Stories from Quick Reads from August, 2008
Rotaractors’ views on Indonesia
Rotaract Club Semanggi Jakarta has created a blog to gather the perception of other Rotaractors all over the world about Indonesia.
Egypt: Olympics Investigation
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has ordered an enquiry into why Egypt performed poorly in the Olympics, reports Tom Gara.
Egypt: Orange Ambulances
The Egyptian Health Ministry has introduced orange ambulances to replace their white ones. Zeinobia is not pleased.
Iraq: Fascination for Language
“I am no linguist, but as far as I can remember I have always held a strange fascination for Language,” notes Iraqi blogger Layla Anwar.
Libya: Rain and Sewers
“We had rain today. It rained for about five minutes. Just long enough to churn up the sewer system. Now all of Tripoli smells like sewer gas,” writes Khadija Teri, from Libya.
Guatemala: Pizza and Blogs 2008
Javier Aroche invites Guatemalan bloggers to gather at Pizza and Blogs 2008 [es] on August 30.
Dominican Republic: Visit by Junot Díaz to Santo Domingo
Junot Díaz is a Dominican-American writer, who recently won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Joan Guerrero writes about the recent visit to Santo Domingo by the author [es].
Hungary: A First-Grader's Shopping List
Hungarian Spectrum writes about how much it costs to equip a child for the first year at a Hungarian elementary school.
Russia: Putin on CNN
A discussion of PM Vladimir Putin's CNN interview – at Sean's Russia Blog.
Russia, Georgia: The Balkan Context
LimbicNutrition Weblog writes about the Russian-Georgian conflict in the context of the earlier events in the Balkans.
Slovakia: Top 10 Castles
The Foreigner's Guide to Living in Slovakia posts a list of “the top 10 castles and ruins in Slovakia” (with maps and pictures).
Poland: “Polish Enigma”
MHahn of the Women's International Perspective (WIP) writes on WIP Talk Blog about “the trials and tribulations of life in a transitioning country” – Poland: “It is full of inconsistencies, bureaucratic mazes, masked faces, false hopes, and intense pride, but also an enchanting aura wafting through the crevices, a sorrowful...
Iran: Muslim Bloggers and election
The Muslim Bloggers Association, a very dynamic group of Islamist bloggers in Iran announced[Fa] that five members of its central committee were elected. You can watch several photos of their meeting and election here.
Iran: Watch an old commercial
Thanks to You Tube we can watch an Iranian pre-revolution commercial.
Kenya: The making of an African activist
Afromusing posts the video of Kenyan blogger, Ory Okolloh, at TEDGlobal 2007 in Arusha, Tanzania. Ory Okolloh is the founder of Mzalendo and co-founder of Ushahidi.
South Africa: Zuma in Hollywood?
Zuma in Hollywood?:”There are more little Zumas popping around. The latest news out of Hollywood are that rock chick Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale named their second son Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale.” Jacob Zuma is the president of the ruling party in South Africa, the African National Congress.
Kenya/Tanzania: Technology in the Maasai world
Rebecca writes about the Maasai and technology, noting that the mobile phone has made a significant difference in their community “…probably more than it has in many other communities.”
South Africa: Don't insult our national anthem
Gwen criticizes the use of the South African national anthem in a radio ad. She writes, “Don't insult our national anthem.“
Bangladesh: Obama and America
Mash reacts to Obama's speech and his nomination as the Presidential candidate.
India: On Suggestiveness
Kafila on the random accusation of “suggestiveness” by various censors in India.
Bangladesh: Working in the Gulf
Reflections on migrants going to work in the Gulf, while waiting at the airport at unearthly hour at D is for Dhaka.
