Learning to Roar

So a lot has changed in the last week. I am away from NYC and it is difficult to give updates, but Time’s UP! and four XUP volunteers (including me) have been issued a summons in regards to our involvement in promoting Critical Mass. More later.

In the meantime I highly suggest my friend’s Bike Blog for more detailed info. He was at last friday’s Critical Mass.

Also, check the links below:

Democracy Now! Segment
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/03/28/1434209

Normal Siegal Press Conference Statement:
http://www.times-up.org/press_view.php?release=050327_norman_siegel

XUP Press Release
http://www.times-up.org/press_view.php?release=050327_nyc_sues_criminalizes

NYC Indymedia Critical Mass Reportback:
http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/146345/index.php

NYC Indymedia Summons Report:
http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/146175/index.php

hello;

It appears much fun will be had during the early spring in NYC. If the warm weather weren’t enough then you’ve got the NYC May Day Festivaland the continuing battle for the streets during Critical Mass in Manhattan and Brooklyn!

Pay attention to Complacent and get on their email list for fun and worthwhile events throughout the year.

More later, maybe.

Originally this Blog was very practical. I used it to share my experience of organizing the resistance around the Republican National Convention in NYC during the Summer of 2004. It was a way to let people know whether or not i had been arrested and generally allow me an outlet during an incredibly stressful time.

During the six weeks leading up to the RNC i often thought the experience would never end. Organizing on that level had this way of dominating almost every aspect of one’s life. I’m surprised my dreams weren’t more dominated by activist subject matter as often happens in production when you’ve been working on a feature film for more than a month.

Anyway, enough time has past for me to really feel the RNC experience as part of my history and no longer a dominate feature of my everyday reality. I am grateful for this distance.

The crackdown on Critical Mass, and the bike community in general, continues with no end in sight. The cops started something that they don’t know how to stop. Each month they seem to escalate. In the long run I believe we will win, but it could take awhile.

In the meantime check out my friend’s Bike Blog on NYC bike culture for the latest info on what’s going down in the streets.

My art remains my salvation and each month I seem to be putting more and more energy into the enterprise. The process is draining and thrilling at the same time. My efforts have led to a chance to show in Berlin, Germany. I am thrilled and will be heading out there later in the month.

As for the Blog I intend to maintain some sort of a presence here and I assume a time will come when it becomes a more vital part of my life again. But I am not sure when.

Peace for now.