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	<title>Planet Billard</title>
	<link>http://planetbillard.net/blog</link>
	<description>A view of the world in short and easy to digest films by George Billard</description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:52:47 +0000</pubDate>
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		<copyright>&#xA9; 2003-2006</copyright>
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		<itunes:summary>Just another WordPress weblog</itunes:summary>
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		<itunes:category text="Society &amp; Culture"/>
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			<itunes:name></itunes:name>
			<itunes:email>info@planetbillard.com</itunes:email>
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			<title>Planet Billard</title>
			<link>http://planetbillard.net/blog</link>
			<width>144</width>
			<height>144</height>
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		<item>
		<title>Photos from Iran</title>
		<link>http://planetbillard.net/blog/photos-from-iran</link>
		<comments>http://planetbillard.net/blog/photos-from-iran#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:52:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>planetbillard</dc:creator>
		
	<category>Iran</category>
	<category>Network 2020</category>
	<category>Tehran</category>
	<category>Mullahs</category>
	<category>Shia</category>
	<category>Khomeini</category>
	<category>Khamenei</category>
	<category>Esfahan</category>
	<category>Mosque</category>
	<category>Yazd</category>
	<category>Zoroastrian</category>
	<category>Gajar</category>
	<category>Darius</category>
	<category>NY Yankees</category>
	<category>Jerusalem</category>
	<category>Bahai</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://planetbillard.net/blog/photos-from-iran</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Below are some pictures from my recent trip to Iran.

All over Iran you can see the scowling visage of Ayatollah Khomeini. His image is seen in hotels, restaurants, businesses and on the side of buildings. In this mural he is pictured in front of the al-Aksa mosque in Jerusalem. The leadership of Iran portray themselves [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Below are some pictures from my recent trip to Iran.

All over Iran you can see the scowling visage of Ayatollah Khomeini. His image is seen in hotels, restaurants, businesses and on the side of buildings. In this mural he is pictured in front of the al-Aksa mosque in Jerusalem. The leadership of Iran portray themselves as the true protectors of the Palestinians and Islam.

Here is Khomeini and his successor Khamenei on the side of a hotel in Esfahan. Khamenei is usually the smiling counterpoint in a half-baked attempt to make him the &#8220;friendly&#8221; ruler.

A man in Esfahan&#8217;s Imam Mosque has just finished his ablutions before prayer.

Above is a Dervish in Yazd. Although predominantly Shia, Iran has members of several faiths. They are allowed to practice their religions, though they must publicly adhere to Islamic rules. Some are persecuted; most notably the
Bahai.
.

The guard at the Zoroastrian Towers of Silence.

Many of the women I met flouted the headscarf law to the extent they could, pushing the hijab as far back on the head as possible. Consequently, there are a lot of high hairdos"just like in Texas.

Here is a young beggar in Esfahan. Two-thirds of the country is under the age of thirty-five. Unemployment is at 23%. What will his future be?

The guard at the beautiful Imam Mosque in Esfahan.

Iran has a rich cultural tradition.  Here is an example of Gajar period tile work.

The tomb of Darius II.  He was buried here in 404 BC.

A Jeter fan?  All he wants is a better way of life, but maybe being a Yankee fan will only prove frustrating.
If you&#8217;d like a more detailed analysis of what is going on in Iran, just email me and I&#8217;ll send you a policy paper to which I contributed for Network 2020.  It will provide you with a detailed look at U.S.-Iran relations and recommends how we might move towards a more peaceful future.
Best,
George
and don&#8217;t forget to visit&#8230;.www.planetbillard.com
related links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dervish
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahai
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ablution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroaster
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_the_Great
www.network2020.org

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			<wfw:commentRSS>http://planetbillard.net/blog/photos-from-iran/feed/</wfw:commentRSS>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>India in Black and White</title>
		<link>http://planetbillard.net/blog/india-in-black-and-white</link>
		<comments>http://planetbillard.net/blog/india-in-black-and-white#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:41:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>planetbillard</dc:creator>
		
	<category>George Billard</category>
	<category>Billard</category>
	<category>Planet Billard</category>
	<category>India</category>
	<category>Kerala</category>
	<category>Fatehpur Sikri</category>
	<category>Mumbai</category>
	<category>Bombay</category>
	<category>Jaipur</category>
	<category>Shave</category>
	<category>Hindu</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://planetbillard.net/blog/india-in-black-and-white</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Months later I still find myself dreaming about India. It is a country of staggering beauty.
Below are a few more pictures from my journey.

