Step Into the Gap

Your Travel Profile:

You Are Well Traveled in the Middle East (50%) You Are Well Traveled in the Midwestern United States (50%) You Are Somewhat Well Traveled in Canada (40%) You Are Somewhat Well Traveled in the United Kingdom (38%) You Are Somewhat Well Traveled in Southern Europe (27%) You Are Somewhat Well Traveled in Africa (25%) You Are Somewhat Well Traveled in the Southern United States (23%) You Are Mostly Untraveled in Western Europe (7%) You Are Mostly Untraveled in the Western United States (5%) You Are Untraveled in Asia (0%) You Are Untraveled in Australia (0%) You Are Untraveled in Eastern Europe (0%) You Are Untraveled in Latin America (0%) You Are Untraveled in New Zealand (0%) You Are Untraveled in Scandinavia (0%) You Are Untraveled in the Northeastern United States (0%)

Posted by S at 1:37 PM | Permalink | Comments

Yesterday Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad wrote a letter to Americans. I thought that was so thoughtful of him. No seriously. Other people around the world just dislike us behind our backs and do nothing about it. This guy wrote an 18-page letter to president Bush, incidentally the first correspondence between the 2 countries since Iran-Contra. But what does our president do? He ignored it. NOT COOL. This is a PR move by Ahmedinejad and the US doesn't know what to do with a Muslim country that actually knows how to play the game. Now don't get me wrong, Iran is in no way NEAR the PR-wonderland that IS the United States. But his letters are quite polite...with a dash of Willy Wonka (the 2005 version). Here's a bit:

"Were the American people not God-fearing, truth-loving, and justice-seeking, while the US administration actively conceals the truth and impedes any objective portrayal of current realities;

And if we did not share a common responsibility to promote and protect freedom and human dignity and integrity;

Then, there would have been little urgency to have a dialogue with you.

While Divine providence has placed Iran and the United States geographically far apart, we should be cognizant that human values and our common human spirit, which proclaim the dignity and exalted worth of all human beings, have brought our two great nations of Iran and the United States closer together."

Now that's just plain sweet as apple pie. But I'm confused about exactly why he wrote this letter. The people of America have done their part to get our country out of Iraq. I'm so proud of us for getting Democrats into the government and for making Republicans (especially Rumsfeld) regret their foolhardy insistence on a 'pre-emptive' war. Everyone involved in the war has agreed that a pull-out is necessary and the plan is that they will leave as soon as they can, about 18 months. I'm satisified with that. I don't think it makes any sense that EVERY American in Iraq should get on a plane tomorrow and leave the country broken and in chaos. I don't think Ahmedinejad realizes that they CAN'T just go. And this is probably because Iran hasn't sent any troops to help rebuild Iraq. Everyone agrees that it's good that Saddam is gone. But if America ousted him 'for the public good' as they claimed then they have no future interest in the area.

The same for Iran. if Ahmedinejad lays a hand on Iraq everyone in the world should cry foul. Because not only did he NOT help fight the Saddam regime, but he has been the biggest advocate of Iraqi freedom.

I see why he doesn't want America occupying the country directly next to his - because the whole world KNOWS that Iran was Americas next step. Then on to Syria. I have learned not to rule anything out so it may still happen. But the point is, the Americans did not send thousands of soldiers to Iraq to fight and die so that another country can take over after all the dirty work is done. Not that America should take over either. No one should. A government should be established and Iraq should be an independant nation.

Now if Bush would take his head out of his ass and actally respond to Ahmedinejad, they may be able to come to some sort of agreement where Iran sends troops to Iraq to help them rebuild and start a government, while America overlooks and helps financially. That way Iraqis see a friendly neighbor instead of invading Anglo-Saxons waving American flags with pictures of naked prisoners in their pockets. At the end of the day I'm just a diplomat (reference: October post)

Posted by S at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments

Bright lights glint against puddles on a busy urban street
Fresh drops disrupting the overstimulating reflection

with

circles

reverbrating

The colors, the movement, excitement
I crave it
Take me to the city
Take me where there are always people
Where the cars don't stop
Where I may live anonymous
Trudging through urban streets
In urban rain
Where I may melt into the graffiti
Into the cracks in the sidewalk,
Into the noise
Into the puddle with a reflection of the city
With fresh drops disrupting the overstimulation

Posted by S at 9:51 PM | Permalink | Comments

I went to Harrod's today. I had the sudden urge to just BUY. Buy things I wanted, buy things I didn't need, just buy and buy QUICKLY. It was so odd. I have had to watch my money closely since my loan company has their head so far up their ass that I'm positive I will be graduating before I ever get my money. So I have had to be frugal.

