18 December 2006

Stories from 18 December 2006

Madagascar: No Christmas Songs

  18 December 2006

Says Harinjaka, (Fr) Malagasy artists haven't put out any chistmas compilations this year probably because of elections. But the blogger proposes an exploration into a forgotten music form, the zafindraony of which he posts a clip. The key to the proper execution of this music? Sing off key and while...

Nepal: The roads of Khatmandu

  18 December 2006

Wagle Street Journal on the chaotic traffic in Khatmandu. “If you want to protest, just go to the road and lie down there. Traveling in the city has become difficult because of these kind of small scale protests, I don’t know how many.”

India: A monastery in Zanskar

  18 December 2006

It isn't has wonderful photographs from Zanskar of a monastery called Phuktal. “The monastery, which belongs to the Yellow Hat Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, has a history which dates back to 15th century. It is carved out of the lime stone mountain wall, with a walled frontage.”

Nepal: The head and tail of the State

  18 December 2006

Nepali Netbook on the ambiguity of positions in the interim constitution in Nepal. “The king is no longer head of state. The interim constitution is silent on who is. As political solutions go, Nepalis have strictly conformed to tradition.”

Pakistan, Bangladesh: In conversation with Uzma Aslam Khan

  18 December 2006

black and gray in conversation with the author of Trespassing, Uzma Aslam Khan. “The Soviets were in Afghanistan, Pakistan was ruled by its most brutal military dictator, General Zia ul Haq, a United States ally (one Pakistani general referred to Pakistan as the condom through which America entered Afghanistan), billions...

Bangladesh: Dogs and their licks

  18 December 2006

a bengali in TO on the status of dogs in Islam and how cleaning a utensil with detergent to get rid of a dog's lick will suffice. “Involuntarily I stepped back due to years of training. I was going to go for prayers later and didn't want my clothes to...

Haiti: High Prices of Flights

  18 December 2006

Reacting to news of a new airline to offer Haiti-Dominican Republic flights, Collectif Haiti de Provence complains about the cost of flights to Haiti(Fr): “It is always flabbergasting how expensive flights to Haiti are whether via all powerful American Airlines who holds an unwavering monopoly or via the lines that...

Belize: Jack and Jill

  18 December 2006

Nurse Melly tells the near-tragic tale of two young puppies, Jack and Jill – and she's relieved to report that, “like all good human stories, the good guys won.”

India, Haiti: Matrimonials

  18 December 2006

India-based Haitian blogger NatifNatal ponders (Fr) India's matrimonials. Whereas in the West, she says, people fall in love and then marry, “here you marry the one your parents chose along many parameters such as caste, religion, income, dowry etc… and then, after many years of joint living, you just can't...

Bahamas: Disclosure of Assets

  18 December 2006

Since the Bahamas’ Public Disclosure Act deems that Parliamentarians (along with other “persons in public life”) must report their income, assets and liabilities to the Public Disclosure Commission by December 31 each year, Rick Lowe is concerned that the latest published disclosures were almost six years ago.

GV Summit Delhi '06 Session Four: Tools and Technology

  18 December 2006

The room is alive with post-coffee buzz, as this session, led by Salam Adil and Preetam Rai, tries to get under the skin of the tools and technology that would broaden out the range of people writing and reading blogs worldwide. In Salam’s twist on GV’s tagline, The world is...

East Asia: the East Asian Libraries and Archives wiki

  18 December 2006

Frog in a Well announces a project on the East Asian Libraries and Archives wiki. The project will will serve as a central collection site for information about archives, libraries, museums, etc. in East Asia that are of potential interest for anyone doing research on or in East Asia.

Hong Kong: Star ferry

  18 December 2006

ESWN blogs about his memories of Star ferry and explains why he did not join the protest to “preserve” the site.

Serbia: Video on CNN

  18 December 2006

In the next four months, a “travel to Serbia” commercial will be broadcast on CNN over 500 times (Serbia has paid half a million dollars for this) – but the country's secretary of tourism hasn't seen the ad yet, reports Belgrade 2.0. Also, Belgrade is updating its tourist maps but...