CNN iReport

On the 30th anniversary of the Iran hostage crisis, turmoil once again rages from within the country. Protesters have taken to the streets to speak out against their government. We received several iReports showing images from Iran, including photos showing scenes of protests that took place in the capital city of Tehran.

The photographer said hundreds of people had gathered near a train station. The images show security forces and burning objects. Since a series of demonstrations began in June, citizen journalism has been perhaps the primary way information has been shared from inside Iran.

The USS New York steamed into New York Harbor Monday and iReporters were there to document its arrival. The 25,000-ton ship is partially made of seven and a half tons of steel recovered from the World Trade Center.

Watching the ship was especially meaningful for New York iReporters MSetoPhoto , sergeinyc and sjunat55 , who all had personal connections to the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. MSetoPhoto and sjunat55 lost friends in the attack and sergeinyc was working in the towers at the time.

Their photos capture the bittersweet emotion of the momentous occasion. Did you watch the ship's arrival? Share your photos and video and see other great submissions.

Two iReporters, as well as CNN’s Campbell Brown, along 25,000 others,attended the Women’s Conference in Long Beach, California, earlier this week.

The conference’s mission was to “empower, inspire and educate” women, and the speakers there had lots of advice on how to accomplish that, as ChrisMorrow found.

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said, “Women often sit in meetings or class and don’t say what they think, so my advice to women is to always interrupt.”

Dr. Jane Goodall offered her advice as well: “The most important thing is to be happy with who they are, and if you really want something just carry on until you get it.”

Check out ChrisMorrow’s video for more words of wisdom from Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Sir Richard Branson, actress Sharon Lawrence, Facebook’s Randi Zuckerberg, and others.

For MelissaF, the Women’s Conference was a major step in her weight loss journey. A few weeks ago, she interviewed one of her idols, “The Biggest Loser’s” Jillian Michaels over the phone for CNN iReport, and this inspired her to look at exercise in a new way. At the conference, she got the chance to meet Michaels in person, and to thank her for getting her motivated to lose ten pounds so far. Check out MelissaF’s video of the big moment here.

We’re always on the lookout for other inspiring stories on CNN iReport, and if you have one, don’t hesitate to share it with the community.

Some people make spiced cider, others dress up as Santa Claus. My annual fall-to-winter ritual is watching the stream of snowy iReports come through. You know it's officially wintrytime (not "winter," but "wintry") when you start seeing photos of snow piling up on grills, lawns, chairs, lawn chairs and everything else upon which snow can collect. jacobrtaylor and his father shot excellent photos showing the impact of roughly 20 inches of snow in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. They not only photographed the lawn furniture, but also showed their footprints and placed a ruler in the snow for added value. Kudos to jacobrtaylor for showing us the signs of the season.

Another cool thing we start seeing is iReporters getting on camera to tell us about the weather. iReporter stickergiant set his camera on a tripod and headed out dutifully to show the flakes falling on his head. He even pulled his hood up over his head for effect. We don't want you to put yourself in danger, but we do think it's neat when an iReporter (within reason) shows us the weather near them. And finally, we love it when iReporters like Willsackmann make things like giant snow forts. Gotta love that. How's the weather where you are? Got western storms? Take pictures or put yourself on camera. Or, just comment here. Share your story with CNN.

You've probably noticed that CNN iReport has a whole new look and feel -- including a brand new homepage inside CNN.com.

The new look is designed to showcase your stories and the many ways they enhance CNN’s global news reporting every day.

CNN iReport producers are eager to feature your work, and while there’s no guarantee your iReport will appear on the new homepage, the ones that do share some common traits.

iReports that make it to the homepage typically:

• Are tied to the news of the day
• Provide a perspective or angle on a story that isn’t available anywhere else
• Include the components of a good story -- the who, what, why, where and when

A few final, but important, tips: If you want your story to be featured, make sure that all the content in your iReport, including text and images, is your own. Also, please add a phone number to your private profile so CNN producers can call you with questions, and upload an avatar image to your profile so we can feature your work in our new “voices” section.

If you follow these tips, you’ll have a great chance of having your stories showcased on the new CNN iReport homepage, but not just there. You’ll notice your iReport submissions in stories, photo galleries, video interactives, and sections across CNN.com –- just more validation that CNN producers are committed to showcasing your content. After all, your contributions make CNN’s reporting and storytelling better every day.

We hope to see your stories on CNN soon!

From CNN’s Errol Barnett

When you see the pitch black video shot by Amara Nwankpa in Nigeria you’re tempted to wonder what he’s trying to show you until you realize the darkness is the point. He drives around his neighborhood showing many homes in the dark except for those paying to run their own generators. His iReports also show business owners complaining that irregular power cuts into their profits. Yet, Nigeria is rich with natural gas and oil resources and its number one client is the U.S, so what’s going on?

