Wikileaks* is a website, founded by Julian Assange, which publishes anonymous submissions and leaks of unavailable documents and usually secret document. The site has published material ranging from documents exposing the secrete rituals of the black fraterity “Alpha Phi Alpha”* to the scientology uk annual returns for 2008*. I am always a bit skeptical of sites like this, since I would expect for a site like this to be shut-down upon launch – but I have been hearing interviews from the founder that there are many different IP-addresses for the site, which makes it hard for the government to shut it down.
I’m actually agree that “that transparency in government activities leads to reduced corruption, better government and stronger democracies. All governments can benefit from increased scrutiny by the world community, as well as their own people. We believe this scrutiny requires information. Historically that information has been costly – in terms of human life and human rights. But with technological advances – the internet, and cryptography – the risks of conveying important information can be lowered.” Who knows – but check out the site and search through the material for yourself.
* click on the text to access the respective websites/documents
I wanted to find the right story to write that goes with this song, as my reason for posting this song. Unfortunately nothing came to mind, and now I have exposed my true motives. For something so pervasive as love and love lost, one can feel so lonely when it (both love and love lost) happens. You feel like the luckest person in the world when you have it, and utterly languished when its gone. So music bring me back to reality when I feel like I’m on my little island.
Album: Vagarosa (circa 2009)
Artist: Ceu
Label: Six Degrees Records
I’m at work listening to this song and I am utterly intoxicated with the music. Definitely a good track to take your mind off of the work and “bubuia” into another dimension.
Every summer, when the temperature increases a few notches, the clothes become more scarce, the skin gets browner, the hair reverts back to the natural curl, a new session of possibility dawns. From summer vacations, to summer jobs – it is a time to meet new people, visit new places, try new things.
This summer I traveled to the motherland for the first time, specifically, Cape Town, South Africa. Of course, it was no accident that I chose to do a summer abroad program in South Africa during the 2010 World Cup festivities. As the days drew nearer to my departure, I became overwhelmed with the preparation process that I battled with the the idea of not going at all. But of course reason (and money) won the day, and I found myself on a plane flying over the Atlantic Ocean heading to foreign land. I had no idea what I would encounter or who I would meet, but worst came to best, I was determine to have a memorable experience.
When I arrived to Cape Town airport, along with a pack of weary America students, I boarded a bus and sat next to a bright eyed lady, hair tousled with purpose, and facial features that easily masked her nation of origin. Immediately we began a conversation about the World Cup. I did most of the listening because, truth be told, I knew very little about the teams, the players, or the coaches. I barely knew the teams that were in the tournament – with the exception of the international favorites: Brazil, Spain, England, Italy, France. Although she seemed like a nice girl, I was a bit weary of having high hopes and expectations. When I exited the bus, we parted and did not link up till a few weeks later into the trip. But this encounter on the bus set the tone for the rest of my trip. I never would have predicted the places and people that my “bus companion” and I would encountered over the next few weeks.
As a woman, it is difficult to find other female friends that can fill the roll of a going out buddy and an intimate confidant. Although I could have continued to roam solo, two brains are better than one. The first day we linked up was to take a stroll down to the city. On that walk, we were able to have a long chat about our families, law school, past relationships, and updates about our trip. From simply taking a walk to taking a trip to another city on a whim – I soon learned that this chick was down. We ate without counting calories (which I’m kicking myself for now), napping on the beach when we had no where to stay (with no complaints), climbed mountains, and shared laughs – and all the while, watching each other’s back. And the experiences we shared will go 6-ft under with our rotting corpses.
Although my time in South Africa was nothing short of unforgettable, I was ready to go home when the time came. Me and my bus companion stayed up chatting on the eve of d-day. And on d-day, like the day we arrived, we boarded the bus, not as strangers but as sisters.
Some people cherish new found love, others may cherish a good job, but for me – finding a good friend was my diamond in the rough. Summer has treated me well. I just wish summer didn’t have to end so soon!
I love this song for all the wrong reasons. It is like falling for a guy that I know is not my type, but he has something extremely appealing and alluring that sucks me in. I never like weird song titles where there is no way in god’s green earth it can carry any explanation; nor am I usually a fan of songs that have a muted drum or bass line. However, I love the female vocals that chime in at the end of each verse, I love the words of the song, I love the excessive guitar lines – overall, the song has wonderful movement
I recently returned from South Africa after spending a summer working and taking classes at one of the historically black/colored universities. I always read about apartheid and the racial conflict – but I was not aware of the post apartheid issues festering. On the surface, things seemed kumbaya – Mandela was released from prison, apartheid ended, the African National Congress became the new government. However, while I was there, many people were reluctant to have a conversation if the topic of race was brought up in our exchange. It became apparent to me that things were not as settled, when I began to notice the communities of shacks I would pass on my way to school and to work. I was later told that those communities were called “Townships” and many were 100% black occupied.
The video clip below explains the issue of land ownership and property and South Africa during apartheid and the issues that South Africa is having now in their new constitutional democracy.
