Stories from 2 November 2008
Poland: How to Fight Illegal Sales of Games, Films & Music?
There are still traditional markets selling food and antiques in Poland, but the most popular ones are those that offer pirated games, films and music. Sylwia Presley reviews reactions of some Polish netizens to a story about software piracy recently published on a Polish news site.
Macedonia: Use Facebook If You Want to Flirt With Politicians
The list of Macedonian politicians who have Facebook accounts is pretty impressive and includes Vice Prime Minister for European Affairs, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Information Society, and Minister of Foreign Investments. But some bloggers don't think it's a big deal and would rather see these people using social networking sites to promote their politics, rather than make new friends online.
Angola: Hawkers face a hard life with dignity and courage
Going up and down the streets of Luanda to sell sweet fruit like sugar apples, scented mangoes, or hope-color avocados, the "zungueiras", or Angolan hawkers, usually the breadwinners of their families, sell their goods while painting the streets of Luanda with vibrant colours.
Iran: Cyrus the Great Day became a day of repression
Gamron, an Iran based blogger, writes [fa] that Iranian security forces repressed people who wanted to celebrate Cyrus the Great Day in Pasargad in Fars province. The blogger has published photos and films about this event.
Iran:Petition to Release and Free Academics
Scholars for Peace in the Middle East has launched a petition to release and free academics:Esha Momeni and Prof. Mehdi Zakerian from Iran and Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh from Afghanistan.
Iran: Iran in photos
You can discover here Iran in several photos. From Qashqai Nomads to historical monuments.
Jordan: A Visit to the Automobile Museum
Ali, from Jordan, visits the Automobile Museum, where he took a few pictures of cars which were owned by the late King Hussein.
India: Are bomb blasts normal?
India's northeastern state of Assam was rocked by a series of bomb blasts last Thursday which killed at least 76 people and injured hundreds. Even as the country is a constant state of high alert given the number of terrorist attacks in the country, more cities appear to be added...
Taiwan: a look at rubbish
Shan Ding Lu has compiled a photo essay about rubbish in Taiwan. He looks at how rubbish is collected and often recycled.
Bahrain: Blogger Featured in Magazine Interview
Bahraini blogger and founder of Mideast Youth Esra'a Al Shafei, has been featured in Al Hasnaa magazine, a monthly Arabic magazine targeting modern Arab women.
Jordan: Great win for Human Rights
Qwaider from Jordan says the Global Network Initiative is a great win for human rights.
Lebanon: Google labels Lebanese maps
“It’s exciting that I can finally see the Maps of Lebanon, even the small village where I live got a label!” notes Elie El Khoury about Google Maps adding Lebanese maps with labels.
Lebanon: Valet Parking even at Airport
“Valet dude takes the car and parks it 2 meters away, they don't even let you park it yourself in some restaurants, they confiscate all parking spots by placing these yellow thingies, either you have to go park it back in your house or give it to them,” explains Liliane...
Lebanon: Mathematicians took the role of Philosophers
“Mathematics is extracted from the physical world but refined by the human mind and then employed in the physical world in ways that are useful to the physical world … Mathematics lies in the human brain,” writes Lebanese Inner Circle, quoting Sir Michael F. Atiyah, renowned mathematician and Abel prize...
Lebanon: The Bedouins
“In the past, they see their glorious history, as it was them who made the Great Arab Revolt and fought the colonialist over centuries, and provided the revolutionaries with weapons wherever they were present. In the present, they only see marginalization and dependency,” notes Prof Rami Zurayk about the Bedouins...
Lebanon: Stamps
“Fruit isn’t sectarian: there are no Maronite oranges, or Druze pears. So I can just see how fruit would have been a happy, happy choice for the Lebanese post office,” writes Diamond in Sunlight in the second of three posts about Lebanese stamps (post 1 and post 3), images included.
Lebanon: Floods after Rainfall
“It’s becoming more like an annual ritual here! The ministry of transport and public works is as usual unprepared and obviously has been dealing with bad subcontractors,” writes Rami in this post with photos of the terrible traffic jams and flooding that followed the rain in Beirut.
Armenia: Obama Supporters
Although not a U.S. citizen, Blogian says that his mother has donated to Barack Obama's campaign. The blog also says that there are 3,000 registered ethnic Armenian voters in Colorado.
Japan: Chrétien, Aso, ALF
mamachari at niwahacker.com remarks on the resemblance between Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, and sitcom character ALF.
Taiwan: Hunger strike for referendum law change
Claudia Jean writes about a hunger strike protest for amendment of the referendum law in Taiwan. Memories of Past Tense reports on the final night of the protest with photos.
Korea: Spreading propaganda leaflets to North Korea
South Korean civil rights groups have infuriated North Korea by releasing “bbira” propaganda leaflets into the country by sea and by air. Activists have recently sent the leaflets using fishing boats and advertisement balloons. The leaflets contain information ranging from Kim Jong Il’s sickness, to his private life, and to calling on North Koreans to topple him.
