The Look

April 29, 2009 | Filed Under Main | 4 Comments

Everyone is re-doing their blog – making them look shinier, sleeker, more… modern? Streamlined? Flavorful?

I don’t know. What do people look for in a blog design? Pastels? Whirling things? Puppies? Should I change to a forest motif or just something in blue? Something angelic or more fire and brimstone?

Should I change just to change because change is good (but loose change is bad)?

Help me out here, people! My design sense has not evolved since college and no one wants THAT!

Last Night

April 26, 2009 | Filed Under Main, Music | No Comments

The final night was my shortest night – because I had to go to work the next day. But it was still pretty great. I caught the tail end of Paprika Balkanicus from Romania playing traditional tunes from the whole Balkan region. Sort of a gypsy party band. Then came the amazing percussionist Trilok Gurtu (India) and his multi-ethnic band playing his brand of fusion. Very cool performance AND I got to meet him earlier in the day in the lobby of my hotel (he is one of the reasons I came to this festival). My last act for the night was British guitarist Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara – master of the Gambian griot (sounds like a fiddle). These two fused rock and African rhythms for a hot set of classic blues/rock – fronted by a young man named Robert Plant. He was not even on the bill three weeks ago, but the duo had worked with Plant and invited him down for the gig. Since it was all blues, you can say America finally had a chance to rock at the festival.

The most interesting thing each night was my walk back to the hotel – nearly 40 minutes each night along the Corniche. A “corniche” is defined in some Arab countries as a waterfront promenade which parallels a major roadway. That is what they have in Abu Dhabi. One side is right along the water. The city side is something else. The first two nights, I was walking back around midnight or later. What struck me was how alive the Corniche was. Not with concert goers – but with families and couples. Little picnics everywhere. Teenagers playing soccer. A father flying a kite with his little girl. Why were they out so late? Because it is BLOODY HOT during the day. And the breeze off the water and the grass and the dark made everything so cooled. The landscape of the Corniche is the best I have ever seen. Brilliantly planned and executed. There is light – but not too much. Playgrounds dot the landscape and each with different playsets. There is grass and there a trees and there are hedges to create quiet little private areas along the walk. And it is not just flat – there are small hills all along the trail. And fountains! One unique to the next. Everything spaced out perfectly for intimacy and togetherness. There are even walkways under the main roads so you don’t have to risk playing with traffic. Sometimes I would just see people on a bench – by themselves – in the dark. Just to relax.

Relax. You have the right to relax.

There is talk of sending me out to this office. Let’s see…

Friday Night

April 24, 2009 | Filed Under Main, Music | No Comments

You may ask why I am such a fanatic about music. I believe music is our best hope for peace. Our best hope for equality. Our best hope for freedom.

Take tonight. This crowd was took the word diversity to new levels. There were women in abayas and women in tank tops and shorts. Men in t-shirts, suit jackets and dishdashas. The ages were from 6 to 60 ALL NIGHT LONG. We were Muslim and Christian and Hindu. Countries in attendance included Germany, Pakistan, Tunisia, Jordan, India, England, America, Russia, Nigeria, France and dozens of others. We all danced. We all took photos. We all shouted with joy. We smiled at each other.

Two stages were set at either end of the beach. No performance began until the other had ended. When I came in, we had Abdullah Chhadeh from Syria on the North Stage. Then we went across the sand to Iran and the Kamkars with their traditional Kurdish music. Then to Niger for the hypnotic grooves of Etran Finatawa. Back across the sand to China and the eclectic sights and sounds of the lovely Sa DingDing. Finally we finish in Senegal and the joyous Youssou N’Dour.

At one point in the evening, we watched as small paper hot air balloons appeared over the top of the stage and dotted the night sky. Soon, about twenty hovered over us and then floated out toward the city.

Bring everyone out here. It’s our best hope.

Thursday in Abu Dhabi

April 23, 2009 | Filed Under Main, Music | No Comments

Heck of a day, I tell you.

First I had to work. Not only are the auditors here asking me questions I don’t know (like “Why weren’t last year’s adjustments posted?”), but my CEO suddenly calls to ask why my boss isn’t there and why he hasn’t answered her emails (he was visiting her in the Abu Dhabi office but didn’t tell her). After answering her voluminous emails and the auditor questions, I finally got out around 3:30 to catch my plane. Plenty of time since my flight was at six and the airport is only 20 minutes from the office.

