The King is dead, long live the King...

I apologize for my absence. I have been moving for the past week or so making my opportunities to post somewhat limited. That said, I felt the need to chime in here.

This stands out particularly for me because, I think for many from Detroit, no matter how strange Michael Jackson became or how old he got, he remained that same ten year old that set the world on fire with his brothers. As is well covered in this piece from the New York Times, his star had fallen since the late 90s. But don't ever forget that through all the sideshows and drama, the man was a musical genius and that will live on.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/arts/music/26pareles.html

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The more clear things become, the more cloudy they appear...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/17/world/middleeast/17notebook.html?_r=1

Logically, the first steps being taken by the authoritarian regime are to control the media coverage of this election and the resulting unrest. BBC is now reporting that there have been pro-government militia attacks on university dorms. The AP is also reporting that Iraninan bloggers and media outlets are being instructed to take down material or face possible legal action.

This promises to increase as the unrest grows. To this point, it does not appear that the ruling clerics intend to take steps that might harm the incumbent's position. For now, at least, Ahmadinejad appears to be safely positioned to watch his lackeys complete the dirty work of keeping him in office. For sure it seems that the Ayatollah Khameni plans to do the same.

Something happened on the way to Tehran...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/16/iran-elections-protests-recount

So, as many expected, the election in Iran has spiralled into social unrest. There was always reason to believe that the results would be disputed but the level to which tampering and outright fraud appears to have taken place surprises me. When an election appears to be headed for a close call, the technology available today makes it almost impossible for one side or the other to rig a "landslide" for the purposes of trying to show power.

That said, it will be interesting to watch the existing power structure in Iran try to fix this situation just enough to leave their man in power but also calm the masses who, for the first time since the revolution appear to be motivated to act. The next few weeks should be a very interesting and volitile time in the Middle East.

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Cuts like a (really big, huge, abnormally large) knife... Take 2

I only realized this morning that the text accompanying last night's
photo failed to post, so here it is. Again.

Well... This hurts. A lot. For the first time since 1995, I am on the receiving end of this feeling. Firstly, my most sincere congratulations to the people of Pittsburgh. Your team played a great series and earned this.

In the meantime, I feel the need to go puke/cry. This is the kind of feeling that never leaves any true sports fan. I can still feel the Tigers of 1987 and the 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001 Red Wings. The 2005 Pistons aren't lost on me either.

This is the kind of feeling that drives the desire to win. It is also the kind of feeling that can make you question your values and
> what you hold dear. I mean, it is just game, right?

The glass being half full, I have been blessed to love and lose, though I will always come in second in that category to residents of Buffalo. Still, I have been a witness to an incredible feat in modern sports. Sustained excellence doesn't come around very often.

What scares me most is that nothing is guaranteed. I may never see another title game/series. Several of us Detroiters were discussing this tonight. This could be it. Maybe it won't be. But it certainly could be the end of our run. As much as I love my team and their successes, I already lived through the "Dead Things" era. I don't care to do that again. But karma owes me nothing. And that feeling mostly sucks, as people of many cities can likely explain better than I (see: Boston pre-2004, Chicago northsiders, etc.).

I have been blessed. I have seen the promised land and losing it kills me. Until next time.

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Cuts like a (really big, huge, abnormally large) knife...