Global Voices Online

“I haven't worn shoes for 6 years now and offically have ‘Beach Feet,'” writes Belize Caribbean Colors, an American transplanted to Belize. “Beach feet are a definite separation between the big toe and the second toe. Its also when your toes are more permanently spread apart from walking barefoot in the sand.”

Digenis posts part 2 of a series on Moscow's Stalin-era skyscrapers, the Seven Sisters. “The exact number of apartments [in the building on Kotelnicheskaya Naberezhnaya] has been rather difficult to track down. […] anywhere from 344 to ‘about 800′.”

Barbados Free Press links to an Australian newspaper article highlighting the mother and daughter who are members of the Barbadian netball team contesting the Commonwealth Games.

Peoplehouse is a recently-started blog which appears to be by Ugandan journalist David Kaiza and consists, so far, of selected pieces of his writing. His most recent post is an appreciation of the novelist V.S. Naipaul written in the year that Naipaul won the Nobel prize for literature.

There are great pictures of Nigerian census-takers on Edward Popoola's Jangbalajugbu-Homeland Stories but he feels the operation, while necessary, could be better organised.

Msanii XL has posted a hip-hop podcast which features artists from a range of countries, but if you want your hip-hop in Swahili don't forget to check his radio blog player in the sidebar.

At Congo Watch there's the announcement of a new website called Friends of the Congo. There is also a Friends of the Congo Blog. Both sites have as their masthead a quotation from famous former Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba:

“We are not alone. Africa, Asia, and free and liberated people from every corner of the world will always be found at the side of the Congolese”

Most articles about blogging emphasise the positive empowering aspects, but as black looks points out it also gives freedom to abuse. She says speaking out is the best way to combat the bullying.

The Accidental Russophile examines life and work of Russian illustrator Ivan Bilibin.