Beyond Samarkand

In continuing my habit of not writing and just posting videos, I wanted to share some Cat Stevens. Cat Stevens was a big influence on my early life. His music seemed pervasive, and was often my music of choice when I was under 12. This particular song always seemed like useful advice to me, and I realized it at an early age. Not that I followed the advice. At least, not until now.

"Government of the people, by the people, for the people has not perished from this earth." The intro made me cry. I have really felt, for the last six years, that America was not the country I believed in, or even what I had been taught to believe it was supposed to be. Here's hoping for a new start.

Sharpe's Rifles. The iconic (can music be iconic?) theme song. Over the Hills and Far Away. I'm searching the net for a good version, and this is the best so far: If you've not seen it, you're in for a treat. It's a great series and worth seeing. If you've seen it before, odds may be strong that it's time to break it out and watch it again. With friends and family around is the best! Oh, and the best battle scene from the series. Some of the best dialogue - "What are you intentions, Sir Arthur?" "Why Hogan, I plan to give the French a damn good Thrashing." Much more quotables, of course "And in the center, Danny Hill will stand." "It's a good life, if you don't die." Oh, and "Okay boys, let's do some shootin'!".

The Wedding Party Originally uploaded by Kevin.Haroun Got the original picture sent to me. Looks like it should blow up nicely. Really happy with this shot. More so than many of the professional pictures.

I saw this first on a grainy download while living in Korea. It had been in the theatres there, but not much reason to see it with Korean subtitles. The visual imagery is, of course, stunning. Most people are wowed by the opening sequence with the dancer and the drum game (the dried bean thrown and drums and she has to follow). This a great scene, but the final duel as the blizzard comes in remains one of the best pieces of film I have seen. Very powerful. If you enjoyed "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" this is a much more interesting story, and much more powerful visually. Of course, what really makes this movie is the ending, and trying to figure out the wheels within wheels of what you just saw and who was exactly betraying whom (their wife, their government, themself) at what point, and if they ever knew exactly themselves.

The Wedding Party Originally uploaded by Kevin.Haroun Got in late last night, nearly 2 am local time. After far too long in too many planes. Three total before arriving in Jeddah and having to find a taxi to Taif. I stayed up late after getting in, the cats having to comment that I was back, and just to wound up to sleep. As it was, I got to bed around four or five am and slept until five pm. Much more sleep than I wanted, but I suppose I needed it. I have one more day to get back on schedule, or at least get used to Saudi, before going back to work. All in all, to sum things up simply, a good trip home!

There was a time, back in the early 80's that I thought that while disagreeing with the Republican party, I could respect them. Back before I really understood what Reagan was doing and such. And even if I didn't like the Iran-Contra business, and didn't vote for them, I could at least respect them. G arrison Keilor's latest , sums up the transformation that has happened that makes that not possible anymore: "The Republican Party used to specialize in gimlet-eyed, steel-rim, crepe-soled common sense and then it was taken over by crooked preachers who demand we trust them because they're packing a Bible and God sent them on a mission to enact lower taxes, less government. Except when things crash, and then government has to pick up the pieces."