NOTES

The Arabist news item.
Pictures collected by Hanady Salman, editor of as-Safir newspaper, of the Israeli attack on Qana.
Late Newsflash.

Zero out of Ten: See Me

As the fighting continues overseas, some lessons from the Middle East conflict are hitting home right here in Alabama. Members of the Montgomery Police Department SWAT team are in a five day counterterrorism school taught by a former Israeli servicemember.

Out at the practice range, the 12 member team learns that timing is everything. SWAT team member Todd Wheeler notes, “The way the Israelis do it, it’s extremely dynamic. It’s extremely fast and that’s the only way to fight counterterrorism.”

a nice chat, originally uploaded by mazen kerbaj.

Mazen this morning.

Tuesdays, 11pm, Channel 4.
A Modern Toss moment:”

NOTE: May 18th. 2016
Here is a direct link

from Mazen Kerbaj in Beirut today.

Eddie at home.

Musician Raed Yassin
Artist Laure Ghorayeb (Mazen’s mother).

picture by Mazen Kerbaj,
Ancient Delay Wolf Eyes Burned mind
Ingratitud Los Tigres del Norte Historias Que Contar
Sahel Al Bekaa Hautzinger/Kerbaj Abu Tarek
The Last Largo Ihan Mimaroglu Outstanding Warrants
Abu Tarek Hautzinger/Kerbaj Abu Tarek
Throw Down Your Arms Sinead O`Connor Throw Down Your Arms

Direct download: evac.mp3

Cambridge Postcards
Cambridge Heatwave

family stuff

Congratulations to Aram and Ruth, and welcome to
Edward Thomas Raworth
born 2.51 p.m. : 8 pounds 8 ounces

click to enlarge
The musician and artist Mazen Kerbaj’s webdiary is worth checking; as is his website.
Here is an mp3 of Starry Night 1, a piece improvised on his balcony to the sound of the bombing.
O cities. O shit.

My friend Dave Cook’s mother is 100 today

Tuesdays, 11pm, Channel 4.
A moment from yesterday:–

NOTE 27 May 2016, here’s a direct link

Raja Rao. Indian Philosopher and Novelist
November 8th. 1908 (Hassan, India) to
July 8th. 2006 (Austin, Texas)

I’m saddened to see the news this morning of the death of Raja Rao in Texas. He was a good friend to me in New England in 1971, and then to us all in Texas three years later. A mind and a spirit to be missed.
Here’s a copy of the obituary from The Independent today.

The picture is from the period I remember him.

Titoli (Rocco E I Suoi Fratelli) Nino Rota Music For Film
Bob Dylan Blues Syd Barrett Wouldn`t You Miss Me
La Strada Gianna Nannini Cuore
I’ll Be Up Her Way Next Week Tom Whatman
Motive For Its Use Ornette Coleman Beauty Is A Rare Thing
Skip Divided Thom Yorke The Eraser
Crush In the Ghetto Jolie Holland Springtime Can Kill You (Thanks to Keith Tuma)
Dark Globe Syd Barrett Madcap Laughs
I’m Free From The Chain Gang Now Johnny Cash American V: A Hundred Highways
Quasi In Porto (Il Gattopardo) Nino Rota Music For Film
Direct download: ripsb.mp3

The stink of excellence in a world gone tits up. Tuesdays, 11pm, Channel 4.
A taste:

photo by thad pope
A grandson, Rob, has made a site for my step-father-in-law to record his memories (he’s 92). Click on the photograph to go there. Click here to hear an extract about joining the army, and Dunkirk: or download the mp3 file here.

Roger Keith Barrett
January 6th 1946 to July 7th 2006
video

London, July 7/8.

A year ago there was this message from Ben. The six people at the bottom of this page were on that other train.
FOLLOW THE MONEY
Tanweer, Mohammad Sidique Khan’s right-hand man in the bomb plot, was open about his support for the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, saying he regarded the hijackers as martyrs.
A British national of Pakistani descent, he lived with his parents in a semi-detached house in Beeston. He was a student until 2004 and worked as an assistant in the family fish and chip shop for a few hours a week.
Despite this, he reportedly had an estate valued at £121,000 after taxes and debts.
(from The Guardian July 6th.2006)