Stories from 14 February 2007
Japan: powder RFID chips
Edo at Pink Tentacle reports that Hitachi had unveiled a tiny, new “powder” type RFID chip measuring 0.05 x 0.05 mm which they aimed to begin marketing in 2 to 3 years.
South Korea: artificial beauty
Michael Hurt from Scribblings of the Metropolitician maps the changing notion of beauty with the development of plastic surgery in South Korea.
China: greenify
Peijin Chen from Shanghaiist shows how local governments “greenify” the landscape.
China: Valentines Day Caption Contest
Onemanbandwidth holds a caption contest of a striking photo which puts soldiers and heart together.
China and Hong Kong: Ai Xiao-ming
An interview with mainland China independent film maker Ai Xiao-ming on the Vagina Monologue at interlocals.net.
Guyana: Digicel has landed
“Guyana is abuzz like we have never seen before for a product or service,” writes MediaCritic in his report on the frenzy which has enveloped Guyana in anticipation of today's launch of the new cellular service provider Digicel.
Haiti: Carnaval preview
Karlito previews this year's carnaval celebrations in Haiti, predicting that singer Sweet Micky, “will rock Champs de Mars”. He also reports that the new web site http://www.haiticarnaval.org/ will carry a live feed and frequently updated photos for “the diaspora’s viewing pleasure.”
Jamaica: Moving back
Francis Wade posts an email from a reader who wishes to return to Jamaica but is concerned about crime, along with his response.
Thailand: Ministry of Culture's 10 Commandments of Thai Love
Steve Suphan blogs about Thai Culture Ministry's recently launched 10 commandments of love. The ministry feels that the 10 points will help them discipline teenagers.
Caribbean: New online literary magazine
Caribbean Free Radio announces the arrival of a new Caribbean online literary magazine; Nicholas Laughlin provides an excerpt from one of the pieces in the inaugural issue.
Caribbean: Another music download site
de cooler: soca news announces the arrival of Faluma Digital, a new Caribbean music download site.
Trinidad & Tobago: Dishonesty in advertising
Trinidad blogger Mani wonders how the people behind a new energy drink being subtly advertised as having the power to alleviate the effect of alcohol can sleep at night.
Poland: Football Crisis
The beatroot writes about corruption and hooliganism in Polish football.
Ukraine: Children's Book
Ukraine List writes about the adaptation of Richard Scarry's The Best Word Book Ever into Ukrainian and French.
Russia: Abramovich
Roman Abramovich news at Siberian Light – here and here. (He's no longer Russia's richest man but is still the governor of Chukotka.)
Russia: Article on TV and LJ
Lyndon of Scraps of Moscow translates a 2005 article by Yuri Saprykin on the Russian TV and blogging: “Of course, I can't say I agree with all of the author's conclusions, and maybe not even with his main point. After all, I'm not one to criticize people for sitting in...
Russia: Kaliningrad Restoration
Copydude continues to write about the attempts to rebuild Kaliningrad: “Kaliningrad is a complete paradox. After the war, while German prisoners of war were rebuilding whole Russian town centres like Novgorod completely in the elegant German style, Russians were busy reprocessing Konigsberg into the poured concrete, Soviet mould.”
Latvia: “Halves”
Peteris Cedrins, a Latvia-based blogger who took this picture of a house in Daugavpils, writes: One house, two worlds. Many of the older houses in Daugavpils are being transmogrified by cheap plastic windows, poor cores wrapped in the dull facades of a poor and tasteless modernity. Daugavpils is the second-largest...
Iran:Ecstasy in Tehran
Kourosh Ziabari says that easily you can find and consume ecstasy in Tehran[Fa].He shares his experience where a friend of his invited him to a ecstasy party.The blogger did not consume ecstasy but got surprised to see how easily you can get it.
Jordan: Support Dibbin Forest
Jordanian blogger The Black Iris is spearheading a campaign to protect a forest from destruction. Click here to support the drive.
Guinea: Conté Declares State of Siege
Senegalese blogger Alex Seck resumes his watch of Guinean developments (Fr): “Dictator Lansana Conté has … appeared in a radio and tv broadcast during which he announced a Presidential decree instituting the state of siege until Feb. 23 … In short, Conté is choosing escalation … All evidence indicates that...
