Stories from 2 January 2009
China: “Just the aftershocks from the earthquake would destroy France!”kids yell
It is astonishing to see kids in grade school reciting such a violent poem, which calls for the destroy of all those bear enmity against China. Is this a indoctrination of hatred, or a must education for motherland-love, as insists the teacher who organizes the recitation?
China: Happy 2009
Blog manga posts a picture greeting for 2009, year of bull.
Hong Kong: Pessimism Index
In a recent market research, Hong Kong is said to be the most pessimistic city in the world, 67% of the interviewee expects that 2009 would be worse than 2008. Kay Lam pointed out that the index is a reflection of a systematic problem in local social and economic structure...
Brunei: Passport to Fame reality show
Like any other country, Brunei has it's own taste of reality show to choose their favourite singing idol. The second Passport to Fame (P2F) competition recently reached it's climax with Dayat as the winner. RanoAdidas reports on the finale concert that crowned Dayat as the winner in this post and...
Cuba: José Martí's Use of Prose and Poetry
José Martí was a well-known Cuban writer from the late 1800s and Giovanni Fernández of Littera Cuba [es] writes that Martí “tried to paint the world through metaphor incarnated in prose and poetry.”
Japan: Who is running 2-Channel?
Who runs Japan's largest bulletin board, 2-Channel [2ch]? This is the question being debated on 2channel threads today [ja], with rumors that the board's enigmatic founder Hiroyuki Nishimura has transferred ownership to a company, PACKET MONSTER INC., apparently based in Singapore. “The beginning of the end,” one commenter writes. Many...
Honduras: Top Ten Reckless Behavior Photos
Over the course of 2008, Hugo Chinchilla captured some images of some irresponsible and reckless behavior by some residents of Tegucigalpa. In this post, he posts his top ten photos [es].
Colombia: Top 10 News Events
Victor Solano of ¿Comunicación? [es] lists the top 10 Colombian news events of 2008, with the rescue of Ingrid Betancourt and the other 11 hostages topping the list.
Bolivia: An Interview With Ingrid Betancourt
Boris Miranda, a journalist for the La Paz, Bolivia newspaper La Prensa writes about his recent interview with former FARC hostage Ingrid Betancourt [es] from Colombia, who had been visiting the country.
Guatemala: Handing Out Presents to Residents Living Near Landfill
In the holiday spirit, Javier Hernandez of El Blog de Chapu [es] and his friends visited the garbage landfill in Guatemala City to hand out presents and supplies to the people who live in the area.
Mexico: 15 Years Since Zapatista Army Uprising
It has been 15 years since the uprising of the Zapatista army in the Mexican state of Chiapas, and Ingrid of Vivir México [es] takes a look back.