Matt Kearney on piano
For your entertainment, a very poor sound quality cell phone music video of Matt Kearney live:
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Matt Kearney in Des Moines
Who is Matt Kearney you ask? Well, thanks for asking, I didn't know either until Thursday night when a few friends invited me to the outdoor concert:
Matt Kearney on piano
For your entertainment, a very poor sound quality cell phone music video of Matt Kearney live:
Matt Kearney on piano
For your entertainment, a very poor sound quality cell phone music video of Matt Kearney live:
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Persian Unrest
To all the Iranians who feel cheated out of a fair election.
Recent profile face of several Iranians on Facebook:
-Green was the prominent campaign color of Mousavi, the opposition’s candidate, a reformist who believed in more personal freedoms and international dialogue.
After several protester casualties:
Several non-Iranians are showing there support on facebook with:
The group of Iranians I met in Malaysia would become suddenly appear dejected and confide their frustration and how stressed they would feel while in Iran. Never knowing when the morality police would pull up and arrest them for dating, wearing makeup, not wearing a head scarf, stop a young lady out by herself or bust an illegal night club. Their ability to endure the political and social situation in Iran seemed to be pushed to maximum capacity. This was over a year before the recent election. Many Iranians despise that Ahmadinejad has been the face of Iran (Khamenei, the supreme leader has the final say in all policies) to the world.
Not being open to outside auditing, it is not possible nor my place to unequivocally state that there was voting fraud. What is suspicious is the speed of the vote count and margin of victory. Many Iranians have no doubt the election was a farce and on Facebook and other social networks they are venting their frustration. One Iranian posting:
"To all non-Iranian friends: please help spread the news of the outrage and disgust of the Iranian people with the election results. Unfortunately, the western media is not currently doing a great job of exposing this blatantly fraudulent election. This is not the will of the Iranian people; they are mostly in shock or despair, and the braver ones are being mercilessly beaten on the streets. PLEASE SHARE"
Recent profile face of several Iranians on Facebook:
-Green was the prominent campaign color of Mousavi, the opposition’s candidate, a reformist who believed in more personal freedoms and international dialogue.
After several protester casualties:
Several non-Iranians are showing there support on facebook with:
The group of Iranians I met in Malaysia would become suddenly appear dejected and confide their frustration and how stressed they would feel while in Iran. Never knowing when the morality police would pull up and arrest them for dating, wearing makeup, not wearing a head scarf, stop a young lady out by herself or bust an illegal night club. Their ability to endure the political and social situation in Iran seemed to be pushed to maximum capacity. This was over a year before the recent election. Many Iranians despise that Ahmadinejad has been the face of Iran (Khamenei, the supreme leader has the final say in all policies) to the world.
Not being open to outside auditing, it is not possible nor my place to unequivocally state that there was voting fraud. What is suspicious is the speed of the vote count and margin of victory. Many Iranians have no doubt the election was a farce and on Facebook and other social networks they are venting their frustration. One Iranian posting:
"To all non-Iranian friends: please help spread the news of the outrage and disgust of the Iranian people with the election results. Unfortunately, the western media is not currently doing a great job of exposing this blatantly fraudulent election. This is not the will of the Iranian people; they are mostly in shock or despair, and the braver ones are being mercilessly beaten on the streets. PLEASE SHARE"
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Who is John Galt?
I am John Galt.
Or at least that's what it says on the back of the jersey I wear for the ShortBus AllStars. I figure sooner or later someone at one our softball games will know who John Galt is.
-I'm back
Or at least that's what it says on the back of the jersey I wear for the ShortBus AllStars. I figure sooner or later someone at one our softball games will know who John Galt is.
-I'm back
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Ryan, Zane and learning to speak
Babysitting Ryan:
Uncle Jasper and Zane Edward Fletcher (nickname: Zef, Zeffy)
I was reading ‘Native Tongues’ by Charles Berlitz when Jasper and Tracy arrived home last night, I had Jasper read an excerpt from the Preface;
"When I started to speak, I learned four different languages at the same time, each exclusively spoken to me by different members of my family. At this very early age I did not know that these were world languages but simply thought that they were different ways that people had of speaking which, when one considers it, is really a good way of defining languages."
Tracy has been very keen that Ryan has exposure to more than one language, so I wasn’t surprised last night that both Jasper and Tracy were very encouraging when I asked if I could speak exclusively in Mandarin with Ryan. When Colin and Courtney visited, they simply stared at me blankly and Colin protested when I spoke Mandarin with him. Yet I persisted and was delightfully surprised when Courtney replied with, “nihao” which she either remembered from last time I tried teaching them some Mandarin or from ‘Ni Hao, Kai-lan’ a kids show on Nickelodeon which mixes Mandarin into each episode.
