Kabul Korrespondence

White City in Kazakhstan and Uzebkistan

2011-05-22T00:00:00.000+04:30

Surprisingly we cruised across the border hassle free and were soon in Almaty and lost in this mega-vehicle city: Petrol is cheap so everyone drives. Our first concert on Thursday was at a small club called Retrospective, on the outskirts of the city. We only managed to pull together a small crowd of 15, but it was obvious that they were all musicians or conersuers of music as they really got into the music and the night ended with both Ruth and I on the floor and Andreas leaping over his drum kit and landing on us [ouch!].

During our stay visit in Almaty we also had 2 gigs at an awesome rock club called Zhest, by far the best venue we have played in since starting this tour. They have a raised stage that sits over the bar. The owner Alex has set the place up real sweet with good amps, lighting and even a smoke machine. Both nights we had healthy crowds and support bands that helped us to warm the crowd. The only challenge was that we didn’t go on stage until 1 am, so we had to be diligent and keep sober until then. The crowd really enjoyed our music and many commented that all they got was metal in Almaty and they were refreshed to hear something ‘new’. Here is what Ru says about Zhest: “Our gig home for the next two nights was Zhest. It had a raised, 360 degree stage, surrounded by the bar with strippers on poles. It was very Dusk till Dawn liker. One of the ‘go-go girls’ (a Russian, who was born in Uzbekistan) fell in love with me and would not leave my side all night. I am now wearing her favourite bracelet and have, so far, not spouted fangs.”

Our last concert in Kazakhstan was at a bikers Fest 80 km outside Almaty in a lake side town call Kapchijay. The term no sleep till Brooklyn really made sense after Andreas and I stayed up till 9 am belting out tunes in a suburban karaoke club. But we pushed on through and drive at 200 km an hour with a mad taxi driver to the bikers fest. We arrived at the fest and in true White City fashion took over the place [even though we were only the support act to Russian rock legends: Aria] The fest was well set up with the stage on the beach and villas on the hills for all the bikers to use. The crowd was a mixture of hardcore bikers, part time bikers, families and even some car drivers. There was 4 local bands that played before us and the highlight was a band called Storm that had a lead singer that obviously idolized Kiss. We played the best set we could considering the cold conditions: both Andreas and I got cramps in our arms. Again the crowd was into it, with loads of people saying it was nice to hear something else besides cock rock on the bill. The main act Aria may have been old bastards but they still rocked in true Iron Maiden like sound. The crowd was obviously there to see them and therefore went crazy.

Ru: Our set was cut short by a billion hair-metal bands before us, but we enjoyed our first festival. It was fun to play a really big stage and do lots of foot-on-the-monitor poses. Seen the pictures and I look like a massive show-off. Hello to the White City Angels and thanks for getting everyone dancing. All in all it was a great experience to play at a bikers fest and too meet loads of bikers, a big hello to the guys at the Almaty chapter of the Nomads!

We met these three lovely young ladies in Bishkek at our concert at Zeppelin Bar, they proceeded to come more of our concerts. As with everyone else we connect with, we invited them to join us in Almaty. But of all the people we invited, only these 3 dedicated rockers actually made the trip up and joined us for the bikers fest. So after some drinks and dinner we all decided that they should form the fan club. And seeing that they had very similar traits to the girl of Charlies Angles, we all agreed that they should be called the White City Angles. Introducing: Aigul, Olah and Regina. They will be starting a group on face book and have promised us to have 100,000 members in five years time. So help them out and join! Visit White City Angels Facebook page here And to prove that they were the ultimate WC fans they also flew to Tashkent a week later to see us perform at the Iosis Festival, wow, well done girls, respect!

Kazakhstan has been a damn cool country and we really look forward to coming back here and rocking it again. Next stop: Uzbekistan! After all procedures and checks with documents and visas we finally got to Tashkent, where we were supposed to give 2 gigs in local clubs and perform at Ilkhom Rock Fest and Iosis Rock Fest, the biggest Rock events in Uzbekistan.

Apart from planned gigs we organized guerilla gig on the streets of Tashkent. This was a cool guerilla gig, we were told by loads of people you will not be able to play in Tashkent, you WILL be arrested if you tried. Even when we were walking to this park we must have passed 100 police on the streets at different locations. But for some magical reason they never interrupted our little gig. We played for an hour, jammed with locals and probably had 30-40 people getting into it. Even when we yelled out “Police come and bust us!” they still didn’t come…. We love Tashkent.

We also played at the VM bar on our 2nd night in Tashkent, the bar was a biker and snow-boarder hang out and had some great interiors. Thanks to the help of Tyler and Dimitri we had some sound system brought in. The crowd was a 100 people strong and were well drunk by the time we came on stage. We even had a few people from Kabul in the crowd. We played a good stinking pub gig and the crowd appreciated it.

As I mentioned before, our main activity that has been planned in Tashkent, was Ilkhom Rock Festival. What can I say… for me, it was the best stage experience of the tour, yes our last concert at Cotton Club was wilder, but Ilkhom had class, sophistication, concept and flavour. There was video projections, live video projections, dancers, sounds scapes, a mezzanine stage and awesome lighting. The show was split up into a semi acoustic and electric set and we really mixed up the set, both for us and the audience. It was a little weird to play to a sitting down crowd, but I made up for it with a lot of running around the theatre with my wireless system. The highlight of the night was a cameo appearance by Cheburashka, a small fluffy soviet icon. We ended the night with a in depth Q & A with 40 or so audience members that stayed behind to learn more about Big in the Stans. So a big thank you goes out to Tyler and all the people involved at the Ilkhom theatre. Also the Uzbek musicians who played with us and lastly to our great friend Nikita and to Munira who dressed the band in her original designs. Take a look what Ru has to say about her experience at Ilkhom:

Ru: “Our gig at the Ilkholm theatre was a series of firsts for me. It was the first time I’d played in a theatre, the first time I’d played to an audience that stayed seated throughout, the first time I’d been dressed as a ‘girl’ in a dress and heels, the first time I’d come onstage to smoke and dancers and the first time I’d experienced the kind of creativity, care and dedication to a show that the Ilkholm team gave us. To be honest, at first I was nervous and a little out of my comfort zone – my voice was less than perfect from weeks of touring, I couldn’t move around the multi-levelled stage in the heels and was terrified my strapless dress would fall down leaving me VERY exposed through the multiple video cameras producing live feeds of our gig on a big screen. But I soon settled into the flow and enjoyed playing to a rapt audience and jamming ‘Piva’ and ‘Honey Goliath’ with local musicians on flute, sax, keyboard and mouth harp. I come from a punk-rock background, where down and dirty gigs in sweaty bars are the norm, so to play something progressive, artsy and sophisticated was a new and very interesting experience. But, as always, for me it wasn’t about the music, but the people. And they were fantastic, from the set-designers, MC and soundpeople to the audience who stayed afterwards to ask us questions. As Trav has said above, we’re a very lucky band to be given this kind of opportunity. Thanks to everyone involved.”

Straight after Ilkhom we had to perform at Iosis Rock Fest. I will leave you with comments from Ru:

“WOW. WOOOOW. Rarely at a gig have I felt so at home. My voice may have been shot, I may have been half-dead from the constant touring and I may have been sweating more than an overweight kid in a sweetshop supermarket dash, but with the help of the hundred rocking kids, White City found that last bit of energy to make a show to end the tour properly. There were stage-dives and fights, there was clambering on the speakers and a sea of hands making the devil’s rock sign. We were playing with a bunch of other rock and metal bands as part of the Iosis one-day rockfest. Our stagemates were very impressive, from the growls of local band Termin Vox to the pop rock of visiting Kazakh band, Deepresssonic. Thanks also to Deema from Formalgayt, who organised the night and our Tashkent recording session (but more of that later… ) We’ll miss you Tashkent. Wait for us!”

All in all it was great experience beyond our wildest dreams, since being back in Kabul and answering the same question over and over again: How was it? I keep answering: “Possibily the best 6 weeks of my life.” Not saying that it was all highs and no lows, but it was really like a dream come true, we headed off with little knowledge of the countries and what to expect from the people and what we got in return was continuing appreciation and energy from the audience. They kept saying; “thank you for coming to our country, no one comes here, no one makes the effort to rock our world.”

