2009 Revolution In Iran

It's been awhile since the planet has seen events like what's been happening in Iran ever since the recent presidential election.

It's also been awhile since the last Iranian Revolution, as in that was thirty years ago. 65% of Iranians have only known the repressive regime of the Ayatollahs and their Islamic extremism.

The Iranian youth have had a lot of exposure to Western and American culture, snuck in via satellite dishes and the Internet. I don't think today's crackdown is going to stop this latest Iranian revolution. It seems way too big to suppress.

This all seems very similar to the collapse of communism, something many thought would never happen, yet it did happen, and with stunning speed. And then there was the revolt in the Philippines that booted the Marcos.

The Iranian government has tried to suppress news coverage. But that is not working too well, due to a few American invented freedom of expression devices. As in, today, an Iranian managed to YouTube a video of a huge clash between protesters and security forces. Iranians are twittering like mad, getting out little bits of info about what is happening. Some of the Iranian twittering is to other Iranians. letting people know where to take the wounded, letting people know alternative routes around police blockades.

It was so bizarre watching CNN, during lunch, to see the news talking heads using YouTube and Twitter as news sources. We live in a very different world that no one foresaw coming. Instant news reporting, all over the world, by ordinary citizens using their cell phones, camcorders and computers. I'm thinking tyrants can't long survive when the people get the power to control the information flow.

I heard not a word explaining how it is that Iranians are managing to access the Internet during this crackdown. The government turned off cell phone transmissions. I assume TV is tightly controlled. I don't know by what means Iranians access the Internet. Dial-up? Unlikely for uploading a YouTube video. Do Iranians have broadband? Seems unlikely, but they must. Are the Ayatollahs clueless about the power of the Internet, so they don't realize they need to shut it off if they want to survive?

A couple years ago I had my vehicle worked on at a shop owned by an Iranian who was going to school somewhere in East Texas when the 1979 Iranian Revolution shook things up and made America a bit cranky at Iran. He told me it was not pleasant for him, here, at that time. He did a very funny mimicking of a redneck Texan, sounding so funny trying to sound Texan, while filtered through an Iranian accent.

Anyway, this Iranian told me that most of the Iranians were fed up with being ruled by the Ayatollahs. This conversation took place during the months before George W. began his unfortunate Iraq boondoggle. Well, this Iranian was all gungho for the takeover of Iraq. He thought with the U.S. in power, next door, that the Iranian people would feel strong enough to revolt.

Well, it didn't quite work out that way. Or maybe it did. Maybe it just took a few years and a catalyst to light the explosion of the Iranian Revolution of 2009. If the Ayatollahs and the current regime get toppled, I'm thinking this will bode well for America and the Middle East.

So, interesting day, today. It has been awhile since we have had one of those type days when events seem to be occurring that might bring a big change in the world. Then again, I remember thinking the same thing during huge protests in Tienanmen Square. That did not work out so good. I'm thinking if the Iranian government goes for a China type suppression it will spark an explosion, with a Full Blown Revolution in its wake, if we aren't already at the Full Blown Revolution point.

Tandy Hills Jungle Hike With 2 New Wildflowers

It was only about 90, with a breeze, when I hiked the trails at the Tandy Hills Natural Area today, around noon. It is being a bit humid. When I'd stop and set up my camera, to document me walking through the Tandy Hills Jungle, I got instantly drenched in natural cooling moisture.

Very refreshing.

The Tandy Hills Waterfall has totally dried up. Jammin Mole has never seen a waterfall. She is coming to Fort Worth next month for a class reunion at the Fort Worth Stockyards. I think her class had something like 11 students, with one of them being Gar the Texan.

Gar the Texan was the top student in his class, with Jammin Mole being #2. I think they went to Wink High School. I may be wrong. Sometimes I don't pay sufficient attention and so I don't retain information very well. If your class has only 11 people in it, I really don't know if that means much of anything to be #1. That's being a Big Fish in a really really little pond.

Since Wink High School is in Wink, which is way out in West Texas, near New Mexico, I don't understand why a class reunion would be hundreds of miles to the east. It's very perplexing, but really none of my business. I only mention it because I have nothing else to talk about.
I thought seeing new wildflowers was over for the year. As I often am, I was wrong. I saw two new ones today. Both were seen in only one location. The purple one was real delicate looking, like an orchid. It looked like something that would sprout from a bulb, like a tulip.

