archmind

I Just Began Realizing...

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:08:59 GMT

In Case a Whole
Bunch of People
Noticed...

Addis Ababa Thu 2:53 AM Guatemala Wed 5:53 PM Nassau * Wed 7:53 PM
Adelaide Thu 9:23 AM Halifax * Wed 8:53 PM New Delhi Thu 5:23 AM
Aden Thu 2:53 AM Hanoi Thu 6:53 AM New Orleans * Wed 6:53 PM
Algiers Thu 12:53 AM Harare Thu 1:53 AM New York * Wed 7:53 PM
Almaty Thu 5:53 AM Havana * Wed 7:53 PM Oslo * Thu 1:53 AM
Amman * Thu 2:53 AM Helsinki * Thu 2:53 AM Ottawa * Wed 7:53 PM
Amsterdam * Thu 1:53 AM Hong Kong Thu 7:53 AM Paris * Thu 1:53 AM
Anadyr * Thu 12:53 PM Honolulu Wed 1:53 PM Perth Thu 7:53 AM
Anchorage * Wed 3:53 PM Houston * Wed 6:53 PM Philadelphia * Wed 7:53 PM
Ankara * Thu 2:53 AM Indianapolis * Wed 7:53 PM Phoenix Wed 4:53 PM
Antananarivo Thu 2:53 AM Islamabad * Thu 5:53 AM Prague * Thu 1:53 AM
Asuncion Wed 7:53 PM Istanbul * Thu 2:53 AM Reykjavik Wed 11:53 PM
Athens * Thu 2:53 AM Jakarta Thu 6:53 AM Rio de Janeiro Wed 8:53 PM
Atlanta * Wed 7:53 PM Jerusalem * Thu 2:53 AM Riyadh Thu 2:53 AM
Auckland Thu 11:53 AM Johannesburg Thu 1:53 AM Rome * Thu 1:53 AM
Baghdad Thu 2:53 AM Kabul Thu 4:23 AM San Francisco * Wed 4:53 PM
Bangkok Thu 6:53 AM Kamchatka * Thu 12:53 PM San Juan Wed 7:53 PM
Barcelona * Thu 1:53 AM Karachi * Thu 5:53 AM San Salvador Wed 5:53 PM
Beijing Thu 7:53 AM Kathmandu Thu 5:38 AM Santiago Wed 7:53 PM
Beirut * Thu 2:53 AM Khartoum Thu 2:53 AM Santo Domingo Wed 7:53 PM
Belgrade * Thu 1:53 AM Kingston Wed 6:53 PM Sao Paulo Wed 8:53 PM
Berlin * Thu 1:53 AM Kiritimati Thu 1:53 PM Seattle * Wed 4:53 PM
Bogota Wed 6:53 PM Kolkata Thu 5:23 AM Seoul Thu 8:53 AM
Boston * Wed 7:53 PM Kuala Lumpur Thu 7:53 AM Shanghai Thu 7:53 AM
Brasilia Wed 8:53 PM Kuwait City Thu 2:53 AM Singapore Thu 7:53 AM
Brisbane Thu 9:53 AM Kyiv * Thu 2:53 AM Sofia * Thu 2:53 AM
Brussels * Thu 1:53 AM La Paz Wed 7:53 PM St. John's * Wed 9:23 PM
Bucharest * Thu 2:53 AM Lagos Thu 12:53 AM St. Paul * Wed 6:53 PM
Budapest * Thu 1:53 AM Lahore * Thu 5:53 AM Stockholm * Thu 1:53 AM
Buenos Aires Wed 8:53 PM Lima Wed 6:53 PM Suva Thu 11:53 AM
Cairo * Thu 2:53 AM Lisbon * Thu 12:53 AM Sydney Thu 9:53 AM
Canberra Thu 9:53 AM London * Thu 12:53 AM Taipei Thu 7:53 AM
Cape Town Thu 1:53 AM Los Angeles * Wed 4:53 PM Tallinn * Thu 2:53 AM
Caracas Wed 7:23 PM Madrid * Thu 1:53 AM Tashkent Thu 4:53 AM
Casablanca * Thu 12:53 AM Managua Wed 5:53 PM Tegucigalpa Wed 5:53 PM
Chatham Island Thu 12:38 PM Manila Thu 7:53 AM Tehran * Thu 4:23 AM
Chicago * Wed 6:53 PM Melbourne Thu 9:53 AM Tokyo Thu 8:53 AM
Copenhagen * Thu 1:53 AM Mexico City * Wed 6:53 PM Toronto * Wed 7:53 PM
Darwin Thu 9:23 AM Miami * Wed 7:53 PM Vancouver * Wed 4:53 PM
Denver * Wed 5:53 PM Minneapolis * Wed 6:53 PM Vienna * Thu 1:53 AM
Detroit * Wed 7:53 PM Minsk * Thu 2:53 AM Vladivostok * Thu 10:53 AM
Dhaka * Thu 6:53 AM Montevideo Wed 8:53 PM Warsaw * Thu 1:53 AM
Dubai Thu 3:53 AM Montgomery * Wed 6:53 PM Washington DC * Wed 7:53 PM
Dublin * Thu 12:53 AM Montreal * Wed 7:53 PM Winnipeg * Wed 6:53 PM
Edmonton * Wed 5:53 PM Moscow * Thu 3:53 AM Yangon Thu 6:23 AM
Frankfurt * Thu 1:53 AM Mumbai Thu 5:23 AM Zagreb * Thu 1:53 AM
Geneva * Thu 1:53 AM Nairobi Thu 2:53 AM Zürich * Thu 1:53 AM

This only occurred to me a few hours ago, when I was
staring out the window when I was with my mother
at the bank.

My Netflix selections.

I just mailed them off today.
Ran had been sitting around for a couple
of weeks. I watched the film twice, but couldn't focus
on it. I didn't rekindle my fascination with the film.
I decided to watch it later.

Paris Je T'Aime was the one that hit home in
this trio. I watched it multiple times, and selected
specific vignettes. I was pleasantly surprised to see...
I'm in danger of digging into the movie, which isn't the
purpose of this post. While I didn't "get" some of the
cinematic essays, I felt like a lot of it was written for
me.

The City of Lost Children. Pondering this one, and
the coincidences within which it participates freaked me out. Try as
I did, I couldn't stay with the film. I found it intriguing
to look at, but twice drifted away. The story just didn't
hold me. I felt badly about not being able to sit through
it. It seemed as if City I would be bouncing off the
walls. Steampunk, French, off-the-wall plot...amazing designs,
but it just didn't register. I decided last night to try it
again at some later date.

I'm getting impatient with the mode my life is in. I'm not a
watcher, I'm a doer. This phase of life is played out. I don't
feel I have much to gain by continuing in this mode. I cannot
live on Stand Alone Complex. I need a worthwhile life in
meatspace to go along with it.

About noon today, things began to click.

The City of Lost Children <=> Neverland.
(I had no idea it was coming up in my queue. I don't
even remember selecting it, much less reading the plot!
Why was I pondering kidnapping in my blog?)

Paris, Je T'Aime <=> Paris Jackson - I never knew the names of any of Michael Jackson's children until the funeral service.
I may have heard them in the news at some time in the past,
but had no idea of their number, ages, names, or whereabouts.
Belive it or not.

Ran The Plot - Highly successful Japanese warlord splits
his vast empire and fortune between his sons, who tear each
other apart to seize the parts they didn't get (the plot as
I remember, mind you). <=> Michael Jackson's estate and
child custody issues.

I watched the service yesterday, with my older brother and
mother.

I sense that people reading my blog in the infoscape, many of
them celebrities and media personalities, are dissecting the
contents of my post and thinking about them more than I
generally do.

I felt a very strong, uncomfortably strong, pull towards the
ceremony, the TV reports, and the Los Angeles Times.

Maya Angelou's words, Brooke Shields' soliloquy, the text of news
reports, the list goes on, and on. Why Paris Jackson?

Robert Hilburn's front-page treatise on his relationship
and understanding of Michael...Deepak Chopra on CNN day,
after day, after day.

The Pacific Ampitheatre in Irvine is showcasing a lot of
musicians from the '80s this summer.

The Gap Band was showcased in a TV report of the Essence
Festival in New Orleans.

Was that Jermaine or Jackie who spoke with Larry King, and invited
the public to participate in memorializing the King of Pop?

What Can I Say?

I am afraid that if I start discussing my manifold recollections
and myriad perceptions of Michael Jackson, and the Jackson family,
I will never be able to pull away from blogging long enough to
do anything productive in meatspace, at a time in my life when
disconnecting from my beloved pastime is becoming a critical
need.

I never met Michael.
I never went to a concert, though I was looking forward to
the much-publicized J5 reunion tour.
I was planning on going to see the stage version of Thriller
too.

I didn't want to blog yesterday's proceedings. I wanted to
spend all my energy and attention taking in the event, not
placing my own creative stamp on it. I felt it was important
to let my most unrefined feelings manifest, even though I
wasn't going to blog them. There's so much more to do.

I did indeed see and hear many infotons that attracted me.
The background was lovely.

This is dangerous.
I want to stop blogging, possibly forever.

I think that Michael Jackson and I would have found
many, many things to talk about, had we ever met.

In the back of my head, I hoped that this would indeed
happen one day, though I didn't consider it to be a
matter of priority or necessity.

Something's Happening...

That's all I can say for certain.
At this point in time.
I need to talk to somebody.
I am fascinated by the phenomenon I have uncovered,
but I cannot live on it.

In the next few days, I am going to do a major posting session
relating my thoughts about the life and achievements of Michael and the Jackson family, but after that - all bets are off.
Of course, it will result in an essay on the African-American
experience from the late 1960's to the present day.
This is one reason why I have been resisting the temptation
to post of late.

I am afraid I will become consumed by my latest creation,
a reflection on my cultural analog. Another anthropic singularity,
one whose primary feats hail from another field of endeavor.

It may be time for me to stop posting.
At least, until I can get my life in meatspace on
solid footing.

I am pondering and pursuing ideas, but the progress is
slow, since there is no instruction book for what I
am trying to do.

I am living a pioneer's life, and it's exciting, but
highly stressful. I believe that I will succeed, as pessimistic
and as cynical as I can be, because I know that what I
have been doing is right, and benefits many people,
most of whom I will never meet.

One cannot accomplish ANYTHING significant in life and
please everybody at the same time.

It just doesn't happen...

I need to talk to somebody.
I need to talk to somebody.

This is far beyond anything I thought would or could
happen with my blog.

Destiny will arrive.
Destiny did arrive.

We are magic.

I must find out what my creative life of the last
three years has resulted in with regards to the world
I largely left behind.

God bless you, Michael.
God bless the Jacksons.

That's all I can muster in this present moment.

I can no longer sit here in my home, contemplating
"maybes" and "seems-likes."

Am I perceived to be an angel, a demon, both, or neither?

The only way I will truly know is to re-embrace life
in meatspace, and try to validate it in the here-and-now.
I need to establish a vested interest in the fate
of local and global society, and find out if that
interest thrives.

I know that I can spew ideas like the big bang, but
ultimately, such action must lead to that which is
life-giving.

I am going too far with this post.
I will expound when I plunge into the ocean that
tries to, but cannot possibly hope to contain the
imagination, expectations, experiences and memories
that comprise my conscious meditations on that whom
we referred to for so many years as, "Michael Jackson."

I'll leave it to my readership to draw any connections
they deem appropriate.

Bridging,

Ed Ussery("ArchMind")

P.S. This is getting to be too much.
Too much.

P.P.S. After reading the Wikipedia description
of Neverland, I found I had to
add the comment that its descriptions are highly
reminiscent of Solaris.

Moving On Health Care Reform

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:55:56 GMT

7/3/09 8:47 PM GMT
11:47 PM Mecca Time
7/4/09 3:47 AM Beijing Time

So, How's Dianne Feinstein Doing?

MoveOn put up a quick spot on health
care reform yesterday on CNN.

Let's try to find vids
of the protest last week.

Here's a video of protesters being escorted out
of a Senate Committee Hearing.
It took place about a month ago.
A number of items were mentioned by protesters
as they were removed from the chamber.
I want to look into what they were alluding to,
but am short on time today, and want to get
more vids linked.

I have to admit, I'm late to the party on this issue
too...

I wonder...Is Dr. Bernard Lown still involved in
these issues? I'll try to find a vid of him.
Hmmm...I didn't know he was a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

"Medicine is the art of engagement with the human condition rather than
with the disease."

-Bernard Lown, MD
(copied from his website)
Rather profound, Dr. Lown.

Here's the first part of the video on his site.
Here's the second part.

I'm sure he's somewhere in this drama.

Let's do some more YouTube spelunking.

This is Elizabeth Kucinich, discussing HR676.

Here's a series of videos on HR676.
Part 1.
Part 2.
Part 3.
Part 4.
That was a good little rap there! :)

I need to get up to speed on the current legislation.
I have a general idea of its content, but need some documentation.

By the way, have people begun to make those politician-
lobbyist collages?

Let's see if anyone has made one for Tom Daschle...

Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks has an
interesting commentary on Daschle's role.

Very cool logo, by the way, Cenk.

Here's his Wikipedia entry.

LOL Daschle isn't a senator anymore.

So, precisely what is his role in all this?

First, let's check the roll calls:

The Senate.
The House.

Here's a list of things we can do to help
fix the American health care system.

Here's the Twitter page for the single-payer movement.
Perhaps I'll be able to find some videos of large-scale
protests looking there...

Recommended actions for July 4th.

Here are instructions on how to join the movement.

Here's an activist demanding that Nancy Pelosi
put single-payer health care back on the table.

Here's another confrontation.

Are the democrats screwing us again?
Is it time to vote Green?

I need an update from the democratic party figures
so I can get a status update.

Is single-payer still off the table?
Hmmm...I need to do some research, but first,
lunch.

Here are some videos of Mike Farrell. on single-payer health care.

Hey!
Here's a volatile update on the situation.

Here's a video advertising the June 25 rally.

7/4/09 1:37 AM GMT
(Happy 4th of July, United Kingdom!!)
Hehehehe...maybe we'llset things straight in the
next couple of years...:)
4:37 AM Mecca Time
8:37 AM Beijing Time

Well, I gotta watch Art of the Western World: In Our Own Time
again...brb!

4:33 AM GMT
7:33 AM Mecca Time
11:33 AM Beijing Time

...back...

Now.
Where was I?
I was looking for videos of the health care reform protests.

A webcast of Democracy Now! which addresses
the current debate in health care.
Here's the second part. I couldn't find the third.

Who's Senator Baucus? Nobody in the progressive camp seems to
like him very much.

This is Mike Farrell speaking at a rally the day after the hearing.
Dr. Margaret Flowers at the same rally.

Here's an extremely powerful story. It's from a
woman who needed a surgery for cervical cancer. Her insurer denied
payment because she was 22, and the company only pays for that
surgery if a patient is 26 or older.

That is intellectual and moral bankruptcy. Any politician who
supports that kind of decision-making is also intellectually
and morally bankrupt.

Medicine is not cut and dry. According to Wikipedia, the highest-risk
group is between ages 25 and 49.
Let's see if I can get WebMD to confirm that.

Web MD says that the age range is usually between 35
and 55.

A cancer is a cancer, regardless of the age of the
patient. Simply because the patient giving the
testimony was only 22, well below the range where
the cancer occurs the most is NO REASON TO DENY
PAYMENT FOR LEGITIMATE TREATMENT.

How disgusting.
Who could support such a diabolical way of deciding
who gets medical care, and who doesn't?

I remember when I went to Faneuil Hall, during my
first year of medical school (1997-8), to a rally
in which MDs and reformed medical insurance professionals
relayed numerous horror stories about managed care.

I remember one professional who had been in the business
of denying care was at some meeting where the photographs
of patients who were being denied care were being projected
on to a screen, and their cases summarized for the attendees.

The cheers for denials of care were so disturbing to this
one individual, that she had second thoughts about her
position, and ended up joining the movement for health
care reform.

What is the status of the single-payer plan on Capitol Hill?
Probably not too good.

Personally, I think that the United States of America is
at a flashpoint with regards to democrats who sell out the
progressive ideals and activists who do massive amounts of
free dirty work to put them there, election, after election,
after election.

Is it time for ultimatums for these people?
Should MoveOn and the progressive wing of the democratic
party threaten to vote out ANY democrat who refuses
to support HR 676?

We have substantial majorities in both houses, and
the presidency.

Like Bill Maher said the other night, "If not now, when?"

I need to get more up to date information on the status
of the legislation.

Is it time, at last to give democrats who sell us out
(or otherwise find some excuse to turn their backs on their
activist roots),
election, after election, after election, the finger,
start a Green movement, and NOT LOOK BACK?

Hmmm...

It doesn't make sense for health care insurers to turn a profit
and refuse to perform their specified function.

$400,000,000,000 in profits was made by health insurers
last year, by one claim I heard in a video.

That's called, "Highway Robbery."

7/6/09 7:04 PM GMT
10:04 PM Mecca Time
7/7/09 2:14 AM Beijing Time

A Lost Weekend

Well, my loyal readers...
I had to finish painting some patio chairs,
then went to church on Sunday, then saw a
couple of movies.

The Taking of Pelham 123 was entertaining,
and included enough mental twists to rise above
the status of a simple action movie.

What else did I see yesterday?
I'll give you a hint.

I want to see it again, and just might go for it
today.

Haven't figured it out yet?

Here's another hint...

Fascinating.

Still don't know?
Last clue:
"I should have gone on opening night."

That was a rather insightful premonition.

One of the YouTube videos queries as part of its title,
"The Best Star Trek Ever?"

My reply: It is certainly the most awesome of the
Star Trek films. But, I want to ponder things
some more before I declare whether or not it is indeed,
the best film of the franchise ever produced.

It broke the rules.
It was a nit-pickers nightmare.
It reminded us of episodes long past, and served
as a beacon to the future.

It may qualify as a work of fine art.
A Rembrandt of space science fiction, one might say,
and quite possibly, of cinema itself.

It paid homage to great works of the genre as it re-assured
us that the writers weren't going to be paralyzed by the
massive body of work that constitutes Star Trek lore.

Star Trek has gone baroque.
Possibly, high baroque.
(I gotta give the creative team something to shoot for, now.)

The quantity of creativity in this work is both vast
and incalculable.

Some elements didn't fit together too well, but,
there weren't enough to taint the experience of the film.

As the reviewer said in the video linked above, Star Trek
can produce sequels, a new series, or both.

I always thought that Star Trek was at its best
when it was challenging the limits of the possible.
Over the decades, it has done this with regards to the
casting, storytelling, and the media within which it
has been presented.

Star Trek (2009) did this in so many ways, that
I have only begun to identify them, much less enumerate them.

I smiled.
I giggled.
I gasped.
I gawked.
I didn't want to leave.
I stayed for the credits. All of them.
I wanted to run off to space, like I hadn't for a
long, long time.
I wanted to be on board the Enterprise.
I wanted to go to Starfleet Academy.

What they did right...

The most important thing the new film had to do was
make the masses excited about Star Trek again.

When's the next convention?
I gotta get to Vegas...
I need to check out a chat room, or email some old
friends, and tell them about the film.

I read somewhere that it might get a nomination for
Best Picture by the MPAA. Appropriate, to
say the least.

They showed us many things we had not seen. This was
essential. On top of that, we saw many of the (too?)
familiar aspects of Trek in ways we had not
seen them before.

I didn't care about what the latest incarnation of the
Enterprise looked like. The cinematography made
that a moot issue. Every time I got a glimpse of the
exterior, the style in which it was presented to the
audience made me feel like I was on a roller coaster.

The bridge was gorgeous.
Engineering looked like a 20th or 21st century physical plant.
The field of view and the sets were constantly disrupting
the perception of the audience.

"It's not supposed to look like that."
"He's not supposed to do that."
"That contradicts what happened in the series."
"HEY! THEY DESTROYED VULCAN!!"

WELL...SO WHAT!!

The creators of contemporary Star Trek effectively
told off every Trekker ever born, and did so with such
panache that few people even noticed.

I loved it.
I'm giggling right now.
I have to see that again, ON THE BIG SCREEN.

NOW!!!

Spock making out with Uhura in a turbo lift,
and in the transporter room.

What?

A few episode references (original series), just off the top of my
head.

Whom Gods Destroy
Where No Man Has Gone Before
The Menagerie
The Naked Time
Amok Time

...just for starters...

I honestly haven't gotten my arms around that movie yet.
I forgot completely about Captain Pike until they were
about to free him from the Romulan ship.

They can do anything now.
Literally, anything.
Go anywhere.
Start at any point.
Rewrite the entire series.
Violate any tenet they choose.
Bring in old cast members
Express time travel paradoxes.

Yes they can.
Yes they can.

The entire franchise has been blown wide open.

A seasoned nit-picker can select anything in the
film that was inconsistent with the series, and
bitch about it until Kingdom Come. I'm sure they're
doing that at this very moment.

It won't make a difference.
It will only rile them up, force them to think about
what they loved so much about Trek
and make them want to see it again...
and again...
and again...

Why?
So they can find MORE things to HATE about the movie.
They'll (indeed, they probably already have) call up
all their die-hard Trekker friends and tell them how
angry the movie made them.

It's brilliant!
Simply brilliant!!

I can't believe it.
I still can't believe it.

What a spectacle!
There must have been riots over this film.

I'm amazed, awed, energized, and inspired by the creative
genius that brought my beloved Star Trek into the
Third Millennium.

What can't they do?
What won't they try?

There are no limits.

Does it qualify as fine art?
I'll have to contemplate that possibility.

In any case, the sleeping giant has awakened, and is dashing across
the galaxy at maximum warp.

I see why Shatner wanted to be in on this film.
I'm sure other cast did too.

Imagine...
Imagine...

I have to think about what the films have represented
to me over the decades...The films with the original crew
constituted a step up in special effects and production values.
Just having a Star Trek movie available was regarded
as a triumph.

The sophistication of Star Trek: The Next Generation
was so high, that to me, the films generally fell short.
None of them had me bouncing off the walls as I was for the
series itself. Taking an already well-done show to film
didn't (for me) step up its quality. We got to see new
models of the Enterprise and new uniforms, but
I had no sense that I was being taken, "to the next level."

After lying dormant for (how many?) years, it's
clear that the cult series turned blockbuster, turned icon,
is on the verge of launching another science-fiction
renaissance with a massive injection of creativity applied
to the rich legacy contained within and expressed by,
its cosmological cultural memory.

STAR TREK LIVES!!!

Postscript:
After being roused by the opus I was treated to yesterday evening,
I truly believe that Star Trek's best years are ahead.

(That ought to be enough blasphemy for one day.)

***

8:38 PM GMT
11:38 PM Mecca Time
7/7/09 3:38 PM Beijing Time

Back to more serious things.

It sounds like there's been a major development
in the Iranian incident. I need to finish with
health care (and lunch, of course.)

Ed Schultz' take on the Senate Committee Hearings.
Interesting...according to Schultz, Senator Baucus has taken
$183,000 from insurance companies, and $229,000 from drug companies.

No wonder he's against single-payer health insurance.

I've been meaning to check out the earth2obama.org site
for some time.
Let's do that now.
Interesting.

A comment the president made on single-payer
health care during the campaign.

Here's a confrontation with democrat Ron Klein (Florida)
over his stance against single-payer health care.
One comment below the video expresses the zeitgeist of
this movement.

Keep track of the stands of our employees...

Here are some more confrontations.

Rep. Gus Bilirakis - Florida.
The Single Payer Action site.

At last! A vid on the June 25 rally in DC for single-payer
health care.
Here's Rep. Dennis Kucinich's description of his plan.

The President on his proposed health care plan.

Don't miss the last link.
I think it's highly important.

Here's a presidential plan for universal health care.

A Nightline feature on health care from within the White House.
It was held on June 25, 2009.

What does he think about single-payer or universal
health care now, I wonder?

That's a good place to end for the moment.
I'll get to Iran later.
I need to gather information first, and take a break.

Beaming,
Ed Ussery("ArchMind")

P.S. "I'm a doctor, not a physicist!"

Reviewing a Zenith

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:02:57 GMT

6/28/09 - 6/29/09

We Are the World

Addis Ababa Mon 5:55 AM Guatemala Sun 8:55 PM Nassau * Sun 10:55 PM
Adelaide Mon 12:25 PM Halifax * Sun 11:55 PM New Delhi Mon 8:25 AM
Aden Mon 5:55 AM Hanoi Mon 9:55 AM New Orleans * Sun 9:55 PM
Algiers Mon 3:55 AM Harare Mon 4:55 AM New York * Sun 10:55 PM
Almaty Mon 8:55 AM Havana * Sun 10:55 PM Oslo * Mon 4:55 AM
Amman * Mon 5:55 AM Helsinki * Mon 5:55 AM Ottawa * Sun 10:55 PM
Amsterdam * Mon 4:55 AM Hong Kong Mon 10:55 AM Paris * Mon 4:55 AM
Anadyr * Mon 3:55 PM Honolulu Sun 4:55 PM Perth Mon 10:55 AM
Anchorage * Sun 6:55 PM Houston * Sun 9:55 PM Philadelphia * Sun 10:55 PM
Ankara * Mon 5:55 AM Indianapolis * Sun 10:55 PM Phoenix Sun 7:55 PM
Antananarivo Mon 5:55 AM Islamabad * Mon 8:55 AM Prague * Mon 4:55 AM
Asuncion Sun 10:55 PM Istanbul * Mon 5:55 AM Reykjavik Mon 2:55 AM
Athens * Mon 5:55 AM Jakarta Mon 9:55 AM Rio de Janeiro Sun 11:55 PM
Atlanta * Sun 10:55 PM Jerusalem * Mon 5:55 AM Riyadh Mon 5:55 AM
Auckland Mon 2:55 PM Johannesburg Mon 4:55 AM Rome * Mon 4:55 AM
Baghdad Mon 5:55 AM Kabul Mon 7:25 AM San Francisco * Sun 7:55 PM
Bangkok Mon 9:55 AM Kamchatka * Mon 3:55 PM San Juan Sun 10:55 PM
Barcelona * Mon 4:55 AM Karachi * Mon 8:55 AM San Salvador Sun 8:55 PM
Beijing Mon 10:55 AM Kathmandu Mon 8:40 AM Santiago Sun 10:55 PM
Beirut * Mon 5:55 AM Khartoum Mon 5:55 AM Santo Domingo Sun 10:55 PM
Belgrade * Mon 4:55 AM Kingston Sun 9:55 PM Sao Paulo Sun 11:55 PM
Berlin * Mon 4:55 AM Kiritimati Mon 4:55 PM Seattle * Sun 7:55 PM
Bogota Sun 9:55 PM Kolkata Mon 8:25 AM Seoul Mon 11:55 AM
Boston * Sun 10:55 PM Kuala Lumpur Mon 10:55 AM Shanghai Mon 10:55 AM
Brasilia Sun 11:55 PM Kuwait City Mon 5:55 AM Singapore Mon 10:55 AM
Brisbane Mon 12:55 PM Kyiv * Mon 5:55 AM Sofia * Mon 5:55 AM
Brussels * Mon 4:55 AM La Paz Sun 10:55 PM St. John's * Mon 12:25 AM
Bucharest * Mon 5:55 AM Lagos Mon 3:55 AM St. Paul * Sun 9:55 PM
Budapest * Mon 4:55 AM Lahore * Mon 8:55 AM Stockholm * Mon 4:55 AM
Buenos Aires Sun 11:55 PM Lima Sun 9:55 PM Suva Mon 2:55 PM
Cairo * Mon 5:55 AM Lisbon * Mon 3:55 AM Sydney Mon 12:55 PM
Canberra Mon 12:55 PM London * Mon 3:55 AM Taipei Mon 10:55 AM
Cape Town Mon 4:55 AM Los Angeles * Sun 7:55 PM Tallinn * Mon 5:55 AM
Caracas Sun 10:25 PM Madrid * Mon 4:55 AM Tashkent Mon 7:55 AM
Casablanca * Mon 3:55 AM Managua Sun 8:55 PM Tegucigalpa Sun 8:55 PM
Chatham Island Mon 3:40 PM Manila Mon 10:55 AM Tehran * Mon 7:25 AM
Chicago * Sun 9:55 PM Melbourne Mon 12:55 PM Tokyo Mon 11:55 AM
Copenhagen * Mon 4:55 AM Mexico City * Sun 9:55 PM Toronto * Sun 10:55 PM
Darwin Mon 12:25 PM Miami * Sun 10:55 PM Vancouver * Sun 7:55 PM
Denver * Sun 8:55 PM Minneapolis * Sun 9:55 PM Vienna * Mon 4:55 AM
Detroit * Sun 10:55 PM Minsk * Mon 5:55 AM Vladivostok * Mon 1:55 PM
Dhaka * Mon 9:55 AM Montevideo Sun 11:55 PM Warsaw * Mon 4:55 AM
Dubai Mon 6:55 AM Montgomery * Sun 9:55 PM Washington DC * Sun 10:55 PM
Dublin * Mon 3:55 AM Montreal * Sun 10:55 PM Winnipeg * Sun 9:55 PM
Edmonton * Sun 8:55 PM Moscow * Mon 6:55 AM Yangon Mon 9:25 AM
Frankfurt * Mon 4:55 AM Mumbai Mon 8:25 AM Zagreb * Mon 4:55 AM
Geneva * Mon 4:55 AM Nairobi Mon 5:55 AM Zürich * Mon 4:55 AM

How do you Feel?

