Moon over Morocco (Podcast)

Starting next Thursday (March 1) an old radioshow will be broadcasted again (from the ZBS foundation) called Moon over Morocco, a Jack Flanders tale.

As you kind of guessed, the story is situated in Morocco. Jack Flanders travels to Morocco in search of natural magic and en route discovers the sounds and culture of Morocco (and more but you just have to listen)
One of my teachers had the cd’s and forced us to listen to the whole story. I thought it was actually quite nice. But my teacher thought otherwise, according to her it was another example of “how we westerners have a distorted view of North Africa”.
I think she never knew of the existence of pop-culture or “hippie-culture”.

Anyhow, the sounds are very nice. And according to BoingBoing the music was recorded by the legendary Paul Bowles! I didn’t know that, so an extra incentive to listen.

Anyhow it will be available as podcast. The first show is on the 1st of March. And then everyday, 7 weeks long.
The podcast will be available here

(via BoingBoing)

Guantanamo coming to Morocco

Guantanamo is coming to Morocco! Well at least a movie about Guantanomo, called Rendition, is being shot in Morocco (Marrakech)
Starring Reese Witherspoon, Meryl Streep and………Jake Gyllenhaal!!

*teenage girl alert ON*

I need to book a ticket now! I need to see Jake Gyllenhaal in Morocco and have some “coffee” with him!
Ah when it comes to Jake Gyllenhaal I’m like a teenage-girl. I scream like hell and I faint.

The story is about someone torturing someone blablabla. And is being filmed in the El Badia Palace in Marrakech blabla.
But that all doesn’t matter, what really matters is Jake Gyllenhaal being in Morocco as we speak!
OK, who lives in Marrakech? Stalk him, follow him to the swimming pool or something. Just take pictures!

*teenage girl alert OFF*

Browse a 700yrs old Qur’an online

This is quite interesting.
The British Library, the best place to hangout in London, has an online collection of old manuscripts and books that you can browse and study online.
The project is called “Turning the Pages”

You can choose between 15 masterpieces. Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches, Jane Austen, the oldest printed book, a 700yr old Quran and a Hebrew prayer book.
All very interesting.

Go and see!
Turning the Pages

Sexual terrorism in the Middle East

A new site launched today, called “Sexual Terrorism”.
The site will focus on forced prostitution in the region and raise awareness about this subject.

We all know secretly what happens but there is clearly still a taboo. And thats why this site is going to turn into a must-read. At least for me.

The founders are the members of Mideastyouth.com. Another good website “dedicated to eliminate extremist ideologies and ignorance from the Middle East.” Build up and funded by Arabs, Iranians and Israelis.

Revenge of the arty-farty leftists

Don’t you ever mess with anti-war protesters. Usually they’re smarter then you.
Not always but usually.

Take Brian Haw for instance. The UK’s most famous anti-war protester. He has been “protesting” in front of the Parliament for 6 years now.

Recently his massive 40m display was reduced to a mere 3m display with anti-war placards.
Every time I walk by, I keep on thinking that he is defeated by the government. (the placards are tiny and silly. Hilarious actually)

Not anymore now. Tate Britain came to the rescue and an exact replica of the 40m. display is now exhibited as art in the museum. And it is all legal.
According to some freakish law, people are not allowed to have unauthorised demonstrations or raise placards within 1km distance of the Parliament.
The exact spot where the replica is situated, is also the border of that 1km zone.

I told you they were smart!

MarocAntan

THE VIEW FROM FEZ has found an interesting site about the old Morocco.
Its called MarocAntan and it includes audio, postcards and photographs of the old Morocco.
Expect to see beuatiful girls in traditional clothes and that kind of stuff.

The site is in French but it provides a English translation button on the right.
Enjoy!

MarocAntan