Busta Rhymes' Orientalism [updated]

My sister pointed me towards Busta Rhymes' newest (and most hilarious?) song, "Arab Money," off the soon to be released CD, BOMB (Back on My Bulls**t):



Busta makes some interesting points not only about our dependence on foreign oil, but on the role of petrol-dollars in the current financial crisis. But more importantly, could this song be the first fruits of a cross-pollination of American consumerism (which has reached its highest stage in the Baconator) and Gulf consumerism (which may have reached its highest stage in the diamond-studded LCD TV)?

Busta Rhymes: my new favorite orientalist!

----------

I recommend you check out the lyrics.

Oh, and There's this War Too

This video is a truly fascinating look into the functioning of the Taliban in Afghanistan.





(From Prisoner of Starvation by way of 3arabawy)

War, What War?

So in case you missed it because you were freaking out about that massive financial crisis that the rest of the blogosphere seems to be really interested in, Iraq finally reached a deal on a provincial elections law! (This in the same week that they reached a deal with Shell Oil and tied for second on the Transparency International list of most corrupt countries.)

Iraqologist over at Abu Muquwama (perhalps the best blog period?) has a great post on how the elections will actually work and some fo the problems that may arise. (And as an explanation for the abreviations: PTB=Powers that Be and PTA=Powers that Arent. These come from another great post here.)

Back to Work, Back to Blogging

FINALLY! A new post. And while i still have some things to write about from my most recent trip to the ME (like the hooded tank-tops which are all the rage with young men in the West Bank nowadays), this blog is a bout take a radical turn.

Over the next several months, as I immerse myself in my thesis work and in trying to find a way to go back to the ME after graduation, I plan on blogging mostly about this process. One of the main things I'd like to do, is to compile useful resources for other students trying to do work in Islamic or Middle East studies or seeking to move to the ME.

I already have some stuff I've been thinking about to post on. But for now I actually am going to do some work.