Some folks
aspire
to World
domination
others just wanna look
good
and we do ...
check out
les cinq capitales
culturelles du Canada
http://www.ledevoir.com/2006/12/21/125543.html
Dec 21, 2006
Go Big or look good
Some folks
aspire
to World
domination
others just wanna look
good
and we do ...
check out
les cinq capitales
culturelles du Canada
http://www.ledevoir.com/2006/12/21/125543.html
Dec 20, 2006
Memories of Western Afghanistan 2005
Thanks to the young women of BalaMurgab, Jawand and Chagcharan City for their infectious embrace of learning. You inspire us all.
Dec 19, 2006
Nov 20, 2006
A coupla heros
A coupla hero stories from yesterday's security briefing ...
Suspected Suicide Bomber Arrested:
Khost Province, Mando Zayi District ...
Police arrested a potential suicide bomber in possession of explosives and an “explosive vest”. Apparently the would-be bomber’s farther called the police when he realised what his son was preparing to do.
Peaceful Demonstration:
Bamyan Province, Bamyan Center ...
A peaceful demonstration in support of the lady governor of the province took place in the provincial centre; demonstrators dispersed after lodging their petition at a UN office.
Sadly, the big picture looks less rosy - experts now draw the Taliban line of control right thru the middle of the country ...
http://www.senliscouncil.net/modules/publications/014_publication/chapter_01
Suspected Suicide Bomber Arrested:
Khost Province, Mando Zayi District ...
Police arrested a potential suicide bomber in possession of explosives and an “explosive vest”. Apparently the would-be bomber’s farther called the police when he realised what his son was preparing to do.
Peaceful Demonstration:
Bamyan Province, Bamyan Center ...
A peaceful demonstration in support of the lady governor of the province took place in the provincial centre; demonstrators dispersed after lodging their petition at a UN office.
Sadly, the big picture looks less rosy - experts now draw the Taliban line of control right thru the middle of the country ...
http://www.senliscouncil.net/modules/publications/014_publication/chapter_01
Nov 7, 2006
Aug 20, 2006
Remembering
Well we made it thru both Afghanistan Independence Day (18Aug) and the 29th anniversary of the death of Elvis (16Aug). Next year may not be so quiet – with the much anticipated launch of Adam Muskiewicz’s The Truth about Elvis …
http://www.elviswanted.com/preview.html
And the 28th anniversary of the death of Ahmad Zahir – the Elvis of Afghanistan – is just around the corner. Zahir – renegade son of former prime Minster Mohamed Zahir – was the darling of central Asia fusion until his death September 1978. The fatal car crash was rumoured to have been orchestrated by Hafizullah Amin, a powerful figure in Afghanistan's ruling communist party, to end his daughter's flirtation with the singer.
A million people attended the funeral.
http://www.elviswanted.com/preview.html
And the 28th anniversary of the death of Ahmad Zahir – the Elvis of Afghanistan – is just around the corner. Zahir – renegade son of former prime Minster Mohamed Zahir – was the darling of central Asia fusion until his death September 1978. The fatal car crash was rumoured to have been orchestrated by Hafizullah Amin, a powerful figure in Afghanistan's ruling communist party, to end his daughter's flirtation with the singer.
A million people attended the funeral.
Aug 18, 2006
Tuned!!
A great week of musical discovery. Acquired a rebab - 3 plucked and 15 resonating strings.
To be confused with the Indonesian "rebab" - 2 bowed strings. An internet search reveals no information on the former.
For a great read check out Allan Pollack's ...
http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/awp-notes_on.shtml
a comprehensive and vibrant dissection of the music of the Beatles. Will satisfy your thirst for culture, history and pantonics. Not to mention solve a few problems for amateur musicians who love to cover.
To be confused with the Indonesian "rebab" - 2 bowed strings. An internet search reveals no information on the former.
For a great read check out Allan Pollack's ...
http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/awp-notes_on.shtml
a comprehensive and vibrant dissection of the music of the Beatles. Will satisfy your thirst for culture, history and pantonics. Not to mention solve a few problems for amateur musicians who love to cover.