Like it will be a night to remember.

Here we go!

I've been listening to classic J5 tunes on YouTube.
Who's this singing I Want You Back

I probably won't recognize these new schoolers...

The Love You Save

Not bad, not bad, if this old schooler may say so.

Live from the Shrine

Starring:

Tyra Banks
Beyonce
Birdman
Drake
Fabulous Keri Hilson
Jay Z
Queen Latifah
Marhy Mary maxwell Mo Lyte
Ne-Yo
Souja Boy..
T-Pain
Trey Tyrese Young Money
Ray Chew and the Ray Chew Orchestra

Beat It

They all look so young...

Thriller dayz...
25 years?
Can you believe it's been 25 years?
Over half my life ago...
I need some children so I can recognize the performers.

Jamie Foxx with a serious haircut.
Say what, Jamie...

Mama say Mama sa Mama...

I will moonwalk all over your asss...
I was gonna pour it out, but it's a depression...

No need to be sad, we're gonna celebrate this BLACK
MAN'S...he belongs to us, and we shared him with everybody
else...in New Orleans, when somebody dies...we don't get
sad, we celebrate...it don't make a difference what he look like...
I loved the old nose and the new nose...I loved it...

Off the Wall

You need to be standin' up for Michael Jackson!!

We got too much show...everybody dress like Michael Jackson
too...I see little Wayne, you had a glove...who was the
best?

Who was the best?
Who was the best? MICHAEL

1984 - I was at Texas Stadium...half of y'all can't sell out
a bathroom at Carl's Jr.

I had the jerry curl, the California curl...I had just enough
activator...the next thing you know Mike comes out...and I
figure where did he get the wind from?

...and he hit that last step...and grown white men fainted...
Michael!
Black people didn't faint that much because the ticket price
was too steep...now I know why Mike is always grabbing himself...
I need a little room...for this Boa Constrictor...Black people
make some noise for Michael Jackson....I'm gonna moonwalk tonight.
...and I'm gonna moon walk from here, all the way to there...give
me some music so I can do that.
Bille Jean music....
Pretty good walk, Jamie....
Not as good as mine, though! LOL

Foxx - I left the mike over there...BET let's make some
noise right now...this next lady, I've been going out with
her for two years in my mind...she's a producer, a fashion
mogul...Tyra Banks!

Tyra - Welcome to the BET Awards! Tonight's show is going to
be full of surprises and guests...Best Male Athlete, Best Male
hip-hop artist...and the winner of the Best Male Athlete is...

LeBron James!!!

James - ...I want to thank BET for this unbelievable award,
I want to tell the Jackson family...this is for you...thanks,
I'm out of here!

Banks - The next award is for black male hip-hop...and the
winner is...Lil Wayne

Wayne - ...the beautiful fans, I'm nothing without you...
and we know, none of us would be anything without Michael Jackson.

ABC playing...

___ - ...we love you Michael, we miss you.

Pepsi
Verizon Wireless
Ford

I looked at the BET site earlier today.

Bruce!
Gumby
Shrek
Dylan?
Pepsi commercial
Verizon commercial

The BET site was mesmerizing.
I couldn't take my eyes off of it.

Ford Fusion Hybrid...
gotta check this one out!
700 miles to the tank, eh?
Lots of green in the commercial.
Pizza Hut commercial
Real people on hidden camera
I'm off pizza for a while.
Toya...she's not just Lil Waynes ex-wife
Tina and Toya.

Diamonds
Pressure Cooker
Mo'Nique...
On the Real...take an HIV test.

Inglorious Basterds above the stage.
Jamie again
Let's make some noise right now.
bleep...she hails from Georgia, she's a singer...Give it up
for Carrie Hilser(sp?)
Love the stage lighting...
Nice bike...looks like a Harley.

Hmmm...the years have passed...It's a long way from 1983,
and longer still from 1970.

Nice fall...caught me completely off-guard.
Kickin' stage...I really need to have some kids,
so I can try to get with it...LOL
Hey!

How many things can you say to Michael Jackson and his family?
One evening won't be nearly enough time to say them all...
Not nearly enough...

The Lady in My Life is being rendered by...whom?
College days...UCLA, Hedrick Hall...Looking out over the city
from the 7th floor...what a sight!

Nice renditon, now who was that?
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, Chaka Khan, Beyonce...

Car commercial.
No, shoe commercial.

Did they do Tourne Le Quai this year?
I meant to check for that.

Buick Enclave..
KFC
Unthink.

Am I up to this?
Can I do this?
US Army strong.

Frankie...she needs to...Frankie and Neffie

I came out of my mother saying...The Wendy Williams Show

Meet chef Wilma Stefenson...
Pressure Cooker
I'm trying to lose weight, I'm about to head back
into the adult part of meatspace, can't be obsessing
over food.

CitiTrends
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough

So many memories...I just keep shaking my head

...Anthony Anderson...
...I know all about Michael Jackson...Weeeeeeee...with my head,
hanging down...who's loving you?

That was good...

Okay Bobby, what do you know about Mike?
Check out BET.com for more details...singing Blame it on the Alcohol,
Jamie Foxx and who?

Blame it on the...

Well, African-American Ministry of Cultre...what do we
tell these kids?

Will they listen to us?

What do you think, Femi?

What would Michael have said during his tour.
Viewer's Choice Award voting on the BET web site.

8:15 bus...
AT&T

Funny People
...my master plan in motion...
Mickey D's...wouldn't be an African-American awards show without
a commercial for Mickey D's.

Arthritis pain, Tylenol commercial...feel better.
...growth...Frankie & Neffie,
Mo'Nique...The Mo'Nique Show
Chef Wilma Steffenson...some...body...get...the pickles...
Pressure Cooker

Coca-Cola

Foxx - Ladies & Gentlemen, how are you feeling tonight?
In honor of the man we are remembering tonight, how do
you feel?

...the media's doing a number on my man...how are you
feeling right now...IF you love Billie Jean make
some noise right now!!

Lil' Wayne is in the house...Drake fans right now...
he ain't even got an album out...I see you, Star Trek
(was that what I heard?)...he just tell you what he did
during the day, and make a hit...Soldier Boy Teller...

Hmmmm...this is a good launching point for review of the
music...where was it, where is it now?

Chaka Khan, Latoya ___...
...Chaka...what's your secret?
Chaka - ...constantly practice your vocals...get 10 grammys,
9 platinums...work on Broadway....award for best collaboration...
And the BET Award goes to (ATBETAGT)...Jamie Foxx for T-Pain...
(I couldn't make it out initially)...

Foxx - I just want to say thank you to BET...Breon Prescott...Jamie King...Music is everything to me, all I've ever wanted to do...I'm
humbled man, thank you so much!!

___ I want to thank the haters...AB...hey man, it's for Mike, man...

Best R&B Artist...ATBETAGT...Ne-yo!!

Ne-yp - Damn...damn...First and foremost, I want to thank God...
thank you to my compound team, thank you at Def Jam...I'm freestyling
right now...thank you Mom...
I Want You Back playing in the background...

Who is that in the white suit?
Go Army..
Harmonizer...Coca-Cola
Facebook...I need to update my page, and do more social
networking...Palm 3, from Sprint
KFC

Black male swimming...Marines commercial.
Cadillac...choosing a car is like trying on a dress...

BET has the solution...Pay it off!
Cell phone, car, mortgage...I'll have to check that one out.
Nintendo DS.

Foxx - ...many times we look at athletes and entertainers as role
models....and they become doctors...give it up, check
out their stories on the web site..form
Dr. Davis, Dr. Hunt, Dr. Jenkins...you make us proud.
Stick around...take it in!!!

WAY TO GO, BROTHERS!!

Nice one, Jamie.
Nice one.

I'm on my way back in...lots to do, working on it.

Foxx - this next artist,
Beyonce...

Nice flute riffs...adding a little ballet to it.

Love the laser tunnel...mmmmm....
Or is that CO2?

My mother's applauding, says it's the best thing that's
been on tonight.
Beyonce...scrolling too fast to get 'em all.

There's my store...Subway...
Dog getting into a train...Coca-cola.

Need a short break...

Queen Latifah was doing pretty well there, with those
two other queens...names are rushing by too fast, and
I'm not familiar enough with the latest stars.

Where have the years gone?
Where have the decades gone?

Whoa!
What's this flick?
Quentin Tarantino film...Brad Pitt...Inglorious Basterds...
Verizon Wireless.
Pinata
Dominoe's Pizza - I drove past the HQ in Michigan many
times...Motown...Motown...it seemed so far away when I was
a child...I remeber looking at the label in the center of
the LPs when I was very young.

Zoe Saldan and Nichelle Nichols...
Zoe - Okay, I'm just gonna say it was an amazing experience to have
played Uhura...but I wouldn't have been here without the original
Uhura, Nichelle Nichols...

Nichols - I am proud to pass the torch to the new generation...

Zoe - I must say that you paved the way for an entire generation,
and thank you...the award for Best Actress goes to Taraj. P. Henson(?)

Taraj - ...thank you BET...I love you so much...just a constant
reminder for why we do what we do...so I thank you all of my fans....

Nichols - We're also here to give the award for the best new artist,
and the award goes to...Keri Hilson

Arch - interesting dress...

Hilson - Is Atlanta in the House? ...it's just testament to the fact
that dreams do come true...go for it...I have to thank my parents...
DJ...all of the other nominees, you are incredible...I did not expect
to win this at all...thank you for your support, I love you all.

Foxx, singing...what?
Who's the guy in the white jacket?

Down vest...those were pretty popular back in the 70s...

...last year Alicia Keys did her thing...show your love for Mr. Keith Sweat.
I haven't heard Keith in quite some time.

I wanna...
I wanna...
All right, got some old school in the house!
Tyra jammin' away...

Nice to hear somebody I'm familiar with...

Guy!!!

GUY!!!

BBD!!

Now I'm getting out of my seat!!

Al Sharpton
Mmmmmm...the '80s were a very exciting time in popular music.
So exciting...it seemed like anything was possible.

Coca-Cola.

Synthesizers, reggae, punk, MJ, Prince, Madonna, Public Enemy...
Global culture was just getting started...Fela, Tangerine Dream,
Jean-Luc Ponty, Lionel Richie, Tracy Chapman, Devo...the variety
was so much greater than that which was available in the late
1970s...

Hmmmm...

Ginuwine...in stores now...
Ray J, and the real housewives of Atlanta..

___ What about Thriller? I knew all the moves...WE LOVE YOU MIKE!

(song)

Foxx - (missed the dialogue)

Hosts - ...we had some great performances, right? We are really here to
honor the King of Pop...ladies and gentlemen, our next two performers are
Keyshia Cole and her mother Frankie.

Nice background...where does Monica fit in?

Jay-Z...Maxwell

Queen Latifah...Covergirl
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
Ice Age 2 I really liked Queen Latifah's role in the
first one.
Applebees...
Foxx - I was in Aruba watching CNN, there was an African-American man...
he was the first AA mayor of Philadelphia, MS...when he was a little kid,
he remebered his dad sitting in the den with a shotgun while the Ku Klux Klan marched past his house...Mayor James Young, you make us proud, man.

Foxx - ...give it up for Jeremy Pippin

PIppin - ...I can't mention Michael Jackson without talking about
the entire Jackson family...they had a profound effect on my family...
if there had been no Jacksons, there would have been no Wayans...

...Justin Timberlake would be selling curly fries in the Valley...

Best Female R&B Artist Nominees
Beyonce
Jennifer Hudson
Keyshia Cole
Jasmin Sullivan
(missed one)

ATBETAGT - Beyonce!

Beyonce - This is to you, Michael Jackson...I have to thank MIchael for
being my teacher, my hero...thank you.

Foxx - I need to take you to your seat, because something crazy's about to
happen...Everybody get up!!

(took her to her seat)

Foxx - Jay-Z in the house!!!
Cool background.

Rest in peace for the king!

Next...the O'Jays...

The Conduit.
Transformers 2 commercial...
KFC
Buick
Sprint

Rising Icons
Frankie & Neffie
The Mo'Nique Show

Rise to the occastion

...Bobby Brown has left New Edition...I guess it isn't love...
the real fans are at the top...I'm telling you, it's complete
pandemonium...it's for Michael, just relax...I am going on tour,
I will be in Vegas, July 3, July 4...please welcome my favorite
new R&B group...Day 26!!!

Day 26 - How's everybody doin'? We are thrilled to honor the lifetime
achievements of this legendary group...give it up for Don Cornelius

Cornelius - ...thank you very much...love, peace, and soul! I want to
give...to the man who invented the Jackson 5, Joe Jackson...
(applause)...and one of my own heroes, a man who will fight a brick
if he has to, Al Sharpton...how about it for Joe Jackson and the
entire Jackson family...may God care for Michael for eternity...give
it up for the immortal Michael Jackson....(applause)

Cornelius - ...the writing on this show is fabulous...keep your eye
on these people because they do very good work...the sons of hard-
working factory men, bound by a love that was rooted in the church,
a friendship that would make them one of the best groups of all time.
They embody everything that is black America, social struggle, family
unity, love and heartache...for five decades strong, the O'Jays
have been the epitome of cool...tonight we celebrate the O'Jays for
completing their mission...I've always hated when someone says,
"Oldies but Goodies," if it's good, no one cares how old it is.
Please give it up for Tevin Campbell...

The Young O'Jayx - Backstabbers

That was good...
What's the name of this cut?
I can't remember...

"Climbing the Stairway to Heaven...."
Can't name this tune either.
"Don't you wanna go, don't you wanna go, don't you wanna go..."

Cornelius - Four of the most gifted in our industry...give it up
for 'em...they love the O'Jays like I do...I love the O'Jays so
much I broke my promise, I was going to step back and let the young
guys handle it...35 years was enough...I guess the O'Jays got worried
that I wasn't going to be on TV anymore...Eddie LeVert called and
said, I know you said that you're not going to appear on television,
and I know you're not talking about us, are you? I used to, back
in the earlier days of Soul Train, I would go to the hotel and get
them out of bed, and they didn't know we were taping this weekend...
and Walter and Eddie looked at me and said, "It's not on our schedule,"
I looked at them and said, "Well, you can change the schedule."
I waited a few seconds, and ...that's the kind of friends the O'Jays
have been to Soul Train..."they smile in yor face, all the time
they want to take your place..." I'm happy to announce the winners
of the BET Lifetime Achievement Award, the O'Jays.

O'Jays - ....LeBron, I'm with you baby...First of all, I'd like to give
honor to God, the family and friends of BET...money, money, money, money...
our family and friends at BET, our faithful fans...we are glad that BET
has taken the time to acknowledge our work over the past 50 years...
we would be remiss if we didn't mention our part-time choreographer,
who passed a few years back...and of course, our fans, we love you!

I agree to all of that. We thank God for his many blessings.

And people was dancing and shit...this is what I do...he raised up his
hands...the Apollo, the Howard theater...I got my hands stuck in this one...it was hard getting our first contract, it was hard getting our
first hit record...it was probably even harder for Obama to become the
first black president...

Cornelius - The mighty O'Jays, ladies and gentlemen.

For the Love of Money

Al's smiling...LOL

Awesome...they've still got it.

They're a shoe-in for the African-American Ministry of Culture.

Use Ta Be My Girl

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, starts July 15.

CEO of BET - I want to pay my respects to Joe Jackson...
since Thursday, there have been hundreds of BET employees working
over-time, double-time, over the last 3 or 4 days...it's truly
been a labor of love since Michael Jackson has been so important
to our country, and our network...thank you to everyone who made
this show possible tonight. So, what can I say...(I have to listen)
He was often imitated, but never duplicated...Michael was truly
a musical deity, with the power to bring people together. Like a comet...
he shined brightly, and went out too soon. Michael is in the Guiness
Book of World Records as the most charitable celebrity ever.

Our recipients of the humanitarian award...

____ and Alicia Keys...children in Africa...Wyclef has done work in
his native Haiti.

Keys - If we don't pay attention as a global family, it will
come back to bite us...

Wyclef Jean - YeleHaiti

BET CEO - The BET Humanitarian Award goes to...Alicia Keys

Keys - ...so I'm very proud to be here, and to be honored this way
in his legacy...I had no idea that we would be providing such hope...
I felt extremely moved to action...there was no way, that I could
ever turn away...Maya Angelou said, "You shouldn't have to go through
life with a catcher's mitt in both hands..."...he has truly inspired me
to use music in a way that serves the world...texting the word "Alive"
and donating $5.00...there's a certain spirit that is in this room,
and I think we know whose it is...thank you...I will always work hard
for those no one is listening to...to BET for this honor, I am grateful.
Thank you.

Very, very eloquent, Alicia.

CEO - Ladies and Gentlemen, the other BET 2009 Humanitarian Award recipient

Wyclef - ...I had rehearsed a whole speech...I want to thank everybody who
works for Wylehaiti...the most important thing...I went from a hut...to the projects...to a mansion...those of you out there, you have absolutely no excuse...I want to thank Alicia Keys, and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.

GI JOE commercial...the movie looks like it has good action.
Pay it Off.
Queen Latifah.
The Mo'Nique Show

Rising Icons
I Can Do Bad All By Myself

...Tell 'em where my son's at?

I hate you Joey!
I hate you too!

I love you, John Singleton.
John Singleton, you're the greatest.

You went from the hood to Transformers...I want to see you transform.

The Viewer's Choice Award goes to...T.I ft. Rihana.

Hey Jody, You want some breakfast?

Guns is Michael Jackson.
I want you to say ,"Guns is the BET Awards."

This is live...
We're taking this movie thing a little too far, folks...

And the BET Award for Video of the Year goes to...Beyonce!

Beyonce - ...thank you very much..

Foxx - ...I'm going on tour, July 3 and 4...see me in Vegas at the
Hard Rock Cafe...make sure you get tested for HIV...have you ever
had unprotected sex, and then an HIV commercial come on?
I'm heterosexual, I'm all man. I am a man. But this man almost
had me in a Prop. 8 situation when I heard him sing...
I want you to get up on your feet right now...his album drops
July 7...make some noise for Maxwell!!

Maxwell - ...Mr. Michael Jackson fly away!!

O'Jays - ...before they had their first record...as good as you are,
you don't have a right to be nervous.

#2 - I had just met him...I don't want ice cream, I want some throat
lozenges.

#3 - I never met him, but while we were doing We are the World,
he phoned in and told everybody their notes.

Queen Latifah -
HIV testing
Pay it Off
Rising Icons above the stage.

Foxx - BET would like to shine a light on the organization, Food From the Hood...these students earned their own money to pay their way
through college...executive director, Monique Hunter...log on to the
BET site for the details.

Foxx - This is the new man...you know who I'm talking about...Drake,
featuring (who?) and Cash Money!!

I'm not impressed with the finale.
A lot of these new acts need to seriously LEARN from the legacy
they claim to be celebrating tonight.

Well.
Like I said a couple of years ago, we need a thorough review
of the music.

Okay, legendary musicians.
You see what I see.
You see where this music has gone.
What do you think?

This is an opportunity to discuss the quality of music during
Motown's heyday, certainly a zenith of African-American music.
We'll be talking about Michael for a very, very long time to
come, but we need to work on passing the good music down, and
not letting it go by the wayside.

Alicia Keys said some time ago, that gangster rap was created to
destroy the black community...wait a minute, here's Janet.

She looks shaken.

Janet - My entire family wanted to be here tonight, but it was just
too painful. So they elected me to speak to all of you. To you he was an icon, to us he is family. He will live forever in all our hearts. From me and all of my family, thank you for all of your love, and thank you for all of your support. Thank you so much.

Foxx singing I'll Be There

Thinking about Janet chokes me up.

Nice finale.

Foxx - Thank you...Michael Jackson will live forever in our hearts...
Good night.

I have a feeling that this is only beginning.
I was watching what people had posted on YouTube just before
the ceremony. There were some songs I hadn't heard in a long,
long time...

Review the music, people.
Re-establish cultural memory.
Review the Jackson's legacy.
Re-acquaint ourselves with why they were
called, "The First Family of Music."

When we're done, review it again.
And again,
And again.

We have a lot of work to do...

Addis Ababa Mon 9:48 AM Guatemala Mon 12:48 AM Nassau * Mon 2:48 AM
Adelaide Mon 4:18 PM Halifax * Mon 3:48 AM New Delhi Mon 12:18 PM
Aden Mon 9:48 AM Hanoi Mon 1:48 PM New Orleans * Mon 1:48 AM
Algiers Mon 7:48 AM Harare Mon 8:48 AM New York * Mon 2:48 AM
Almaty Mon 12:48 PM Havana * Mon 2:48 AM Oslo * Mon 8:48 AM
Amman * Mon 9:48 AM Helsinki * Mon 9:48 AM Ottawa * Mon 2:48 AM
Amsterdam * Mon 8:48 AM Hong Kong Mon 2:48 PM Paris * Mon 8:48 AM
Anadyr * Mon 7:48 PM Honolulu Sun 8:48 PM Perth Mon 2:48 PM
Anchorage * Sun 10:48 PM Houston * Mon 1:48 AM Philadelphia * Mon 2:48 AM
Ankara * Mon 9:48 AM Indianapolis * Mon 2:48 AM Phoenix Sun 11:48 PM
Antananarivo Mon 9:48 AM Islamabad * Mon 12:48 PM Prague * Mon 8:48 AM
Asuncion Mon 2:48 AM Istanbul * Mon 9:48 AM Reykjavik Mon 6:48 AM
Athens * Mon 9:48 AM Jakarta Mon 1:48 PM Rio de Janeiro Mon 3:48 AM
Atlanta * Mon 2:48 AM Jerusalem * Mon 9:48 AM Riyadh Mon 9:48 AM
Auckland Mon 6:48 PM Johannesburg Mon 8:48 AM Rome * Mon 8:48 AM
Baghdad Mon 9:48 AM Kabul Mon 11:18 AM San Francisco * Sun 11:48 PM
Bangkok Mon 1:48 PM Kamchatka * Mon 7:48 PM San Juan Mon 2:48 AM
Barcelona * Mon 8:48 AM Karachi * Mon 12:48 PM San Salvador Mon 12:48 AM
Beijing Mon 2:48 PM Kathmandu Mon 12:33 PM Santiago Mon 2:48 AM
Beirut * Mon 9:48 AM Khartoum Mon 9:48 AM Santo Domingo Mon 2:48 AM
Belgrade * Mon 8:48 AM Kingston Mon 1:48 AM Sao Paulo Mon 3:48 AM
Berlin * Mon 8:48 AM Kiritimati Mon 8:48 PM Seattle * Sun 11:48 PM
Bogota Mon 1:48 AM Kolkata Mon 12:18 PM Seoul Mon 3:48 PM
Boston * Mon 2:48 AM Kuala Lumpur Mon 2:48 PM Shanghai Mon 2:48 PM
Brasilia Mon 3:48 AM Kuwait City Mon 9:48 AM Singapore Mon 2:48 PM
Brisbane Mon 4:48 PM Kyiv * Mon 9:48 AM Sofia * Mon 9:48 AM
Brussels * Mon 8:48 AM La Paz Mon 2:48 AM St. John's * Mon 4:18 AM
Bucharest * Mon 9:48 AM Lagos Mon 7:48 AM St. Paul * Mon 1:48 AM
Budapest * Mon 8:48 AM Lahore * Mon 12:48 PM Stockholm * Mon 8:48 AM
Buenos Aires Mon 3:48 AM Lima Mon 1:48 AM Suva Mon 6:48 PM
Cairo * Mon 9:48 AM Lisbon * Mon 7:48 AM Sydney Mon 4:48 PM
Canberra Mon 4:48 PM London * Mon 7:48 AM Taipei Mon 2:48 PM
Cape Town Mon 8:48 AM Los Angeles * Sun 11:48 PM Tallinn * Mon 9:48 AM
Caracas Mon 2:18 AM Madrid * Mon 8:48 AM Tashkent Mon 11:48 AM
Casablanca * Mon 7:48 AM Managua Mon 12:48 AM Tegucigalpa Mon 12:48 AM
Chatham Island Mon 7:33 PM Manila Mon 2:48 PM Tehran * Mon 11:18 AM
Chicago * Mon 1:48 AM Melbourne Mon 4:48 PM Tokyo Mon 3:48 PM
Copenhagen * Mon 8:48 AM Mexico City * Mon 1:48 AM Toronto * Mon 2:48 AM
Darwin Mon 4:18 PM Miami * Mon 2:48 AM Vancouver * Sun 11:48 PM
Denver * Mon 12:48 AM Minneapolis * Mon 1:48 AM Vienna * Mon 8:48 AM
Detroit * Mon 2:48 AM Minsk * Mon 9:48 AM Vladivostok * Mon 5:48 PM
Dhaka * Mon 1:48 PM Montevideo Mon 3:48 AM Warsaw * Mon 8:48 AM
Dubai Mon 10:48 AM Montgomery * Mon 1:48 AM Washington DC * Mon 2:48 AM
Dublin * Mon 7:48 AM Montreal * Mon 2:48 AM Winnipeg * Mon 1:48 AM
Edmonton * Mon 12:48 AM Moscow * Mon 10:48 AM Yangon Mon 1:18 PM
Frankfurt * Mon 8:48 AM Mumbai Mon 12:18 PM Zagreb * Mon 8:48 AM
Geneva * Mon 8:48 AM Nairobi Mon 9:48 AM Zürich * Mon 8:48 AM

Time to let it rest...for now.

Timing out,

Ed Ussery("ArchMind")

All Right, All Right...

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:42:07 GMT

6/28/09 9:30 PM GMT
10:30 PM SAST
6/29/09 12:30 AM Mecca Time
5:30 AM Beijing Time

Keep us Hungry.

Painful loss,
but, we broke a lot of new ground in this tournament.

One year out, we know we have to take our play to
the next level.

I enjoyed it - what I saw of the tournament, anyway.

Amazing comeback, Brazil.

In the ballpark,

Ed Ussery("ArchMind")

No, He's not, Keith. No, he's not.

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:28:06 GMT

6/25/09 - 6/26/09

I Just Had to Look.

Addis Ababa Fri 2:21 AM Guatemala Thu 5:21 PM Nassau * Thu 7:21 PM
Adelaide Fri 8:51 AM Halifax * Thu 8:21 PM New Delhi Fri 4:51 AM
Aden Fri 2:21 AM Hanoi Fri 6:21 AM New Orleans * Thu 6:21 PM
Algiers Fri 12:21 AM Harare Fri 1:21 AM New York * Thu 7:21 PM
Almaty Fri 5:21 AM Havana * Thu 7:21 PM Oslo * Fri 1:21 AM
Amman * Fri 2:21 AM Helsinki * Fri 2:21 AM Ottawa * Thu 7:21 PM
Amsterdam * Fri 1:21 AM Hong Kong Fri 7:21 AM Paris * Fri 1:21 AM
Anadyr * Fri 12:21 PM Honolulu Thu 1:21 PM Perth Fri 7:21 AM
Anchorage * Thu 3:21 PM Houston * Thu 6:21 PM Philadelphia * Thu 7:21 PM
Ankara * Fri 2:21 AM Indianapolis * Thu 7:21 PM Phoenix Thu 4:21 PM
Antananarivo Fri 2:21 AM Islamabad * Fri 5:21 AM Prague * Fri 1:21 AM
Asuncion Thu 7:21 PM Istanbul * Fri 2:21 AM Reykjavik Thu 11:21 PM
Athens * Fri 2:21 AM Jakarta Fri 6:21 AM Rio de Janeiro Thu 8:21 PM
Atlanta * Thu 7:21 PM Jerusalem * Fri 2:21 AM Riyadh Fri 2:21 AM
Auckland Fri 11:21 AM Johannesburg Fri 1:21 AM Rome * Fri 1:21 AM
Baghdad Fri 2:21 AM Kabul Fri 3:51 AM San Francisco * Thu 4:21 PM
Bangkok Fri 6:21 AM Kamchatka * Fri 12:21 PM San Juan Thu 7:21 PM
Barcelona * Fri 1:21 AM Karachi * Fri 5:21 AM San Salvador Thu 5:21 PM
Beijing Fri 7:21 AM Kathmandu Fri 5:06 AM Santiago Thu 7:21 PM
Beirut * Fri 2:21 AM Khartoum Fri 2:21 AM Santo Domingo Thu 7:21 PM
Belgrade * Fri 1:21 AM Kingston Thu 6:21 PM Sao Paulo Thu 8:21 PM
Berlin * Fri 1:21 AM Kiritimati Fri 1:21 PM Seattle * Thu 4:21 PM
Bogota Thu 6:21 PM Kolkata Fri 4:51 AM Seoul Fri 8:21 AM
Boston * Thu 7:21 PM Kuala Lumpur Fri 7:21 AM Shanghai Fri 7:21 AM
Brasilia Thu 8:21 PM Kuwait City Fri 2:21 AM Singapore Fri 7:21 AM
Brisbane Fri 9:21 AM Kyiv * Fri 2:21 AM Sofia * Fri 2:21 AM
Brussels * Fri 1:21 AM La Paz Thu 7:21 PM St. John's * Thu 8:51 PM
Bucharest * Fri 2:21 AM Lagos Fri 12:21 AM St. Paul * Thu 6:21 PM
Budapest * Fri 1:21 AM Lahore * Fri 5:21 AM Stockholm * Fri 1:21 AM
Buenos Aires Thu 8:21 PM Lima Thu 6:21 PM Suva Fri 11:21 AM
Cairo * Fri 2:21 AM Lisbon * Fri 12:21 AM Sydney Fri 9:21 AM
Canberra Fri 9:21 AM London * Fri 12:21 AM Taipei Fri 7:21 AM
Cape Town Fri 1:21 AM Los Angeles * Thu 4:21 PM Tallinn * Fri 2:21 AM
Caracas Thu 6:51 PM Madrid * Fri 1:21 AM Tashkent Fri 4:21 AM
Casablanca * Fri 12:21 AM Managua Thu 5:21 PM Tegucigalpa Thu 5:21 PM
Chatham Island Fri 12:06 PM Manila Fri 7:21 AM Tehran * Fri 3:51 AM
Chicago * Thu 6:21 PM Melbourne Fri 9:21 AM Tokyo Fri 8:21 AM
Copenhagen * Fri 1:21 AM Mexico City * Thu 6:21 PM Toronto * Thu 7:21 PM
Darwin Fri 8:51 AM Miami * Thu 7:21 PM Vancouver * Thu 4:21 PM
Denver * Thu 5:21 PM Minneapolis * Thu 6:21 PM Vienna * Fri 1:21 AM
Detroit * Thu 7:21 PM Minsk * Fri 2:21 AM Vladivostok * Fri 10:21 AM
Dhaka * Fri 6:21 AM Montevideo Thu 8:21 PM Warsaw * Fri 1:21 AM
Dubai Fri 3:21 AM Montgomery * Thu 6:21 PM Washington DC * Thu 7:21 PM
Dublin * Fri 12:21 AM Montreal * Thu 7:21 PM Winnipeg * Thu 6:21 PM
Edmonton * Thu 5:21 PM Moscow * Fri 3:21 AM Yangon Fri 5:51 AM
Frankfurt * Fri 1:21 AM Mumbai Fri 4:51 AM Zagreb * Fri 1:21 AM
Geneva * Fri 1:21 AM Nairobi Fri 2:21 AM Zürich * Fri 1:21 AM

I heard the news today.

