Christopher Schmidt

Tilter at windmills. Alphabet Workers Union. Opinions stated here are my own, not Google's. He/him. Signal: 617.599.5778. @crschmidt on Twitter. Available on tootfinder.

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npub1rz6kkcttc53zwqxuagkjd6z5xuzvptnz5x2l2ml3x3j9dmpn64vque543l

NIP-05 Address

crschmidt_at_better.boston@mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsp3dttv94u2g38qrww5tfxap2rwpxq4e32r904dlcngezkasea2kqc5lf2z

Author Public Key

npub1rz6kkcttc53zwqxuagkjd6z5xuzvptnz5x2l2ml3x3j9dmpn64vque543l

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Last Notes

2024-06-29 22:09:48

Sometimes I find that other people seem to have a lot more resources at their disposal than I do and I wonder what I'm doing wrong that it feels like I'm always doing things on a shoestring.
Like, am I just bad at finding people to support my projects? Are other people better at it, or do they just exude more confidence while working within the same constraints?
I feel like I'm pretty good at networking overall--decent at making connections--but bad at having those things benefit me.

2024-06-28 20:18:14

Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons statement in response to two recent cycling deaths is to center "our senior community, those with mobility impediments, our houses of worship, and our small businesses" as the primary people we need to be thinking about while cyclists are the ones dying.
So focus not on the people dying, but on the people who are unhappy that there are cyclists in the city (and don't care about them dying).
https://files.better.boston/media_attachments/files/112/696/091/594/557/921/original/23f5247318cf109a.png

2024-06-01 01:31:22

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@npub1gpa…xlk0 the obvious answer is the glass flowers. Everything else is nice, but the glass flowers are unforgettable. (I saw someone else already said this.)

2024-05-21 12:28:10

Aventon is having a memorial day sale: $200 more off all their bikes.
There are two that I'd say are a hearty recommend at this price point:
Soltera.2: Basic hybrid bike @ $800
Abound: 2-kid cargo bike with necessary accessories included @ $1600
Save $50 extra with https://www.talkable.com/x/7M4wX3 .
I've helped put 40+ families on the Abound in the last 6 months: it's a great entry-level cargo bike, and this is probably the best deal you'll see on an entry-level cargo bike.

2024-04-13 11:39:27

I believe that the MA e-bike rebate program is poorly designed if the goal is maximizing number of car miles replaced with bike miles. As designed, I fear that it is a poorly targeted charitable program. It would be better to do grant-style funding of entire bikes for low-income families, while using limited value rebates for higher income families, to achieve the goals theoretically sought under the current program.

2024-04-03 12:44:44

I still miss Twitter, and I don't think that I will ever again manage to cultivate the community and social / community impact that I had there on another platform. This is largely because Twitter was The Place To Go for a certain group of people, and after it became toxic for those conversations, the end result was not a single destination, but a fractured landscape of competing platforms.

2024-03-06 20:01:24

I’ve filled out at least 18 funding requests for grants or sponsorship in the past two days. It is amazing how much inefficiency goes into the non profit industrial complex.

2024-03-03 12:16:30

I'm a strong supporter of Carrying Shit On Bikes. Doesn't have to be big shit, though it can be; but having places to put things is good.
https://files.better.boston/media_attachments/files/112/031/704/075/556/302/original/1ab684a5127a08d5.jpeg
https://files.better.boston/media_attachments/files/112/031/704/746/562/772/original/9ac0a53d2da94e8d.jpeg
https://files.better.boston/media_attachments/files/112/031/705/075/126/385/original/1e8eb75a80a311ad.jpeg
https://files.better.boston/media_attachments/files/112/031/706/636/588/944/original/9e80908a3b170364.jpeg

2024-02-16 03:28:00

New Personal Best on Addams Family pinball tonight, playing at a Pinball place where tables are known to be set up pretty difficult. (No top score list; bottom on the list was 150M.)
https://files.better.boston/media_attachments/files/111/939/029/514/919/907/original/67497a5e2fff3308.jpeg

2023-12-24 16:04:20

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@npub1psd…9sr7 big problem with that type of vehicle is just being too low to the ground to have good visibility on city streets.

