Stories from Quick Reads from May, 2006
Singapore: All Talk, No Action
Lionel is irritated with armchair politicians – the people who find it easy to complain but shy away when it comes to doing something. “I'm sure you have encountered your fair share of the Singapore armchair politician: standing on a pedestal on an ivory tower and espousing nuggets of information...
East Timor: Local Journalism
The blogger at Tumbleweed in Timor Leste counters a foreign journalist's remarks about the dearth of reporting by local Timorese journalists. The blogger introduces locals involved in bringing Timorese news to the world.
China: Where is Bart Simpson?
Not Only Movies blogger Raymond Zhou has a post today which articulates a need for more Bart Simpson types in China: cynical youth willing to consider that sometimes authorities and elders can be wrong. “What we sorely need,” Zhou writes in ‘Youth facing dilemma of role models‘, “is a culture...
Tokyo: Creative rehearsal space
Lee at Tokyo Times has a suggestion, photographic explanation included, for Tokyo musicians hard up for rehearsal space and who risk eviction by practicing at home.
North Korea: Defectors granted asylum
Among the several interesting stories found in The Korea Liberator blogger Joshua's Korea Diary this week is a happy ending for four North Koreans who recently sought to defect.
Macau: Economy booming
A post from Simon at Simon World looks at recent speculation that the fastest growing economy in the world is not to be found in Shanghai, Chongqing, the Pearl River Delta or anywhere in China proper for that matter, but the former Portugese colony of Macau, off China's southern coast....
Singapore: Kampong Life
Blogger Lam Chun See visits a heritage museum and remembers his childhood days in the Kampong (village).
Taiwan: History of Chinese
China's political turbulence for the larger part of the twentieth century had much more impact on the Chinese language than a mere move from traditional to simplified characters. A growing resource guide from Mark Swofford at Pinyin News aims to set the record straight on just where the language has...
China: Pop psychology online
Pop psychology has reached China, or so says a Virtual China post from Jason Li in which fans of Chinese star search show Super Girl have their motivations analyzed.
Iran: Student Leaders in Jail
According to Daneshe Sorkh, Abede Tavancheh and Yashar Ghajar, two student leaders were arrested after demonstration in universities in Tehran. The blogger has published their photos on his/her blog and ask for their freedom.
Iran: An office to support religious blogs
According to Kamangir, an “Office for Religious Blog Development” has been established in Qom. The blogger says this organization will support religious blogs in Iran.
Iran: Burning Banks!
Noqte tahekhad , Iran based blogger, says banks get burned when there are riots in Iran and tell us why (Persian). According to this blogger most banks are run by government and then they symbolize it , banks are easy targets and lending money with high interest rate ( 25...
South Korea: Local elections end
Some big changes in store can be expected following the conclusion of local elections in the South Korean capitol of Seoul, the results of which can be found in RJ Koehler's The Marmot Hole.
South Africa: Women in the academy
Singing South Africaness comments on the tendency for moview to portray female professors as old maids and goes on to discuss women in the academy and why so many fit this stereotype..
Ghana: Foreign Coaches
Trials and Tribulations of a Freshly Arrived Denzian in Ghana comments on Ghana choosing foreigners as coaches.
South Africa: Space progress
South Africa points to a story on the progress the country is making in space science and astronomy…
Nigeria: Google maps
Naijablog posts some screen shots of southern Nigeria from Google Maps, and an excellent ariel shot of the Niger Delta.
Togo: World Cup threats
Just Thots by a Naijaman comments on the progress or non progress of Togo in the coming World Cup…“Togolese national team players have threatened not to lace their boots for their country unless they are paid the fantastic sum of $200,000 each as appearance fee, $40,000 per win and $20,000...
Kenya: Slavery & Colonisation
Afrikan Eye writes an excellent piece on Slavery and Colonisation in Africa...
Sudan: Women prisoners released
Sudanese Thinker reports that the Sudanese government has ordered the release of all women imprisoned for brewing illegal alcohol.
Ethiopia: Jews in Israel
Nazret.com points to an article on….” Ethiopian jews living in Israel who the report says have the lowest income but the highest hopes “Ethiopian immigrants ranked lowest on the quality of life index, which considers per-capita income, per-room housing density and basic spending.” Surprise surprise!