The Business of Piracy: How Pirate Ships Actually Worked

This video explores the business model of pirate ships, adapted largely from The Invisible Hook. It delves into how pirate ships operated, providing insights into their organizational structure and economic activities.

How Matt Ferguson made the Empire Strikes Back 40th anniversary movie poster

Matt Ferguson, a renowned movie poster illustrator, shares his creative process behind the Empire Strikes Back 40th anniversary and Predator Badlands movie posters. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the film's mood, studying existing artwork, and creating a unique perspective to capture the essence of the movie.

Interactive clustering map of 3.4 million Bluesky users

Somerville cultural center the Armory has a call for proposals open until March 11th for artists, arts-oriented businesses, and arts-focused non-profit organizations that want space.

Housing and transparency at the top of agenda for Somerville's new mayor

This interview with Somerville's new mayor, Jake Wilson, discusses his vision for the city, focusing on improving communication with the public, addressing the high cost of living and housing, and reorganizing city operations for efficiency and innovation.

Bluesky just published their 2025 Transparency Report, covering user growth, key initiatives, and moderation operations

A year after three women resigned over alleged harassment from a Somerville library coworker, the city continues to obfuscate why they're still employing him despite HR finding "sufficient evidence of violation/s"

Bluesky teases 2026 roadmap: A better Discover feed, real-time features, and more

Bluesky is unveiling its 2026 roadmap, focusing on enhancing the Discover feed, adding real-time features, and improving basic functionalities like private accounts and video support. The company aims to make the app feel more real-time and interactive, with better recommendations and curation tools. Despite scaling to over 42 million users, Bluesky faces challenges in user retention and basic feature parity with competitors like Threads.

What's Next at Bluesky

As Bluesky enters 2026, it aims to solidify its position as a unique social platform by focusing on live events, improving user experience, and fostering an ecosystem of integrated apps.

Somerville Invites Residents to Help Shape FY 2027 Budget Priorities

The City of Somerville is inviting residents to participate in shaping the Fiscal Year 2027 budget priorities through a virtual community budget meeting on February 10 at 6 p.m. on Zoom. The meeting is open to all, with registration encouraged but not required. Interpretation in Spanish and Portuguese will be provided, and other languages are available upon request. Feedback can also be submitted via email or written comments by noon on the day of the hearing, or in person by contacting the City of Somerville in advance for auxiliary aids.