White City in KyrgyzSTAN: Bishkek and Osh

2011-05-01T02:15:00.012+04:30

We arrived in Bishkek with a lot of ambition and excitement, for me personally it’s been the one country I was most excited about visiting. After we landed we were picked up at the airport by a cool dude named Vicktor, who has turned out to be the 'dude' in Bishkek in regards to the music scene. He organised the press conference and our first gig at a 60s themed cafe that we were a little reserved about, but it turned out to be a great warm up gig with a healthy crowd that was up for some rocking.

Press conference at ID Club Pulse in Bishkek

Our next gig was on a whole another level, playing for Bishkek's elite at a fancy bar called Movie City Bar. The crowd was stiff, but we looked so chik surrounded by all the mod-deco. Might not have been our best audience, but it was still an interesting experience.

The gigs at the Pulse Club were intimate and with the most appreciative audience. We played a clean, pure acoustic set and it was well received. And to top off the night we had great in depth conversations with the musician dominant audience after.

From here on we turned up the volume to 11 with concert at the legendary Zeppelin Bar. Look what Andronik is saying about the venue:

“We were really pleased to get a chance to play at this legendary rock joint in Bishkek. It´s a hang out for bikers, rockers, punks and hippies, absolutely loved the venue, the sound, the attentive sound crew and no the least the wild rocking crowd. Hoping to play here again, next time we´re back in Kyrgyzstan!”

During our stay in Bishkek we also were invited to play live at the local TV show and to give radio interview.

White City on Channel 5 in Bishkek

Here is Ru’s feedback about our visit on the radio:

“We arrived at a run-down industrial estate complete with decrepit, crumbling walls and broken glass over the steps for our first Bishkek radio interview. Ushered through what looked very much like a prison door, we crowded into the groaning lift and were transported to the wholesome, sunny world of Bishkek OK radio. Run by American ex-pat Wes, a lovely man who's been here with his wife for 17 years, he's been broadcasting the English language station to the city for most of that time, playing an 'everyone's invited' mixture of classical, jazz and rock to the masses. We did a short interview about the tour, where we came from and gave him an exclusive first - a rendition of our new song, Honey Goliath on acoustic guitar.”

Ru with Wes at the studio on Radio OK in Bishkek

Travka and Andronik at the studio on Radio OK in Bishkek

After Bishkek gigs, interviews and live performances on the TV our plan was to visit second largest city in Kyrgyzstan- Osh. We landed in Osh and were met by one of the young founders of Youth of Osh, a grassroots NGO started by 4 young Kyrgyz women with the aim of creating activities for youth. We were taken to the venue a park in the centre of the town, where we saw a flurry of activity as volunteers organised stalls and activities or the Earth Day Festival. Our stage and Sound equipment was rudimentary but considering where we were it was pretty amazing that we even had the gear. The crowd of curious onlookers swelled as we did a 3 song sound check and by the time we returned to the stage at 5 pm, there was 500 keen youth waiting patiently.

Andreas's drum kit was typical of what would be found in a toyshop, cables were faulty and the stage was rickerty, but we rocked on anyway. And I think the crowd picked up on this, cause they gave us so much energy and cheers that we were able to feed off on this. We played 3 sets and considering that we had come from a concert the previous night and only one hour sleep before our flight to Osh, I think we did pretty well. But the most pleasing aspect of this part of the tour was meeting the people of Osh, who are so kind and hospitable. Our aim of coming here was to bring rock to all corners of the Stans and to dispel an idea that places like Osh is dangerous [many people had advised us to cancel this leg of the tour]. What we found was a small city that was rebuilding and heeling after a troublesome last year. The youth were just so surprised and pleased that we had made the effort to come to their city. We were very pleased with our visit to Osh, here is what Ru is thinking about it:

Ru: “We didn't really have time to digest this information as we travelled to Osh with one hour's sleep and then straight onto a stage in the main square in 35 degree heat. We just plugged in and played. The equipment was rudimentary and the sound rickety. Andronik had to bend down every ten minutes to unstick his bass drum pedal from the skin and his wafer-thin Chinese hi-hats ended up turning inside out! But none of this mattered, because once we started playing, the kids went crazy. Jumping, headbanging and making rock-signs aplenty. We played for 3 hours in all over three sets with help from local Kyrgyz singer, Kanykei and 'Osh's only rock band' The Left. It meant a lot to be able to invite local musicians up on stage and jam with both established acts and kids just starting out in music. We hope we can keep in contact and support them in the future.

But I thought the best bit was after the gig and I'm not just talking about the hundreds of autographs and photos we had to do. We got to talk to the locals about their lives, about the conflict in Osh. We walked with them (yes, on the streets!) and saw the burned-out buildings. Although there's still obviously tension in Osh between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks, both ethnicities were at our concert and we felt that, with time, there's a lot of hope for the city. Plus the fact that we converted many of these kids to ROCK!”

All in all we find Kyrgyz people really great, with advanced knowledge of music and a definite, refreshing European flavour to them.

Andronik: “Since we want to play in each Stan, we decided to call together a bunch of Kyrgyz friends and fans to the Turkish restaurant “Kebabistan” in Bishkek, for a farewell dinner and spontaneous gig. After some good kebabs, beers and Kyrgyz champagne, we got our semi-acoustic gear set up and did a few classic white city songs. Our friends loved it and sang along, while the staff were caught between excitement over the novelty of a band playing live in their restaurant and anxiety over what their neighbours might say. We were only told once to lower the volume, was a nice way to end our pleasant stay in Kyrgyzstan. We´ll be missing lovely Bishkek and Osh and all the nice people we met!”

Just got to Almaty…Stay tuned, next Stan is Kazakhstan!

BIG in the STANS is rockin'

2011-04-13T23:07:00.022+04:30

The importance of Central - Asian rock music scene and youth culture were identified as key drivers in the starting point of tour in Kabul recently. Kabul rock-group White City has launched their Central Asian music tour “BIG in the STANS” in the capital of Afghanistan and already had four successful performances in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Next destination - Kyrgyzstan.

Table Talk Cafe, Kabul, Afghanistan March 31st 2011

Big in the STANS kick off concert in Kabul from Combat Commo on Vimeo.

The launch concert in Kabul, which was attended by rock/indie/punk music fans, focused on the cooperation between Afghan and western musicians, centered on performance by White City and was supported by Sound Studies [a fusion ensemble of east and west musicians] This event was the beginning of band’s 6 weeks long tour ‘BIG in the STANS’ that aims to give live performances in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Pakistan. As well as that there will be produced special video documentary about tour and will visually ‘sum up’ each country with fast- paced cinematic shots, while formal and informal interviews with local musicians about the cultural climate will provide the background and context for each of White City’s concerts.

White City's House Tour in Kabul from Combat Commo on Vimeo.

White City is leaving Kabul from Combat Commo on Vimeo.

White City is arriving to Dushanbe, Tajikistan from Combat Commo on Vimeo.

Ru, the lead singer of White City gave an overview of BIG in the STANS tour idea: ‘Our concert in Kabul on 31st March gave us a chance to try out new songs and new sounds on the Kabul audience. In Dushanbe, the local teenaged bands played metal and ska-punk alongside grey-haired, veteran rockers. When we finally went on after 7 bands, the kids showed us they hadn't lost any energy. I think it's the first time we've had the entire room shouting 'White City! White City!'

Live Club, Dushanbe, Tajikistan 8th of April 2011

White City in Dushanbe, Tajikistan from Combat Commo on Vimeo.

For me, the aim of the tour is to bring our music to an often forgotten part of the world and exchange ideas and sounds with local bands. We want to explore the youth music scene and, where language fails, communicate through music.

I’m sure the challenges will be many: cultural, political, logistical, but making a documentary out of the tour means that even the problems we face will make good footage! I’m looking forward to playing the clubs and venues in the cities we visit, of course, but most of all, I want to get out to the rural parts and make contact with people in the forgotten parts of the countries we visit.’

