All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

The Edge of 2013 #photography #poetry

penned in moon dust

column

Standing at the precipice

you can’t catch me

it is too late for a fling

hanging on a string

once a drip of water

now but winter’s daughter

*

I stand at the precipice

active are lights and colors

scents cloud my reason

sounds of the season

wrapped in bows

I pivot on my toes

*

I stand on the precipice

so many things I missed

struggling to catch them as I fall

wishing to embrace it all

unsuccessful was my list

the many words I missed

*

I jump from the precipice

you can judge the distance

28 more days

the sun shines too little rays

I smile at the thought

all the places where we walked

footsteps

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NYPD Crackdown On Subway Panhandlers Defies “Common Sense”: Gothamist

“There are more important things we have to worry about, like people becoming the victim of a crime,” a police source told the Post in a December 2, 2013 story. “People are getting thrown onto subway tracks, having their iPhones and iPads snatched. The last thing we’re worried about is a man begging for a nickel on the holidays. It’s common sense.”

via NYPD Crackdown On Subway Panhandlers Defies “Common Sense”: Gothamist.

Opposition Protestors in Ukraine Erect Tent City in Kiev Overnight – SPIEGEL ONLINE

On Sunday, around 100,000 opposition supporters gathered on Independence Square in defiance of a ban on rallies until Jan. 7. Around double that amount were believed to be in the city center in total. There were violent clashes on the fringes of the demonstration with police reporting roughly 100 officers injured. According to the city authorities, nearly 50 protestors also needed treatment for injuries. Several dozen members of Svoboda occupied a vacant public building and hung a Ukrainian flag from the window.

There were also protests in other parts of the country. In Lviv in western Ukraine, about 50,000 anti-government demonstrators took part in a rally. In Donetsk, in the Russian-speaking region in the east of the country where the president comes from, 250 people defied a ban on demonstrations. For days, supporters of closer ties with the EU have been protesting against Yanukovych.

via Opposition Protestors in Ukraine Erect Tent City in Kiev Overnight – SPIEGEL ONLINE.

Opinion: Between dream and nightmare | Europe | DW.DE | 02.12.2013

A political turning point

Ukrainians are familiar with such abuses by the police through media coverage about Moscow and Minsk. Their own country, however, hasn\’t seen such things since the Orange Revolution. In fact, the capital of Kyiv practically hasn\’t seen a week without some from of demonstration or proclamation. Ukrainians have gotten used to enacting their right to assemble in a creative and colourful manner. And now, of all times, when decisions of national importance like the EU accession are hanging by a thread – decisions that are of everyone\’s concern – out come the police batons.

It could be a political turning point the public is unwilling to accept. This, too, the Kyiv mass demonstrations are a sign of: Ukrainians refuse any orders to stay quiet. Until now, protests in the capital and elsewhere were primarily against the decision to postpone EU accession talks. But after the violence against peaceful demonstrators, the movement has gained new momentum: Calls are not only for a change in foreign policy any more; now it\’s about the government and its president to step down.

via Opinion: Between dream and nightmare | Europe | DW.DE | 02.12.2013.

Poultry market to shut over bird flu fears | Shanghai Daily

This will do more to cut flu cycle than any other step! After five years, it will revolutionize their poultry market and the fight against annual and novel flus!

Shanghai will suspend live poultry trading from January 31, the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, until April 30 to prevent a recurrence of the bird flu.

The suspension will be an annual feature for the next five years, dependent on the evaluation and warning of the bird flu and the seasonal onset, according to a joint statement issued by the Shanghai Agricultural Commission and the Shanghai Commerce Commission.

All the designated wholesale and retail markets will be banned from trading in poultry and violators face hefty fines between 10,000 yuan (US$1,641) and 30,000 yuan under a new rule that took effect in June.

via Poultry market to shut over bird flu fears | Shanghai Daily.

Christopher Walken “Wasn’t Weirded Out” When Fans Gave Him Ride Across City: Gothamist

Last month, we saw photographic evidence that dancing enthusiast Christopher Walken was randomly picked up by two strangers who saw him struggling to hail a cab on the Upper West Side. Sergio P. told us that he and his friend Ash K., both 38, had been driving down Columbus Avenue around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday Nov. 19th when they spotted the iconic actor: \”He said he was hailing a cab. Wasn\’t weirded out [by the situation], but did look at us both and into the car. We were really nice and told him we were fans and would be honored to give him a lift. [He was] totally cool with it.\” So now you know how to act if you happen to drive by Walken.

\”I have never picked up anyone. Not an actor or a random person,\” Sergio told us. Walken told them politely, \”I don\’t want you guys to go out of your way. I am going straight downtown and you can leave me anywhere.\” Sergio described a little bit of what the three men talked about as they drove from around W. 83rd Street to somewhere in the W. 40s: \”Since we were in NY he knew the area well but couldn\’t believe how much things had changed. Also told us he was born in Astoria Hospital, because my son went to St. John\’s High School. We talked about neighborhoods in NY and acting—he gave [Ash] advice on acting.\”

The best part: Walken is even nicer than we imagined. \”We had time to talk because there was traffic but it was moving. When we stopped at his destination he didn\’t immediately get out. Finished the conversation and got out a few minutes after.\” So feel free to kindly offer Walken a ride if you see him—it\’s probably better that way than the other way around.

via Christopher Walken “Wasn’t Weirded Out” When Fans Gave Him Ride Across City: Gothamist.

Zaatar W Zeit’s Act of Kindness

A Separate State of Mind | A Blog by Elie Fares

I was walking around Beirut the other day, in neighborhoods I hadn’t been to in a long time, only to find streets that have drastically changed. The most poignant moment of my walk was when I saw an old woman, sitting by the corner of the road crying. She had her mattress next to her. She had nowhere to go. The walk up to that woman was full of people like her. Things are getting tougher and there’s nothing to make them easier.

As a rule of thumb, it can be said that Lebanese restaurants are very disassociated with the general security of the country. As things get tougher, their prices get higher. I’ve rarely, if ever, heard of stories like the one below. But it is one of those rare instances that take you a few minutes to believe. 

Screen Shot 2013-12-01 at 1.46.06 PM

Of course, Zaatar w Zeit didn’t advertise this. It…

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A Tale of Two Cities: Lebanon Edition

Tripoli indeed deserves better, especially it’s children!

A Separate State of Mind | A Blog by Elie Fares

I went to watch a movie in Beirut yesterday. It was done by 1AM so I simply went back home. As I walked up the sidewalk leading to my apartment, I could hear the parties bustling around me. Gemmayzé was gearing up to lose its cars. Cars were still circling the roads fervently in search for their next destination.

Even the movie that I watched was marred by the beats being dropped at a nearby nightclub. It was one of those old cinemas that didn’t bother invest in soundproof systems. Or was the club too loud? I guess nightlife in Beirut is alive and well. All was well.

As I walked back home, there was probably someone my age also making his way back to his place in the Northern city of Tripoli. Unlike me, however, he did not walk carelessly to his apartment, carefully examining his surroundings. That man…

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