Erkan proudly announces: Ushahidi in Turkish (Seçim Takip)

[that’s why there is not much posting in the blog recently] My MA course, Issues in Cyberculture Studies (MED 512) is about to give fruit! We have just launched an election monitoring project that is based on the well known Ushahidi software.  We had been working on the Turkish version of this open source software … Read more

Dark Tranquillity tonight in Istanbul

I could not become a great fan of Dark Tranquility but as far as I can observe, it has a good following in Turkey. Güneş tells me to listen to their earlier albums. I will do that eventually. However, I still attend their concert tonight… The concert Facebook page here.  

Today, we march against web censorship

The march in Istanbul will start at Taksim Square at 14. There are many other planned marches in all over Turkey. Some organizers expect 100,000 demonstrators in Taksim. I suppose if 10 thousand shows up, it is definitely a good sign. In half an hour, I will be in Taksim Square located in a cafe … Read more

Some few and brief ideas: Why is Turkish government messing with Internet? #22agustos

Why is Turkish government messing with Internet? Turkish Prime Minister: Facebook Is ?Ugly Technology?   1. Because it is an unruly environment. PM Erdoğan’s intense media bashing along with more practical sanctions gave way to an AKP hegemony over the mainstream media. All major anti-AKP newspapers, TV channels, media conglomerations in general are more or … Read more

Blind Guardian plays in Istanbul tonight!

Another legendary band, Blind Guardian, stops by Istanbul tonight. Their concert begins in an hour… 2011-05-04 Istanbul Refresh the Venue Turkey Add Address: 100. Yıl Oto San. Sitesi, G-52 Çömlekçi Sok. 30 Maslak. Related post.

Sadly watching Johnny Got His Gun, that inspired Metallica’s One…

Johnny got his gun (1971) Joe, a young American soldier, is hit by a mortar shell on the last day of World War I. He lies in a hospital bed in a fate worse than death — a quadruple amputee who has lost his arms… See full summary » and a cinema roundup: A Son?s … Read more

Erkan’s new attaction: Radio. Today his very first program begins: Metalkafa [Metalhead]

I have recently been invited as a guest to a student show in our faculty radio: Radyo Vesaire.It is a web-based radio, experimental in its first semester of its launch. I liked the experience and since I have been fantasizing about a heavy metal show for a while, I could not resist any more. My … Read more

by the way, Istanbul loses a nice festival: Hıdrellez Ahırkapı Şenlikleri… An Istanbul news roundup…

This Istanbul photo by Vasfiye Karoğlu, a former student of mine. She is getting better and better in her photography… and no more Hıdrellez Festival. It has been a gem of Istanbul for 11 years. This year organizers declared that there will be no more festivals in Ahırkapı, Istanbul… In Transit: A Romani Festival on … Read more

Towards elections: AKP rises the stakes with the Kanal İstanbul project…

A massive project. Much more imaginative than other parties’ election promises. AKP increasingly relies on grand projects reminding me older dam projects etc by center-right parties… Probably environmental unfriendly, and pro-corporate. (A friend of mine on real estate business already gave me tips about that). Cutting a New Bosphorus Through Istanbul by Jenny White Image … Read more

An Istanbul photos exhibition at the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Istanbul. and an Istanbul news roundup

Istanbul Seen Through the Eyes of Armenian Photographers Hetq Online A photo exhibition entitled “We Love Your Istanbul from the 19 Century till Today”, has recently opened at the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in the Istanbul neighbourhood of Beyoglu. On display are the works of sixteen Armenians who have lived Be Muslim for a … Read more

Erkan quoted in El Mundo for a piece on internet freedom but…

…I see that El Mundo is also banned in Turkey…  I have no idea why it is banned…update: it is banned due to broadcasting the infamous Baykal sex video… here is the link to the original piece that I cannot access thru my laptop – it is time change settings, I guess-

İstanbul Üzerine Bir Belgesel Film: Ekümenopolis (Melek Çetin)

İstanbul Üzerine Bir Belgesel Film: Ekümenopolis                   Üç  de yetmez beş tane Bir köprü daha, iki şehir daha, Avrupa?nın en büyük adalet sarayı, Avrupa?nın en büyük AVM?si, şehrin içinde ama şehirden uzak ?yaşam alanları?, en yüksek plazalar, mutena yeni ?mahalle?ler, büyük daha büyük ennn büyük yapılar derken … Read more

Oh my, Ensiferum (and Children of Bodom) in Istanbul tonight

This is the Children of Bodom concert as the band is the headliner. However, the guest group Ensiferum is one of my best recent discoveries. Only with Ensiferum I drive fast unconsciously (!) (I had reached 140 km/hour).   Maçka Küçükçiftlik Park Kadırgalar Yokuşu No.5 Küçükçiftlik Parkı Maçka, İstanbul Türkiye Show in the map More … Read more

Disappointment at Istanbul’s Sonisphere 2011?

official site here facebook event page here. Metalheads are more than happy with the Sonisphere lineup. But the problem is the festival area. Although it is re-designed and enlarged, this doesn’t look like a suitable area for the festival. It is too small, I don’t know why this place was chosen. Küçükçiftlik Park is a … Read more

Istanbul’s iconic Ali Sami Yen stadium is to disappear soon… an İstanbul roundup…

Bulldozers tear down the stands of the iconic Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul, which witnessed 14 of it former owner Galatasaray’s 17 Turkish league titles.  AA photo Authorities begin demolition of Istanbul’s iconic Ali Sami Yen from Hurriyet Dailynews Authorities began demolition work Tuesday on Ali Sami Yen Stadium, one of the most iconic … Read more