Notes from the Electronic Cottage 1/12/17

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

We recently looked at what author Cathy O’Neil calls “Weapons of Math Destruction,” big data algorithms that are impacting our lives but that we often don’t know exist, and certainly don’t have the means to examine those algorithms to see how they work and whether they are treating us fairly. A recent “beauty contest” judged by machines has become a poster child for what can go wrong with biased algorithms.

Maine Currents 1/11/17

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Studio Engineer: Joel Mann

Martin Luther King day is just a few days away and it’s clear that the spirit of political dissent and non-violent civil disobedience is alive and well. We’re joined by Eliza Townsend of the Maine Women’s Policy Center; Genevieve Morgan and Suzanne Moreshead – two of the organizers of the Bangor-based group, and Nicolle Littrell from the Belfast-based group of people planning to travel to the upcoming Women’s March on Washington; Ambureen Rana, Payton Amero & Annabelle Osborne, organizers of the Youth and Nonviolence Workshops that will be taking place at the Maine Discovery Museum on MLK day; and Dud Hendrick and Russell Wray of the Zumwalt 12 – who are heading to court soon for charges stemming from engaging in civil disobedience at BIW last year. And we open the phone lines for questions/comments from listeners.

FMI:

Maine Women’s Policy Center: www.mainewomenspolicycenter.org
Maine Women’s Lobby: www.mainewomen.org

Women’s March on Washington:
www.womensmarch.com/
www.mainemarch.com/
Bangor group’s FB page: www.facebook.com/groups/1336919613036887/
Belfast group’s FB page: www.facebook.com/groups/328251367540934/
General Maine FB page: www.facebook.com/WomensMarchOnWashingtonMaine/?fref=ts
Maine rides/tickets FB page: www.facebook.com/groups/1299356526796364/

Youth and Nonviolence Workshops:
www.mainediscoverymuseum.org/Programs/Special-Events/Youth-and-Nonviolence-Workshops.aspx
FB event page: www.facebook.com/events/1693902657589519/

Zumwalt 12: www.vfpmaine.org/

Maine Currents- independent local news, views & culture on WERU-FM 89.9 Blue Hill, 99.9 Bangor, Maine and www.weru.org, Wednesdays 4-5pm Eastern

Power for the People 1/11/17

Producer/Host: Steve Kahl
Engineer: Amy Browne

Issue: Alternative Energy

Program Topic: Big picture of federal and state energy policy

Key Discussion Points
a) RGGI Renewable portfolio standards
b) state and federal tax incentives
c) renewable energy portfolio in Maine

Guest: Patrick Woodcock, former director of the Maine Energy Office

BoatTalk 1/10/17

Producers/Hosts: Alan Sprague & Mike Joyce
Engineer: Amy Browne

Program Topic: northern forest canoe trail, schoodic ferry

Key Discussion Points:
a) what is the northern forest canoe trail
b) what does the schoodic ferry do
c) more titanic news, delaware size iceberg

guests: Nicole Grohoski, northern forest canoe trail board member
Kaitlyn Mullen, schoodic ferry owner/operator