[Photo: First Christ Church, Eliel Saarinen, 1942] Indiana Detour: Took a day away from the China in Africa symposium to check out the southern Indiana town of Columbus, which is a little-known hub of 20th century architectural showpieces, boasting buildings by Eliel Saarinen, Harry Weese, Gunnar Birkerts, Eero Saarinen, and several Pritzker Prize-winners including I.M Pei, [...]

[Photo: Mohamad writing "quit busting my balls" on his hand so he can remember it for his next client, by Andrew Gregg] Mohamad Pony’s name is not really Mohamad Pony—he is the best fixer in Egypt and quite possibly the best fixer in the world. The Pony comes from his first car, which was a Hyundai. [...]

My article on chieftaincy-related conflicts in Ghana appears today at the Globe and Mail online, coinciding with national elections there scheduled for tomorrow. The piece was assigned and written months ago, while I was in West Africa and the town of Bawku was still under a 6pm-6am curfew in the wake of some brutal attacks. [...]

More scribblings from recent trip to New York City, in part for book-related research. & in part to confirm that what happened on November 4 actually did happen. (Pics from Lisa K.) November 10, 2008 Paying sporadic attention to the news one item stands out: Gun and ammo sales are booming surging (insert your own punning headline [...]

The South Pacific nation of Vanuatu (220,000 people dispersed over a vast archipelago) has long been an incubator for some of the more curious manifestations of human culture. Most famously, in the aftermath of World War II Vanuatu became a hotbed of cargo cults, one of which still worships noted xenophobe Price Philip. Less known [...]

Successfully completed one leg of the journey to Blanc Sablon, where temperatures were suspiciously mild–around -1 to -5 C in the daytime. Enjoyed mostly clear blue skies all the way, and no breakdowns or accidents as I learn to make nice with my “snow machine” over 440km of varying trail conditions. As the big storm [...]