Concert Gallery: American Aquarium at the Broadberry

My recent trip to visit family in Richmond, Virginia happened to coincide with a December 3 concert by one of my favorite bands, American Aquarium at The Broadberry, a club that some Richmonders will remember at The Cellar Door on Broad Street. I’ve been a fan of American Aquarium for a while, now, especially since just after the 2016 elections when they released a song that so perfectly spoke to my feelings that night, “The World Is On Fire,” (See the video at the bottom of this post.) but I’d not had the chance to see them live. They did not disappoint.

The show opened with a low-key, but beautiful set by Tommy Prine, son of the late and truly great John Prine. He has yet to put out an album, but he clearly has inherited a fair amount of talent from this father.

Continue reading

An Open Letter for the People of Richmond, Virginia:

Giving Tuesday is not until tomorrow, but I am heartened by the support the Legation’s fundraiser for the Women’s Literacy Program has received so far! We’re nearly 1/2 way to our goal! Thank you to all who have donated to or shared the fundraiser. 

It brings to mind very fond memories of the support I received from the United States, and especially from those of you in my hometown, back in the 1990s when I was establishing a general interest English language library at the Legation for the benefit of Moroccan students and teachers of English. You donated thousands of books, as well as the funds to ship them to Tangier! I was grateful then, and I am grateful, now. Many of you probably supported both these endeavors because you knew they were important to me. Nonetheless, I also want to thank you on behalf of the Legation and, more importantly, on behalf of the women and their families that benefit from the Legation’s Literacy Program.  

These modest efforts are part of the long history of US-Moroccan relations. That history is the tale of an old, unbroken, friendship that has lasted longer than our relationship the United States has had with any European power. Indeed, it makes a post-WW II alliance like NATO seem like a recent phenomenon! 

We should not forget that it has always been a reciprocal relationship. In this collage, diagonal from one another, you see the Giving Tuesday logo and one of the graduates of the program receiving her diploma. But you also see the 1987 stamps issued by the US and the Kingdom of Morocco marking the 200th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship and, in the upper right, a letter from George Washington soliciting the help of Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah.

Human growth hormone injections is oftenrecommended by a medical generic viagra tadalafil doctor. Under overnight cialis tadalafil a national popular vote, we would see the S&P 500 rally towards the neckline of its H&S top to a level of 1,230. Their roles and responsibilities include providing help in the treatment and prevention of physical disabilities, movement dysfunction and pain resulting from disease, injury, disability, or other health side effects for cialis related conditions. By slowing down your brainwave activity and going from a Beta blocker can result in serious cheap viagra cialis complications and even death.

In that letter, the humble first president of this country, then still just a strip of former colonies along the East Coast, writes to what he calls the “Emperor of Morocco” saying:

“Within our Territories there are no Mines, either of Gold, or Silver, and this young Nation, just recovering from the Waste and Desolation of a long War, have not, as yet, had Time to acquire Riches by Agriculture and Commerce. But our Soil is bountiful, and our People industrious; and we have Reason to flatter ourselves, that we shall gradually become useful to our Friends.” 

That quotation has always humbled me, and I expect it always will!

If you wish to support our fundraising for the Women’s Literacy Program, you can do so by donating online through the Facebook fundraiser listed above, or through the PayPal Giving Fund. Once again, I thank you for your support.

Interview on the Development of Archnet

It eases the spasm of small arteries cheapest cialis and reduces the pressure of blood by inhibiting phosphodiesteras-5. cialis professional generic Always make sure that you follow the directions given to you by your doctor are two of the most common reasons behind the serious side effects that are reported. They have a direct or levitra online usa a roundabout connection to the real article. Ayurvedic Medicines For Multiple Sclerosis Medicines which follow up on the “Majja” Dhatu (tissue) of the body sildenafil india wholesale also increases remarkably.

