Today's video Really Amazing...Bon Jovi and Andy ( Iranian artist) sing together " Stand By Me" ( more down below)

June 24th Bon Jovi and Andy Maladian ( well loved Iranian Musician) went into the Studio and recorded "Stand By Me":::

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"Stand by Me" ( with video and photo montage). Great to use, if you want to talk with Friends...beautifully done.

( posted during the night, and reposted this am)

Iranian Uprising Day 13 : The Brutal Government Crackdown Continues ....but the Iranian People's Courage Persists....

Women are a huge part of this story, In my lifetime I have never seen women on the street fighting side by side with their husbands and sons and brothers. They are a part of this struggle in a way that none of us would have foreseen a week ago. The images of them gathering rocks or protecting a wounded person or listening to their Voices on the videos is Historic.We always hear about the Fierce Lion Spirit within Iranians, but I think what we are really witnessing is the rise of the Lioness Spirit....it is courageous and Fearless. In this video of protests from yesterday you can clearly hear a woman's voice leading the Chant through the smoke of the tear gas.
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USA Today explores the history changing role women are taking in this Uprising. Their courage has been breathtaking. And this article also explores the shift that their role has added to this Uprising. I many of the late night Smuggled Videos I watch , they are the ones filming with cellphones, and of the twitters I read I can tell which ones are women as they sit in the dark texting out the events of the day. For now it is illegal for them to carry those mobiles and to be seen filming, they are risking beatings and imprisonment or worse for carrying a phone.....but it does not stop them from reporting the Truth or from going to the streets.
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As this Iranian Government continues it's Media Black Out it is interesting to see how effective their brutal crackdown will be in suppressing the truth. Considering most information has now come down to cellphones and Twitter and some hidden computers and creative access to twitter. This article has more from some very different reporters and journalists and how they see it. In a way the fact that they have been so severely Silenced shows more about how important Freedom of Speech truly is, and now how dangerous it is in Iran. A week ago would anyone have perdicted a Country's Future was so connected to people being able to use cellphones and Twitter ? And that lives would depend on their ablility to do so ? Native Americans used smoke signals, the Iranians are being as creative at getting their messages out and staying connected. This Huffington Post article takes another critical look at the role of Citizen Journalism in Iran at this time.
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More from the BBC about the situation there in the past 23 hours shows how difficult things have become in a matter of days. BBC map shows the protests.....and the city of Tehran. geographically tracking the situation and putting it in context. BBC (UK) and Persia despite many constraints are providing amazing coverage. Here is an Interview done by the BBC with the Doctor that tried to save Neda's life...really stunning.
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Cellphone Video from Looking Down on Basharastan Sq yesterday 6.24.09, the bloodiest day yet. This linked video clearly shows how the Situation has degenerated into a situation where any single street can easily within minutes become a battlezone situation. The Video shows that the protests now have a flash mob feel, and then the Basjii desend like locusts swarming and attacking at random. The Video is grainey, blurry, but still the horror these people are experiencing as they are terrorized by their own Government is disturbing.
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One of the main twitters last night was people trying to get information to the Iranians on how to protect themselves when attacked by the Basji, it was chilling realizing that so many were trying to reach out to them and offer them help with this simple link an anti riot website. And so this being my first week to Twitter, I have spent the past few nights twittering Riot Protection Advice, tears gas care, and how to put pressure on a gunshot wound,...Again the enormity of people worldwide sitting up late into the night trying to send them this help is surreal. But after watching the video above, how could I as a nurse not try to reach out and help. But what moves me is that so many others around the world are doing the same thing....
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Worldwide Vigils and Rallies of support are being planned this week look for one in your area.
This beautiful video below is a Candlelight Vigil that was held in Vancouver, it is called " The Scream of Silence".Really Stunning.

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Really amazing photos capturing the situation.....please do share. In an odd way it has been amazing to watch as more and more reporters have been expelled over this week, and others arrested, that the Coverage has come down to photos capturing a moment in time that truly tells the story. And even more Orwellian now that People sending the photos out or even having a Camera or even a phone are being arrested and beaten. It makes the photos a precious connection to a people in danger.
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And just when we thought the Iranian Government could not paint the situation more in a more irrational deluded light, They now are trying to tell the Neda story as that she was killed by Outside Terrorists, and they claim they have a Foreign Bullet. Which is ironic, since the family was not returned the body properly for burial and they have now been forced to flee their home.
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Two women tell their tale of escaping from Iran, they are clear about what they went through.
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When I heard their tale above I realized that many are now trying to get out of Tehran and Iran. I hope that some of the Twitter people that we are missing are escaping.Persian Kiwi is one of those people..... People following Persian Kiwi please do go to this blog and look for updates.....
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For those that don't understand the Brutal Basiji are and how they operate in Iran, and the risk they pose, and the power they wield, against citizens and against the Media and Journalists...This Mini Doc by CURRENT explains alot. CURRENT, this is Al Gore's online channel , also has more on Iran that is worth seeing.
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Cleveland article presents some interesting information about the situation, and shows how Iranians here at home are watching this situation unfold.
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Aljeezera coverage Asks some really interesting questions and raises new angles to the story.
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Aljeezera also has an amazing update today and footage that must be seen that proves that Protesters in the street on June 20th were being shot at from above it is Chilling and gripping and well reported.
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One of the most disturbing revelations that came out over the past 24 hours is that Mousavi met with 70 University professors in the past 2 days, now it appears from different accounts they are being held, Some reports like this CBS one say they are being "detained". Where as Tehran Broadcast is openly reporting that they have been arrested and are being held by the government.
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1 PM That is all for now...more updates later today. Please do read Huffington Post LIVEblog by Nico.Pitney he is really covering all angles of this situation....
8 PM ...checking Twitter and updating post for tomorrow..sadly we all know that with the Sandford Foolishness, and the Deaths of Micheal Jackson...the media will slow down their coverage of Iran...so so sad....and frustating...have a good rest of the night...Another update tomorrow..

Please do read the post below it explains why I have disabled comments for now.

Iranian Uprising Update Day 11 : The Government Crackdown is in full force upon the People. And the People are resisting.

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No One Should ever have to run for their lives from their OwnGovernment.
No One.
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( This Post will kept at the Top and updated throughout the day )
Be Sure to Scroll down and see President Obama's Press Conference where Iran was discussed and he made a strong statement.
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First Update On Liveblogging and Daily Updates:::
The Best Source to follow this situation closely remains Huffington Post where Nico Pitney is still liveblogging. Please do see his updates yesterday about the unrest is spreading to outside of Tehran, it has now spread in spite of State Run TV propaganda.
NYT has also put together a page combined with the LEDE team that is following closely.Also Google has Citizen Tube where they are updating the Video collection Daily.And CNN has really started covering much better ( since Sunday when Don Lemon literally manned the anchor chair for many many hours and took this story to a new level.) MSNBC other than Keith remains a horrible void on this issue. The Financial Papers also are covering the situation from many angles, which if there is a National Strike is an important piece of the situation, Reuters and WSJ are covering. Youtube and Twitter continue to be the main ways for the Iranians to get their story to the World. Andrew Sullivan of the Atlantic Monthly's The Dish is also doing an amazing job reporting by using Twitter as his source. There is finally a meshing of MSM and Blogs and Citizen reporting that we have never seen before in Journalism.

( Google in a matter of days has not only set up not only Farsi translation services, but also added google earth satellite imagery, and Citizen Tube for videos, and meanwhile Google News is tracking over 20,000 blogs,articles and news resources daily on the Iran Issue ALONE.The deserve much thanks for their creative dedication to assisting this journalistic process.)

If you read yesterday's Update you saw that there is a substantial list of Arrested Reporters and Bloggers. So coverage is still a fragile process that could not happen without the courage of the Iranians who now are being arrested and beaten daily for carrying cameras, yet they are still filming with their cellphones.
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When you look at the photos and the video I am asking you to think about this, What would you do ? If your Election was stolen and Blatantly so....Millions of Votes ? And then when people protested Peacefully and asked for a Review or a Recount or a Review If was Denied and the Election was officially Stolen , What would you do ? And then let's take it further, the Government of power, stolen power set forth Crushing Forces upon the people, shooting people, beating people in the streets, and arresting people in the Night....What would you do ? Would you film your neighbors being beaten and arrested and shot ? Would you risk your life to get the film and photos out to the world ? Would you want the World to see The Truth ? And if Armed Forces invaded your street what would you do ? I look at this photo of this woman with her rocks...and the look in her eyes.

For in Iran, now the people that are protesting and resisting this Sham of a Process, they are now being labeled as "terrorists" by their own Government Even though Millions had taken to the streets peacefully. And now yes, they arm themselves with rocks against the Basiji Thugs on their motorbikes and the Paramilitary Force. But it is the Thugs coming through neighborhoods destroying cars and bashing property. In my lifetime it is the first time I have ever seen women on the streets with their husbands and sons and brothers in such a tumultuous dangerous bloody situation. And as a young American Iranian woman said yesterday, "What Kind of Government beats grandmothers ?" Please do see her moving full 3 minute CNN interview below.
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** Many Videos of this Government Ordered Violence and Thuggery are posted below Sunday Night scroll down, those videos were snuck out at great risk via stealth of night and Twitter and cellphones. **
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Really Amazing CNN Interview from 6.22.09:

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1:35 AM Update::::
The News that broke in the Middle of the Night is that the Guardian Council will not nullify the Election even though there were and are Known Issues. The Supreme Leader was the first to Bless the Rigged Election and now the Council is continuing to enable this fraudulent process even further. ( The "recount "issue is still a process that is in turmoil, now there is an offer to Count "Some" boxes ? Even though the first examination revealed that there was over 100% turnout at 50 cities . So what does that mean now ? It means that Internally in Iran, all the processes that perhaps could have enabled a Recount, or even an Annulment with a new Election as Mousavi has requested is no longer a realistic option. But do remember that there is still much to happen and that is ongoing there is Unrest and Division in different factions of the government, and as I posted below the Clerics are not all siding with the Government....so the situation remains volatile and on many other levels unresolved.
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It is in no way normal there for a Cleric to join a Protest and stand side by side with his people in the street yelling at the Government....especially after the Supreme Leader Spoke so sternly on Friday.
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The Guardian is still covering this story in depth and has this article that explains how complicated this situation is.
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Now there comes forth a new story of how cruel and crushing this situation has become The Iranian Government is now charging a Bullet Fee of families that must be paid before they can claim the bodies of their loved ones. At first they denied Anyone had been shot, and now they are charging for the bullets.
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This is the the Correct photo of Neda, Both TIME and other Sources have now corrected the error and do read the LA TIMES article below to learn more about her. ( The girl in the other photo is very much alive. ) I did also post the interview with BBC with her fiance.There is a rumor on Twitter that her father has been "detained" or arrested, but I am still researching that part, for now it does look false. It is true that she was not allowed to have a traditional funeral or memorial and that there were problems finding a Cleric to bless her for burial. The other part of the story that needs correction is that the man that was with her was not her father but her music teacher, but he remains the one that tried to comfort her in her dying moments.

Neda 's story changed alot of How this Uprising was being covered , but also how the information in Iran got OUT to the rest of the World. It in a way became a pivotal moment in fighting Censorship in Iran and Anywhere now in this digital age. Read this NYT story for full look.
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More about Neda from a lengthy article in the LA TImes.
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6 AM update::::
Revolutionary Guard Commander refusing to use Force as ordered by Supreme Leader This Article and This Story is JUST A RUMOR, if you see if on websites or on the Twitter, please set them straight. Reputable Sources have put this rumor to rest.
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Christian Science Monitor has new study that Iran's Election was indeed stolen and explains it in greater detail. They have been working this angle for days and they have really studied it.This is their 4th article on it.
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On another note , my other blog, The Uprising also has all of these posts and is where I intend to archive the liveblogging so that this blog will run smoother. Many people are still using this blog as a source for daily updates and it will continue to be so. If in a hurry I also do put some updates in the Comments.

You also can find me on Twitter, just look up "watergatesummer" .
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Nico Pitney just posted this video over at Huffington Post, it is video from today in Tehran Even with the Roving Bands of Enforcement Police and Thugs on the street by day, These People are still resisting chanting and yelling en masse, in unison...Beyond Brave.
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10:30 AM::: More Updates to Come through the Day, Today President Obama has a Press Conference. Nico Pitney of the Huffington Post will be there to ask a Question, please see his blog for more on this Presser.

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ THIS Nico Pitney just posted this and it is worth forwarding , especially for those of us monitoring Twitter:
"10:12 AM ET -- An Iranian on Facebook says he's in danger. An Iranian who has built up a large Facebook following by posting a consistent stream of new videos and images from Iran's demonstrations left this message today: "The Iranian agents attacked Our home, attacked people there and keep looking for me across the country." It's a frightening reminder to appreciate all the citizen-produced media we are receiving from Iran. Recording the state's actions puts a target on your back.

If you see any other messages like this from Iran's web users, let me know."
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NOON UPDATES::::
Now even Director of the UN is accused of "meddling", Read more here in the BBC about Iran's latest outrageous allegations....
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In The Guardian there is this fine article explaining What Protestors and regular Citizens now face when Arrested by the Iranian Government during this Crackdown....
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This amazing video is from today, Tehran and shows that the people there are beyond brave, They are fighting back and resisting still, using their voices, gathering in large groups and even grouping together their cars. And yes the Military is on the streets., A Bystander made this video, very brave. And the video posted below shows More Street Protests in Tehran.
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1:30PM Update....
President's press conference was excellent- really spoke about bearing witness and spoke with force about what is going on in Iran, his statement is linked in post above. He spoke with grace, heart and wisdom.
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I stand corrected about How Many Reporters, Photographers and Journalists and yes, Bloggers have been arrested it is Now 34 according to Reporters without Borders
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7 PM update:::
It turns out above I asked about the clerics joining the Protests, It turns our that CNN did indeed do a story about it.
11PM:::
Tehran Bureau Update for tonight..people there are tense..scared...worried.....and on the twitter it has been very quiet.....too quiet. Today there were orders that came out that they are no longer to go to the roofs...well, I don 't think they can stop them ...millions of them calling to God...

BBC footage of Military thugs destroying cars....Thuggery

Shirouldi Stadium being made in a Military Depot- 3 Minutes of Hellish video- also listen to the gunshots at 2min. MANY Vans brought in

originally posted 6.22.09 1 PM, reposted today.. MUST SEE VIDEO

Iranian Uprising Day 10, Monday June 22,2009... It was a Bloody Fiery Weekend, see weekend posts below

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*(( My Summary below via Twitter/retrieved videos and photos/huffpost/guardian/internet resources}}**
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Over the weekend, the situation which was already tense and volatile due to the Unanswered Election Fraud Questions
and Suspicions, erupted after the Supreme Leader gave his speech on Friday. His "prayers" unleashed a firestorm, he spoke at Tehran University where students were murdered and ambushed and also students were taken away who have not been seen since. ( Hundreds ? or unknown number to the Dept of the Interior Ministry at the beginning of last week). When Supreme Leader spoke at the prayers he did not mention the dead or missing students, his only mention was of the Spiritually Inadequate Youth. And as to the Election, he made no concessions that there were problems whatsoever, and so now Lies and Deception and Denial and Complete Invalidation of the Millions of People demanding Voting Justice were left with no other path than Revolt.

And because his "Prayers " were basically his way of raising an iron fish cloaked with words of the Holy, the Warning was issued before he brought out the full force of His Military, ParaMilitary Militia and Baseji Thugs ( In the photos you will and footage down below you will see them in plain clothes, camo with full riot gear protection or dressed in Darth Vadar Black with POLICE written on their vests. I find it odd that their vests are written in ENGLISH- POLICE ?). In the Photos you will see from the weekend, there were massive groups of people trying to reach the one planned rally of Saturday at 4PM, with a Complete Media BlackOut Ordered and with No Cellphones and No Internet, he unleashed his desperate Bloody Fury upon his own people. There the Baseji MotorBike Thugs shooting at people on the streets and there roof top shooters, and fully riot geared and armed "police" blocking off roads and alleys to the Designated Squares.There on those streets, unarmed people were beaten with batons, clubs and teargassed and shot at. There were deaths, the numbers range from 35 to over 100. The most known and seen a young woman named Neda Soltani, her story is in the post below. There were also hundreds of injuries.

Now the Iran State Run Media has called these incidents, a response to "terrorists" and "Hooligans", to "quell the violence". Yet that is not true, thousands went to the street to protest Election Fraud, and were beaten for it. In response to the beatings, yes, they did protect themselves by creating road havoc so the Baseji could not ride their motorbikes through and shoot at people. They did this by barricading with dumpsters, and yes, setting tires and dumpsters on fire. These fires also help quell the Tear gas that was supposedly sprayed at them and also dropped from helicopters. There were also the water cannons sprayed at them, but according to twitter that was not the worst of it.

And yes, they watched people get killed in front of them or wounded, and yet in all the videos you see people working together. You see in most of the leaked videos people leading people to shelter, or sheilding young girls, or helping each other up or running. And all the videos have women, girls bravely fighting alongside the men. Unarmed people fighting with fully armed Paramilitary with Rocks. You hear them chanting, banging pots and pans and bring rocks and you see them yelling and also filming . Please do see the post below with some of the photos. Over the weekend I posted all the videos that explain the story, many are too graphic to just post. Youtube is still pulling them off and on. Huffpost bravely ran most of the more violent telling videos. There is a rock scene below that very much shows people fighting to keep the Forces off their streets. At night the Forces and Baseji have been attacking people in their homes and destroying their property and cars. Basically these people, mostly edcuated middle class working people are being terrorized by their own government.

And yet they film and take photos mostly with phones at this point and somehow get the video out, mostly to Twitter. And over the weekend the CrackDown Forces did start arresting and beating those with phones and cameras. And yes, if you read below, they also have arrested more than 27 journalists that the Reporters without borders is tracking.

This weekend the Supreme Leaders unleashed his desperate fury with great determined violence, and yet the People resisted and defiantly took to the streets demanding Freedom and Change and an End to Oppression and Lies and Fraud. On this blog is only a snippet of their story and I can only hope it shows even a glimpse of their great courage.
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Monday Updates ( Mostly Synopsis of weekend by varied sources, Huffingtonpost Live Blog by Nico Pitney remains a stellar source and Andrew Sullivan of the Dish is liveblogging as well, And the NYT has added their own blog as well so do check those resources for more complete coverage). More updates later in the day ( when they tweet out videos and footage).
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ITN has a round up from the weekend , that is a fair summary that matches tweets and other reports and has street video roundup..
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So this Telegraph article points out that "flaws" have been admitted in the election, with the examination revealing that more than 50 cities had more than 100% voters show up ??
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Latest from AFP about what happened over the Weekend....
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Latest from Andrew Sullivan at the Dish he too is liveblogging this with twitter....
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New article and update in The Guardian and apparently Ahmadinejead is claiming that the Forces used were to quell unrest by "terrorists".....
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VOA is reporting that International Criticism is rising significantly....
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An interesting Huffpo article about political shifting and Faeze's arrest and release ...
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More about the former president at the center of this confusing rift or turbulent times NYT explains it...
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Times article about People Power in Iran...
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VOA has article about Western Nations Denying interference in the Iran situation....
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Photo above:::
I have to ask this , BUT is that a Cleric in this photo from the weekend ? If anyone knows please do email me.
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Reporters without Borders has amazing coverage in the post " Iran: World's Biggest Jail".
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10:30 AM Update:::
Really Amazing CNN Interview from this AM , please Watch, ( Nico Pitney/huffp... had posted, but it needs to be seen).

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1:30 PM
New video being passed around...and posted at Huffpo.....Shiroud Sports Stadium being turned into a Military Site..

1:40 PM
amazing song being twitted about....and Andrew Sullivan just posted too...By Matt Steinglass

5:02 PM Update::::
In Iran there is state run TV, and it is called "Reality TV", but it is full of very odd fabrications, look at it, it is almost funny. It has only been viewed 300 times in 4 days...not a big hit I guess.
Neda's Fiance interviewed BBC UK.

Women and Girls are very much a part of this Uprising...

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How Bad was it ? These newly downloaded images tell the story from this brave soul that was there...click the title

Shots being fired at Protesters and people on the street, they scatter in fear....( click the title)

Supposedly People ended up in Street battles with the police before they ever reached any gathering or the Rally, merely walking. Other video clearly shows the shooters up on tops of buildings and shooting in hiding even from windows.

Amazing photos from today that show alot the angst ( Click the title)

More Students at Shiraz University being rushed as they sit by a fence chanting, attacked by the Police( click to watch: warning :disturbing)