We've just completed two days of staff meeting/retreat at Tactical Tech. It's a very exciting time, lots of cool projects and a strategy around helping advocates/activists from marganilized communities handle information more effectively. We are also about to make a bunch of new hires that will hopefully make all of our lives easier

One tool that came up during our Sex Worker training in Phnom Penh (thanks to Melissa Gira http://www.sexerati.com, who has been working with us on the project) is Twitter. Bettysnake got on Twitter after some exposure to Melissa as well.

Was having this conversation earlier in the week with Fearless Leader about how interesting it would be to look in on our lives a year from now and see where we all are.

I couldn't imagine that exactly one year ago I would be where I am now. The major changes are that my long term relationship (19 years last may) came crashing to an end and that Tactical Tech would turn into such a solid organization with such kick-ass projects.

It was an extremely disorienting moment.  Fearless leader and I had disembarked a plane after a 10 hour journey from Amsterdam to Bangkok, into an Airport we did not recognize.  We had both come through Bangkok several times, me as recently as last August.  But the airport we emerged into looked nothing like the Bangkok airport we knew and loved.  Bangkok airport is a chaos of shops, stalls, restaurants and bright neon that tells you immediately that you are in Southeast Asia, but the Airport we were emerging into was a cold soul-less space made of concrete and glass that could have bee

I'm in Phnom Penh for a meeting of sex worker advocacy groups from around the globe. Tactical Tech is doing work on helping these groups exchange information for both their global advocacy work but also for local advocacy. We just completed a survey of organizations and one of the most striking examples of use of media for an advocacy strategy (and there's actually quite a few) is from a group in Taipei calle COSWAS that have produced an excellent video about the plight of Sex Workers.

This is proof that the Tactical Tech team has actually made it out of the hotel here in Phnom Penh.

http://blip.tv/file/186998/

This is courtesy of Melissa Gira, who has been consulting with us on this project.

Somehow I managed to make it Tierra Del Fuego on this vacation. Its sort of a miracle I got here, acquiring a last minute plane ticket out of Buenos Aires and then having to wait hours for the plane to actually depart (Aerolinas Argentina definately does not have the best ontime schedule performance). But the two days it took to actually acquire a plane ticket and then get down here was definately worth it.

Summit View in Parque Nacional de Tierra del Fuego

Tierra Del Fuego is stunningly gorgeous. The mountain peaks are so dramatic. The hikes we've taken here have all been just wonderous, with gorgeous vistas at every turn. The sun seems to take forever to go from east to west and then hovers at dusk for the longest time and then descends finally.

So, I'm leaving Rio behind... And with a heavy heart.

Yeah, its gorgeous and yes, somewhat dangerous.  Made it through without the joy of getting mugged, but met quite a few people who did.

Here's some tips about how to get the most out of visiting Rio.

If you go during Carnaval:

- Avoid the parties and clubs you have to pay for and stick with the Banda's - the outdoor street parties and parades.  There a lot more fun and you'll meet a lot more

- Definately go to the Sambadromo, though heard a promising report that its well worth it to wait and see the parade of champions rather than the competition.  The Parade of Champions is apparently much cheaper (and a tad shorter).  The food in the stadium is horrible, be sure to eat ahead of time.

I've been fascinated by discussions around copyright and intellectual property ever since I attended my first Source camp (Summer Source - Croatia, 2003).  The discussion of what should be "public" as opposed to "private" kind of makes me hot.  I could listen to these debates for hours.  I think the piece that always gets me about copyright is the Mickey Mouse case - whenever mickey's copyright is about to expire, the copyright laws change to leave him in the full blown control of Disney.  Never mind the fact that Disney has made a mint off of a slew of stuff that was in the public domain (Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, etc.).

Bags are packed and I'm ready to hit the road. Walked down 8th avenue this morning and watched the frozen rain coming down and thought "this ain't so bad, should be able to get on my flight no problem."

But thats not how its meant to be. Delta has other plans with the weather.

As I'm rushing around the apartment in my final fervor before heading out the door, I think I better check the flight status. Sure enough, cancelled. I take a deep breath and pick up the phone.

An hour later, the agent is telling me I'm not going to get to Rio until Sunday (today is Wednesday). I freak, I plead "I'm going for Carnaval GOD DAMNIT, I'll miss it totally!." She sighs in my ear and puts me on hold.