But then my roommate called and said she had an interview at Harrod's. So I went. And as I wandered through the sickeningly over-marketed, over-planned layout, I ended up in the "market" section where they sell meats, treats and teas. I suddenly had a NEED for marzipan. I have only tasted marzipan once in my life and I remember not caring for it. But as I passed the spotless glass case with the shiny, perfect treats I really felt like I could not walk away with out a marzipan carrot in-hand. But I have no buyers remorse. I am very happy with my Harrod's marzipan carrot because I know hundreds, if not thousands of dollars have been invested in marketing, layout, merchandising and design in order to influence me and other frugal, unsuspecting citizens to spend, spend, spend. So I am comfortable knowing it was an even trade. They spent thousands to get me to spend all of about 5pounds. Props to you Mr. Harrod.

In class today we learned how to do a story with an interviewee who refuses to be on camera: film them from afar (either with their back to you or blurring their face) while you ask them questions, then walk to the camera and explain what they told you. Here comes the QUOTE OF THE DAY. Batman, our team captain: "just walk up with a cigarette and ask for a light. Then walk back to the camera - 'that man has just told us he killed his kids.'" So much for journalistic integrity...

Also from the brilliant mind of Batman: last week we had to shoot a quick, impromptu interview and we chose a fashion design student. I asked her if she could stand in the fashion design studio and she explained that she doesn't actually use it b/c she's a freshman so it may be a falsehood. Batman says: "Its ok, we're journalists, we lie ALL the time."

Posted by S at 8:56 PM | Permalink | Comments

Manchester was brilliant! What a great city - the people were awesome, everything was close and easy to find. And FINALLY an English city where things are priced normally. London is looking even more like the armpit city of this nation...

We all booked tickets for different busses on accident. I was to depart at noon, snoopy at 11 and miss t at 10. But everyone missed their bus. The 2 of them missed their busses and ended up on mine. But I missed mine and had to take a 2 o'clock. We didnt have a place to stay b/c there was a Manchester United home game this weekend so we just had to stay awake for the WHOLE trip. We met some really nice people and most importantly we got the hell out of London. And I am definitely a Man U fan now!

we had dinner at P's (I will give her a name later, I'm too tired now) house tonight, she cooked us Chinese food. It was awesome - our dinner company consisted of 2 French, a Chinese, an Indian, an Australian and a Brazilian. We had great conversation. Its always so interesting talking in international company b/c no matter what you're talking about you can always stop and just ask: "is that how you guys do it too?" Tonight, among many other things we found out about astrological readings. But at the end of the day we are all just girls...so the most important thing we learned today is that Lady Di has a single brother :)

Posted by S at 12:36 AM | Permalink | Comments

I'm going to Manchester tomorrow!!

There's a Palestinian wedding to go to, shopping to be done and MANCHESTER to be seen. Although I'm really looking forward to having kanafah, I really hope they have some at the wedding.

I'm so excited, I've wanted to go to Manchester since my senior yr in high school. I will explain later, have to run to Asda.

Posted by S at 9:36 PM | Permalink | Comments

I got my bank card. I REPEAT: I GOT MY BANK CARD. I could barely believe it. While they sent it to the wrong branch and I had to walk 20 minutes in pouring rain to find it - when i finally wrapped my cold, wet fingers around the card, I felt tears of joy filling my eyes.

I immediately headed to get a phone contract which I have been waiting to do for a month.

After a glorious hour searching for the perfect plan, I had made a decision. The phone man proceeded to do a credit check. And then my card could not be read. Argh. So I called HSBC and they informed me that I needed to use the card at an ATM to activate it. So Phone Man tells me to go ahead as he finished some paperwork. I leave. I put my card in the machine, enter my new pin and......

"YOUR CARD HAS BEEN RETAINED"

I pushed all the buttons and banged on the screen. Nothing. No card would come back out. I frantically ran around for a banker, but it was just a stand-alone ATM. I once again felt tears in my eyes - tears of disbelieving horror and insurmountable frustration. WHY?!

So I ran back to Phone Man. He politely informed me that without my card I couldn't get a plan. So, completely void of emotion, I dragged myself away from the phone I was sooooo close to.

Back to the bank.
Where everybody knows my name.

Posted by S at 4:28 AM | Permalink | Comments

Went to a discussion panel at Frontline Club in London the other day. Its quite famous as far as 'country clubs for frontline war correspondents' go. A stimulating evening you could say. The discussion was about the affects of new technology on journalism, a very heated debate in the journalism field right now.

