Category: World

Very Cold, Very Deep; Vostok is Breached

On February 5th of 2012, Russian scientists broke through the Antarctic ice sheet and breached a prehistoric lake. At a depth of over 2 miles(!) beneath ice, the secrets of Lake Vostok remained hidden to all for more than 20 million years. Now, after decades of work, the team has reached their goal – even… Continue reading Very Cold, Very Deep; Vostok is Breached

A Week in Las Vegas

I’ve just recently returned from the Microsoft Management Summit 2009 in Las Vegas. It was my first time to this convention and my second trip to Vegas. I also stayed in the same hotel as for the VMWorld 2008 convention back in September, the Venetian. I had a good time, but not too good of… Continue reading A Week in Las Vegas

Visiting the Andalusian Music Festival

Festival is, perhaps, a bit of an overstatement. However, there was a collection of artists who participated in the event held recently at the Rialto in Atlanta. My wife and I joined some acquaintances there to explore the culturally rich music of the Arabo-Andalusian. Representing the classical music were musicians from three cities; the Tunisian… Continue reading Visiting the Andalusian Music Festival

Cloudberries

From the folks that brought you surströmming, a kind of fermented herring, comes something a bit different to entice your palate! When I first heard “cloudberry,” I thought it a playful term for flatulence. Turns out, it’s an indescribable fruit found in northern latitudes. It’s rare, and rather difficult to cultivate as I understand. The… Continue reading Cloudberries

Tastey Nuts

I’m a fan of the seed and nut family, as many can attest. I maintain a supply of them at my desk at work for the occasion of snacking, which comes regularly. There are also infinite jokes to be told that never get old: Hello everybody. I have brought my nuts for everybody to enjoy.… Continue reading Tastey Nuts

Afghanistan Remembers Music

I listened to a piece from WNYC’s Radio Lab recently only to form a more concrete relationship with the loss that victims suffer under Taliban rule. From the outside, looking in, the culture seems muddied with the intermingling of past and present times.  Between incomplete reports from the news agencies, history, and modern documentaries, it… Continue reading Afghanistan Remembers Music

Gävlebocken (The Gävle Goat)

In a small city north of Stockholm, 5,000 onlookers welcome a giant Goat as it is unveiled each year around Yule. For several decades now, the Gävle Goat has made a historical mark in Gävle history as it is either sacrificed or spared during the Winter. In 1969 the goat was burned on New Year’s… Continue reading Gävlebocken (The Gävle Goat)

Jehane Noujaim’s Pangea Day

Jehane Noujaim, perhaps best known for her documentary (Control Room) exposing Al Jazeera for its divergence of news coverage during the Iraq war, is now to be recognized as TED’s 2006 prize winner and creator of Pangea Day. Being awarded the TED Prize provides a wish – this wish was to provide the world a… Continue reading Jehane Noujaim’s Pangea Day

Chinese Government to Manage Reincarnation

In a humorous – yet evil – plan, the Chinese government is establishing some regulations around the logistics of reincarnation. According to reports, the Chinese government seeks to ensure that the current Dalai Lama is unable to reincarnate without its explicit permission, legally. The law is directed towards Tibetan reincarnation. That enables the government to… Continue reading Chinese Government to Manage Reincarnation