Savage Thoughts

Of African Princes and Russian Poets – NYTimes.com. Alongside the luminaries of the town and province were high representatives of Russia and Estonia, as well as the ambassador of Cameroon and the sultan of Logone-Birni (now in Cameroon), resplendent in the colorful garments of their African homeland.  The requisite speeches were delivered, and all shivered at attention as the local marching band wrestled gamely with the European Anthem (more familiar as Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”). Then the sultan, Mahamat Bahat Marouf, was ushered forward to pull the veil off a modest plaque affixed to the wall. The legend, in French…

The Clanzoors? Never! | Life and style | The Guardian. In the event I have only been partly ostracised by my family, but it is not only the issues with my family that persuaded Bridget to take my name. “I think it will be a great conversation opener,” she told me. “I’m going to enjoy having to explain why my second name is so exotic.” I suspect that trying to explain to the grumpy man at US immigration why her surname sounds a bit Pakistani may not be quite as enjoyable as she imagines. Nevertheless, I have to admit that…