The panel was hosted by Christiane Amanpour, CNN's Bosnia correspondent during the Bosnia war. She did a great job presenting as did all the presenters (journalists usually are cuz they tend to like the sound of their own voices). After the discussion I walked up and asked her about how to get started as a resporeter in Bosnia, something I have always been interested in since my mother thinks I will marry a Bosnian :). I had my notebook and pen ready to take down any contacts she provided. She gave me some poignant advice, which I may use.

But then she just took my notebook.

I stared at her for a moment, bewildered. Then she took my pen. I was like 'oh, ok...' And she asked: 'did you want me to sign this?'

Being the ill-mannered ass that I am, I said, rather surprised: "Umm - NO..."

Even worse, I didn't even realize my mistake until days later when my mom yelled at me. And she had a point, as she said: "even if you didn't approach her specifically to get an autograph, it would have been so much more polite to say yes and thank her graciously. She probably gets it all the time. And why WOULDN'T you want her autograph?"

Posted by S at 1:19 AM | Permalink | Comments

What's with the over-the-counter Chlamydia tests in the UK? Am I the only one who's done a double-take and stared, shocked, at the shelves in Boots? This really doesn't give me much reassurance about British people. Even in America where college campuses can have up to a 40% (thats UP TO, not typical) STD infection rate (including chlamydia, gonhorrea, syphallis, and all the much more serious diseases) we don't flat out accomodate the promiscuity.

Seriously, what happened to the days when people who slept around without taking precautions had to go through a regular doctors appointment and get a lecture from the doctor about safety measures?

I see that some would agrue if we didn't provide home testing, many young people would be too afraid or embarrased to go to the doctor. So essentially, some infected ppl may never get tested due to embarrasment. So the solution - someone decided - was to take the embarrasment out of STD testing. But then what's to prevent the average slutty brit from repeating the process over and over until they are infected?

In my opinion, offering over-the-counter, easily-available, take-home STD tests just reassure ppl that they can sleep around, unprotected, and not worry too much. Don't worry, you can stop by the local drug store/pharmacy to get an STD test and the morning-after pill. That way you can almost 'cure' a one night stand ex-post facto.

I'm sorry but anyone who has a one night stand should be required to go to the doctor. That's the best way to stop the spread of STD's. Not only will the doctor be able to detect any disease but the person will think twice before they sleep around again because no one wants to have to see a doctor like 5 times a month and be lectured and embarrassed.

I don't think I quite understand how British people think. They don't give a flying shit about customer service or travel convenience, but they are eager to accomodate promiscuous girls and boys who don't bother with protection.

Posted by S at 9:43 PM | Permalink | Comments

Tahir Mirza, the Leeds man who was in prison in Pakistan for killing a taxi driver (he claims in self defense), was released a few days ago to come back to the UK. Prince Charles, Tony Blair and Mirza's family had appealed to President Musharraf to release him. And after 18 yrs on death row, they finally did.

I am very happy for the man and his family. Its wonderful that they are happily reunited. However.

If the courts found him guilty of murder, a crime they saw worthy of death, and stood by their decision for 18 yrs, why would they just release him back to the world now? Not only does that seem illogical but also unsafe. But the point is : Prince Charles requested it. England would have been very disapointed to be ignored.

While the man was from Leeds and possibly held a British passport (I'm not sure), he WAS Pakistani by birth. So why was this case even brought up by the Prince? I just cannot wrap my mind around the reasoning for his release. Because his family would have been sad if he died?

What about the family of the man who was killed? But then - they aren't British, they are just Pakistani. So we cannot make British ppl sad, then?

I really dont mean to sound cold-hearted. I don't know if it was self defense or murder and I don't claim to. But if a court decided that he was guilty, shouldn't there be some faith in the system? This really doesn't inspire confidence in the Pakistani justice system.

Posted by S at 1:14 AM | Permalink | Comments

I have no idea what ppl got together one night and coordinated an attack on personal banking in London. It is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to get a bank account here and come out with all your hair intact and having not caused a horrific scene at a branch involving, screaming, crying and the flinging of deposit slips over a roomful of scared bankers.

I went into HSBC bank 4 times before I could even APPLY for an account. The details of these visit will be left out b/c it is a long, depressing story of human incompetence. When I finally applied, I was told to go home b/c I would be mailed something that I would have to bring back in. I waited a week and brought in the mailed paperwork. To which I was told to go home again and wait for more mail. This time the mail never came. I was supposed to receive my debit card...but never did.

