I haven't posted anything on this blog for over three weeks now. Bad boy, bad harryzzz...
So it is high time to show you this: Fake Playboy undies from China for sale here in Lebanon.
In the Middle East sex is of course kind of a taboo. For some reason though, the Playboy symbol is extremely popular here (especially among girls). Harryzzz calls this a positive development.
In the meantime, smart Chinese businessmen have started exporting girls undies to the Middle East. But - as so often with Chinese products - something went wrong. In this case they misprinted some words. Playboy becomes Palyboy. Calvin Klein - Celvin Klain.
At the other hand - each undie will cost you only $ 1.
As written in an earlier post, I've been to Holland last week to promote the movie The Hunting Party. Well, the movie premieres today in Holland (so move your ass to the cinema in case you're in the Netherlands, it stars Richard Gere!!!).
In Amsterdam, many people asked me: "How close is the movie to reality?"
Well, go to the cinema and compare it with the story of Scott Anderson (see link at bottom of article)
But, I guess, what many people actually meant was this: Hollywood movies about war reporters are all about danger and excitement...is that true?
I only can speak for myself of course, but here is some stuff I shot on my highly professional, 300 US dollar, video camera while in Iraq. I've never published this material before. So although it is 'old' (2004 and 2005), it is new and gives a rather good idea of what sometimes happens when you are in a war (and happen to have your camera rolling...).
The footage is pretty dramatic and sad. Before watching, please read the text below the clip so you understand the context. The five or so minutes you'll see are exactly the way I filmed it. I did not edit any of this stuff.
(for some kind of reason, the clips load badly. Currently the second clip works. No idea why this trouble).
Short explanation of the first video: I'm in Baghdad, 11-11-2005, with US troops. It's night. soldiers have raided some kind of compound to look for possible car bombs. Main road in front of compound is sealed off. Clip starts when a car drives through the checkpoint. You'll hear four gunshots (off camera, US soldiers giving the driver warning shots), driver doesn't stop and drives towards the compound, where I'm standing. Now you'll see two car lights appearing in the dark. US tank fires at car. What follows is some panic inside the compound. After about one minute, I run to the main street and approach the car with one survivor (driver, with hands up) and one person(on passenger seat) who dies on the spot. Btw; As it turned out, there was absolutely no bomb in the car. It is also absolutely unclear why the Iraqi driver ran the checkpoint and ignored the warning shots.
Short explanation of the second video, above: Baghdad, election day (2004). Clip starts when wounded Iraqi man approaches US troops for help while I run to his wounded brother and sister in the car. While assisting the wounded man, the US soldiers get mortared by Al Qaeda militants. Soldiers run to vehicles for cover.
Scott Anderson's story about the real Hunting Party: here
Normally you should listen to me, but this time listen to my sister's latest song! Double click to hear this fantastic music...
More info: http://www.myspace.com/pacwomanwizza
Dear reader,
Just to avoid any confusion: Harryzzz is a blog, not a newspaper.
While some articles are serious, some are not. Some are meant to be funny, others aren't. Sometimes its opinions aren't properly thought through, other times they are rather balanced.
Consider it a journalist's playground, away from the, sometimes dry, daily news stories and features published in my newspaper.
One day I will ridicule Iran, the next day you find me insulting the US. Believe me; I don't have some kind of political agenda. I am an observer, nothing more, nothing less. Where ever I travel in the Middle East, I'm a guest of the people. The only thing I do, is write down their stories.
So - again - please realize: This is a blog, not a newspaper!
Cheers and take it easy, ya azizi!
Harryzzz
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About Me
Harald Doornbos
Beirut, Lebanon
(b. 1967) is a Dutch journalist, currently based in Beirut, Lebanon. He is the Arab World correspondent for the GPD newspaper group (www.gpd.nl) from Holland. On a less regular base he reports for Dutch National Public Radio (www.nos.nl). After having studied Journalism in the Netherlands during the '80s, he worked for a leftwing Dutch daily, De Waarheid. During the early '90s he started crisis reporting - N. Ireland, 1st Gulf War, Lebanon and the wars in Croatia and Bosnia. In june 1993 he became the Zagreb, Croatia, based former-Yugoslavia correspondent for a Dutch newspaper. In 1994 he moved to the Bosnian captial Sarajevo where he was based until 1997. After a six month stay in Sydney, Australia, he moved in 1998 to Kosovo's capital Pristina to cover the war for GPD-newspapers and NOS-radio/tv. In 2000 he was appointed the New Delhi based South Asia correspondent for GPD and NOS.
Immediately after September 11 he moved to the Pakistani capital Islamabad. In October 2004 he was appointed Arab World correspondent for GPD newspapers, based in Beirut, Lebanon.
What is life without music? Well, pretty much like in many parts of Taliban-run areas in Afghanistan where music is forbidden. No problem though. Because I've been many times to Afghanistan and, believe me, silence is the best Afghan song I know.
Below you will find the, rather diverse, music I like. Many songs or artists might be unknown to you - but just try it, you never know.
Judging by the playslists below, I am kind of a fan of music from ex-Yugoslavia, where I lived for around 8 years.
Although I am now based in Beirut and mainly travel the Arab world, you won't find a lot of Arabic music here. I'm just not a big lover of Arabic music. Ten minutes fine; two hours and I'll start sticking carrots in my ears. That said; I'm a Dutchman but hardly ever listen to Dutch music either.
And what the hell is that Spanish/Basque crap doing here? I actually don't know. I just like it.
Anyhow - If you want to listen to a song, double-click it and the music will automatically start.
Arabic:
(Dear people, I know it is not 'Le Beirut', but 'Li Beirut'. Just a mistake made by some unknown person who put this song on the net.)