The other new wildflower was a white and purple striped stalk, in a group of several dozen stalks.

So, that's been my exciting Saturday in Texas, so far. In the pool early, then visiting and webpaging Tyler, Texas, then hiking the Tandy Hills Jungle and seeing two new wildflowers. I am easy to entertain.

Rain Falls On Wink's Roy Orbison Festival

We are on the road to Wink in the picture above. Today is Day Two of Wink's Roy Orbison Festival.

My on the ground corespondent in Wink, Jammin Mole, reports this morning that Roy Orbison is crying on his festival in the form of continuing rain.

Jammin Mole did not say how the rain has affected the festival. Or who won Friday night's Pretty Woman Contest. I am fairly certain that Jammin Mole won, but that she too modest to be the one to report that news.

Earlier in the month Jammin Mole reported that a big storm had passed through Wink on the morning of June 10. By 6 pm, that same day, that same storm thundered through North Texas, dropping a lot of rain, knocking out a lot of power and blowing a lot of wind, some in tornado form. I don't know if today's Wink storm is heading this way.

A Hot Sunny Saturday Morning In Texas With Magnolia Fumes

Early to bed, early to rise. Again. Still not feeling any wealthier, healthier or wiser. Just feeling monotonous, like my weather forecast.

The sun has been up for awhile. The birds are chirping. Magnolia fumes are wafting in through the open windows. I hear the fountain splashing down by the pool, reminding me that it's about time to go swimming.

I've got a long list of things to get done today. Of which, most likely, not much will get done. Yesterday I went to San Antonio. Today I think I'll go to Tyler. And then when I'm done with Tyler I think I'll go up to Bob Jones Park in Southlake to do me some beach hiking on Lake Grapevine.

Naked Hiking Day At Tandy Hills Natural Park

In the blogging previous to this one I blogged about this coming Sunday's Summer Solstice Naked Hiking Day.

There have been articles in various media today about the naked hiking phenomenon.

The New York Times had an article in which a machinist from Warren, PA, Andrew Williams, 28, said, "There's no way to explain it until you experience it. It's not about being lewd and crude and all that. It's just enjoyment."

Well. Now, I have used some basic photo-chopping to fake that I've gone hiking at the Tandy Hills, au naturel, previously, just to amuse myself with the reactions of some. Some did not disappoint.

And then today, with Naked Hiking Day looming 2 days hence, I decided today I was going to see if it actually is true that hiking in the buff is a fun thing.

Now, I've long been a fan of skinnydipping. That just seems natural. One does not wear shoes when one skinnydips. So, there is a basic problem with naked hiking, in that one needs to wear hiking boots.

I got to the Tandy Hills Natural Area around noon. I knew there'd be no one there. This time I was going to test if Naked Hiking is enjoyable. I took along a backpack to carry my water, cameras. And, eventually, shorts.

As soon as I reached the point where I was no longer visible from the road I doffed my shorts and stuck them in the backpack. And then started hiking like I usually do. Only in Naked Hiking mode.

Well. It did not take me long to feel totally ridiculous. I did not see anything remotely enjoyable about it. Yes, it was a bit cooler. But it quickly became apparent that skinnyhiking is not like skinnydipping. I don't worry about going through brushy areas when I'm skinnydipping. I did not like feeling exposed to something poking me.

And then there was the issue of areas being exposed where normally the sun does not shine. I had not thought to sunscreen those areas.

I did maybe a half mile of naked hiking before I decided this was one of the stupider things I've done in awhile. It was not in the slightest enjoyable. I don't know what that Williams guy from Pennsylvania is thinking. From this day forth, when I am hiking, I am keeping my shorts on. My shirt, not so much.

Fathers Day, Summer Solstice & Naked Hiking Day At Tandy Hills Natural Area

That is a photo from the Seattle P-I taken at last year's Fremont Solstice Parade. I really can't imagine a picture like this appearing in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Or the Dallas Morning News.

