You Can’t Stop the Signal, Mal
I'm just amazed at the unity and the fight for what's right in Iran and Twitter right now. People all over the world are banding together to get the truth out while Iran's recently and questionably elected government tries to clamp down on information getting out of the country. Tweeters are changing their time zones to Iran's to confuse Iran's Intelligence agents and to hide those who continue to get the word out about the wrong that is being done to them in the country.
Today, we see an end of an era of modern day news reporting as news agencies such as CNN were prohibited or too slow reporting on the situation in Iran. This means that the latest up-to-date news on the situation is from Twitter and its Iranian users hiding and getting the word out. So much for freedom of the press and freedom of information. But hey, we can be our own broadcasters! Even the US State Department demanded that a scheduled maintenance on Twitter that would have brought it down for hours be postponed because Twitter has become such a crucial outlet for live information to them.
Looking through images posted under #iranelection, university dorms are being raided and destroyed (So much for safe higher education...). People are getting shot and human rights activists arrested. Reporters are getting kicked out of the country. Democracy itself has fallen as people were robbed of their votes by an oppressive regime. I just pray we do not see another Tiananmen.
"My death is irrelevant. What's important is that you not forget my words. We want freedom. I will die for that."
It's scary how that may have been someone's last words...
Some more notable tweets:
"I've learned something today. Americans DO care about the world outside America. Their media just doesn't."
"We are all Iranian now."
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." -Gandhi
If you're a Twitterer, do NOT post the person's name when you retweet. And make sure your source is real and not counter-Tweeters spreading misinformation. There's a lot of 1984 going on.
What happens there matters because the climate for dialogue between Iran and the Western world (US and well, us) will never improve if the government in power does not represent the views of its citizens. And it's unknown if Iran will continue to seek nuclear weapons. If they do, it could spark an arms race in the Middle East.
Song of the Week #42: Lifehouse – Broken
NOTE: Since this is the last song of an 8-song update, the music player is activated by going to the above Flash slideshow header and clicking the yellow post-it note button labeled "Open Music Player" in the top left corner. If you have a pop-up blocker, it may or may not block the new window depending on how strict your pop-up blocking software is.
This is featured in the trailer for the upcoming film, The Time Traveler's Wife. I don't know if this will be a successful adaptation from the book but the trailer looks nice. This is a sad "break-up" song though - so it fits the movie, I guess?
Lyrics:
The broken clock is a comfort, it helps me sleep tonight
Maybe it can stop tomorrow from stealing all my time
I am here still waiting though i still have my doubts
I am damaged at best, like you've already figured out
I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
With a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain is there is healing
In your name I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on
I'm barely holdin' on to you
The broken locks were a warning you got inside my head
I tried my best to be guarded, I'm an open book instead
I still see your reflection inside of my eyes
That are looking for a purpose, they're still looking for life
I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
with a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain is there is healing
In your name I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on
I'm barely holdin' on to you
I'm hangin' on another day
Just to see what you will throw my way
And I'm hanging on to the words you say
You said that I will, I'll be ok
The broken lights on the freeway left me here alone
I may have lost my way now, haven't forgotten my way home
I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
with a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain there is healing
In your name I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on
I'm barely holdin' on to you
Song of the Week #41: Chairlift – Bruises
I heard this song from the iPod 4G commercial but never really got into it until I saw this Youtube video. The music fits perfectly with the story of that video.
Lyrics:
I tried to do handstands for you
I tried to do headstands for you
Everytime I fell on you, yeah, everytime I fell
I tried to do handstands for you
But everytime I fell for you
I'm permanently black and blue, permanently blue for you.
I tried to do handstands for you
I tried to do handstands for you
Everytime I fell on you, yeah, everytime I fell
I tried to do handstands for you but everytime I fell for you
I'm permanently black and blue, permanently blue for you-ooh-ooh-ooh
For you-ooh-ooh-ooh
So black and blue-ooh-ooh-ooh
For you-ooh-ooh-ooh.
I grabbed some frozen strawberries so I could ice your bruising knees
But frozen things they all unfreeze and now I taste like....
All those frozen strawberries I used to chill your bruising knees,
Hot July ain't good to me
I'm pink and black and blue for you.
I got bruises on my knees for you
And grass stains on my knees for you
Got holes in my new jeans for you
Got pink and black and blue
Got bruises on my knees for you
And grass stains on my knees for you
Got holes in my new jeans for you
Got pink and black and blue for you-ooh-ooh-ooh
For you-ooh-ooh-ooh
So black and blue-ooh-ooh-ooh
For you-ooh-ooh-ooh
Do-doo-do-do-do-do-doo
Do-doo-do-do-do-do-doo
Do-doo-do-do-do-do-doo
Do-doo-do-do-do-do-doo
Do-doo-do-do-do-do-doo
Do-doo-do-do-do-do-doo
Do-doo-do-do-do-do-doo
Song of the Week #40: Shiny Toy Guns – Major Tom (Coming Home)
I watch a lot of Blue Jays games and knowing Canadian television networks, there's not a lot of variety when it comes to commercials. So, there's this Lincoln car commercial that comes up over and over with a song playing in the background. This is that song. I really like that "4-3-2-1 Earth below us...drifting falling..." part.