White City in Dushanbe, Tajikistan Part 2 from Combat Commo on Vimeo.

Travka, guitarist and professional filmmaker said: ‘Starting our tour we've had a fair few dramas in the first days: Ru lost her voice and only got it back the day of the first gig and she got her foot jammed in some wood and bruised it up badly, she had to get a cast put on that she will have to wear for 2 weeks. But speaking about Dushanbe it was a great success as people told us that it was the best event to happen in the rock community in years! Besides that we are having a great time together, writing music. The rest of the trip looks well booked with concerts. During our visit to Tajikistan we were asked to go to the countryside to play for some villagers and less privileged youths. The rest of the trip looks well booked with concerts.

My expectations of the tour are to bring rock music to the far-fetched corners of the former Soviet republic. To engage with the local youth and rock their world. Lastly we want to play along side of Central Asia’s under dog bands and mix it up a little on stage where possible. Documentary wise the camera will show you place you have not only never heard of but have never seen through the lens of a traveling musicians. Our music and cameras will be the communicator between 2 lands, 2 people, 2 ages.’

Chinori Kuhan, Dushanbe, Tajikistan 9th of April 2011

Andronik, drummer and aid worker added: ‘When we just got to Dushanbe I thought that it is really good to be back in this pleasant city again. Such a contrast to Kabul - we're away from the dust and traffic jams, here you get green boulevards, outdoor cafes, proper infrastructure...

The first gig, on 8th of April at the "Live Club", was primarily advertised among expatriates here in Dushanbe, so turn out of audience was not that big and I feared we wouldn't have a rocking night. Was therefore very positively surprised when, a few songs into the gig, the whole crowd started jumping around dancing and headbanging. We have different opinions in the band on how we sounded - I reckon we did fairly well while both Ruth and Travis considered we were too sloppy. Suppose my positive experience was partly due to being provided a very good drumkit that I felt comfortable with. You never know in places like this - last time we were here (2008) I had to seek for a drum kit a full day and only got hold of some old stuff.

The second gig in Dushanbe, on 9th of April at "Chinori Kuhan" was a real pleasure. There were seven local bands prior to us - thus the day turned into a real one-day rock festival. It seems to be more happening there within the pop/rock scene than I imagined. We got a taste of a rather wide variety of styles among local bands, from pop to metal.We also went to Nurek, the mountain town in Tajikistan, where we were playing in the town square with the ‘Michael Jackson of Tajikistan’, Rushad, a pop singer with quite the fancy footwork. Initially only a group of kids cast their beady eyes on our performance, but word spread like wildfire and soon a crowd of 500 were crowding around, clapping, dancing and (with our instruction) making rock hand-signs for the camera. In a nice coincidence, it was the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s legendary flight into space, so our new song, ‘Space Cadet, praising the eastern cosmonauts of the past went down particularly well.

Nurek, Tajikistan, 12th of April 2011

During our BIG in the STANS tour I am expecting to experience a surrealistic rock´n´roll road movie, with a lot of adventure, rock-starved kids head-banging at our gigs, meeting fascinating people while exploring off-the-beaten-track corners of the world, and a fair deal of hassles, vodka and sore drum hands. But the main expectation is a broadened social-cultural-political understanding of the central Asian region and friendship established with central Asian musicians, artists and other odd folk. I am looking forward for our performances in Bishkek.’

You can follow BIG in the STANS tour on http://biginthestans.com/ where you will be able to watch White City's videodiaries, photos and latest updates from the STANS.

You think we are mad

2011-04-03T18:32:00.000+04:30

Some wrote to Andreas [the drummer in White City] that what we are planning to do is quote:
"Absurd, beautiful and dangerous."

Well if you think that we are mad, check out what my aunty is about to embark on:
http://carmelob.posterous.com/

Now that's what I call crazy!

White City Photo Shoot

2011-04-03T18:16:00.003+04:30

Here is some shots from the photo-shoot we did in Kabul last month
Big ups to Gilly for taking the shots for us.

Last concert in Kabul before the tour

2011-04-03T18:16:00.001+04:30

We did a kick off concert last weekend at a new venue in Kabul.
Check out the vid:

Big in the STANS kick off concert in Kabul from Combat Commo on Vimeo.

Tajik Tour 2008 Video

2011-04-03T18:12:00.000+04:30

Here's an old chestnut i found in my archives

White City Combat Rock Tour to Tajikistan from Combat Commo on Vimeo.

Hitting the fan

2011-04-03T17:51:00.001+04:30

Being a infidel in Afghanistan is an occupation hazard these days:
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2011/04/2011431434128774.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12949975

I agree that the American preachers are in the wrong, but also that a lynch mob is not the answer to this.
I also agree its a good time to hit the road
White City, shall we....

Big in the STANS

2011-04-03T17:46:00.001+04:30

We are proud to announce the new site for white city up and coming tour: http://biginthestans.com/
White City are a three-sometimes-four-piece rock band formed in Kabul, Afghanistan. This year they aim to play every country ending in 'Stan. This is where they'll blog their successes and failures.

Stay tuned for a lot more!

Damn impressive!

2011-04-03T17:37:00.000+04:30

From one Beardy to another Beardy
You should all check this out:

Voon goes on show tonight!

2011-04-03T17:35:00.000+04:30

if you are in the vicinity of Melbourne, go check out this pop up store that will be part of Loreal Fashion Week.

Ching Ching

2011-04-03T17:34:00.000+04:30

Julian Burnside in conversation with Michael Smith in the Age: talks about how the practice of clinking your wine glasses together at dinner came about
"in 15th century England, poisoning your opponent was a favourite way of dispatching them
so the practice arose of clinking glasses and slopping a little over into each others glass.
That's why you look into the eyes of your opponent; if you see a look of alarm, you know he's probably trying to kill you

Woah!

2011-02-26T11:33:00.002+04:30

Taliban imposing as a policeman fires on bank customers

DocsBarcelona

2011-02-26T11:33:00.000+04:30

I was lucky enough to be invited to take part in the 2011 DocsBarcelona Forum. The main idea of the festival is that industry head weights are put in the same room as new kids on the block filmmakers. The filmmakers pitch their Doco ideas. The panel critique it. Then the organisers match filmmaker to broadcaster and you have one on one meeting and talk 'shop'.

Day 1, we pitched our ideas off the bat, most of us sucked, but we kept doing it and the tutors kept breaking it down for us until we had a better understanding of our films and their direction.

Day 2, they focused on teaching us what the broadcasters and agents wanted to see and therefore taught how to customise our pitch doco's accordingly. By the end of the second day we were actually starting convince ourselves!

Day 3 was D-day. The auditorium was packed with 25 industry budget allocators and 100 onlookers. I was lucky enough to be last on the first day, so I got to watch the others do there thing. Some were complete pros and had obviously done this before. Others were clearly nervous and were eaten alive by the sympathetic, but challenging panel.

My nerves had been building all day, but after so much repetition in the workshops, when it came to my turn I just went into automatic pilot and kicked into it. It went really well and the response from the panel was all positive. I was buzzing all through Lunch.

After lunch we were having the one on one meetings with the panel. Meetings were chosen on who showed interest in your project or who had slots in their programing that fitted your doco style. We were told that would have probably 8-9 meetings. I had 13. It was mad, I did not stop talking for 5 hours!

So after all that it is time for the wheeling and dealing behind close doors or on the phone. Thank god I have a producer to do that! Keep your ears out for Crack in the Radio coming to a cinema near you in early 2012.

This is Uncanny...........

2011-02-26T11:32:00.000+04:30

This guest post comes from Dr. Ashit Dey who works for the Foreign Service.

expressing solidarity with the local poor...

Expat Aid Workers love motorcycles.*

Riding motorcycles underscores an Expat Aid Worker’s “freedom” and simultaneous (not to mention ironic) “connectedness” to the local geography and people. Nothing says “I am in solidarity with the attainable aspirations of the poor majority” quite like weaving through traffic on a Honda Dream II or Soviet-era Minsk. At the same time, an Expat Aid Worker astride a motorcycle declares both a risk-embracing approach to life and sexual availability to potential partners (expat and locals.)

