Technically Challenged

In the parking lot of Brooks Pharmacy in Davis Square, Ann noticed a car from Maine bearing a "Republicans for Voldemort" bumper sticker.

For once I wasn't carrying my PDA so Ann snapped it with hers. She beamed the photo to my PDA but I can't seem to transfer the picture to my computer. The picture is on my PDA. However, when I resync my PDA with my computer, it doesn't tranfer over with all my other photos. It's probably time for me to read the troubleshooting guide or post a plaintive cry for help on the Palm Zire 72 users chat-board.

In any case, I googled "Republicans for Voldemort" and quickly discovered that the stickers have been all the rage for many months. You can buy a 5 pack of the stickers, a messenger bag or even a babydoll t.

Olfactory Mystery

For the last couple of days, I've been puzzled by a strange smell in the apartment. At first, I wondered if it was some decaying vegetable matter in the kitchen. Since it seemed to follow me into the living room, I even pondered when I last showered.

It turns out it was my Valentine Day's roses.

My Curry Valentine

Although I'm a Christmas curmudgeon, I enjoy buying gifts and cards for Valentine's Day. It's less a family religious holiday than an appreciation of one's loved ones. Plus I'm fortunate to currently have a valentine whom I deeply love.

Last year was our first Valentine's Day. Unfortunately, I was at the United Students for Fair Trade conference at UC Santa Cruz at the time. I cancelled my hotel reservation at the last minute so that I could stay on campus. Unfortunately I didn't tell Ann of the change so I didn't receive the flowers that she sent to the hotel.

This year Ann successfully sent me red roses to work, while I gave her a card and big box of Burdick's chocolates. In the evening we ate a special Valentine's Day menu at Tamarind Bay, a new Indian restaurant in Harvard Square.

Roses, chocolate and curry. Even a holiday curmudgeon like me could love that.

Postscript
Ann reminds me that:

1. The title of this entry - "My Curry Valentine" - was her idea.

2. For the second year, I wasn't around to receive her gifts of roses. I neglected to tell her that I worked from home on Valentine's Day. But I found the box in my office the next day.

Leaving Nevada

Visiting Nevada was a study in contrasts.

I was there for a two-day strategy session on mining and indigenous peoples' rights. We met in a room at a local "Inn & Casino."

After two days of powerpoint presentations and power mapping, the room was strewn with the detritus of an activist meeting: dirty coffee cups, hand-outs, and the results of brainstorming sessions written on giant post-it notes attached to the four walls. By 5pm on the last day, everyone was still buzzed with new ideas and allies. The energy had risen so high that the final question was: when can we meet like this again?

Outside this bubble of activism lay the casino. When I slipped out to the restroom, first the cigarette smoke struck me. Then I noticed the rows and rows of clattering slot machines dotted with expressionless senior citizens slowly pushing in quarter after quarter. Nobody was smiling. In the background played the 1970s prog-rock of Supertramp, Gerry Rafferty and Wings.

Even when we arrived at the Inn & Casino at 7.30am on the first day, the scene was the same. Despite the early hour, clumps of people - none under the age of 50 - were still slack-jawed at the slot machines. I was told that the Elko casinos have no windows. All 24 hours the slot machines are bathed in the same artificial light that cuts people off from the natural rhythms of the day.

There is no way that I will spend one moment of my golden years servicing slot machines. Truly this part of Elko was my vision of hell.

Just outside of the casinos there was a different world. After the meeting, we spent a day visiting the valleys and mountains outside of town. These are the traditional lands of the Western Shoshone. Photographs can't quite capture the beauty of the scene. Nor can I do justice to the traditional stories told us by Carrie Dann, a renowned Western Shoshone activist and elder.

At the end of day, I soaked in the waters of a natural hot spring under the stars. A relaxing end to an inspiring few days.

Before my presentation, the projector shows my PC desktop complete the background picture of me and Ann.

This valley used to be dotted by geysers renowned in Western Shoshone oral history. Now the geysers have been drained by the geothermal plant seen venting in the distance.

Two views of the valley with the Cortez gold mine in the distance.

More views of the landscape.

Elko, Nevada

Here's a picture of the plane I took today from Salt Lake City to Elko, Nevada.

I always worry when my 8th row seat is at the back of the airplane. I refer to planes this small as crop-dusters. Although I do like the opportunity to walk across the tarmac before boarding.



I'll tell you more about Elko in a couple of days.

Enemy of the State

I am proud to learn that today I was denounced by name by the ruling Burmese military junta.

At a press conference, the junta's "Information Committee" provided helpful "clarifications on subversive acts committed by internal & external destructive elements." This included details of a solo protest in Rangoon by an American citizen whom the junta linked to the US Campaign for Burma. The junta named me as one of those who "steer" the organization.

I'm impressed by one thing. The junta spelled my name correctly.