Unfortunately, all the “long term” parking was full. There was TONS of hourly parking, but you can’t leave you car there for the night. So I drove the car back to the apartment (10 minutes) and stood out on the street to get a taxi. A guy stopped and picked me up. Not a proper cab, but that happens out here. Then we had to find someone who spoke English because he didn’t understand “airport”. Again – not the first time this has happened. They just drive until they see someone outside and stop and ask them if they understand what I am saying. Luckily that didn’t take long and I was off to the airport.

Now, my reservation said I was on Kuwait Airways… operated by Etihad (a different airline). But it said I was at the Kuwait Airways terminal – so I lined up with a bunch of other people who were transporting massive boxes and roped-tied packages to whatever third world country they were off to (and me with my little carry on). Made it through despite all the Kuwaitis cutting in front and went to the next line for check-in. Nothing on the screens said Abu Dhabi. Quickly, I asked someone directing traffic and had to run to the other terminal.

The airport now is packed – lots of people flying, lots of people lingering and many F-ing carts of luggage and boxes (people out here do NOT pack light). I get to the counter just as it is closing and the guy says I should go through the business class side (I’m economy) because it is so late. So I listen to him. And I get sent back to the economy line. A very long line. Finally made it through the next two security stops and run to the gate.

Got into the hotel a little after nine and went up to the room number on my key… to find someone there already. They had written down the wrong room number. So I sat on my butt for about an hour, cleaned up and thought I could just walk over to the concert since I was right near the water. Actually, it turned out to be a 35 minute walk. I got there to see the end of Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali from Pakistan (nephews of Nusreh Fateh Ali Khan) and the “King of Rai” music Khaled from Algeria. I liked Khaled and he had this very young crowd rockin’ But after three songs, I realized I had a 40 minute walk back and I was beat.

Tomorrow, I will do better…. After being fortified in the afternoon with brunch (a ‘roast’) at the local Irish pub.

Nothing

April 22, 2009 | Filed Under Main | No Comments

Really – nothing at all. Just work (the auditors are in).

But I’m packing tonight for my weekend in Abu Dhabi! Mainly for maybe 2 1/4 days of the three day WOMAD Festival that starts tomorrow (though I will stop into the office on Sunday).

Looks to be fun… and of course you can drink there. Legally. I will dutifully report back…

Kuwait Jazz Festival

April 18, 2009 | Filed Under Main, Music | 2 Comments

I actually went out! In Kuwait! Who’da thunk it?

The Radisson SAS Hotel (the SAS as we call it) held the 4th annual Kuwait Jazz Festival this week and I went to two of the three nights. It was held on the terrace of one of the restaurants there. A very nice place to see music – open and perfectly set up. Except for a few raindrops on Wednesday and a dusty Thursday, it was a very pleasant couple of evenings. The audience (not full either night) was about 90% non-Arab. But just listening you heard Russians, Australians, Germans, British, American and the event was sponsored by the Polish Embassy and the Netherlands Embassy.

Wednesday night was jazz singer/pianist Karen Edwards and Polish guitarist Jarek Śmietana and his trio. Thursday was Egyptian saxophone player Chris Ioannou and his band. Now, both groups were very good and excellent musicians (though I wasn’t impressed with Karen Edwards). But all the music became very… bland. Each night, we were given standards – and I mean SERIOUS standards. Tunes you have heard a BILLION times. And they were done proficiently and professionally. But there was very little life to it all. The composition of all the songs began to blend into each other after a while. The guitarist was very good so I picked up one of his discs at the door: “Out Of The Question” by the Jarek Śmietana Band. Now THAT is what I was hoping for! Recorded live in Kraków, this record sizzles and bops like good jazz should. It is literate and fun and takes you places. Which begs the question: Did these guys have to “dumb down” for their audience?

I have much higher hopes for next weekend when I will be attending the WOMAD Festival in Abu Dhabi. I only heard of this happening because I read Songlines magazine. Over the three day free festival on the Corniche, I will be seeing dozens of artists including Youssou N’Dour (Senegal), Trilok Gurtu (India), Sa Dingding (China), Dulsori (Korea) and numerous others. And – supposedly – Robert Plant will be showing up on the last night. I think I can avoid bland here….

