Stories from 12 October 2007
First reactions to the Al Gore/IPCC Nobel Peace Prize Win
Here's a quick roundup up some of the initial reactions from the global blogosphere to today's announcement that former US vice president Al Gore and the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have won this year's Nobel Peace Prize.
Argentina: The Trouble With Trains
Train travel in Argentina, whether it is long-distance, regional or local, seems to attract plenty of complaints from users. At times, many of these gripes never make it to managers, who have the ability to make changes. Lately a series of blogs have been created aimed at providing platforms for users and employees to air their complaints and share experiences about these transit systems. Special guest writer Alejandro Lezcano tooks a look at some of these Argentina transportation blogs.
Free Speech Roundup: China, UAE, Jordan, Iran and more
Two interesting documents related to Internet censorship and circumvention were published recently: “Everyone's Guide to By-Passing Internet Censorship for Citizens Worldwide”, released by The University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab and a “Journey to the Heart of Internet censorship” in China, released by RSF and Chinese Human Rights Defenders, and written by an anonymous Chinese technician. In Jordan sending emails and writing online poems can send you to jail. And, is Facebook blocked in the United Arab Emirates?
Palestine: New Baby on the Way
Palestinian blogger and journalist Leila Haddad says she's expecting a new baby. “Yousuf has already taken to his new role as older sibling like a fish to water, and has promised to help me change diapers (a proposition I'm not likely to take him up on, unless perhaps I am...
Oman: Wearing Glasses
Omani blogger Muscati is back to wearing glasses, after the effects of his Lasek operation wore off!
Oman: Visa Issues
Devilish from Oman shows us some of the tactics used by the US Embassy to grant visas to Omanis travelling to the US in this post.
Egypt: Meeting the Muslim Brotherhood
Abu Aardvark, aka Marc Lynch, was in Cairo – where he met with Muslim Brotherhood officials and bloggers. Read his take on the visit here.
Lebanon: Bittersweet Blogging
Louis-Noel Harfouche has returned to blogging about Lebanon in a new post about the Arabic language. “And bitter[sweet] and disheartening as it (and its people) are at times, Lebanon remains an infectious, delicious, long-savored and addictive torment,” he explains.
Lebanon: Looking for a Savior
Lebanese blogger Shirin is looking for a savior. “The search for a savior – one who'll literally save Lebanon, won't be in vain. I trust the brave members of the parliament, they'll vote for the best man,” she writes.
Kuwait: Lebanon Holiday
Lebanese blogger Fonzy, who lives in Kuwait, is travelling to Lebanon and Syria for a short break. “(T)he best part is that ALL my friends in Kuwait are spending the holidays there. From what I know, I think maybe half the passengers on the plane tonight are people I know,”...
Lebanon: Being Nice
Lebanese blogger Rami Zurayk writes about how a minister's adviser criticized comments he wrote on his blog as sarcastic. “Sarcasm? I was being nice,” he notes.
Jordan: Jail Sentence Criticized
Jordanian The Observer criticizes the jailing of Ahmad Oweidi al-Abbadi, even though he doesn't agree with his policies.
Japan: Sports with “no future”
Why do people play sports? Is it out of a love for the game, just for a good time, or is it actually a career choice like any other? 21-year-old Japanese pro-golfer Ueda Momoko sparked a heated debate earlier this week after she remarked that she could not understand young people who play sports which, according to her, have "no future".
Czech Rebublic: Oglo/Blog Day
NvB: Bored in Brno? celebrated Blog Day belatedly, on Oct. 9: “I've decided to rename it since 09/10 looks more like “Oglo” than “blog,” but in case that's too confusing we can just call it Blog Day Observed.”
Czech Rebublic: Radar Base, Pro and Con
Petr Bokuvka of The Czech Daily Word argues that the Brdy Mountains villagers should welcome the U.S. radar base: “They know they can live without the base and they refuse to even consider what they could do after the base is built. Not just with the money their municipalities receive,...
Czech Rebublic: “Switched at Birth”
“For almost a year two couples took care of a newborn baby that was not theirs. According to several Czech dailies the babies were mistakenly switched moments after the birth because of a negligent nurse,” reports Petr Bokuvka of The Czech Daily Word – here and here.
Hungary: The 1956 Monument
Pestiside.hu writes about the sorry state of Budapest's the 1956 Memorial, dedicated just a year ago.
Slovakia, Hungary: Unfriendly Relationship
Pestcentric writes about the not-too-friendly Slovak-Hungarian relations.
Hungary: New Building, Old Facade
Pestcentric posts a picture of a new building being built around the old facade.
Guyana: Global warming and the day after
Hot weather makes Guyana-Gyal reflect on a possible day-after environmental disaster scenario: “bangbangbang thousands of foreign people banging on we doors…”
Guyana: Guns vs iPods
What costs more in Guyana, a 9-mm gun or an MP3 player? Guyana Providence Stadium provides some stark figures.
