Dear Internets,
I'm alive! Please accept my sincere apologies for the lack of posting lately. Life has been a little bit difficult the past few weeks making blog motivation scarce.
Good news is that I think I'm turning a corner. Bad news is that after an awesome weekend, I don't have the energy to post more than this note at the moment.
Hopefully all my readers have not abandoned me. Many thanks for your perseverance, loyalty, and understanding.
xoxo,
Nik
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Twitter F-ing Rocks
I have no idea what time it is in Iran. I think it is just before dawn, but I'm not sure. All I know is that tonight Twitter had scheduled maintenance for around 9:45pm and once people began protesting and asking for help in Iran, Twitter changed their maintenance.
Read about it here. Instead of being an asshole company who shrugs its shoulders and says, "sorry," it recognized its importance and did what it could to help. In my book, that's pretty fucking cool. And if you think Twitter and/or the Iranians on Twitter are overemphasizing the impact, then how about this as food for thought: The government considers them so much a threat that they are disabling proxies as fast as they becomg available as well as hacking into individual Twitter accounts and threatening some Iranian Twitterati. (Update: Just after I published post, returned to Twitter to find the following):
Iranian gov't is watching Twitter; when RTing Iranians, replace username with "Iran" RT from Iran" Please RT
It's incredible that Twitter has become integral to this entire story. One cannot (or should not) report about the Iranian election protests without mentioning Twitter. When mainstream media and cable news outlets, in the US and other countries, failed to really report what was going down on Sunday, the people told their own stories with 140 characters or less on Twitter. People tweeted and retweeted #cnnfail #iranelection until CNN got the message and began doing something about coverage.
I think that's what is so compelling to me about this. Yes, the revolution is exciting, inspiring, scary, all those things. But the fact that those involved are shouting their stories from proverbial rooftops for all of us to hear as it happens is extraordinary. It's not a reporter showing footage from hours before or coming via satellite at the journalists' hotel. It's not a documentary years later with memories of what happened. It's a man, a woman, a student, a regular person in the thick of it in the now almost desperately conveying the events around them. And the world has listened, and in response people have demanded what they want to see and read.
Iran sits on the cusp of a cultural and political revolution, but make no mistake. The participants have already revolutionized news reporting as we know it. So say what you will about Twitter, but don't deny its utility has almost certainly reach heights well beyond its purpose. Pretty fucking nifty.
Read about it here. Instead of being an asshole company who shrugs its shoulders and says, "sorry," it recognized its importance and did what it could to help. In my book, that's pretty fucking cool. And if you think Twitter and/or the Iranians on Twitter are overemphasizing the impact, then how about this as food for thought: The government considers them so much a threat that they are disabling proxies as fast as they becomg available as well as hacking into individual Twitter accounts and threatening some Iranian Twitterati. (Update: Just after I published post, returned to Twitter to find the following):
Iranian gov't is watching Twitter; when RTing Iranians, replace username with "Iran" RT from Iran" Please RT
It's incredible that Twitter has become integral to this entire story. One cannot (or should not) report about the Iranian election protests without mentioning Twitter. When mainstream media and cable news outlets, in the US and other countries, failed to really report what was going down on Sunday, the people told their own stories with 140 characters or less on Twitter. People tweeted and retweeted #cnnfail #iranelection until CNN got the message and began doing something about coverage.
I think that's what is so compelling to me about this. Yes, the revolution is exciting, inspiring, scary, all those things. But the fact that those involved are shouting their stories from proverbial rooftops for all of us to hear as it happens is extraordinary. It's not a reporter showing footage from hours before or coming via satellite at the journalists' hotel. It's not a documentary years later with memories of what happened. It's a man, a woman, a student, a regular person in the thick of it in the now almost desperately conveying the events around them. And the world has listened, and in response people have demanded what they want to see and read.
Iran sits on the cusp of a cultural and political revolution, but make no mistake. The participants have already revolutionized news reporting as we know it. So say what you will about Twitter, but don't deny its utility has almost certainly reach heights well beyond its purpose. Pretty fucking nifty.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Iran
I just feel compelled to put this news out there any way possible. Short story: Iranian election results showed landslide victory for incumbent crazy Ahmadinejad (2/3 of vote). Polls up until election indicated extremely close race. Stories circulating that opponent, and more centrist, Moussavi was informed early that he was "officially" the winner; some early reports indicate HE was the landslide winner. Based on these factors, Moussavi supporters have basically formed an uprising/revolution for the entire weekend. Police brutality and riots ensued.
Videos can be found on YouTube showing students who were beaten when Ansar-Hezbollah stormed into their dorm rooms tonight/this morning. According to one reporter, this is a scare tactic to prevent the students, largely supporters of Moussavi, from participating in marches on Monday.
For up-to-minute reporting check out this blog by Andrew Sullivan of The Atlantic and search #iranelection on Twitter. I've been "following" several twitterers who are English-speaking and in Iran, communicating the only way they can due to the government jamming internet and phone lines.
I really, really have to go to the office and work now. Will be watching, though.
Videos can be found on YouTube showing students who were beaten when Ansar-Hezbollah stormed into their dorm rooms tonight/this morning. According to one reporter, this is a scare tactic to prevent the students, largely supporters of Moussavi, from participating in marches on Monday.
