Hello, everyone. For the first issue, comprising the news of early this week, see here. (Or see the post below.) This is the second issue of my virus newsletter, The Antidote. PDF is here. The idea is for you to be able to spend 8-10 minutes every day or two reading one of these ***instead … Continue reading The Antidote Issue Two
My work
The Antidote – a virus newsletter
Hi, all. I'm starting a newsletter on the day's virus news. I haven't started an account at one of the newsletter providers but if you want on the list, send me an email at hey@brandonsmith.com. Also, if you'd rather have a PDF of the newsletter that follows, here's that for you. I wrote the first … Continue reading The Antidote – a virus newsletter
Set up a tiny monthly contribution to join in my stories and learn the craft
Police watch protesters on the University of Chicago campus. Photo by Sydney Combs. (sydneycombs.com) I set up a "Patreon" page this week. I'm telling my family, friends, and supporters around the country to check it out. I hope you do, too. It allows you to set up a small recurring monthly contribution to my work. … Continue reading Set up a tiny monthly contribution to join in my stories and learn the craft
Protected: Next story outline
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
WVON commentary
I recorded a commentary for WVON this week. It airs three times today, and maybe over the weekend, too. Here's the text, if you want to read instead: This is Brandon Smith. I’m that journalist that sued the city to make ‘em release video of Laquan McDonald being shot, working with your brother Will Calloway. … Continue reading WVON commentary
The video out, the officer charged, the problem persists
A press conference to discuss what we are working toward with the release of the Laquan McDonald video. Me at left, William Calloway at the podium, and Dorothy Holmes, right, mother of Ronald Johnson, who was killed by police a week before Laquan McDonald. Thanks to ABC7 for the screengrab. A lot has happened in … Continue reading The video out, the officer charged, the problem persists
We won. Epically. Now we wait.
Attorney Matt Topic, myself, and activist William Calloway answer questions from reporters at the Daley Center courthouse Nov. 19 after winning our lawsuit against the city. (Obscured is the other attorney on the case, Craig Futterman.) We sought the release of a video that allegedly shows police shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times on a … Continue reading We won. Epically. Now we wait.
My case gets air time on WGN
My attorney Matt Topic and I discuss our court case against the city for a WGN news crew Oct. 28. Thanks to Andy Thayer for the photo. Just wanted to make you aware that our case against the city continues. We brought a civil suit against the police department (the city of Chicago, really) because … Continue reading My case gets air time on WGN
Why I’m suing the Chicago Police Department
Justin Kaufmann, host of WGN Radio's evening show "The Download," poses for a quick shot with me after our live segment August 12 about FOIA fails and transparency in Chicago. In case you weren't aware, I'm all for transparency, particularly when it concerns police misconduct. As such, I'm suing the Chicago Police Pepartment. It's an … Continue reading Why I’m suing the Chicago Police Department
Whistleblowers and electronics no longer mix: my story
My story for In These Times' July edition revealed some tactics that whistleblowers of a national security bent might have to use in case they want to remain anonymous. It appeared on the back cover, where the nonprofit that runs the magazine prints stories, not ads.
Tales from the crypt(-oparty)
My story on Chicago's CryptoParty scene appeared on the cover of the Chicago Reader last week. Thanks for reading, folks. It's a long piece, so if you get through it, kudos to you. And bravo if you somehow manage to not get lost as you go, with all the techno-terminology. We tried to make it as friendly … Continue reading Tales from the crypt(-oparty)
A glimpse at the ideas re-shaping building design from the science up
I wrote the cover story to the special September edition of "Green Building + Design," a design-porn glossy that doesn't shy away from hard questions about its subjects. (I, for one, balk at the consumerist trend to "be green.") I wrote about the mantra--and standards--called Passive House, which uses modelling and analysis to incorporate remarkable … Continue reading A glimpse at the ideas re-shaping building design from the science up
Protected: Chicago police and their wobbly definition of “search”
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
I helped break who Chicago police were spying on
Kristiana Rae Colón, center with the red scarf, leads a "Brown Friday" protest in a Chicago shopping district. This reporter broke the news that Colón, daughter of an Alderman, likely had her phone surveilled by Chicago police trying to learn where the protest was headed. Photo credit: Bryant Cross. This story of mine, published on … Continue reading I helped break who Chicago police were spying on
One’s work and one’s art
I definitely need art in my life to thrive. And I need non-art work, too. This is nothing new for anyone, I suspect. But I'm happy to be at the point where my weekend pursuits, in food, are both satisfying work and hella artful. Three Sisters Lentils, Mint Creek pork shoulder, Genesis squash and onions, … Continue reading One’s work and one’s art
The past few months in photos, minus all the computers
Roadblocks en route to the world’s thinnest watch
Chicagoan Jerry O'Leary, wearing the watch he designed and helped engineer—the world's thinnest. His company is called Central Standard Timing. Photo by Zbigniew Bzdak, used with permission from Chicago Tribune. A year ago, when I read news stories on the Kickstarter hardware phenomenon of the millimeter-thin watch, I latched onto the catchy company name and the … Continue reading Roadblocks en route to the world’s thinnest watch
SecureDrop in my house? You’d never know.
I'm well on my way to the prerequisites to install SecureDrop, the new anonymous submission system for those who would receive and publish things that might endanger the sender. Originally coded by the late Aaron Swartz with help from Kevin Poulsen, the Freedom of the Press Foundation has taken up the mantle, updated the code … Continue reading SecureDrop in my house? You’d never know.
Wisdom from people who live in cabins
Tiny-house construction in the Beaver Brook community in the forest of upstate New York. Thanks to the photographer, Jace Cooke, for the Creative Commons license. Head over to cabinporn.com for a real show. (Not that kind, you sex addict. Not that there's anything wrong with that.) The folks behind the site, the residents of Beaver … Continue reading Wisdom from people who live in cabins
Blue Sky innovation; work for Chicago Tribune
Take note: graph the number of tech startups in Chicago the past five years and you'll very nearly get a parabolic function. (No, this isn't an actual graph of it, but it does closely represent the data.) Most startups employ just one or two people full-time. Maybe the more-developed ones have a third person part-time. … Continue reading Blue Sky innovation; work for Chicago Tribune
Brandon Smith 