Nashua Wi-Fi on NECN

Good piece here on NECN by Lauren Collins on the Nashua Wi-Fi launch last week. I like how she uses my favorite term "dowsing for signal!" From a muni wi-fi admin perspective, I like the idea of making the users go pick up a password in the local shops, but as a user, I'd find it at least mildly annoying. (I was in the Portsmouth library last week and was frustrated to realize that after I had gotten myself comfortable upstairs with my book and my laptop, the network log-in screen told me to back downstairs to the front desk for the password.) Also, I really dig the street signs in Nashua. Note to self: We need those here in Portsmouth.

Finally, it's very refreshing to see the media cover a wi-fi installation with a positive or neutral bias on its own merits, instead of bringing up old nay-saying arguments or invoking the demise of Earthlink.

Nashua Wi-Fi Up

As noted below, the much-anticipated launch of Nashua's wi-fi has been well, much anticipated, due to various delays. My follow-up inquiry to the Telegraph Weds night about the project status was met a front-page story the next morning: Downtown Wi-Fi up and running, sort of. I love the article and the comments below it -- all the same old tired arguments! I'm sure one easily predict the reactions in every place that tries to put wi-fi in their downtowns, because they're always the same. What's more, they seem to break along political lines, with Republicans typically arguing ("infringing free markets," "wasting tax dollars," etc.), despite the evidence that wi-fi is an effective economic development tool for small businesses, and despite the fact that the US is far behind in broadband deployment. Anyway, good luck to the Nashua Chamber and its partners in this; we'll be watching and rooting for you from Portsmouth.

Portsmouth's Got Buzz

As I noted in my 15 Seconds of Fame post, our fair city has been getting more than its fair share of attention lately. You could say Portsmouth's got buzz.

Now, Outside Magazine has ranked us the #4 city in the country. NECN sent a reporter to check us out and somehow the poor thing didn't get to Annabelle's for ice cream. Let's go to the video:


Meanwhile, Newsday tagged us as well worth the 5-hour drive from Long Island. They even gave us props for our free wireless Internet. (Thanks for noticing!)

We might even qualify for the full 15 minutes if this keeps up!

3rd of July Fireworks Delayed...

...Til the 5th of July!

During the eBrew last night, I was online adding people to my eCoast Facebook group when I received this e-mail:

The City of Portsmouth Community Newsletter SPECIAL REPORT July 3, 2008

FIREWORKS POSTPONED
The City’s annual fireworks display scheduled tonight (Thursday, July 3) has been
postponed until Saturday (July 5) at 9:15 p.m.

Due to the rescheduled fireworks display, the Dog Park will be closed from 6 a.m.
Saturday until 10 a.m. Sunday. The tennis and basketball courts, playground and
baseball areas will close by noon Saturday. The High-Hanover Parking Garage will
charge a flat $3 fee from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. For more information, see
www.CityofPortsmouth.com.

So, yep, anything to avoid the unacceptable ignominy of celebrating the 4th of July on, you know, the 4th!

Anyway, Happy 232nd Birthday America.