Aug 12, 2006
The wall
We did “the wall”. At five AM we boarded the International School bus – picnic in the air despite the early hour. At six thirty we were on top of Sher Darwaza - enjoying the sunrise 400 metres above Kabul.
Centuries ago two powerful brothers decided to parcel up the city - agreed to disagree over some family matter – and constructed this immense barrier of stone dividing some very inhospitable mountainside. More than 200 labourers are rumoured to be buried in “the wall” - condemned for spilling the mud or stone they were transporting up the steep slopes.
I fear landmines – having been well indoctrinated about “keeping to the well trod path”. There are still two live mines for each of the Afghanistan's 30 million citizens. I also confront vertigo – always an issue for me on steep ground. Eyes on the track Peter – but occasionally I stop, ensure solid footing, and gaze out over the city. Three point five million and growing rapidly – testimony to both the entrepreneurial confidence of the wealthy, and the failure to develop livelihood opportunities outside of Kabul.
Wish me luck. Today I’m shopping for a rebob – the ubiquitous central Asian string instrument renowned for its sharp rapid melodies and energetic complement to the tabla. Everywhere I’ve lived music has proven a reliable door into local culture and society. And, like dressing “comme mujihadeen”, pickin with some of the locals may help make me less conspicuous – we are secure inversely proportional to our visibility.
Centuries ago two powerful brothers decided to parcel up the city - agreed to disagree over some family matter – and constructed this immense barrier of stone dividing some very inhospitable mountainside. More than 200 labourers are rumoured to be buried in “the wall” - condemned for spilling the mud or stone they were transporting up the steep slopes.
I fear landmines – having been well indoctrinated about “keeping to the well trod path”. There are still two live mines for each of the Afghanistan's 30 million citizens. I also confront vertigo – always an issue for me on steep ground. Eyes on the track Peter – but occasionally I stop, ensure solid footing, and gaze out over the city. Three point five million and growing rapidly – testimony to both the entrepreneurial confidence of the wealthy, and the failure to develop livelihood opportunities outside of Kabul.
Wish me luck. Today I’m shopping for a rebob – the ubiquitous central Asian string instrument renowned for its sharp rapid melodies and energetic complement to the tabla. Everywhere I’ve lived music has proven a reliable door into local culture and society. And, like dressing “comme mujihadeen”, pickin with some of the locals may help make me less conspicuous – we are secure inversely proportional to our visibility.
Aug 11, 2006
Do we need help?
We humans need to get into the habit of asking for help. Not begging – but pleading ignorance. “What is going on?” or “I cannot figure this out” is often where we are at, always very instructive, and infrequently voiced.
It expedites our learning – from a young age we can benefit immensely from identifying what we want to know but don’t - and then asking for it.
As maturity approaches it becomes a critical community development tool – personalizing stories to better understand motivations.
It prepares us for old age – when our needs really do increase and the quality of life we can have depends very much on adapting to those new needs – not fighting them.
Do we need help with this?
It expedites our learning – from a young age we can benefit immensely from identifying what we want to know but don’t - and then asking for it.
As maturity approaches it becomes a critical community development tool – personalizing stories to better understand motivations.
It prepares us for old age – when our needs really do increase and the quality of life we can have depends very much on adapting to those new needs – not fighting them.
Do we need help with this?
Aug 10, 2006
(They can't get no) satisfaction
Some people are insatiable, as the following excerpt from todays security report highlites ...
"Incident - Murder: 07 Aug, Helmand Province, Musa Qala District - The Taliban accused an elderly woman and a thirteen year old boy of spying for the government and NATO forces. After parading them through the village to be an example to other villagers, they were taken to a public place and hanged.
Comment: Amid waging a war on NATO and Government forces, the Taliban does not seem to have lost their appetite for the public execution of women and children."
"Incident - Murder: 07 Aug, Helmand Province, Musa Qala District - The Taliban accused an elderly woman and a thirteen year old boy of spying for the government and NATO forces. After parading them through the village to be an example to other villagers, they were taken to a public place and hanged.
