You may have read about how Calvin College in Michigan cancelled an upcoming New Pornographers show on campus because of the band's name.
I have to say, I was hoping to be more entertained by their reasoning and official statements (the school's, I mean), but really, it sounds like they basically said, "Listen, we know their music is inoffensive, we tried to tell our influential faculty/boosters/parents/whomever that same thing, but they were unwilling or unable to listen. We apologize for their ignorance."
Check it out here: http://pitchfork.com/news/40053-christian-college-cancels-new-pornographers-concert-because-of-the-bands-name/
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Live from Fes
I promised several folks I'd update from Fes, Morocco, where I'll be for the better part of three months. I'll be studying Arabic at ALIF (www.alif-fes.com) and hopefully doing a little research to help with PhD applications.
I arrived on Saturday night and lugged a truly massive backpack -- there should've been a picture -- across the Ville Nouvelle from the train station to the Hotel Savoy. I rinsed out my shirt in the sink, changed into some shorts, and went for a stroll before settling down to eat tajine kefta at Cafe 24/24, which lured me in with promises of La Liga games being broadcast in Arabic.
The next day, Sunday, I decided to take on the infamous Fes medina, the old walled city. I've toured the medina four times, by my count, and each time had literally no idea where I was going. Each time was with a guide, however, which makes life quite easy but also means you inevitably end up stuck in a few rug shops on the way. This time I had the Rough Guide map, and it more or less got me to the spectacular blue-tiled Bab Boujeloud in relatively short order ("bab" = door or gate in Arabic). Its the most famous bab in Fes, and the most common medina entrance. I walked one of the two main drags for a while before setting off down a side street. Once you commit to turning off, you have to accept that you will most likely not find your way back. Streets make odd turns, and ones that appear to go due south, for example, will inexplicably turn east and continue. It's also quite hilly so you can't always see what happens at the top of the crest or where the street goes.
It is, however, truly spectacular and in all my medina walks there is nothing like it at all. I eventually was dumped out on the far south side of time, well beyond the Bab Ftouh and made my way around the city, eventually ending up under the Borj Sud, a watchtower where guides take tourists to get a full grasp of the size and scope of the medina. I ate a picnic lunch in a small cafe before leaving the medina. It was packed with men of all ages glued to the TV, watching the C movie "Drive" (seen it, anyone?), drinking sodas and smoking kif in the back corners.
I'm finally settled in to what is basically a dorm: an old late 19th century villa converted to 14 rooms with shared showers and a kitchen, filled with students at my language school. I have a double but no roommate as of yet. Its quite nice though -- we have wireless so Judy and I have been able to skype regularly, the kitchen is stocked with cookware, and there's a TV with literally 300 channels including Tamazight (Berber) TV, TV Chad, and a bazillion from Egypt and the Gulf. MTV Lebanon. Dubai Horse Racing. You name it. All in Arabic (save BBC World and a couple French ones).
Off to class today. I'm the only person in my section, we'll see how that goes. Looking forward to getting to work.
And I can't close without a Skins mention. Yes, I saw the highlights on ESPN.com and Judy filled me in on everything. Unbelievable. I wore my hat with pride yesterday.
I arrived on Saturday night and lugged a truly massive backpack -- there should've been a picture -- across the Ville Nouvelle from the train station to the Hotel Savoy. I rinsed out my shirt in the sink, changed into some shorts, and went for a stroll before settling down to eat tajine kefta at Cafe 24/24, which lured me in with promises of La Liga games being broadcast in Arabic.
The next day, Sunday, I decided to take on the infamous Fes medina, the old walled city. I've toured the medina four times, by my count, and each time had literally no idea where I was going. Each time was with a guide, however, which makes life quite easy but also means you inevitably end up stuck in a few rug shops on the way. This time I had the Rough Guide map, and it more or less got me to the spectacular blue-tiled Bab Boujeloud in relatively short order ("bab" = door or gate in Arabic). Its the most famous bab in Fes, and the most common medina entrance. I walked one of the two main drags for a while before setting off down a side street. Once you commit to turning off, you have to accept that you will most likely not find your way back. Streets make odd turns, and ones that appear to go due south, for example, will inexplicably turn east and continue. It's also quite hilly so you can't always see what happens at the top of the crest or where the street goes.
It is, however, truly spectacular and in all my medina walks there is nothing like it at all. I eventually was dumped out on the far south side of time, well beyond the Bab Ftouh and made my way around the city, eventually ending up under the Borj Sud, a watchtower where guides take tourists to get a full grasp of the size and scope of the medina. I ate a picnic lunch in a small cafe before leaving the medina. It was packed with men of all ages glued to the TV, watching the C movie "Drive" (seen it, anyone?), drinking sodas and smoking kif in the back corners.
I'm finally settled in to what is basically a dorm: an old late 19th century villa converted to 14 rooms with shared showers and a kitchen, filled with students at my language school. I have a double but no roommate as of yet. Its quite nice though -- we have wireless so Judy and I have been able to skype regularly, the kitchen is stocked with cookware, and there's a TV with literally 300 channels including Tamazight (Berber) TV, TV Chad, and a bazillion from Egypt and the Gulf. MTV Lebanon. Dubai Horse Racing. You name it. All in Arabic (save BBC World and a couple French ones).
Off to class today. I'm the only person in my section, we'll see how that goes. Looking forward to getting to work.
And I can't close without a Skins mention. Yes, I saw the highlights on ESPN.com and Judy filled me in on everything. Unbelievable. I wore my hat with pride yesterday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)