here's to all the ladies who kick

This Guardian blog article is amazing. I love the Guardianites because they really get it. They understand that there are layers and nuances to every story, and that there can be no sweeping generalizations about the Middle East.

Hopefully there will be more stories about the Palestinian women's team. I wish them all the best.

teaser trailer (marc jacobs style)

So, we have to wait for tomorrow for a full rundown of The Girls Next Door's Arabian Nights party (but my TV exploded, so it may never happen). In the mean time check out the pictures from Marc Jacobs' notoriously lavish christmas party, this year inspired by the good ole' orient.

I wonder what Mr. Jacobs was thinking? Perhaps he was inspired by his good friend Wes Anderson.

girls next door

I just saw the trailer for next week's episode of Girls Next Door. The theme is "Arabian Nights." This can only bring great things. More to come.

two legs are better than one

I think stories like this make people think that the "orient" is so scary.

But it is also instructional:

1) Don't become a holy man.
2) Never accept a drink from strange men.
3) And finally never ever bend this way:

a-Rab

Now, this website isn't a blog, it's so pre-blog. a-Rab is a student magazine from Berkeley and it is the living manifestation of just about everything we talked about in class. They incoporate all the course terms in style without even knowing it. Here is an excerpt from their about section that will blow you away.

This is the a-Rab, and this is our narrative. We are here to tell our stories, ourselves, with our voices. We are transforming a democracy of corporations that speak in jingles and brand names into a democracy of humans who speak with stories and passion. We are here to provide a radical and alternative a-Rab perspective.

In addition, pay homage to the true populist blogging spirit a-Rab accepts submissions.

Go forth young solders!

Barack OBollywood

This has nothing to do with anything, but it is my blog so I do what I want! Not only does the following video make me want to vote for Barack it also almost makes me forget about his 360 policy flip on Israel.

The Angry Arab

According to the blog As'ad AbuKhali's favorite food is fried eggplant. But this Political Science professor has bigger fish to fry on The Angry Arab. Every day Mr. AbuKhali hunts and gathers news stories and then posts them with a fun link. His commentary is short and sweet, perfect for that angry Arab on the go. Although his main focus is the middle east AbuKhali often posts links to stories about domestic american political blunders. This addition is awesome because all of the news you need to continue watching your George Bush countdown widget is in one place.

Bidoun

Bidoun is a quarterly publication that is available in print and online that focuses on open exchange of ideas regarding mid east affairs, arts, and culture. I like to think of Bidoun as a svelte middle eastern version of Adbusters. Like Adbusters, Bidoun has a theme that frames every issue. The fall issue focuses on "projects." I think their defenition of project is amazing and can really help put all projects, inculding this one, in perspective,

Project: A task, a scheme, a public undertaking, public housing, to throw or cast, to jut out, to gauge or estimate, to make oneself heard clearly, and also to mistake one's subjective view for reality, to make an image appear on the surface.

Randa Jarrar

In another semi obligatory, semi out of love post here is Randa Jarrar's blog, rockslinga. From chronicling world news, to general cool things, to her own life and perspectives, Ms. Jarrar keeps it real for the kids. I know that was pretty evident in class, but I just wanted to emphasize how awesome and accessible she seemed. Big ups to friendly thought provoking people. My favorite part of the site is her personal timeline, "1992: I move to Greenwich, CT, which is so white it scars me for life."

Need I say more.

Banksy is back!

Everyone's favorite mysterious guerilla spray painter is back in business. This week Banksy returned to Bethlehem.

For those unfamiliar Banksy is a semi-anonymous graffiti artist whose main focus is social commentary and criticism. His pieces are often satirical and they tend to infiltrate the institutions that he seeks to critique. For example, he planted pieces of art in the British Museum mocking the museum system and consumer culture.

Banksy first used the apartheid wall in the West Bank as a monstrous canvas in 2005. This week he is back for round two.