Cairo Life :: Mobile Phones

Sometimes teaching colleges students is like teaching kindergarteners. You have to tell them to quiet down. You have to tell them to pay attention. And sometimes you have to confiscate their mobile phones like the ones in this picture. Taken on Sunday, December 11, 2011.

~kim
The power of positive thinking.

Cairo Life :: Foggy Morning

A foggy Monday morning as I wait for my EgyptAir flight to board at the Cairo Intl. Airport.

Music Monday 116 :: Childish Gambino

Music Monday 116 :: Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino (ne Donald Glover). Image borrowed from Dedica.la

If you watch the show "Community" on NBC, then you know Donald Glover and if you know Donald Glover from "Community," then you know that he's got some talent. And if you dig a little bit deeper, you'll find out that Donald Glover's quite young AND talented.

Then it should be no surprise that Glover's the front for Childish Gambino. It's true that lots of folks listen and love rap and hip hop. And many people pine to be a 'microphone-welding showstopper.' That career has worked out well for some folks (see Jay-Z). Might work out well for Glover too.

I've only hear pieces of Childish Gambino, but I like the quirkiness to it and most importantly I like the lyrics. He doesn't really flow about how much money he has and how many cars he's tricked out or any of the jet setting lifestyle that too many mainstream artists rap/sing about. Gambino hasn't had that kind of life - yet. And so we get a different and refreshing narrative.

• Listen to Childish Gambino on SoundCloud
• IamDonald blog
• Donald Glover on Twitter
• NPR's First Listen: Childish Gambino's "Camp" (audio no longer available)
• NPR Interview on Morning Edition w/Donald Glover

 

Music Monday 115 :: Pretty Good Dance Moves f/Heather Christian "600 Days"

Music Monday 115 :: Pretty Good Dance Moves f/Heather Christian "600 Days"

(image borrowed from Stereogum)

The music to this "600 Days" by Pretty Good Dance Moves starts a bit slow and glum and ephemeral. But then Heather Christian's voice smoothly fades in. It's a rich and sultry sound; almost akin to Adele. "600 Days" is a great lounge song and I like it just the way it is especially since the tempo picks up.