Jaemy and I have made a deal to start learning Spanish together before her trip to Mexico next year.
Uncle Jasper and Zane Edward Fletcher (nickname: Zef, Zeffy)
I was reading ‘Native Tongues’ by Charles Berlitz when Jasper and Tracy arrived home last night, I had Jasper read an excerpt from the Preface;
"When I started to speak, I learned four different languages at the same time, each exclusively spoken to me by different members of my family. At this very early age I did not know that these were world languages but simply thought that they were different ways that people had of speaking which, when one considers it, is really a good way of defining languages."
Tracy has been very keen that Ryan has exposure to more than one language, so I wasn’t surprised last night that both Jasper and Tracy were very encouraging when I asked if I could speak exclusively in Mandarin with Ryan. When Colin and Courtney visited, they simply stared at me blankly and Colin protested when I spoke Mandarin with him. Yet I persisted and was delightfully surprised when Courtney replied with, “nihao” which she either remembered from last time I tried teaching them some Mandarin or from ‘Ni Hao, Kai-lan’ a kids show on Nickelodeon which mixes Mandarin into each episode.
Jaemy and I have made a deal to start learning Spanish together before her trip to Mexico next year.
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Here's how it begins
My apologies for anyone who has been checking this blog periodically and have not found any new posts. There are many things that I need to sort out and will not be updating this blog for an indefinite amount of time.
A few last notes:
I’ve been in a rut for quite some time now, it started in Malaysia and recently it’s turned into a sinkhole. It hasn’t been any one event but rather the culmination of many.
Chess and Life (winter 2005 at UWW): Student, after losing a game of chess to another student, “I made one mistake at the end of the game which lost it for me.” Professor, who didn’t watch the game, “Only one?”
For too long I haven’t been able to properly focus on one thing, although I don’t like to use cliches, I’ve been a Jack of all trades and haven’t been able to master any. That ends here.
What happened over a week ago had life altering repercussions; it led to what may have been a final falling out with who I used to consider my best friend. Although her not wanting any contact for a long time, if not forever, has gutted me worse than the fish I cleaned for my old Russian friend at a resort I worked at a life-time ago, I’m not going to allow myself to dwell on this.
I may start blogging sometime in the future, but save yourself from checking back anytime soon.
My sincerest thanks to everyone who has taken an interest in my blog.
One last experience from Malaysia: We were coming back from a movie in Kuala Lumpur, two exchange students from Minnesota who had just arrived in Malaysia, my good friend from Pakistan, the legendary side-kick of my good friend from Pakistan and me. One of the American girls was sharing a story from grade school of when the pipes had backed up and feces infiltrated the classroom. This was interrupted by my Pakistani friend’s experience of being kid-napped and held for ransom for 30 days (don’t remember the exact length) when he was at a comparable age. For what its worth.
Here's how it begins
A few last notes:
I’ve been in a rut for quite some time now, it started in Malaysia and recently it’s turned into a sinkhole. It hasn’t been any one event but rather the culmination of many.
Chess and Life (winter 2005 at UWW): Student, after losing a game of chess to another student, “I made one mistake at the end of the game which lost it for me.” Professor, who didn’t watch the game, “Only one?”
For too long I haven’t been able to properly focus on one thing, although I don’t like to use cliches, I’ve been a Jack of all trades and haven’t been able to master any. That ends here.
What happened over a week ago had life altering repercussions; it led to what may have been a final falling out with who I used to consider my best friend. Although her not wanting any contact for a long time, if not forever, has gutted me worse than the fish I cleaned for my old Russian friend at a resort I worked at a life-time ago, I’m not going to allow myself to dwell on this.
I may start blogging sometime in the future, but save yourself from checking back anytime soon.
My sincerest thanks to everyone who has taken an interest in my blog.
One last experience from Malaysia: We were coming back from a movie in Kuala Lumpur, two exchange students from Minnesota who had just arrived in Malaysia, my good friend from Pakistan, the legendary side-kick of my good friend from Pakistan and me. One of the American girls was sharing a story from grade school of when the pipes had backed up and feces infiltrated the classroom. This was interrupted by my Pakistani friend’s experience of being kid-napped and held for ransom for 30 days (don’t remember the exact length) when he was at a comparable age. For what its worth.
Here's how it begins
Friday, 7 November 2008
Goodwill around the world
November 4th, 2008
This election was not just for US but for the world
source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/gallery/2008/nov/05/pressandpublishing?lightbox=1
The world has been watching and this historical election has sent shock waves around the globe.
In the places I've been around the world many people of many different nationalities have oft repeated something to the effect of, "We think America needs a new direction, but we don't think America is ready to elect a black man". When I heard this over and over again I would point to the polls which were continuously shifting in Obama's favor, but nothing short of an actual Obama victory would diminish this unfortunate image of the US, that up until Tuesday night, so many people maintained.