It is very common for Expat Aid Workers with motorcycles to also own a copy of “Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work.” (Note: neither @talesfromthhood nor @shotgunshack own a copy of this tome.) A motorcycle can also help distinguish Expat Aid Workers from non-EAWs (normally foreign extractive industry professionals, diplomats, or private security contractors) who exclusively rely on white SUVs (preferably Landcruisers) for transportation.

one more way to be a "nomad"

Some Expat Aid Workers own multiple motorcycles. They first need a locally produced model or a second-hand Asian import (the Hongda “Wife 110″ is an old favorite) for daily use. They may also have a larger touring bike for road trips and “field work.” The selection of their second, more serious bike depends on the laws of the country where they are based, but should generally be as large as can be afforded without appearing ostentatious (must… remain… in… solidarity…). Chiefs-of-party, operations directors, and successful locally-based consultants may also own a third motorcycle. This one will definitely not be in running condition. It will be either a locally procured antique restoration project (everyone who visits them will be asked to mule motorcycle parts, purchased on eBay, which will prove impossible to get through customs), or an alternative fuel-source conversion to run (theoretically) on jatropha oil or a distillate of fermented cassava starch mixed with kerosene.

Expat Aid Workers who don’t own or ride a motorcycle themselves enjoy riding on the back of one, often without a helmet.

Expat Aid Workers were born to be wild**.

*Importantly, this does not contradict the Expat Aid Workers’ love of Drivers – it is just one awesome way of establishing field cred, and perhaps may also be an attempt to blend in.

**This link is not meant to imply that all EAWs are American or male or white.

Trash

2011-02-26T11:31:00.001+04:30

A good friend of mine John Harris sent me this pic. He says that my ol business cards just keep popping up all over the place......

35 years on this planet we call home

2011-02-26T11:31:00.000+04:30

Now Im not having a mid life crisis, quite the opposite. Im in my prime and every year since 2006 things gone from better to best, so Im pretty sure 2011 will kick ass.

But, yeh it was a good day:

- I woke up at 9am [one of the fringe benefits of working for yourself]

- The sun was shinning as the snow was melting

- I checked my bank account and the US State Dept finally paid me, so that was a nice surprise

- Then there was a bomb attack at a local shopping centre:

- It was the first time I didnt rush out the door. I was like fuck it, I shot the same location last year, let some other buck journalist go and chase the bang bang

- Maybe im growing out of combat journalism [finally! :-]

- Then I spent the afternoon sending a barrage of emails regarding my Doco [cant dally now that i have the cash]

- And I ended the day with an acoustic session at a friends cafe, where we mixed western psychedelia and Afghan traditional instruments until 3 am

Happy to be 35

It is Possible

2011-02-26T11:30:00.000+04:30

Congratulations to Egypt and Tunisia
I hope that this snowball keeps rolling: Yemen, Bahrain, Jordan, Syria, maybe even Iran take another shot at it!

a MUST see

2011-02-26T11:29:00.001+04:30

check it out!!!!!!

http://www.lmff.com.au/2011-cultural-program/event-id/52

Afghan Streets Expo

2011-02-26T11:29:00.000+04:30

If you in the neighborhood, some of my images and video will be shown:

Inside Art

2011-02-26T11:28:00.000+04:30

THIS IMAGE IS BY A 15 YEAR OLD AFGHAN BOY HELD IN DETENTION IN MELBOURNE. HE IS ONE OF 433 UNACCOMPANIED MINORS, OF WHICH ARE YET TO SEE FREEDOM. THERE ARE 1033 CHILDREN CURRENTLY IN DETENTION ACROSS AUSTRALIA AWAITING DECISIONS FROM DIMIA.

The artist was really happy to have his art beyond bars.. we have been smuggling in paint for him..

Kabul Dreams is EVERYWHERE!!!

2011-02-26T11:26:00.000+04:30

Kabul Dreams - Crack in the Radio (Live at the AUAF)

Kabul Dreams - Don't try to freeze my mind (live at Tolo tv)

Kabul Dreams of peace - RT Top Stories

Kabul Dreams - My Friend (Live at the AUAF)

CITR at Barcelona Docs

2011-01-31T17:35:00.002+04:30

After 33 hours in transit, I finally made it to Barcelona this morning. I have been invited to take part in the Barcelonadocs film festival. Myself and 23 other budding doco makers will be presenting our projects to a panel of critiques from the global film industry.

If you havnt already seen the new version trailer for my doco: Crack in the Radio, then please watch below

T

Rockumentary Trailer: Crack in the Radio from Combat Commo on Vimeo.

Camera work by Travis Beard and Ruth Owen

Supermarket Attack: A Dangerous Turn in Kabul

2011-01-31T17:26:00.002+04:30

The following article by a friend of mine highlights the change in tactics by elements in the conflict. In the past we have been able to distinguish ourselves from the obvious targets. Now it is a concern how we all could be harmed while doing the simple act of shopping
T

By Julius Cavendish

A suicide bomber blew himself up in a popular grocery close to the British, Canadian and Pakistani missions in Kabul Friday afternoon in an indiscriminate attack that analysts say could spell the beginning of a new trend in the Afghan capital. Unlike most previous attacks, this one fell on the Afghan weekend and was timed to inflict maximum civilian casualties as predominantly Western shoppers browsed through the store on their day off.

The bomber, a man in his 40s with dark skin and a long beard according to one witness, shot his way into the grocery, threw one or possibly two grenades and then detonated his vest. By late Friday night the death toll had reached nine, including a child and four Filipinos — probably employees of one of the many contractors working in Afghanistan. The nationalities of the other victims, including two wounded shoppers in critical condition, are still unknown.

Security analysts say that despite the relative calm that has existed in Kabul for almost a year, insurgents have been reconnoitring a number of targets in the Afghan capital, and that the supermarket had come under Taliban surveillance late last year. Several restaurants popular with foreigners are also thought to be under observation.

This time both the Taliban and a second insurgent faction, Hezb-i-Islami, claimed responsibility for the bombing, although until the identity and motivation of the bomber are established — and the kind of detonating device he was using known — it will be hard to gauge their veracity. In a text message sent to reporters, one insurgent spokesman said the attack was directed at the "chief of Blackwater" — a private security company.

Given that no Blackwater employees were in the store at the time of the attack, that may be an attempt to justify a vicious attack against civilians. Blackwater — now known as Xe, but still notorious for its record in Iraq — is symbolic of the worst excesses of mercenaries employed to protect Western officials. The mujahideen may simply have been tapping into popular anger against Western security firms.

In any case, Sami Kovanen, a senior analyst with Indicium Consulting in Kabul, which provides security information, warns that the assumption had to be that "this kind of attack will happen again." Says Kovanen: "It's a new kind of attack — in many ways the first direct attack against the whole international community, against civilians." He adds, "There have been really specific reasons behind previous attacks. The attack on the Bektar guesthouse [in October 2009] targeted the U.N. during elections; the attack against the Indian guesthouse [in February 2010] targeted Indians. But [this one targeted] foreign civilians known to go shopping on Friday at this time. It was against us — regardless of who you are, which organization you're working for or what your nationality is. So in that way it is really concerning."

Afghanistan Acid attack on prominent journalist

2011-01-31T17:26:00.000+04:30

Reporters Without Borders condemns the assault yesterday on a leading journalist and writer who was the victim of an acid attack as he left his home in the Afghan capital Kabul.

Razaq Mamoon, who works for several media outlets and presents a program on the independent station Tolo TV, was taken to the military hospital in the capital. Doctors say though he is suffering from first-degree burns his injuries are not life-threatening and that his sight is not in danger.

“An acid attack is quite an unusual attack on journalists,” said Sediqolah Tohidi of the Afghan organization for the protection of journalists NIA.

“I at once went to the hospital. Several journalists were already there. I think this attack has a negative impact on journalists and free speech in Afghanistan. The government is doing all it can to ensure the successful outcome of the investigation and arrest the authors of this attack."