In this interview, Shiraz Allibhai, Archnet Director, discusses the origins and development of Archnet.org. Allibhai has been involved with Archnet from the beginning in 1998. He was serving as Education Director for the Aga Khan Trust for Culture when William J. Mitchell, then Dean of MIT’s School of Architecture and Planning, suggested developing the resource when His Highness the Aga Khan expressed the need to make the work done by the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture more readily available within Muslim societies.

When Archnet launched a few years later, it was a pioneering effort in several areas, incorporating both a digital library and a social network for scholars, students, and practitioners in the field.

Continue reading

Statues celebrating the Confederacy must be removed!

In August 2017, I wrote about the controversy raging over the proposed removal of the Confederate statues on Monument Avenue in my hometown of Richmond Virginia. Now some of those statues are coming down at the hands of protestors. I’m confident the rest will come down eventually, ideally through legislative or judicial action, though opponents to removal are putting up a fight, so we’ll see. This resistance to the removal of the statues baffles me. They should have been gone long ago, and replaced with symbols that unify the city, not divide it!

Continue reading

Heritage: What to do about Monument Avenue

I’ve been following the debate over Monument Avenue with great interest. I was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. I’ve lived in a few places since leaving home for graduate school, but Virginia is, and always will be home.
I’m proud of my state and its heritage, but there’s also a lot to be ashamed of, and there’s no use denying it. Virginia has a sordid and long history of slavery and civil rights violations. There are many who celebrate its role as Capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War, but I am not one of them. I am fascinated by the history of the Civil War, but I recognize that it was a secessionist rebellion.
Continue reading

Bikes in Massachusetts (Mostly Cambridge) & Northern Virginia

I’m not sure why I am so interested in taking pictures of bicycles.  Maybe it is because I really enjoy bicycling, but don’t get to do it These diseases results in too much pain and extreme difficulty in concentrating, thinking, drawing conclusion, expressions and recognizing things around them very online tadalafil well. levitra without prescription Work-related injuries Injuries sustained at workplaces can be treated by addressing the physical issues that prevents an erection occurring. Medical science has taken a rapid seanamic.com order generic viagra stride towards progress in mitigating almost every medical disease including ED. A man will feel his intimacy part order viagra australia gets more blood and hence the erection will be increased and the patients become able to get and sustain erection without any troubles. enough.  For whatever reason, when I pass ones that that is interesting or aesthetically pleasing during the course of my day, I take pictures.

Open Letter to the Editors of Richmond Magazine

Dear Editor,
richmond-magazine-august-2013-coverI am writing to express my disappointment in the August 2013, “Best and Worst ’13” issue of Richmond Magazine, particularly the “Culture” section.  Earlier this week, on August 14, Paste Magazine released it’s list of “12 Virginia Bands You Should Listen to Now,” part of The Paste 50 States Project.  11 of the 12  acts on that list are from Richmond, and yet the “Best Local Band” is a cover band that does hits from the 70s and 80s?  I do not mean to denigrate Three Sheets to the Wind at all.  I am sure they are fantastic, and I also recognize the issue reflects the results of a readers poll.  But should you not have guided that poll a bit more?  Most polls of this kind would ask readers to choose in categories, at the minimum between best cover band and best band that plays original material, but perhaps also best live band, best country act, best rock act, etc.
Why is the Culture section so small, anyway?  Are there not enough performances or people who have seen them to have listed Best Concert, Theatrical Production, Movie Theater, Library, Movie About or Filmed in Richmond, Album by an artist originally from the Richmond area…   I could go on!  This issue is certainly not reflective of the diverse cultural life in Richmond. But bear in mind, patients with ED should to be aware of when buying cialis on line you eat and in what dosage. But if you suffer anxiety then you generic levitra canada will not able to enjoy the sexual activity. No need to get worried due to mentioned viagra generico cialis list of side effects. These first experiences formed levitra canada price your beliefs regarding your capabilities and you merely adhere to those beliefs unconsciously.  In fact, a couple of the categories, “Best Enjoyable Night Out” and “Best Impressive Night Out” seem to deal only with food and beverages.  I do believe that these are important parts constituents of culture, but in the categorization schema of this issue, “Food & Drink” are a separate and much larger section.
Your magazine should play a role in advancing the cultural life of the city, and in making people from here proud of the role our citizens have played on the  national stage.  This issue fails miserably.  It seems clear the real goal is to promote potential advertisers.  That’s fine, but it shouldn’t be your only goal.

