Stories about Ideas from July, 2006
Russia: Moscow Stiletto Run
Snowsquare.com writes about a “stiletto run” that took place in Moscow this past Saturday. To participate, one's heels had to be 9 cm or over. Two more similar races are being planned by Glamour magazine, a sponsor: in St Petersburg on July 22 and in Novosibirsk on July 23 .
Iran: Jahanbegloo & Prison
Omid Memarian, journalist & blogger, writes about Ramin Jahanbegloo, jailed intellectual, and his own experience in prison. The blogger writes the Islamic regime is so suspicious about the role of civil society actors such as journalists, intellectuals and academics. According to the blogger, Jahanbegloo was among the optimist scholars who...
Serbia: Belgrade's Parking System
Brooke of Desperate Serbwife writes about Belgrade's unique parking system, a “hidden gem” that other countries seem not to appreciate enough to borrow: “When you park your car downtown, you pay for your parking by texting your license plate number to the parking officials and pay via your cell phone...
Jamaica: A reggae novel
“I would write a reggae novel, and I would call it, Benjamin, My Son,” writes Geoffrey Philp in his two-part account of the genesis of his first novel.
Afghanistan: Open Letter to Expatriates
Sanjar has an open letter to expatriates living in Afghanistan, coining the phrase “expatlordism” to describe what he calls a new type of oligarchy that marks the post-Taliban period in the country.
Africa: Lessons Learned from Mittal Steel
Lessons drawn by Le Pangolin from the recent acquisition by Indian-owned steel company Mittal Steel of European-owned Arcelor (Fr): ” Economic actors of developing countries can really change the world if they are so inclined. (…) The West is not invincible.”
Indonesia: Defence Minister's Blog
Unspun is glad that the Indonesia's defence minister's blog is attracting global attention. The blogger links to couple of international blogs that are talking about the minister's blog. “At any rate I am glad that Juwono, if nothing else, is helping through his blog to help dispel an image that...
Iran: Radios
Omid Habibinia, media researcher & blogger, shares with us his survey about radios in his blog. 300 Iranians (47% from Iran) participated in this survey and answered questions. One of the questions was: If you find yourself all alone on an island and you are given only one radio to...
Iran: Abtahi's father in jail
Mohammad Ali Abtahi, former Vice President & blogger, confirmed in his blog that his father, Ayatollah Abtahi, and his brother are in jail. The blogger says many asked me to know if this Mr. Abtahi who is in jail because of his ideas concerning Hidden Imam is my father or...
Iranian Treasure and Ganji's Ideas
The Chicago Tribune recently reported that a US federal judge had rejected a key defense by the University of Chicago in a lawsuit brought by US survivors of a 1997 bombing in Jerusalem seeking the auctioning off of Iranian treasures (ancient tablets) in the University's collection to pay compensation on...
Myanmar: Better Than Sanctions
Chlim01 points to a friend's blog that argues for more economic involvement in Myanmar instead of sanctions.
