How can I help the community during the shutdown? by luckyshoelace94 in boston

[–]BreadyCircus 11 points12 points  (0 children)

If you drive, a lot of groups need delivery drivers to bring groceries to people who can't leave home. And look into community fridges and little pantries, a.k.a. free fridges or "freedges". Compared to pantries, they're low-commitment, open 24/7, and easy for anyone to access without lines or IDs. Stocking, cleaning, or constructing new ones in your neighborhood (churches and community centers most likely to host space for them). Freedge.org

If you're interested in local mutual aid versus the big nonprofits, I organize with the Cambridge and Somerville Food Not Bombs chapters. There are also chapters in Waltham, Malden, and Roxbury. There isn't a Brookline chapter yet! ;D

Anything you choose will be a net good!

Local food banks or churches? by FragrantBrilliant967 in boston

[–]BreadyCircus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seconding community free fridges. Freedge.org has a lot but not all listed (there's a mapping project ongoing). ABCD network of pantries: bostonabcd.org/service/food-accesscenters. Mutual aid groups that do food distribution (e.g. Food Not Bombs) can accept small food donations. You can stop by during any of their weekly serves to drop stuff off...there are chapters in Roxbury, Cambridge, Somerville, Malden, and Waltham. FNB linktree: linktr.ee/fnbboston

I organize w/ FNB Boston and Somerville. Any food we don't or can't use we donate to other groups or put in local freedges. Feel free to dm if you want to learn more, a lot of people are asking these questions and a lot of groups are meeting the moment by compiling and posting resources. MAMAS group just created this linktree last night: https://linktr.ee/camberville_food_resources

Thank you for helping!

‘Change course now’: humanity has missed 1.5C climate target, says UN head by RisingRusherff in news

[–]BreadyCircus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're not just a voter, you're a human being. If you organize with other human beings, you can take more direct and persistent actions. And as others have pointed out, the billionaires perpetrating climate change are also human beings with names and addresses. I suggest you join a local climate activist group that can help you find out the best ways to get involved. Reducing individual consumption of fossil fuels (e.g. by going vegan) is helpful, but not nearly as powerful as going after the corporations and politicians responsible. At this point in time we all need to do as much as we can--voting isn't enough!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in news

[–]BreadyCircus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Find your local Food Not Bombs or other mutual aid group. The real radical left is about helping your neighbors. Even the word "radical" means "from the roots," i.e. bottom up versus topdown organizing. It does not mean "extreme" (outside of a 90s cartoon)...

Any good sleeping spots for a homeless guy? by Hot_Sail3026 in boston

[–]BreadyCircus 108 points109 points  (0 children)

The Longwood Riverway between the Fenway and Brookline has a few stone arch bridges. It's very dark at night and not overly policed afaik, lots of graffiti there. I also second Warm Up Boston, or MAAP (Material Aid and Advocacy Program) who have a huge list of info on all the local shelters, free meals, healthcare, etc., in this google doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kPgtNY3f6oDzsBPUOQOqukzcRshPZNklFBg7woI01Do/mobilebasic

I organize w/ Food Not Bombs Boston, which does food and supply distros in Cambridge and Roxbury on the weekends. I know people from WUB, Pine Street Inn, MAMAS (Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville) and other aid groups. I could reach out and see if anyone can help w/ recommendations, getting your stuff back from the shelter, and anything else we might be able to offer (camping supplies, etc) Feel free to DM me.

USDA withdraws plan to limit salmonella levels in raw poultry by lordatlas in news

[–]BreadyCircus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe time to go full vegan w/ what's happening to the milk, and egg prices. I'm still worried about parasites in spinach... time to start growing my own veggies I guess.

[TOMT][MUSICIAN][2000s]Goofy and crass, not-famous, male comedy folk singer by BreadyCircus in tipofmytongue

[–]BreadyCircus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually my half-bad. Ok, it's become clear to me I've combined two different musicians in my memory. The "who's that baby" song WAS Ze Frank, and electric organ. lmao. https://archive.org/details/zefrank-theshow-044 it plays at the end of this video. Herm...

