D-Day - Historical event and new DIALECT album

On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of D-Day, the landing of the Western Allies in the Normandy on June 6, 1944, I want to recommend the new album by Dialect, a proper Hip Hop crew from the British North East (South Shields, Newcastle). Some may remember my first post on them earlier this year. The new CD is called D.Day - appropriate (not only) for today. Check out the review on certifiedbanger.blogspot.com and if you like the songs and videos available online get the album through their site to support the crew with their honest, personal, real Hip Hop. There are several Dialect myspace pages for the crew and its members like chattabox. Just check the friends section. Personnally, the tracks Conflict and Quicksand blew me mind. They are so intense - you do not need no drugs to feel high! I am from Germany, quite far from South Shields but a friend of mine is a real Geordie. He introduced me to the music and from his biography and the lyrics I think I can feel quite well how life was and must be like on Tyneside. Hopefully I can check it out meself one day and learn a bit of their dialect Geordie. If you want to check it out for yaself go to www.geordie.org.uk for an English to Geordie translator. Whey Aye, Man!

Obama's speech in Cairo: a new beginning?

For those who have not watched Obama's speech in Cairo yet it is embedded below. Out of the many comments I just want to share the one of Israeli President Shimon Peres who wrote in a guest column in The Times Obama's fervent commitment to changing American foreign policy in the Middle East was a rare opportunity: "The regional leaders have to treat these options seriously - not as another photo-opportunity but in a substantive discussion aimed at opening the door towards comprehensive peace and regional economic development" (quoted in an Ha'aretz article). I chose this opinion because I just gave a presentation on the Economics of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. If you have an hour to spare and want to form your own opinion, enjoy Obama reaching out - at least rhetorically - to the Muslim world. The actions of his administration will show if his speech will be part of a new beginning.

Obama: Guantánamo und Mittlerer Osten

Während Obama anscheinend ernsthaft versucht, den Friedensprozess auch gegen Widerstand der israelischen Regierung in Gang zu bringen, und seine Reise im Mittleren Osten mittlerweile angetreten hat, hat sich wie es scheint der bereits sechste Mensch im US-Militärgefängnis in Guantánamo umgebracht. Bin mal gespannt, ob das Lager tatsächlich geschlossen wird und ob der Friedensprozess vielleicht doch wieder in Gang kommt. Zumindest habe ich vor, morgen bei meinem VWL-Referat zu Economics of Peace in the Middle East vorsichtigen Optimismus zu verbreiten.

"Die Generation C64 schlägt zurück"

Ich empfehle einen interessanten SPON-Artikel zum Widerstand der "Generation C64", also der digital fitten Generation, gegen Netzzensur und für Grundrechte und Freiheiten.

"Aufstand aus Digitalien" - Fotomontage von Wortfeld

Via twitter.com/netzpolitik

Democracy Now on the murder of George Tiller

You can find written, audio, and video information on the 8th murder of an abortion provider in the USA on Democracy Now!. Dr George Tiller was killed yesterday because he provided reproductive health care to women. I include today's show in this post.