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Small World: High School to Uzbekistan
Related to country: Uzbekistan

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

I was just contacted by someone that I went to high school with -- we were never close and hardly talked, but he said Hello and I told him I was curious about his profile photo. It turns out he's working for the U.S. Embassy as a diplomat in Tashkent!

That's great/surprising news, because one of my best friends was born in Tashkent. :) So I asked him about his experiences in International Relations and his travels in the region, which he said he's been interested in for a long time.

Eurasia has such a wealth of beauty and culture, history ... Seeing him pose before a Samarkand mosque, ancient battle sites in Tajikistan ... that's a wonderful sight! It's always so interesting to find out where people end up ....

December 21, 2008 | 11:49 AM Comments  0 comments

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Habana
Related to country: Cuba

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

I submitted a few photos I took in Miami to TIG's Global Gallery, so my thoughts are all on Cuba right now. Hmm. Over Thanksgiving I talked to my abuela about her childhood in Cuba, or more specifically, her relationship to her sister. Like, did you both get along, did you fight; what kind of things did you do there growing up; what do you think about people visiting for tourism or leisure?

My grandmother (step-grandma, although I am part Cuban) is blond-haired and blue-eyed, with incredibly fair skin. She has always had a very active life stye, enjoys travel, and likes to dance. She spent the better part of my youth trying to teach me to salsa and to get me to do La Macarena (hard because I listened to grunge at the time, so Latin music definitely wasn't my thing). I'm not embarrassed that I couldn't learn to dance from her, but I'm glad she asks me what I ate at the Versailles restaurant on my recent Miami excursion and said, Oh you like bistec empanizado? I can make that. Oh, yucas? Moros? And inwardly I am happy since I know that she wants to and will cook that meal for me, for us, because it makes her happy that we'll reconnect the culture with that dinner. It gives us a place and reason to evoke her upbringing and the Hispanic culture that I seem to be missing right now.

Yes, I want to visit Cuba, if only for a weekend, to see it, smell it, and hear the sounds of life from its streets.

November 30, 2008 | 10:16 PM Comments  0 comments



Validation of Mental Experiences -- Marjane Satrapi
Related to country: United States

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

"'You are putting yourself in serious danger [by smoking]...'

I think that I preferred to put myself in serious danger rather than confront my shame. My shame at not having become someone, the shame of not having made my parents proud after all the sacrifices they had made for me. The shame of having become a mediocre nihilist."
— Marjane Satrapi (Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return)


Thank you, Ms. Satrapi, for making me feel like an insider. So it is a universal theme, not just that of a spoiled American. I know you saw a lot worse in your lifetime, but at least even if I don't relate to your lived experiences, I relate to your emotional experiences. Somehow it's comforting to know that around the world, especially in ransacked Tehran, mental well-being can be identified as separate from the physical and environmental state. This validates my own experiences.

October 5, 2008 | 9:25 AM Comments  0 comments



Nonprofit Fundraising & Marketing
Related to country: United States

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

I volunteer for the Holocaust Resource and Memorial Center in Orlando, FL, which has a comparatively small "fan" base. This nonprofit org. is important to our region because it offers resources to educate people of all ages about the Holocaust -- art gallery, library of books and movies, and workshops/lectures.

Lately, it has been on my mind about increasing awareness/funds for the Center. It's an important tool for any community about historical education, culture, and heritage. We get lots of school children who are working on assignments for their classes.

I would love to get more literature, updated film media, and periodicals for the Center. They are running out of library space, however, and soon must purge some of the books. I'm not sure if this [adding to the collection] is something they are even interested in at this time. But I would love to help it grow while we have the opportunity.

Also, volunteering for non-profits is great, because there is no conflict of interest with other companies/organizations. Also, it's refreshing to use your spare time to work on such things than commit a typical 40-hour-a-week work schedule.

October 5, 2008 | 8:28 AM Comments  0 comments



Stupid Media Spins: Obama/McCain Debate
Related to country: United States

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

I am SO thankful this is one of the first things I see this morning: http://tinyurl.com/3wa8lv

because I felt the SAME way. Aggravating. Last night, the U.S. presidential debate probably had the most integrity-backed articulations I've heard come out of politicians for a long time. I could be 85% sure that BOTH candidates were sincere, truthfully responsive, and passionate. And best of all, standing up for what they believe to be the right course for America.

And when it's over (I watched the CBS airing) the first thing to come out of the commentators' mouths are about manipulation and double-speak intent. WHAT?! Part of that 85% assuredness is that last night, at last speaking live without the cover of campaign ads, magazine articles, and biased reporting were the words of two inspired hopefuls.

We are so affected by intentions, and it just shows the cynicism and suspicion that has been operating in our country for the last ... I don't know how many years. It could be a decade, it could be since Nixon.

Obama called him "John," John called him "Senator Obama," "was he trying to get his goat, time will tell!" Shut up, turn off your microphone, and go protest outside of Casey Anthony's house while you're at it. Freedom of speech? Yes. Freedom of the press? Yes. Coverage that is completely inane and superficial? Yes. No thanks. THAT is exactly an example of the type of "Change" that our country is seeking, and I hope that it's overhauled in the not-too-distant future.