Street shave in Jaipur

Garden at Fatehpur Sikri

Temple Bath outside of Jaipur

Street scene in Mumbai

Forest in Kerala

Buck in  Ranthambore Tiger Preserve

Temple outside of Jaipur

Fishnets over the backwaters of Kerala

An ascetic in Jaipur
I [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Months later I still find myself dreaming about India. It is a country of staggering beauty.
Below are a few more pictures from my journey.

Street shave in Jaipur

Garden at Fatehpur Sikri

Temple Bath outside of Jaipur

Street scene in Mumbai

Forest in Kerala

Buck in  Ranthambore Tiger Preserve

Temple outside of Jaipur

Fishnets over the backwaters of Kerala

An ascetic in Jaipur
I leave you with the wisdom of Gandhi:
&#8220;You must be the change you wish to see in the world.&#8221;
All for now.
Best,
George
visit planet billard

]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRSS>http://planetbillard.net/blog/india-in-black-and-white/feed/</wfw:commentRSS>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Beautiful India</title>
		<link>http://planetbillard.net/blog/beautiful-india</link>
		<comments>http://planetbillard.net/blog/beautiful-india#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:57:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>planetbillard</dc:creator>
		
	<category>George Billard</category>
	<category>Billard</category>
	<category>Planet Billard</category>
	<category>Women</category>
	<category>India</category>
	<category>Kerala</category>
	<category>Fatehpur Sikri</category>
	<category>Mumbai</category>
	<category>Bombay</category>
	<category>Food</category>
	<category>Color</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://planetbillard.net/blog/beautiful-india</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[India can overwhelm your senses, leave you breathless, and readjust your sense of the world.  It is my new favorite place.  Below are a few photos from my recent trip.

The entrance arch at the Taj Mahal has a beauty that has been overshadowed by the tomb itself.
 Cruising down the backwater canals of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[India can overwhelm your senses, leave you breathless, and readjust your sense of the world.  It is my new favorite place.  Below are a few photos from my recent trip.

The entrance arch at the Taj Mahal has a beauty that has been overshadowed by the tomb itself.
 Cruising down the backwater canals of Kerala offers many glimpses of the spiritual side of India.
 The women of India are beautiful, proud, and full of life.  Although they still face many hardships, their lot is improving.
 Mumbai traffic has an intensity that is unrivaled.
 Color.  It&#8217;s all about the color.
 A mother and child trekking to a mountaintop temple outside of Udaipur.

Even a simple meal offers a complexity of flavors.  The food is to die for.
 A boatman transporting dredged sand in Kerala.

Looking through an archway in the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri

On the way to school, a girl casts a skeptical eye on an American tourist.

A rural lane in Kerala offers a study of light and shadow.
 You can&#8217;t throw a rock without hitting some display of religious faith.  Hinduism dominates.
I took over a thousand photos, so there will be more to follow.
Don&#8217;t forget to to visit Planet Billard 

]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRSS>http://planetbillard.net/blog/beautiful-india/feed/</wfw:commentRSS>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Pakistan</title>
		<link>http://planetbillard.net/blog/pakistan</link>
		<comments>http://planetbillard.net/blog/pakistan#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:14:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>planetbillard</dc:creator>
		
