Text – Page 134 – Citizen Reporter

People’s Herstory

Twas the night before liberation day and all through the city, not a creature was stirring, except maybe a Portuguese-American riding back from Rock-n-Roll Amy’s. Some children are probably nestled all snug in their beds, while bm sits at his powerbook and listens to a People’s history of the United States on audio book.

Perhaps you know of Howard Zinn’s thick but compelling History told from the people’s experiences. Nothing to do with that crap they’re dishing out in American public and private schools. I would know, I went through both and in the end — learned more from the people than from the outdated, poorly compiled history books. But I digress, this audio version is narrated by Matt Damon. I’ve never thought much of him as an actor really, wasn’t he the star in Ryan’s privates? Well, I can say that it’s cool to hear this book narrated by this voice. It’s crisp, familiar, and well.. nice.

Who would you like to hear narrate your copy of People’s History, or any other book for that matter? I’d want James Earl Jones! When I was little, his voice was the official one of NJ’s phonecompany… Bell Atlantic. It was always fun to hear him whenever you dialed information. Some voices instantly ellicit respect and attention.

I would also like to add that Howard Zinn himself reads the preface and conclusion, and I’ve heard him on Democracy Now many times. He has a good New England voice. We have a friend in common, so hopefully one day soon, he and I will sit and have a drink. I’d like to hear more of his life and his experiences. I can just picture it; that will be a truely great day.

I remember Rwanda

I just finished watching Hotel Rwanda. I just finished watching Hotel Rwanda. I just….

People don’t tend to blog about Rwanda do they? I myself find it hard to reconcile the fact that I want so badly to write pages about Rwanda, and yet I want to simply bow my head in shame and say nothing because any attempt to say something noble would be completely useless and insulting.

I am ashamed Rwanda. I am a European-American… and when I look at you I feel such grief and shame. And yet… when your country experienced such horror. When neighbors killed neighbors. When 1 million corpses of 1 million humans were left to rot in the streets of Kigali, I committed a far more diabolical crime. Just like the journalist in the movie said, I sat home, watched it on TV, thought to myself — That’s Horrible — and then I went back to my daily routine. While I may have been quite young, my western life simply didn’t leave me the time or the will, apparently, to organize a movement demanding that the international community intervene and stop the genocide. Oh yes, it could most definitely have been stopped, but who had time for that… there was Monday Night Football to be watched.

It is often said that we who live in the rich countries of the world are lucky. We have the “great fortune” they say, “to have such a high standard of living.” But I don’t feel lucky. I look at my hands, and at the hands of all our governments, and all I can see is blood. All I can feel is shame and horror. A good international lawyer could and should probably make such a case, take all the governments of the world, and the people which support them through vote or taxes, and charge them with war crimes. What crime? Watching millions die when we had the power to stop it, and then simply continuing to eat our dinners.

Moving Pains

No, you’re not lost. I’ve moved. Just down the block from our old place, and a much easier address. More importantly, no more blogger. No more delays or system down or whatever the hell was wrong with blogger. My move has lots of bugs in it, lots of problems to be fixed, please don’t bombard me with “fix this bm” emails, because that will make my head explode. So-to-speak.

I’ve been having great skype chats lately. This evening with Madge Weinstein, who will be appearing on my podcast this week. And looking at the news about the train derailment in Japan, makes me think of the conversation I had with Scott from Tokyo Calling last night. I do hope he and his family are ok.

Both these conversations reinforced the fact that blogging… podcasting.. it’s all related to personal connections. You come to know someone, to some extent, and you grow/explore ideas with them. Just as I’ve come to know many of you reading this, so too have I come to know other podcasters, and it’s always amazing how easy it is to get along with them. Like we’ve known each other forever.

Yet another example of this would be the Sloeries, Holland’s beloved podcasting couple, who came over to the bicyclemark ranch yesterday and filled my powerbook with yummy goodness. (thanks duc!) Still getting the hang of lots of these shortcuts and software, but I can tell you now, I’m sold, this here powerbook is Quality with a capital Q.

Go Away

Dam all this extra crap that keeps appearing. Damn damn. Whats a blogger to do?

Closer and Closer

OK OK, I’m getting closer to launch. I really am. Like T minus 5..4..3.. and that whole thing.

But you know, just like the space shuttle, we gots to check and double check, to make sure this thing doesnt fall apart. Plus we don’t want to lose any of the public out there.

That reminds me, I’ve still got lots to do with the stupid stupid archives.

BM Meets PBG4

She’s here. At least I think it’s a she. If its a male, that’s fine, I’d still be in love with him. All day and all night I’ve been fiddling with my new PowerbookG4 – which you the readers and listeners helped make possible!

So this post is thank you. For all the tips you left in the tip jar, advice you left in the comments, or words of support left in my gmail. It all helped. The PBG4 is sweet, silent, sleek, speedy, powerful, and fun-as-hell. I suspect in the coming years Apple stuff will continue to get popular, thanks to the prevalence of items like the Ipod. Which means being a Mac person won’t be as lonely. Matter of fact, it won’t be as special. But for now, hello world, my name is bicyclemark and I’m a new macboy.

Speaking of Mac people, Verbal C was on Australian radio with me recently-talking about blogging and podcasting, and she loves her ibook. While Brain of J just received his PBG4 this week as well. Good writers with the right tools, that’s what the world needs. That… and laughter.

PS – I’ll still be paying for it little by little, so it’s still appreciated if you decide to drop a tip in the jar.

Today’s Sounds: Malcolm X – Bullet or the Ballot Speech

tags:mac,powerbook