(photo credit: Alex Brandon/Associated Press)

September 27, 2008 | 11:26 AM Comments  1 comments



TIG: Group Decision '08
Related to country: United States

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Many people on TIG are contributing to Decision '08 by posting blogs. We are doing this on our own profiles, and they appear here (including mine):

http://www.tigblog.org/group/decision08/?next=5

Write your own blogs to share your views! Inspire, inform, involve to the upcoming election in this very close-call election year.

Do you have to show support for Obama or another liberal? No! Show your support for a conservative, an independent, a vice presidential nominee.

September 20, 2008 | 1:09 PM Comments  0 comments

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ROCKING la votación - En español
Related to country: United States

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

¿Qué significa para Rock the Vote? Que significa:

"participar y construir el poder político de los jóvenes con el fin de lograr el cambio progresivo en nuestro país"

ROCKING la votación es acerca de la habilitación. Después de una voz. Aprender sobre la política de contratar a un futuro mejor. De tomar una decisión. Activamente haciendo uso de la palabra sin palabras. La determinación de la dirección. Influir en la historia y el futuro de los Estados Unidos.

Paso 1: inscribirse para votar.
Paso 2: Votación.

Pasos opcionales: Estar informado, informar a otros, en protesta, Marketing.

En caso de que se puede empezar? Online:)
1. Oficial en español: http://www.rockthevote.com/en-espanol/
2. Facebook: http://www.new.facebook.com/rockthevote?ref=ts
3. Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/rockthevote
____________________________________________________
¿Quién es usted para votar? ¿Está dispuesto a comprometerse?

September 20, 2008 | 12:59 PM Comments  0 comments

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Let's Rock the Vote -- Decide '08
Related to country: United States

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

What does it mean to ROCK THE VOTE? It means to:

"engage and build the political power of young people in order to achieve progressive change in our country"

ROCKING THE VOTE is about empowerment. Having a voice. Learning about politics to engage a better future. Making a decision. Actively speaking up without words. Determining direction. Influencing the history and future of the United States.

Step 1: Registering to Vote.
Step 2: Voting.

Optional Steps: Being informed, Informing others, Protesting, Marketing.

Where you can begin? Online :)
1. Facebook: http://www.new.facebook.com/rockthevote?ref=ts
2. Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/rockthevote
3. Official: http://www.RocktheVote.com
__________________________________________
WHO are you voting for? Are you willing to commit?

September 20, 2008 | 12:11 PM Comments  0 comments

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Everything sounds so articulate in your head in the morning: Post VP RNC Speech
Related to country: United States

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

The first thing I did this morning (on my car ride to work) was go over the list of reasons why Americans should NOT be swayed to vote for Palin just because she's a woman.

And my car ride home consisted of detailing all of the ethical issues that should be considered before Americans publicly criticize her...

I'm too tired to exercise this now, but a few things I will say:

(1) People are still so incredibly ARCHAIC!!!!
(2) How soon we forget.
(3) We've got to stick to the issues. Talking about hemlines is so distracting.

September 4, 2008 | 11:03 PM Comments  0 comments

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Urbane Art: Graffiti Graphics
Related to country: United Kingdom

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

I'm a little fascinated by Street Art, mostly in theory. I don't know if it really blows me away, but when I took the train into Rome, some of the most brilliant, soulful colors I've seen appeared on tunnel ramps and in an underground sk8ter area of London's South Bank (the pic I took of it appears at right).

Mostly in the article below, I really like the part about Banksy and his "guerilla art" appearing in prestigious museums.
______________________________________

Banksy's London, written by Jeff Marlow

In an art world full of self-promoters and charlatans, Banksy has made a name for himself by remaining elusive. Depending on who's telling the story, he's short, tall, thin, heavy, bearded, clean-shaven, right-handed, left-handed, or maybe even ambidextrous. No one knows where or when he will strike next. What is known is that he has transformed London; with the city as his canvas, Banksy has created art of the street and for the street, using graphic images and amusing juxtapositions to generate accessible, thought-provoking morsel s of urban wit....

A walking tour of Banksy's spray-paint masterpieces in the English capital is an art tour unlike any other. The city frames the art, to be sure, but the art also frames the city, highlighting cultural trends and political attitudes of several hip North-side neighborhoods. Just north of Victoria Park, a stenciled classical master paints his own graffiti while restrained by a dollar-sign-emblazoned ball and chain, a critique on the art establishment's capitalistic manacles. Farther to the west, in the working class neighborhood of Bethnal Green, an idle workman's flower painting sprouts from the street's double yellow lines, using symbols of urban life to whimsically portray nature. It is a flash of beauty amid gritty low-rent apartment buildings with balconies framed by withered potted plants....

Though in essence a street artist, a Banksy-centered tour of London wouldn't be complete without stops at the Natural History Museum (where he covertly installed a stuffed rat holding a microphone in the dinosaur exhibit hall), the British Museum (where he secretly hung a piece of cave art depicting a man pushing a shopping cart), and the regal auction houses of Bond Street (where one of his canvas works recently sold for over $200,000). Banksy is a rarity in the art world: a subversive leader of the underground who has successfully entered the public consciousness....

London is home to some of the most respected art museums in the world, but a tour of Banksy's street art does something no gallery can, showcasing unique parts of the city while introducing viewers to cultural trends of the neighborhood. After scouring the streets for the world's most famous graffiti, your view of London will never be the same.

(For full story, please visit http://everywheremag.com/articles/551)

July 6, 2008 | 1:56 PM Comments  0 comments



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