Stories from 24 August 2006
South Korea: Korean teachers’ union's proposed black list
Michael Hurt at Scribblings of the Metropolitician criticizes the Korean Teachers’ Union's proposal of black listing malpractice foreign English teachers. “If foreigners were to start a master ‘blacklist’ of Korean schools and orgs that have cheated or abused foreigners, it would literally have to be a 100-pyeong office space…“ Robert...
Taiwan: How I am Learning the Lesson of Chen Shui-bian
ESWN translates an article written by Lung Yin Tai in responding to recent political mobilization agains Chen Shui-bian. The newly formed taiwan group political blog challenges Lung's opinion.
China: Chen Guangcheng sentenced to four years
Chinese Law professor blog comments on the result of Chen Guangcheng's court case. “The extremely harsh sentence for Chen Guangcheng confirms not only the lawlessness and vindictiveness of the authorities of Linyi City but also the determination of the national Communist Party Political-Legal Committee to intimidate and suppress the country's...
China: Pluto conspiracy theory
In reaction to the possibility that Pluto has to be taken away from the solar system planet list, the mainland science fiction writer, Hansong wrote a story about the western conspiracy against China on such proposal(zh).
Kazakhstan: Sarsenbaev & Change
Sean Roberts examines whether or not the murder of Kazakh opposition politician Altynbek Sarsenbaev will have changed anything as the trial of those accused of murdering him wraps up.
Armenia: Village Life
Zarchka writes on enjoying Armenian village life.
Kazakhstan: Almaty Driving
After having lived there for seven years, Narcogen has started driving every day, which is quite an experience.
Iran: One day salary for Lebanon!
Faryad says one day of his/her mother's salary reduced on her pay check in the name of helping Lebanon! The blogger says it is a very ugly act to reduce somebody's salary for a cause without asking him [Fa]. The blogger adds he/she does not know this salary reduction only...
Iran: Electricity Shortage
In Afkar Mastoor we read that Iran faces electricity shortage this year [Fa]. The blogger reminds us that Iranian government refused to advance the clocks by one hour during the summer time to save energy.
Romania: Facing Same Bigotry as the Poles?
Andy H of Csikszereda Musings writes (here and here) about the problems faced by the Polish migrant laborers in Britain – and whether the same awaits Bulgarians and Romanians.
Poland: Miss World and the Topless Mermaid
The beatroot writes about the upcoming Miss World contest (to be held in Warsaw Sept. 30) topless mermaid controversy: “Not want to attach what to the Miss World contest? Erotic? Oh, I see. It's a contest that is without any sexy bits at all – it's a contest to promote...
Ukraine: On To Poland on the Tuk Tuk
Jo and Ants The Tukkers of Tuk to the Road share their impressions of Odesa, Lviv and Poland, and the Ukrainian traffic police: “We’d been warned that the police here could be even trickier than the Russian or Kazakh ones -who turned out to be more nosey than tricksome –...
Belarus: What Is Tyranny?
Robert Mayer of Publius Pundit returns from a trip to Ukraine and Belarus and launches a discussion on the “varying degrees and intensities of tyranny.”
Belarus: Lukashenko's Hand Reading
TOL's Belarus Blog translates a reading of Aleksandr Lukashenko's hand published in a Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda.
Belarus: Interview With John Dunn
TOL's Belarus Blog presents its first podcast featuring an interview with John Dunn, author of “Setting the People Free: The Story of Democracy.”
Pakistan: Naulakha Pavilion
Metroblogging Lahore presents a History Tour – installment number 19 – this time “Naulakha Pavilion, built by Shah Jahan in 1632, is located on the western side of the Shish Mahal courtyard. It consists of a single rectangular room in marble with a typical convex roof in the style of...
Bangladesh: What the Quran Says
A Bengali in TO talks of reading the Quran during the month of Ramadan and how its important to understand what is actually being read.
Peru: Floréame
William Wong Garay introduces (ES) his newest initiative, Floréame (ES), a Peruvian-focused, Digg-like community which uses the same open source code as Menéame (ES). It has also been integrated on the BlogsPeru (ES) portal.
India: BlogCamp 2006
BlogCamp 2006 is around the corner and Dina has a brief note on things as they are so far and what needs to be done.
India: Ganesha's Spirit
Festivals come by the fistfuls in India. One festival that involves the immersion of idols in water is the one to worship Ganesha. Metroblogging Bangalore has a wonderful photo-feature of a village that makes idols of Ganesha.
Brazil: Music
Claudio Lobos introduces Brazilian musician Philippe Baden Powell and his newest album, “Estrada De Terra.” Daniella Thompson reviews Paulo Sérgio Santos’ gig at the Hillside Club in Berkeley, California.