while we're still on the subject...

Camel!

Beautiful Camels

If you need insight to classical Bedouin poetry, or just an escape from all things ordinary, enjoy today's NYT feature on the camel markets of Saudi Arabia. Because, well, it's more fun to read about than to ride...

Chasing the Flame

Today would have been Sergio Vieira de Mello's 60th birthday. I just finished reading Samantha Power's biography, Chasing the Flame, last week. It makes me feel hopeful about the future - despite his tragic death, Mr. Vieira de Mello managed to leave the world a better place for his contributions. Now all I want to know is how I can go do the same, I suppose.

As a side note, it was an interesting book to carry around at work: I met a man who had been one of SVDM's bodyguards in East Timor, a doctor who once sat next to him on a UN flight, and found at least one familiar name in the list of those interviewed. I have a much better sense of institutional memory for having read it...not to imply that everyone else shouldn't read it also. For all its inside-the-UN stories, the book isn't limited by them. Power addresses the challenges and triumphs of the international community in humanitarian and political crises - good reading for anyone interested in helping to address all the problems left in the world.

Sharia in the modern world

Noah Feldman teaches a brief history of sharia in an interesting article in the New York Times Magazine, then addresses its role in current politics. And I think he gets it mostly right.

If you value free speech...

...then check this out and then pass on the news. Facebook-impersonation shouldn't be a crime.

Also, Le Journal Hebdo has its website blocked again and is facing more fines for something they published about Western Sahara. I don't have details, but Scarlett's been in touch with them and I'll link to details if she posts any.

Patterns

A friend mentioned she was looking for quilting ideas from islamic art, and I don't have server space for full-res pictures anywhere else, so everyone checking in gets subjected to more Morocco pictures. Click to enlarge to full size. Enjoy, or ignore, at your pleasure :)

A victory for low culture

Today I got my boss hooked on icanhascheezburger.com. He's a computer geek, but apparently not of the low-culture-internet-addict variety. Lolcats win another fan :)