My basil and my cat are sweltering.
All the poor cat does is lie in front of open windows and try to position herself near one of our fans. The fur coat isn't really conducive to staying cool when it's this hot.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Hottawa
Weather in Ottawa is crazy. Two hours ago it was 40 degrees with the humidity.
My basil and my cat are sweltering.
All the poor cat does is lie in front of open windows and try to position herself near one of our fans. The fur coat isn't really conducive to staying cool when it's this hot.
My basil and my cat are sweltering.
All the poor cat does is lie in front of open windows and try to position herself near one of our fans. The fur coat isn't really conducive to staying cool when it's this hot.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
The power of video
After a brief weekend spent relaxing and ignoring the rest of the world, I'm catching up on news. Particularly in Iran.
A lot of people are talking about Neda. According to the person who posted the video on Youtube, this woman was shot by a paramilitary force.
It's not a violent video, but you're watching a woman bleed to death. Another woman screams, a man cries her name repeatedly. It's powerful.
Here it is if you want to see it. Youtube makes you sign in to swear you're not a minor, but Mashable provides it to everyone.
A lot of people are talking about Neda. According to the person who posted the video on Youtube, this woman was shot by a paramilitary force.
It's not a violent video, but you're watching a woman bleed to death. Another woman screams, a man cries her name repeatedly. It's powerful.
Here it is if you want to see it. Youtube makes you sign in to swear you're not a minor, but Mashable provides it to everyone.
Monday, June 15, 2009
More on Iran
Twitter re-schedules maintenance around Iran
The primary user I'm following says the usual proxy sites and ISPs are down. There are rumours of Hizbollah in Iran and protesters taken to Evin - a notoriously nasty prison in Tehran. Also rumours the government is tracking Twitter users and blocking access to the primary discussion feed on twitter (#iranelection). Discussion is moving to www.twitter.com/#iran9. And here's a New York Times article on how protesters are using social media to organize and get news in and out.
The primary user I'm following says the usual proxy sites and ISPs are down. There are rumours of Hizbollah in Iran and protesters taken to Evin - a notoriously nasty prison in Tehran. Also rumours the government is tracking Twitter users and blocking access to the primary discussion feed on twitter (#iranelection). Discussion is moving to www.twitter.com/#iran9. And here's a New York Times article on how protesters are using social media to organize and get news in and out.
Social media for social change
I'm captivated by what's happening in Iran. Some people are calling it a revolution.
Photos here They make me wish I were a photographer - words can't always do justice to a story. It's just not possible to use words as effectively as pictures to show a woman's fear as a group of men surrounds her and begins beating her and her companion, or the sight of police in riot gear chasing protesters, batons drawn and swinging.
Dozens of updates every 10 seconds here
In particular, I'm intrigued at protesters' use of Twitter to pass information and keep all of us on top of what they're seeing. Of course it's all relatively anonymous, so it could be somebody faking it. But they'd be devoting a lot of time to a fake feed. Also incredible is how non-Iranians are drawn to help: warning readers that the government is monitoring the Twitter feed, passing on proxies so Iranians can continue to Tweet, and ganging up to ask Twitter to delay planned maintenance so they can keep getting information out.
Photos here They make me wish I were a photographer - words can't always do justice to a story. It's just not possible to use words as effectively as pictures to show a woman's fear as a group of men surrounds her and begins beating her and her companion, or the sight of police in riot gear chasing protesters, batons drawn and swinging.
Dozens of updates every 10 seconds here
In particular, I'm intrigued at protesters' use of Twitter to pass information and keep all of us on top of what they're seeing. Of course it's all relatively anonymous, so it could be somebody faking it. But they'd be devoting a lot of time to a fake feed. Also incredible is how non-Iranians are drawn to help: warning readers that the government is monitoring the Twitter feed, passing on proxies so Iranians can continue to Tweet, and ganging up to ask Twitter to delay planned maintenance so they can keep getting information out.
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