Hmmm...
Was he indeed, a lucky man?

Shocked, Stunned, and Blindsided,

Ed Ussery("ArchMind")

YES WE DID!!! Yes, we did...

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:47:56 GMT

6/24/09 9:36 PM GMT
6/25/09 12:36 AM Mecca Time
4:36 AM Beijing Time

Historic Victory!!!

Okay, don't believe it.
Just watch the re-broadcast.

YEEEEEHAAAA!!!!

Let's get a look at the US Men's National Soccer Team...

The goal scorers first...

Jozy Altidore, and

Clint Dempsey

First Team:

Tim HOWARD
Carlos BOCANEGRA
Oguchi ONYEWU
Clint DEMPSEY
Charlie DAVIES
Landon DONOVAN
Michael BRADLEY
Ricardo CLARK
Jay DeMERIT
Jozy ALTIDORE
Jonathan SPECTOR

Substitutes:
Brad GUZAN
Luis ROBLES
Jonathan BORNSTEIN
Conor CASEY
Heath PEARCE
DaMarcus BEASLEY
Marvell WYNNE
Sacha KLJESTAN
Freddy ADU
Francisco TORRES
Benny FEILHABER
Danny CALIFF

Since the Los Angeles Sol rendered a nice performance
on Sunday, I'll let them ride the coat-tails.

Let's check out that vid I saw in the search
results.

Does he really?

Camille Abily
Brittany Bock
Liz Bogus
Shannon Boxx
Brittany Cameron
Stephanie Cox
Han Duan
Allison Falk
Martina Franko
Johanna Frisk
Val Henderson
Katie Larkin
Karina LeBlanc
Manya Makoski
Marta
Aya Miyama
Keri Sanchez
Lisa Sari
Julia Schnugg
Aly Wagner
McCall Zerboni

On to More Serious Matters...

Let's check up on the health care rally.

POST VIDEOS TO YOUTUBE SO I CAN LINK THEM!!

Senators votes.
Reps votes.

Here's one I was introduced to from a tweet:
Does anybody care to verify the accuracy of the site's claims?

Now for a reminder:

Here's one.
Gabriela Patricia Velazquez.

Since she's only been missing for two days, I think it warrants
the extra effort to make sure people see her picture, and get
an immediate look at the text.

Here's the text:
Gabriela was last seen at the National Guard Armory on Morganton Road in Southern Pines, North Carolina on June 20, 2009. She may be in the company of an adult Hispanic male. Gabriela has a birthmark on her right calf. She was last seen wearing a white shirt, blue jeans, and high heel shoes. Her nickname is Gavi.

Here are the two others featured on the page. They've been missing
for substantially longer, so I'll just put up basic information about
them, and link the pages with the more elaborate details.

His name is Ryan Ramirez. He's from Corpus Christi, Texas.
At least, that's the city where he was last seen - called, the
"missing city." I'm not 100% certain of what that means.

This is Laurence Brannum. He was last seen in Santa Maria, CA. I don't know if he's from there or not. Upon reflection,
that's probably not nearly as important as the city where they
were last seen. But, if they're missing from their home town,
that suggests different possible factors in their disappearance.

Here's the phone number of the hotline:

IF YOU HAVE SEEN ANY
OF THESE CHILDREN, PLEASE CALL

1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)

Let's check out the South African
missing children page again.

Now for a classic:

That's all I have time for.

Acrobatically,

Ed Ussery("ArchMind")

Rest and Digest

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:11:43 GMT

6/24/09 2:59 AM GMT
6:29 AM IST
10:59 AM Beijing Time

Pause Button

I found myself pondering the possibility that I had
actually gone insane today. I won't get into just why.

As the sun rises again over Tehran, I do feel the
need, however, to stop posting for at least a day.

Firstly, I am mentally tired, and must tend to more
practical matters in my life.

While I find this endeavor fascinating, I am worried
about the possibility of destabilizing a substantial
number of the world's governments.

Not to mention the government of the present moment,
Iran.

I'm not sure where I should start on this one.
I considered stopping blogging OF ANY KIND for
the rest of my life, but I don't think that will
be feasible.

On top of that, I don't think it will be adequate to
stop the process that many of us may recognize as a
deterioration of reality.

I've watched a number of TV personalities weigh in
on the situation today. They have to - it's their
job, and everyone has to make some kind of value
judgement about what's real, and what isn't.

They also have to convey this perception to their
audiences in the time allotted for such activity.

I know - I have a little too much time on my hands.
I need to get busy with some kind of traditional work,
develop meaningful relationships, etc., etc., etc.,
so I can take my mind off of the philosophical aspects
of the stand alone complex I've induced.

Then again, it could be all in my head, as Deepak Chopra
asserted back in late 2007 on Tavis - as he hawked his
latest DVD he made with Olivia Newton-John.

Do you believe I am magic, Olivia?

Then again, it might not.

So...
What's happening in Iran?
More correctly, what do you think is happening in Iran?

Unrest.
Lethal violence.
Anger.
Exhaustion.
Frustration.
Impatience.

FEAR.

Personally, I think there is more fear in Iran than anything else.
From Ahmadinejad, to Rafsanjani, to Mousavi, to the Basij,
to the organizers, to the students, to the citizens, and
to the children.

Rachel Maddow alluded to this a few minutes ago.
I think that even among those of us not physically in
the country, there is an unexpressed fear being suppressed
behind all the assertions, the posturing, and the analysis.

Nobody knows what's happening in Iran.
Whoever's in control of the state-run television is clearly
frantic. These are elements of the government, but not
necessarily everybody in the government feels the same
way.

We have lost the context of Iranian experience.
As I see pundits giving their assessments, split-screen
with scenes of chaos in Tehran (or somewhere else in
the country), I ask myself, "Why are they showing that?
Is it necessary? Is that live footage, or something
from YouTube that will make people's adrenalin flow?

I gagged as I listened to John McCain babble away
on Larry King Live.

CNN showed a picture of Neda today that I thought
one that had been deemed incorrect earlier on.

Then again, I wasn't sure.

How widespread is the unrest?
Would you believe state-run TV if it told you?
If not them, who?
I have seen video clips that suggest that the activity
is in multiple cities, but I can't say that with 100% certainty,
because I don't know what the cities look like.

The shaky cameras add realism, but subconsciously
fan the flames of panic as well.

I have seen a lot of extraordinarily powerful footage,
which I'm sure many others have as well, but the work
of establishing context is simply prohibitive
for about 99.9% of us.

That's why we have professional journalists, I suppose.
I've already seen that CNN can't be trusted 100% of the
time (in fact, a lot of netizens HATE CNN).

Since communication within the country has been cut off,
and nobody believes state-run TV, a very serious problem
has manifested.

What if Rafsanjani comes on TV and tries to tell the Iranian
people that Ahmadinejad has been removed, and the Supreme
Leader position has been abolished in favor of a collaborative
body of decision-makers? On top of that, he'd have to make
some kind of request for the unrest to stop.

Would the public believe him?

What about all the jailed individuals?

How far has the public's trust in its government fallen?
Can it be regained?
How can any of us tell what the Iranian people think of
their government?

My worst fear for the situation is that the breakdown of
communications within the country is exacerbating
the general chaos, not mitigating it.

Possibly, to the point where the long-term cohesion of
the country is in question.

Even in the worst of possible scenarios, some kind of
consensus reality will need to be re-acquired in order
for the country to move forward.

I sense that this will require some kind of neutral
party to re-assure the populace, step-by-step, that
they can trust what they're seeing and hearing.

I'm sort of pondering a "human entropy" that may increase
beyond the ability of a reasonable effort to dissipate.

Who knows what the protesters are using to plan action,
determine effects, and re-group?

Who knows what level of force the government is using
at this very moment to stop the unrest?

Who knows what the main source of information is for
the participants in Tehran and in other urban centers?

The amplification loops of balkanized realities are in play
here.

How many times are the youth looking at videos of the same
activity? What effect on their emotional state are they having?
I see video clips edited into others I've seen before.
Or think I've seen before.

Who among the protesters has time to sit down, analyze videos,
and decide which ones are new information, and which ones are,
"old?"

Without a central authority over consensus reality, access
to extremely volatile imagery is unlimited. Do people sitting
and resting watch videos and read tweets over and over again,
certain that the international community must be as enraged
as they are, and will put a stop to it?

I suspect that there are a lot of people who are being pumped
up emotionally at work, at school, and at home, by video
hallucination. Information that they already have, but watch
again for inspiration, recruitment, and to rev up for
more activity.

I'm sure the security forces are in the same boat, and
probably almost as frightened as the protesters.

What about the Parliament?
What about the Assembly of Experts?
What about the Guardian Council?
What about the President-elect?
What about the Supreme Leader?
How effective is their ability to construct reality?
Or to remain calm with a torrent of visual information
telling them that their capital city looks like a war
zone, world leaders are condemning their political process,
and outraged at the behavior of their security forces?

What is the actual effect of the blogosphere?
How much of our posts are they taking to heart?
What about the tweets?

How could these people be brought to the state-run TV
station to address the nation - then again, I suppose
that the station could take cameras to the meeting
chambers (is that allowed?).

Here's my worst-case scenario for what is happening
AT THIS VERY MOMENT:

- The government is frantic.
- The public is terrified.
- The security forces are scared not only of being hurt,
but of being charged with human rights violations as
they ponder having to engage in large-scale violence
against their own countrymen (and women).
Remember, there's a lot of video out there.
It could be analyzed for years in attempts to identify
suspects.
It can also be used for retaliatory purposes, on both sides
of the argument.
- The international community is appalled and shocked.

I don't think I've conveyed my most profound philosophical
musings on the electron-cloud uprising.

But then again, I probably don't need to.

I think most of you see where I'm going with this.
The digital revolution has given rise to a situation in
which volatile, painful images of urban unrest are
probably serving as fuel for the unrest to perpetuate
and intensify itself.

Rumors are images as well, and they're spreading faster
than they can be identified. They also enter this positive
feedback loop, charging the participants with adrenalin.

This may result in a catastrophic deterioration of the
nation of Iran. The violence may spiral completely out of
control, (and may already have). The context of Iranian
experience has been lost. Those of us looking in to the
country from abroad are ALL hand-waving, trying to process
the superabundant data, while expressing compassion, concern,
and utter confusion about what to do.

The violence may already have spiraled completely out
of control. A humanitarian crisis of biblical proportions
could be in the works at this very moment.

I am pained by the stories and images of violence against
the populace. I have encouraged the people I influence, to
try not to inflame the situation.

As I step back and ponder the phenomena in play, I realize
that it is very possible that my honest attempts to help out,
may indeed be a factor in energizing the storm.

Rafsanjani may be waiting for a moment of calm to address
the nation.
I don't know, but what I do know is, that this situation
is close to being out of control, if it isn't already.

Beyond what I've stated above, little is certain.
The participants within Iran need to be able to calm down,
even if only for a day or so.

Threatening the Iranian government will only panic them
further.

If Rafsanjani can present a workable solution, why fight
in the streets? Why should more people be hurt, jailed,
and killed?

How's this for a suggestion:

Everybody stay home for one day.

Everybody.

Keep lines of communication open.
Stop talking about retaliation.
Stop condemning each other.
Encourage Rafsanjani to present any decision he has made.
Let Mousavi appear publicly.
No arrests.
No tear gas.
No rocks.
No guns.

Try to restore a true sense of calm.

For one day.
What is there to lose?

This has to stop, and soon, or Iran could disappear into oblivion.

I am not going to blog tonight.
I may stop blogging on the situation entirely, unless
clearly encouraged to by concerned parties.

I don't think I'm able to help the situation anymore,
with the current situation in effect.

I don't have enough context to be able to justify activity
that may be contributing to the destruction of a country,
and to a culture.

I don't trust the tenuous reality available for construction
through the infoscape at this time.

This situation is too dangerous, and as I mentioned in
my last post, could easily spread to other countries.
In which case, we will begin to lose the context of
experience on an international scale.

This could have apocalyptic consequences.

I hope that the Iranian government will become less
gripped by fear to the point where it will loosen
its tight media restrictions.

You may say I'm a dreamer...but I don't see any better
course of action at this time.

I need to speak with leaders in the scientific, political,
and other communities who have been affected by my blog,
see its potential, and understand its power to be a force
for good in the world.

This is going too deeply.
I don't know if our species is ready for this.

I need to tend to significant matters in my life in
meatspace. The ramifications of what I've done are
far-reaching. I must participate in the affairs of the
planet, but I need to coordinate with somebody.
I'm too cut off from everyday living right now.

I'm ready to work with our world leaders to optimize
the use of the phenomenon I have tapped into.

May Allah bless all those struggling in Iran!

As-Salamu Alaykum.

Parasympathetically,

Ed Ussery("ArchMind")

Harmonic Convergence

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:51:06 GMT

6/23/09 3:44 AM GMT
7:14 AM IST
11:44 AM Beijing Time

Windows on the World

A Tweet: Beating handcuffed protesters in Khorramabad.
Here's the video.

A Tweet: WSJ story in Iran family has 2 pay $3000 'bullet fee' after son killed
Here's the article.

Hmmm...at this point, I have nothing new to say.
I watched a little of CNN today, and they alluded briefly to
Rafsanjani, but I didn't stick around for details.
Mentally, I'm not at 100%.
I need to get a real job, finish my education, and try living
in meatspace ESPECIALLY now that Adobe Systems has come out
with Creative Suite 4, but duty calls!

A Tweet: 'In the end, we remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.' MLK,Jr

A Tweet: RT @SenJohnMccain YOU KNOW Obama must walk a fine line.Stop profiteering off of the Iranian struggle.HOW DARE YOU.

A Tweet: RT eschristian RT PLEASE RETWEET - FIRST AID information in FARSI: http://gr88.tumblr.com/

Here it is.

Here's a video of students who have been injured,
and of efforts to help them. It was posted to YouTube
7 hours ago, dated yesterday.

Here's another video. It's of people in Tir Square.

A Tweet: Boycott Nokia and Siemens!DN! Irans Web Spying Aided by European Firms Siemens and Nokia

Hmmm...
I cannot discern the degree of organization at the level
of the street.

I have not heard any further developments from Rafsanjani,
or the Assembly of Experts.

A Tweet: We r getting videos from various cities now. This is Babol
It was uploaded on June 16.
It's useful to know what has transpired outside of Tehran, even with
the lag time. Verification of time and place is difficult for one
such as myself who has no familiarity with Iran's urban centers.

It could still be going on.
One thing it definitely does - it prevents Ahmadinejad from focusing
exclusively on Tehran, and lifts the spirits of the protesters by
letting them know they're not alone.

Don't rush Rafsanjani or the Assembly of Experts.

Hmmm...how will the protesters decide when and where to stand down
if a desirable situation results?

Goals...
Let's check Mousavi's Facebook entry.

But first, a tweet: Iran admin arresting the families of political heads that are supporting the opposition.

I wonder if this is new, or a report based on knowledge of
Rafsanjani's daughter. She was released, I've been informed.

Mousavi is calling for a peaceful demonstration
on Thursday.

For now, I think that maintaining pressure is a good strategy, but
please try to stay alive!

I'm going to try Live Stream...

A Tweet: RT Use superglue? cyanoacrylate based fast-acting glues Lots of annoying uses to vex security forces. What can you glue shut?

Nobody in Live Stream.

A Tweet: RT @EileenLeft: Revolutionary Guards commander defies Khamenei's orders to use force on protesters
Here's the article.

This is a major development.

Dissension in the Ranks!

An Iranian intellectual did mention that Iranians don't
like to shoot Iranians. I seem to recall an account of
a man who, citing his love for his family, loudly
expressed major reservations over engaging in violence
towards his fellow countrymen.

Here's information on the Basij.

A Tweet: Reporting from Iran, with difficulty, TIME's Nahid Siamdoust.
The article.

Here's another report of the high-level activity
I mentioned last night.

Hmmm...the sun's been up for about 2 1/2 hours.
Let's check the temperature and the forecast for today...

77°F
Current: Mostly Cloudy
Wind: N at 0 mph
Humidity: 32%

The high is expected to be 87F.

Hmmm...I think I may have input some wrong numbers into the heat
index calculator yesterday. Some were too high, which would have
resulted in heat indices that over-estimated. Better to be safe
than sorry.

It appears as if a lot of people are just getting news of
Rafsanjani's activity.

It's still early in the day.
Not much in the way of critical activity is suggested by
any tweets just yet.

Might be a good time to sit back, ponder strategies,
and brainstorm.

Hmmm...Take a look at this.
Does anybody think that Iran's the only place where this
happens?

A Tweet: Demonstrations in Tabriz, Iran Today (22 June 09')
(Last night, actually)

A Tweet: RT MOUSAVI Declares ALL IRAN STRIKE TUESDAY & Rest of Week! Do NOT WORK! STAY HOME OR PROTEST! Close ALL Bazaars!

I'll check Mousavi's Facebook entry to verify that.

A Tweet: RT RT CONTACT UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE!!!Telephone: +41 22 917 90 00 Email: InfoDesk@ohchr.org #iranelection #gr88 SPAM THE UN!!!! RT RT

A Tweet: Italy, BLOCK IRAN FROM G8 MTING, it would legitimize govt, which the IRANIAN people have not!! RT, tell Italy!

A Tweet: does that national strike include Iran's oil refinery and nuclear facilities? It should.

A Tweet: Oil workers think of the future think of your children's future go on Strike starve the regime free yourselves from tirany RT

A Tweet: must-read: James Fallows on how #iranelection fits into the Chinese media
Here's the article.

I don't think that the Chinese government is the only one
troubled by developments in Iran.

This is a major event in human history, REGARDLESS of the
outcome. There's this really cool speculative video on
YouTube which extrapolates past and current trends in
politics into possible political milestones up into
the year 2054.

It's too volatile to link at this time, but if one finds
it, I advise that one watch. It's about 7 1/2 minutes long.

One quote from the vid: "...net democracies triumph..."

A Tweet: I don't know what God has in mind but I asure you christians jews buddist atheist and the whole world prays for Liberty4Iran

A Tweet: The world has to finally realize:We don't hate America! It's our gov't that hates US & UK

A Tweet: RT Iran: People of Iran - be ready to take people from the streets tonight and give protection

I gotta watch the video that makes me drool...while I do some brainstorming.

Is there any underground network made up of older
parts of the city, known intimately only to locals?

Settlements go back as far as 6000 BC, according to Wikipedia,
so I would think that there's a pretty extensive subterranean
labyrinth under the street.

If it's there, use it.
Hmmm...it doesn't look as if Cities of the Underworld
has done a segment on Tehran.

A Tweet: RT PLEASE PUBLISH names of Basiji/Rev Guard - let's get their names public

A Tweet: RT RT If you are looking for information on a wounded protester who is related to you, call 21 760 1038 RT

A Tweet: National strike called for Tuesday in Iran | Breaking Tweets
Here's the article.

Hmmm...I'm starting to get the hang of Twitter. I just did my
first re-tweet.

The national strike ought to be starting up at any time, it
it's not already in progress.

A Tweet: RT FULL NATIONAL STRIKE ANNOUNCED FOR TUESDAY Do not be afraid. You have the power of Neda

A Tweet: RT MOUSAVI Declares ALL IRAN STRIKE TUESDAY & Rest of Week! Do NOT WORK! STAY HOME OR PROTEST! Close ALL Bazaars!

6:07 AM GMT
9:37 AM IST

Time for a break.

11:38 AM GMT
3:08 PM IST

I ended up getting some (low quality) sleep.

Here's an interesting article covering recent Iranian
history.

12:33 PM GMT
4:03 PM IST

Hmmm...time for some coffee.

Where's Kerman?
This is video of unrest there.
I need to check a map...

Wow!
It's 700 miles from Tehran, southeast of it.

Some advice for people making (and posting) video:
If you can, try to get a signpost or a major
landmark of the city where demonstrations are
occurring so people unfamiliar with the locales
can more readily verify that the claim of location
is indeed true.

It is highly important to develop an accurate
perception of the extent of the unrest.

Before I go make some coffee,
Let's review the vision thing.

2:23 PM GMT
5:53 PM IST

Status Post Breakfast

I watched a discussion about the power of Neda on
CNN as I ate.

I've avoided reflecting on her, for personal reasons.
I actually typed a vignette on the matter a couple
of days ago, but deleted the text.

Is Neda a common Iranian name?

I'll leave it at that, for now.

One thing that came to mind as I watched the commentary
a few minutes ago was the speculation that Neda's tragedy
has resulted in Stand Alone Complex.

How long it will last, I can't say.

The fact that the Iranian government has stifled information
flow is bad news.

Images of Neda's death, coupled with the fact that there is
so little information coming out of Iran, amplifies the anguish
of the observer-participants.

(I think we need a new term to fuse "observer," and "participant.")

When very little information is available, what does come
out is increasingly important.

The Iranian government's media blackout will be its undoing.
Suspicion of state-run TV is so high, I don't know if anybody
believes what it's telling the public.

And...WHY SHOULD THEY?

If all other voices are violently suppressed, why should
anyone take what the suppressor is saying at face value?
If a suppressor speaks the truth, one shouldn't need to
stop others from communicating.

The primary stream of information coming through the Internet is overwhelmingly on the side of the protesters, and in all likelihood,
will continue to trend in that direction.

CNN claims that polls slightly favor President Obama's stand
on the matter. I find it amazing that anybody thinks intervention
could be a good idea, with NO official word from the global Islamic
or Arabic communities on the strife.

I read comments under YouTube videos, and I sense that a
lot of the people chiming in are rather young.

In conversations, I can tell that people are confused about
how the Iranian government operates. This is understandable,
considering its complexity.

Our lack of experience in observing the intricacies of Iran's
administrative apparatus contributes greatly to our uncertainty
about the outcome of the situation.

Some I chatted with were shocked that the Assembly of Experts
could be considering altering the fundamental structure of
the government. Others couldn't tell whether the Guardian
Council or the Assembly of Experts was more influential.
To one who does an investigation, it is clear that they
have different functions.

The actions of the Guardian Council are supporting the
results, which fuels cynicism, but the Assembly of Experts
meets in secret (see Wikipedia) and we can only get rumors
of their activity.

The protesters are in the same boat.

Hmmm...
Lack of information flow feeds cynicism and despair.
Fear of the unknown is an ancient anxiety of our
(and probably other) species.

Details of Neda's life are trickling out of Tehran.
The government didn't allow a public mourning of her
death, further inflaming Iranian citizens, and Gaians
too.

Transgressions on top of transgressions in an atmosphere
of intimidation, corruption, and violence.

I understand why people are impatient with the "wait and see"
approach, but I encourage those who are to:

1)Establish a goal - what is a desirable outcome?
2)Propose a plan of action.
3)Consider its likely result - will the action you propose
achieve the stated goal?
4)Ponder: Who is better at resolving civil strife within Iran?
Iranians, or outsiders with a sketchy understanding
of:
a)How the Iranian political system resolves administrative
conflicts.
b)What's actually (been) happening in the country?

John McCain will be on Larry King Live tonight.
I might watch it, I might not.

I have some serious correspondence to engage.

3:13 PM GMT
6:43 PM IST

The United Nations is chiming in.

Ban Ki-moon.
Which Korea is he from?
South, as I had expected.
Is North Korea even in the UN?
Lemesee...
I couldn't find it on the list of member nations.

I'll look more closely...
Ah!
There it is.
Much higher on the list than I had expected.
I tried,
"North Korea,"
"Korea DPR," and
"People's Republic of Korea,"
but, it's listed as, "Democratic People's Republic of Korea."

South Korea is listed as, "Republic of Korea."
No wonder I get them confused.
They may as well re-unite.

I'm drifing...
The statements are getting stronger.
I'm still waiting for the Organization of the Islamic Conference
to speak up on the matter.

Still nothing.
Who's the Secretary-General?

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.

Hmmm...

The OIC needs to make a statement.

Here's an interesting article claiming that
there are Basij who don't like Ahmadinejad.

A Tweet: Clashes, gunshot and smoke at Azadi Sq& Azadi St

A Tweet: Behesht Zahra cemetery is where Neda was laid to rest

Let's check the weather...

88°F
Current: Cloudy
Wind: E at 12 mph
Humidity: 17%

Heat Index: 84.3 => Caution

Sunset is in about 20 minutes.

A Tweet: RT from Iran: CONFIRMED - Musavi facebbok - Wed march Baharestan Sq 4pm Mousavi will attend too

Someone mentioned in a tweet that hidden cameras
were in place for yesterday's actions, so I'm
anticipating a wave of videos.

A word to the wise: remove the cameras BEFORE posting
video to YouTube. Security forces will be able to
discern the cameras' locations by analyzing the
view in the video.

A Tweet: from pk: yesterday we saw a 10 years old child die from teargas in his face - #Iranelection - could not film becos militia everywhere

Here's a very useful article from Reuters India.
They're reporting that Google Earth has updated its maps of
Tehran.

It'll be interesting to see how much detail they yield.

Hmmm...
Regardless of the outcome of the events we both observe and create,
Iran has become a beacon of cybernationalism.
The University of Tehran is in the process of being
blessed as a hub of the Global Renaissance, and of
course, of global consciousness.

Activists the world over are participating, learning,
and adapting their lives to the possibilities presented
by the manifold ideas being born, shared, and expressed.

As the necessity of coming to terms with the schism between
corrupt politicians, and the people they have (until now)
coerced into cooperation forces itself upon every government
in the world, virtually everyone paying attention realizes
that the old ways of seeing other countries and other cultures
are obsolete.

The over-privileged and unprincipled are going to eat shit,
wherever they are in the world - SOONER OR LATER.

It doesn't matter what they look like.
It doesn't matter what religion they claim to uphold.
It doesn't matter what language they speak, or who
their friends are.

Additionally, activists are replicating at an incalculable
rate. What we're embroiled in may continue indefinitely, and
might spark similar uprisings in other countries.

They could even feed off of each others energy and attention.
If multiple governments try to go off-line to quell unrest,
our knowledge of substantial parts of the world will
progress to the state that we experience with Iran.

Where is Iran?
Look at all the Iranian communities on the planet.
Everyone who ever had anything to do with the country
is voicing their opinions on what's really happening,
and what should be done.

Do you want to be a head of state at this time?
I sure as hell don't!

I expect that this phenomenon will mature at some point,
but I can't give any timetables.

Fuzzy reality is the new reality.
Privileged news outlets can no longer coerce consensus
reality among the populace. They can't even
direct attention.

We are left with the necessity of re-establishing
anchors that will give us the foundation for what
is deemed real in a global context.

We must construct reality.
Each and every one of us.
Every time we look.
As soon as we decide that we care.

Enough philosophy for now.

Some tweets are claiming that there is an incorrect
picture of Neda circulating.

Gotta look into it...

As if on cue...

A major issue has surfaced with regards to the photo
of Neda. The photo of the wrong person is being used
in many places. The story of Dr. Amy L. Beam details
the dilemma. Even as people correct the issue, others
stumble into it. The woman whose picture is being used
is frightened. Everyone - PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE,
AND BE CAREFUL ABOUT VERIFYING INFORMATION
PERTAINING TO KEY PARTICIPANTS IN THIS CRISIS,
BE THEY LIVING, OR DEAD.

