my favorite performance...

...by any actor in any film I have ever seen is that of MIEKO HARADA as Lady Kaede in Akira Kurosawa's legendary "Ran" (1985).

"Aah, Lady Kaede, how could I forget you? Your absolute stillness and grace, your glacial beauty, your pathological hatred of the Ichimonji clan. She really is a great character, the sibilant whip-wheep sound of her silk robes is nearly as terrifying as Asami's 'ichi ichi ichi' in Audition."

(an excerpt from a blog post about the character of Lady Kaede)

For an excellent review of "Ran" by Vincent Canby for the NYTimes click here.

I am very excited...

...about the mating of Takute Al-Ifriqiya (Kusaylah Al-Ifriqiya X Iman Al-Ifriqiya) to Django (top two photos), a male Azawakh imported from the Sahel in February 2007 by Alberto Rossi, Tigidit Azawakh, Italy. Takute is owned by Gabriele Meissen, Tombouktou's Azawakh, Germany. This will be Takute's third, Insh'Allah, and final litter.

I feel Gabriele's decision to breed Django to Takute took courage, foresight and a deeply felt concern for and commitment to the future of the Azawakh in the west. Takute herself has no "titles", and Django is a desert bred Azawakh.

For me, Django is a very good example of a typical African born Azawakh. I believe the infusion of his genes into the western gene pool represents yet another positive step towards the preservation of the archetypal Azawakh, a type rapidly being lost in the west. I applaud Gabriele for her work and I pray Takute whelps a litter of strong, beautiful puppies, Insh'Allah.

Django lived at my home in Georgia for several months during the period after being brought out of Africa and before being shipped to his home with Alberto in Italy. I loved Django and hated to see him go. For me it is an answer to a prayer that Takute is now pregnant after being bred to Django. Al hamdullilah.



For complete information on this mating please click here.

Azulai...

...is out of Takute Al-Ifriqiya and was sired by Al-Hara's Vakuru, bred by Ingrid Aigeldinger, Switzerland. This beautiful photo was sent to me by his breeder Gabriele Meissen. Most people know me well enough by now to know that I don't get into posting show results...but well, I am proud for Gabi and for Azulai's owner in Poland, Renata Chwalczynska, that Azulai was voted 'Best Head' at the Annual Specialty in Poland. Which brings us to most people know me well enough to know that I am a freak about heads. I am very proud of all of them. Al hamdullilah.

Tombouktou's...

...Azawakh relaxing in the sun. Thanks to Gabriele Meissen for the nice photo.

Washeelat...

...bred by Gabriele Meissen, Tombouktou's Azawakh, Germany. Washeelat is out of Tombouktou's Qarqabu (Kusaylah Al-Ifriqiya X Tombouktou's Nahalet) and sired by Amadhal Idiiyat-es-Sahel (Alem'nemehal Al-Ifriqiya X Taytok, db, co-bred by Gabriele and me, owned by Barbara Schlatterer, Germany). Al hamdullilah.

Kusaylah grand-get....

...in Germany, bred by Christiane Thier-Rostaing, Agg Amaias Azawakh. Click here for more information on the beautiful litter. Al hamdullilah.

another good one...

Just because its inexplicted doesn't mean its inexplicable.

excerpt from the TV series House

Clearly...

Only an idiot would get between Ahab and his whale.

excerpts from an episode of House

(after refusing for years to watch the show I finally succumbed...and I love it.)