From early on in this election I have confided in my compatriots how an Obama win would, on the international level, send an unprecedented message to the rest of the world. It would have multiple implications abroad, it would tell the world that we are ready for change, that the United States is a country where a minority can achieve the highest office in the land.
Don't misinterpret me, I do not mean to imply that the image the rest of the world has of us was a deciding factor (although for a certain number of Americans it may have been an influence to varying degrees)in why we elected Obama. Nevertheless, the election of Barack Obama instantaneously led to a spike in goodwill around the world towards the US.
The republicans and the far-right tried to play the fear card, but Americans rose above the pettiness and saw the value and understood the need of a new direction. After a long campaign, it may seem cliche, but America voted for Change. A new chapter in our history has begun.
Headlines from around the world: www.guardian.co.uk
This election was not just for US but for the world
source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/gallery/2008/nov/05/pressandpublishing?lightbox=1The world has been watching and this historical election has sent shock waves around the globe.
In the places I've been around the world many people of many different nationalities have oft repeated something to the effect of, "We think America needs a new direction, but we don't think America is ready to elect a black man". When I heard this over and over again I would point to the polls which were continuously shifting in Obama's favor, but nothing short of an actual Obama victory would diminish this unfortunate image of the US, that up until Tuesday night, so many people maintained.
From early on in this election I have confided in my compatriots how an Obama win would, on the international level, send an unprecedented message to the rest of the world. It would have multiple implications abroad, it would tell the world that we are ready for change, that the United States is a country where a minority can achieve the highest office in the land.
Don't misinterpret me, I do not mean to imply that the image the rest of the world has of us was a deciding factor (although for a certain number of Americans it may have been an influence to varying degrees)in why we elected Obama. Nevertheless, the election of Barack Obama instantaneously led to a spike in goodwill around the world towards the US.
The republicans and the far-right tried to play the fear card, but Americans rose above the pettiness and saw the value and understood the need of a new direction. After a long campaign, it may seem cliche, but America voted for Change. A new chapter in our history has begun.
Headlines from around the world: www.guardian.co.uk
Monday, 3 November 2008
Farewell to Malaysia
Thanks for all the good times! I cannot wait to see all of you again!
Hong Kong International Airport (2 hours in transit)
Singapore International Airport (6 hours in transit)
I will miss all of you very much, and look forwrd to the day we meet again!
Hong Kong International Airport (2 hours in transit)
Singapore International Airport (6 hours in transit)
I will miss all of you very much, and look forwrd to the day we meet again!
Monday, 29 September 2008
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Ramadan in China: threatened by fasting
China's Uighurs face fasting restrictions
Apparently, China's government also feels threatened by the practice of fasting by the ethnic minority Uighurs, a largely Muslim ethnic group in western China.
In addition to not allowing Muslim children (under 18) to fast at school, the government has gone so far as to prohibit women from wearing veils and men from growing beards. Government officials are also barred from observing Ramadan, while the rest of the population has to deal with overbearing restrictions.
On Al Jazeera this evening, one public official said that he would fast and that if the government forced him to eat he would quit his local government position, he did not show his face to the camera.
There are also limits placed on visiting mosques.
How can the Chinese government justify further isolating this ethnic minority and Muslims living in China? The government attempts to use the threat of terrorism to justify this repression of their own people.
Will not the isolating, marginalizing and persecution of ethnic minorities and religious groups in China lead to more rebellion?
I think there is something deeper to the oppression of religious groups in China, and parallels can be drawn with state censorship in China. Perhaps the Chinese government feels threatened when people hold an ideology (whether religious, political or other) at a higher esteem than patriotism and the current mix of communism & Capitalism now present in China.
Apparently, China's government also feels threatened by the practice of fasting by the ethnic minority Uighurs, a largely Muslim ethnic group in western China.
In addition to not allowing Muslim children (under 18) to fast at school, the government has gone so far as to prohibit women from wearing veils and men from growing beards. Government officials are also barred from observing Ramadan, while the rest of the population has to deal with overbearing restrictions.
On Al Jazeera this evening, one public official said that he would fast and that if the government forced him to eat he would quit his local government position, he did not show his face to the camera.
There are also limits placed on visiting mosques.
How can the Chinese government justify further isolating this ethnic minority and Muslims living in China? The government attempts to use the threat of terrorism to justify this repression of their own people.
Will not the isolating, marginalizing and persecution of ethnic minorities and religious groups in China lead to more rebellion?
I think there is something deeper to the oppression of religious groups in China, and parallels can be drawn with state censorship in China. Perhaps the Chinese government feels threatened when people hold an ideology (whether religious, political or other) at a higher esteem than patriotism and the current mix of communism & Capitalism now present in China.
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