	<category>Network 2020</category>
	<category>Pakistan</category>
	<category>George Billard</category>
	<category>Billard</category>
	<category>Planet Billard</category>
	<category>NWFP</category>
	<category>North-West Frontier Province</category>
	<category>McDonald's</category>
	<category>Textiles</category>
	<category>Energy</category>
	<category>Women</category>
	<category>Peshawar</category>
	<category>Lahore</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://planetbillard.net/blog/pakistan</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Over the years I have ventured far and wide, but I have never encountered such severe reaction to my travel plans as I did before this trip to Pakistan.
&#8220;Pakistan!  You must be crazy! Are you insane?&#8221;
That was the general consensus, and I do understand. This is a country plagued by a violent history, political [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Over the years I have ventured far and wide, but I have never encountered such severe reaction to my travel plans as I did before this trip to Pakistan.
&#8220;Pakistan!  You must be crazy! Are you insane?&#8221;
That was the general consensus, and I do understand. This is a country plagued by a violent history, political instability and a nasty problem with fundamentalist extremists. It is armed with nuclear weapons whose blueprints and parts have managed to make their way onto the black market. Scary stuff but, as always, if you dig past the headlines and hype, you are likely to find a different story.
I was traveling with a delegation from Network 20/20 whose mission it was to examine the relationship between democracy and non-proliferation and counter terrorism. In a few months, we&#8217;ll be putting forth a paper on our findings that I will be happy to forward to you if you wish. In the meantime, I can share with you a few of my photographs and observations.

When people in the U.S. think of Pakistan, many imagine a guy like this. We have seen him on the news screaming for the death of America and we are afraid. Men like that are the exception, not the rule. Most people here long for a robust democracy.

The reality is that there are many more men like this.  He, too, deserves a break today.

It&#8217;s a poor country, but there are many who strive to make it better.  On this trip, I encountered some of the smartest people I have ever met. They are Pakistanis and they are working tirelessly to raise up their country.

Infrastructure is a huge challenge in Pakistan. The country needs good roads and"even more important"reliable power. The electricity goes down every day. This unpredictability prevents the economy from moving forward.

Textiles are a huge export business, but this fellow works strictly on local goods.

Independent women can have a rough time here, yet they have risen to the highest ranks of politics and they will remain an active force in shaping the nations future.
 It&#8217;s hot here"and not just politically. The temperature in Lahore is close to 110 degrees. These two are in a growth business.

Okay, I may not exactly blend in, but even here in Peshawar, on the border to the North-West Frontier Province, people could not have been friendlier. It&#8217;s going to take a lot of time to win hearts and minds but, if we don&#8217;t start communicating, darker days lie ahead.
More later&#8230;
Best,
George
 PLANET BILLARD

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			<wfw:commentRSS>http://planetbillard.net/blog/pakistan/feed/</wfw:commentRSS>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Feast of Eid</title>
		<link>http://planetbillard.net/blog/the-feast-of-eid</link>
		<comments>http://planetbillard.net/blog/the-feast-of-eid#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 May 2007 17:38:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>planetbillard</dc:creator>
		
	<category>Morocco</category>
	<category>Eid</category>
	<category>Sheep</category>
	<category>Fes</category>
	<category>Africa</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://planetbillard.net/blog/the-feast-of-eid</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A word of warning. Some of the images below are graphic and will be sure to offend anyone who likes sheep. And, no, it&#8217;s not that kind of posting.

Once again I find myself in a Muslim country for the feast of Eid. In the days leading up to the holiday, sheep are rounded up and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[A word of warning. Some of the images below are graphic and will be sure to offend anyone who likes sheep. And, no, it&#8217;s not that kind of posting.

Once again I find myself in a Muslim country for the feast of Eid. In the days leading up to the holiday, sheep are rounded up and brought to market. It is believed that the slaughtered animal will be waiting in the afterlife to carry to heaven the person in whose name the animal was sacrificed, thus, it is a very bad week to be covered in wool. Along every road one can see herdsmen bringing their animals to town. Trucks carry larger numbers of livestock into the cities. On my way to Fes, I saw a number of families huddled next to a sheep in the backseat of a Toyota.
The slaughtering takes place everywhere &#8212; on roadsides, at abbatoirs, and even in bathtubs in private homes. For the many who don&#8217;t go to professional butchers, there remains the troublesome issue of removing the horns, as the head is a prized dish eaten on the following day. The free market, however, has solved that problem.

All around the city entrepreneurs have set up stations to remove the horns. Families arrive with their sacrificial head in a bucket. For a dollar-fifty the sawmen will clean and prep the head, which aslo includes burning off the hair.

Metal mattress frames are placed over charcoal, allowing for many heads to be processed at once. The pungent smell of burning hair permeates the medina and the narrower passageways are filled with smoke.

Were it not for the blue jeans and the occasional chime of a cellphone, it feels as if the city is suspended in the Middle Ages. There is not a tourist in sight.