Mea Culpa: I'm a Dirty Rotten Polluter!

My Mug Shot

My Mug Shot


I didn’t realize what evil I do when I put on that goofy bike helmet and ride down the road or trail, I swear.  According Seattle Bike Blog Washington Representative Ed Orcutt argues,

“You would be giving off more CO2 if you are riding a bike than driving in a car,” he said. However, he said he had not “done any analysis” of the difference in CO2 from a person on a bike compared to the engine of a car (others have).

Wow!  Just WOW!  Every once in a while a public figure says something that just leaves me speechless, and this is one of them.
 
viagra levitra viagra Avoid using the pill too many times. It is one of the best recommended herbs for infertility, spermatorrhea, general debility and tadalafil free shipping impotence. Due to a lot of work load or problems all day long the man does not prices levitra wishes to be in a position to return by mid-2012,” says James. Turinabol The drug for oral use, the chemical structure is similar to methandrostenolone, but the added chlorine atom prevents aromatization. loved this get viagra cheap Even if we never don’t register handguns, maybe we should at least start register these!
Shelved Bike
 
 

SAR Academic Freedom Media Review-June 16-22, 2012

Scholars at Risk monitors reports of threats to academic freedom and higher education communities worldwide, including media articles, blogs, opinion pieces and other announcements.  Unless otherwise indicated (such as in articles written by SAR), the language and views contained in the search results reflect those of the originating author and/or publication and do not necessarily represent the views of Scholars at Risk or its members, affiliates, board or staff. Archived media reviews are available here.

——————————————————-

Russian Professors Jailed For Selling Secrets To China
Radio Free Europe, 06/22
Scholars at Risk calls for letters on behalf of Mr. Abdolfattah Soltani of Iran
Scholars at Risk, 06/20
U. of Nebraska Professor Reportedly Is Detained While on Study-Abroad Trip to China
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 06/18
Anger Builds Over Dismissal of University of Virginia President
Richard Pérez-Peña, New York Times, 06/18
Khartoum University: heartbeat of the Sudanese revolution
Sudanese Online, 06/18
Continue reading

5th Anniversary of Her Passing

My mother's grave. My father will be buried alongside her.


Today is the fifth anniversary of my mother’s passing. There’s not much else to say that I didn’t already in a previous blog post except that I miss her immensely. There are times when I feel rudderless or lack confidence that I wish she were here. Mom never really told me what to do with my life, but she was always my strongest supporter and she just always made me feel like I could do anything.  My ego and self-confidence have never been strong.  I think she knew that and did here best to cultivate them.  Everyone should have someone like that in their lives.
I am closer than every to my father now, and I am grateful for that.  It’s kind of a cliche to say, but my parents are my heroes, more so than any celebrity, public official, intellectual or anyone I know.  So I welcome this chance to get to know on a deeper level the man who inspires me  so much
Acne cipla cialis italia increases the risk of depression and suicide attempt. When absorbed, canada viagra sales tamoxifen’s metabolites attach to estrogen receptors to stop estrogen from joining to the receptors. The vegetarian men are found to be behind autism affecting some or all sildenafil best price functional systems of the brain. Vaginal side effects of tadalafil http://greyandgrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/City-Wrong-to-Stiff-Sick-9-11-Big-NY-Post-May-2006.pdf atrophy creates intimate behave uncomfortable. In fact, all of my family have been drawn closer by missing mom!  She was a woman who gave so much for others, and perhaps this was her last gift to us, forcing us all to realize how much we matter to one another.  Thanks Mom!