the pax is comin’a getcha
After stressing about it so much, the Salam Pax event went really well. The dialogue was a bit abstract at first (I was sooooo nervous), but when it got comfortable enough, I whipped out the Destiny’s Child references and we had a bit of fun, and got to talk about cultural politics, which was cool. An affable, funny guy. Katina’s small daughter asked him this heartbreaking question about if he felt really sad walking the streets of Baghdad, and he gave a really thoughtful answer about all the ruins — didn’t patronise her at all. Empires, ruins and networks indeed. He’s leaving on Sunday night, but we’re pressuring him to change his plane ticket so he can come to Club Kooky with us. How cool would that be? Thanks for a great chat, Salam and Sohail. (The most surreal moment? When Salam turns to me and says, “you’re a blogger, you know how it is, when people link to you…” and I snort, in my best areyouforreal voice, “not like you do!”, eyebrow raised. Dude.)
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dear ben
this is fanmail: you were excellent, with fun questions (salam pax was pretty cool too), and also i really like this centered thing you have going on here, with the drop shadow.
will you have lunch with me one day, maybe in a couple of weeks when i’m done scanning?
Thanks, and for coming, and designing the invite, etc. And I think I’m having lunch with you on Tuesday, anyway.
I thought you hated drop-shadows. :)
only in conjunction with outline type. damn emigre.
Tonight I went to the opening of the Indigenous Arts Festival (Message Sticks) at Sydney Opera House. Following that was the opening of ‘Flash Blak’ a slidshow performance by Merv Bishop one of Australia’s bestest Indigenous photographers. It was so powerful. The audience gave him a standing ovation. Merv entwines spoken word, still photos, moving images and music to tell his stories “this is my sister, my mum, I was the only Aboriginal boy in the school …” So afterwards everyone is raving about how good it is and I bump into Deborah Kelly who starts raving about how good BEN was at the Salam Pax event. People around thought she was talking about Merv – but NO. See Ben, you are a legend! [You should also note that I may have ended this night with a particularly potent alcoholic beverage. ahhhhh So I may be rambling]