In a rare confluence of events, Sunday is Fathers Day, the Summer Solstice and Naked Hiking Day.

Naked Hiking Day has grown into a Summer Solstice event in recent years. It is very popular in Europe. And in some parts of America. On Sunday there will be a lot of naked hikers on the Appalachian Trail. Law enforcement authorities say the naked hiking rarely presents a problem due to most of it taking place in remote areas. But you could get a citation if caught clothes-less at the wrong time and place.

One naked hiker said he was inspired to hike, sans clothing, after reading passages from Henry David Thoreau, naturalist John Muir and backpacking guru, Colin Fletcher, that suggest that hiking naked enhances the appreciation of nature.

If you want to ride your bike, naked, in this year's 2009 Fremont Solstice Parade, it begins at noon, on Saturday, June 20. This is the 21st annual celebration of life, art and being naked. The parade starts at N. 36th and Leary Way, then winds through downtown Fremont on the way to a picnic and beer garden at Gas Works Park on Lake Union. I do not know if clothes are required at Gas Works Park.

According to the Fremont Arts Council's website, regarding the Solstice Parade, "In the parade nearly anything goes...just remember Three Rules:

1. No printed words or logos
2. No motor vehicles (except wheelchairs)
3. No animals (except aid animals)

In the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex we have no naked bike riding, that I know of, to celebrate the Summer Solstice. We do have several Naturists & Nudists Camps in the area. Yvonne is taking me to the one in Midlothian.

Here in Fort Worth we do have the Tandy Hills Natural Area, where all things natural are encouraged. I often enjoy a nature hike at the Tandy Hills, getting in touch with my inner Thoreau, feeling one with the flora and fauna of the jungle. It's primal, it's primitive, it's healthy and it's fun. I love nature and being natural.

Tandy Hills Lightning Bug Fire Fly Potential Expedition

I was promised 100 degrees today. I don't like being misled by the weatherman. I get all looking forward to it being HOT and then it's not. As HOT as I expected.

I think I mentioned earlier today that I got up around 3 am. This is making for an interesting day. Around noon I headed to the Tandy Hills Natural Area to be natural for an hour or so.

It was only about 88, the humidity made for a Heat Index of 94. But it was windy. I think a Wind Chill Factor should be figured in to the calculation. Because the wind was making for an almost chilling effect, every once in awhile, when a good gust would hit my drenched in sweat, long-suffering body.

That's the today view of downtown Fort Worth, in the picture above, as seen from the Tandy Hills jungle. I was told today that last night the Tandy Hills jungle came alive with Fireflies. The last time I saw Fireflies was years ago at River Legacy Park, pedaling the paved trail with darkness setting in towards the end, with hundreds of Lightning Bugs lighting the way through the darkness.

The first time I saw Fireflies was at a Concert in the Garden at Fort Worth's Botanic Garden. The theme that night was Star Wars. The flashing bugs darting about fit the theme perfectly.

If I remember, maybe tonight I'll drive back to the Tandy Hills Natural Area and see if I can see some bright bugs and get pictures or maybe video.

Jesus Saves Me Again

I am not the biggest fan of jokes. I really don't like being told a joke and having to pay sufficient attention to give a courtesy laugh when the punch line arrives. I don't mind written jokes nearly as much as spoken ones, because I can read them if I want to, with there being no one requiring a courtesy laugh when I reach the punch line.

Alma, the Songbird of the Texas Gulf Coast, each and every day sends me at least one email joke that I find amusing. Alma has a really good sense of humor.

Below is one of today's amusing Alma jokes....

Jesus and Satan were having an on-going argument about who was better on the computer. They had been going at it for days, and frankly God was tired of hearing all the bickering.

Finally fed up, God said, 'THAT'S IT! I have had enough. I am going to set up a test that will run for two hours, and from those results, I will judge who does the better job.'

So Satan and Jesus sat down at the keyboards and typed away.

They moused. They faxed. They e-mailed. They e-mailed with attachments. They downloaded. They did spreadsheets. They wrote reports. They created labels and cards. They created charts and graphs. They did some genealogy reports.

They did every job known to man.

Jesus worked with heavenly efficiency and Satan was faster than hell.

