Tag Archives: history

Nader and the Soltice

It is the day after the longest day of the year… which means here in Amsterdam, it will probably be dark only for 3 or 4 hours tonight. And in celebration, Im off to meet a boatload of strangers from hospitalityclub.org, for some kind of pagan party. You might all remember my dear friend lil Robin, whom I wouldn’t have met in New Orleans without the services of hospitality club.

In the meantime, you listening recommendation for this weekend is none other than Ralph Nader during his recent interview on Radio Open Source. Many comment leavers on that site complained that NAder didn’t talk enough about the 2000 election.. very eager to keep blaming him for the fact that the 2 party system is a farce. BUT NEVERMIND ALL THAT.

If you listen to this show you will enjoy it, so long as you’re interested in family, tradition, culture, and history. He tells great stories of how his mother raised him and while you might accuse him of boasting… I too will sit around and boast about how my mom and dad raised me for probably the rest of my life.. so I can relate.

Plus the most important thing he stresses several times: the fact that we live in an era where we have the technology and the means to record, document, and preserve the traditions of our families… and we should be doing so. I’m a firm advocate of that, and it is wonderful to hear how Ralph is doing it.

bm209 Olympic Boycotts and China’s Role in Darfur

Using a wide range of strategies, human rights activists around the world are calling on China to stop funding the genocide in Darfur. Their most important tool- the Olympic Games in 2008. While some experts and activists call for a boycott in the tradition of boycotting olympics to make a political statement, others are proposing different strategies.

My Guest is Jonathan Zimmerman, Director of the History of Education Program, Steinhardt School of Education, NYU.
(you can read some of his op-eds on China and Darfur, here and here)

We Discuss:
-China’s role in Darfur
-Resources and the need for resources
-Historical olympic boycotts
-Leading public figures who won’t take a stand against China
-Beyond Boycott

In the second part of the program you hear excerpts from a press conference launching the Olympic Dream for Darfur campaign. Audio includes Mia Farrow, Eric Reeves and Jill Savitt

F Yeltsin

Seriously I never liked him and I don’t buy into the whole whitewash the US media gives the story of Russia’s “democratic revolution.” Plus I doubly hated how it was taught in US high school… those pages on Yeltsin, beyond the usual oder of US HS history books, stunk to high heaven. But nevermind my opinion based on facts….

You should read Matt Taibbi’s Rolling Stone piece. It is excellent and one day if I teach high school, I’m pasting in this article as required reading. On the test there will be questions about how much money Yeltsin stole from Russia, and a bonus question looking for a rough estimate as to how many people died thanks to his “democratic reforms”. Anyway I’ve said enough… read Matt.

Oh and if you still need good writing, in this case having nothing to do with fat glorified oligarchs, read Jamie’s latest… love his stories.

bmtv46 Remembering a Revolution

Click To Play

It’s the 33rd anniversary of the Portuguese Carnation Revolution. It was and still is, the single most inspiring moment in history. (for me) This vlog will explain further.

Greetings from the Lost City of NOLA

Just arrived. Circled the town via automobile. Checked into chez lil’Robin who is just a fantastic person. She’s probably reading this too.. so I’ll withhold all other compliments.

Lots of meetings set up for tomorrow with some interesting projects. NOLA bloggers have not been the most responsive bunch, but I still hope to get some of the great personal publishers of this town to sit town and tell me what has happened and how.

For now this is just a hello to let y’all know, the crusading podcasting journalist has arrived and its amazing to see a city you’ve read, heard, and seen so much about.

Oh and there is a pressing issue that demands some immediate attention and I think EU sanctions.. and that is the Polish government’s rabid homophobia and their desire to erase any references to LGBT issues or history in their education system. Any mention of gay is apparently to be banned as well. (?)

As a very concerned citizen of the EU I think the government should have sanctions put on it and perhaps they should be brought before the EU court of justice for discrimination and violating the fundamental human rights they agree to respect by being part of the EU.

But ok, right now its hard to focus on that.. cause I’m in the Big EASY!

Boroughing

“Why don’t you write about your personal life”, Ms Thingk asked, “you know people love hearing about that stuff.” We sat there, two of the few people at a very cozy Williamsburg bar enjoying happy hour last night.

Amazing to consider how we know our friends and where we meet up in this era where distance no longer means very much. In her case, we met back in 2004/2005, in Amsterdam where she was studying at the U of Amsterdam where by that point, I was working. After that she moved to DC to work with a very important organization, and for the past 2 years… she’s become a Brooklynite. Even the people standing outside the corner shop seem to know her by name “Hey Ms Thingk!” they waved. Im sure they too would be sad to hear that she has indeed quit blogging.

Yesterday was in fact, full of highlights, including dinner with some very famoose Livejournalists and former PAris residents. But before any of that, it was my day to speak in front of my good friend, Prof. Brian Dunphy’s class at Brooklyn College, not to mention to spend a day walking in his shoes… which was fun.

I spoke about the history of personal publishing, not so much who did what, but what things have unfolded as they have. The conditions and ingredients that made it possible; because of course.. the fact that so many people consult blogs, podcasts, and vlogs in such mass numbers is not just a fluke miracle… it is because several key developments led us here. And those developments may not always be obvious to everyone.. so hopefully the class found it useful to hear me yap yap yap.

It has been a long time since I spoke before a lecture hall of New Yorkers… not sure if I ever have. And I tell you it matters because you can never assume you know what a new yorker knows.. they are keen observers, they are diverse, they are experienced beyond their years, and just when you think you’ve got something to show them.. they’ve probably got alot to show you. At the end of the presentation lots of students came to hand stuff to Brian and talk about class things. Just when I thought no one would dare come say hi.. several nice students turned to me and quietly thanked me and wished me best of luck. One girl specifically said perhaps the most simple and inspiring thing you can say to me “Keep doing what you’re doing.”

Thanks so much Brooklyn College, it was an honor to be a guest in your classroom.