So I went to a branch in Richmond where a wonderful guy named Rob informed me that no such debit card was ever ordered and no account was opened. I explained, near tears, that Ihad deposited a check into the acoount b/c no place in all of London would cahs the damn thing (!) and now I couldnt withdraw any $$ b/c I didnt have a debit card!! He was wonderful and completed the job by ordering the card for me (and called me the next day to make sure I was ok :) ). Fast forward to a week later. No debit card. When I called they informed me that the card was ACCIDENTALLY sent to a virtual branch in Manchaster that did not exist...how the...?

So they cancelled the card and decided to reissue a new one to the nearest branch, which wont arrive for another week. THEN, the icing on the cake, I got a letter in the mail today telling me my debit card has arrived at my branch. Hooray!! Could it be? Of corse not. The card that arrived was the canceled card! The card that they sent to manchester made it to the branch by my house but they CANCELED it and now i have to wait another week. this is an evil conspiracy thought up by some disgruntled banker in a dark alley somewhere...

Posted by S at 2:22 PM | Permalink | Comments

Today me and 2 of my housemates narrowly escaped arrest by the Transport Police in London. "gazelle", "funky bunny" and I had an actual purpose in taking the tube to the mall - I needed to shoot some b-roll (video footage) for a random story for my TV news class and to return some overpriced pillowcases to Fenwicks. Funky bunny, who is studying fashion merchandising, needed to follow up on the sale and marketing of certain products at H&M and gazelle came along for the ride. We were side-tracked by shoes, MAC makeup and krispy kremes in the middle of fenwicks and by the time we made it to customer service, they were closed.

Since the mall closed I decided to change my story topic to the fact that london transport has announced plans to increase fares once again. Naturally, I needed b-roll of tube stations. We were doing vox pops (interviewing random ppl) at the wembley park station when a tranport official came and quite curtly told us we needed to leave and were not authorised to shoot. I asked how to get authorisation and he said to contact the marketing office. I told him I was a student and showed my student ID. He said we needed to leave. So we swiped into the tube and there were about 4 other transport officials there. Gazelle was very annoyed that we were being censored and wanted to ask one of them why. But they came up to us before we could even ask - and said we could not shoot anything and had to leave. Again I explained that this was not for air, I was a student. At this point a gentleman started walking toward us and said, holding up a walkie talkie, "I think you should know the transport police have been called and made aware of your presence. You should leave."

I was astonished that they were so threatened by a school project. So I smiled and said "may I ask you a question?" and he kindly agreed. To which I added cheekily "On camera?" And he rolled his eyes and huffed you cant shoot here! So I said thank you and left. They watched us until we got on a train.

As a journalist I am used to this response. But I am not used to not having the right to film. In America we are entitled to free speech by the Bill of Rights. In england they dont have that guaranteed right. I dont know how journalists can operate in a country where they dont have the right to report...

Posted by S at 12:02 AM | Permalink | Comments

I am very excited at the prospect of moving to South Africa. I would love to work in news and know that I was part of the intense political change that is underway. I know the area is quite volatile, but I have been assured that Cape Town is much safer (and more beautiful) than Johannesburg. I think I started the ball rolling by moving to London and if I went home after this then all the hardship and growing I've done to get here would be wasted. It is very difficult to start with nothing in a new country. A new continent. A new hemisphere. It will be incredibly different but I think well-worth the struggle. Not only for the fact that I took part in history but that I lived in Africa, I challenged myself to an amazingly difficult situation and will hopefully come out shining.

Someone once said to me, quoting Alice in Wonderland: "take the blue pill and see how far the rabbit hole goes." What better way is there to live your life? Alice, for all her naivety, learned and experienced more in 2 hours than many people experience in their lives. If given the opportunity, how many of us would jump, blind, into a rabbit hole? Danger and money aside, there seems no reason to hold back and stare, wonderously into the hole, thinking about bills that you might miss, days at work you need to take off, the sheer fear of not knowing where you will be at the end of the journey. We hold ourselves back because of 'rationality,' which tells us to prepare for everything and gamble nothing. But what life are we living if we don't force ourselves to step out of our skins and stretch our comfort level? A sheltered and limited existence. I refuse to be sheltered or limited. I wouldn't feel comfortable walking right past the blue pill and saying "I'd rather not challenge myself to that right now."
Am I nervous? Absolutely. Am I afraid? Terrified. But only doing things that I'm already comfortable with will leave me with very few options and even more disappointment with myself. The only person stopping me from experiencing everything the world has to offer is myself. Thankfully I have very supportive family who are open-minded...or at least support my open-mindedness and I chose a career that allows for a great deal of travel. So I say, "Take the blue pill and see how far the rabbithole goes." And if you don't wake up some mornings and say "I can't believe I'm really here" then you haven't done it right.

