Stories from 5 January 2007
Bangladesh: Embracing Diversity
Sadiq M Alam on Keith Ellison, Thomas Jefferson's Quran and America's embrace of diversity. “The news has significant on a number of grounds when it comes to embracing diversity, and also the controversies point to the fact of mental block in the so called ‘conservative camp’.”
Bangladesh: Elegy for Dhaka
imperfect world 2007 has a translated elegy for Dhaka. “Described unsentimentally, sceptically, passionately and dispassionately and even prophetically. Sharper than a photograph, and only faintly but excusably narcissisticDescribed unsentimentally, sceptically, passionately and dispassionately and even prophetically. Sharper than a photograph, and only faintly but excusably narcissistic”
Myanmar: Destruction of Colonial Buildings
Aung Htin Kyaw has an interesting post that traces his family's history in Myanmar. The blogger laments the loss of old architechture as the country starts to modernize by rebuilding over old colonial buildings.
Philippines: Filipino Takeover of the Blogosphere
Mike Abundo writes about Filipino bloggers taking over some of the visible international blogs. “Filipinos are the best English communicators in Southeast Asia, heartily embracing social media and flat-world economics. Expect more of our best minds to follow these local pioneers to the world stage.”
Singapore: Warranty Card and Ethnicity
Mr. Wang in Singapore has to fill in his ethnicity before submitting the warranty card for a electric fan. The blogger asks “After all these years, why do we still not realise that for most things in life (including the administration of home-appliance warranty certificates), the person's race is simply...
Fiji: Coup Leader becomes the Prime Minister
May Hnin Phyu in Fiji comments that it will not be so easy to address the new leader of Fiji. “I’m wondering how are they going to address him – “The Honorable Commondore Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, Sir”. Whoa, what a long title. I need some water.” Frank Bainimarama recently...
Iran:Iranian women play rugby football
irfuny blog has published several photos of Iranian women playing rugby football in Iran.
Iran:No credit card, no purchase on internet
Mr.Behi writes about digital and internet development in Tehran. He says city is full of adds for ADSLs and electronic payment is becoming a regular thing. The only thing that gives a big crash to all of that is the fact that international banks do not operate here. That means...
Africa: Once Glorious Postal Services
Africa 2.0 reflects on the future of African postal services (Fr): “Under other skies, postal companies occupy a choice spot in the rise of electronic commerce … In Africa, most postal services are sluggishly lagging behind. They've been destabilized by new technologies, the loss of monopoly… competition from … DHL,...
African Stock Exchanges
Africa 2.0 posts (Fr) a list of African stock exchanges with links.
Poland: “Africans+AIDS+Poland=racism”
The beatroot writes about hysteria in the Polish tabloids: “Simon is pleading not guilty, of course. It's like one of those off-the-peg stories Polish tabloid journos dream of: ‘Black African artistic seducer infects innocent Polish girls with HIV!!! Knowledge about HIV – and Africans, for that matter – is very...
Russia: George Michael's Equipment Catches Fire
George Michael received $3 million from Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin for a New Year's Eve concert – but then lost much of his costly equipment in a fire allegedly caused “by a crewmember playing with leftover pyrotechnics” – reports La Russophobe.
Estonia, Russia: Shostakovich's Legacy
A Step At A Time writes about efforts being made in Estonia's capital to find a permanent home for the Dmitry Shostakovich's legacy.
Ukraine: Walking Hand in Hand
Foreign Notes writes about two former adversaries – Victor Yushchenko and Victor Yanukovych – about to “walk hand in hand.”
Ukraine: Babushka Sigh, Devushka Stare & Dnipro Denial
Carpetblogger offers some tips to help foreigners blend in while in Kyiv: Babushka Sigh, Devushka Stare and Dnipro Denial.
Guyana: Eid-Ul-Adha specialities
Chenette posts several well-captioned photos on Flickr of foods traditionally associated in Guyana with the Eid-Ul-Adha observances, including Guyanese vermicelli and Maleeda.
Jamaica: Farewell, Charles Hyatt
Leon pays tribute to the Jamaican actor and comedian Charles Hyatt, who died on January 1. Hyatt appeared in several films, including Cool Runnings, The Mighty Quinn and Club Paradise.
Jamaica: Two landfills
Ria Bacon reports that two landfills in Jamaica have been making the news lately, one for having been the dumping site for the bodies of a pair of murder victims, the other for enveloping parts of Kingston in a miasma of débris-scented smoke.
Puerto Rico: Artists who revolutionised my thinking
Háblame de música (ES) posts a list of “artists who revolutionised my thinking in 2006″.
Puerto Rico: Wikipedia and fair use
Tinta Digital (ES) uploads the logo of a Puerto Rican political party to Wikipedia, and gets caught up in a debate about fair use.
Trinidad & Tobago: Camera phones and bad taste
Adele weighs in on the Saddam Hussein execution video: “The camera phone shall continue to have a great deal to tell us about ourselves, our news and our reality. The very serious issue here is whether we can turn back the hands of bad taste now that nothing is sacred.“
