World Antenna Referendum

I need everyone's help to implement some public art installations. we need something like this: http://www.technolog.msnbc.msn.com/technology/technolog/your-tv-watching-you-latest-models-raise-concerns-483619 set up at a public area: for example, where the Spokescouncil for Portland meets, and another in Zucotti Park in NY, where there can be two-way live streaming Internet broadcast. It will be on 24-hours a day, and anyone can perform and be broadcast to the other side of the country. I envision this happening in other cities, as well. We need to get people out of their houses, and to have media transparency.

Remember when T.V. was only something you watched? Maybe you imagined as a kid that there were people who lived inside the T.V., and one day you would be able to show them who you are. Then, thanks to Youtube, all of sudden anyone with a dancing baby could be instantly famous, broadcast into millions of homes worldwide. All you needed was a video camera, the Internet, and some creative inspiration. In the meantime, people started "Skypeing" with each other, having a seamless conversation through a two-way form of television called "video conferencing" with just a quick and free software download. We've come a long way since Punky Brewster, wouldn't you say?

Now imagine with me the next step. We're taking T.V. to the streets. Occupy has already revolutionized the way we broadcast ourselves, making use of livestream, making it accessible to the people occupying our neighborhoods. Currently, volunteers go around at each site with a webcam attached to a pole which is connected to an online laptop, which streams the video live on the Internet for all to see.

So why not bring it all together? Now we can. Introducing the World Antenna Referendum: Rethinking T.V. 

Maybe T.V. wouldn't be all that bad if instead of being something that kept you pacified inside a house with ridiculous messages coming at you all day from commercial sponsors, and millionaires on ice speaking their benign opinions....

It can now be a community tool for having censorship-free live broadcast. 

Meet Tommy Wonder. Tommy Wonder is a boy who travels and spreads his simple message of peace and love with music. From the time he awakes in the morning to the time he sleeps, he shares his music on the streets and sometimes in the woods when he feels the need to get away. Wherever he goes, he takes his guitar with him. In fact, that's the only thing he owns, other than a knapsack with some camping gear, and a sleeping bag. Whenever anybody asks Tommy where he's going next, he replies, "Wherever the music takes me." And whenever anyone asks him why he doesn't get a real job, Tommy smiles shyly and replies, "Already got one." 

One day, Tommy Wonder's music leads him to Portland, Oregon, and after praising him for one of his songs, someone who calls him a "brother" informs him that there's a new public art installation in town called the World Antenna, and says he might want to check it out. 

"When I followed the last person's suggestion, I found myself in this beautiful city," Tommy thinks to himself. "I think I'll go check this thing out. The timing's just right." Tommy believed there were no accidents.

As Tommy approached the park, he saw a circle of people holding hands and singing one of his favorite songs. It was "All You Need is Love," by the Beatles. They were congregated in front of a big screen, and a light-up sign that announced, "On the Air: Broadcasting to New York City." Above it was another sign that said "World Antenna." When they were done with their performance, applause, whistles, and yells were heard over loud speakers. It was coming from the T.V.! As Tommy wound his way through the crowd and walked up to the big T.V. screen, he saw a similar group of people gathered in New York City. They had been watching the performance in Portland! People of all colors, sizes, and ages could be seen. As it was getting dark in New York, someone had started a bonfire. Now it was their turn to perform. Everyone in the park ampitheater was now silent with awe-struck anticipation. Someone got up and recited a poem. It went something like this:

 

After everyone applauded for the poet, someone called, "Mic Check!" It was the voice of a small girl. She had been watching the people through the T.V. in Portland who had been watching them. The little girl's mom stood behind her, and seemed surprised, yet encouraged her to speak up so everyone could hear what she had to say. Other voices could be heard in unison, on both the Portland and New York sides: "Mic Check!" they all said, and echoed each part of her announcement so everyone could give the girl undivided attention.

"I was watching...

"I was watching...

"Our friends in Portland.

"Our friends in Portland.

"And I noticed...

"And I noticed...

"A certain teenage boy who...

"A certain teenage boy who...

"Is carrying a black guitar. 

"Is carrying a black guitar.

"He walked up...

"He walked up...

"During the performance...

"During the performance...

"Of 'All You Need is Love.'..."Why don't we ask him...

"Why don't we ask him...

"If he would like...

"If he would like...

"To play us a song?"

"To play us a song?"

There was a gush of cheers, as Tommy bashfully realized everyone's eyes were now on him, and that he was the one the young girl was urging to perform.

Tommy was overjoyed that so many people gathered in such a great place as New York had wanted to give him the stage, and could hardly believe it was possible that he could give a performance for Portland at the same time. "Wow! I'm literally in two places at once," thought Tommy. Although his heart was pounding a Bach fugue, he couldn't stop smiling from ear to ear. Before he played, someone who had been moderating the Portland stage asked him to tell everybody his name. 

"My name's Tommy Wonder, and I'd like to give a shout-out to my mom in New York! I love you, Mom! I'll be playing for you all a little song I wrote on the road. It's called, Daybreak."

When the song finished, people couldn't believe how good he actually was. "I can't believe it!" an old man with a beard exclaimed. "He's like Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix all in one! Boy, where have you been hiding?"

The crowd wanted Tommy to keep playing, so he played another song. "I don't want to hog the stage," Tommy said, "if you want to find me, you can go to my website." Tommy Wonder told everyone his website. Someone wrote it on a Dry-Erase board, and held it up to the camera.

After dark, while some people left, more people were coming to see what all the hoopla was about.  Since the neighbors in Portland had seen the people of New York build a bonfire, they decided to build one as well, and after awhile, some guys arrived with drums and started a drum circle. 

A man who had heard Tommy play earlier now asked him if he could play his guitar, which Tommy didn't mind at all. The man then requested that Tommy play a song. The drummers started up a new beat to the music coming from Tommy Wonder's guitar, and people started dancing and singing along. A couple made out in the warm firelight. Some little kids were giggling and jumping around. An old man swayed his head to the rhythm. With such a diverse community all congregated together, Tommy felt right at home. Tommy imagined what his new friends in New York would be telling their friends. It had always been his dream since he was a young boy to have worldwide attention and be on stage in front of thousands, even millions of people. Now he knew this was a reality. He had found the World Antenna.