Warllords 2010 Video

2011-01-31T17:24:00.000+04:30

Wallords 2011 from Combat Commo on Vimeo.

Wallords of Afghanistan - Stage 1 - Mission accomplished.

At the end of last year Combat Communications ran a weeklong workshop in the Afghan capital Kabul, teaching stencil art and graffiti to a group of young, Afghan artists. It culminated in a two-day painting session on the walls of an abandoned factory on the outskirts of Kabul.

Ten Afghan artists, (three women amongst them) took part in the project, dubbed “Wallords of Afghanistan”, and got an intensive crash course in all things graffiti by legendary street artist Chu.

Chu, who has been involved in street art for over twenty years, came to Afghanistan with no idea what to expect from the artists who signed up for the workshops. They were all extremely talented individuals but Chu brought three alien concepts to the table; SPRAY CANS, PUBLIC SPACE & BIG ART. As you can see in the video, they took to the new medium straight away and the results are pretty amazing.
Vimeo link

The main aim was give the students the tools and background knowledge to think about their own cultural environment. The youth of Kabul have little outlet for creativity, and self-expression is often mistaken for a challenge to authority.

Many countries with much more repressive governments have grasped the concept of ‘street art’ as a way of provoking thought and stimulating discussion but it seems that Afghanistan’s difficult recent history and unique set of cultural circumstances mean that somewhere along the way the concept of social and politically driven art has been lost.

These workshops will hopefully be the catalyst required to get more artists out of the classrooms and studios and onto the streets. Combat Communications are not trying to start a revolution. That’s the last thing this place needs, but we do believe that self-expression has a place here as much as the streets of Tehran or Palestine. Besides all that there’s a lot of blank, ugly looking, bullet-riddled walls crying out for a bit of colour.

Watch this space. Check out the blog and stay tuned for more happenings in the Summer of 2011.

For more info email info@combatcomms.org

Wallords 2010 Pics

2011-01-31T17:22:00.001+04:30

Combat Comms Last project of 2010

More at:
http://homepage.mac.com/shot2bits/wallordsweb/

Shots By Gill

Seasonal fighters

2011-01-31T17:21:00.000+04:30

In Afghanistan, less snow coincides with uptick in violence this winter
By Joshua Partlow Washington

KABUL - The first snow of the winter that fell in Kabul this week was a welcome dusting for the war planners at NATO headquarters.

The level of violence across the country has so far been higher than in previous winters, a phenomenon U.S. military officials attribute at least in part to unseasonably warm weather. At one morning briefing this week, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David H. Petraeus, was shown aerial photographs of the lack of snow on the country's rugged mountains, which has allowed Taliban fighters more freedom of movement than usual for the season, according to a U.S. military official.

U.S. military officials often explain violence in terms of a counterinsurgency, or COIN, "curve." The idea is that violence rises as new troops pursue the Taliban in a given area but that this does not necessarily signify a worsening situation. It could mean the troops are pursuing insurgents in areas where they have found sanctuary in the past, forcing them to fight.

Then at some point, the theory goes, the curve breaks and heads downward. If all goes well, after some lag time this is followed by improvements in governance and Afghans' perception of the situation. Petraeus's office uses a graph of such a process to explain events in Nawa, the pacified district of the southern province of Helmand that Petraeus calls a "proof of COIN concept."

Compared with last summer, "the numbers of attacks right now are markedly down," said one senior NATO official. "We're in 2011 now. We'll see higher numbers overall than we did last year, month to month, day to day, throughout. Whether or not it dips off and we break that nexus sometime in 2011 remains to be seen, but we're not predicting that.

This one for my buddy Klint

2011-01-31T17:19:00.002+04:30

http://groozi.com/2010/03/12/score-this-photog-1-cheapskate-0/

Funky Fact 287

2011-01-31T17:19:00.001+04:30

2010 Was By Far the Deadliest Year for U.S. Troops in Afghanistan—One American Killed Every 18 Hours

Journalists in 2010 targets and bargaining chips

2011-01-31T17:19:00.000+04:30

This is one reason why Im getting out of the business

See all the figures and the graphs (http://en.rsf.org/journalists-in-2010-targets-and-30-12-2010,39188.html)

Figures in 2010
57 journalists killed (25% fewer than in 2009)
51 journalists kidnapped
535 journalists arrested
1374 physically attacked or threatened
504 media censored
127 journalists fled their country
152 bloggers and netizens arrested
52 physically attacked
62 countries affected by Internet censorship

A different perspective

2010-11-21T10:47:00.000+04:30

One of my previous photo students has been interviewed about her career. A very interesting window into the life of an Afghan female photographer.

http://citizenreporter.org/2010/10/ctrp353-working-as-a-female-photographer-in-afghanistan/

Kabul Dreams Live in Turkey

2010-11-20T20:52:00.002+04:30

Last month we all flew over to Istanbul to film Kabul Dreams playing live at the NATO Youth Forum on Afghanistan.

Thanx to Ru and Ellice for help with the shooting

The Afghan Spirit

2010-11-20T20:48:00.001+04:30

For Hashmatullah Sarwaree and Ali Ahmad Fazel, hazards aren’t a major concern on the golf course. After all, their club in Kabul was cleared of land mines after the fall of the Taliban regime.

That’s probably why scores that were more than 130 strokes behind the winners in the four-round Asian Games competition weren’t a major concern for the pair from Afghanistan, who finished third-to-last and last on the lush Dragon Lake Golf Course outside of Guangzhou on Saturday.

For 10 hours a day, pretty much every day, Sarwaree drives a taxi on the chaotic streets of Kabul.

That’s only his job, though. His heart belongs to golf.

“I just like golf,” he told The Associated Press. “I want to do it all the time.”

Golf in Afghanistan is a different brand than most people are used to. First off, the greens are made of sand and oil, which actually makes them brown but keeps them from blowing away. And there’s only one course in the whole country.

“It’s totally different here,” Sarwaree said after finishing his fourth round at Guangzhou in his country’s first try at golf in the Asian Games, a regional version of the Olympics that is held once every four years. “It’s so big, and there’s grass!”

Afghanistan's 1st ever METAL ban

2010-11-20T14:36:00.000+04:30

They may be young.
They may be a little rough on the edges.
But they have spirit.

Check out District Unknown playing at a local venue in Kabul:

Seeds on Radio

2010-11-20T11:53:00.001+04:30

My good friend Andrew [aka Seeds] has a new gig on Phuket radio. Check it out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKfwU_vxvv4

Mr President

2010-11-17T23:09:00.000+04:30

Combat Communications had a busy time over the election month in Afghanistan. Check it out:

Brother's Soundtrack

2010-11-06T14:10:00.000+04:30

My brother has a new band [duo] and they have just completed a soundtrack for a mysterious film,
check it out:
http://vimeo.com/15773530

White City Update

2010-11-06T11:34:00.011+04:30

White City has been busy busy busy:

We now have 8 original songs, plus a swathe of covers to keep the 'Kabul crowd' happy.

We have been playing concerts weekly, resulting in our sets getting tighter and tighter.

We are pleased to announce that former member Archie has returned to Kabul and is rejoining the band! [top secret info is that he will be playing with us at our next gig at Latmo]

And lastly our proposed sabbatical tour of the Stans is still on schedule for March 2011
[Yes Jeremy we will tour North America next]

So stayed tuned and if you get to once of our gigs, then get on the dance floor and move!

Travka

PS: Nice camera-kick Ruth, my insurance company will be contacting you :-]

I was just there 1 week ago

2010-11-06T11:32:00.004+04:30

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/10/2010103185656175601.html

Awesome

2010-11-06T11:32:00.003+04:30

My sound girl Ellice just released this report from the Kabul Dreams live concert in Istanbul on DW Radio

check it out:

http://www.dw-world.de/popups/popup_single_mediaplayer/0,,6158471_start_0_end_0_type_audio_struct_3176_contentId_6158266,00.html

Trogladites

2010-11-03T16:14:00.000+04:30

"This is the second time in recent weeks a Taliban commander has been found hiding in an oven," said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director. "Whether they hide in a cave or an oven, we're going to find the enemies of Afghanistan and secure peace for this country."

