Stories from 26 September 2005
Comments problems
Sincerest apologies to anybody who tried to post comments over the past two days. This was caused by an unfortunate technical mess-up on my part while attempting to block a bad spammer. The bad news: If you tried to post something and it didn't appear, unfortunately it has been lost....
China: Shanghai book swap
Sinosplice organized an English-language book-swap in Shanghai at the weekend. Judged a success with a 10-person turnout, the event sadly lacked a participant from Hangzhou and the chance to acquire a second-hand copy of Why Men Don't Have a Clue and Women Always Need More Shoes.
Japan: Hello Kitty lawsuit
“Still more evil from the mouthless one from Sanrio,” report both AsiaPundit and SimonWorld on an intellectual copyright lawsuit brought by Hello Kitty creators Sanrio against a group of Hong Kong drama students.
PolBlog: Local View on Election
PolBlog interviews a Polish voter about last weekend's election.
Hong Kong: Mickey Mouse economics
SimonWorld picks up an article by online financial commentator David Webb, who puts the SAR government's calculations on recent major land transactions–including that for the Disney theme park–under the microscope.
Shamiran
Onnik Krikorian once again made the annual pilgrimage to Shamiran to cover the Armenian Yezidi community‘s late September festival. In addition to a brief report, he brought back many photos.
Singapore: Habeat mulier animam?
Singabloodypore joins what a local media report terms an ‘old debate’ about whether domestic helpers in the city-state need a day off. Via SimonWorld.
China: Rich-poor gap alert
Corporate Social Responsiblity Asia notes that the gap between rich and poor in China has got to what officials in Beijing are calling the “yellow alert” level.
Kenya: IT infrastructure
Bankelele reports that the state-owned Telkom Kenya has launched an Internet telephony, or VoIP, service, and has begun laying a fiber-optic cable connecting Nairobi to Mombasa.
Nigeria: Overpriced taxis
Chippla reports on the emergence of another new street item in the Nigerian capital of Abuja: smart new taxis which are bookable by phone–but unaffordable for the average resident of the city.
South Africa: Potato famine
Commentary.co.za wryly notes a recent comment from Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe: “We have heaps of potatoes but [the] people [of Zimbabwe] are not potato eaters.”
Uganda: Gulu Walk Day
UgandaCAN is organizing an event called Gulu Walk Day in major cities across the world on Oct. 22 to campaign for peace in northern Uganda.
Sudan: Mounting tension
Aid worker Sleepless in Sudan reports that thousands of Arab camel-herders are gathering near the Kalma camp for displaced persons, while elsewhere in the troubled region of Darfur, rebel militias are said to be infiltrating the northern town of El Fasher.
Hetq blocked in UAE
Martuni or Bust!!! reports that Hetq Online is blocked in the United Arab Emirates in the wake of its reporting on the trafficking of women and girls to the UAE by Armenian and Arab gangs.
Strange Things in Azerbaijan
While travelling about Azerbaijan, Carpetblogger encountered a few oddities.
Zimbabwe: Remembering Memory
“Who will remember Memory?”, asks Faithful at Sokwanele, referring to the baby daughter of a Zimbabwean man whose home was destroyed by the government of President Robert Mugabe.
Azerbaijan Election Report
Neweurasia has posted its latest weekly Azerbaijan election report.
Ghana: Entrepreneurial pride
Timbuktu Chronicles highlights the success of an up-and-coming Ghanaian food-processing company, and its conveniently packaged traditional flours and foodstuffs.
Jordan: The Power of Blogging
Wondering how powerful love blogging can be and effect of that on business? Well, here is a good example from Jordan. Jad has a very good example which actually hits two birds in one stone. First, as an upset customer, and second as a blogger who shared his feeling in...
Brazil: Baile Funk Podcast
Atari has compiled a podcast of her favorite Balie Funk tracks discovered on her recent trip to Brazil.
El Salvador: Flooding From Rita
Tim documents the flooding in El Salvador caused by hurricane Rita.
