Stories from Quick Reads from June, 2006
Myanmar: Google Blocked?
Search Engine Journal links to a Times of India report that mentions Myanmar's blocking of Google's search engine and email service. Referring to China, where Google started a censored local Google.cn service, the editor of Search Engine Journal says “I highly doubt, in this situation, that the blocking of Google...
Philippines: Tourism in Philippines
The blogger at pinoysphere invites reader to check out a Philippines tourism video. The bloggers wonders why Philippines does not feature in people's travel plans. “Asian tourist destinations usually featured in Swiss travel brochures and catalogues include Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, India, and even Laos and Cambodia. The Philippines, inhabited...
Thailand: Persistence Pays
Boon, a recent graduate in Thailand is happy that he stuck by his decision to study a tougher engineering subject even though initially he wanted to switch over to easier alternatives.
Vietnam: Hanoi Food
Noodlepie asks if there is a single Saigonese who loves Hanoi food and manages to stir up an interesting debate.
Indonesia: Jakarta's Next Governor?
Martin Manurang is hoping that an exceptional candidate wins the election for Jakarta's next governor and helps bring in positive change.
China: Senior high reflections
Recent high school graduate le journal de Ahom blogger Ahom Guo finishes up his four-part look back at his high school years with the discovery that his high school is renowned for its progressive approach to education: “Teachers in Xiao-Shi rarely interfere students’ private affairs, meanwhile in other schools, ‘shit...
China: Those left behind
Seen on Andrés Gentry's eponymous blog is a short but wrenching video looking at those left behind in China's mad rush towards development, including video shot by the villagers themselves of those being forcefully evicted and defending themselves from armed attacks by the police.
Hong Kong: Chinese commander charged
Following on the heels of a similar case in Beijing recently, as seen in Nathan Madsen's Xanga blog and Confidential Reporter's Confidential China, a high-ranking naval commander in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou has been removed from his post after charges of corruption and keeping mistresses were brought against...
Hong Kong: Shopping technocrats
Given that many goods can be found at lower prices in Hong Kong than in mainland China, is it a surprise that the Flagrant Harbour blogger would bump into the Communist Party of China fourth in command Jia Qinglin's entourage in a shopping mall during the leader's visit there this...
North Korea: Art and nature
“Unlike a lot of North Korean ‘Juche Art’ which tends to give kitsch a bad name, writes the Kotaji blogger of the same name in ‘Art and nature in North Korea.’ “I actually think some of the book covers from the 50s and 60s are rather nice and accomplished pieces...
China: Uyghurs extradited
“The two uighurs (Yusuf Kadir Tohti and Abdukadir Sidik) detained in Kazakhstan and at risk of extradition to China (against international conventions) have, tragically, been extradited to China. They are at risk,” writes Celia at China Activist Weekly, “of torture or even execution.”
Latin America: Comparison of Presidential Salaries
Peruvian blogger Eland Vera has an interesting list of the salaries of various Latin American presidents.
Uruguay: Comments on Blogs
Ganimatux, the weblog of a Uruguayan Debian programmer explains why he's been posting less on his own blog recently (ES): “It's true that we don't all have time to read everyone's blog and then also think of a comment, because sometimes there's nothing to say. But, how about a simple...
Venezuela: Translations
Francisco of Caracas Chronicles has translated excerpts of a piece by Juan Carlos Zapata, which argues that a new power dynamic is evolving in Venezuela. Another translation comes from Guillermo Parra, who offers the english version of Antonio López Ortega's reflection on Arturo Uslar Pietri and the concept of “mestizaje”...
A conversation about US foreign policy
Trinidad-based Jeremy Taylor and his American friend “Roger” continue their cordial but rigorous e-mail exchanges about the state of US foreign policy.
Iran: Pet Shop Boys & Executed Gays
KlaghSia writes that British band Pet Shop Boys has dedicated his new album to two executed Iranian homosexual teenagers (Persian). According to the blogger Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Mahroni were executed one year ago in Mashad.
Iran: Rationing Gasoline
Yek Livan Chaye Dagh criticised government's decision to halt gasoline imports from September 23 and start rationing gasoline supplies to motorists because of budget constraints. The blogger says government wants to reduce about 42 percent gasoline offer in Iranian market. According to the blogger this means more people will need...
Ghana: Defeated but will Return
The Trials & Tribulations of a Freshly-Arrived Denizen of Ghana… gives a “post mortem” on Ghana's Defeat – they lost!
Uganda: Josephy Kony is officially nuts
Jay's Idle Notes comments on Joseph Kony “Its official he's nuts” – nuts as in murderous, raping , psychopath –
Sudan: Condoms hit
Sudanese Thinker - the condom debate finallys hits Sudan……”I think the UN should air drop hundreds of thousands of condoms on Sudan.”
Somalia: Rap about war
Harowo.com on Somali rapper: “K'Naan: Rapping about war” ” K'Naan's own story is more remarkable than most, involving a harrowing odyssey that would see him exiled from his war-torn country before living in New York's Harlem district and eventually settling Toronto. Having grown up in an artistic family within the...