All for now.
Best,
George

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			<wfw:commentRSS>http://planetbillard.net/blog/the-feast-of-eid/feed/</wfw:commentRSS>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>From Tehran</title>
		<link>http://planetbillard.net/blog/from-tehran</link>
		<comments>http://planetbillard.net/blog/from-tehran#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 May 2007 16:59:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>planetbillard</dc:creator>
		
	<category>Iran</category>
	<category>Tehran</category>
	<category>Mullahs</category>
	<category>Shia</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://planetbillard.net/blog/from-tehran</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you believe some of the U.S. media outlets, Iran is a mad theocracy hellbent on spreading its vision of a pure Islamic (Shia) society throughout the Middle East. The truth is far more complex. Yes, the rhetoric of their leadership is over the top and they actively promote those very telegenic &#8216;Death to America [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[If you believe some of the U.S. media outlets, Iran is a mad theocracy hellbent on spreading its vision of a pure Islamic (Shia) society throughout the Middle East. The truth is far more complex. Yes, the rhetoric of their leadership is over the top and they actively promote those very telegenic &#8216;Death to America -  Down With The Great Satan&#8217; demonstrations.  This, however, is very different than the reality on the ground. The overwhelming majority of people I encountered were friendly and eager to engage with Americans and the rest of the world. The revolution of 1979 has failed to deliver them a better way of life and as most Iranians were born after the Shah was ousted from power, the rallying cries of the current regime ring hollow. In a globalized age they know they are lagging behind.

The country is ill served by its current leadership.  Corruption is rampant and the economy is weak.  Many of the people I encounter hold multiple jobs, most of which they are overqualified for, and yet, they still struggle to buy food and pay rent. They are quite open in expressing their contempt for their leaders, but seem resigned to their lot in life.  Older people vent a deep bitterness.  Students yearn for better days, but are unsure how this will come about.  In Iran, the nail that sticks up gets smacked down, so dissent is virtually nonexistent.

So, what exactly are the ambitions of the mullahs? It is very hard to know. Iran is not a transparent society, the media is under the thumb of the government and Tehran&#8217;s ideological and financial support of other regional players further muddies the debate. All of these factors lead to easy conclusions about intent, but again, it is more complex.

Although there is tension in the air, nobody knows how change will come to Iran. Military intervention is not the answer, as the average Iranian wants nothing more than to improve their life, love their children, live in peace and join the global community. We cannot afford to make them our enemies.
Change will only come from within. Should another revolution happen, it will not be televised, though you might see it on You-Tube.

What I can say with certainty is that Iran has a rich culture, friendly people, delicious food, stunning landscapes and beautiful Islamic architecture. I will share this with you in my next dispatch.  In the meantime, please visit my new and improved website.  I have started this blog that will focus on the rest of the world.  In the months to come there will be new material that I hope will bring alive the issues that affect us all, delivered in short and easy to digest essays, photos and films.  Feedback and debate on the blog is welcomed and encouraged.
Best regards,
George
planetbillard.com
&#8230;and for those intrepid travelers contact the best guide/fixer in Iran, Rahman Mehraby
www.destinationiran.com

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			<wfw:commentRSS>http://planetbillard.net/blog/from-tehran/feed/</wfw:commentRSS>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Choke</title>
		<link>http://planetbillard.net/blog/choke</link>
		<comments>http://planetbillard.net/blog/choke#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 15 Apr 2007 15:44:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>planetbillard</dc:creator>
		
