Stories from 20 November 2006
Russia: Talkov and Contract Killings
Copydude writes about contract killings and inefficiency of police investigations – and about singer Igor Talkov, who was killed in 1991 and whose case hasn't been resolved yet.
Poland: Lego and the Shoah
The beatroot inquires: “Is building a 400 square metre replica of the Warsaw Ghetto out of 50,000 Lego bricks ‘offensive’?”
Moldova: Two Vivid Scenes
Adventures in Moldova describes two situations witnessed in the capital Chisinau, both pretty vivid.
Estonia, Latvia: Soviet Nostalgia and Citizenship
Itching for Eestimaa writes about nostalgia for the Soviet Union and citizenship issues in Latvia and Estonia.
Belarus: Dress Censorship is Back
TOL's Belarus Blog writes about “Soviet retro” – which includes something quite surreal: a new regulation introduced by the Belarusian government, requiring “the Ministry of Education to create and approve a state concept for youth fashion by the New Year.”
Croatia: Animal Rights Group Targets Art
Neretva River reports on an animal rights group targeting a Croatian contemporary arts exhibit – and, coincidentally, some artwork “commemorating the 200th anniversary of the founding of Zagreb’s Jewish community,” which is on display at the same location.
Africa: most negelected technology
Electricity is the most neglected technology in Africa, writes Africa Unchained in Electrifying Africa.
Africa/US: mistreatment of Ngugi wa Thiong'o
The mistreatment of Ngugi wa Thiong'o in California, “After a relaxing morning of a good walk and breakfast, he returned to his hotel to sit in the veranda section of the Hotel restaurant reading his newspaper. What happened next could have been a scene from a pre-Civil Rights Era of...
Mexico: Electronics for a Good Cause
Beth Kanter interviews Maria Estela Godinez, a high school student from San Francisco del Rincón, México who “built a glove that allows speech-challenged people to move their fingers in a similar fashion to Braille language and have those signals recognized by software that converts them into speech.” The interview was...
Guatemala: Firefox Party
Notas al Margen links to the various Guatemalan bloggers [ES] who attended the recent “Firefox Party,” celebrating the launch of Firefox 2. Blissy [ES], the only female attendee has pictures.
Latin America: Milton Friedman
Patrick of the Guatemalan Solidarity Network laments the lack of attention focused on Milton Friedman's legacy in Latin America.
Argentina: Buenos Aires: “The City That Never Was”
“Like any metropolis, Buenos Aires has been subject to the whim of urban planners for its entire history. Imagine 426 years of change since its foundation in 1580. Mix in the chaos of political & economic crises (no shortage there), & it’s surprising that Buenos Aires is even here at...
El Salvador: “Best National Wrestler”
Salvadorean blogger Ethel looks through her “Google biography” and finds an entertaining article about her wrestling days.
Argentina: Pillow Fighting
Pillow fighting fans around the world will be overcome by jealousy after reading Alan Patrick's account of this past weekend's blog-organized pillow-thumping flash mob. Make sure to check out the videos at the bottom of the post!
Bolivia: Majority Vs. 2/3 Vote
Bolivia's constituent assembly had been at a deadlock over whether votes would be decided by majority or require two-thirds. A decision was reached/imposed this past weekend, reports Miguel Centellas, Jim Shultz, and Miguel Buitrago.
Haiti: Syto Cave Podcast
French literary blog Topolivres posts (Fr) a podcast of an excerpt of Haitian poet and playwright Syto Cave's show Voisins Complices [Neighbors and Accomplices]. Voisins Complices has been performed in Haiti and Barcelona and is scheduled to go to New York in 2007.
Haiti: Do Officials Care about Insecurity?
Pointing to a Haitian news story about a schoolgirl who was recently kidnapped and shot despite her mother's delivery of $4,000 out of a $30,000 ransom, JoJo at Collectif Haiti de Provence writes (Fr): “Who will have the courage to ask public officials to describe in detail the nature of...
Africa: militarization of U.S. aid
AfricaBeat on the militarization of U.S. Africa aid, “Ironically, while U.S. may see strengthening military assets in Africa as another way to wage its “War on Terror,” it is also the fastest way to make the Horn of Africa a hotbed of terrorism.”
Singapore: Community Moderated News Site
Mr Lim and a friend in Singapore launch a community moderated news site. “YOU are the editor, you decide what’s interesting and what’s not.”
Laos: A Lao Picnic
Darly at Laocuisine.net blogs about Lao picnics and the food that would “knock one off ones feets”.
Cambodia: The Second Leading Cause of Deaths
Vutha in Cambodia reports that Buddhist Monks gathered in a park to commomorate victims of road accidents. Accidents are now the second leading cause of death in Cambodia after HIV/AIDS.
