Words to Live By

Last week a new friend invited me to practice yoga at a studio she found about an hour away. I was floored. The facilities were the nicest I've seen, and the energy was phenomenal. And the studio mats...AAAAH. To. Die. For. Normally I use my own mat, but these mats are the bomb. I digress.

Since last Monday night, I've been mentally checking my schedule for when I'd have time to go back. I've been craving yoga in this studio like I normally crave chocolate. So when my friend texted me yesterday afternoon to see if I'd be game for a morning class today, I was all about it. . .even though I'd have to get up at 7am on a weekend. To be honest, I almost didn't go because seriously, for me, that's an early Sunday, and I lovelovelove sleeping in. But the craving took over, and I agreed.

The class was awesome again, but you don't want to hear about that. What struck me this time was a wall-hanging above the water fountain. It was one of those things that just spoke to me in that moment, so here I am sharing it with you.

The way to happiness is: keep your heart free from hate, your mind free from worry. Live simply, give much. Fill your life with love. Do as you would be done by. - Buddha

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.

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.