	<category>Iran</category>
	<category>Heimlich</category>
	<category>Network 2020</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://planetbillard.net/blog/choke</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The United States is often accused of shoving its policies down the throats of other nations. This has engendered negative reactions which have reached dangerous levels. In the Islamic world, the need for public diplomacy has never been greater. I came to Iran to investigate just how this could be accomplished and to sample as [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[The United States is often accused of shoving its policies down the throats of other nations. This has engendered negative reactions which have reached dangerous levels. In the Islamic world, the need for public diplomacy has never been greater. I came to Iran to investigate just how this could be accomplished and to sample as much Persian cuisine as possible.
After a day of both sightseeing and interviews, our group headed to a traditional restaurant that had once been part of a mosque. The architecture was grand, featuring elaborate tilework covering the vaulted arches that rose above the dining areas on both levels.
Midway through the meal, we heard shouts break out from the lower level. A woman screamed, dishes crashed and the sound of slapping ricocheted up from below. The noise intensified. Diners rushed to the balcony to see what was happening. Timidly, still unsure of how an American should behave here, I peered over the edge.
Below, a man lay motionless on the floor as a woman repeatedly slapped his face. A crowd had gathered around him as she next jammed a spoon into his mouth, furiously digging and shrieking in panic. The man was unresponsive.
I pushed my way through the crowd downstairs but, not speaking Farsi, could not make it understood that I wanted to help. I panicked when someone in my group yelled Doctor! to help clear my path. What if I couldn&#8217;t help him? Given the emotion of the crowd, I did not want to be blamed for his demise.
The man was unconscious and not breathing.  I lifted him up with great difficulty and some other men, misunderstanding my intention, picked up his feet. &#8220;No,&#8221; I yelled, &#8220;he needs to stand. Help me pick him up!&#8221; They spoke no English and could not understand, so I clumsily wrestled to get his dead weight up into a standing position by myself. His mouth was now bloody and he slumped lifelessly in my arms.
Pressing my fists under his sternum, I squeezed hard and heard a loud wheeze as air rushed out of him. As I set him back down, I looked up to see several of his family members staring at me from the dining platform. The woman looked at me with wide-eyed fear and a little boy on the verge of tears buried himself in the cushioned banquet.
My hands were shaking as I put them over the man&#8217;s bloody mouth to feel if he was breathing. His eyes fluttered and the hot breath on my fingers told me that he was getting air. A short time later, he would walk out of the restaurant under his own steam.
There are increasing calls for a shift in US strategy vis-a-vis Iran, and I&#8217;m doing my bit to help win some hearts and minds, but must the whole country choke first?
Best regards,
George
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heimlich
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kebab
http://www.network2020.org
http://www.planetbillard.com

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			<wfw:commentRSS>http://planetbillard.net/blog/choke/feed/</wfw:commentRSS>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Nuclear Terrorism: The Ultimate Preventable Catastrophe - Part 1</title>
		<link>http://planetbillard.net/blog/nuclear-terrorism-the-ultimate-preventable-catastrophe-part-1</link>
		<comments>http://planetbillard.net/blog/nuclear-terrorism-the-ultimate-preventable-catastrophe-part-1#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Feb 2007 19:33:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>planetbillard</dc:creator>
		
	<category>videos</category>
	<category>nuclear</category>
	<category>harvard</category>
	<category>allison</category>
	<category>belfer</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://planetbillard.net/blog/nuclear-terrorism-the-ultimate-preventable-catastrophe-part-1</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This video is the first in an ongoing series about nuclear terrorism.  I hope that it helps to educate and inspire the public to help solve one of our most pressing problems.  The project is based on the work of one of my professors, Graham Allison.  His course, American Foreign Policy, was [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[This video is the first in an ongoing series about nuclear terrorism.  I hope that it helps to educate and inspire the public to help solve one of our most pressing problems.  The project is based on the work of one of my professors, Graham Allison.  His course, American Foreign Policy, was one of my favorites and his lessons still resonate.
I welcome your feedback.

]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRSS>http://planetbillard.net/blog/nuclear-terrorism-the-ultimate-preventable-catastrophe-part-1/feed/</wfw:commentRSS>
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<itunes:duration>1:53</itunes:duration>
		<itunes:subtitle>This video is the first in an ongoing series about nuclear terrorism.  I hope that it helps to educate and inspire the public to ...</itunes:subtitle>
		<itunes:summary>This video is the first in an ongoing series about nuclear terrorism.  I hope that it helps to educate and inspire the public to help solve one of our most pressing problems.  The project is based on the work of one of my professors, Graham Allison.  His course, American Foreign Policy, was one of my favorites and his lessons still resonate.

I welcome your feedback.</itunes:summary>
		<itunes:keywords>videos,,nuclear,,harvard,,allison,,belfer</itunes:keywords>
		<itunes:author>info@planetbillard.com</itunes:author>
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