This manual documents version 3.0 of the Mirrorland Communal Living Facilities, Inc.

Living Together ¶

• Our front, back and side doors need to be pulled until you hear a soft *click*, otherwise they won't lock properly! We live in a safe neighborhood, but why increase the risk?

• Try not to leave the windows of the ground floor unlocked (even if sometimes useful): anyone can easily enter through them.

• Neighbors are allowed to cross our yard to get to the park. Say hello if you see them!

• The wall between us and our neighbor's unit is very thin; they can hear us clearly when we talk or even when someone climbs the stairs. Our rotating neighbors are very nice, but they told us a few times that they have trouble sleeping if we're too loud.

• After 10 PM from Sunday through Thursday, remember to keep your voice low and tell your guests to do the same. Don't play loud instruments after 10pm unless it's a jam session and we've notified neighbors and there is a consensus between all housemates. Silent living room after 10pm until further notice.

• Some of us sleep late, so avoid yelling, running up the stairs, and clanking dishes while someone's still sleeping.

• The most important rule for living together in harmony: If something's bothering you, just let the others know! Don't let frustration build up. Let's talk it out.

• Update the house ledger before the 28th of the month. Send your ledger balance to Mariah by the 28th. BitCoin and Ethereum welcome. This closes out bills and such for the previous month and rent for the upcoming month.

• We like to make Mirrorland a better space by planting flower gardens, making a darkroom, painting walls. Ask the housemates before making a change

and see if it's something we can add to the house ledger.

Cleaning ¶

• Don't leave a mess in common areas. It's also your responsibility to clean after the people you invite.

• Don't walk around with dirty shoes! Take them off near the entrance and remind your guests to do the same.

• "Professional" cleaners come every two weeks, usually on Thursday or Friday late morning (see the house calendar). They will clean the whole house including our bedrooms. Please be respectful of their work and don't leave a mess on the floor.

• There's already enough crap in the basement, so let's not add more! Feel free to take anything to your room, especially those ugly mirrors. If you do add stuff to the basement or attic, labeling items is useful so it isn't thrown out or accidentally taken by someone else.

Trash ¶

• Trash collection comes every Monday early in the morning. On Sunday nights, one of us *MUST* remember to take the trash bins, recycling and compost out on the edge of the sidewalk for pickup, and on Monday morning we must put them back.

• Cambridge has strict recycling regulations: we'll be fined if they find greasy or dirty items in the recycle bin. Also, not all plastics are recyclable: when in doubt, put them in the landfill bin.

• It is said that a ware-raccoon wanders in the neighborhood. Food scraps go into the compost bin of the neighbors under their back porch. Keep it locked.

House Supplies ¶

• We re-order consumables such as salt and toilet paper monthly.

• If you open the last box of something, drop the yellow tag into the magic jar for re-ordering.

• Be environmentally responsible! Don't waste water, gas, electricity, paper, soap or food. Reuse plastic bags and boxes and remember to switch all lights off when you leave.

Internet ¶

• There are two separate APs: one open as a courtesy to our neighbors and users of the public yard ("GCHQ Shelter 23") and one encrypted for residents ("NSA Surveillance Van 23"). The shared secret for the latter is passed orally. You can also get it from the NFC tag on the wall in the atrium.

• Comcast is notorious for reporting their own users to copyright associations. You are personally responsible for what you do online.

Kitchen ¶

• Unlabeled food is usually for sharing. Label your food if you don't want others to assume it's for sharing. If you want to label a whole drawer in the refrigderator, go for it but try to make sure it isn't wasted space.

• If fridge is full or overloaded, message the group chat to ask everyone to clear it out.

• Don't be evil! Try to maintain a neutral balance between the foods you take and those you contribute.

• Don't leave leftovers or stinky foods in the fridge for weeks. We trash anything that looks spoiled.

• After cooking, remember to wipe the kitchen table, clean the stove and the microwave, wash the dishes and put them back when they're dry. Sweeping/mopping may also be necessary. Don't let your housemates clean after your mess!

• Smoke will trigger the smoke detectors! They're very loud and annoying, so if you burn something, quickly open all windows and doors before it's too late.

• The hot water tap is sometimes leaky, remember to close it tightly (as the tag clearly says in Italian :-).

• DON'T DECONTAMINATE ALIEN BACTERIA IN THE FREEZER.

Bathrooms ¶

• IMPORTANT: Only flushing biodegradable solids down the toilet. Othewise, the toilet will clog the pipes

and flood the basement. It did already happen and it wasn't pleasant!

• Feel free to use either bathroom; leave the door open after use.

• If you run out of toilet paper, you can find more rolls in the basement. Take 3.

• After taking a shower, don't leave wet rugs or floors. Use the fan or open the window if needed. Remember to close the window and turn off the fan afterwards.

• Using the hairdryers at high power occassionally triggers the circuit protection in the fuse box located over the dryer in the basement. Either use it at "low" or learn how to restore the breaker in case this happens.

Guests ¶

• You MUST reserve couches and rooms in advance on the house calendar. First-come, first-served. Letting your housemates know about guests in person or via chat is also helpful.

• Guests staying multiple days should contribute to the house rent (usually $50 per day or $200 per week).

• If you give your guests a copy of the front door key or MBTA card, remind them to return it (we keep loosing them!)

• This is really important: after your guests are gone, there must be no trace of their passage (well, other than gifts, of course :-). Wash any sheets and towels you gave them, tidy up the room/couch they used. Seriously!

• You can throw parties in the house or in the backyard! Just let the others know and make sure you restore the house to its original splendor afterwards. It would be a good idea to notify the neighbors in advance.

• Cleaning dishes, taking out trash and sweeping right after the party is preferred.

Laundry ¶

• Use it any time, but please wait until you have a reasonable amount of clothes to wash to avoid wasting energy and detergent.

• Try not to forget your clothes in the laundry for days, especially the washing machine.

• In the likely event that you find someone else's forgotten clothes, you can pile them up on top of the drier.

Heating ¶

• 70°F (21°C) is a reasonable default for the winter. Remember to turn the heat down to 60°F (or less) when leaving in the morning.

• The thermostat is located in the Master room downstairs, which tends to remain colder than the rest of the house if the door is closed, so setting 70°F there causes the other rooms to go up to 75-80.

• Keep the door to the basement stairs open in the winter to let the heat from the furnace flow by convection. Also leave the door downstairs closed to avoid dissipating heat in the rest of the basement.

• The rusty water in the pipes of the heating system needs to be purged every month. Ask Mariah for a demonstration.

Pets ¶

• If you're a dog, your owners will be responsible for wiping your paws when you return from the muddy yard.

• Please don't sit on the couches. Don't beg humans to sleep on their beds.

• Don't feed any dogs with any food other than dogfood. Ask the owner.

• Don't leave the Polka alone unattended in the backyard.

• You're welcome to walk Polka. Use the leash. Carry poop bags.

• Treat Polka kindly. She's been through a lot. She doesn't like loud or sudden noises.

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