Hmmm...
What does it mean now, to shout, "Neda Lives!"
(sigh)

Now...

I really need a break.

But first, a random pearl of Buddhist wisdom.
The number generated is...

176.

Buddhist pearl #176:
Toward good "At the root of human responsibility is the
concept of perfection, the urge to achieve it, the intelligence
to find a path toward it, and the will to follow that path if
not to the end at least the distance needed to rise above
individual limitations."

- Aung San Suu Kyi (born 1945)
Myanmar

Here's her Wikipedia entry.

Why is it that people who are out to serve good
always seem to end up in prison, or dead?

Ooooh shit...
Here we go!

6:24 PM GMT
9:54 PM IST

Interesting comments on the situation in Iran from
President Obama...

I find the prodding from the media annoying and counter-
productive, however.

I emphasize my comments above.
THINK THROUGH A PLAN.

"We have to believe that justice will prevail in Iran."

EXACTLY!

7:58 PM GMT
11:28 PM IST

Iran has banned its outspoken soccer players.

Hmmm...miraculously, the United States MNT made it the
semi-finals in the...HEY!!! THE GAME'S ON!!!

Wait...no, it isn't.
It's on tomorrow. I think.
Gotta check and make sure.

Yep.
Tomorrow, at 11:25 AM PST,
we get to play Spain, ranked #1 in the world.
This will be a good dress rehearsal for the
World Cup.
I heard we didn't do too well against Brazil and Italy,
so, we've need to take advantage of this opportunity to
show the world we can hang with the best.

Let's read the story on the Iranian player ban.

By the report, these players have been banned for life:

Ali Karimi, 31,
Mehdi Mahdavikia, 32
Hosein Ka'abi, 24 and
Vahid Hashemian, 32

They've also been banned from giving media interviews.
Their passports are being withheld. It's unclear from
the story whether these four no longer have them, or
if its the entire team.

I saw Ahamdinejad at the Iran-Saudi Arabia match on
Fox Soccer Channel a while back.

Let's check a few tweets.
It's almost midnight in Tehran.

A Tweet: Rt:ir 17"ago. all foreign embassys surrounded by militia to stop ppl going in -

A Tweet: There is apparently an order to remove all cameras and phones to prevent your story from being heard. HIDE THEM.

A Tweet: esource: people cant afford getting fired. everyone is tired, depressed & angry. we feel helpless as all doors r being shut

It sounds like the tension is ramping up.
I'm concerned about the consequences, but I'm sure
everybody is.

Mousavi wants a new election.
Rafsanjani and the Assembly of Experts seem to be
hammering out an approach that (from the outside)
seems like a major step in the right direction.

Has the chaos in the streets pushed the country past
its Rubicon?

What about the crackdowns?
The murders?
The arrests of politicians, journalists, citizens?

These are all matters to be resolved internally by Iran.
Expectedly, human rights groups will attempt some sort
of inquiry, but how much progress can they make?

One can be certain that, once the unrest dies down, much
of the interest in the situation will wane, and rapidly.

However, cybernationalism and global activism can escort
the long, tedious process of sifting through the fallout
during the aftermath of what we're engaged in at the
present moment.

We can make it part of our daily lives to inquire, analyze,
and share. Long after the tear gas canisters have stopped
firing. Long after the politicians have moved on to more
pressing matters.

Politicians can't do everything.
We have to remember that.
As I said a couple of years ago, activism is a way of life,
not going to a rally on Saturday.

What do the events during the spring and summer of 2009
in Iran mean?

As I said after the Beijing 2008 Olympics,
"Well, that depends. What are you going to do differently?"

If we all go back to the same lives we led, and treat this
flashpoint in Iran as something to consume and discard,
it will fester and morph into something worse down the line.

President Barack Obama is not going to be able
to fix this with his magic wand, folks.

Neither will the UN, the OIC, or the Arab League.

We netizens can maintain our attention, create communities,
and try to develop the tools that are needed with our
resources to assist them in devising their own solutions.

That is indeed, what we who are involved, are partaking
in right now.

We have to organize on-line and in meatspace, to promote
the kind of world we want to live in.

Iranians abroad,
I put this upon you.
You will be the primary contact nodes for Iran.
If you don't maintain permanent involvement, why
should anybody else?

Many of you are meeting each other for the first time at rallies,
and on-line.

Are you establishing activist networks that are prepared
for long-term (read: life-long) conflict resolution and
cultural development, not only in Iran, but within
your respective religions?

Are you?

Are you prepared to share the good, the bad, and the ugly
about your culture?
Don't come in here to posture as paragons of perfection.
People will only blow you off. Authenticity is paramount.

It'd be interesting to see Iranians who are geeked on
the environmental movement...

I've been meaning to check out vids of some local protests...
The Los Angeles Times mentioned that there was a
rally in Irvine the other day, and there's a massive Iranian
community in SoCal.

Let's take a peek:

Who says nobody in Orange County gets involved in politics?

Here's a good panorama view.

Now, let's see what happened in Los Angeles?

That brought back memories...

(sigh)

I need to find something in English from Mousavi.
I'll try Tehran Bureau.

A Tweet: RT: Confirmed Basij militia continue to invade homes beating childeren and woman.

Mousavi's Facebook entry.

Al-Jazeera English's translation of his letter.

Rafsanjani is the key.

A Tweet: ObamaSpeaks Comments that I've made [have been] mistranslated in Iran, suggesting that I'm telling rioters to go out and riot some more.

This is from the President's spokesperson.

This underscores the level of danger in addressing the situation in
Iran.

I have to give it a rest.
I simply have to.

Disengaging,

Ed Ussery("ArchMind")

While Tehran Sleeps...

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:17:10 GMT

6/22/09 11:54 PM GMT
6/23/09 3:24 AM IST
7:54 AM Beijing Time

Ed's Two Cents

I just caught my first glimpse of The Ed Schultz Show.
He's been on for several months, I think.

What I saw reminded me of the clawing and scratching over
health care reform that's taking place.

The word I got from Schultz was that Dianne Feinstein
was uncertain if President Obama's plan would be able
to get the votes needed, even with a substantial democratic
majority.

Tom Daschle has done a 180 on the matter, from being for,
to against, as claimed by the segment covering the topic.

According to a poll Schultz showed, 72% want some sort
of publicly funded option to be available.

With dems like these, indeed, Ed.

I've been tending to other pertinent matters, and must return
to them for the moment, but I just wanted to make sure that
our employees in the Senate know that I haven't forgotten
about the debate taking place.

Apparently, there's a movement on the Internet that is
intended to draw attention to the situation, and energize
the grass-roots.

Let's look for it.

Eureka!

There's a demonstration
in Washington, D.C. on the 25th.

(For universal health care, that is.)

Thanks, Ed.
Thanks, Diane.
Thanks...what was that senator from Pennsylvania's name?
Let's check...
There he is.
Senator Robert Casey.
Sen. Casey says he's on-board all the way.

Democratic sell-outs, beware!

Are people working on those collages of our employees and
the lobbyists who try to buy them?

I'll check back in a little while.

Cybertapping,

Ed Ussery("ArchMind")

P.S. Senators...
P.P.S. Reps...

P.P.P.S. Hey Ed! Where are the video clips? Keep an eye on 'em!

Iranian Dawn

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:17:00 GMT

6/22/09 3:05 AM GMT
6:35 AM IST
10:05 AM Beijing Time

Summer's Lease

The sun's been up for about an hour now, Live Stream will be
active around 8:00 AM IST.

I thought I'd check out what the people of Tehran are looking
at, just to enhance my sense of connection to the situation.
Check this out.

A Tweet: People of Iran - THIS IS THE DAWN - This is the new begining - have hope and prepare

A Tweet: Going on NOW in downtown Dallas, TX at Commerce and Griffin.

I think the tweet is referring to a rally of some sort.

Here's a great idea from a tweet: From iran: if u wantto help but are frightened of the streets - give blood - that is big help

Let's check the weather forecast.

At the moment,

75°F
Current: Cloudy
Wind: NE at 5 mph
Humidity: 25%

At Tehran Airport:
73 °F
Partly Cloudy
Humidity: 27%
Dew Point: 37 °F
Wind: 5 mph from the WNW
Pressure: 30.01 in (Falling)
Visibility: 6.2 miles
UV: 0 out of 16
Clouds:
Few 4000 ft
(Above Ground Level)
Elevation: 3907 ft

There's a 40% chance of rain.

A Tweet: Guardian Council says more votes cast than eligible voters in 50 cities, but denies affected outcome.

A Tweet: Media crackdown continues in #Iran, with a threat to British journalists and censorship of TV reporters.

A Tweet: LINCOLN, NE rally 4 Iranian democracy 8:30 AM Monday at 14th & R streets

Anything in Metro Detroit? I know there's a significant
Middle Eastern community, but I don't know if there are
many Iranians.

Let's check...

There's certainly a community of some noticeable
size.

A Tweet: Seriously: If Basiji break in and you have no weapon to defend self, remember toilet tank cover can knock someone out.

A Tweet: Bus Workers Join the Resistance - The Autobus Workers Union of Iran

I don't know if this is a request or a claim...

A Tweet: Plz Plz do not mention the names/handles of sources in Iran. Very dangerous for them!!! RT RT

Hmmm...CNN talked about the subjective nature of the videos
they were sharing with their viewers. They voiced concern
about their authenticity.

I found that intriguing.
The question: How does one in the media of privilege, "verify the authenticity" of a photograph, video clip, or a statement,
for that matter.

How does anybody on earth decide if information they receive
is true or false?

"But we decide which is right, and which is an illusion."

What is a, "reliable source?"

Who did they talk to when they have checked the validity of
a statement, or an image?

With the Iranian government frantically trying to shut down
any dissenting voices, and with so little information coming
through, the tenuous line between observers and participants
has almost completely disappeared.

The question I pose at this time is:
"Was it ever really there in the first place?"

Hmmm...

A Tweet: Do this to show solidarity with the Iranian people: said Monday, drive with your lights on all day

Here's a video from Saturday (one that was uploaded on Saturday, anyway).

Judging from the one of the comments, I SPECULATE that the video
is being presented as evidence that Ahamadinejad's name was
forged on ballots. I can't read the script, or understand
the dialogue so I can't tell.

A Tweet: Show your support for the people of iran from your cubicle! - Green Wall Desktops -

Personally, I think that's a good suggestion.
Mine's already green - it's an image of DNA in a protoplasmic soup.
The soup is pea green It's been there for over three years.

Wow!
Check out this video on BBC Persia.

It looks like a crowd has a group of security forces on the run.
They're returning tear gas canisters, or some sort of canister
in the direction of the soldiers. Apparently, the crowd just
overwhelmed them.

Hmmm...

A Tweet: Netherlands will make formal protest agnst Iran re: "excessive force against peaceful protesters," Minister Verhagen says

Here's something that ought to be read.

Here's a shot of the candlelight vigil in San Francisco.

A Tweet: RT "You can't beat our grandmothers. If you do, we're ALL in the opposition." Melody Moezzi (Iranian in Chicago CNN) Ya Neda

A Tweet: RT there is no fear here now..i feel it in the air. we all are ready to become martyrs. why live if you are not free.no point.

CNN reported that Rafsanjani's daughter was under arrest.

Checking out Live Stream...
There are a lot of people who aren't serious.

The word on Live Stream is that his daughter was arrested along
with four other family members. The others were released, but
not Rafsanjani's daughter.

The reason for her arrest is not known to the present occupants.

USA Today said that the four relatives were released.
One person in the chat is claiming that they were all
involved in the protests.

A Tweet: Expect food shortage - transport stoppage - money shortage in bank

Which reminds me...

It would be useful for a lot of bloggers to brainstorm as they blog.
We don't know what the protesters need, but we do know that they
are under incredible stress, and risk exhaustion. A stream of
fresh ideas coming from all over the world can only be helpful.

It's hard to think clearly when one's life is in grave danger.
Contemplate: What might be helpful? What do they need?
What do they need to be on the look out for?

Live Stream's having problems.
Too many idiots ruining the dialogue.

The moderator cleared the chatroom.

Now there's video of protesters. There's no indication of
the date. Looks like about mid-day.

What a sea of humanity.

What are the objectives for today?
Miley Cyrus video playing on Twitter Talk.

8:32 AM IST

Time for a break.

8:43 AM IST

Ahhh...the opening theme from Ghost in the Shell: Stand
Alone Complex is playing on Twitter Talk.

Good and inspiring...

Aeria Gloris.

Here's a list of imprisoned Iranian journalists
and politicians from Tehran Bureau.

Uhhhh...this is quite a list. The first I've seen.
I'm kind of taken aback.

Imprisoned Politicians

Dr. Mohsen Aminzadeh
Dr. Saeed Hajjarian
Behzad Nabavi
Mohammad Tavassoli
Mostafa Tajzadeh
Dr. Abdollah Ramazanzadeh
Mohammad Ali Abtahi
Dr. Ebrahimi Yazdi
Dr. Mohsen Mirdamadi
Mohammad Atrianfar
Mohsen Safaei Farahani
Hedayatollah Aghaaei
Davood Soleimani
Dr. Ali Tajer Niya
Jahanbakhsh Khanjani
Saeed Leylaaz
Abdolfattah Soltani
Shahab Tabatabaei
Mohammad Reza Jalaei Pour
Abdollah Momeni
Rajabali Mazrouei

Imprisoned Journalists and Bloggers

Mahsa Amrabadi
Karim Arghandehpour
Khalil Mir Ashrafi
Behzad Basho
Kayvan Samimi Behbahani
Somayyeh Tohidloo
Abdolreza Tajik
Dr. Ahmad Zeydabadi
Mojtaba Pourmohsen
Hamideh Mahhozi
Amanollah Shojaei
Hossein Shokouhi
Mashallah Haydarzadeh
Ruhollah Shahsavar
Mohammad Ghoochani
Jila Baniyaghoob
Bahman Ahmadi Amooee
Eisa Sahar Khiz

A Tweet: RT Reported rape in Shiraz by basiji during night breakin! This is not ISLAM!! Come out to revenge.Tehran is with you!

A Tweet: Supposedly a live feed out of Tehran but I have no way of verifying. http://iranelection09.blogspot.com/

Might as well check it out.

I doubt it. It's the wrong time of day for the sunlight
to be hitting like that. I've seen some of that footage
before, too.

A Tweet: RT : Iranian State Radio says 457 people arrested. http://bit.ly/145rzp

A Tweet: RT: Because the general strike may close many shops, do your best to get medical and other items now

Here's Chatham House's analysis of the voting
results in the election.

I skimmed it. It asserts that Ahmadinejad would have required
implausible support from people who had previously voted for
reform candidates. It also asserts that the claim that he
has a lot of support in rural areas is untrue.

You should read it for yourself, as I will in more detail
later.

A Tweet: Make sure you have plenty of food, water, and other necessary supplies in your home. Helps for visiting protesters

Here's a dossier on the crisis.

One tweeter claims that this link contains photos of two
men who were armed and acting against the people.

A Tweet: 40 members of the council of experts have signed letter 2 annul election.The letter is in possession of expresident Rafsanjani

That one needs to be followed up on.

This is a video of a woman who declared herself
Neda's sister (in struggle) who read a poem. It is translated
in the comments below on the page.

Here's an interesting analysis from the BBC.

A Tweet: Collect, publish, write on basiji people walls their home. Mark their home doors. Give THEM something to worry about.

A Tweet: Judging from the sound of this Iran Press Briefing, the regime is frightened, VERY FRIGHTENED about what this week will bring

A Tweet: RT Basij may be from outside Iran. Take down street signs to disorient them!

Here's an interesting suggestion from a tweet: Today at 4pm everybody in all parts of country telephone and report street protests where there is none

Hey!

Look at this!

Al Arabiya News Channel is reporting that the Assembly of Experts
may replace the Supreme Leader with a collective administrative
body.

The AOE is also considering the option of requiring Ahmadinejad
to resign.

Wow.

7:05 AM GMT
10:34 AM IST

My back is sore.
Time for a break.

8:26 AM GMT
11:56 AM IST

Hmmm...CNN hasn't reported the Al-Arabiya assertion that
the Assembly of Experts may be on the brink of resolving
the conflict.

I don't see any current video, but CNN claims to
possess it. The newest video I can find came in on
the 20th.

Why isn't Wolf Blitzer discussing the ramifications
of a possible resolution in the works, instead of
showcasing people who want the president to take
a more aggressive stance? (Considering that we know
that the method didn't work before.)

Especially when the current stance may have already
produced its intended effect?

Why is CNN still emphasizing an angle that is, while
relevant, not reflecting the latest information available
from within the Iranian political system?

The possibility that the Assembly of Experts is going to
remove the Supreme Leader, and form a new collective administrative
body, is the most important development in the last 24 hours,
and should be the primary topic of discussion, not the con-
tinuing violence, and repeated showings of the death of Neda.

If there's any chance that Ahmadinejad may be resigning from
the presidency under the influence of the Assembly of Experts,
and religious clerks in Qom, CNN should have interrupted
its coverage to present this new development.

Instead, it mentioned that a BBC reporter was expelled, and
that the Al-Arabiya bureau was shut down, on the scroll
at the bottom of the screen.

Is CNN bothered by the fact that President Obama's approach
might actually be working?

Were they told not to talk about it?

When I found out about the Al-Arabiya article on Twitter, and
read it, I went to Live Stream to tell others. Two people
checked it out, and we talked about what it might mean for
Iran.

One of the chatters asserted that the statements were probably
true, so he might as well go to bed. The other one did too.
It didn't sound like a comprehensive solution, but certainly
a start.

I was expecting something quite different from what I saw on CNN.
I do suppose that there's still a lot of anger on the streets
of Tehran, so that things would not die down instantaneously.
I haven't been able to find any current video of protests, and
wondered where they got theirs. Were they recycling?
I didn't know, and was not certain that it was old video.

Hmmm...something to think about.

A Tweet: All the mosques in Tehran are banned to hold a mourning ceremony for #Neda the girl who was shot Saturday

I'm seeing a lot of retweets...

I ought to take a look at Amnesty International's web site...
That's the latest.
How about Human Rights Watch?

I don't see much that's new in the tweets.

Now I do.

A Tweet: Rafsanjani is working in Qom. Rafsanjani is working with military. Be patient, calm and dignified

A Tweet: RT: Tuesday, June 23rd, nationwide strike in Iran (bazaar, offices, schools etc...) Iranians pass to all family and friends

A Tweet: Neda's details: Neda Aqa-Soltan, university student (was studying Philosophy), 27 years old, shot by a Basiji militia

Here's a map with a story of the action.

9:18 AM GMT
12:48 PM IST

Time for a break.
I might crash for a while...

2:26 PM GMT
5:56 PM IST

...and I did.

Here's a warning from the Revolutionary Guards.

A Tweet: RT: road blocks controlling movement of people from North to South Tehran to stop ppl joining Sea of Green

A Tweet: BBC: Bahrain orders closure of prominent newspaper that published artcle critical of #IranElection

Here's the latest from Tehran Bureau.

As of two hours ago, the person reporting says that the streets are
quiet, with rumors of activity in certain locations:
Ferdowst Square, Haft-e-tir, Abbas Abad...

A Tweet: tehran is so quiet, no traffic, ordinary life is at standstill, or barely crawling

Protests overseas continue...

A Tweet: Germany Gov says "90,000 Iranians protested for NCRI (in german)
It's in German.

Here's a brief video of a protest in Germany.

It is the hottest part of the day, so the reported lack
of activity is not surprising. I suspect that once the rumors
about Rafsanjani are confirmed or found to be untrue, activity
of some sort will be on the rise again.

A Tweet: London, UK Iran protests Wedn. 24 June Picc Circus 6-9PM

Here's a tweet reporting that the army has entered Freedom Square:
just hours before, the army has entered the azadi (FREEDOM) square in tehran

A Tweet: Today : Hamburg peaceful mourning for Neda in front of the embassy 18:30 to 19:30. Please join us !

What time is it in Hamburg?
3:51 PM

Let's check the weather in Tehran.
90°F
Current: Cloudy
Wind: E at 7 mph
Humidity: 11%

NO WONDER IT'S QUIET AT THIS HOUR.

Checking the heat index...
85.9, well into the Caution area.

A Tweet: RT:Anti-riot police, brought from other cities, in Shirowdi Stadium

A tweet requested that this site be taken down. It appears that
they are hunting protesters with it, but I can't read Arabic.

Hmmm...might be a good time to change my avatar. I'm not
tweeting, though...

Here's a tweet encouraging people in Tehran to join a nucleus
of a rally at Tir Square: RT URGENT 1,000+ pro-reform Iranians gathered in 7 Tir Square needs more support GO NOW

A Tweet: CNN: Riot police and Basij militia disperse large crowd in Tehran and arrest at least 5 people..

Here's a good series of photos of demonstrations
over the weekend.

Sign of the times.

A Tweet: RT from iran They're hitting ppl in Hafte Tir Sq.,3-5 thousand ppl are there.A friend who just left there confirmed.

Here's a warning to protesters about avoiding retaliation:
RT Do not leave your lights on tonight as a memorial, doing so marks you for besiji and others as Resistance

A Tweet: Theres Anti-riot police with guns in their hands from roof tops in 7th tir sq.

A Tweet: Former Iranian Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi discusses the future of Iran on C-Span, right now.

I think I'll check him out while I have breakfast.

8:06 PM GMT
11:36 PM IST

I sort of got off a little too much into CCTV 9.

Reza Pahlavi said some interesting things on C-SPAN.

I would have a very hard time believing that his assertions
came from an objective viewpoint, but his input is useful.

Nothing from the Organization of The Islamic
Conference yet.

Tehran is probably rather quiet at this time.

Save the Children.

I want to check out the National Center for Missing
and Exploited Children

Here's one.
Gabriela Patricia Velazquez.

Since she's only been missing for two days, I think it warrants
the extra effort to make sure people see her picture, and get
an immediate look at the text.

Here's the text:
Gabriela was last seen at the National Guard Armory on Morganton Road in Southern Pines, North Carolina on June 20, 2009. She may be in the company of an adult Hispanic male. Gabriela has a birthmark on her right calf. She was last seen wearing a white shirt, blue jeans, and high heel shoes. Her nickname is Gavi.

Here are the two others featured on the page. They've been missing
for substantially longer, so I'll just put up basic information about
them, and link the pages with the more elaborate details.

His name is Ryan Ramirez. He's from Corpus Christi, Texas.
At least, that's the city where he was last seen - called, the
"missing city." I'm not 100% certain of what that means.

This is Laurence Brannum. He was last seen in Santa Maria, CA. I don't know if he's from there or not. Upon reflection,
that's probably not nearly as important as the city where they
were last seen. But, if they're missing from their home town,
that suggests different possible factors in their disappearance.

Here's the phone number of the hotline:

IF YOU HAVE SEEN ANY
OF THESE CHILDREN, PLEASE CALL

1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)

Something to ponder...this has a lot of potential.

Hmmm...this could very well serve as a deterrent to child abduction,
once news spreads about the effectiveness of this medium.

Kidnapping could be OBSOLETED ENTIRELY!!!

What was that movie with Michael Douglas?
He gave an interview in the Los Angeles Times the
other day. His father is indeed, still alive, at 92.

Sorry, Kirk!

***

Globally Conscious

On Dialogue this morning, I had the great pleasure of
learning about, and hearing from a man named Judge Geoffrey
Robertson.

He has a pretty spectacular history of involvement in human
rights issues on a planetary scale.

He represented Johnny Rotten!LOL
So, Johnny, do you prefer John Lydon?
Trying to break from the past?
Okay. John.

What's up with the Gunners, man?

THIS IS AMAZING!

Hmmm...what about missing children in the United Kingdom?

France?

South Africa?

Ghana?
That was the closest thing I could find...

How about China?

Like I said, this has a lot of potential.

I can't get Prince William out of my head for some reason...
What do you think of SoCal, Bill?! :)

This middle-aged idealist needs to tend to more pragmatic
issues.

Don't worry, I'll be back.

Wait a minute!
What happened to that environmental legislation that
the California State Assembly was dealing with a couple
of weeks ago?

I'll have to look into that later.

Ideally,

Ed Ussery("ArchMind")

...Overslept...

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:23:38 GMT

6/21/09 5:19 PM GMT
8:49 PM IST
6/22/09 12:19 AM Beijing Time

What's Happening in Iran?

That is indeed, the question of the day.

I just stopped watching CNN while eating breakfast.
I'm kind of groggy.
I noticed some typos in my last post as I attempted to
develop some bearings on the situation.

I've missed the last day of activity, so I'm about to
head over to Live Stream for updates.

***

I just did a cursory review of my last post.
Hmmm...
Heading to Live Stream

But first, a little warm-up...

Here's a protest in Munich, a tweet claims.

Hmmm...Live Stream seems really
intense.

Live Stream's Twittertalk channel's gone off the air.

Let's check some tweets.

A Tweet: RT from Iran: I am back from the protest in gisha street! We are every day a bit stronger then yesterday!

A Tweet: Pay no attention to obama45 or america45. Both are mullah stooges telling lies

From the tweets I'm reading, it appears that protests
and candlelight vigils are spontaneously sprouting up
all over the planet.

Reports of Mousavi's arrest are also appearing.
One tweet claims that this is confirmed, but numerous
others disagree.

Here's an interesting article on modern Iranian
culture from Vanity Fair.

I don't think this is the best time for me
to jump back in to the action, considering that
it's evening in Tehran.

Tweets are coming in at an impressive rate, though.

A Tweet: RT Over 50,000 ppl in front of UN office (Forsat Shirazi). In Gisha st.ppl sitting on street

Is that the UN office in Tehran, or New York City?

Let's check YouTube...

Nothing new comes up under "iran protests un."

Tehran Bureau has a translation of Mousavi's letter.
I want to read that.

Hmmm...

What time does the sun rise in Tehran?
I need to synchronize my activity with their
days, in order to optimize my participation,
and coordinate activity in my own life.

Checking the day-night cycle in Tehran...

Here's a page with the times.

Lemesee...

Here they are, for the next week.

Jun 21, 2009 5:48 AM 8:23 PM
Jun 22, 2009 5:48 AM 8:23 PM
Jun 23, 2009 5:49 AM 8:24 PM
Jun 24, 2009 5:49 AM 8:24 PM
Jun 25, 2009 5:49 AM 8:24 PM
Jun 26, 2009 5:50 AM 8:24 PM
Jun 27, 2009 5:50 AM 8:24 PM

14 hour days.

So, the time one would expect the most activity
ought to be about 6:30 PM to 9:00 AM, for those
of us in Pacific Time. More specifically,
their day is roughly between these times.
It's the Summer Solstice, so it's probably
pretty hot there.

Let's check the weather.

Hmmm...the forecast is for the temperature to be
in the mid to upper 80s, with a 30% chance of rain.

Here's the hourly forecast for Monday.

I'm trying to get a more complete understanding of the
heat index.

Here's a table.

I'm going to try to find a calculator for it.

Here's one.

Plugging in...
The heat index will be 80.7 at 4PM, by the forecast linked above.
It will be 85.2 at 7PM, and 81.3 at 10PM.

These all place the value of the heat index in the "caution,"
zone. During the earlier parts of the day, the index has no
meaning, since by definition, it is not relevant below 80 degrees
Fahrenheit.

Just to give me something to mull over, I'm going to plug
in the values for 10AM and 1PM. They're 79, but I'll use
80, so the formula can work.

Here we go...
80/41 and 80/46 both yield 80.
So, it would be prudent to warn the citizenry that sustained
physical activity will be most effective in the morning and
early afternoon. Even during times in which a heat index is
calculable, according to available values and methods,
it's value indicates that participants should be wary of
sustained activity, but the conditions do not seem to
prohibit it.

In the event that the current political situation in Tehran
continues well into summer, I would advise citizens to check
the index, and coordinate activity taking that information
into account.

For example - set up protests in relays, and focus on
achieving specific objectives to minimize physical exertion.
The water cannons might actually become assets, if the
operators covertly sympathize with the protesters...

Time for a break.

8:19 PM GMT
11:49 PM IST
3:19 PM Beijing Time

Some other ideas were popping into my head that I think
would assist planning for a protracted mass action in
Tehran, and I'm trying to charge myself up again so I
can convey them to Gaia.

Here's some brainstorming...things that ought to be
considered...at some point...

Lines of supply - protection of, concealment of
The school year - do they get summer off in Tehran?
City services
Transportation
Holy days - any upcoming?
The next election (any)
General Organization
Adding text to videos for descriptive purposes (location, time...)
Defensive measures
How can the available media work for the protesters in ways
that have not been taken advantage of at this time?
What resources exist on-line that can be utilized, but have
not yet been incorporated?
Does Khamenei have any grandchildren? Siblings?
Identifying clandestine Basij
Communication with other parts of Iran

For starters...

***

Moving right along

Angelina Jolie was talking about something happening in
Pakistan the other night.

The English language video was removed, so I'll
try the one that looks French.

Hmmm...might be in English after all.
It is.

This may seem kind of weird to a lot of people,
but I have no recollection of the earthquake
that hit Pakistan last October.

I remember hearing a smidgeon of the quake in
Kashimir, but had no idea that the death toll was
so high.

