· June, 2008

Stories about Arts & Culture from June, 2008

Trinidad & Tobago: Poetic Port of Spain

  30 June 2008

Trinidadian blogger Sweetlime dips into the newly published Echo of Basho. He discovers that even though haiku and Port of Spain are as distinct as “oil and water”, authors Alec de Verteuil and Dawn Glashier have melded them beautifully.

Jamaica: Kingston On The Edge

  30 June 2008

From Jamaica, Active Voice reviews KOTE (Kingston On The Edge), a visual arts festival, where she says “For a brief moment in time we were treated to the kind of vibrant effervescent atmosphere we ought legitimately to expect from a well-connected and functioning art scene.”

Israel: Sarkozy Security Scare at Airport

As French President Nicholas Sarkozy departed Israel's Ben-Gurion Airport, shots rang out. A quick assessment revealed that one of the Israeli members of Sarkozy's security detail had turned his weapon on himself, apparently committing suicide. The victim, whose name has not been revealed at his family's request, was in his...

Russia: Dostoevsky Museums

Josefina of Russian Blog visits Dostoevsky Museum in Moscow – and writes briefly about the other six, in St. Petersburg, Staraya Russa, Darovoye, Novokuznetsk, Omsk, and Semipalatinsk.

Armenia: Eurovision Metal

Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on rumors that Armenian-American rock band System of a Down (SOAD) are interested in representing Armenia in next year's Eurovision Song Contest. However, there is also speculation that the band are interested in using the contest to gain exposure to campaign for Genocide recognition. The blog...

Trinidad & Tobago: Glass Towers

  24 June 2008

A Trinidadian blogger fears that what sets the island apart is being lost among the tall buildings going up in Port of Spain. Why does the glass have to be half empty or half full? asks why do “we deny our people the right to our waterfront? Where is the...

Morocco: The Fez Festival of World Sacred Music

As the 14th annual Fez Festival of World Sacred Music comes to a close, bloggers – both Moroccan residents and travelers – share their experience with this year's festival. The View from Fez bloggers, who were fortunate enough to be in the thick of things for all of the festival,...

Trinidad & Tobago: Soca Sweet No More

  23 June 2008

A loud party in the neighbourhood forces Why does the glass have to be either half empty or half full? to think about her favourite types of music. As the blaring continues, she remembers why her native Trinidadian soca is not at the top of her list.

Bahamas: Words of Advice

  23 June 2008

WeblogBahamas thinks the late Tim Russert's advice to his college-bound son should be adopted by Bahamians, especially the part about not cultivating a sense of entitlement.

Trinidad & Tobago: Praise Song

  23 June 2008

Four Fingers and a Thumb 2.0 is stirred by a hymn being played by a steelband, reminding her of the “magically bizarre wonderful place” that is Trinidad.

Thailand: Casino's new name

  22 June 2008

To minimize criticism, Thailand's Prime Minister said the government is building an entertainment complex, not a casino. Blogger The Farang is not amused.

China: Bad Fuwa!

  21 June 2008

From Flickr user Matthew J. Stinson: “My favorite graffiti here depicts one of the Fuwa as a graffiti artist. It was added about a month ago.”

Morocco: The Fez Festival of World Sacred Music

As the 14th annual Fez Festival of World Sacred Music comes to a close, bloggers – both Moroccan residents and travelers – share their experience with this year's festival. The View from Fez bloggers, who were fortunate enough to be in the thick of things for all of the festival,...