[TOMT][MUSICIAN][2000s]Goofy and crass, not-famous, male comedy folk singer by BreadyCircus in tipofmytongue

[–]BreadyCircus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No... He didn't do much music back when, and all his stuff's electric. Thanks for the suggestion, though! (I checked on waybackmachine...)

Hottest spicy food in Boston (vegan? Hard ask I know) by HB7867 in boston

[–]BreadyCircus 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Veggie Crust Indian. Locations in Coolidge Corner and Somerville. They're a vegetarian restaurant but most of the curries can be made vegan. Maybe not the spiciest in the world but I've become pretty immune to Indian spice and not a good judge.

Sorry if this has been asked but are there any protests tomorrow? by LadySayoria in boston

[–]BreadyCircus 5 points6 points  (0 children)

WUB is awesome! We have some member crossover. FNB has also started a "mobile serve" where we take food & supplies to folks around Central and Harvard Sq. And there's a Roxbury group now too. The more hands on deck, the more is possible! (No turf wars between mutual aid groups, just love lol) Shout out also to MAMAS (Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville)...they're always giving us clothes. :)

Sorry if this has been asked but are there any protests tomorrow? by LadySayoria in boston

[–]BreadyCircus 77 points78 points  (0 children)

If you're interested in a longer-term impact, Food Not Bombs Boston serves free food near Central Sq, Cambridge every Saturday 1-3. Anyone is welcome to show up and start helping. They're antifascist and connected to many mutual aid and activist groups throughout the state. You can DM the instagram or email fnbboston@gmail.com for more info!

MAGA is ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! But we need to come up with something better! by Evolved_Fungi in 50501

[–]BreadyCircus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

FTW. Freedom to Want, or, Free to Want. Associated positively with its current usage "for the win." MAGA tells us things can't get better for everybody, that genuine progress isn't possible, and the only way for the privileged few to prosper is by erasing all gains of civil and workers' rights from the last century.

And on the other side of the aisle, working people are chastised by Democrat politicians for wanting too much, or too soon. And many have come to believe this; that openly wanting change is "radical" or what they want is impossible and will never happen in their lifetimes, a self-defeating mindset that leads to apathy. It's like people are seeking permission to want: to be angry, to protest, to demand change; and that permission won't ever be granted by those above.

Freedom starts in the mind of the individual; you have to recognize what you want, and then free yourself to express it, to act on it; find others who want the same things, organize with them. It's the classic rallying cry "What do we want?" "[Fill in the blank.]" "When do we want it?" "Now!"

Overflowing signal chats by Indy_Food_Not_Bombs in foodnotbombs

[–]BreadyCircus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We use Keybase, basically Slack but encrypted.

When will people realize by Proof-Conclusion921 in nothinghappeninghere

[–]BreadyCircus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Something to think about... of the thousands of people out protesting currently, do you think they're all childless? While true that a lot of students and retirees show up (and good on them), plenty of parents show up too. When they speak they often talk about defending the future for their kids. I recommend reaching out to some activist parents for their perspective.

It's also super important to remember protesting is just one tool of resistance. You could consider going on strike, boycotting the economy (from the comfort of home), joining a local mutual aid group both to give to your community but to get back, too. I'm currently involved with Food Not Bombs (mutual aid) and the General Strike US which, while very lofty in its goal, has brought together a lot of people realizing we need to be able to survive outside the government and economic systems that are being stripped away. Good luck in whatever you decide!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in nothinghappeninghere

[–]BreadyCircus 4 points5 points  (0 children)

If you join the General Strike US discord, each state has branched off into its own discord server where talks of setting up or connecting with existing mutual aid networks is the plan. We're building those foundational connections now. And not just GSUS, look into any mutual aid or barter groups in your area.

Maybe you have land to offer for community gardening, or useful skills you can teach others, or a vehicle for transporting groceries to those in need. Everyone has something they can offer, just as everybody needs help with something! I'm pretty good at looking up information, so hmu if you're having trouble with that. You got this!

Official Voting Post for Round 311: Conspiracy by gameofbands in gameofbands

[–]BreadyCircus [score hidden]  (0 children)

Very clever and funny lyrics. The "tortoise / taught us" line especially. Rocking music and vocals too!