I think CNN has a transcript of the interview...
Let's see...
Yep.

I'll have to investigate that at a later time.
Before I close, I need to check up on our employees...

Interesting bill the Senate passed last week...
Where's the resolution that apologized for slavery?

I'm sure the House is as exciting as ever!

Yes, indeed.

I'm still tired, folks.
Meatspace calls.

Well.
I'm sure glad I stumbled on to this...

Back to my singular existence.

Informed,,

Ed Ussery("ArchMind")

P.S. You Adobe scum know I can't afford Adobe Creative Suite
without a real job!

STOP ADVERTISING ON MY LIVEJOURNAL PAGE!

Besides, if I owned it, why would I even want a real job?
Gotta do some serious correspondence...

Throttling Up...

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 03:18:20 GMT

6/20/09 3:10 AM GMT
6:40 AM IST
11:10 AM Beijing Time

Necessity is the Drive.

As I ponder the events that are to transpire within
hours, I urge all parties involved to contemplate
the heading above.

Here is Tehran Bureau's latest link.

It is highly concerning, to say the least.
The march is scheduled for 4PM, IST.
I've got to make certain I have the correct time.

Preliminaries

I want to try to set up a proxy server, and dynamically
engage the hardware side of this incredible moment in
the history of the evolution of consciousness.

I'm playing Shan-ti Mantra right now. His website is playing Friar Park.
:)

I really ought to add some Iranian music to my collection.

Hmmm...let's see what's on YouTube...

Sounds very nice, but I can't understand a word.
I printed off the insights on the website of
The Celestine Prophecy.

I'm probably too old to have fun like that.

Let's check out the band...

Hmmm...I'm having difficulty figuring out, "Bigharar Bandari."
Name of musician? Style of music?

Here's a portal.

CNN hosted a discussion with an Iranian film maker, whose
latest work dealt with the subject of stoning women.

Here's somebody with the last name, "Bigharar."

Time to get down to business...

***

The Present Moment

Here's some useful commentary on the prayer service,
and the situation in general.

A number of peoples' tweets are expressing concern
that they will be killed at the upcoming demonstration.

One tweet reads: "We want to be free. I want my daughter to grow up in free Iran. Will she have a father after today?"

Another tweet: "Many of my friends calling & say goodbye, as they feel in 2morrow's demonstration they may get killed."

An instruction: "RT: GO BACK & DELETE ALL PAST TWEETS that may have Iran usernames. Arrests have been made. Please ENSURE ALL SEE THIS"

A request being made to the security forces:
"Iranian soldiers, police: do the right thing for Iran. Don't commit violence against non-violent protesters, women, babies."

I watched some of the speech last night, but was just too
tired. I was not aware of the ominous tone until I watched
news reports earlier today.

I was surprised at its finality, not to mention its severity.

Google Earth is getting into the action, according to
this tweet: "Twitition: Google Earth to update satellite images of Tehran"

I didn't realize that the images were from 2007 when I was searching
for hints of activity during my last post. I was under the
impression that the images were current, and updated every
few moments. Even as I looked at cities in California, the
screen read, "images from 2007."

Al-Jazeera would be a good place to seek out information.

Not much I haven't already heard.

Time to make preparations.

A tweet: "From Iran: Beware of ppl on twitter trying 2 confuse u. #Mousavi is safe & rally is going ahead."

Another tweet is asking for more people to set up
proxy servers. That's my cue.

The tweet: WE STILL NEED MORE PROXIES! PLEASE HELP CONTRIBUTE!

Let's give it a shot.

Hmmm...security issues are a concern.
The site should give a primer on addressing them.
From reading the thread, some people are easily
establishing them, while a few are struggling.

I need definitive information about securing a proxy
server before I set one up. I don't want to be subject
to a cyberattack I'm not ready for. Others are expressing
similar concerns.

I'm going to look for another site that may have more
complete instructions.

I'm trying this site, but I keep getting
kicked out of it. Someone may be interfering or blocking
access.
Now I'm there.

Hmmm...From what I see others posting about set-up issues,
I think it will take too much time to go through the process
(for me anyway). I don't have the hardware to spare in the
event of cyberattack.

I don't think that's the best use of my resources.

Back to Twitter...

Twit: There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall.. Mahatma Gandhi

Here's a list of Tweeters who are putting out disinformation/spam.

These tweeters are on the list of "Obvious Disinformation."

Persian_Guy
watchingiranian
THRONCOMMERCIAL
EranSpahbod
AhmediNejThief
AhmediNejSucks
AhmediNejScum
AhmediNejFucked
AhmediNejLiar (New!)
AhmediNejRaped (New!)
serv_
twitrevolution

This is a poem that was recited last night from
a rooftop in Tehran.

Here's a retweet: Hold the Holy Qur'an in Demonstration. Mortal Sin to Kill People With Qur'an in Their Hands.

(Link added by yours truly.)

Here's Zahra Rahnavard's Facebook entry.

There was a video added two hours ago.

Here's her Wikipedia entry.

You have to be able to read Arabic to understand
the video. Upon further viewing, I rescind that
statement. A lot of it is visual, and the images
can be readily understood by anyone following events
in Iran.

A Tweet: mosavi, Rezaee & karobi r in a meeting with Guardian counsel. dont think anything will come out of it

A protest in Charlotte, North Carolina, yesterday.

Another Tweet: First message of the day: Today, 4 pm, Enghelab Sq. Karroubi, Khatami and Mousavi will be present.

Here is a web site made by someone who claims to
have been sifting through tweets, and has synthesized
reliable information from them.

There are a lot of volatile and disturbing assertions
made in the posts. I'm refraining from copying reports
to my blog for fear of inciting something.

6/20/09 6:42 AM GMT
10:12 AM IST
2:42 PM Beijing Time

I need a short break.

I need to lie down for a bit.

Hmmm...but first, here's a petition requesting that Google Earth
update its Tehran data so that people can follow protesters.

6/20/09 12:03 AM PST

Well...Maher throws down!
I just caught the tail end of Real Time With Bill Maher,
and rather enjoyed it.

How could anybody think that Bill was in the republican
camp after his closer last Friday?

It sounds to me like a lot of people over-reacted.

Was that McCain's daughter(grand-daughter) on there?
She doesn't sound too bright.

4:35 AM PST
11:35 AM GMT
3:05 PM IST
7:35 PM Beijing Time

...had sporadic sleep...

A Tweet: "The editor-in-chief of Etemad Melli, a reformist newspaper owned by Karroubi, is arrested"

A Tweet: People gathering in streets in preparation for the protest. There are also A LOT of riot police on the streets"

Here are the instructions on setting up Tor relays.

Here's the cyberwar guide again.

I browsed over Iranian TV stations, but figured that they wouldn't
be able to yield any more information. They'd probably be good for
commentaries, however.

Here's a portal.
I think I'll see what I can get added in the morning.

I don't expect much, but I'll check CNN real quick...

Hmmm...now that I'm seeing the times displayed, I'm suspecting
that the entire planet is on Daylight Savings Time. That's why
I've been uncertain about the precise time overseas. Might as
well look...

About 70 countries observe DST.
The EU does, and started just after we did, so GMT is still
8 hours ahead of PST. So my time entries for GMT have been
off by 1 hour for a few months.

Iran also observes DST, and recently resumed the practice after
Ahmandinejad banned it for a few years.

About 70 countries (1 billion people) observe DST. China does not.

So,

1:22 PM GMT
4:52 IST
8:22 PM Beijing Time

Back to Twitter...

There are indeed reports of police attacking protesters, as CNN mentioned.

A Tweet: From Iran: special guards confronted with people, attacked them with batton dispersed them into small ally ways

Sun's coming up in California.

Report from NPR. Not too informative at this
time.

More reports of clashes and of people being beaten.

A Tweet: Clashes broke out in Azadi Sq. They have beaten people around there.

One tweet says that Internet Relay Chat is active, with
a channel named #iranelection. I see no one there.
I think it's a decoy of some kind.

A Tweet: RT from Iran : 4:40 :Tear Gas, Bird Shot Fired at Protesters .protest goes to the Laleh Park!

Here's the Guardian's blog.

Here's Nico Pitney's blog.

This blog is titled, Revolutionary Road.
It's got up-to-the-minute coverage with photographs.
Visitors are encouraged to follow the creator's tweets.

I'm now following him.

I just don't feel like I'm grasping the magnitude of this
event. I'm so unfamiliar with Twitter.

A Tweet:
A lot of conflict happenning at Kosh St. now between people and basij

Another tweet reports of constant throwing of tear gas.
No location was given, though.

Here's a nice article on how social media
are playing a role in the saga in Iran.

A Tweet advising Iranian activists: Take out your SIM cards, leave bluetooth on. connect via BT

A Tweet: PPl trying 2 get to protest site, being disperced with teargas. Security forces in ferdowsi.

One tweet is pleading for people to set up Tor relays.

Remember...

A Tweet: Voice of shooting in Azadi street...

Tehran Bureau tweets multiple clashes in Azadi street:
clashes between forces and people on Azadi Street

8 minutes ago, Tehran Bureau tweeted: via FB: "people are trapped between Behboodi and Enghelaab."

Rallyers are requesting more participation from the
populace.

A Tweet: Witnesses: 1,000 to 2,000 protesters at Tehran University #iranelection Help support, get out on streets immediately

Some instructions for dealing with security forces...
A Tweet: Do not provoke basiji spec ops, carrying ak47 in black masks.

A Tweet : Tear gas and water cannon being used to stop people getting to rally.

A Tweet: Confirmed: Police have closed off Tehran University.

A Tweet: Basij Militia prepared to do what they do best, Corner of Jamalzade St. and Kalhor St.

A Tweet: Verified that pres TV news flash reprts two bomb blast heard in Tehran

A Tweet: One of the bombs was at Khomeini shrine, Presst Tv reports many injured.

One tweet reads that CNN reported that the Khomeini shrine was bombed,
but questions the legitimacy of the assertion.

A Tweet: FROM TEHRAN: Houses in alleys opening doors to injured protestors, one source reporting hallway is full of beaten ppl,

A Tweet: Ordinary Mullahs are going join rally today. Pics of baisj beating Mullahs wld change minds lots Admadi fans.

(link added par moi)

It seems like the frequency of tweets is increasing.
Overcast in Southern California.

CCTV 9 had nothing on when I checked before.
It might be time to look again.
I get a few other Asian stations.
Might be a good idea to channel surf for a few minutes.

I'm reading tweets asserting that two have been injured,
and one killed in the bombing.

One tweet claims the bomb was planted by the government.

A Tweet: Credible source was eyewittness to pepper spraying of about 100 protestors

A link to some photos. I've already seen these.

State TV is now reporting the blast.

BBC PERSIA VIDEO OF SHOTS BEING FIRED

People are certainly defensive, but not dispersing.

This is unconfirmed, from a tweet: Martial Law will be declared soon. Committee of hard-liners has been formed. Leader has given order to end this in 7 days.

I'm reading one blog composed of tweets, and it claims
that the subway has been closed. Another claim from the
same source says that: Vanak Square reportedly full of civilian-dressed forces

I'm going to see what the TV stations have.
I've got good variety, so something might come through.

6:59 PM IST
CNN International is reporting that a YouTube video is
consistent with reports they've received. They showed
a part of it.

I'm not finding it with the browser.
Probably...somebody on Twitter has alluded to it.

This is a different video of a student being shot. I just noticed a tweet declaring its existence.

Some photographs of tear-gassings.

Hmmm...this is very interesting.
It's from Pitney's blog. Check it out...

10:19 AM ET -- Timing of reported blast. Many are reporting a message on Twitter claiming that the alleged suicide bombing at a shrine in southern Tehran was reported by state media before it actually occurred. There is no confirmed evidence of this. I'll update if I see any.

Here's a brief video of protesters throwing rocks.

Here's a French blog following events.

A Tweet: Reliable: one dead at Valiasr St. in Tehran, many injured near Tohid sq.

Here's some advice on using cell phones in Tehran from a tweet:
IRANIANS: Use cell phones briefly,pull battery & move to diff area.

A tweet beckoning to the police:
RT RT Police & Army must See Reason! Look in your hearts! Listen to GOD not men!

Ponderings

(If I may offer some insights in the hopes of
facilitating the formulation of strategies.)

The Iranian government can't keep communications suppressed
forever, even if they employ the "iron fist" approach.
Sooner or later, everyone on earth will be able to see
what happened in Tehran in intimate detail.

If the picture is gloomy, as it appears to be, the government's
credibility will be further undermined in the eyes of the world.

If this election was indeed stolen, and the Islamic leadership
blesses it anyway, then the hopes for moving past despotic rule
have evaporated, at least for the time being.

One scholar on CNN or MSNBC said that the members of the elite
do have serious differences with Ahmadinejad.

Question: What will happen over time given the present
political configuration?

I want to look at the possible scenarios presented
by Tehran Bureau.

Hmmm...I've been watching CNN International for about the
last 25 minutes or so...

Who are the key players who can actually
wield influence with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to
persuade him to change his mind
and allow a recount
(or new election)?

How can such a process take place?
Is there anybody Khamenei listens to who could be moved by the
protesters?

If one has/they have not been swayed to act by now, what can happen
in the next few hours that might convince this person/these people to
attempt the dialogue with him?

I need a better picture of the higher-ups in the Iranian government.

Hmmm...Pitney's blog reports that more people are joining in:

11:43 AM ET -- An Iranian-American talks to Iran contacts: "worth noting
people in iran are hearing that others are coming out to join. people are leaving work now and going to join."

Are there any relatively young people who could form a bridge between
the new generation and the old guard who can talk to Khamenei?

He has six children.
How old are they?
Where are they?
Are they involved at all in the civic life of their home country?
What do they think?
Are they willing to talk openly about the situation?

I need look at the structure of Iran's government and decision-
making apparati.

What a fascinating system!

Perhaps tantalizing is a more appropriate word...

According to Wikipedia, there has been a reform movement
which officially ended in 2005. Exactly how and why, I
can't say for certain at this time...is Ahmadinejad
a throwback figure of some sort? A reactionary
backlash to the modernization of the culture?

From what I've been able to find, his primary role is keeping the economy afloat.

Hmmm...

5:51 PM GMT
9:21 PM IST
6/21/09 12:51 AM Beijing Time

I'm getting a clearer picture of what's happening
in Iran now, assuming that Wikipedia is accurate.

There was an academic on CNN International who was
stressing that the movement's goals are (or should be)
civil rights, not revolution.

It appears that the Iranian government (and/or supporters of the
old guard) has been repressing
the reform movement, using tactics that have included shutting
down newspapers, murder, and the like.

With the election results (and their aftermath), they've
reached a flashpoint in their history. The attempted
shutting down of information flow on the Internet is
only an extension of tactics that have been in use
for some time in more traditional media.

A lot of people aren't going to go back, after what has
been done. If the government were in the right, and believed
in the will of the people, they would allow the truth to
be shown to the world.

The US's relationship with the Islamic World is so shitty
(and justifiably so), that any attempt to intervene would
fuel a knee-jerk reaction, as it apparently did in 2003, when
the UN was the interloper.

It would also serve to energize anti-Americanism in the Islamic
world, as if there's not enough of that.

Assessment...

What's being done to the reform movement by the Iranian hard-liners
is not in accord with the principles of Islam. I would think that true Muslims would be offended by the use of Islam to justify the excesses of the backlash against the reformists - violence, and suppression of
voices that question authority.

Who influences Khamenei?

What is the Assembly of Experts doing at this time?

I seem to recall a tweet saying that a major figure had
been arrested...who was that? Was the report correct?

The Assembly of Experts are on the verge of having a meeting (I think),
but I have nothing discussing details or any outcome.

Here's the Wikipedia entry for the election.

Reactions of major figures in Iranian politics.

I'd like to hear the latest from Rafsanjani, or
a spokesperson for him.

Let's look at some more tweets...

Damn!

A Tweet: I so did not want to wake up to this...fr Iran: "Helicopters pouring acid on people from the sky" -

Embassy addresses are being tweeted, expectedly as places of
refuge from the violence for high-profile figures. Hmmm...
Possible stable information nodes as well.
Has the Iranian government cut off the embassies from
the outside world?

It looks as if Gaia needs to prepare for another Iranian
Diaspora.

A RT: Embassy of Switzerland 13 Yasaman Street Sharifi Manesh Avenue Elahieh 1964963751 #Teheran TEL: (021) 2200.8333

A Tweet: Portugese Embassy No.30, Nezami St., Abbas Pour St., Valy-e-Asr

A Tweet: RT! Belgian Embassy No.3,Babak Alley, Shabdiz St.,Shahid Fayyaz Bakhsh Ave. TAKING WOUNDED

A report from the Los Angeles Times.

I didn't finish this article (I'll get back to it sometime today)
BUT IT'S AMAZING!

Here's a short video from the BBC.
This is the largest crowd I've seen in today's
samplings.

A Tweet giving embassies involved in care of the wounded:
Embassies-injured care: Australia, Finland, Germany, UK, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Italy, Slovenia, Portugal

A letter to "Iranian friends."

Andrew Sullivan's blog.

A tweet is warning protesters to take the wounded to embassies
instead of hospitals: Hospitals have Besiji, go to embassies instead, if Besiji attacked them it would be an act of war.

How far are the protesters from the administrative centers
of Tehran?

Here's the president's offical web page.

Here's the address of his office, with his phone number.

Here's the information, in case he orders the site
taken down.

Presidency Office : Pasteur Ave - Tehran-Iran

Zip code: 13168-43311

Postal Box : 1423-13185

Telephon Center Of Presidency : +98-21-64451

Please click Here to visit links of governmental sites

The official site of Islamic Republic of Iran's government spokesman

http://www.spk-gov.ir

Hmmm...Basij Headquarters was on fire a few days ago...surrounded too...

A Tweet: RT Iran: Reports: People Pushed Back Millitas at Gisha St.

Hmmm...

How computerized is the country?
How computerized is the city of Tehran?
A critical mass might be able to shut down the government,
if that's the goal.

From what I see, if they have the will, a stoppage is
inevitable. It would come at a very high cost, however.

Many are shouting, "Death to the dictator!" according to
multiple tweets.

I need to hear from some more intellectuals.

7:37 PM GMT
11:07 PM IST

Here's the latest from Al-Jazeera.

A Tweet: Canadian Embassy is NOT accepting injured protesters!!

A Tweet: RT Australian Embassy accepting injured No. 13, 23rd Street, Khalid Islambuli Ave -Telephone+98 21 88724456

(Did I put that address up before?)

Here's a map to embassies in Tehran, linked to a tweet.

Here's a comment on the shooting of a girl in
WordPress.

Canadians are being requested to encourage that their
embassy be opened up to assist the wounded in this
tweet: URGENT CALL TO ALL CANADIANS call Foreign Office to plea for opening of Embassy 1-800-267-8376 CONFIRMED

A plea to the Iranian Army in this tweet: Iranian Army, see how the govt is killing and beating ur brothers and sisters. Pls do something, ur duty is 2 protect the ppl

This tweet claims that Mousavi is prepared for martyrdom:
RT from Iran Mousavi: I am prepared For martyrdom, go on strike if I am arrested

A statement from my alter-ego.

Here's a video of protesters throwing objects.

As on the Steve Irwin, funnel launchers would be useful
in this situation, particularly for clearing the area
of tear gas canisters (if they aren't designed to
explode on contact).

A tweet on the effects of tear gas: The tear gas that has been used is a particular one - my friend said she feels her lungs are hurt.

Is the Italian embassy accepting wounded?
This tweet claims they're not: RT URGENT Take Italian embassy off the map! On the ground confirmation..they are NOT accepting wounded!

If this is the case, we need for Italians to get
their embassy opened up.

I don't see Tehran's in the list.

Here it is!

Embassy of Italy in Tehran

81, Neauphle Le Chateau Ave
Tehran - Iran

Tel +98 21 66726955/6/7
Fax +98 21 66726961

Here's a list of embassies and consulates in Tehran.
Everybody - call the one representing your country,
and MAKE SURE THEY'RE ACCEPTING THE WOUNDED.

A tweet: White House press told to gather at 3:10PM. Will Obama make on-camera statement

Was that Eastern Time?
I've got 12:08 PM PST.

I'm going to the TV to see what's on the MOP.

9:17 PM GMT
6/21/09 12:47 AM IST

Back to Twitter...

There is more evidence of acid being dropped from
helicopters.

A Tweet: RT Call from Iran reports severe skin burns due to the unknown liquid dropped from helicopters

Chemical weapons were used in the Iran-Iraq War, so this
isn't altogether surprising. It's more psychological
warfare than anything else.

Here's a report of a journalist and activist being
arrested.
Tweet: RT from Iran: Zhila Bani Yaghoob (Journalist, women's right activist) arrested.

A Tweet: RT British embassy is now accepting injured Iranians: 198 Ferdowsi Ave, Tehran

Here's a video I haven't seen before.

It came from a portal located here.

Here's an interesting suggestion from a tweet: Europeans, call your embassies and ask them to ask Doctors Without Borders into the embassies!

I want to make sure I'm straight on the Iranian administrative
apparati.

Now, there's the Guardian Council. They're the ones who decided to recount
10% of the votes.

What's the council Rafsanjani is the Chair of?
The Assembly of Experts.

Whew!

I was worried there for a minute. CNN International mentioned the
recount decision of the Guardian Council, and in a fit of neurosis,
feared that I had mistaken the GC for the AOE, and had misplaced
my interest in hearing from Rafsanjani.

OK.

I'm hearing that Fox is acting like idiots, and trying to goad
the US into doing something they (Fox, that is) do everyday. Stupid.

Well, after watching for a few minutes, I was slightly perturbed,
but not annoyed. John McCain, that great admirer of the Iranian
people - remember, "...No m'am, he's a decent family man..." -
is egging the government on to take a stronger stand on the
side of the protesters, citing election fraud.

He sure didn't do that here in 2000, or 2004, now did he?

Let's get hypothetical.
What if the US did take a more forceful stand against the violence
being waged against the Iranian citizenry?

What effect would that have on:
1)The protests
2)The response of the government
3)Our relationship with Iran
4)Our relationship with the Arab World

1)It would make people on the fence suspicious of the motivations
of those involved in the protests. The country has a long history
of being dominated by outside forces. To antagonize Ahmadinejad
would promote empathy for him from those contemplating involvement.

2)It would make Ahmadinejad look good, regardless of the
outcome. He could easily posture as a leader standing up
to the US in defense of Islamic tradition.

In turn, this would encourage a more vicious response from the security
forces since the protesters would be smeared as "agents of America,"
and they would risk isolation. An aggressive stance on the part of
the US would be highly detrimental to the reform movement, already
under siege by the old guard.

3)Our primary issue with Iran is the nuclear one. The policies of
both major contenders are similar in this regard. If the current
regime wins in an atmosphere of US intervention for the other side,
the problem intensifies. If the protesters win with no intervention,
we haven't lost any ground, and have an opportunity to develop
a more constructive relationship with a reform movement that has
been brewing for over a decade. This would assist us in approaching
the issue of Iran's nuclear capabilities.

4)I think it's extremely dangerous for the US to beat our
chests at an Islamic Republic, (especially) when there is next to nothing
to be gained in so doing. It would fuel anti-American sentiment
at a time when we really don't need any more. I've seen no statement
of any kind from the Arab League on the matter at this time.
If we jump into this, you can be damned sure we will.

Hmmm...Iran isn't even a member of the Arab League. I wonder
why?

This warrants an inquiry...
Hold on.

Hmmm...maybe The Arab League ought to be called,
"The Sunni League."

From some of the titles returned by the search engine,
it appears that Iranians don't consider themselves Arabs
So, what does that say about McCain's remark with regards
to Iran?

Well. There are 2,000,000 Arabs in Iran, but Iran is not an
Arab country.

How peculiar.
There are more Arabs in Brazil than in Iran!

In spite of that oversight on my part (with sincere apologies),
it would still be useful to assess the relationship between
the two entities.

The protesters in New York were demanding that the UN do something.
I was wondering why they weren't prodding the Arab League.

While it appears that the relationship between Iran and the
Arab League is suboptimal, I sense that US intervention in
the internal affairs of Iran would make the League uneasy,
at the very least. Ahmadinejad was congratulated by the
League's Secretary-General, Amr Moussa on the 13th.

Let me put it this way: Do you really want to take the
trouble to find out the response of Arab countries to a
needless and wasteful intervention in Iran that results,
directly or indirectly, in regime change?

Do you?

Now. Where was I?

Is there some kind of body of Islamic countries of a similar
scope to that of the Arab League?

Here's the closest thing I've come up with so far.

Whoa!
Looks like the start of something big, eh?
Makes one want to join, when you see so much international
participation.

Here are their stated goals.

It looks like the current crisis in Iran would fall under their
realm of interest.

Have they issued any statements?
What's their level of influence on member nations?

Too many questions.

I'll do some exploring...
Here's their Wikipedia entry.

Now...this looks like the group to address, the
Organization of the Islamic Conference.
Our last president even established an envoy to the OIC.

Sada Cumber.
Let's hear what he has to say on the situation.
Keep in mind, he was appointed by Caligula, so, take
what he says with a grain of salt.

11:37 PM GMT
3:07 AM IST

I'm feeling kind of tired, but I'm sort of wound up too.

It's time to head back to Twitter.

A Tweet: TELL YOUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS TO NOT PRESSURE OBAMA ! THIS IS WORKING WE NEED TO CHANGE IRAN FROM WITHING

This is my first time looking into Twitter Talk.

Live information is coming in through the stream.
They say they're getting information faster than CNN,
through Tweet Deck(sp?)

They're saying that they get verified sources.

Updates:
The Basij are marking doors for later attacks.
Use oil petrol to remove the marks.

Basij may be camping outside the embassies.

If the merchants and oil workers strike, the government would be
doomed, as asserted by CNN.

Badbingirl has reported that a friend sighted a tank in Azadi square.
There are unconfirmed sightings of tanks there as well.
The host wants a photo for certainty's sake.

No Doctors without Borders are being sent to Iran,
and probably won't be until the violence has passed.

MattReeves17 is the mediator. Following him will allow
users to get updates.

There was an expression of great fear of loss of the Islamic
Republic by hard-liners reported to MattReeves17.

Reports: "People are still out there. I can hear a helicopter
passing by."

Various remedies for chemical injuries were presented, but too fast
to be recorded.

Phone lines to the embassies have been cut.

Except for Kenya's.
Kenya's not accepting wounded protesters.

Acid's still being dumped on protesters.

There's not much in the way of new information, according to
MattReeves17. Mainly re-tweets...

This is where live information comes from verified sources in
Tehran. MattReeves17 is in California.

Some are claiming that it's not acid, only boiling water coming
from the helicopters.

The lines were cut to embassies in Tehran at 5PM, but in another
town, (Bahan?) they were not.

A Masiji is fighting with a protester. He's showing a photo.

A Tweet: Basij raiding homes dragging people, marking homes for later raids. WASH MARKS OFF(gasoline, terpentine)

Live Stream is shutting down.
People are encouraged to follow tweets.

It's a good time to give it a rest.

Throttled,

Ed Ussery ("ArchMind")

Throttle Up

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:47:28 GMT

6/18/09 4:42 AM GMT
7:42 AM Mecca Time
8:12 AM Tehran Time
12:42 PM Beijing Time

I am Gaia.

Watching Anderson Cooper discussing the situation in
Iran got my mind clicking.

It took a while, but in the last half-hour or so,
while watching Animatrix: The Second Renaissance,
I pondered the purpose of CNN maintaining a chat room...

I want to see what CNN's got set up on the Iranian crisis,
and find out who's chatting.

I've also set myself up in Internet Relay Chat (nick: ArchMind),
in the event anyone wants to communicate with me.

On Rachel Maddow, it was mentioned that there's a funeral march,
though I don't know the time.

I was about to go jogging, but then I realized that people are
probably up and about in Tehran.

Let's check out Anderson Cooper's blog...

5:15 AM GMT
8:15 AM Mecca Time
8:45 AM Tehran Time
1:15 PM Beijing Time

I had some connection problems, so I shut down and restarted.
I don't see anything for Anderson Cooper with regards to chatting,
so I'll try Twitter.

Nothing new on Tehran Bureau's Twitter site.

I didn't see any new vids on YouTube either.

In the #Iran channel on IRC, the title bar reads, "Welcome to #IRaN...
Shots fired at huge Iran protest. One man is killed..."

@Megakicker typed to me, "Chak Day Phattay =D
I have no idea what that means.
"How are you," perhaps.
I would guess that it is Persian.
I think I'll try opening up a Twitter account in a few
minutes...

12:47 PM GMT
3:47 PM Mecca Time
4:13 IST (Iran Standard Time)
8:47 PM Beijing Time

...slept at the throttle (for the better, I think).

CNN just reported that the mass mourning has begun,
via the Associated Press.

Nico Pitney's last post was about six or seven
hours ago.

Here's Tehran Bureau's page. I'm headed to
the Twitter site.

Checking YouTube...
Nothing new at the moment, and I've tried several search topics.

Tehran Bureau's Twitter site doesn't have any specifics on the
mourning rally.

The last post was 12 minutes ago.

I'll try the AP.

Their report is at the above link.
There's a warning from the Iranian government to the online media...
Let's check it out.