Amara says it’s a “failure of governance” and he wants change. He’s using iReport , Twitter, Facebook and other social media to get it. He calls his social media movement “Light up Nigeria.” Hundreds of supportive messages on Twitter can be seen under #LightUpNigeria, tens of thousands of people have joined their Facebook group and all this has mobilized action around the world.

In London, a group of supporters demonstrated outside the Nigerian High Commission. In Washington D.C., a Nigerian event included speeches on the energy problems of the country. In Nigeria’s capital, Amara has held town halls encouraging his country mates to speak out and more events are planned.

I took notice of all of Amara’s efforts and decided to reach out to him via webcam for an interview, which we had to do twice because of power problems. We were also able to get the Government of Nigeria to respond to the issue – see CNN’s coverage here. But this story is far from over. We want to hear more from CNN viewers in and from Nigeria with views on this issue so upload your own story to the new “Light up Nigeria” assignment page.

The Balloon Boy saga was pretty surreal. We saw everything from satire to serious commentary as iReporters tried to wrap their heads around the speculation that young Falcon Heene of Fort Collins, Colorado, had really gone up in a silver balloon. The story got even more interesting when authorities said father Richard Heene had created a hoax to attract media attention.

Our comedians had a field day with this one. HumorGazette of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, took a hit of helium on camera to lampoon the high-flying antics, and Artboy did a brilliant mash-up cartoon satirizing Barack Obama as a "Balloon Boy" hanging on to soaring political issues during his presidency. We also saw a Balloon Boy Halloween costume that crazyleg repurposed for a young "Balloon Girl."

LatriciaW made a video with her 13-year-old son pretending to vomit into a pot, just like Falcon did during live TV interviews. She wanted to make fun of the circus surrounding the notion of mischievous little boys in "Jiffy Pop spaceships." When I spoke to her, she said she had a serious point to make: "When he was getting sick on television most people would have said OK, stop this interview. People were too busy going on with the interview like the kid doesn't matter." She went on to say she thought people felt a little perturbed about being fooled.

And, bizarrely enough, Richard Heene was an iReporter who had already submitted a weather story. CNN's Abbi Tatton did a recent segment on how people had been concerned about the Heene children's safety last year when the storm piece came out.

This is just a tiny sampler platter of the commentary we received about the Balloon Boy story. What’s your take? Send us an iReport or comment here.

If the status of our current economy can be measured in our pleasures and poisons, former tattoo artist WausauFamily believes we may be just turning a corner. When WausauFamily sold his shop in 2006, the economy was doing well and getting tattoos was a popular activity for many. He didn't want to be in the business for the rest of his life, so he left while his operation was strong. He figured the economy was probably affecting his old shop, so he interviewed the new owners to find out how things were going. He says he was told customers have indicated they are doing better financially. He also heard that patrons are starting to ink themselves more again after cooling their tattoo expenditures during the height of the recession.

"This was a business that depended on the 'extras' left over from their customers' budgets and living expenses to stay afloat."

WausauFamily says he has about 40 tattoos of his own. He speculated that many people had a few bucks left on their paychecks and decided to use that dough to buy a new design. Without the spare change, they might be hesitant to spring for a luxury like that. Meanwhile, removing tattoos is more expensive than creating them, so decisions to get tattoos should not be taken lightly. WausauFamily says he is in the process of trying to remove tattoos on his neck because he has begun to change his mind about them.

Still, things are better this year than last year, he says. He has a couple hundred more dollars per month than he used to. "It's good for now, we'll see how it does," he says. We're thrilled that he shared his story and made this video about this local tattoo shop, because it shows how macro events translate into ordinary people's lives. WausauFamily says he hopes others will find hope and take action as a result of the recession.

"I'm big on hope. Our family, we do a lot of things on the side in the community to help people along," he said. "We're really hoping it isn't going to be as rough as last year."

Joe and Jill Wood were frustrated. After losing much of their regular income, they asked their bank to modify their mortgage loan. So when CNN’s Jessica Yellin mentioned the iReport assignment about mortgage nightmares, they told the story of what they say took place after they tried to get the loan changed. The Woods’ story was eventually told on the air when CNN producers contacted them for a piece about the Obama administration’s mortgage program.

Have you had mortgage issues as well? Tell us your story and you too could be on CNN.

Thousands of gay rights activists took to the streets Sunday during the National Equality March in Washington, calling for equality in marriage and an end to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

iReport user clarasimoni, who captured dramatic images, said it was “an amazing feeling to be among all of those people who we fighting for their right of expression.”