Comment: Amid waging a war on NATO and Government forces, the Taliban does not seem to have lost their appetite for the public execution of women and children."
Jul 29, 2006
a happy planet is ...
satisfaction times expectancy slash footprint
http://www.happyplanetindex.org/list.htm
canada and pakistan are neck and neck
afghanistan does not appear
but her neighbours tajikistan and iran
enjoy elevated HPI
satisfaction times expectancy slash footprint
http://www.happyplanetindex.org/list.htm
canada and pakistan are neck and neck
afghanistan does not appear
but her neighbours tajikistan and iran
enjoy elevated HPI
Jul 28, 2006
a pensive week
two former World Vision colleagues are murdered at their health clinic outside Chagcharan City in Ghor. the west is increasingly vulnerable ...
the head of the security company we are about to contract is rumoured to have died in a helicopter crash in Khost - "bad weather" may be the politically correct diagnosis ...
less than a month until home leave ... the much needed reconnection to friends and family - the feared last days in my mom's wonderful ottawa river sunset condo
the head of the security company we are about to contract is rumoured to have died in a helicopter crash in Khost - "bad weather" may be the politically correct diagnosis ...
less than a month until home leave ... the much needed reconnection to friends and family - the feared last days in my mom's wonderful ottawa river sunset condo
Jul 21, 2006
Jul 16, 2006
Jul 9, 2006
Jun 5, 2006
Remember the days of morning papers. A rigorous attempt to meditate on paper every morning – I was good at it – although fellow morning paperers seemed upset that I would go back and edit it – even for readability only – a serious inflexibility re the process. Nonetheless we talked and worked together and became more creative and found things not previous known – a rich period f or me. So much done looking out the window onto frosty mornings
Tomorrow is June 6 – 17 years ago the Chinese rolled over the dissidents in Tiananmen square – a landmark in many histories – I went to china soon thereafter - saw the smuggled in videos at the momo making party friend of Lu Weh's – who was one of a number of play both sides guys.
And who wouldn’t - keep all options open cause the chance that the Taliban will be back in power some day is not that remote – American and indeed western patience and willingness to participate in such distant and foreign peace keeping adventures will wane – third time unlucky and the Brits will definitely never return. What is the Canadian tolerance – a practically ignominious death – a scandal at home more likely.
Just finished Shampoo Planet by Douglas Copeland – his characters have little depth but then his book are not about characters they are about futuristic landscapes when people and icons will blend in to each other. Any way the hero finally writes the epic letter to Bechtel and gets the dream jobs after a megabit with frank miller the king.
Okay so close the eyes and look out the window and see the birdies in the jewelry morning June air reaping the spring harvest of bugs and leaves and profusion of life – the sun is coming up and the colours are starting to unfold and I am careless - expect for coffee and a little pang of hunger for one of the women I love(d) - let that go and just wonder on this empty canvas - how about stepping out the front door ....
Tomorrow is June 6 – 17 years ago the Chinese rolled over the dissidents in Tiananmen square – a landmark in many histories – I went to china soon thereafter - saw the smuggled in videos at the momo making party friend of Lu Weh's – who was one of a number of play both sides guys.
And who wouldn’t - keep all options open cause the chance that the Taliban will be back in power some day is not that remote – American and indeed western patience and willingness to participate in such distant and foreign peace keeping adventures will wane – third time unlucky and the Brits will definitely never return. What is the Canadian tolerance – a practically ignominious death – a scandal at home more likely.
Just finished Shampoo Planet by Douglas Copeland – his characters have little depth but then his book are not about characters they are about futuristic landscapes when people and icons will blend in to each other. Any way the hero finally writes the epic letter to Bechtel and gets the dream jobs after a megabit with frank miller the king.
Okay so close the eyes and look out the window and see the birdies in the jewelry morning June air reaping the spring harvest of bugs and leaves and profusion of life – the sun is coming up and the colours are starting to unfold and I am careless - expect for coffee and a little pang of hunger for one of the women I love(d) - let that go and just wonder on this empty canvas - how about stepping out the front door ....
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