The wording is rather vague.
People have been warned not to post anything that
"causes any tension" or face legal action.

Hmmm...

I'm going to check out MySpace before heading to Twitter.
Since I actually have a site, I know how it works...
Looks like they deleted my page.

Okay, let's try twitter.

Hmmm...my page is still there - the search found it,
but I can't log in.

Twitter time.

1:17 PM GMT
4:47 PM IST

Well, I'm in, and checking out the tweets.
There's a live webcam site at...nope, it was deleted.

Hmmm...Mousavi has a Facebook page.
Let's take a look (if it's still there).
Voila.

Posts are going up very rapidly.
I'm trying out links, but just learning to swim in
here.

Here's a useful site in LiveJournal for newbies like
myself. It includes instructions for optimal utilization
of Twitter, and has guidelines for protecting users in
Iran.

There's a link to a Cyber War guide for this particular
situation.

Whoa!

I heard reports of fires, but that LJ site is the first
photo I've seen of one.

Here's the guide.

I'll read this first, before taking on a more dynamic
role in the cyberwar.

At the moment, I want to get information on the mourning
rally.

One tweet from 20 seconds ago says that the rally is progressing
quietly.

Here's the #iranelection page from Twitter.

Here's an article someone linked discussing the role of women in the uprising.

One tweet claims that tens of thousands have gathered
at Toopkhoone Square. Google Earth returns nothing.

Here's a slide show of images from the protests.

Someone's reporting that Steve Jobs has died. If that's so,
Wikipedia hasn't been updated yet.

Something on the issue from CNN.

3:15 PM GMT
6:15 PM Mecca Time
6:45 PM IST
11:15 PM Bejiing Time

Hmmmm...

CCTV 9 appears to have some access to Tehran, judging
from the two interviews they just ran.

I've been meaning to get more international channels
set up in my cable system. I might do that today.

Hmmm...

Back to Twitter.
Ah!
Here's some current video, as the claim goes.

Cyberwarriors ought to find this article inspiring.

Here's a professional-looking blog.

It makes me think of Indymedia.
Do they have an Iranian outlet?
Let's find out...

This site's time field makes me uneasy.
By my investigation, Tehran should be 10 1/2 hours ahead
of Los Angeles, but that site tells me that they're
12 1/2 hours ahead...

Pitney's back in action. He's been blogging for about the
last 2 1/2 hours.

Here's Indymedia UK.

It appears as if there is no Indymedia Iran branch, but
it could have been taken down. That note is from over a year ago.
One could have been established, and then taken off-line. I would
think that I'd see something tweeted or blogged somewhere to that
effect, however.

I want to follow the links from Indymedia UK, and see where
some of them lead...

Blogs by Iranians...inaccessible.

Now here's an interesting organization I've never heard of.
It's name is the Campaign Against Sanctions and Military
Intervention in Iran (CASMII)

Here's a claim of torture.

UPI report on the protests of Iranian-Americans in
Washington, D.C. Let's see if I can find some YouTube
video on the subject.

Here's one from two days ago. It's small, but worthy of note.

Where on earth are other large communities of Iranians?
Lemesee...

Here's an earlier protest in D.C. It was
substantially larger.

Hmmm...Iranian communities...
An eye catching site of Iranian-American professionals,
with links to similar communities in other countries.

That's probably too specific.
I just want to find places with large Iranian populations.

This might do the trick...

A map of the distribution of the speakers of Persian languages.

Let's peek at this distribution table.

A global distribution map would be helpful.

I'm getting warmer.

TA DA!!!

Not exactly what I'm looking for, but good enough.

All right...the United Arab Emirates has the largest
population of Iranians outside of Iran. What kind of
activity do we see there?

Well, looks like it's time to visit Dubai.

Searching for YouTube videos of protests in Dubai
and other parts of the UAE.

Here's a short video of a protest against the election
results in Dubai back on the 14th.

This one's of a protest in Dubai on the 15th or 16th.

HOW SILLY OF ME!

Why don't I try Al-Jazeera?
Duh!

Hmmm...an interview with the daughter of Nelson and Winnie
Mandela, Zindzi Mandela.

I'll have to come back to that...

Here's a posting about today's protest.

Interesting.
This is an article from Mark Levine, a UCI professor who
teaches Middle Eastern History. I've noticed a lot of
the learned from UCI in the media of late.

Time to head back to Twitter...

Here's a new video, just posted.

New photo.

Another new photo.

One tweet is urging concerned Gaians to set up Tor relays.

This link leads to a page with more suggestions on how
to assist the free flow of information.
They'll assist cyberwarriors within Iraq to engage in covert
operations.

5:18 PM GMT
8:48 PM Tehran Time

Time for a break.

An article in The Huffington Post about
Daniel Choi.

Here's video from a cell phone. The site claims to have
live streaming, but what I see is recorded material.

11:37 PM GMT
6/19/09 2:37 AM Mecca Time
3:07 AM Tehran Time
7:37 AM Beijing Time

Considering the nature of the events in Tehran, and the
fact that I have to deal with meatspace, I find this a good
time to close up for the time being.

***

Local News

One last thing (or two)...

On June 9, the teachers of Santa Ana Unified School District
protested budget cuts outside the District office in Santa Ana, CA.

I spoke with Scott Miller, Treasurer of Santa Ana Educators and
the organizing chair of the event.

His assertions:
Santa Ana Unified School District has money from the president's
stimulus package.
The teachers want to know how it is being used.
There are 400 layoffs of teachers in the district, and the
Santa Ana Educators want them re-hired.

Scott Miller at SAUSD Headquarters.

The student-teacher ratio is 20:1, but will be increasing
to 30:1 as a result of the layoffs. Curriculum specialists
are being sent back to the classrooms, a move that will
lower the overall quality of instruction, since the specialists
performed the function of oversight, which will be severely
compromised if not eliminated altogether by the personnel
shift.

A family makes its voice heard.

As part of the impending cutbacks, the arts and music classes are being removed from the schools.

Miller cited an example of an art teacher with 26 years of
experience who is being laid-off. There was a meeting with
the school board that evening. Stay tuned.

***

In the Air, On the Air...

I was scanning radio stations the other day, and
found that KPFK has a show covering issues of American
Indians. I didn't hear the name, though.

It made me wonder about a number of things.
Leonard Peltier.

Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee, a highly compelling book that should be owned.

Roden Crater. As I've contemplated the work, the most obvious interpretation
I perceive from the images of the work, is the need to look to the
peoples who were trampled over by the Western advance that took place
in recent centuries for ideas on how to shape the future.

It's no secret to any of us that the American Indian got the
worst of it. They've made something like cameo appearances in the
media of the West over the generations, particularly the North
American media.

Roden Crater quietly shouts at us, and passively demands that our
attention shift to, and that we open up more than ever, to the
people who lived here before the arrival of the European.

I find it interesting that the last segment of Art of the Western World began in the American Southwest with a clip of a nuclear
test, and ended in the same place, with Michael Wood's soliloquy
about the oneness of man, nature, and the cosmos having been
expressed by ancient observatories in numerous cultures.

Modernity was leading the species down a path of self-destruction.
As the death of the culture loomed, James Turrell's work seems to call out to Westerners (and to homo sapiens in
general) for an "about face."

Thinking about the unrest in Iran underscores this interpretation.
How many countries whose people were disrupted by colonialism have
we seen struggle to meet the needs of their respective peoples in
the decades after independence was won?

How many tragedies have played themselves out in the non-industrialized
world, garnering temporary attention from the populations of the technologically proficient and prosperous West? How many conversa-
tions among and between intellectuals, students, activists,
everyday people and politicians have resulted in the implementation of successful
remedies?

As anyone who has paid close attention to the non-industrialized
peoples of our planet knows, the manifold problems such situations
have presented have burned out legions of idealists.

Another dictator.
Horribly under-served citizens.
Human rights violations.
Historic instability and deprivation.
Unchecked violence.
Widespread condemnation in the global community.
Refugees.
Demands for corrective action.
Stop-gap approaches masquerading as solutions.
Loss of interest.
Dissipation of hope for substantive change in our lifetime.
Back to the ballgame.

How many times and places in recent memory can we lay
this template on to a situation that we've been introduced
to on the news?

Too many times.

Hmmm...is there any such thing as, "anthropic entropy?"

(I'm supposed to be closing up here...sigh...)

As the advent of the Third Millennium continues, I find it very
possible to break the pattern we've witnessed (and experienced)
described above.

No, everything isn't worked out.
No one of us has all the answers.
No group, religion, or political entity can lay claim to them either.
Were that the case, one would think that they would have been
implemented by now...

There is a light, but the exact way is yet to be found.
That task is for us to hoist upon our shoulders.

As I've asserted in the past, we face daunting problems on
a global scale.

But - never before have we been able to coordinate so many
minds in such an incredible fashion.

The quantum leap.
The awakening.
The dawn.
The new beginning.
The New Age.
The Singularity.
The intellectual revolution.
The new Renaissance.
The Global Enlightenment.
The birth of true planetary consciousness.
The Age of Aquarius.
The Millennium.

Call it what you will, but don't make the mistake of trying
to set limits on what it is capable of accomplishing.

Here comes everybody.
A WIRED article last summer asserted that "everything
you know is obsolete."

We are remaking the world, fellow Gaians.
We are breaking out of the old, tired ways that have failed
so many times in human history.
We are dismantling the maladaptive ways of seeing and being
that have dominated us for so long.
Seeing things we never thought we would.
Being people none imagined could ever exist.
Assembling the paradigms of a new, enlightened culture that is already
very rapidly introducing dynamic and exciting strategies for addressing
ancient themes within human experience.
Approaches we can all participate in, analyze the results of, and optimize.

We are one.

We-as-one wins!

Now...where was I? LOL

What a time to be alive.
What a time to be alive...

Allah Akbar!

Gaian Iranians, show us your future.
Show us your solutions.

...sigh...

Good time to meditate, I think.

Transhumanely,

Ed Ussery ("ArchMind")

P.S. By the way, Muhammad, how did you like the Stanley
Cup Final?

You probably think hockey is for wimps, don't you?

By the way, what's the meaning of life?

A little '70s nostalgia...

Very profound, Laila.
Very profound.

Let's take a look at the progeny.

Hey!

She's undefeated!
Indeed, an improvement on the original.
Nice color scheme for the website, Laila...

7:52 PM PST
Gotta rest up for tomorrow.

Showing the Way

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:51:02 GMT

6/17/09 6:01 PM GMT
9:01 PM Mecca Time
2:01 AM Beijing Time

Watching Rachel Maddow's coverage of the "Twitter
Revolution" in Iran has me wondering about the times
I state in my posts.

Is Tehran on Mecca Time?
I hope not, because it would mean that all my
Mecca Time declarations are wrong.

Let's check some geography.
I think Mecca's three hours ahead of Greenwich.
Hmmm...my little hand-held time zone map I cut
out of my Franklin Planner says that Tehran is
4 hours ahead of Greenwich.

I think Al-Jazeera's clock says that Mecca is 3
hours ahead of GMT.

My hand-held time zone map says that Tehran is
1 hour ahead of Riyadh, but I don't see Mecca on
the map.

Sooooo...I need to check my time zones.

Here goes....

GMT is 7 ahead of PST. I already know that, since
we're on Daylight Savings Time.

Let's take a peek at al-Jazeera.
OK!
Al-Jazeera English confirms my prior observation that Mecca is
3 hours ahead of Greenwich.

Now, where's Tehran in the schema of world time zones?
It seemed to me like Tehran was one hour behind Mecca
last night.

Let's check the Wikipedia entry for Tehran.

They're on GMT+3:30, so I suspect that what I heard
on Rachel last night was not live.
Interesting. Tehran uses Daylight Savings Time.

The reporter said that it was 2:00 AM in Tehran when
I think it should have been 3:00 AM in Mecca.
Unless I heard wrongly, or the reporter was incorrect
about the time, or the transmission wasn't live,
or the clock at my house was wrong...

Oh well.
Let's get to the important information.

(Gotta check CCTV9 for Beijing Time first!)
No time is stated on CCTV.
Let's check Wikipedia - I think Beijing's 8 hours ahead of GMT.

Okey Dokey. My times are correct.
So, it's now 9:49 AM IST (Tehran Time)

I saw a little on CNN a few moments ago.
Things ought to be heating up.

I agree with the "hands off" approach.
We don't want anyone suspecting, OR EVEN DREAMING
that we are manipulating the outcome.
I think John McCain's statement was precipitous at best,
stupid at worst.

Somebody was speaking on CNN this morning, and an
Oxford University symbol appeared to the left of him. I didn't
see enough of him to be able to tell who it was.

Interestinglyh enough, when my late father was stationed
in the UK back in the late 1960s, we lived in a town named
Yateley, just south of Oxford.

My mother mentioned that our address was 21 Churchill Crescent.
I'm going through our old home movies, and experimenting with
transferring them to digital video. We have a good amount of
footage from when my family lived in Europe.

I was looking at one reel the other day, and my mother was
conveying her recollections.

My father played on a football team called the Laon Rangers,
while stationed in France. My older brother was born there. There was some dispute as to whether he was
born in Laon or Chateauroux for a while...

We have footage of one of the Ranger's games, and some
very nice views of the Seine from the Eiffel Tower.
Funny.
They appear very similar to my snapshots of the same
views from when I visited.

I've drifted off topic...

***

AND...

I'm going to take a peek at CNN for an update on
Iran before I start surfing.

Rick Sanchez is about to stage a discussion between

two Iranian students who support the opposing
candidates.

I'd like to get a good look at Iran before I dive in.
What an amateurish looking map.
C'mon folks, my tax dollars are paying for that?!
The cartographer must be underpaid, or something.

Let's try Wikipedia...
Well!!

Somebody's cartographer gets paid even less!

Hmmm...let's try Google...
A little better, but...

Eureka!

Hey, this is a cool page.
Good information.
I've got an old Goode's World Atlas I bought back in
college. It's probably more detailed.

Hmmm...I can't find it. I think it's still
in the garage.

What does Goode's have on-line?
Nothing too detailed at first glance.
Aaah!
I get it.
Why ruin the market for atlases by putting
excellent maps on-line?

Let's see what I can find...
Hmmm...

Alright.
I'm going to have to sign up for a Twitter account,
and try to hook up with some activists.
I surfed YouTube last night, but didn't get too
much other than crowds confronting police.
There's plenty of that to see.

Before I hit Twitter, I'll take one more look at
YouTube, to see if anything's posted since last night...

Here's the latest BBC report.

This one's from a day earlier, also from the BBC.

The most recent BBC update has audio problems.

Time for a look at Nico Pitney. He's probably back
in action after his short sabbatical.

Rachel's most recent update.

More Rachel on the Iran crisis.
Oh. That was Nico's intro.

Time to read the blog...

I've watched a few vids.
It looks like things are settling down.
What are the goals of the protesters?
Is the activity coordinated, and if so,
on what scale?

I have only questions.
I'm pretty wet behind the ears at this point.
I'm going to read Pitney's posts, and then sign-up for twitter.

I sense that the precise motivations are so removed from my knowledge
and experience that I am hesitant to make any proclamations.
I think that getting information flowing and attempting to
interpret what's available is the best role I can assume at
this point.

I re-iterate my previous stand:
WE SHOULD STAY OUT.

9:19 PM GMT
6/18/09 12:19 AM Mecca Time
12:49 AM Tehran Time
5:19 AM Beijing Time

Just finished lunch...

Hmmm...here's the first request for intervention
I've seen. It's from a group called, Iranian Artists
in Exile.

This came in just about 2 hours ago. It details protests
at the Iran - South Korea World Cup Qualifier match.
The Iranian soccer team wore green armbands in solidarity
with the protesters, that action was reported both in the
above video here and in Pitney's blog.

I feel like the people will be able to take it if
they want it badly enough. I read one report claiming
that soldiers are refusing orders. I cannot verify
anything from here.

I can watch videos all night, and read until my eyes
fall out, but the outcome of this unrest is neither
in my hands nor subject to my approval.

I think that if the Iranian citizenry wants to shut
down the government, it will.

Subsequent events will depend on how the
military leans, and its degree of cohesion.

I fear another Tiananmen Square, as I'm sure many people
do.

Is there anything current from the United Nations?

I see nothing pertaining to the situation.

What about the Arab League?

I see nothing.

Hmmm...10 days until the official word on the
legitimacy of the results is verified, I think somebody
said.

As I ponder what to do next, I think I will try to focus
on activity in Tehran, responses of security forces, and
the degree of coordination among the protesters.

A map of Tehran would be useful.
I wonder what Google Earth will show.

The suspicions seem well-founded. A country of 65,000,000
people will not likely respond to any aggressive
intervention from the outside in a desirable way.

Who can afford to, anyway?

The population of Tehran is almost 8,000,000.

If the government manages to shut down or control all
telecommunications, it will only be a matter of time
before they suppress the unrest.

I'd like to hear some leading Iranian intellectuals, but
I don't know any names.

It will be useful to hear the students who spoke on
Rick Sanchez' show.

Let's Google, "Iranian intellectual," shall we?
Hmmm...This looks like a good place to
start.

I feel behind the curve, Gaia.
I apologize.

For me, the critical question is, "What do the people
of Iran want, and how do I determine this?"

Whom you believe on Twitter is whom you believe.
The pictures are harder to question.
Clearly there is major opposition to the results,
however, it is somewhat difficult to determine
exactly what they're protesting - are there counter-demonstrators,
what is their relative proportion?

How can Americans justify indignation after our
2000 and 2004 elections?

(This issue also comes up with regards to the two
American journalists who were sentenced to 12 years
of hard labor in North Korea. Certainly tragic, but
how can the US Government be any kind of moral voice
on the matter?)

I must speculate briefly:

Are we seeing a general breakdown of the efficacy
of the concept of GOVERNMENT worldwide?

I know people who have been claiming that government
as we know it is already obsolete.

How big is Iran's military?
Before we get to that, I'm sifting through summaries of
Iranian intellectual circles.

Here's one labeled, "reformist".

Hmmmm...while correcting the incomplete link to my
first use of the word, "Iran" I stumbled on to some
fantastic maps...but, since we're past that, I'll
head back to reviewing the intellectuals.

What camp does Mousavi come from?
I'm just getting to know him. He looks like a very
interesting character.

This one is getting really sticky...
Really sticky...

Pseudo-modernism indeed.

Here's Mousavi's designated school of thought.

I'm going to head back to Pitney's blog for a moment.

At 3:33 PM PST, there hasn't been an update in almost two
hours.
The last statement I see claims that Iran's out of South Africa 2010.

All I see on the World Cup site is that Iran isn't guaranteed a spot
since they tied The Republic of Korea, 1-1. I see no assertion that
they've been eliminated.

Let's check out the qualifying teams, shall we?

Korea DPR made it in today.
I still get them confused. That's South Korea, isn't it?
I hope...
Nope. Korea DPR is North Korea.
Sorry, Kim!

So, Korea DPR qualified without a loss.

Okay, okay, getting off-topic here.
Back to Iran...

Let's look up Professor Farideh Farhi. She says he is certain
that the election results were pulled "out of their hats."

As I scan through the Wikipedia entry for "Iranian Intellectual Movements,"
The feeling that we should tread very lightly gets reinforced.

Here's an interesting article linked to Pitney's
blog, posted by Robert Dreyfuss of The Nation.

Gotta read that one.
One minute.

Hmmm...there's an article that gives names of information
nodes in the Twitter Revolution.

Let's look at the blogger whose moniker is, "Tehran Bureau"

Verifying truth from reading text seems like
The Impossible Dream

The Balkanization of Reality, indeed...

For what it's worth, I suspect that the death toll is
underestimated (Who doesn't).

I'm going to try Google Earth, to see if I can find
some crowds.

The Iranian military.

Okay. Google Earth time.
I haven't looked at it in months.

I don't know any street names to enter, or the address of the
administrative buildings.
Those ought to be easy to find out, though.
Perhaps TehranBureau's Twittering will yield some
names, like universities and such.

Hmmm...this starting to get addicting.

School names...
Isfahan Sanaati University.
Two students were reported killed there.
Putting it into the Google Earth search.

It appears to be south of Tehran. No sign
of crowds. The label reads, "Shahinshahr," and it
looks like a residential area. I can't say I found the
location.

I'll try another.
Tehran University - students were being held there,
and 80 were freed in front of the dormitory yesterday,
as reported to TehranBureau.

I see nothing suggesting large crowds. The image deteriorates
at an elevation of about 4200 feet. I can make out cars, though.

I'll try Chahar Rah Park.
No result.

Tir Square - nothing comes up. Not even a "can't find" message.

Here's TehranBureau's web page.

I suspect that the street names are in Arabic (really!), and
probably not entered into Google Earth's Data base.

I'll keep trying.

Here's one from the website: Islamic Revolution Street.
Google Earth sent me to "Babi Sandz St., Tehran."
That's what's labeled, anyway. There's a wide street at
the bottom of the field of view, with no sign of any
large crowds.

Trying "Freedom Square."
I was taken to, Azade Meydani/Freedom Square.
I can make out cars, but not people.

Ooohhh...
Now I see why there were silent protests.
Here's a paragraph directly from Tehran Bureau's
website:

Silence was also a shield. A provision in Iran's constitution states that marches and gatherings may be held as long as they do not disturb "Islamic principles." Supporters interpreted this as permission to protest without slogans, without chants. Even the handful of motorbikes which overtook the marchers kept engine noise down to a minimum.

I haven't learned to read any Arabic yet, so
I'm out of the running there.

I think I've got enough to ponder for the time
being. Keith's on in 15 minutes.

I'm going to take a break before he comes on.

But first, a random pearl of Buddhist Wisdom.
I generated a random number from my HP-15C between
1 and 1001 to select a pearl to include in my blog.
The first one that came up was #55.

Ready...
Impersonality "Mere suffering exists, no sufferer is
found; the deeds are, but no doer of the deeds is there;
nirvana is, but not the man that enters it; the path is,
but no traveller on the path is seen."

- The Buddha (The Visuddhimagga)

Nosey,

Ed Ussery("ArchMind")

Heeeeeeeeeeeereeeeeeeeeeee's Bill!!

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:32:54 GMT

6/17/09 4:44 PM GMT
7:44 PM Mecca Time
6/18/09 12:44 AM Beijing Time

I got kind of drained from my last post, and spent a
good amount of time reviewing the situation in Iran
last night, so...here I am, finally posting.

There's too much going on right now.
Starting to write is the most difficult part for me.
I feel like I'm plunging back into blogging more than
I am ready to...

Timely Commentary.

Recall that I asserted a few months ago that the culture
was becoming "Dilbertized."

Here's Maher's follow-up with Keith Olbermann.

Rachel Maddow was calling the presidential election
a, "landslide," even though it didn't fit the strictest
of definitions...

Why can an idiot like George Bush push through a war that
was unpopular even before it started, and the dems struggle
to represent the clear interests of We the People?

Why do we need the republicans on board, when the democrats
have substantial majorities in both houses?

Debbie Stabenow said something to Stephanie Miller on
Monday about standing up to lobbyists...

CongressWatch

No, I haven't forgotten about the Senate.
As I suspected, not much appears to have happened lately.
I'm sure these folks have been rather busy...
Wow. Take a peek at H.R. 2847

I have to admit, it is a wonder that anything gets passed, with the massive
content of some of these bills.

Something tells me I should end the post at this point,
and start a new one.

Yeah.
I think I'll do that.

Easy Riding,

Ed Ussery("ArchMind")

Back to Motor City!

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:02:52 GMT

6/12/09 11:56 PM GMT
6/13/09 2:56 AM Mecca Time
7:56 AM Beijing Time

GO WINGS!

But first...some Ellen DeGeneres.
David Cook is her musical host, and he's throwing...
no, he just threw a ball or something at a knob that
threw a latch that dunked some mayor...Dr. Drew Pinsky?
Was that who it was?

Hmmm...
I didn't see the throw...Cook actually missed, but hit
the knob with his hand to dunk whoever that was.

Target commercial.

Indiana Jones?
Legoland California.
I ought to check it out sometime...I love legos...with an
aquarium next door.

I guess I ought to have some kids so I can go without
feeling embarassed...or maybe, I could date somebody
with kids and take them.

I gotta see, UP.

Here cones Game 7.
Nice shot of Detroit.
Sidney Crosby, captain of the Penguins.
Marian Hossa, ex-Penguin.

Good human interest angle.

Sorry, Pittsburgh.
You aren't going to cut down the Wings at the Joe.
No way.

I'm getting too into this blogging.
I'm not set up properly yet.

What's the announcer's name again?

Pierre McGuire giving insight into coaches' last words.
No, you don't, Pierre.

Mike Milbury giving insight into coaches' last words.
Good thought about the depressed auto industry.
The '97

Eddie Olcyzk - "...this is an opportunity of a lifetime..
I'm going to zero in on the goaltenders..."

The Penguin goalie was extremely impressive in Game 6.
I may miss a lot of typing.
I tend to get up and shout when I watch hockey.
It's hard to sit back and watch hockey.

GO WINGS!!!

Conan has Jamie Foxx on tonight...
America's Got Talent..

The Tuscan Chicken Melt sounds good...but it's hard to
wean me off my belvoed Spicy Italian.

H1N1 commercial...HSPH...CBC...Mexico tourism spot.

Lowe's...I don't go there much.
I do need some paint...free samples! Sounds good

RVs at vacation station RV...I gotta get a car first.
I'd like a boat or two...one to dive with, another to race
and/or fish with. There was this really interesting outdoor
store in Charlotte I used to check out in this massive
mall, north of the city.

It's hard to sit down and watch hockey.
I already feel like getting up and faking skating as
I watch the players warming up.

It's a fascinating mix of brawn and grace.
I get revved up seeing a player skating backwards while
controlling a puck.

"Let's go Federov...Constantinov...Koslov...Arianov...."
Who was the fifth of the "Russian Five"?

There are so many possibilities I can explore while blogging
Red Wings' games. I'll shine this one up after school lets out.

I have a number of major media event blogs to complete.
I anticipate I'll get to them this summer.

I have a lot of things to shore up before I "head out."
I'm not sure how much longer I'll be here...I'm chomping
at the bit to get back out on my own, in a career track.
It's really time to roll.

My father used to watch Gordie Howe when my parents lived
in Mount Clemens - the first place they lived when they
got married.

He was based at Selfridge AFB.

Games on.
Behind Wing goal.
Icing call...nope. Wings attacking....

THIS IS TOO FAST!!!

SHOT!
Wings want an early goal...
Pitt clears.
Wingsfire it up.

WHAT A CHECK!!!

OH MY GOD!!!

This is gonna be AWESOME!!!
Offside Pitt.

Dan Bylsma - head coach of Pitt
Mike Babcock - Wings head coach
Face off.
Pitt...behind Wings goal
across Wings goal
Holmes bringing it up...CHECK!!!
On Pitt's end
17:38 to go.

Pitt attacking.
Back to Pitt's end.
Pitt fires up
Osgood puts it back into play...
Wings cotrolling.
Fires up on PItt's end...hitting walls...
28 passes 11...Eaton...Garren...shot off a leg
Eaton clears.
Wings controlling.
Whistle....Pierre McGuire...Allstate behind Pitt's bench...
Face off...what was the call.
Shot...Wings.
Pott attacking
Max Talbot
Jammed up on Wings' end.
Mess 51 gets it.
Wings attacking.
Pitt controlling..puck behind Wings goal.
Pitt...Garrett shot blocked by Osgood...WEings attacking
CHECKPitt fires up...behind Wings' goal.
Icing Detroit.

Evegeni Malkin..subbed out?
Wings wing the face off.
Wings attacking again...controlling...Pitt's end again.
13:50
Pitt holding the puck behind their goal.
Eaton shot blocked
Kennedy?
Wings attacking..shot...offside called.

Detroit looks a lot more confident at this point.
Gotta take it at home...I suspect that they wanted
to win it here.

Mazda 3...zoom zoom...
Miller Lite...triple hops brewed.
Pizza Hut...I'm about to shut down a lot of foods that
send me off my regime.

Home Depot...gee, who would want to shop there?
I could use a good circular saw.
Mary J. Blige on tonight, but I didn't catch the show.

Muhammad Ali is at the game...he got a standing ovation.
Wow.
I wonder how he's doing... I know he has Parkinson's Disease.
Back to the action.

I think the Wings will score first.
No icing call.
Wings attacking ...too fast...Pitt defends...Pitt attacking...Pitt controlling, then attacking.

NICE SHOT!

Stacked up near Pitt's goal.

Wow.
Kennedy tokk a shot..Pitt almost scored.
Osgood fell on it.

Long ...Pitt controlling near their goal...Osgood...Adams
DuQui(sp?)
Draper lobs it in.
Pitt controlling at their goal...bringing it up.
Offside.

Today is a new day..GE technology will develop 1/4 of the
world's electricity.

Neil Holcomb, an ex-cube-mate and fellow Star Trek fan,
used to work for GE. He was in aircraft engines.

Transformers 2 commercial.
Michael Bey (Bay?) directed.

Mike Babcock on the back check...we've got to shoot the puck more.

9:16
Fleury blocks a long shot.
Look at all those banners!

WHAT A CHECK!!

Slashing called on Brad Stewart...broke a Penguin stick.

Power play Pitt.
Oooooooooooo!!!!

Pitt almost scored.

