· May, 2007

Stories about Ideas from May, 2007

Israel: Underground Sderot

Batya, from Israel, jokingly suggests building an underground Sderot. “‘Sderot Underground’ should be so strong, secure and reliable, that the new “Sderot” will be the most desirable place to live in all of Eretz Yisrael, especially when Iran (G-d forbid) gets the bomb. “I have no doubt that Olmert and...

Interview with Caroline Nellemann, Danish Researcher of Iranian Blogs

Danish researcher Caroline Nellemann has done her Master's thesis on Iranian blogs and was involved for three months with the Berkman Center for Internet and Society in Harvard. In order to meet Iranian bloggers and to be more in touch with Iran she took a trip to Iran recently. Caroline shares some of her ideas, photos and research experience with us in this interview.

Saudi: Saudi Jeans Birthday

Saudi blogger Saudi Jeans (Ahmed Al Omran) is marking his 23rd birthday without much fanfare. “As for my birthday, there will be no party: Just me and my beer coke, working on some unfinished projects and getting ready for the tough finals,” he explains.

Kuwait: Paris Hilton Lingerie

“I came across this bizarre news while surfing the net, Inspired by the great Paris debate, Mio Destino, a designer lingerie company, has specially designed “Free Paris” and “Jail Paris” silk panties. The company will contribute 50% of the profits from the ‘Paris Hilton Panties’ sales to an Ovarian Cancer...

Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica: Rex Nettleford & Today's Thinkers

  31 May 2007

“It was undoubtedly a pleasure to hear from one of the few great Caribbean minds–with the recent passing of Lloyd Best, their numbers are even fewer now, and needed no less than ever. Yet it occurred to me…that these minds are almost to a person of an older generation.” Attending...

Cuba: Today Show

  31 May 2007

“I'm sorry, but an American news outlet visiting Cuba isn't news. That they're not going to be able to score an interview with Fidel Castro is news.” Lawhawk shares his thoughts on the upcoming Today Show visit to Cuba – as do Uncommon Sense, El Cafe Cubano and Babalu Blog.

Barbados: Um-ba-rel-la?

  31 May 2007

“Where did she get that pronunciation from? I could forgive her if she was speaking bajan and pronounced it ‘am-brella'…but Um-ba-rel-la? Anybody ever look at you and say ‘buddy that rain just hit outta nowhere I could share that um-ba-rel-la with you?'” Jdid has a few issues with fellow Barbadian...

Bahamas: A Story on Race

  31 May 2007

“If you wanted to get ahead, your best bet was finding a way to make your children lighter than you, so maybe one day, their children or grandchildren could be fair enough to matter.” Guest authoring at Bahama Pundit, Nicolette Bethel continues the discussion on why race matters.

One Caribbean; Many Identities…

  30 May 2007

Calypsonian Lord Nelson once sang, “all ah we is one family”. Optimists in the Caribbean may well agree with these words, but the reality is that if you were to describe Caribbean states as a family, you would have to call it a complex unit - and one in which there is much sibling rivalry. Trinidadian blogger Karel Mc Intosh discusses the intricate subject of Caribbean unity with Jamaicans Geoffrey Philp and Francis Wade and Guyanese blogger Media Critic.

Guyana: Monetary Compensation & Sexual Assault

  30 May 2007

Following a case in which when a 39 year-old man was accused of sexual assault against a 17 year-old girl, The Guyana Groove writes: “When a woman is forced to accept monetary compensation from the very person who already violated her, it is as if she is forced to put...

Cuba: US Visit to Spain

  30 May 2007

Child of the Revolution is waiting for the “diplomatic fireworks” that he predicts will ensue over Cuba during the US Secretary of State's visit to Spain this week.

Kuwait: Pedicure Bliss

Ansam from Kuwait announces the launch of a new service – a pedicure service done right in the convenience of your home. “This is amazing… specially for Kuwaiti people! We like to have everything at our doorsteps!” she notes.

Algeria: More on the Pew Survey

Algerian blogger Nouri continues to discuss the Pew Survey on American Muslims. “Rather than posting a lengthy analysis of the entire survey, I will mention some of the interesting questions and answers, and my response and my view of some of the results,” he explains.

Israel: Remaining Israeli

Israeli blogger Yehuda describes how his two children are involved in relief work and how he will never leave Israel despite holding a US nationality. “But it's a little something about what it means to be Israeli. No, I won't be going back to America if a missile falls through...

Palestine: South African Views on Israel

Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah links to an article about “Ronnie Kasrils – South Africa Minister of Intelligence – testimony and experience upon his visit to Israel and Occupied Palestine; published by an internationally recognized Jewish South African in a major South African paper (Mail&Guardian).”