Translated quote

Thanks to T for the loose translation. I'm still working on finding the name of the singer and the song, and the actual original lyrics. Still, it's profound.

There are ten kinds of courage, and nine of them are escape.

Kentucky highlights

Trapped in Kentucky

The fog in Cincinnati was really thick, even on Monday night. It was still there Tuesday morning, but Delta waited until just before boarding time to cancel our flight. There's a (dis) Comfort Inn in Erlinger, Kentucky. Across the road is a bar called the PeeCox. We were told ahead of time that nobody from hotel staff ever goes there, that it's really loud and smokey. We went anyway, and found a great time. Yes, it was smokey (people in Kentucky still smoke in bars), but there was 2-for-1 beers, a juke-box and some pool tables. It was not a crowded Tuesday night, but I imagine it is the sort of place that would have a bar fight or two on Saturday nights. It kind of reminded me of the Boar's Nest from Duke's of Hazard.

If I have to get stuck in Kentucky, this was not a bad way to kill time.

And by the way if you're wondering why we ended up in Kentucky at all, you may be surprised to note that the Cincinnati International Airport is actually in northern Kentucky, and not Ohio.

Cincinnati Chili

When in Cincinnati, doing as the locals do means eating chili with spaghetti, cheese, onions and beans, at a local chain called Skyline. They make you wear a bib.

I chose to chase this experience with a trip to an Irish pub where I tried this English Porter.

The label reads: "Brewed with 1825 yeast salvaged from a sunken vessel in the English Channel using an original 19th century recipe."

Dramatical Ironical

She: Isn't it strange that men and women come together, and try to live together, when they can't even speak the same language?

He: Huh?

She: Exactly! That's exactly what I mean!

He: I don't get it.

Chicago skyline

TTC Rider's Strike November 13

Thanks to M, all the way from France, for pointing this out.

Apparently there is a TTC rider's strike scheduled for Friday November 13th. Passengers' way of letting Toronto's public transit know that their proposed fare increases are not acceptable.

Just getting the word out.

Billy Goat unsilenced

Made famous by Saturday Night Live, I always try to stop at the Billy Goat Tavern when I'm in the windy city. I happened to be there today with - no, not a cheezborger - a bacon and egg sandwich when I realized it was November 11 at 11am: Rememberance Day to the rest of us, and Veteran's Day here in the US. I stood silently thinking about dead soldiers when I realized that I was the only one. Business did not stop. Customers kept coming in, chatting, eating, drinking. The guy behind the bar kept yelling "Cheezborger cheezborger". The cook kept everything sizzling on the grill.

I spent my moment in Flander's Fields and then sat down and ate my sandwich. I think Veteran's Day is only really a big deal for newscasts and Washington DC.

Luxurious Japanese food in Chicago

If you're ever in Chicago and the boss/supplier/pimp or anyone else is paying for dinner, and you like Japanese food, may I recommend Japonais. It is fantastic.

View from the hotel room

Here's the view of the Chicago River from the 36th floor of the Swissotel in Chicago.

Porter Air

I took this from seat 9D during takeoff.

I took this one during the final approach. Any guesses on my destination?

Halloween

Autumn leaves

The tree in front of my house.

Catty drama

Thanks to S for pointing me to this. I found it HILARIOUS. Reading the subtitles with audio on loud is my suggestion. :)

Punk in Urdu

I saw the film Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam tonight. I thought I heard one too many people in my life tell me that they were the anti-christ. As far as I was concerned, punk had been done, it was over. In fact, I thought it had been done right, and was justified, but that it was dead. I mean the music is still way cool, but the movement, the rebellion, was sort of finished. I'm sure teen aged kids today still have angst, but they also have some new music, new movement, and new ideology.

Perhaps sometimes "new" can take a few drops from the "old" to make something different.

The film starts off kind of slow, but it really kicks in and does something really cool. It follows the unlead who take punk to Pakistan. There are some very real people, who dig their music, and are unsure how to deal with their Islam-ness, and are working it all out.

At first I thought the whole thing was cheese. Some guy with a Mohawk screaming "I want to fuck you during Ramadan." But some of the songs by some of the bands are actually good. And watching them all get really high and fall apart is well portrayed. Finally, when they pull together their rooftop show and the kids, the local kids, enjoy it, it's very moving.

There are two scenes that top this final show: at a big Islam convention in Chicago, some of the punk bands get a chance to play in front of the youth forum. The cops are called when the Canadian lesbian punk Islamic band is getting in their groove, because apparently women are not allowed to sing. The crowd of kids starts chanting "pigs are haram" (referring to the cops being pigs, which are unclean). Very cheeky. During the same show the doc films some preteens getting their first taste of rage-punk, and liking it. Well done.

A lot of the film is focused on Michael Mohammad Knight who wrote the book Taqwacores. He's definitely going through some spiritual exploration. I am interested in reading his book. Has anyone read it? Any reviews?

Good film. Brings a refreshing perspective to the definition of Islam, distinct from the narrow Western media, and right for the next generations.