Stories about North America from September, 2008
Kuwait: Benefiting from the Meltdown
From Kuwait, Don Veto explains how he actually made money in the US market meltdown.
Bermuda, U.S.A.: Political Slander
Vexed Bermoothes is “glad that the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers is taking an active role in lobbying in the United States to slow down the political slander facing Bermuda.”
Dominica, U.S.A.: Financial Crunch
Dominica Weekly thinks that the current U.S. financial crisis “will seriously affect financial markets around the worldwide and there will almost certainly be a trickle down effect on the already weak Dominican economy and throughout the Caribbean.”
Bermuda, U.S.A.: Presidential Debates
A Bermudian's View weighs in on the first US presidential debate and says he is looking forward to the upcoming vice-presidential debates: “Given what I’ve seen of Palin…I’d say all Biden has to do is show up. I keep waiting for Ashton Kutcher…to pop out and tell the American people...
Pakistani Bloggers on the McCain-Obama Debate
Pakistani bloggers found much to analyze in last night's televised debate between United States presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain. What the US approach to Pakistan should be was a core part of discussion, since Pakistan has come under greater scrutiny in recent times and is considered a hot-spot....
China: One Trillion US Bonds and Debt Scandal
According to a New York Times report in early September, the Chinese Central Bank has invested over USD $1 trillion on U.S. Treasury bills, bonds and debt securities. Among the one trillion dollar bill, $376.3 billion have been put into the mortgage backed securities of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac,...
Russophone Bloggers Discuss the U.S. Presidential Candidates
Last week, Israel-based LJ user avva asked his Russophone readers - some of whom are eligible to vote in the upcoming U.S. election - whether they supported Barack Obama or John McCain, and for what reasons. The post generated over 300 comments from bloggers based in the United States, Israel, Canada and Russia. Below are some of the responses.
Environment: Maps, Online Communities & Carbon Footprint Calculators
Earlier this year, GV Environment listed the web2.0 tools for environment activism. Since then many more tools have been developed. This post will highlight some mashups, online communities, carbon footprint calculators and one online game. Mashups Rory of Carbon Smart Blog announced the Greening Africa Map by outlining the goal...
Japan: Views on Wall Street Crisis
The ongoing collapse, bail-out and buy-out of Wall Street investment banks, threatening a U.S. and possibly worldwide recession, has triggered no lack of debates in Japanese blogs on the country's strong financial connection with its overseas ally.
Japan: Google or Galapagos?
Blogger and economist Nobuo Ikeda [池田信夫] remarks in an article [ja] that whereas U.S. papers are making their sites more Google-friendly, articles on Japanese news sites do not even have permalinks. His comparison of the isolation of the Japanese web to Galapagos sparks a response from Fukuyuki Murakami [村上福之] at...
Barbados, Jamaica, U.S.A.: Political Issues
Living in Barbados says that the recent battle for leadership in Jamaica's opposition party proves “that the overlapping values of candidates’ religion, race, gender, class, colour, speech, perceived intelligence and such personal characteristics–may play out in our little garden of politics at least as much as we think they do...
Bermuda, U.S.A.: Political Dilemma
Bermuda has got some unwanted attention with the Obama camp's latest campaign ad, which accuses McCain of being on the side of tax-dodging Bermuda-based US companies – Breezeblog says the whole thing “underlines the dilemma many Bermudians feel: as much as they wish to finally see a black US president,...
Japan: Name of new PM poses challenge for Canadians
At Canada de Nihongo (カナダde日本語), a Japanese blogger living in Canada describes how she can't stop laughing [ja] when people mention the name of Japan's new Prime Minister: although they try to say “Taro Aso”, what comes out inevitably sounds like “Taro Asshole”.
U.S.: Russian Woman's View of a U.S. Church
Russian History Blog translates a U.S.-based Russian woman's tirade about a local church she has to attend because she “[wants] to please [her] husband.”
Poland, U.S.: Sikorski in Chicago
Impressions of a recent Chicago speech by Poland's foreign minister Radosław Sikorski – at The 8th Circle.
Costa Rica: Daughter of Immigrant Running for State Senator
Fusil de Chispas [es] writes about Sonia Chang-Díaz, the daughter of a Costa Rican immigrant who is running for state senator in Massachusetts.
Poland, Russia, U.S.: A “New Cold War” or Not?
The beatroot hosts a discussion of the Polish-Russian-American relationship in the aftermath of the Russian-Georgian conflict.
Poland, U.S.: Ancient Kings and Presidential Candidates
The beatroot muses on what's considered “politics” in the United States and Poland.
Russia, U.S.: Kremlin for McCain?
Robert Amsterdam explains why the Kremlin may prefer John McCain as the next U.S. president and notes that “Mr. Putin and others should be careful what they wish for.”
Palestine: Prejudice in the USA
Palestinian blogger Laila El-Haddad has had an unpleasant encounter with a man in Virginia: “Free Palestine? Palestine's already free!!” he raged, gesturing to a bumper sticker on the back of my windshield as he began to walk away. … He then turned around and bellowed out “Why don't you go...
Deaf Awareness Week: A different type of book signing.
Did you know that most deaf people who sign, consider sign language their first language and the written language as their second? I didn't, but thanks to the dozens of videos uploaded by members of the deaf community from all over the world, I've learned about this and many other things. International Deaf Awareness Week takes place during the last week of September, so I'll be showcasing different videos from or about the deaf communities around the world.
