Iran Tests Missiles

Iran has tested two different types of short-range missiles and plans to test a new long range missile. I see this as a response to increasing international pressure to halt uranium enrichment (which Iran says is for energy). After watching the brutal crackdown and media blackout after the Iranian election I find it difficult to believe most of the information coming out of the Iranian government. If you somehow missed the last Iranian election, I strongly suggest that you do some research into the fraud allegations and massive protests.

Regardless, I find today's news disconcerting...

To Arms! To Arms!

Following the dismissal of Jacques Necker on July 11, 1789 the people of Paris began to fear for the lives of their representatives in the Third Estate. Having no arms with which to protect themselves, they resolved to storm the Bastille (a prison and arms depository). This is considered the third step of the French Revolution. (First, the nobility refused to pay higher taxes to finance the American War of Independence. Second, the Third Estate were forced out of their chambers and made the Tennis Court Oath.) The storming of the Bastille led to the Third Estate drafting the Declaration of the Rights of Man - a pivotal document by any historian's standard.

July 14, now known as Bastille Day or the "Fête Nationale" in France, is a French national holiday which celebrates the uprising of the French people against classes which oppressed them politically and economically. It should be noted that without the arms within the Bastille, the people of Paris, and their uprising, would have been easily squashed by the French military. What if they did not secure these arms? Would the revolution have been successful? More to the point, how will the modern citizen revolt against his or her government if their government follows the pattern of almost every government in world history?

We are Anonymous. Expect Us.

Here's a pair of videos that might be good for a laugh. I was watching Craig Ferguson on Youtube a while back and I came across this parody. Unfortunately, I hadn't seen the original video before, so I didn't quite get it. To make a long story short, watching these two videos sent me along a stream of research into Scientology and all of its craziness.

If you are interested, here is the Scientology wiki. You might also be interested to know that a large internet group called Anonymous declared war on Scientology a while back using this this video as their declaration. Who is Anonymous? Fox news described this group as a bunch of 'hackers on steroids'. Go Fox! In reality, we are all part of Anonymous. It refers to members of the anonymous internet culture - the uncollected collective. It is everyone and no-one. For the record, Anonymous was responsible for the arrest of internet predator Chris Forcand in Canada. It was the first time an internet predator was arrested because of 'internet vigilantism'.

A Portal to the Future

Back in teacher's college I came across this video. It's awesome. It really helped me evolve as computer user and teacher. I actually prepared a presentation for my history class based on this information, but sadly was never able to deliver it.

Nonetheless, the author has released another video that blew me away. His name is Michael Wesch, a professor at Kansas State University. Today's video is a seminar that he gave at the University of Manitoba. It's a long one, but incredibly interesting. Whether you are a teacher or a student, you should be able to understand the significance of what he is talking about. If only my profs had been anything like this guy. His students ended up learning and remembering FAR more than they would have. And it looks like (gasp!) most of them actually came to a first year class. All without textbooks or lectures.

Watch it and please comment below. I would like to know what other people think.