For up-to-minute reporting check out this blog by Andrew Sullivan of The Atlantic and search #iranelection on Twitter. I've been "following" several twitterers who are English-speaking and in Iran, communicating the only way they can due to the government jamming internet and phone lines.
I really, really have to go to the office and work now. Will be watching, though.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Monday, June 08, 2009
Happy Birthday to Me!
No, you guys aren't in bizarro world, I'm just pre-planning. Also, one's 30th birthday is a milestone event, so I've just-this-very-moment decided to celebrate it until the year 2010.
Going to *hopefully* see Rafa in person at the beginning of September! This morning I purchased tickets to four "sessions" of tennis at the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Keeping fingers crossed Rafa plays during one of those sessions and on that court or else someone is going to get a beatdown.
Now that I think about it, throw the Conor concert in late July into the birthday festivities as well.
Birthdays rock. Everyone celebrate yours today!
Going to *hopefully* see Rafa in person at the beginning of September! This morning I purchased tickets to four "sessions" of tennis at the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Keeping fingers crossed Rafa plays during one of those sessions and on that court or else someone is going to get a beatdown.
Now that I think about it, throw the Conor concert in late July into the birthday festivities as well.
Birthdays rock. Everyone celebrate yours today!
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Positivity
Watching The O.C. Season 2 on DVD. It is fantasamagoric. Yes. Fantasmagoric. Right now, it is practically the only thing that is pure, effortless happiness that doesn't give me a hangover. I am not lying to you when I say that I wish Seth Cohen was a real person.
Go out and watch it! Season 1 is ok, but Season 2 is great.
Other happy news - there are bunnies everywhere! Of course, this morning I saw a baby bunny in a neighbor's yard while walking the dog only to see same bunny as roadkill 1 hour later on the way to work. I know. I almost cried right then and there except I had to be in court and mascara running down my face is not cool for clients or judges. Now that I think about it, the very first time I cried myself to sleep was when my mom accidentally hit a rabbit on the way home from my grandparents' house in second grade. I vividly remember her telling me the rabbit *might* be ok because he hopped away, but still wondering if his leg was broken or something equally horrible.
Anyway, there are lots of bunnies, well, I hope there are lots and not just the same one I see everywhere that is now dead. Oh shit. Ok. Will think positive thoughts, positive thoughts about living, breathing baby bunnies!
Go out and watch it! Season 1 is ok, but Season 2 is great.
Other happy news - there are bunnies everywhere! Of course, this morning I saw a baby bunny in a neighbor's yard while walking the dog only to see same bunny as roadkill 1 hour later on the way to work. I know. I almost cried right then and there except I had to be in court and mascara running down my face is not cool for clients or judges. Now that I think about it, the very first time I cried myself to sleep was when my mom accidentally hit a rabbit on the way home from my grandparents' house in second grade. I vividly remember her telling me the rabbit *might* be ok because he hopped away, but still wondering if his leg was broken or something equally horrible.
Anyway, there are lots of bunnies, well, I hope there are lots and not just the same one I see everywhere that is now dead. Oh shit. Ok. Will think positive thoughts, positive thoughts about living, breathing baby bunnies!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Bummer.
I hate to do this to you guys, but I'm not sure I can sleep without venting a little. In the grand scheme of things, my life is fantastic and I have nothing to complain about. I know this. In my little corner of the world, however, the following things are giving me grief this Sunday evening:
* Rafa loses in 4th round at French Open to giant douchebag named Soderling (actually wrote a much longer post about my coping with this but going to give it a day to marinade and edit then decide whether to publish)
* Bum knee/thigh/ankle? Let's just say bum leg
* Lack of exercise due to bum leg
* Feel fat due to lack of exercise and also, possibly, PMS
* Hopelessness re: how to remedy bum leg. Are there any good doctors here? Can I even afford a doctor, even with insurance, as may not all be covered?
* Hopelessness re: living in awful place where have to worry about presence of good doctors
* Hopelessness re: timeline for leaving awful place
* Boys
* Return to work tomorrow (Although really, given grand scheme of things, should be thankful I even have a job. . .even if they are going to decrease my pay by 7% and can I still afford rent + student loans + exorbitant electric bill + food?)
Gee. I thought this might make me feel better to get this off my shoulders, but in fact, now I just want to cry. Then again, maybe that's what I need to do to feel better? I hate being a girl. HATE. IT.
* Rafa loses in 4th round at French Open to giant douchebag named Soderling (actually wrote a much longer post about my coping with this but going to give it a day to marinade and edit then decide whether to publish)
* Bum knee/thigh/ankle? Let's just say bum leg
* Lack of exercise due to bum leg
* Feel fat due to lack of exercise and also, possibly, PMS
* Hopelessness re: how to remedy bum leg. Are there any good doctors here? Can I even afford a doctor, even with insurance, as may not all be covered?
* Hopelessness re: living in awful place where have to worry about presence of good doctors
* Hopelessness re: timeline for leaving awful place
* Boys
* Return to work tomorrow (Although really, given grand scheme of things, should be thankful I even have a job. . .even if they are going to decrease my pay by 7% and can I still afford rent + student loans + exorbitant electric bill + food?)
Gee. I thought this might make me feel better to get this off my shoulders, but in fact, now I just want to cry. Then again, maybe that's what I need to do to feel better? I hate being a girl. HATE. IT.
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