White City Helps Afghan Deaf

2010-08-14T17:48:00.000+04:30

Dear friends,

I wish to thank those of you who came to the dinner party.

The fundraiser for ANAD, the National Association of the Deaf raised 2000 USD for the school. With this money it will be possible to pay for meals of the deaf children for an entire year.

White City played along with Kabul Dreams and rocked the generous audience long into the night.

Donkeys and Camels

2010-08-14T17:35:00.000+04:30

hehehhehe:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/the-other-side/pakistan-no1-in-the-world-in-pornographic-internet-searches/story-e6frfhk6-1225891468986

Monkey Magic

2010-08-14T17:34:00.000+04:30

Check out this link, it shows the Taliban new tactic in the war on terror:

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7059578.html

the Harsh reality

2010-08-14T17:33:00.000+04:30

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/iran-where-bill-posters-are-raped/story-e6frg6so-1225888214366

what a legend

2010-08-14T17:32:00.000+04:30

My ex-girlfriends father finally gets the recognition he diserves

http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/heavensent/default.htm

Exposing corruption in the coolest way

2010-08-14T17:30:00.000+04:30

My good Friend Aman has made has put his installation video online....

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/06/18/96178/filmmaker-pays-reverse-bribes.html

Armegedon is just around the corner

2010-08-14T17:29:00.000+04:30

The time is nigh:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/16/touchdown-jesus-statue-burns-down

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/06/15/american-hunting-osama-bin-laden-gun-detained-northern-pakistan/

Our next cover song

2010-08-14T17:28:00.000+04:30

White City plans to cover this 80s classic:

OD on frontline

2010-08-14T17:25:00.000+04:30

http://www.theage.com.au/national/soldier-found-unconscious-after-suspected-drug-overdose-in-afghanistan-20100603-x222.html

Crack down, downtown

2010-08-14T17:24:00.000+04:30

More research please.

2010-08-14T17:22:00.000+04:30

Heres a classic example of someone writing an article with only half [if that] the content and fillinf the rest of the space with fodder:

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/article7115611.ece

Last time i checked Baku is not a conflict zone.

Sex on the front line

2010-08-14T17:17:00.000+04:30

Female soldiers being deployed to Afghanistan have been told by the British military to carry condoms following an alarming rise in pregnancies while on tour.

Although sexual relationships are allowed in the U.S. military, they are strongly discouraged, especially in a combat zone, with warnings that they "can have an adverse impact on unit cohesion, morale, good order and discipline."

Officially, British military personnel are banned from having sex in a war zone. But, according to senior officers, a blind eye is turned if relations are between soldiers of a similar rank and do not impact operations.

An advertisement in an official Army magazine warns British soldiers to take protection because there will be an estimated “50 blokes to each woman.”

Figures show that 133 servicewoman became pregnant in Afghanistan and Iraq between January 2003 and February 2009. Condoms are already available at bases such as Camp Bastion, home to 8,500 British troops — including 700 women

Long over due, but scepticism about results

2010-07-19T11:20:00.000+04:30

United States Forces-Afghanistan has launched a criminal investigation
into allegations that a small number of U.S. Soldiers were responsible
for the unlawful deaths of as many as three Afghan civilians.

There are also allegations of illegal drug use, assault and conspiracy.

No charges have been preferred at this time; however, one soldier has
been placed in pre-trial confinement.

The Army's Criminal Investigation Command initiated their investigation
after receiving credible information from the Soldiers' unit earlier
this month.

USFOR-A is committed to the security and safety of the Afghan population
and will ensure any crimes are investigated fully and those responsible
will be held accountable.

Hero Shots

2010-05-21T15:47:00.002+04:30

Colleague Jeremy and I have been toying with the idea of starting a new business: Hero Shots.

In a nutshell it is a photographic services that makes you look cool, tough and or bad ass.

Typical clientele would be egotistical security contractors, journalists and diplomats.

Here is some examples:

anyone....

A long way to post

2010-05-21T15:33:00.000+04:30

A month ago someone contacted me saying that they wanted to send me a free piece of jewelry in exchange for a review on my blog.....

I thought sure if you can get your product to Afghanistan then ill review it.

Sure enough last week a small package arrived with a 'Love Ring' inside. Impressed I am that is made it all the way here. So if anyone is looking for the purrrrfect ring to express you feelings to that someone special then look no further!

http://www.jewelryartdesigns.com

Now i just got to find someone to give this ring to............

The Taliban strikes back

2010-05-21T10:30:00.000+04:30

By DEXTER FILKINS

Taliban insurgents launched a brazen but ultimately futile assault on the American base at Bagram on Wednesday morning, igniting a ferocious gun battle that left at least one American contractor dead, a dozen soldiers wounded and 10 guerrillas dead.

Four of the insurgents wore suicide vests but were killed before they could detonate them, American officers said. Earlier in the day, a Taliban spokesman had claimed that seven fighters had struck at Bagram’s gates and allowed 30 others to get inside.

Americans officers said the attempt failed.

“At no time were Bagram defenses breached,” said Col. Wayne Shanks, a spokesman for the American command. No suicide bombings succeeded, he said.

Still, the attack represented an aggressive attempt by the Taliban to strike at one of the most important symbols of American power here. Bagram Air Base, about 50 miles north of Kabul, is one of the largest American bases in the country and the headquarters for the military campaign in the east.

While the details were sketchy, it seems clear, given the number of American casualties, that the Taliban fighters had successfully infiltrated the area and achieved some level of surprise on the heavily fortified base.

M2M expo featurung My images and vids

2010-05-21T10:26:00.000+04:30

M2M held an exhibition titled Streets of Afghanistan in Denver, Breckenridge [USA] with some of my video and images from the streets of Kabul

Check out M2M work at this link:

http://www.mountain2mountain.org/

Afghan passenger plane crashes

2010-05-21T10:09:00.000+04:30

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/05/201051793149842954.html

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Search craft on Thursday spotted the wreckage of a commercial airliner that disappeared Monday while flying over Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush mountains with 44 people on board, including 6 foreigners, officials said.

Photos supplied by NATO forces show that the plane had broken into four pieces that were strewn across a steep mountainside, suggesting that it was unlikely that anyone survived. It was not known whether any of the helicopters flying over the crash site for much of the day were able to land on the rugged terrain.

The airplane, an Antonov-24 operated by Pamir Airways, was flying from the northern city of Kunduz to Kabul when air traffic controllers lost track of it north of Kabul, the capital. Three British citizens and an American were among the six foreigners who were on board, officials said.

Poor weather and the rugged mountains hampered the search, but aircraft confirmed that the tail section had been found in mountains about 24 miles north of Kabul

White City UNPLUGGED

2010-05-21T10:05:00.000+04:30

check out the live recording here:
http://www.myspace.com/whitecitykabul

and here is a vid:

Predator from Combat Commo on Vimeo.

US Afghanistan death toll passes 1,000

2010-05-21T10:03:00.000+04:30

The American death toll in Afghanistan has passed 1,000 after a suicide bomb struck a NATO convoy, killing 18, including five US soldiers.

Combat Comms proudly presents: THE ANJUMAN

2010-05-10T08:53:00.000+04:30

Last year we had our sights on the 4500m Anjuman Pass

We climbed
We conquered
We were arrested
Twice

check it out here:

http://www.vimeo.com/11595982

Taliban to launch major offensive in Afghanistan

2010-05-10T08:44:00.000+04:30

(Reuters) –
Taliban insurgents announced on Saturday an offensive against NATO and U.S. troops in Afghanistan, just as Afghan President Hamid Karzai is due to travel to Washington.

In a statement from an email usually used by Taliban militants, it said the new offensive will begin from Monday and would target foreign troops, Afghan government officials, and foreign diplomats with suicide and roadside bombings.

"In order to expedite the momentum of the Jihadic activities, the Islamic Emirate announces this spring operation by the name of Al-Faath (victory) to be launched against Americans, NATO members and their surrogates," the statement said.

