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Guantanamo Bay

In his ongoing protest project against human rights violations (namely torture) at Guantanamo Bay, my friend Tristan Williamson had me water-board him yesterday (a form of simulated drowning). Here is the link to a slide show of the procedure:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/…

Last week, we put Tristan in a Department of Defense approved stress position and practiced sensory deprivation where he could not hear, see, or speak. This is another practice at Guantanamo that they subject prisoners to for up to 21 hours. Tristan is a veteran of Navy Special Forces having served time around the world and in combat in Iraq and only lasted 3.5 hours. He had planned on eight hours. Here is the link to a slide show of that demonstration:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/…

There are also videos of both events (the water-boarding was private, the other was public at Indiana University Southeast) that will be edited for time (the IUS protest will be time-lapsed) and posted on YouTube with comments from passers-by at the IUS event included. I will give you that address when he finishes. He is also writing a diary of sorts of the preparation, experience, and aftermath of both forms of torture and will give public access to these, as well. His point is, after Bush's decision to keep Guantanamo Bay open last month, to get these human rights violations back in public conversation. If you would like to contact Tristan with words of encouragement or discussion, shoot me a message and I will send you his email address.
I will also make a note with my thoughts and reactions to these protest events in the coming days. Thank you.
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Tomorrow! (Wednesday, November 19, 2008)

My appearances in Bloomington have been scarce lately, but I will be up there tomorrow at this:

I'll be there!  Where will you be?

You should come by and say hello.

Matrix Poetry Slam
Rachael's Cafe
300 East 3rd Street, Bloomington, Indiana
11/19/2008 7:00pm

p.s. Thanks to jkershb from whom I stole the image of the flyer.
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animals

"i'm just a soul whose intentions are good
oh lord please don't let me be misunderstood"

it keeps running through my head. why doesn't it run through someone else's, instead?
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(no subject)

Here is an open mic opportunity and another chance for you to get use out of that Halloween costume:

For our Halloween open mic this Thursday, October 30th we are throwing a costume party type event. The theme is "We All Wear Masks". Although you may read/play anything that you like, participants are encouraged to "wear a mask" with their poems and lyrics by reading poems by a narrator that is not the poet/songwriter themselves. You can read first-person narratives from the point of view of Mickey Mouse, a Toaster, your favorite pet, James Bond, or any other character known or that you have made up. If you can dress up for it on Halloween (or even if you can't) you can read/play it. There will also be treats available and small door prizes for costumes/poetry/songs/or pure randomness. Come on out and share your work. If you are shy you can wear a real mask, as costumes are highly encouraged!

We All Wear Masks Poetry/Music Open Mic
Thursday, October 30, 2008, 7-8:30PM
Perkfection Cafe
359 Spring Street, Jeffersonville, IN 47130
For directions and/or questions, email info@syzygypoets.com or call Ian at 812-360-5054.

Also, don't forget that this Friday is our online radio show Poet's Bistro from 12:30-1:30PM. Grab your lunch then call in to share your poems, or read your favorite from another writer. This open mic will be the same theme, but any poetry is encouraged (with the exclusion of hate-speech). You can find the show at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/poets….

Thank you all, and I look forward to hearing your poetry and music.

Sincerely,


Ian Uriel Girdley
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(no subject)

Throughout all of the fall-out the crumbling of empires, bombs raining like rabid dogs, concrete disintegrating as it lands at our feet. We pull the switch during pitch-black midnights. All that remains the same and good is a stiff drink, our poetry, and the hang-over in the morning when we dine on our daily breakfast of forbidden fruit: knowledge, as it is death.
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Poetry From Abroad and Open Mic

You are invited to this free event:

Joelle Petrus will be the featured reader, sharing poems written during and inspired by her time in the Peace Corps in Burkina Faso and her time in Cairo.

John (Fish) Isbell will open for Ms. Petrus, sharing poetry inspired by his time living in England and traveling Europe.

As always, there will be an open mic, where we invite you to share your poetry, music, comedy, or performance art.

Friday, October 3, 6:00PM at Rachael's Cafe (300 East 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN