you can grouse about that till tomorrow morning ... till then, I am able to personally apologize to you.

can return with your story.

Progressive Blue

Some of you may recall a diary I had done called
Buddha weeps in Jadugoda that talked about Uranium mining in a region where I grew up.

The documentary filmmaker is a classmate of mine (although, our class sizes were huge ~ 320 students, and I have no recollection of him).

Anyways, he just emailed me that he is going to be in the US, as part of a US Dept of State program for emerging documentary filmmakers.  You are welcome to contact him, if you are in the cities listed below.

His name is Shri Prakash (the hotels may have him listed as SriPrakash... he does not use a last name).

A Regional Project for South and Central Asia Documentary Filmmaking

August 27 - September 16, 2008

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Office of International Visitors

Mr. Brad Minnick, Director

           Characteristics of the Participants

This project is designed for filmmakers, directors, producers, broadcasters, distributors, academics and technicians involved in the documentary film industry.

           Project Goals

   * To provide an overview of the documentary film industry in the U.S., including its historical evolution, current trends, and the impact of new technologies;
    * To attend film festivals that screen documentary, independent and feature film and video;
    * To examine documentary film as a means of social, political and cultural commentary and as an expression of free speech;
    * To visit academic institutions and organizations whose mission is to train and mentor those involved in the film industry; and
    * To network with and to explore collaborative efforts of filmmakers, broadcasters, distributors, academics, technicians, film festival directors, philanthropists and financial managers.

         Project Summary

The project will open in Washington, DC, and will highlight the city's key historic and cultural sights. During meetings with leaders of various documentary film organizations, the visitors will explore the ways in which films are funded in the U.S.

From Washington, DC, the participants will travel to Telluride, Colorado to attend the prestigious Telluride Film Festival.

After leaving Telluride, the group will travel to San Francisco, California to visit film universities, libraries and archives. The visitors will meet with representatives of television network productions and film distributors.  Meetings at film schools and libraries will provide an opportunity to review academic art programs for filmmakers. Finally, the delegation will examine film preservation and archiving.

The visitors will then travel to Chicago, Illinois, where they will discuss current trends in documentary filmmaking, art programs for documentary filmmakers and independent television production.

While in New York, New York, the visitors will meet with representatives of academic film institutions to discuss programs for documentary filmmakers and film distribution. The group will also shadow students who are in the process of producing a documentary film. The group will explore innovative art programs promoting understanding, tolerance and global awareness

Hotel's details
-----------------
in Telluride from 28-2 sept
Telluride Mountain Lodging
3335 Davis street
Telluride Street
Telluride, Colorado- 81435
tel 888- 728-1950

Sanfancicsco from 2-7th sept
Hotel Nikko
222 Mason street
San Francissco 94102
tel 415 394 1111

Chicago 7-11 sept
Hampton Inn & Suites - Down Town Chicago
33 W, Illinois street
Chicago, Illinois- 60610
tel 312 832 0330

New York 11- 17th
Hamptton Inn
Times Square North
851 8th Ave New york, NY 10019
 212 581 4100

Congratulations on your new citizenship.  Be well.

Remember that all Democracy truly asks for is thoughtful participation.  No matter who you vote for, if you've weighed the options carefully, then you will own the result; it will be the right choice.

(GObama!)

Anyway, good luck with your new job.

in the blogs. I really liked your blogs, especially those covering foreign affairs. I'm sorry to see you go but I'm sure DoD (whichever agency you're going to join, I'm assuming it is a Program Manager type position) would find your service very useful and of highest standards. You're right about the strict guidelines for federal employees. Another guideline prevents Federal contractors to contribute to political campaigns (for good reason)..

Good luck and see you when I see you again..

Bingo!  I knew it was IAF.

Good luck.

SevenStrings,

Good luck in your new endeavor and may peace be with you always.

Good luck, God bless. Welcome to your dual citizenship status.

Your voice will be missed.  Stay safe!

Congratulations on your new citizenship.  I probably disagree with you on most intra-party issues, but am excited to have a new member of our little, 300 million-strong family.  Good luck as well in your new job.

Congratulations on your successful citizenship application.  I am also a dual-citizen these days, of the US and Australia, and to any who might carp about your choice or any lingering inner voice of doubt you can answer that you have 'a heart big enough to embrace two peoples.'  It works for me.

I have thoroughly enjoyed our discussions in the past and will miss your contribution to this forum.  Good luck in your future endeavours, whatever they may be, and I hope your loyalties strengthen the growing bridge between the two great nations you have chosen as your collective global home.

I don't think I have ever read your posts, but congratulations on your citizenship and new job.  I am an avid Obama supporter, but have enjoyed the general respect given to most of the differing views on this site.  Please think dilligently before voting in the fall.

Keep up writing, somewhere . . . your diaries will be missed.  Congratulations on your citizenship and all the best.

-- Koan

Congrats on your citizenship.   Good luck with your new job...

as for your vote, just remember, there is one party overwhelmingly accepting of immigrants, new citizens, etc and one party that is for the status quo, nationalistic limiting of immigrants, freedoms and the great things this country stands for.    Hillary and Barack are leaders of the Accepting Party and McCain and Bush lead the party of nationalism and hate.   Anger over Hillary's loss is understandable of course but as you make a decision (and I respect that you have kept an open mind and not just decided to spite the face by cutting off the nose)  Remember... Barack and Hillary share the same views on over 90% of issues... They have buried the hatchet...   and experience is not a substitute for Temperment and Judgement.  We do not a cranky old man who can't handle the pressure well... a man who when stressed lashes out at reporters and calls his wife a C**T.   A man, who might have a bad day, get pissed off and bomb a country like Iran, like Pakistan, like India, like Syria and thrust us into another Iraq mess.     This is a man whose answer to universal healthcare is the emergency room.  This is a man who doesn't give a damn about you unless you are rich.  When making that choice look logically instead of emotionally.  Do you go with a man whose policy stances are just like Hillary's or a man whose policy stances are the opposite bastardizations of Hillary's.

Welcome as a US Citizen.  Too bad you cannot write anymore diaries, I have enjoyed some of them (though not all, wink wink, as you know).  You have a good sense of US politics, but if you are undecided, then vote for your own interests.   Since you are working for the Governemnt I'm inclined to believe you will not make more than $250K annually, but I am just guessing.  If you make less than that, then vote for Obama, he will lower your taxes.  McCain may lower your taxes too, but he lowers everyones taxes, which means less money to pay the costs of running a governmnet, such as paying salaries for government workers.  The economists see Obama has a realistic plan to make our economy more stable, whereas McCain doesn't really have anything except for lobbyists, and drill here drill now and tax breaks for the wealthy...which hasn't work, IMO.

Consider it, but do what you will, it's the benefit of being a US citizen, my new countryman/woman!

Good luck!

Congratulations on your citizenship. My dad recently witnessed the citizenship ceremony for our neighbor (who dad sponsored for it) and I wish I had been there to see it.

I'll think of you when I say the pledge or hear the national anthem.

Thank you (in advance) for your service to our country, your country.

Welcome to the chaotic fold!

Drop a line if you ever feel the desire, chris@blask.org.

-best!

-chris

Good luck with your new job. Though we disagreed on some issues, you've always been unfailingly thoughtful and civil. Best wishes to you, and hope you still stop by now and then.

Awwww, Seven, man. Don't go. We'll miss you too much!

Congratulations on becoming a citizen. This country was built by smart, curious and adventurous people like you coming here and contributing to our economy and culture. Thanks for joining us in the American dream.

sorry to see you go ;(

you will be missed but be well and keep on making that paella!

Congrats on your new citizenship!  Keep fightin' the good fight.

I truly enjoyed your well-informed comments. America needs you. I watched a candidate grow in stature and importance to the health and well being of this country and its people. I hope you'll vote for Obama as well. If not, I still wish you Godspeed, SevenStrings!

congrats on your citizenship and new job!  sorry to see you leave here.

Good luck, and congrats on becoming an American. We can always use another good one. And whatever your mission with the military, please stay safe.

I enjoyed your diaries.  Thank you, and best wishes in all that you do.