"They were nice, excited, boisterous and joyful,” said iReporter Qbubbles of the activists. “They didn't seem angry so much as anxious for something to happen.”

“The whole town has been buzzing,” said iReporter EricaAmerica, who grabbed her camera and spoke to activists crowding outside The White House, many of whom had traveled out of state to take part in the march. and equality in marriage

From CNN.com Live Associate Producer Sarah Hill:  When the CNN.com Live team was working on "City Zoom," the second installment of the series  “My Online Life,” we were expecting stories of new restaurants and getting lost on the way to the grocery store.

What we got were new and different ways to learn about the city you’re in. iReporters Taryn P. and Steve Burns turned us on to “Tweetups.” Through Twitter, people turn their online community into real life friendships and networking when they meet for mingling.

iReporter Kristy Griggs kept the new ideas coming, pointing us to her blog about transplanting into a new city. By sharing her experiences, she hopes she can help other people with an adjustment to a new city.

All of these iReporters were featured in Friday’s installment of “My Online Life.” If you have unique experiences to share about how your time on line helps your time offline, send us an iReport and let us know!

Spouses mvalgal and TheVideoMan have been iReporters for a while now, so when news happened in their neighborhood, they knew exactly what to do.

Both of them were at home in Moreno Valley, California, when they heard an explosion nearby. A massive cloud of smoke filled the sky when they ran outside to investigate with their cameras. Both of them described it as sounding as though a bomb went off. “This thing went up so fast, you would think it could have taken out the neighborhood,” mvalgal said. She caught some immediate images of the scene, while TheVideoMan interviewed firefighters and others responding to the fire, which officials confirmed to CNN was caused by "improperly discarded smoking materials."

Their iReports got the attention of CNN TV, and because the footage was of such high quality, it was the first iReport featured in a segment with Nicole Lapin and Tony Harris. Check it out here. Meanwhile, if breaking news happens where you live, share your photos and video with the iReport community.

When we first spotted Jack Quavis’ videos on iReport.com, they immediately caught our attention. That’s why we’re so excited that the longtime iReporter and owner of Taylor Mae’d Barber Shop in Buffalo, New York, is getting some recognition on the homepage of CNN.com today.

Quavis records candid conversations with his customers on camera – often about politics -- while he trims their hair. His most frequent customer is Tom Ammo, a 45-year-old ironworker who’s known the barber since high school. I had the pleasure of speaking with Ammo, and he offered some great anecdotes about the barbershop.

Ammo brings coffee and donuts by Taylor Mae’d once a week and the old friends chat for hours. In addition to the usual political topics, he recently started giving video predictions for upcoming Buffalo Bills games. Although his record’s not too good so far, he hopes it will improve.

Talking to Ammo helped explain why so many customers readily shared their thoughts on camera in Quavis’ shop. “He’s a hell of a guy,” Ammo said. “Not too many people have the gift of gab and the ability to get people to talk.”

Check out the CNN.com article about Taylor Mae’d and the video wall that highlights some of the best barbershop conversations caught on tape.

We've noticed pink all over the site lately thanks to Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

iReporter mherlan1 took part in a three-mile walk Sunday in Rochester, New York to raise money for breast cancer. Although it was a drizzly afternoon, thousands attended the walk, many with pink umbrellas and raincoats.

In Huntsville, Alabama, the local newspaper went pink on October 1 in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. WesNSpace has two friends who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, one who lost her life to the disease. "With that in mind, I do everything I can to support," he said.

And thousands of miles away, shalabieh donned her stylish pink glasses and shared her thoughts on breast cancer awareness in Amman, Jordan.

"Women in the Middle East are not used to dealing with their breasts," she said. "Talking about breast cancer was not something that was done here." Fortunately, shalabieh said things are beginning to change and many women are getting their first breast exams this year.

If you're talking part in Breast Cancer Awareness Month or have your own story to share, please do! We’d love to see your photos and video.

Towering tsunami waves triggered by an 8.0-magnitude earthquake Tuesday left more than 100 dead and entire villages flattened or submerged in the Samoan Islands. iReporters in American Samoa and neighboring Samoa shared incredible images of the aftermath and compelling stories as rescue workers tried to reach outlying villages affected by the natural disaster.

iReporter genhall shared video of a survivor describing the horror as a "wall of water" crashed into Pago Pago. iReporter SueScanlan told us the island community is very close. "We all know people who have lost their lives."

It’s hard to image how difficult it must be to have your life affected by such a destructive force. Our deepest thanks to the many who shared their stories and our hearts go out to the entire Samoan Island community.