Gazette Article

I just got a write up in the Harvard Gazette, have a look.  Spring is in full flux on the grounds, the cherries and magnolias are in bloom.  Lilacs soon to come.

Nary A Rich Gadget, Yet A Love

Just as I was trying to decide what direction to take in the next chapter of this blog...

The trash spoke in that unmistakable voice of intrigue, mystery and stinky grit.  I seem to have stumbled upon a clue to a scavenger hunt of some kind (pictured below).  

I was picking trash around one particular wrought-iron gate when I noticed this slip of paper in a zip lock bag, rubber banded inconspicuously around a lower bar.  I assume this message was intended for a particular person so after making a digital scan I tied it back to the gate whence it came.

So dear readers - here begins the first ever Poet of the Wastes trash puzzle!  Whoever figures out the four names that lead to the next clue will receive a POTW t-shirt (also known as my tour shirt, in brown or light grey with the same logo as my blog.)  If we never actually figure out how to find the next clue (since it seems to claim to lead to a person - who's name might ring a bell with the intended recipient but not to you or me), I'll send a shirt to the first person to have responded with a 4 name guess.

Enjoy.

Guess Who's Back?

I'll give you a hint: it's me.  My year of traveling is over.  Yesterday I rolled back in to Boston and today was my first day at work.  I walked into my crew office and received a hero's welcome.  It's good to be back.  

My brain is filled with memories of wonderful people and beautiful new places.  I loved being a citizen of the world for a year.  Now if anybody has any leads on a great apartment...

A Victory In Egypt

Today the Egyptian people demonstrated what is possible if we stand together against injustice.  Tunisians and Yemenis have won equally impressive battles.  May we all gain strength and and be emboldened by their efforts. There is much more to do, but every victory is worth celebrating for as long as we can remember to celebrate.

My good buddy Sandman once toured with an Arab-American songwriter and activist named Stephen Said. His first album is released under the name "Stephen Smith" because the label said he "could never have a career in the U.S. with an Arabic name" - until he showed them how wrong they were.  He has recently recorded classic Egyptian civil rights anthem "Aheb Aisht Al Huriyah," (I Love the Life of Freedom) with words from Egyptian poet-laureate Ahmed Shawki, first put to music in the 1930's by great Egyptian composer Mohamed Abdel Wahab.  Here it is, enjoy.


To download the mp3, right click here and select "download linked file".

Coming Home

Let's see - a few updates:

Sad to say, my Iranian passport didn't come in time and I was not able to visit my family there.  The up side is that it will come soon and I'll be able to make the trip some time in the (hopefully) near future.

My year long leave of absence has just about come to an end!  When I return to work next wednesday I will have been gone for exactly 365 days.  Whoooeee, what a ride.  Thanks to everyone who made this year incredible - I am changed forever.

As for this blog - it started out as a journal of trash and work.  Then it became a travel log...and I haven't decided what it will be next.  Stay tuned, dear readers.

Film Ratings

People are often asking me for movie recommendations - I decided to make a list.  I'll update it as I see new movies (which is often), check back if you like.  If you're looking for a particular film you can find it using the "search" feature on your browser.