Lyrics:
Standing there alone
the ship is waiting
all systems are go
are you sure?
control is not convinced
but the computer
has the evidence
"no need to abort"
the countdown starts
watching in a trance
the crew is certain
nothing left to chance
all is working
trying to relax
up in the capsule
"send me up a drink"
jokes Major Tom
the count goes on
4 3 2 1
Earth below us
drifting falling
floating weightless
calling calling home...
second stage is cut
we're now in orbit
stabilizers up
running perfect
starting to collect
requested data
what will it effect
when all is done
thinks Major Tom
back at ground control
there is a problem
go to rockets full
not responding
"hello Major Tom
are you receiving
turn the thrusters on
we're standing by"
there's no reply
4 3 2 1
Earth below us
drifting falling
floating weightless
calling calling home...
across the stratosphere
a final message
"give my wife my love"
then nothing more
far beneath the ship
the world is mourning
they don't realize
he's alive
no one understands
but Major Tom sees
now the life commands
this is my home
I'm coming home
Earth below us
drifting falling
floating weightless
coming home...
Earth below us
drifting falling
floating weightless
coming home...
Earth below us
drifting falling
floating weightless
coming coming home...
home.....
Song of the Week #39: SCANDAL – Shoujo S
This song is the current opening for Bleach. A band of Japanese girl rockers from high school = awesome. The video for this song (Youtube) is interesting and they really know how to rock. This also goes for when they perform live. These girls got skills, they're young, and they're pretty, to boot. 
Japanese song = no lyrics cause I can't display the characters on here without a language font.
Song of the Week #38: Super Beaver – Shinkokyuu
Just warning you ahead of time that this is a Japanese song. This is currently the ending theme for Naruto: Shippuuden. Yes, Naruto. Lol. Despite the rapid decline in quality and DBZ-esque stalling tactics, I like this song.
Shounen is shounen afterall so of course, the hero/protagonist will always unleash some secret super-duper ultimate technique to beat the bad guys. Bleach does this the worst...
No lyrics cause there's no point putting the English stuff without the Japanese characters.
Song of the Week #37: Matthew Good – Weapon
This is an old song but it was featured in an awesome episode of Flashpoint, a show I started watching this year. So here it is.
Lyrics:
Here by my side, an angel
Here by my side, the devil
Never turn your back on me
Never turn your back on me, again
Here by my side, it's Heaven
Here by my side, you are destruction
Here by my side, a new colour to paint the world
Never turn your back on it
Never turn your back on it, again
Here by my side, it's Heaven
Careful, be careful
Careful, be careful
This is where the world drops off
Where the world drops off
Careful, be careful
You breathe in and you breathe out
For it ain't so weird
How it makes you a weapon
And you give in
And you give out
For it ain't so weird
How it makes you a weapon
Never turn your back on it
Never turn your back on it again
Careful, be careful
Here by my side, it's Heaven
Song of the Week #36: The Fray – Never Say Never
This is The Fray's next single from their self-titled album. I guess this song goes along with the idea of "friends of the heart". No matter the distance life takes us, the bonds that hold us to those dear to us will never be broken. I really have been MIA the past few years but just know that I never forgotten any of you.
Edit: Cool to hear this in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
Lyrics:
Some things we don't talk about
Better do without
Just hold a smile
Falling in and out of love
The same damn problem
Together all the while
You can never say never
While we don't know it
Time and time again
Younger now than we were before
Don't let me go,
Don't let me go,
Don't let me go,
Don't let me go,
Don't let me go,
Don't let me go
Picture you're the queen of everything
As far as the eye can see
Under your command
I will be your guardian
When all is crumbling
Steady your hand
You can never say never
While we don't know it
Time, time ,time again
Younger now then we were before
Don't let me go,
Don't let me go,
Don't let me go,
Don't let me go,
Don't let me go,
Don't let me go
We're falling apart
And coming together again and again
We're crumbling apart
But we pull it together
Pull it together, together again
Don't let me go,
Don't let me go,
Don't let me go,
Don't let me go,
Don't let me go,
Don't let me go
Song of the Week #35: John Mayer – Slow Dancing in a Burning Room
The first song of an 8-song update. Looking back on the week this was supposed to come out, this song went with the "chill" feeling the comes over us with the end of another school year. It also went along with the possible ending of many close relationships as people diverge into their career paths. But things don't have to be that way as long as we keep trying...
Lyrics:
It's not a silly little moment
It's not the storm before the calm
This is the deep and dyin breath of
This love we've been workin on
Can't seem to hold you like I want to
So I can feel you in my arms
Nobody's gonna come and save you
We pulled too many false alarms
We're goin down
And you can see it too
We're goin down
And you know that we're doomed
My dear
We're slow dancing in a burnin room
I was the one you always dreamed of
You were the one I tried to draw
How dare you say it's nothing to me
Baby, you're the only light I ever saw
I'll make the most of all the sadness
You'll be a bitch because you can
You try to hit me just to hurt me
So you leave me feeling dirty
Because you can't understand
We're goin down
And you can see it too
We're goin down
And you know that we're doomed
My dear
We're slow dancing in a burnin room
Go cry about it why don't you
Go cry about it why don't you
Go cry about it why don't you
My dear, we're slow dancin' in a burnin' room,
Burnin' room, burnin' room
Burnin' room, burnin' room
Don't you think we oughta know by now
Don't you think we shoulda learned somehow
Don't you think we oughta know by now
Don't you think we shoulda learned somehow
Don't you think we oughta know by now
Don't you think we shoulda learned somehow