Congrats to Maral

2010-05-10T08:38:00.001+04:30

Maral just won first place in the Moody melancholic masterpiece category at the AVIMA Awards for the song – My Clothes on Other Bodies

Check out a personal message from Maral here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzILfuDIFcI

Mock Canberra village teaches Afghan survival skills

2010-05-10T08:33:00.000+04:30

Australian police sent to Afghanistan have been trained in a mock village on the outskirts of Canberra.

The latest group of AFP officers was formally farewelled in Canberra earlier this week.

The contingent bring the number of AFP officers in Afghanistan to 28.

Assistant AFP Commissioner Peter Drennan has told a forum at the Canberra University that police have had to learn skills like bartering to survive in a foreign culture.

"We have a purpose-built village which is part of our international deployment group at Majura," he said.

"It's a replica of an indigenous village in a non-descript country, and they actually spend time there in as real as type circumstances as possible to replicate conditions when they arrive."

Winter Collection for a song

2010-05-10T08:32:00.000+04:30

My dearest Min Furn is having a private sale of her woolen garments, if you are in the grand city of Melbourne go down and check it out:

This year, the winter soiree will be held at the lovely Mr. Wilkinsons. Please drop by to say hi, for a glass of wine and to check out the current range. Current designs will be available for sale and to order, and past designs for sale. All pieces are priced at 40% less than RRP.

When: Wednesday 12th May, 6-8pm
Where: Mr. Wilkinsons
295 Lygon St,
Brunswick East

Support locally designed and crafted knitwear and please pass this onto anyone who may be interested!

Practicalities: I will be accepting cash and a laptop with an internet connection will be available for funds transfers.

Check out www.wendyvoon.com for the latest collection.

Hope to see you there!

--
Wendy Voon
Knitwear Designer Maker
Website: www.wendyvoon.com

Respect to M.I.A.

2010-05-10T08:30:00.000+04:30

GINGERS: RUN WHILE YOU CAN!

New Vid from Combat Comms

2010-04-26T23:03:00.001+04:30

Work in progress from those guys who dont aspire to become superstars like Banksy:

TLO Evicition Party from Combat Comms on Vimeo.

Anti-war graffiti group become Afghanistan's 'Talibanksy'

2010-04-26T22:53:00.001+04:30

by Lynne O'Donnell Mon Apr 26, 4:24 am ET
KABUL (AFP) – On walls around Afghanistan's scrappy capital, where million-dollar mansions line rutted roads, anonymous graffiti artists are daubing their disapproving take on the devastating cost of war.

Styled after the anonymous British vandal-artist Banksy, Kabul's streetwise stealth stencillers go by the moniker "Talibanksy", a reference to the Islamist Taliban who have been waging war in Afghanistan for almost nine years.

The street art forms a commentary on the cost in blood and treasure of the war, which has brought 126,000 US and NATO troops to Afghanistan and kills about 2,000 Afghan civilians a year, according to the UN.

Black, spray-painted silhouettes of soldiers and dollar signs, poppies, helicopters and tanks, and children running hand-in-hand began appearing in downtown Kabul a few months ago.

Some show the shadow of a helmeted soldier holding an assault rifle, inside a red circle with a line through it. Others have a silhouetted gun-toting trooper and a dollar sign joined by an equals symbol.

Or simply the words: Cost Of War.

Financially the war is estimated to cost some 100 million dollars a day, according to US media reports.

The human cost to foreign forces so far this year is close to 170, according to the icasualties.org website which keeps tally and says that of the 1,737 who have died since the war began in 2001, 1,051 were Americans.

The people behind the anti-war graffiti call themselves Combat Communications, and claim to be "a small anonymous group of international artists founded last year with the sole aim of advocating/promoting free expression".

According to a statement, they wish to remain anonymous and call their work "social and politically driven graphics".

"This form of self-expression is open to anyone. The youth of Kabul have no real outlet for artistic expression," it says, adding: "Do they want it?"

The Westerners behind Combat Communications declined to speak to AFP, saying they wanted to keep a low profile while they developed their strategy.

Their graffiti appear across the central residential and commercial districts of Kabul, alongside spray-painted advertisements for translation services, real estate agents, plumbers, septic tank cleaners and roofers.

Since the fall of the Taliban, Afghanistan has begun moving towards democracy -- with the second parliamentary election set for September -- and freedom of expression is protected by the constitution.

Yet as the insurgency moves deep into its ninth year and the US-led counter-insurgency revs up with foreign troop numbers set to peak by August at 150,000, Kabul remains a city scarred by war and corruption.

Open drains run alongside the main roads, few sidestreets are paved, traffic control is derisory and public transport virtually non-existent.

Two-metre-high concrete blast walls surround most public buildings and embassies, and residential neighbourhoods feature the "narco-tecture" of garishly-tiled, multi-storey mansions most believe are built with the proceeds of the three-billion-dollar-a-year illicit drugs trade.

A cloud of filth from diesel-powered vehicles sits atop a city surrounded on three sides by the peaks of the Hindu Kush mountains, and piles of garbage are picked over by beggars and animals alike.

Consumer price inflation is said to be around 20 percent, helicopter gunships provide an almost constant overhead clatter, and Afghans desperate to leave their country for a new life form long queues at visa offices.

Into this harsh landscape, the sudden appearance of modern street art has added a touch of colour and controversy -- and the blast walls provide the perfect canvas.

Talibanksy's tags are not yet as ubiquitous as Banksy's guerilla art became in London and other British cities over the last decade.

Nor is it as sophisticated, so far presenting little more than simple anti-war messages and slogans, in contrast to the infinitely more clever, caustic and creative Banksy murals.

And whereas Banksy branched out to the US, Australia and the Middle East, becoming an international phenomenon and wealthy in the process, Combat Communications appears to be starting out with more modest ambitions.

The statement contains an anti-capitalist message, hitting out at the massive billboards that dominate city intersections, advertising telecommunications firms or warning against involvement in the drugs trade.

"'Selling the peace' AKA (also known as) winning the war, has also become a big industry. Propaganda is everywhere from counter-narcotic campaigns to counter-terrorism to army recruitment. You can't move without some form of visual purposeful persuasion burning a hole in your soul," it says.

"Social and politically driven graphics, AKA street art, can evoke thought and stimulate discussion.

"Watch your public space," the statement says.

Introducing Combat Communications Video Channel

2010-04-26T22:53:00.000+04:30

Check THIS out !!!!

vimeo.com/combatcomms/videos

The latest weapon on the war against Terror

2010-04-26T22:50:00.000+04:30

check out this bad boy:

BUSTED !

2010-04-26T22:47:00.001+04:30

Police in the Afghan capital seized thousands of bottles of alcohol from restaurants and bars frequented by foreigners, local media reported Thursday.

Alcohol is illegal in the Islamic country though some bars and restaurants in Kabul do serve drinks to the thousands of foreigners based in the city.

Nine people, including women and foreigners, were arrested in the raids earlier this week, the Outlook newspaper quoted police as saying.

Outlook quoted Brigadier General Syed Adbul Ghafaar Syedzada, head of Kabul's criminal police branch, said 6,312 bottles of alcohol had been seized, 5,198 of them beer.

Among those arrested were seven women from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Bosnia, Libya and Afghanistan, the newspaper said.

It quoted Syedzada as saying such establishments "mislead the young and encourage them to act immorally".

Bar owners in Kabul have said they pay enormous bribes to police to remain open.

For more in depth go to: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/julius-cavendish-atmosphere-killer-as-expat-refuge-raided-1945060.html

Nice work Al Jaz [Qais]

2010-04-26T22:47:00.000+04:30

The Super Kabul Lives !!!!!