2023-11-06 16:17:28

Good morning!
In October, I loaned out 51 e-bikes to people, for a total of 188 days of loans. During that time, the bikes covered 1400 miles of travel. 4 bikes were donated to the library; I also purchased one, and had one stolen from a borrower.
This week is municipal election week in Massachusetts. If you're in Cambridge, bike lanes and street safety are on the ballot, as is protecting and accelerating progress on fighting for more housing. Make sure you vote!
https://files.better.boston/media_attachments/files/111/364/501/130/218/227/original/6ffe619720d73970.png

2023-10-19 18:25:03

Halloween Family Bike Ride is this Sunday! the event will start with bike-to-bike trick or treating at 9:30am in Arlington near the Minuteman, and include a 30 minute ride on a safe path through Cambridge and Belmont starting at 10:25. The organizers still need a few volunteers to stand at various no-traffic crossings; if you can follow instructions and know how to stand still, shoot an email to hello@familybikeride.org to volunteer+help out!
https://www.familybikeride.org/halloween

2023-10-14 19:33:34

4/10 library bikes. Not shown—the 6 currently out on loan.
https://files.better.boston/media_attachments/files/111/235/039/891/570/981/original/dcb296c020916d90.jpeg

2023-10-10 14:36:54

I really love the way this bike looks.
https://files.better.boston/media_attachments/files/111/211/216/480/214/445/original/778b7dae1f1c6397.jpeg

2023-09-10 15:54:21

"Average Somerville Resident owns 3 e-bikes" factoid is actually a statistical error. "E-bikes Chris", who runs an e-bike lending library, is an outlier and should not have been counted.
New bike into the library in the "Try-then-buy" category: The 2019 RadWagon 4 is a long-tail bike well-suited for carrying two young children or heavier cargo. Payload capacity of 350 pounds, rear rack rated for 120 pounds.
https://files.better.boston/media_attachments/files/111/041/638/169/373/345/original/55f2cad66cce52d5.jpeg

2023-08-15 14:56:45

I'm often asked "Do you worry about your e-bike getting stolen?" The short answer is "not really", but I have a bunch of reasons why. I've written up the general advice I give to folks on how to protect their bikes from being stolen.
https://camberville.ebikelibrary.org/answers/theft-risk/

2023-06-27 01:42:13

Tonight, Cambridge passed an updated Building Emissions ordinance requiring building emissions reductions, including emissions for large buildings to be reduced to 40% of a 2018 baseline by 2030, and to 0% by 2035.
Carbon emissions from buildings that fail to meet this target will pay a fine of $234/ton (adjusted annually by the City), creating a strong incentive to achieve serious carbon reductions.
https://twitter.com/johnhawkinson/status/1673500657225981953

2023-06-11 13:08:15

I might have accidentally bought another e-bike. Bird is putting their bikes on a clearance sale at Ocean State Job Lot—former MSRP of $2200, currently for sale at $1000 with a $500 gift card to go along with it.
https://www.oceanstatejoblot.com/birdbike-v-frame-ebike-glacier-white/product/289210
https://www.oceanstatejoblot.com/birdbike-v-frame-ebike-glacier-white/product/289210
https://files.better.boston/media_attachments/files/110/525/734/196/688/577/original/9f9d13bd7ec89d29.jpeg

2023-06-09 01:02:51

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@npub1nd8…2zkd @npub1exw…9hvw “The practical application of this new policy will be needless confusion amongst workers and a disregard for our various life circumstances. Many teams are distributed, and for some of us there may not be anyone to collaborate with in our physical office locations. Currently, New York City workers do not even have enough desks and conference rooms for workers to use comfortably. A one size fits all policy does not address these circumstances.” -me, in an AWU statement