This has me too nervous.
Malken's shot wide and blocked...
Pitt working for the shot.
Shot deflected across Lidstrom.
35 seconds...finaally cleared.17 16 15 14 13 12..9
Pitt working it.

PENALTY KILLED!!

Gotta check the roster again...I'll do it at the first
intermission.
6:08

You will NOT beat Detroit at the Joe.
You will NOT beat Detroit at the Joe.
You will NOT beat Detroit at the Joe.
You will NOT beat Detroit at the Joe.
You will NOT beat Detroit at the Joe!!!

This is really intense.
Pitt wrking for a shot.
Wings need to settle down.
Pitt controlling...Wings...Pitt
Shot by Sederberg
Wings at our blue line.
Whistle.
Puck out of the rink.

Dodge Ram.
Olive Garden.
There are a lot of those in Metro Detroit.
We used to go there a lot when I was at Ford.
Our group that did product development of the
E4OD transmission, frequented a local restaurant.
I liked their fried mozzarella.

Crosby #87. Sidney Crosby...they've got a camera on him
which can be accessed at the web site...great idea.
3:50...Pitt dominating.
Wings...Osgood catches a Kennedy shot.

Belle Tire...I used to skate on Bell Isle.

Reebok
Tom Horton's

ALMOST SCORED!!!
wINGS ATTACKING...shot blocked....going back and forth..
Fleury snags a shot.
Face off...AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!
We almost scored...
I'm afraid I'll knock my laptop over.
Maltby checking...
1:28
Wings controlling... attacking...missed the shot.
Malken flips one out...centeredf in front of the Wings' goal.
Pitt nearly scored.
Wings attacking... shot missed as the first period ends.

Whew!!

I can see why Ali would take an interest in the game.
Very similar to boxing in some respects...LOL

KFC..
I want to check out the rosters.
Wings.
Penguins.

I gotta stand up for a minute...

1st intermission review...
Derek Pang and Milbury

This is the 15th Game 7 in Stanley Cup history.

I didn't realize this was a rematch.

Well, I can't follow everything...

Carrows restaurant...I'm about to start curtailing my meat
intake, but I doubt that I'll ever go completely meatless...

GE again.

Fetisov was the one of the Russian Five
I always have a hard time remembering.

Nick Lidstrom...Sweedish

Any Gordie Howe videos on YouTube?
Lemesee...
Quite a few.

Sports drink commercial..Gatorade?
Yep.

I need to get back out on the golf course.
I played quite a lot in Michigan.
Gorgeous courses...the nicest I've ever played on.

My dad was a golf fanatic.
I used to carry his bags.
He got me my own set when I was about 17.
I never beat him.
Never came close.

"Who's your daddy?"

Hmmmm...the stats say...
The commentators seemed to think that Pitt had a slight
edge.
Detroit started off very strong, but the Penguins picked
up and compensated late in the period.

Reebok commercial.
GE again...Oh they generate 1/4 of the world's electricity
TODAY...not someday.
Golden Gate Bridge.
Netflix commercial.
I'm waiting for a DVD...I sent back Au Revoir Les Enfants
over a week ago, and the next DVD hasn't arrived.

Au Revoir Les Enfants was a great film.

Face off...GO WINGS!!!

Pitt attacking, Wings try, but Pitt takes the puck...
Pitt scored.
Ouch!!
I only saw the puck bounce out.
Sloppy play.
Ok Detroit, let's do it!
Penalty coming up?
On who?
Stahl...was that slashing?
A Wing got called too.
Should've been icing on the Pitt goal, eh?
Hmmm...
4 on 4.
Shot deflected.
Wings shot deflected again.
Pitt attacking
Shot caught by Osgood.
Face off
Pitt controlling on their own end...
Scaderi
Pitt attacks...shot blocked high.
Face off...Pitt attacking
Checked
Wings attacking...Wings controlling...attacking...defending
attacking

SHOT BLOCKED!!

Penguins nearly scored, but that was one hell of a check!
Goal knocked out.
Face-off coming
Crosby shot blocked by Osgood.
Crosby injured...nice check...
14:09
Go Wings!!!
We're not getting off good shots.
Penalty on the Penguins...YEAH!!!

Transformers commercial...
Oh-oh...F-16s...I may have to see that.
I need to get out and party some...Bud Light.
Chrysler commercial...the cars are so bulky-looking
now...I like aerodynamic styling...I hated giving up
my Probe...the lines were soooooo beautiful!!!
Maybe I'll get a Tesla.

Wings in the power play...c'mon...Osgood traps a shot.

What's playing at Beyond Baroque these days?

Offside Wings...Samuelson...somebody's playing Hava Nagila
Hava, neramenah, veh nishamkah!

Wings...cleared by Pitt
54 seconds...
Get the box set up...they're doing poorly in this one.
Shot wide
6, 4, 3,2,1
Lidstrom shot missed.
11:27 to go.
Wings...Fleury picks one off.

McGuire
Face off.
Get one goal, Detroit.
One goal.

DAMN!

2-0 Penguins.
Perfect shot, right in the upper right-hand corner.
Pitt controlling behind their net.
We had a nice run for a few minutes there.
8:36
Offside?
Hmmm...I didn't see it, but I'm nobody's hockey expert.

Ford commercial
The Ford Difference. Is that a model.
I need to check out the product line.
"I'm a PC, and an artist..."
I can relate.

That was one hell of a check that took Crosby out
of the game...

Wings, Wings, Wings...
Icing Penguins.
Face off
Wings attacking...Pitt attacking...Osgood traps a shot.
Face off...Wings controlling...attacking
Shot missed.
Whistle...puck out of play.
McGuire - spotlight on Brad Stuart

Shot by Pitt missed.
Offside Wings
Who's Kevin Neilen?
C'mon Wings.
Face off
The pace is too fast, but this is fun.
Offside Wings.
Hmmm...
17-12 in shots, Pittsburgh leading.

Progressive Insurance.
Fake psychic.
Tacos, man, tacos.
Who's that?
Oh yeah, Shaquile O'Neal

"Hello, it's me..."
Tums

Chris LeTang - "...too quick..."
Verizon Wireless

5:42

Wings attacking...I haven't followed them closely in
some time...I can't judge...offside Penguins.

Wings attacking...Samuelson shoots, Fleury covers it...I think.
Face off
Wings attacking...GET ONE BEFORE THE INTERMISSION
Wings end, against the wall.
Icing Pittsburgh.
I haven't followed the Wings this season. It's hard to tell
what their level of play is at this time.

Shot missed.
Shot by Lidstrom...missed.

Whatever happened to Warren Bankston?
Gotta look in on my Raiders.
Season opens in less than 2 months.
Wings...the shots are coming from too far out, I think.

Shot missed.
1:00
Pitt fires the puck down.
Pitt stalling.
36.2
Out of play, off of Samuelson.
Wings gotta play like this for the rest of the game.
Face off center ice.
Wings attacking, knocked away
12
10
9
7
6
Shot blocked.
Period over.
Oh-oh.

Gonna be one hell of a 3rd period.

Lipitor.
Gotta get back into the work force so I can secure
some regular medical care.

Good graphics in the Prius commercial/
"9 kilometers" on the poster behind the woman in the
meeting room.

Hmmm...I have some forms for inexpensive plans.
I need to look into them.

Molson Canadian on the wall.
Score early, Detroit.
Score early, and score often.

I want to stop blogging, and focus exclusively on
the game

Any Montreux-Detroit Jazz Festival vids?

GE.

There's a GE logo stamped in a Warhol painting, above
the head of Jesus Christ in a depiction of the Last Supper.

The Wings are going to play like their lives depend on it.
We're going to see some really awesome hockey in the next
20 minutes.

I may not blog.
Let's see what happens.

Hmmm...there's a Michigan summer right around the corner.
I wrote a poem inspired by my experiences of summers
in Michigan in one of my journals.

Someone mentioned missing children the other day on the
tube. I think it was a news spot.
An investigator said something to the effect that, "If
a missing child is not found within three hours, the
chances of finding one are very slim."

A few hours ago, I was pondering Deanna Seifert, the
little girl who had just disappeared when I arrived
in Michigan in April of 1992.

There was a long, heart-wrenching search and vigil for her,
but to no avail.

I remember the night after they found her body there was
a vicious thunderstorm.

I was just thinking...this blog could be used to sound
the alarm when a child is reported missing.

There must be web sites dedicated to alerting the public
to them.

Merlin series premiere, June 21.
I'm watching too much TV, as interesting as it is,
I need to get back into my groove.

Let's link one.

There are quite a few, but the face-off just took place...

2-0 Pittsburgh.

C'mon Wings!

If I could be notified when a child is reported, I could
post an APB...Hmmm...there's a lot of potential here.
18:22

Wings had better score quick.

Time to watch and pull for the Big D.

Penguin penalty...tripping.
Gotta capitalize on it.
Ya gotta.

They killed the penalty.
Hmmm...
14:24
Not encouraging.

Hmmm...Do the Motor City Bladers still skate around town?
I used to hang out with them in the summer.

Maybe they have a web page...let's look.
That may or may not be them...
Hmmm...back to the game....Go Wings!!!

Hey!
You can't destroy the Eiffel Tower!
GIJoe
Hmmm...I wasn't impressed with the cartoon.
I couldn't take it seriously, like I did Robotech.
GIJoe was kid stuff, compared to Robotech.

Back to the game...

8:09
It's late in the game, folks.

GOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!

Can't blog.
Can't blog.

Steelers.
Williams sisters.
Pele?
Overweight kicker?

EVA Sports, I think it was.

Back to the game...bye!

32 seconds to go.
Empty net for the Wings.
Offside called.
Face off.
Malken in too early.
23
20
blocked shot.
16.1
Deflected out.
Offensive zone face off coming.
Get a shot off!
6.5 to go.
Face off coming.
One shot - one goal.

So close...so close.

Pittsburgh deserved that one.
Down 3-2.
This game looked very similar to the previous one.
We shoulda taken that one.
Oh well.
They won the rematch.

Now we've got a good rivalry going.
If ya won 'em all, it'd be no fun.

Well.
Pittsburgh took Game 7 at the Joe.
I'm...humbled.
Congratulations, Pittsburgh.
Two championships this year.

I'm sweating from the action.

Blogging Ice Hockey is rather difficult.
Gotta eat dinner.

Pondering my Michigan years.
There's too much material here.
That'll have to wait.

Let's check out the presentation of the Stanley Cup.

AT&T logo over the tunnel...
Mario Lemieux...is he a coach, an owner, general manager,
what?

This is sweet for him.
Detroiters hated Lemieux(sp?)

I'm remembering when the Wings took it in '97.
I was hanging out in Downtown Detroit.
It was a madhouse.
It was great!

They're playing, Fanfare for the Common Man as
the Penguins hoist the Stanley Cup.

Adams taking his victory lap.
Sidney Crosby - "...it's amazing to see how far we've come..."

I'm wishing I had seen the entire series.
I saw snatches in the Los Angeles Times, but I don't
surf the lower numbered stations, in general.

Talbot hoisting the trophy.
Malkin hoisting the trophy.
Staal whopping it up like a banshee.
Goddard
Letang
Marc-Andre Fleury was impressive, to say the least.
Cooke and his son.
Orpik.
Equipment man Dana Hines(sp?)
Lemieux - "...we knew all along...you have a chance to be successful...
we had a great run...we win as a team, we lose as a team...it's a great
night for all of our fans."
He's co-owner and president.
It's a long way from 1997, isn't it?
Hmmmm...I recall the Wings and the 'Lanche had a meeting to bury
the hatchet after years of vicious rivalry.

Lemieux hoisting the trophy
Crosby with the cup.

Where was I in Detroit watching the ceremony after the
Wings won?

109th US Open starts next week.
Wimbledon...I remember it was going on when I was in London.

Hmmm...time for dinner, and a break.

6/14/09 12:56 AM GMT
3:56 AM Mecca Time
8:56 AM Beijing Time

...kind of a long break.
I've been surfing - lots of interesting vids about
Edgar Cayce on YouTube - , snoozing, and trying to motivate
myself (I've had a mild, but tiring cold for a while),
and thought I'd look in on the Body Mind and Spirit
Festival that PhenomeNews, a Michigan New Age publication
puts on every year (it was every year when I lived there,
anyway).

I used to read PNews religiously when I was a Michigander.
Hmmm...while searching for the website of the festival,
I Googled "phenomeNews," and see that it no longer operates.
Their final message states that they completed their mission.
There are no Body, Mind, and Spirit Festivals either.

That leaves me with mixed feelings. I suspect that the economic
downturn hurt them, but I can't be certain.
If they declare it a victory, so do I.
I really enjoyed the festivals.
I remember meeting a lot of the staff writers in their individual
booths, particularly Rishikavi Raghudas.

Things have picked up exponentially since the early and
mid-1990s. There's probably so much on the Internet, and so
much of what was considered far-fetched and fringe is
mainstream, that a specialty paper and festival probably
aren't necessary anymore.

I'm sure that the staff can be proud of what they've done.
I always looked forward to reading the latest issue, and
clipped a number of articles, and put them in my permanent
journal. I think I still have a few complete issues, but
as my years in Massachusetts dragged on, I did have some
purges of extra stuff...

I used to correspond by email with Roseann Gabrys.
It was fun, reading her column, and then commenting to her
about them. She featured the Internet in her writings, and
the treasures it offered seekers of enlightenment.
Those were the very early days. I bought my first computer
in 1995, and don't recall when I stumbled on to her
column. I knew what was going to happen with the Internet,
and well, it has, and the new thought continues to gain
momentum. Many, many things have yet to happen.

As I recall our exchanges, and ponder what I read in the
paper, I see so much of what the contributors were talking
about manifesting in the world today.

Yes, phenomeNews, you were the best New Age paper in the
whole country (at least, the best one I had seen - I made
trips to California, and moved to Massachusetts, and NEVER
saw anything better), and I wish the staff all the best in
their future endeavors.

Well...well...change is perpetual, isn't it?
From the videos I saw, it didn't look as if there were that
many people in attendance. Perhaps on-line communities have
taken the place of festivals of that nature.

So much is happening on-line now, and it's so easy to buy
items without leaving one's house. Entire communities are
meeting on-line. phenomeNews was one of Michigan's many
gems.

(sigh)

A LOT of things are OBSOLETE.

Hmmm...

Congratulations, phenomeNews!

Let's see if I can locate some of the old staff.
How about Rishikavi Raghudas?

Hmmm...his name pops up in a search, but I see
no pictures. There is mention of his PNews
background, but I haven't found anything to
cite yet.

Here are the four results for "Rishikavi Raghudas phenomenews"...

One..
Two.
Three.
Four.

I skimmed them for his name, and never found it
though.

The results for "Rishikavi Raghudas" are cornucopian.
I'm sure I'll figure out the latest on him sooner or later.

I think this is his classmates.com space.
Since there's no pic, I can't be sure.
I'll drop him an email...maybe tonight.

I spent a lot of today looking for a YouTube video of
the song from The Celestine Prophecy soundtrack,
Crossroads. I play it over and over again, as I did
during the last days of my fathers earthly life.

I hadn't listened to the CD in some time. I was looking
for something mood appropriate, and tried the entire
work. Crossroads turned out to be my favorite, even
before I bothered to check out the name of the track.

There are a number of interesting videos pertaining
to The Celestine Prophecy including
the entire film (in parts). I watched some of it,
but wasn't looking for something that lengthly at the
moment.

I bought the book around '95 or '96. I gave it to a
kind stranger who helped me move during the summer
between my first and second years of medical school.

It's a good time to review the insights.

Hmmm...I never got to the 10th or 11th insights. Scroll down to
the bottom of the page to read them.

Hmmm...gotta ponder them, Jim.

Coincidences, coincidences...

Here's another one of Redfield discussing the book and film.
I mentioned in a prior post that I was on the
Staten Island Ferry with my girlfriend of the time
when photos were taken of us in front of the WTC.
I was wrong. It was the Statue of Liberty Ferry.
Sorry, folks!

This one's intended for an international
audience.

Here's a video inspired by the music.
I don't recognize it on the CD.
Maybe it's all from the film...

I think I'll have to watch it soon. A refresher
will be useful.

Here's a really interesting talk with an
astronomer who wrote a book about Edgar Cayce.
The author's name is James Mullaney, who has written
for Astronomy magazine.

I used to read Astronomy quite religiously.
I still have old issues packed away. I don't recall if
I subscribed to it or not, but during high school,
I read it consistently. Mullaney mentions Cayce's
assertion that space may have up to 22 dimensions.
One of my favorite articles from the years I read
the magazine was one which addressed the possibility
that space has 11 dimensions. It discussed one model,
and how forces would obey different relationships in
the higher order spatial dimensions.

*

Let's see if I can find any information about Roseann
Gabrys...
That's probably her.
It sure looks like her.

Hello, Roseann.
How's it been going?
Remember me?
Probably not.
It's okay. I usually remember too much about people
anyway...
I usually remember too much in general.
Drop me an email sometime.
Too bad about the Wings, eh?

This is probably her classmates.com entry.

Good luck in Wyandotte.

Where is Wyandotte again?
Isn't that south of the city?
Lemesee...

I think it's near Grosse Ile.

My heartland interlude...what years those were...
what years those were...

Let's look up Canton, MI.
I lived there for three years, just off of Ford Rd., east
of I-275.

I lived in an apartment complex named Village Squire, on Cambridge St.

Coincidences, coincidences...

6/14/09 3:09 AM GMT
6:09 AM Mecca Time
11:09 AM Beijing Time

Time in a Bottle

I was afraid I would spend too much time blogging,
and/or cogniblogging today. I need to get to other
things.

Michigan memories...

Hmmmm...Ah!

Here are the names from business cards of some of the people I worked
with at Ford's Livonia Transmissions Plant, in Livonia, MI.

Tyrone P. Clemens
Eber Nascimento - from Brazil. I used to call him, "Eb."
Paul Skiba - he was really into the local architecture, I recall.
Ondrei Vostal. I think he was from Eastern Europe, or perhaps
Turkey. Very nice person I recall.
Prab Datta - a friend from India. We did a cultural exchange.
Rudolph Washington - owned a ranch down south.
Christopher Northcross - very smart guy. Probably doing very
well there, if he's still working there.
Neil Holcomb - fellow trekker from Indiana - Fort Wayne, I think.
Eric Reed - tall guy.
Al Stinson - ran build-up. Wonderful guy. How's it going, Al?
Arnold Gomez-Mesquita. Lived in Warren. A dive master. Nice guy.
We had lots of good conversations. Still diving, Arnold?

That's it for now, FoMoCo!

There's a facility in Irvine, just down the freeway.
Maybe I ought to drop off a resume.

Oops!
Too late!

Is it still colder than shit up that way?

Probably...

What are the Ford Seahorses up to?

Ah-ha!
The Shipwreck Festival's back.
I can't tell if anybody I know is still in it.

There was a show about the Great Lakes on the other night.
A number of underwater archaeologists were interviewed.

The zebra mussels are still menacing the wrecks, I see...

The new estimate is 10,000 wrecks.
Went to Mackinac Island once.
Wanted to make it to the Soo.

Only made it to the UP twice.

I have lots of pics of fans in the streets after the
Wings won the '97 Stanley Cup. I can't find them right now.
I'll have to scan and post them later.

People were calling in to the local radio station with
accounts of how happy long they'd been fans, and how
happy they were with the championship.

It was a great moment not only for the city, but
for the entire region.

Hmmm...the summers are very special in Michigan, the
years it actually shows up, that is...

A world unto itself.
Too many paintings of lighthouses, though.

I got a really good look at Hale-Bopp when it passed by,
from right outside my apartment in Canton.

I see a lot of commercials for Quizno's lately.
I remember there was one in Ann Arbor I used to
frequent while I was studying for the MCAT.

There's one in town, right next to my dry cleaner.
Maybe I'll try it again...

When are the Art Fairs this year?
Next month.

What does Fellowship Chapel's web site look like
now-a-days?

How's it going, Rev. Wendell Anthony?
I sure took the message to the world, didn't I? :)
We've still got a lot of work to do!

I've got some vids from COR-AME to process...

Let's peek at the Detroit Grand Prix.

Hmmm... is Floods still there?
Yep.

What about Industry?
Doesn't look like it.
Industry was a club in Pontiac, MI where I played my
first 3D complete immersion virtual reality game.
Players held a gun inside a ring, wearing a belt
and goggles.

It wasn't wireless (which made it hard to turn
360s), but it was quite ahead of
its time in 1992. Definitely the shape of things
to come.

The Greens.
Summer in Michigan is sooooo green.

I wonder if Joe Mayo's still there.
Too many people to ponder them all in one post.

Pizza Papalis. Can't ever forget
that.

It's all over the place now.

What's up with the crowd from MASK?

And the Dandys?

Let's see what the latest is on the Henrietta Marie

Here's some more information.

The divers of MASK and NABS maintain the plaque that was placed
on the wreck.

Janet Sitchin. My advanced diving teacher. Lived in Ann Arbor.
Hmmm...hello, Janet.
Still diving?
I'm trying to get out, but have other priorities.
I've done a lot of snorkeling in the ocean, though.
I'm giving tech support to the crew of the Steve Irwin.
I hope you're proud of me! LOL

Which reminds me.

What's the name of the whaling vessel they interdicted
in last night's episode?

There it is.

The Nisshin Maru.
Let's look 'em up! Hehehehe...

Hmmm...

I was hoping I could get some specs on the Nisshin Maru.
You know, information like - computer systems, crew names...
we ought to be able to get the captain's name at least.

Hmmm...there's talk of building a new Nisshin Maru.

I don't see any crew data after checking several pages of
search results.

Something to think about...

***

More Green Motors

I noticed a number of companies from Michigan were
advertising on CNN just before Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The more I think about it, the more potential there is for
implementing green technology into the auto industry.

Did Chrysler go bankrupt too?
Let's see...

Just making sure.
Crisis and opportunity are the same symbol in Mandarin
Chinese.

Let's look up some more green car sites.

Here's one.
And here's another.
This looks useful.
Here's Huffy's two cents.
Tips on driving green.
Some info on electronic cars.
Doesn't seem like any shortage, now
does there?
More electric cars...
News on electric cars.
Hey! We've got some controversy!

I'll close with a couple of vids I stumbled on to today
that convey amazing vision for architecture.
Let's see if I can find them first...here's one:

Sounds like Dubai's the place to live, eh?

This has been a wild and raucous post, so I'll try to calm
everybody down with one last vid.

How was that?

One last thing before I close.

What's the latest on Net Neutrality?

And...
I almost forgot!
The Senate's still moving rather slowly.

Do I have to do this every, single day?!
Slow Friday in the house...

Dennis? Excuse me. Honorable Dennis?

Honorable Ron.
Looks like progress is being made...

How could I ponder my Detroit years and almost forget Henry Ford Hospital?

Here's a An artistic indigo child...
The eyes are the window into the soul, Akiane!

Overblogging,

Ed Ussery ("ArchMind")

Gaia is Watching You!

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:39:51 GMT

6/12/09
12:13 PM GMT
5:13 PM Mecca Time
10:13 PM Beijing Time

Eye In The Sky

Senators.

Representatives.

As expected, a resolution addressing the shooting at the
National Holocaust Museum was passed yesterday.
The text is not available yet.

What is "The Peace Act"?
Hmmm...assistance to Pakistan, sponsored by Rep. Howard Berman,
of California.

Here is the text of one version.
There are two on-line. Exactly why, I don't know.
One version didn't pass...that's probably it.

***

Ah! Another trooper joins the Collective.
Another challenge to "Don't ask, don't tell, has emerged.
Somebody on CNN yesterday came out of the closet, and is
running for Congress in California.

Let's see if I can find the transcript, or a video.
Hmmm...

I don't see anything. I've done some searches, but
I didn't get his name when I watched the segment.

I'm sure he'll surface again soon.

Let's look in on Daniel Choi. I think he was discharged.
He was involved in a march on May 30...

Here's a vid.

Need to head out.

Is Vice President Joe Biden going to be giving an interview
soon? I thought I saw something to that effect on the telly.

***

SPORTS

GO WINGS!!

Even though the Detroit Red Wings got spanked in
Game 6, I really got pumped watching the game.
I hadn't seen any hockey in a while.

Pittsburgh clearly dominated, and (while not an expert
on the sport) I think the margin of victory should
have been substantially larger.

Nicklas Lidstrom was interviewed just before the game.
I thought I recognized him from the '97 team.
When they flashed his Stanley Cup victories,
my suspicion was verified.

I wonder if anybody else from that team is still skating.
I think I'm going to try blogging Game 7.
The pace looked incredibly fast, but it'll be a nice
challenge.

I need to look over the roster first...

A lot of Michigan memories flashed through my
mind as I watched the game.

5 PM, PST.
The Wings'll take this one.

Game 7 at the Joe...sorry Pittsburgh.

Wings memories.
It got kind of nutty, back in those days...
Keep it clean.
Skate fast, check hard, and SCORE!

I think I missed the spot with the spokesperson from the
Detroit Humane Society (Detroit Animal Shelter?) who was
supposed to plug the organization during the game.

I wouldn't think that one would expect too many cat food
commercials during a hockey game.

6:24 AM PST.

LAKERS LAKERS LAKERS!!

Sorry, Fisher - awesome three as time ran out, but
I'm in overtime right now...

Timed out,

Ed Ussery ("ArchMind")

I Had This Dream the Other Night...

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:00:37 GMT

6/11/09 10:46 AM GMT
1:46 PM Mecca Time
6:46 PM Beijing Time

Music Review (sort of)

...I was attending an Iggy Pop concert. My whole
family was there. I was eating something, and dropped
it. Like a little kid with ice cream, I wanted to
wash it off and keep eating it, but my sister
told me to throw it away. I did (I think).
The dream ended as I looked for a way to dispose
of it.

What does that mean?
Makes me think of an Eddie Murphy stand-up routine,
from way, way back.

What I was eating didn't look like any kind of
food...hard to describe...

***

Chicago was on Ellen earlier this week. I was surfing
through, and didn't stop to listen.

How appropriate.
It's 4 to 4 PST, though.
Not quite 25 or 6 to 4.

Should I?

Let's check out the home page.
Oh.
That is the home page.

Let's check out the tour dates.

I'm getting into cogniblogging too much.
Lying awake, wondering if I should blog, thinking I need to
get proper rest. I've felt pretty listless lately.

I have a lot of stuff I need to do.
It's time to get my life moving again.

Johnny Cash is playing somewhere in Orange County.
Correction: I heard something on the radio that
seemed to say that Johnny Cash was playing somewhere in
Orange County.
Perhaps it was a stage tribute to the man and his music.
Perhaps it was a different country artist.

Somebody was singing a jazz song on KJAZZ yesterday
when I was left STAPLES...

WHAT A CRASH!!

...The singer mentioned San Mateo, Walnut Creek, and Pleasant Hill
in the lyrics...there were other allusions to Northern California.

What were those two guys on BETJAZZ talking about last night?

Hmmm...Susan Taylor.
I used to read her editorials pretty regularly in Essence

Tyra Banks did a recent segment on African-American women and
hair issues, alluding to a documentary on the topic
by Chris Rock.

Interesting spot on Kanye West.

Didn't he say he liked cosmology in the Los Angeles Times
a while back?

I think he has a CD titled, Cosmology.

Hey!
This brotha's into some deep stuff...judging from
iTunes.

Let's check out his discography...

Pretty impressive repetoire there, Kanye.

I couldn't find anything titled, Cosmology, though.
Hmmm...what would be a good first CD of Kanye's,
hip-hoppers?

I was just playing Don't Stop...Planet Rock a couple of days ago.

I recall that Afrika Bambataa was featured in Ken Burns'
series on rock 'n' roll, at the conclusion, as rock was
being described as a global phenomenon.

Oh-oh.
I'm starting to wonder if I've been incorrectly
attributing the documentary to Ken Burns. I didn't
see it in in his filmography.

I was sure I heard his voice in it, or so I seem to
remember. I'll have to look into that sometime.

Looking at his official site, it appears that I have
been indeed, making that mistake. Hmmm...

Lots of home-made Planet Rock vids.

***

Politics

Time to look in on our employees...we have a little
catching up to do.

Senators.

Did they just end a filibuster yesterday?

Reps.

Good!

They passed a resolution condemming the murder of Dr. Tiller.

I hope it was anonymous.
Let's find out.
Hmmm...423-0.

Let's see who didn't vote.
10.
I suspect they weren't present...

There's been a lot of discussion on the tragedy of
Dr. George Tiller, particularly on KTLK.

I don't see anybody with any solutions.
Personally, I don't see the murder as expressing any reverence
for life, or the love of God and Jesus Christ.

I think that a person who commits a murder like that is
simply on a power trip, and copping out by appealing to
what one claims are one's true values.

We are in very precarious times.

Many millions have been killed in the name of good.
Many more will be.

**

I've only caught bits and pieces of the story of the shooting at
the National Holocaust Museum.

There are a lot of apocalypse-themed shows on the tube
these days.

***

Globally Speaking

There was a great installment of New Frontiers on
CCTV-9 yesterday morning. It discussed Chinese art and
philosphy through the ages.

There was a very good show on The Great Wall of China
on Saturday, that I think was on The History Channel.
Interestingly, the narrator mentioned the fact that
the Chinese burned their boats rather than dominate
the world, which they could have, several centuries ago.