A Picture

April 15, 2009 | Filed Under Main | 2 Comments

There is a woman driving the car in front of me.
She is in full gear – except for the veil – and big sunglasses.
On the back of her car is nicely stenciled the words “Slave to Emam Ali”.
She is driving a brand new Lexus.

One Night In Bangkok

April 13, 2009 | Filed Under Main | 3 Comments

Thailand is my new favorite, dysfunctional democracy. Read this short synopsis carefully:

“Political tensions have simmered since [Former Prime Minister] Thaksin was ousted by a military coup in 2006 amid accusations of corruption and abuse of power. He remains popular in the impoverished countryside for his populist policies.
“His opponents — many in urban areas — took to the streets last year to help bring down two governments led by his allies, seizing Bangkok’s two airports in November for about a week.
“Parliament then appointed [Prime Minister] Abhisit in December after a court ordered the removal of the previous pro-Thaksin government citing fraud in the 2007 elections. Thaksin supporters took to the streets in protest, and their numbers grew to 100,000 in Bangkok last week. “

So last year, opponents of the government took to the streets, closed the airports and ousted the sitting government. This month supporters of the ousted government have taken to the streets to oust the newly appointed government. Now – why couldn’t these people have come out together? Where were the supporters last year when the other guy was kicked out and where are the opponents now? Are the protests meaningless? Where are their convictions? Is this just something to do instead of watching American Idol?

Pirates

April 12, 2009 | Filed Under Main | No Comments

BLOW THEM UP!!!!

my two cents.

Thank you.

Added to iPod – fin

April 10, 2009 | Filed Under Music | 8 Comments

Finally….

King Crimson – “Beat” Mainly because I couldn’t find Discipline.
Otis Redding – An anthology of all his songs.
Neko Case – “Middle Cyclone” I really like her sound and her writing has is terrific. Her best yet.
Guano Apes – “Live” Keep your Evanescence! If I need a hard rock group with a female front man, it will be this quartet from Germany. Nothing fancy – just a rock band and Sandra Nasic’s vocals can be soft or shredding, depending on the song. Plus I just love the band’s name.
Chicago Transit Authority – Self-titled. Before they morphed into the soft rock of Chicago. A classic from 1969 that stills sounds great today.
Transglobal Underground – “Dream of 100 Nations” With Natacha Atlas on vocals. From 1993, they must have invented the mix of world music and electronic beats. Global Groove music.
Charles Mingus – “Pithecanthropus Erectus” One of his finest moments.
Bette Midler – “Live At Last” It’s a theater thing. Don’t ask.

And that should do it. I started this blog with a library of 5,500 songs. I am now over 13,000. Over a month’s worth of music. I don’t know what more I can pick up. I have all the old stuff and new stuff is so few and far between. I may go through and add a single here and there – but that will be all for a quite a while until someone starts making decent new music.

Spring

April 7, 2009 | Filed Under Main | No Comments

It nearly feels like spring here in the Q. The rain we’ve had recently has cleared out the air and flowers are actually blooming. Probably won’t last long – but I’ll take it.

It is also Easter out here. I get a kick out of watching Arabs checking out the Paas coloring kits and Easter M&M’s. They probably just think of it as another ‘candy’ holiday. These folks are very big on candy and Easter is right up there with Halloween on that score.

Milford?

April 2, 2009 | Filed Under Main | 12 Comments

What the heck is going on in my home town?

First I read the local government passed a “no touching” law for all Milford schools and today I read a local pet shop has a rabbit with two noses. Are they mixing crack with the fluoride in your water systems? Have pod people invaded? The “no touching” law is just random government overkill. It seems lawyers are out to destroy the concept of childhood and boil down the first fourteen years of any child’s life to sitting in your house, in front of a TV or computer, bathing in anti-bacterial soap. Remember wrestling with your friends? Rolling down hills? Playing in the dirt? Scraping knees? Playing a pick-up game of football on a open field? Totally verboten today. Supervised “play dates” or nothing! If he touches you – we’ll sue! Don’t go out there – you’ll poke an eye out!!

No wonder kids are into drugs earlier these days – what else is there to do?

But the bunny with two noses – that’s scary…