The Lonely Mountain Gorilla

“The silverback watches us go with a sidelong look that seems equal parts bored, grumpy, and sad. What is he thinking?…I’m guessing he’s aware something isn’t right and hasn’t been for a long time. The world has changed drastically...

“Africa” as cliche

“Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness helped cement many of the cliches that persist, starting with it’s title.Africa has always been a concept as much as a place: an exotic backdrop for outsiders to have ennobling experiences, a land of theatric...

Three Rooms

This is my room in ParisThis is Vincent Van Gogh’s room in ArlesThis is Captain Willard’s room in Saigon

Nice house. King’s Lawyer (Avocat)

Walking the back streets of Paris behind the back streets, that were those streets that had been back streets behind other back streets, I saw this: For no particular reason this house caught my attention. I don't know about you, but when my attention is caught it...

Dog and Sausages

“Asking the justice system to reform itself was like tying up a dog with a string of sausages.”From the former vice-president of Guatemala: explaining why in 2006 they called in the UN to bring foreign prosecutors to fight the infiltration by organized...