Here's the thing...

Livingstone to be Chavez advisor Despite Boris' completely nerdy appearance at the Olympics closing ceremony it appears that I'll now be leaving Ken for good.

BBC reporting on our Tieraliet site here .

Well today was a momentous day. I got my 'New Sudan' driver's license which means that after 2 1/2 months here I am legally allowed to hit the road. What I found rather amusing is that it enables me to drive motorcycles, motor cars, medium good vehicles, heavy tractors, heavy goods vehicles, and light omnibuses that do not exceed 20 passengers. So, when I tire of this humanitarian gig you might find me out pursuing my 3rd grade dream of being a bus driver.

I am listening to a song right now by Cobalt Season that's called, 'Careful not to draw your maps in pen and ink'. The lyrics go: You are gonna change your mind someday So just let go of all your thoughts on tomorrow You may find your bearings in disarray Though you may lead and trip and fall and follow And all that you thought black will be proved red Full of life and complication and sorrow And all that you thought white was in your head For life is lived in the shadows that we borrow And I’ll look far, but may see nothing And I will thirst, but may not drink And I will yell to those behind me “Careful not to draw your maps in pen and ink” The same road disappears up ahead Will you ever understand this equation? The compass in your hand is all but dead Time to feel your way around this evasion Read the words again, for you might see Life where you saw death, a way to your salvation Best to lay down what you thought was certainty Freedom’s found i...

Apparently, I have a stomach bug. This is not surprising. My stomach and intestinal track have played host to countless number of little bugs, worms and parasites over the past ten years or so. I like to think that we have a cozy sort of arrangement. They're welcome to pass through as long as they don't stick around, or cause me any major discomfort for over - say, a two day period. I mean, it's a rough world. They've got to live somewhere. So, I've come to think of my digestive system as a B & B, of sorts. It's a nice place to stop by but you shouldn't try to stay. When the bugs do try to stay we have a problem and so begins the boxing match. I like a fair fight so I don't use anything that would give me the upper hand. I drink a lot of water. I will my system to kick them out. Usually this works. Sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes the little buggers (pictured above) refuse to pack up and leave. Despite the blows it becomes necessary to bring ...

Today I was at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi for the 10 year anniversary of the bombing in which 46 staff were killed. The event started with the marines playing Taps which got me thinking about how music so easily strikes an emotion. I mean, is Taps an inherently sad song or have I just seen and heard it at enough sad events that it's inextricably linked to sadness. Same with Amazing Grace played on bagpipes. Does certain music actually evoke a similar emotion in everyone or could some hear Taps and think it's a pretty good party tune?

It is a sad day. If you have not yet read the Gulag Archipelago or A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch you should stop what you are doing right now and go buy them. "For a country to have a great writer is like having a second government. That is why no regime has ever loved great writers, only minor ones." One obituary is here .