No, not a catheter. I've finally got into the YouTube game, so can share a couple of little movies even if they are from last year.
First, last year's Turkey Day Relay. This year would have made much better footage, but I was skiing. Filmed with our little digital camera and edited with the the basic iMovie on our mac.
And here's one from earlier in '06. Me and Frank exploring some boulders north of town. It could have been much snappier, but hey, it was my first crack at movie editing, and took waaaaay too much time!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Liser and Treva's Birthday Bash
Lise turned over another leaf yesterday, and rang it in with friends, style and fun. Full from another great thankgiving dinner at Adam and Bridget's cabin, we had a slow start then rolled up to Birch Hill for the Turkey Day Relay. Joined by the great Scottish sport Helena Buurman, we were 'Not the New Zealand National team'. That way the race announcer, and running and ski coach, John Estle couldn't repeat his favourite little joke, "here comes Lisa Phelan from the NZ national team".. We all did better than our previous efforts and really enjoyed the warm weather, even if the course was melting out a little due to freaky warm snap lately.
We followed that with a great 'games night' at our place for Lisa and Trevor, her birthday-twin. It was a really fun night with a great bunch of friends. The birthday kids were in great form during the classic kiwi 'chocolate game' and pictionary. This could be a battle of the blogs with Lena, Dea, Ed and Trevor, so here are our best snaps:
Anna and Chloe on the Sky Chair. And Anna's stout swinging safely within reach on the left.
We followed that with a great 'games night' at our place for Lisa and Trevor, her birthday-twin. It was a really fun night with a great bunch of friends. The birthday kids were in great form during the classic kiwi 'chocolate game' and pictionary. This could be a battle of the blogs with Lena, Dea, Ed and Trevor, so here are our best snaps:
Treva and Liser.
Treva, Liser, and Layner ;-)
The good old chocolate game - fun for more than just 6 year old New Zealand kids!
Pat, Eder, Adier, Dea, Ann and Mytack.
Ann and friendly pooch Mytack.
Treva, Liser, and Layner ;-)
The good old chocolate game - fun for more than just 6 year old New Zealand kids!
Pat, Eder, Adier, Dea, Ann and Mytack.
Ann and friendly pooch Mytack.
Anna and Chloe on the Sky Chair. And Anna's stout swinging safely within reach on the left.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Situation in Pakistan
A break from the Alaska stories.
Today I heard news about Aasim Akhtar who I went to school with at United World College. I've been following the situation in Pakistan only loosely on NPR (radio), but I now feel it much closer. I wasn't super close to Aasim and hadn't previously heard about his campaigning for human rights in Pakistan, but we were all relatively close at UWC, and Aasim was very good friends with Jason Lees, the New Zealander one year below me. And this news certainly impacted me. (more)
During recent protests as Gen. Pervez Musharaf delayed elections, police assumed state of emergency powers and arrested 500 protesters in 24 hours. Apparently only his wife Asha (below) refusing to take no for an answer stopped Aasim being one of those, but they are now in hiding. Can you imagine the reality of this?
After college, when most of us UWC grads found a nice job and comfortable living, Aasim returned to Pakistan and started PRM (Peoples' Rights Movement), organizing poor and homeless/ landless farmers for basic human rights. Not the most popular guy with the government.
In Aasim's case, this is not a case of cracking down on 'Islamic terrorism' - the excuse Musharaf has put forward to delay elections - but rather suppressing protests for democracy and human rights.
Even national cricket star-turned politician Imran Khan has fled house arrest and is also in hiding. "They are using sheer force against lawyers, human rights organizations, political activists and all genuine opposition leaders are in jail," Khan wrote in the e-mail statement. "The police have ransacked my house and ill treated my family members." (ref)
I'm kind of at a lose for words or even a well-defined reaction to this beyond disgust at Musharaf's regime. It is both half a world away, and close to home. At UWC we were exhorted to think globally, act locally; to stand up for rights, to try to be the difference. Of course that can happen at many levels, but how many of us are doing that like Aasim is - beyond the adolescent idealism, bourgeois benevolence, and self-assuaging tokenism - on the real front lines?
Aasim wants to stay in Pakistan and continue his work and passion. I really feel for him and his family and friends trying to help him now. Aasim and Asha, your bravery is truly impressive. If I had one to call on, I'd ask him to bless you and look out for you. I feel that I can't do much more than wish and hope for your physical safety, and that you're able to continue successfully your fight for human rights without grave loss of your own.
Today I heard news about Aasim Akhtar who I went to school with at United World College. I've been following the situation in Pakistan only loosely on NPR (radio), but I now feel it much closer. I wasn't super close to Aasim and hadn't previously heard about his campaigning for human rights in Pakistan, but we were all relatively close at UWC, and Aasim was very good friends with Jason Lees, the New Zealander one year below me. And this news certainly impacted me. (more)
During recent protests as Gen. Pervez Musharaf delayed elections, police assumed state of emergency powers and arrested 500 protesters in 24 hours. Apparently only his wife Asha (below) refusing to take no for an answer stopped Aasim being one of those, but they are now in hiding. Can you imagine the reality of this?
After college, when most of us UWC grads found a nice job and comfortable living, Aasim returned to Pakistan and started PRM (Peoples' Rights Movement), organizing poor and homeless/ landless farmers for basic human rights. Not the most popular guy with the government.In Aasim's case, this is not a case of cracking down on 'Islamic terrorism' - the excuse Musharaf has put forward to delay elections - but rather suppressing protests for democracy and human rights.
Even national cricket star-turned politician Imran Khan has fled house arrest and is also in hiding. "They are using sheer force against lawyers, human rights organizations, political activists and all genuine opposition leaders are in jail," Khan wrote in the e-mail statement. "The police have ransacked my house and ill treated my family members." (ref)
I'm kind of at a lose for words or even a well-defined reaction to this beyond disgust at Musharaf's regime. It is both half a world away, and close to home. At UWC we were exhorted to think globally, act locally; to stand up for rights, to try to be the difference. Of course that can happen at many levels, but how many of us are doing that like Aasim is - beyond the adolescent idealism, bourgeois benevolence, and self-assuaging tokenism - on the real front lines?
Aasim wants to stay in Pakistan and continue his work and passion. I really feel for him and his family and friends trying to help him now. Aasim and Asha, your bravery is truly impressive. If I had one to call on, I'd ask him to bless you and look out for you. I feel that I can't do much more than wish and hope for your physical safety, and that you're able to continue successfully your fight for human rights without grave loss of your own.
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