*

One of my African history professors at UCLA mentioned
this fact during a lecture during my undergraduate
years. I hadn't heard that fact repeated in the 20
years since, anywhere.

Hmmm...he may still be there. He was a younger guy.
The course covered East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania),
during the Zanzibar Empire, and European
Colonial rule.

I recall being fascinated by the trade routes that ran
into the interior of Africa.

*

Good. CCTV-9 has a schedule.

I've been meaning to catch Chinese Civilization.

It looks as if they mix it with New Frontiers, but I'm
not certain.

Steph will be on in about two minutes, so I gotta do something
productive.

By the way, Steph...

911 WAS AN INSIDE JOB!

(I'm sure you'll figure it out one of these days.)

Insightfully,

Ed Ussery ("ArchMind")

P.S. Alex Jones
has been reeeel busy lately, hasn't he?

I gotta hear the second part of that one!

Hmmm...can't find it.

I'll look for it later.

Hmmmm...

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:08:41 GMT

6/9/09 11:03 AM GMT
2:03 PM Mecca Time
7:03 PM Beijing Time

Hmmmm...

Has Congress started working again?

Lemesee...

Here's the Senate.

It invoked a motion of cloture.

Here's the House.

Looks like it's back in action.

Vigilantly,

Ed Ussery ("ArchMind")

Checking Out Neil...

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 20:00:25 GMT

6/7/09 7:41 PM GMT
10:41 PM Mecca Time
6/8/09 3:41 AM Beijing Time

Sex in Space!!

Why would anybody want to do that?

Interesting topics on Dr. deGrasse Tyson's new show,
Star Talk.

Newton's Third Law

I was just listening to Mozart's Piano Concerto in E Flat Major
from the Amadeus soundtrack, and was thinking about that
"baby" on Family Guy.

What's his name?

Checking Wikipedia...

Stewie.
Ambiguous sexuality, according to Wikipedia.

Hey!
Kewl! I really get a kick out of this character.

I remember an episode in which Stewie was reading Faust,
and I think he mentioned something about Mephistopheles when
someone interrupted him.</a>

Hmmm...Wizard's 100 All-time Greatest Villains.
Stewie is #95 on the list.

Neil's off.
Back to Mozart.

I listened to Don Giovanni for the first time
a number of months ago. I loved it. It's rare that I
get geeked on something that long the first time I
hear it.

Amazing.

Getting back to Amadeus...what was I thinking about again?
I was too busy watching clips...oh yeah.

What's the latest from the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields.?

On the name - is it hypenated?

Not according to their home page.

Hmmm...UEFA Champions' League anthem.

***

Contemporary Theater

I was surfing Hair the other day,
and stumbled on a lot of interesting information.

The Wikipedia entry is rather lengthly.
I had no idea of the magnitude of its success.
There's a revival of the show on Broadway, and
it's soaring, from what appears on the official
web page.

It's rather elaborate.
I never saw it on stage.
I do recall seeing it on TV, but not in its
entirety.

This looks like a show that shouldn't be missed!
I wanna check out the site again.
There's video, reviews, history, you name it.
Makes one want to go into theater.

The revival seems rather timely, I think.

Here's the cast blog.

It inspired me to look at the Wikipedia entry
on The Age of Aquarius.

There was a lot of interesting information on
The Age of Aquarius in Wikipedia, but
at the moment, I'm struggling to recall where
it was. The Wikipedia entry doesn't seem to have
a lot of the information I saw.

There's some interesting information on this page.

Ah! Here's some of what I saw...

***
6/8/09
5:06 AM GMT
8:06 AM Mecca Time
1:06 PM Beijing Time

LAKERS!!!

The Los Angeles Lakers just won in overtime, and now
lead the NBA Championship Series, 2-0.

***

Tripping the Light Fantastic

I went back to exploring the astrologically-themed Wikipedia
entries, and stumbled on to the concept of the "indigo child."

I saw a site of this nature about seven or eight years ago,
as I dealt with my ADHD misdiagnosis.

It seemed to describe some of my personality traits, but
I didn't "buy in."

Now that I'm pondering, "Aquarius," I've stumbled back on to,
and have been surfing a series of "indigo themed" sites.

Here's an interesting one I've just spent some time on.
Nice song. It makes me want to break out some of my crystal music.

There's a local named Joey Klein, who is featured in one of the
links.

Let's see what he's up to.

Here's another interesting site on the phenomenon
of the Indigo child/adult.

The patterns in the margins are really intense!

As I said some time ago, you're going to see a lot of things
you're not used to seeing.

A lot of things.
Like the commentator on Fox Soccer Channel said on
Saturday at the beginning of the Australia-Qatar game,
"...get this party started..."

It ended in a tie, 0-0, with Australia qualifying for
South Africa 2010

Let's check out the Wikipedia entry on the upcoming
World Cup.

Aha! A number of teams qualified on Saturday.

Here are the venues.

Did the LA Galaxy finish off Toronto on Saturday?
I wasn't feeling too well, and couldn't sit through
the game.

Lemesee...

Yep!
Weeee got em!

Now, for the Sol

I just can't cope with that bobbinhead, Marta.

Just who the hell does Beckham actually play for
now-a-days?

And did the Gunners make it into the UEFA Champions League?

Okay, we finished 4th.

Hmmm...

Music

I was surfing The Fifth Dimension's web site the
other day.

Love the outfits.

Looks like we've got another member for
the African-American Ministry of Culture.
Indeed, we do.

I thought I had read something very similar in
the Wikipedia entry for Florence LaRue.

They're on tour.

Very interesting.

Well, Anderson Cooper's Aura.

Yes, I am.

Might be a good idea to return things to "normal."

***

Green Motors

Well, now that the country owns GM, let's change
the emblem from navy blue to green.

The Sundance Channel had an interesting show on
innovative cars, and the people behind the visions.

It was broadcast yesterday.

The one company whose name stuck out was Tesla Motors.

Hmmm...
CNN's doing something on their coverage of the Tiananmen
Square Massacre.

Was that Bernard Shaw?

I gotta go check this out...brb

Oops...too late. The interview concluded as I sat
down to it.

Where was I?

Green cars.

It's almost midnight, PST, and I have other things to
do.

I hope the houses of Congress get rolling again.

Conned,

Ed Ussery("ArchMind")

I Was Feeling Kind of Groggy This Evening...

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 06:31:39 GMT

6/6/09 6:11 AM GMT
9:11 AM Mecca Time
2:11 PM Beijing Time

...until I saw Whale Wars.
I really got pumped, but encountered some deflation when
I saw the Steve Irwin navigating past icebergs...

...they meet up with the Japanese whaling ship at midnight PST, so
I figured I'd sneak some blogging in before catching the fateful
encounter.

Some questions definitely popped up while watching the crew
in action...there's a page where one can field them...

Lemesee...what's Greenpeace been up to lately?

I recall a series of strips in Bloom County, sometime in
the 1980s in which Opus rode on the Rainbow Warrior.

I wonder what he'd think of a stint on the Steve Irwin.

They're definitely enthusiastic about the Gaia hypothesis.

I think Terri had moved on...what's Bindi up to?

Quite busy, it appears.

***

Our Employees...Again

Let's see what the Congress got done today.
Here's the Senate.

Still nothing since the 2nd?
What's going on there?

Here's the House.
Nothing new posted today.

***

Let's check out some extra scenes from Whale Wars.

I wanna check out the Wikipedia entry real quick.

Gaia all the way!

Here are the deleted scenes.

Ice, ice, baby!

That guy's sweatshirt...RAMMED? SUNK?
These folks may be a little too hard-nosed for me.
I'd better get to know them well...

Oops!
They're about to get in the hair of that Japanese whaling
vessel. Back in 1 hour.

7:21 AM GMT
10:21 AM Mecca Time
3:21 PM Beijing Time

First commercial break.
They just pelted the ship with pungent acid.

Suggestion: consider using funnel launchers for added
range. They can easily be made with surgical tubing
and funnels bought from an auto parts store.

8:21 AM GMT
11:21 AM Mecca Time
4:21 PM Beijing Time

There was supposed to be an on-line chat with
the cameramen, but I don't see it on the site.
They may have high-tailed it out of here, since
the show ended at 1:00 AM PST, and I was getting
ready for bed.

Hmmm...

Another suggestion: with funnel launchers, it would
be more viable to use balloons filled with the acid.
They'd probably disperse the fluid better, wouldn't
have any chance of hurting anybody on the target ship,
are cheaper, easier to store - then again, I don't
know the properties of the acid - what's the pH?
What's the required storage temperature? I'm not
familiar with the chemical.
It might require a thicker balloon, or even a thin
plastic bag, or something.

Just something to consider...

Something I'm forgetting...

***

Politics

So, Dustin and Roseanne,
Do you think that maybe our employees are uncomfortable
with being observed by their bosses every day?

Have they stopped voting in Congress, or have they
just stopped the web page from updating?

Only time will tell...

There's always CSPAN.

Caught DL Hughley on Bill Maher, but didn't watch for long.
Just wasn't up for it.

Neil deGrasse Tyson has a show on KTLK now, starting
this Sunday.

Nice shot of Saturn. I gotta get out to Griffith Park.

Who was that musician Tavis had on Monday?
A country singer, I think.

Mandy Moore.

Hmmm...I'm dddddrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiffffttttinnnnnnnnngggggggggggg
ooofffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff....

Mandatorily,

Ed Ussery("ArchMind")

Magical Whale Wars in the Lake

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 01:50:54 GMT

1:45 AM GMT
4:45 AM Mecca Time
9:45 AM Beijing Time

Kobe...ya shoulda' hit that layup
at the end of
the first quarter!

I'm sure you'll be all right, though.

Hmmm...Larry King Live has a couple of interesting
spots on this evening.

What was the name of that whale conservation group?

Ah!
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
The Dalai Lama supports their efforts.

This should be interesting...taking resumes folks?
I'm aching to do some serious travel.

Here's information for people who
want to get involved.

I need some good invigorating summer work.

I remember signing a petition to help save the Northern
Right Whale when I was a Bostonian.

I still regret never having made it to dive off of
Stellwagen Bank.

Lemesee...when is Whale Wars on?
I haven't watched Animal Planet in some time...

Hmmm...No pay to ship out, but who
needs money doing a job like that?

I gotta download the application.
I just gotta...

Now that looks REALLY exciting!

***

Lakers up by 10 at halftime.
Let's look in on our employees...

The Senate and,
The House.

Looks like the Senate is either not in session, or they
can't decide on anything. I checked out action in the
House on CSPAN a little while ago.

I think it'd be fun to blog the proceedings, don't you?
LOL

Whoa!
The House is running in overdrive, it appears.
How many bills did they pass today?
Six passed, two failed, two "agreed to."

Those newly recognized tribes intrigue me.
What are their names?

The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina,
The Chickahominy Indian Tribe,
Chickahominy Indian Tribe-Eastern Division,
The Upper Mattaponi Tribe,
The Rappahannock Tribe, Inc,
The Monacan Indian Nation and,
The Nansemond Indian Tribe.

It appears as if specific groups are officially establishing their
own official identities. I can speculate on just why they're doing
this, but I'd rather let them speak for themselves...

Hmmm...so...what's the latest on Leonard Peltier?

Nothing new since January, 2008.

I read parts of a copy of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee in
a class I was subbing for about a week ago.

I found amazingly detailed accounts of the fates of numerous
groups of Indians, most of which I had never heard of.

Wild West Tech featured a detailed discussion of
the weapons and tactics used by the Lakota Sioux against
cowboys. I didn't see all of it, but found what I did
observe, highly stimulating.

Here's an interview with Adam Beach, one of the actors
in the HBO film based on the book.

***

One of the students who was one of the most wanted
dissidents after the Massacre in Tiananmen Square wrote
an editorial in The Los Angeles Times today.

What was his name again?

Let me look...
Wang Dan.
Let's see if he has a Wikipedia entry.

Yep!

This guy has some serious history.
Wow.
I'm impressed.

Let's take a look at the web site of the Chinese Constitutional
Reform Association.

I can't find one, but here's the Wikipedia entry.
Here's Wang Dan's entry in Wikileaks.

It looks to me like Wang's just revving up after having completed
his doctoral work last year.

I want to get a look at the list of Chinese dissidents...

Here are the ones known to have been detained and
jailed.

I read the Wikipedia entry on Tiananmen Square about a year ago.
I hadn't realized that the unrest and repression were so extensive
in the country until I read it.
There are a number of sites with photographs and testimonials
that I looked at too.

Hmmm...

Can I get a list of Gitmo detainees?

Oh my God!
Lemesee...

It's rather lengthly.

Here's an entry on suicide attempts of Gitmo
priosoners.

Time for a break.
The Lakers are romping, no need to blog tonight's game.

3:27 AM GMT
6:27 AM Mecca Time
11:27 AM Beijing Time

97-73 Lakers.
Wow.
Ridiculous blowout.

This is too much intense stuff.
Gotta check up on Mumia now.

The Supreme Court refused to hear his case back in April.
Supporters are requesting that concerned individuals
write to Attorney General, Eric Holder, and demand
that he initiate a civil rights investigation into
the 27-years of prosecutorial and judicial violations
of Mumia Abu-Jamal's constitutional and international
rights.

Perhaps Sotomayor should be asked where she stands on
enforcement of civil rights violations.

Rachel just had something on about Michelle Obama's
support of the nominee.

Haven't heard Nina Totenberg in some time.

I used to hear her on Boston's NPR station.
I really enjoyed listening toA Prairie Home Companion on
Saturday evenings.

I ought to take a gander at NPR sometime.

What's up with KCRW?

Just where is Lake Wobegon?

Here's a Keith Olbermann moment...

Kent Jones sounds like he's about ready for the
singularity.

What's the latest from Singularity University?

I've been wondering about Bev Smith for some time...

I gotta get cityside more often.

I've been wondering what Jim Brown's been doing in
recent years. He's featured in tonight's celebration
of Black Music Month.

Here's his organization's web site.

While checking out Ray Kurzweil, I stumbled upon this
really interesting lecture by Liz Coleman on liberal
arts education. Check it out!

THAT WAS SPECTACULAR!!!

Where is Bennington (College? University?)
Let's find the home page.

Hmmm...they had a senior art show back in May.
No pics though.

Let's get a look at the Wikipedia entry.

It sounds like a very interesting school.

Regarding some of the comments, I agree that there
were a few rough spots in the speech, but I found
it very timely.

I gotta look up post-modern deconstructionism.

I'm listening to it again...part of it anyway.

Never read, Jane Austen

The new way: A Medieval Fair...Hmmm...I had to sit through
the whole thing twice.

10:11 AM GMT

Been asleep.
Headed bac that way.

Delirious,

Ed Ussery("ArchMind")

Mmmmm...Love the View!!

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:58:14 GMT

6/4/09 1:28 AM GMT
4:28 AM Mecca Time
9:28 AM Beijing Time

So Picturesque!

Let's see what the Senate voted on today.
Nothing posted yet. Are they in session today? Hmmm...
Here's a list of active bills.

Let's see what the House voted on today.
Hmmm...five bills passed.
Two of them formally recognize specific Indian tribes.
One is a commendation for the Race for The Cure being held in Washington, D.C. today.
One is a formal expression of sympathy for the families of those killed
and wounded at Camp Liberty back on May 11, 2009.
One is called, "The Hoyer Resolution." What's that?
I can't get detailed information about it. Perhaps there's something
in Wikipedia.
Nope.
Who or what is hoyer?
Ah! Steny Hoyer is the House Majority Leader. He's from Maryland.
Interesting character.
Here are his positions on various issues, according
to Wikipedia. Useful, to say the least.
I don't have time to ruminate on his stands at present.
Let's check out his official web page - House Majority Leader Site.
His standard congressional site.

He's been in Pelosi's shadow for some time. I can't ever
recall having heard his name. Ya learn something new every day.

Keith's on in 5 minutes. He had Michael Moore on Monday, discussing the GM bankruptcy.

Flint's gotta be hurting, and badly.
It was hurting back in the '90s when I was living in
Michigan, and the economy was thought to be doing well.

Let's take a peek at Keith.

One of my major concerns about "bipartisanship" pertains
to the chance of being back-stabbed. Giving the opposition
the keys to the castle gives them the chance to sabotage
personnel, and the agenda in general.

Hey!

It's Huffy!
YAAAAY!!!
Great comment, Arianna.
I might have to buy that book.
I need to get some software so that I can establish my
own site.

It's nice to be able to appeal to both sides of the aisle,
but don't compromise the truth or the public good for it.
What problems need to be solved?
Who are the people who are going to develop and implement
true solutions to the daunting problems we face?
I wouldn't prioritize "bipartisanship" over effectiveness.

An Olbermann moment.

1:11 PM GMT
4:11 PM Mecca Time
9:11 PM Beijing Time

...fell asleep...

Time to listen to some Steph, and get to work.

Good morning, Stephanie!
I gotta get the name of your buddy down one of these days.

Before I sign off, let's see if Dennis Kucinich has anything
new on YouTube.

Heeeeerreees Dennis!

Automatically,

Ed Ussery("ArchMind")

Not Much to Say Tonight, But...

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:56:06 GMT

6/3/09 10:38 AM GMT
1:38 PM Mecca Time
6:38 PM Beijing Time

Employee Action Update

Let's take a quick look at the votes in Congress
today.

Senate.
Hmmm...prevention of smoking, or so the bill is titled...
House of Representatives.
I see...a bill recognizing the 20th anniversary of the Massacre at Tiananmen Square.

Another one honoring the contributions of Native Americans...
And a third commending the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
on its 75th anniversary.

I'm sure the park appreciated that.
Hmmm...there's a lot of interesting information about the
Smokies I never knew on the Wikipedia site.

Whoa! Look at all the sites the park maintains.
This certainly does deserve a commendation.

***

Dan Rather seemed kind of annoyed at Dick Cheney
this evening on Rachel Maddow.

***

Motor City Update

The Rev. Jesse Jackson had some kind of action planned
in Detroit yesterday.

Here's a local Internet media outlet covering the
story.

Keep Hope Alive Radio featured GM's impending bankruptcy
on Sunday night.

Additionally, the Rev. wants a moratorium on all
home foreclosures...

...and he supports bill HR 676, reportedly a bill that will
implement single-payer health care in the US.

Someone mentioned somewhere that doctors and nurses were
being dragged out of the halls of Congress for mentioning
single-payer health care...I think it was on KPFK.

Which reminds me...

The Passing of a Legend

I very recently received news of the death of
Dr. Ivan van Sertima. Freedom Now, a radio
show on KPFK discussed his life and legacy earlier
this evening.

I went to see him during my undergraduate years.
The UCLA chapter of NSBE sponsored a lecture of his, at
least once, and maybe twice.

I found him to be one of the introductions to the school of
thought known today as Afrocentrism.

A generation later, his ideas seem to have taken hold in
certain parts of the mainstream of contemporary academia.
A host on a show on The History Channel just did a spot
on the step pyramid, discussed Imhotep, and the host
stated that the origins of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity
were found in Egypt.

There's an official commemoration this Friday night, June 5,
at the corner of Crenshaw and Slauson. The exact address is
on the KPFK website.

I haven't focused on the debates van Sertima and other
melanin scholars have partaken in in some number of years,
but with his death, it seems likely that interest in his
work and his contemporaries within the movement will see
a revival.

I'm not an expert on any of the works of the afrocentric
schools of thought.
I cannot give an in-depth and concise analysis of their claims -
the body of work is way too large, and is outside my field
of expertise.

I own (and have read) a number of works by Ivan van Sertima,
and other intellectuals of his ilk, but cannot assume the
role of being any kind of authority on the matter.

It is clear that the history books have needed to be re-written
for some time, and to include the contributions of non-European
peoples to global civilization. This has been in progress for
some time. I see it in textbooks in classes for which I teach.

An old friend I knew in Michigan queried me about the melanin
scholars and afrocentric thought, concerned that Ivan van Sertima,
Dr. Josef Ben-Jochanan, Dr. Asa Hilliard, Cheikh Anta Diop, and
the like were generating "feel good fantasy history."

I elucidated a fact to him that just about everyone knows
by now.

Eurocentric scholars are the ones who have a clear and extensive
history of covering up or lying about the achievements and intellectual capacities of other peoples of the world. Thus, the question of authenticity of scholarship is a monkey on their backs, not the backs of the afrocentric scholars.

Determining how extensive the cover-up has been will take at
least as much time took for racist Eurocentric scholars to
create the initial false perceptions of Africa, and Africans.

So, where's the Ivan van Sertima observance being held?
Hmmm...I don't see it on the site. Maybe it'll be up
tomorrow.

12:33 PM GMT
3:33 PM Mecca Time
8:33 PM Beijing Time

I need to snooze a bit.
Actually quite a lot.

Seattleless,

Ed Ussery ("ArchMind")

Clearing the Tower

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:00:49 GMT

6/2/09 10:46 AM GMT
1:46 PM Mecca Time
6:46 PM Beijing Time

Congressional Watchdoging

It seems to me like it would be useful to check
up on the daily roll call votes in both houses
of Congress.

The Senate, and
The House of Representatives.

Are both houses on vacation or something?
Memorial Day just passed, but that was a week ago.
Hmmm...here's an interesting commentary on the holiday.

I didn't hear anything on today's news shows or
talk shows about any critical votes, but while
I'm thinking about it, I may as well look in
anyway.

Roy of Hollywood is advertising a compilation of shows
of his over the years as a reward for pledging.
KPFK's doing its "Spring into Summer" pledge drive.

Something's Happening is only on once a month
these days, he said, on the first Monday night.
At least, that's what I think I heard.

Want to pledge? 818-985-5735.

Let's see...what's Roy talking about?
He was just playing some swing a minute ago...

Random Percepts from the Infoscape

There was this really long Geico commercial with the
Cro-Magnon guy giving a lecture in the Museum of Natural
History

I meant to watch that show about that recent archaelogical
find...was it supposed to push our origins back another
47 million years or something, predating Australopicthecus?

Angela Lansburyy in something about human bondage?
Roy's playing some nostalgic-sounding show, that's supposed
to be taking place before the turn of the 20th Century.

There was a great show on Nikola Tesla earlier this evening.
An early modernist supra-genius.
I'm sure the steampunk movement finds him very inspiring.

I think I'll be following the exploits of the band,
Abney Road for some time to come.

Correction - Abney Park.
Did I call them Abney Road in my last post?

Hmmm...I'll have to look back at that.

This radio show's about an English surgeon who used to
dabble in art, something about Paris was mentioned...
Lionel Ritchie just visited there, according to an
interview in the Los Angeles Times

I noticed Robert Hilburn's name in a review about
Sinead O'Connor's latest release, a new version of
I Don't Want What I Haven't Got.

I didn't know he was still covering music for the paper.
I read him pretty regularly, back in the 1980s.
A lot of my musical aesthetics are inspired by him.

What's Hilburn up to these days?

He retired in 2005, eh?

Looks like he came back, and wrote something about
Hank Williams last October. I missed that article.

Looks like Hilburn's been back for some time.

Hmmm...I didn't know that Caltech's housing system was
modeled after that of Oxford and Cambridge.

I'm off track...back to recent percepts.

There was this really intense episode of Underwater Universe
on last night. They interviewed a crew member of the Trieste,
who rode it down to the Challenger Deep.

I never knew that the glass had cracked on the way
down. Stunning.

*

It sounds like it might be Orson Welles doing the narration
of the show that's on.

*

Jacques Piccard was the other crew member, who passed
last year. Hmmm...another family of adventurers.

Reminds me of a show that was on a few months ago featuring
Jean-Michel Cousteau and his family, narrated by Robert
Redford, I think. Redford mentioned the Louvre and the National
Gallery during the show, I recall

I think he's based near Santa Barbara or something.
I contemplated putting a resume in when I saw the show.

Hey!
There's some bill up for a vote in the California Legislature -
SB772, concerning toxic flame retardants.

I applied to US Divers back in the early 1990s.

Let's see if the bill passed. The vote was held yesterday.
I can't find the roll call vote.
I'll check back on the Ocean Futures Society site in a couple
of days.

Underwater Universe's recent installment also did
a spot on the Drake Passage

That was too intense. I had intended to do other
stuff this evening, even though I wasn't feeling
too well, but the two-hour show was simply not
to be missed.

Is UU a series, or a one-shot film? I thought maybe
I had seen advertising spots for it on before, but
I don't see anything on-line.

Let's see if I can get a look at that boat they used,
a trimaran, I think they called it...

I gotta stop thinking about it...I'm trying to cut
down on my random TV watching.

***

Music

KJAZZ was playing music from the Ellington-Armstrong Summit
on Sunday. I have that CD. Haven't listened to it
in a while.

Roy just signed off, @5:30 PST.

I'm just starting to absorb Queen Latifah's latest release.

I'm not either...I guess I need to work on that.

It's Black Music Month. There's an Awards Dinner in LA
this Thursday. The Black Business Association's putting
it on.

Here's something happening in Brooklyn.

When are the BET Music Awards?
I want to make sure I blog 'em this time around.

Here are some of the nominations.

Stand Alone Complex is getting too strong - well, almost.

What was that guy's name on KPFK on Sunday who was discussing
Mozart? Something Brown. He was debunking some of the more
far-fetched things that were said about Mozart's talent.
I was pretty intrigued.
I want to hear more about that.
Somebody on KPFK was playing country music early Sunday evening.

There was some great discussion on yesterday morning pitting
how much we need to do as activists to keep our politicians
honest, and what their responsibilities are to their stated
principles regardless of what other forces are acting on them.

The woman who used to do Continent to Continent was
on Sunday afternoon, discussing...what? I don't recall at
the moment, but her voice and name were very distinctive.
I'd try to type her name, but I'm afraid I'll mangle it.

I can hear Synchronicity now...

What was the name of that show/film Stewart was talking
about? Earth 2100?

It's on tonight, at 9PM, on ABC.

Mmmm....loved the closing images on that Waylon Jennings and
Hank Williams Jr. vid!

I didn't know Morgan Freeman was the star of Lean on Me.
I saw that years ago, and rather enjoyed it.

Interesting visualization for ending racism, Morgan,
but that's only a beginning.

All that sweet '70s music...where did those days go? :|

Not through the Drake Passage, I hope, (Commodore)Lionel.

Better to try to run a bike through a...

I gotta check up on Jesse James one of these days...

Need to be moving along.

Gone,

Ed Ussery("ArchMind")

P.S. Sorry, Steph. I'm running late!

archmind

I Just Began Realizing...

In Case a WholeBunch of PeopleNoticed...

What Can I Say?

Moving On Health Care Reform

So, How's Dianne Feinstein Doing?

Let's try to find vidsof the protest last week.

A Lost Weekend

What they did right...

WELL...SO WHAT!!

NOW!!!

Back to more serious things.

Reviewing a Zenith

We Are the World

Like it will be a night to remember.

Here we go!

WAY TO GO, BROTHERS!!

All Right, All Right...

Keep us Hungry.

No, He's not, Keith. No, he's not.

I Just Had to Look.

YES WE DID!!! Yes, we did...

YEEEEEHAAAA!!!!

On to More Serious Matters...

IF YOU HAVE SEEN ANYOF THESE CHILDREN, PLEASE CALL

1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)

Rest and Digest

Pause Button

FEAR.

Everybody stay home for one day.

Harmonic Convergence

Dissension in the Ranks!

Status Post Breakfast

I really need a break.

176.

EXACTLY!

While Tehran Sleeps...

Ed's Two Cents

There's a demonstrationin Washington, D.C. on the 25th.

Iranian Dawn

Summer's Lease

Aeria Gloris.

Imprisoned Politicians

Imprisoned Journalists and Bloggers

Hey!Look at this!

IF YOU HAVE SEEN ANYOF THESE CHILDREN, PLEASE CALL

1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)

Globally Conscious

...Overslept...

What's Happening in Iran?

Moving right along

Throttling Up...

Preliminaries

Ponderings

Who are the key players who can actuallywield influence with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei topersuade him to change his mindand allow a recount(or new election)?

Now. Where was I?

Phone lines to the embassies have been cut.

Throttle Up

HOW SILLY OF ME!

Local News

In the Air, On the Air...

We-as-one wins!

...sigh...

Showing the Way

Heeeeeeeeeeeereeeeeeeeeeee's Bill!!

CongressWatch

Back to Motor City!

GO WINGS!

GO WINGS!!!

WHAT A CHECK!!!

OH MY GOD!!!

NICE SHOT!

PENALTY KILLED!!

SHOT BLOCKED!!

DAMN!

GOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!

Congratulations, phenomeNews!

The Greens.Summer in Michigan is sooooo green.

More Green Motors

Gaia is Watching You!

In Case a Whole
Bunch of People
Noticed...

Let's try to find vids
of the protest last week.

IF YOU HAVE SEEN ANY
OF THESE CHILDREN, PLEASE CALL

There's a demonstration
in Washington, D.C. on the 25th.

Hey!

Look at this!

IF YOU HAVE SEEN ANY
OF THESE CHILDREN, PLEASE CALL

Who are the key players who can actually
wield influence with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to
persuade him to change his mind
and allow a recount
(or new election)?

The Greens.
Summer in Michigan is sooooo green.

Kobe...ya shoulda' hit that layup
at the end of
the first quarter!