Stories from 12 October 2008
Syria: Yellow is In
Sasa from Syria is surprised that many girls in Damascus are wearing yellow: “Does EVERY girl in this city have to be dressed in yellow? … Like someone dumped a huge yellow paint pot on the city.”
Oman: More Congestion
The Muscati from Oman writes about traffic congestion in his country concluding that traffic “is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.”
Bahrain: The Story of Shawarma
From Bahrain, Indonesian blogger Ian Hamzah posts a picture of a Shawarma plate, and explains the Middle Eastern style sandwich and its history.
Jordan: Domestic Violence Month Marked
Palestinian/Jordanian Shuger Cuebs says October is Domestic Violence Month in Jordan. “It’s time to speak. Make your voice heard in every possible way. It’s your duty and your right to stand up for yourself and your sisters,” she urges.
Kuwait: Assawt Paper to be Launched
Kuwaiti Frankom announces the launch of a new newspaper Assawt [ar] (The Voice) in Kuwait soon.
Ukraine: Car Trip to Kaniv
Chick in Kiev posts pictures from a recent car trip through Ukrainian countryside, to Kaniv and back.
Ukraine: “Swan Song for the Orange Revolution”
Petro of Petro's Jotter remembers the 2004 Orange Revolution in Ukraine as “an incredible, festive, peaceful time of working together as a people” and writes about the upsetting changes that have taken place in the past four years.
Saudi Arabia: Ancient churches
Saudi Jeans explains that Saudi Arabia is the site of some of the oldest churches in the region, even though Christians cannot publicly practise their religion in the kingdom today.
Japan: Popularity of elderly on the rise?
At E.L.H. Electric Lover Hinagiku, blogger y_arim reacts to a news article [ja] in Yomiuri shimbun reporting that popularity of the elderly in Japan is on the rise among young people [ja], writing that he's rarely seen news so gross. “At the heart of the grossness is the fact that...
Jordan: Fighting Corruption, New York, and the Economic Crisis
From advice from the Danish Ambassador to Jordan on how to beat corruption, to life as a student in New York, to the impact of the global economic crisis on Jordan, Mohammad Azraq brings us the latest buzz from Jordan's active blogosphere.
Azerbaijan: What Goes Up…
Herron Family News comments on the construction boom in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, but notes that the quality of work leaves much to be desired. Situated in an area of seismic activity, the blog wonders if such an issue can be used by the opposition in the country.
Brazil: A new, tailored to Brazilians social media product
Manoel Netto [pt] announces the arrival of Brazilian social media product Brasigo, a product based on user generated content tailored to Brazilians. “We fully believe in Social Media and we are investing our time, effort and creativity in the development of tools focused on that”
Macau: The melamine crisis and change in habits
Leocardo [pt] describes how the melamine crisis has changed some of the consumer habits in Macau. He inquired the owner of the family owned supermarket next to his home if she had noticed any differences. “She told she had, and some Portuguese products had registered a vertiginous rise in sales…...
Lusosphere: The origins of the American Banjo in Africa
Emerson Santiago [pt] writes at Patafurdia Magazine about akonting, the musical instrument found in Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau in West Africa. “The Portuguese colonizers and the North American slaves owners began to call the instrument “Banjo”, coming from the Quimbundo word “m'banza” (language of the second largest ethnic group in...
Azerbaijan: Peace Corps Volunteer Blogs
The U.S. Peace Corps started working in Azerbaijan in 2002. Since then, over 190 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Azerbaijan and a number set up blogs from the beginning of 2006. Operating outside the capital, Baku, the blogs detail life in the regions of an oil-rich country that few would otherwise experience.
Brazil: The country pays homage to the Samba master
If he was alive today, Cartola, one of the key figures in samba music, would be celebrating 100 years this October 11. Cartola composed over 500 songs, deeply loved by Brazilians, who today published their favorite song or poem, videos, photos and bits and pieces of the history of this legend.
Iran: Tehran's metro in photos
Thanks to Akhbari, an Iranian blogger, we can discover Tehran's metro in photos.
Iran: A prisoners’ rights advocate was freed
Ghajarboys, an Iranian blog, writes that Emadeddin Baghi, a prominent prisoner's rights advocate in Iran, was freed.