2010-04-26T22:46:00.000+04:30

I lent my 'sleeping' Super Kabul [my first bike] to my good friend Ellisa, so she could learn how to ride. She has posted a kooky video of her adventures here:

http://www.vimeo.com/10868256

Jihad Janes

2010-04-10T23:18:00.001+04:30

Check out the women on the frontline:

1
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8561888.stm
2
http://www.smh.com.au/world/teenage-widow-blamed-for-moscow-blast-20100402-rk44.html
3
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8490819.stm
4
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/05/15/afghan-bomb.html

REAL journalism

2010-04-10T23:18:00.000+04:30

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/tv-series-border-security-shows-australian-soldiers-in-afghanistan/story-e6frf96f-1225848730047

Got to love those conspiracy theories

2010-04-10T23:17:00.001+04:30

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/declassified/archive/2010/03/15/osama-s-family-troubles-aired-on-al-qaeda-website.aspx?obref=obnetwork

Keep reading, it gets better the more you go down.

Pioneers of Rock

2010-04-10T23:17:00.000+04:30

I was in communication with the correspondent from the Guardian the other day in relation to this article published on the band Kabul Dreams:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/31/kabul-rock-band-afghanistan

and there is a review by someone who obviously never saw them play:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/mar/31/review-afghan-rock-kabul-dreams

After the article was published conversation flourished about the 'first ever Afghan rock band'

In fact Kabul Dreams are the 2nd ever rock band in Afghanistan
first was "the Stars" and was formed in early 70's

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamcurtis/2009/11/
Scroll down to almost the bottom for reference

and they not the only rock band, technically.......
if you want to include metal in that definition then there is another band called District Unknown

But KD are still the best!

And the Winner is:

2010-04-10T23:16:00.000+04:30

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/173335/afghanistan-now-also-world-top-hashish-producer-un?

Me at a drug burning ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Anti-Narcotics

Disturbing, but a must see for EVERYONE

2010-04-07T21:38:00.000+04:30

Australian Viewers

2010-03-28T09:48:00.001+04:30

If you have access to the TV, keep an eye out for our latest report from Uruzgan being aired on Lateline [ABC/2] on Tuesday at 10 pm.

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/

The latest in Muslim fashion [Seriously!]

2010-03-28T09:46:00.000+04:30

http://styleislam.com/uk/index/

Nice work Sam

2010-03-28T08:17:00.002+04:30

My buddy Sam and his crafty camera work:

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/03/23/iran.afghanistan.weapons.taliban/index.html

From the same neck of the woods

2010-03-28T08:07:00.009+04:30

The buzz around the Australian Civilian Casualties stories starts to heat up:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/son-of-diggers-protector-killed-in-raid/story-e6frg8yo-1225844033599

In the news this week

2010-03-28T08:07:00.008+04:30

The media police are hot on the heals of Dateline:

http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s2853029.html

Can someone please get it right..........

2010-03-28T08:06:00.001+04:30

SBS's Dateline try to clean up the messy reporting made last year:

http://www.sbs.com.au/dateline/story/watch/id/600361/n/Questions-from-Oruzgan-A-Special-Investigation

"Badlands"

2010-03-28T08:05:00.001+04:30

http://www.theage.com.au/world/army-decisions-under-fire-20100326-r33j.html

"Sustaining any criminal charges would require substantial corroborated evidence. Without access to the scene of the attack or to the survivors, it may be difficult to convince a jury of military professionals that the evidence points to a guilty verdict beyond reasonable doubt"

and this:

"The Age has confirmed that investigators could not visit the scene of the incident and did not meet any survivors of the attack. In part this is because the troops that would have been needed to provide security for such a visit were occupied with other operations when the request was made."

But:

"The investigators, and the special forces soldiers needed to protect them, also understood that such excursions were not a simple act. Turning up with an armed group of soldiers to ask questions at an Afghan house is very different to an Australian homicide investigation. The Australian newspaper did get to the site of the raid recently and interviewed the father of one of the victims. He reportedly said he did not blame the Australian soldiers, who, he said, had been misled by a local spy. However, the military believes its investigations face difficulties with similar searches for the truth."

The blurred line between fiction and non-fiction

2010-03-14T23:12:00.001+04:30

CHECK this out:

Strategic Operations Inc

Chand Ast? [How Much?]

2010-03-14T20:32:00.000+04:30

Been trying to load this video for a week, but the connection or lack of it in Afghanistan has got the better of me. So PLEASE go to the following link to see it:

http://talibanksy.posterous.com/

Cool thing is someone is already posting this material online! and aptly entitled it 'Talibanksy'.

and if your into you tuber....check this channel out:
http://www.youtube.com/user/YOMELBOURNETV

Where my house in OZ is:

2010-03-09T12:47:00.003+04:30

http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/03/05/2838164.htm

Im Easy like a ..........

2010-03-03T09:13:00.009+04:30

I know Im planning well ahead, but I got a shack booked at my good friends new pad in Thailand for last week of August. Anyone want to join me?

PS: Seeds can you make a booking for 2 [plus potentially 10 more]......

Link of the week

2010-03-03T09:13:00.008+04:30

Its the weirdest link I have been sent in a long time.
I get that it is Russian, but he actually doesnt say anything.....
So universal!
And even weirder is that it was made the same year I was born:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oavMtUWDBTM

Government bans coverage of Taliban attacks

2010-03-02T18:12:00.003+04:30

Reuters

Afghanistan on Monday announced a ban on news coverage showing Taliban attacks, saying such images embolden the Islamist militants, who have launched strikes around the country as NATO forces seize their southern strongholds.

Journalists will be allowed to film only the aftermath of attacks, when given permission by the National Directorate of Security (NDS) spy agency, the agency said. Journalists who film while attacks are under way will be held and their gear seized.

"Live coverage does not benefit the government, but benefits the enemies of Afghanistan," NDS spokesman Saeed Ansari said. The agency summoned a group of reporters to announce the ban.

The move was denounced by Afghan journalism and rights groups, which said it would deprive the public of vital information about the security situation during attacks.

"The government should not hide their inabilities by barring media from covering incidents," said Laila Noori, who monitors media issues for Afghanistan Rights Monitor, the country's main liberties watchdog. "People want to know all the facts on the ground whenever security incidents take place."

26.02.10 Kabul Attack

2010-02-27T06:31:00.002+04:30

Day of events in Kabul up close and personal.

Word of advice..........

2010-01-22T16:54:00.002+04:30

First day back in Oz

2010-01-18T18:09:00.002+04:30

Im back in Oz and I spent the first day with my family spinning records and doing BBQ.

Iran: the policed state

2010-01-16T06:46:00.002+04:30

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8462857.stm

We found him !

2010-01-16T06:03:00.004+04:30

Bin Laden has re-surfaced:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8462750.stm

Bin Laden is just a Google search away
By Kevin Huffman

I'm not sure why critics say that the government isn't serious about the war on terror. We are spending $128 billion this year in Iraq and Afghanistan in a proactive effort to fight them over there so we don't have to fight them over here.

It goes without saying that the most important thing is to get Osama bin Laden, hence our stepped up presence in Afghanistan. And just to prove how serious we are about getting him, last week the State Department released an updated image of what bin Laden might look like today. The picture shows an older, grayer version of the al-Qaeda leader, with a shorter beard.

The FBI noted that it had used “cutting edge” technology to develop the image. Unfortunately, it turns out that “cutting edge” means a web browser, Google Images and panorama stitching software. On Saturday, the agency made the embarrassing admission that its forensic artist found an image of a Spanish politician and merged it with a decade-old bin Laden picture and presto – now we know what we're looking for! Obviously, you have to account for potential changes in beard and hair, so if you see someone who looks vaguely Spanish or Arab or both, with short or long hair, a short or long beard, maybe fifty-ish, give a holler.

This leads to a number of questions. First of all, where does one apply to be a forensic artist for the FBI? I'm less interested for myself than for my 11-year-old daughter, who is really good at Google Images searches and Photoshop.

Second, if we are going to dummy up a random guy and call him bin Laden, can we try to find someone other than an elected official who has been outspoken about U.S. policies? Honestly, this is very North Korea of us; around the world, people are shaking their heads and wondering how stupid we think they are.

But most important, if we are going to send 100,000 young people into Afghanistan to fight on our behalf, can our intelligence apparatus throw just the tiniest bit of additional resources into a serious bin Laden effort?

A sad day in Melbourne music scene

2010-01-14T15:32:00.002+04:30

http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/music/articles/2010/01/14/1263058324598.html