After departing Bamiyan, we headed up north to Pul-i-Kumri… Arriving in Pul-i-Kumri , where else could we spend the night but where “respectable guests” stay? Unfortunately, the guests were far more respectable than the hotel: The street in front of the hotel, as usual, was filled with men trying to sell all manner of goods … Continue reading
**** I visited Ireland with my mother almost twenty years ago. It was a good trip, but it didn’t include Northern Ireland. At the time, Northern Ireland was spoken of in a lowered voice and usually described as follows – “nothin’ up there ‘cept bombs and factories.” Naturally, this made me want to visit. This … Continue reading
MIA, presumed KIA… Continue reading
When Bad Jet Was Young He Was A Good Jet. He Loved His Country, His Family, His God. When War Came, Bad Jet Went To Defend His Country. He Didn’t Want To Kill But When His Friends Were Killed He Killed In Return. At First It Was Hard To Kill But Then It Got Easier. … Continue reading
Tate Modern: taken by Justin Ames in December 2008 Random Pelicans A Fresh Start Continue reading
With the heavy emphasis on war and politics in the recent posts, I thought a little Banksy with “his” (I use “his” loosely since Banksy’s identity remains unknown) illegal, subversive and, most importantly, anti-establishment art would serve delightfully well as a transition back to lighter fare on The Velvet Rocket. Banksy was first brought to … Continue reading
It was interesting to see Hitler’s World War II bunker, where he spent his final days, when I knew that I would be seeing the bunker where he spent his front-line service in World War I only four days in the future. Below is a picture of the parking lot under which Hitler’s bunker lies. … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 