Then, ten minutes before their time was up, lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, thunder rolled, rain poured, and, of course, the power went off.

Satan stared at his blank screen and screamed every curse word known in the underworld.

Jesus just sighed.

Finally the electricity came back on, and Jesus and the Devil restarted their computers. Satan started searching frantically, screaming:

"It's gone! It's all GONE! I lost everything when the power went out!"

Meanwhile, Jesus quietly started printing out all of his files from the past two hours of work.

Satan observed this and became irate.

"Wait!" he screamed. "That's not fair! He cheated! How come he has all his work and I don't have any?"

God just shrugged and said............

"JESUS SAVES!"

An Early Morning Texas Tequila Sunrise Swim

I think it was Benjamin Franklin who said "early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."

I don't think Ben knew what he was talking about.

I went to bed real early last night. I was exhausted. The early to bed thing had me up early, way too early, as in 3 am early.

I got up, got coffee, got on the computer and clacked on the keyboard for awhile. About half past 5, even though it was quite dark outside, I decided to go swimming.

Paddling about in water while the sun gradually turns on the light is a good thing.

The most spectacular sunrise I have ever experienced was at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. A lot of people make sure they get up in time to watch this, cameras ready. It's like a colorful light show as the sun comes over the horizon gradually casting more and more light onto the canyon walls.

So, it isn't even 8 in the morning yet and I feel like I've already had myself a day. Since it is Thursday I guess I'll be hiking around the Tandy Hills when it gets HOT. Which today, supposedly, will be 100 degrees HOT. I'll see if that is still the forecast. Nope. 95 is now the predicted high for today. 98 tomorrow. No 100s in the forecast. For now.

I suspect I will be going to bed early again tonight, and that by the end of this day I will be no healthier, wealthier or wiser than I am right now. Ben Franklin also thought the turkey should be America's national bird, instead of the eagle. Clearly, the man had some clinkers in his thinker.

The Dallas Cowboy Stadium Is Not Open To Former Residents

That's the west side view of the recently opened new Dallas Cowboy Stadium. It does not seem all that long ago that I took photos and video of all the houses and apartment complexes that were destroyed in this, the worst abuse of eminent domain in American history, so that a stadium could get built.

Several of the cases are still in court, with victims fighting to get properly compensated.

I have often mentioned, in this very venue, my thinking that the victims should get invited to some event once the stadium opens. I don't believe Jerry Jones invited any of his victims to the grand opening concert with George Strait and Reba McEntire.

For that opening concert Jerry was charging people $40 to park on the land that used to be owned by others before he took it from them against their will. One of the cases still in court is arguing that the value of the property must be compensated for at whatever that land's greatest value is. Since a $1.1 billion stadium now sits on that land, that becomes the figure used to assign a value to the stolen property.

One thing about the new stadium, that strikes me eye, is the total disconnect between the architect's rendering of what the stadium would look like and the actual finished product. In the drawing the stadium looks to be sitting, like a futuristic spaceship, in a park-like setting. In reality the stadium does look like a futuristic spaceship, but instead of a park-like setting, it sits in run-down industrial, commercial, residential (for the most part) squalor. It is not an attractive setting. It is definitely not like the setting I have ever seen any other major professional sports stadium sit in.

And this morning I was pleased to see I am not alone in my thinking that the victims should have had some gesture made towards them, allowing them into the building that now sits on top of where their homes once stood. A letter to the editor of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram verbalized the same thought about the victims.

Below is that letter......

A gift to whom?

Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck’s comments in a story regarding the "gift" of a suite from Jerry Jones’ Cowboys to the city said it will be used for "personal use by city officials and city employees."

What crust! It reminds me of the way that gas royalties from city property were swept into a fund, without resident input, only to be doled out through applications by the very people whose idea it was to encapsulate it. (And now the city is crying poor and screaming budget cuts.)

I’ve thought all along that the ’Boys should give the city some seats, maybe four in the end zone, to be distributed lotterylike to the residents who are helping to pay for the stadium, but a suite? How sweet! I still think the seats should be made available to taxpaying residents, with the first ones going to those who were displaced by this project.

At the very least, let’s have an open meeting and input regarding this "gift to the city."

— Jill Wesstrom, Arlington