching other IT teams.  Consider this an open call for help in this area,
>       especially to those who are remote and may not be able to meetup
>       frequently, or for those who may be less technical and/or more social.  And
>       especially for those who recognize just how important a piece of the puzzle
>       this can and will be.
>        3. The IT team magnets receive notification when new members join
>    this mailing list.  I've been tempted to email those folks to ask them to
>    introduce themselves here on the list, outlining their areas of interest
>    and availability, so we can help get them plugged into our efforts sooner
>    than later.  What say ye to this practice?
>    4. Speaking of magnets, I would like to formally ask if we would like
>    to consider the working group magnets as "official IT team magnets."  Perks
>    of that designation include association w/ the IT at occupyaustin.orgemail alias (often first point of contact), ability to speak on behalf of
>    IT team at GAs, responsibility for our welcome at AllCity, and a heightened
>    sense of responsibility/engagement with this team's efforts.  The call for
>    magnets at the team and working group level should be considered always
>    open.
>     5. Tex Mitchell, owner of AllCity Technologies, has provided the IT
>    team with donated space and, as of Sunday, a room full of rather impressive
>    server hardware that Tim began going through.  We can use help going
>    through the server hardware, DBAN <http://www.dban.org/>ing the
>    drives, and cobbling together working systems for our use.  This is one way
>    we are helping pay our freight at AllCity.  Incidentally, AllCity is
>    looking for part-time help cleaning virii from systems and doing site calls
>    at $15/hour.  Contact me if interested and/or come on out Wednesday night.
>    A question for Tim and others here: how should we handle the somewhat
>    surprising influx of donated equipment?  I feel this work should logically
>    go under the "support" working group.  If we're in agreement - Tim, would
>    you be comfortable acting as a magnet for that working group?
>    6. Open Forum.  I'm feeling a little overwhelmed at this point.
>    Honestly, I was disappointed we didn't have more people show up on Sunday.
>    So I think it's important to emphasize the following: this is a work in
>    progress and we are making this stuff up as we go along :)  I do not have a
>    good sense for the best way to activate the 48 people who are on this
>    mailing list, but I know for a fact that we haven't even begun to scratch
>    the surface of what we are collectively capable of.  Even so, we're WAY
>    ahead of the game as compared to the other occupations, and they are
>    beginning to turn to us for guidance and leadership (another reason the
>    interocc function will be so vital and interesting).  SO: please help guide
>    this vessel in the right direction by contributing your perspective on what
>    we could be doing better, what we're doing right, and what we should be
>    planning for the future.  We need to improve how we're operating, and we
>    need your input on that.
>
> Reminder that our next AFK meetup [ calendar<https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=s1lsngc27chq8t3qak2nq7e0ts%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/Chicago>] is ATX
> Hackerspace <http://www.atxhackerspace.org/wiki/Main_Page> tomorrow night
> (Tuesday) to introduce the IT team to that microsociety's amazing resources
> and get enough of us signed up for membership<http://www.atxhackerspace.org/wiki/Membership>.
> This is on our radar as we will need access to tools such as welding
> equipment (for engineering sustainable power bikes), laser cutters
> (lightweight UAV frames), etc.
>
> Thanks so much for your patience and participation -
> gf
>
> --
> Gregory Foster || gfoster at entersection.org
> @gregoryfoster <> http://entersection.com/
>
>
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>
>
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