My Favorite Plastic Junk Shop

It's kinda awful how much plastic junk there is in this shop.

How Does the Third Bridge Grow?

I think I can see the beginning of suspension lines...

Youth Day (April 23)

Here is the little square down by the Sarıyer coast. It's all gussied up in honor of Youth Day. The various political parties are making a patriotic display here. Nothing honors the youth more than a political medallion!

Birthday Gift from KU!

When I came back from class a couple of weeks ago, there was a large delivery on my desk at work. Since I hadn't ordered anything, it was quite mysterious. It turned out to be my birthday gift from the university--a selection a tasty nuts and dried fruits. I certainly appreciate the gesture even though I hate to think how much each of these gift boxes cost (when the classrooms are pockmarked with broken chairs)! The other "gift" is that I can take off any day during the month of my birthday. I chose this coming Thursday so that I can enjoy a loooooong weekend combined with the May 1st holiday. Huzzah!!

Take some time to listen...

Here is link to an interview with a former University of Arizona professor, Aslı Iğsız, titled
Cultural Policy and Branding in Turkey, which was produced by Ottoman History Podcast. Alex worked with Dr. Iğsız at the UA, and I took one semester of 3rd year Turkish with her (a class in which I clawed my way to a B-, by the way).

I highly recommend taking the time to listen to this discussion of how nations market themselves to the rest of the world in the 21st century. It is interesting about Turkey specifically, but it definitely applies broadly to how "we" are pushed to view "them."