Lebanon…this ain’t good

Here is some of the most level-headed analysis I have run across recently (I encourage you to check out the entire post): “The escalation along the Lebanese border is obviously in conjunction with the fighting in Gaza, but the two have differences as well as common dimensions. My thoughts on the Gaza crisis have thus [...]

Zidane pt. III

I thought some might like to see a recent account of what was said between Zidane and Materazzi: Theories have abounded as to what Materazzi might have said to provoke such a response and the former Everton defender concedes he did make an offensive remark. Materazzi, 32, told Gazetta dello Sport: “I held his shirt [...]

Engagement

Clearly we have yet to find the answer on how best to engage other countries with corrupt regimes… saber rattle at Syria and general support for the regime seems to only increase, isolate Cuba and Castro has free reign to promote his vision, put sanctions on Saddam and you starve his people, engage with China [...]

The Next Florence?

Okay, so I think it is great that Abu Dhabi is getting a new Guggenheim Museum (although part of me thinks Abu Dhabi worked to get the museum just to show up Dubai), but Dennis Hopper seems to have waxed a tad too poetic as he indulged in the amenities offered to him there. It [...]

Sufi Power!

Due to its perceived submissiveness (especially in the Ottoman Empire) and association with hippy style mysticism in the West, Sufism is often seen as decidedly a-political. In a recent article Khaleb Khazari-El paints different history of the movement, as well as what futures could lay ahead. The following are some excerpts from his thought provoking [...]

He is no Ben Wallace…

… but the Detroit Pistons will make his salary back from all of the jerseys they will sell in Dearborn.

So sayith the Lion

I thought some might get a kick out of this e-mail forward going around. Feel free to add your own : أسماء المرشحين بالعربي + الترجمةأحمد الوزان Extolled The Weigher أحمد الشحومي Extolled the Body Fat أنور جواد بوخمسن Brighter the Horse the Father of the Fifty بدر شيخان الفارسي Full Moon the Two Sheiks [...]

Lesson one for the al punditeen (or is the plural of pundit, punaadit?)

Kuwait Election Post Mortem

As the dust is settling I thought it might be a good idea to put the results of the recent election in Kuwait in perspective (more). The good news is that the reformers were able to get a majority of 33 seats (out of 50 elected MPs and 15 cabinet posts, most of which are [...]

Knock on wood

All About Jazz has a great interview with Tunisian ‘ud player Anouar Brahem. In the interview he points out: AB: I have noticed that. When I was a child I was seeing the oud on TV but could not hear it, among all the instruments. The oud player was accompanying the singer, never leading the [...]