Stories from 3 February 2006
Philippines: Fast Food Freak-Out
A few Americans try Filipino fast-food chain Jollibee and freak out: “We became such Ugly Americans because this food was so beyond anything we could have guessed it would be. We couldn't stop. We were embarrassing ourselves and still couldn't stop. Every bite was another shock.” Their reactions offend some,...
Panama: A Blogger's First English Post
Panamanian blogger, Anna Luisa writes, what I believe is, her first post in English and concludes, “Today was OK. Today was cool. Today was in English.”
Ethiopia detention of Frezer Negash
Reporters without Borders has called on the “Ethiopian authorities to explain why they are holding Frezer Negash, a member of the opposition and a correspondent for the US news website Ethiopian Review, for the past week. Negash is three months pregnant...”……“This new arrest once again shows that the Ethiopian authorities...
In praise of Ghana street food
My Heart's in Accra writes in praise of Ghana street food – “Great food is one of the main reasons to come to Accra. And the way to eat in Ghana is not to go to restaurants, but to wander from stall to stall on the sidewalks, eating plantain, kebab,...
Goodbye Teju Cole
Naija blog writes an obituary as Teju Cole's blog on his journey home signs out – we are all feeling the loss.
Africa Cup – Ghana over and out
The Trials & Tribulations of a Freshly-Arrived Denizen mourns Ghana's Black Stars poor performance in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Letter to Obasnajo on gay marriages
AfroHomo posts an extract of a letter to Nigeria's President Obasanjo on same sex marriage. “”I personally [sic] do not like same sex marriage, but that does not mean I must stop others who prefer to live that way, if it makes them happier. At the end of the day...
Ethiopia and cultural tourism
Friends of Ethiopia points to a piece in the New York Times on Ethiopia's rich history and prospects for cultural tourism.
Nigeria: 3rd termism
Chippla's Weblog and David Ajao both comment on the ongoing debate around a third term for President Obasanjo. Ajao writes..”Like the proverbial cat with nine lives, this menace called “Third Term” has refused to die. It only simmers a little, and re-surfaces again, rearing its ugly head in the political...
Niger Delta: hostage taking
Kazey's Journal has a timeline of the recent rebel attacks in the Niger Delta and asks a number of questions such as “Is Nigeria a safe place to live”?
Kenya: Githongo scandal
From Kenya, both Kenyan Pundit and Thinkers Room comment on the ongoing saga of the Githongo scandal….Pundits conclusion…”there is money in Kenya, just in the wrong pockets”.
DRC: myth v reality
Adventures of a retired arm chair traveller provides some real facts about the DRC….”Um. No, 92 out of every 100 babies do not die. This is why sports columnists should not write about health statistics, at least not without asking, So what does that mean? Think about it — If...
Coretta Scott King
Gukira comments on the passing of Mrs Coretta Scott King who he says will not be remembered for her support of gay and lesbian rights nor for belief in civil rights for all – she will be “She will be, like Caesar, stabbed and appropriated, turned into a docile saint.“
G8 and celebrity frenzy
Curious is sick and tired of “the media-hyped frenzy that is whipped up to promote celebrity in the name of helping the poor” and points to paper by Professor William Easterly, “Planners Vs Searchers in foreign aid” which discusses the subject.
Meles : schizophrenic
Weichegud! ET Politics tells us why she believes Ethiopian leader, Meles Zenawi is suffering from schizophrenia.
Trinidad & Tobago: Adventure & masquerade
Francomenz pays tribute to her brother Ryan Mendes, the only Caribbean athlete ever to participate in New Zealand's famous Speights Coast-to-Coast Multi Sport Race. And both Francomenz and Richard Bolai visit the exhibition featuring the work of Trinidadian Carnival designer Wayne Berkeley.
Ethiopia becomming a US citizen
Aqumada comments on her transistion from mere foreigner to American citizen and the new expectations from her husband who remains a foreigner.
Haiti: Cultural life
Alice Backer reminds us that “a general strike against the UN mission's perceived inaction against insecurity, the recent suicide (or is that killing?) of the head of the UN mission, and delayed elections,” hasn't put a stop to Haiti's cultural life. Last week a panel discussing a novel by writer...
Iran: Bloggers & Bus strike
Otobos1 blog (Persian) informs us that this Friday bus drivers will start a strike to ask for liberation of hundred bus workers and drivers who got arrested last week, one day before launching strike. Blogger asked other bloggers to back strike and bus workers by different means including covering news....