Posted by S at 1:10 AM | Permalink | Comments

Anyone familiar with the "pushing the envelope of inappropriateness and shock value", ever-changing, can-you-top-this, longest-running joke knows the deepest, darkest level of human humor. We, as humans, are trained to find some things completely despicable and unacceptable. This joke takes this natural human reaction and uses it to play off of and manipulate in a way that somehow makes us laugh. And we do.

The joke is huge among comedians and even sometimes journalists. As a journalist I have seen the film version of the joke many times in different contexts and I have to say - while a part of me wants to cry for the loss of my innocence, the rest of me, wide-eyed and caught completely unprepared, fights the urge to laugh. But the only thing you can do is laugh. Well, one of the things you can do is laugh. The other is simply cringe. And the average, well-raised, ethical human being will turn off the TV or walk away from the offending joke-teller. But people who have been in offending situations or been treated offensively or been through circumstances that denigrate their human emotions or happiness somehow find that they cannot turn a deaf ear to this joke.

It is somehow a form of therapy in what seems to be an offensive and inappropriate world. Its says to us "Yes you are forced to show up to a job you hate every morning of your life. Yes priests have raped young boys and muslims have blown themselves up and jews have taken the holocaust lying down and now demand 'reparations'. Yes we are paying millions for homes that once costed somewhere in the lower thousands. Life pretty much sucks and we are all going to die anyway. But hey, here's something even more disturbing."

A good telling of this joke is considered an art. What have we become, as humans, when we have gone from great word-artists like Kahlil Gibran to Gilbert Gotffried? Words are such tools of emotions. They can support and build us, they can rip us down and limit us, they can disgust us, make us cry, make us ache and make us laugh - sometimes all at the same time. There are so many way that we use words and "The Aristocrats" joke is just one example of the extreme. But to what result?

Writers of the joke have said many times that the joke must be revised to meet the level of depravity of the society. What was found vile and taboo in the 90's isn't even cringed at today in some circles. So the joke is taken to higher and higher levels. In all honestly I cannot even comprehend a higher level of depravity. I don't think it could get worse.

At what point in the 21st century are we gonna call "inappropriate" and walk away completely happy knowing we've reached the highest level of 'offensiveness' nirvana?

Posted by S at 12:46 AM | Permalink | Comments

The democrats have reclaimed control of the Congress for the first time in 12 years. They have also reignited a new faith in American politics. Americans have been consistently losing respect from the rest of the world because we have sat back and watched the country be run into the ground with a federal deficit, a never-ending war and corporate scandal. The only questions left to bear are :

1. why has it taken us so long, and
2. since donald rumsfeld has finally stepped down, who is next?

which brings us to the rumsfeld situation. Donald Rumsfeld, the best professional politician of the 21st century and conniving mastermind of the war in Iraq and the fabricated WMDs, is no longer the Defense Secretary. Now I would like to know exactly what happened. The obvious answer is that the Republican party realized that Rumsfeld comes off as a pompous ass and the nation pretty much hates him. They requested he resign in order to save the party from losing power and restore faith in Republican image and judgement.

The second scenario and the one I am inclined to believe based on Rumsfeld's overall persona - they asked him to step down and he said 'kiss my ass'. the party didnt want to fire him and cause a scandal so they left it alone. rumsfeld, seeing the demise of the party and still remaining defiant, he made the decision to rebuff the party for asking him to resign by resigning only after the democrats took a majority. this explains bush's speech saying he would keep his officers until the end of his term just before rumsfeld resigned. it also explains the timing. just imagine. everyone sitting around in the white house, swearing under their breaths about the democrats, drinking brandy and smoking cigars with deep frowns. rumsfeld stand up and says - fuck this, i quit.

thats how i prefer to see it. it seems so unoriginal that he would be put out by the party.

on another election note: hello nancy pelosi. I think the country is really going to enjoy having such a vocal and surprisingly spicy (and female!) speaker of the house. I dont think Dennis Hastert had much a presence beyond blending in with the old, white, rich overwieght male politician persona. He never really did much, never said much and most people didnt really know him. But pelosi is coming in with a bang. Plus she's a democrat, not inclined to be mousey or even agreeable with a republican administration. i am interested to see how long she stays in the position and also what she does with the new post - as a democrat and also as the first woman.

And as for 2008, I am conflicted. Do I want Hillary, the NY democrat to be the first female president, or Obama, the IL (my hometown) democrat to be the first black president? I will have to do more research before 2008. I better get cracking.

We started the TV module in class yesterday and I have to say it is exaclty what I was hoping it would be. Our lecturer, David is amazing and very potent in terms of getting us into the 'journalist/correspondent' mindset. I think I'm really gonna enjoy it.

Posted by S at 9:34 PM | Permalink | Comments