Global Voices Online

Alan Patrick is back with his fifth installment of the Buenos Aires Blog Roundup including a nod to a Baires blogger-cum-body-waxer who graciously clarifies, “I dont even mind if you ask me to do shapes like hearts and stars in it.” If you'd like to get to know more about Patrick himself, (like the fact that it's not his real last name), check out his five things meme. Following the meme, Global Voices contributor Jorge Gobbi was tagged by both Alan Patrick and Rodrigo. We learn [ES that Gobbi once worked in a supermarket, first studied Anthropology before switching to Communication, and that his first purchased album was “The Head on the door” by The Cure.

Ben Paarmann marks the expiration of the mandate of Uzbekistan's president, Islam Karimov. The funny thing is, he still is in office, and there has been no public mention of coming elections. Ben explains what is going on, and speculates on different ways that the president may extend his time in office.

Highlighting Colombian music released with Creative Commons licenses, Carolina Botero presents the album “Colombitis” [ES] by trio “Colombita.” Also mentioned are “Gaita Negra” and salsa group Calambuco whose songs can be heard on hi5.

Some recent posts commenting on the supposed radical nature of feminism or the behaviour of women have Falstaff asking if it's National Chauvinism Week. Kaleidoglide asks where she can find these fantastic beasts.

KZBlog notes that doctors and officials who made errors leading to the infection of 84 children and 12 women with HIV in the southern Kazakhstani city of Shymkent have been charged with crimes, and that a new report says Kazakhstan has 7,000 HIV case, though the real figure is probably much higher. KZBlog says that the Shymkent case has raised awareness of HIV/AIDS, but that it is not yet clear whether or not it has changed the common belief that those infected with the disease did something wrong.

Onnik Krikorian links to Gavar Special School, a school educating special needs students in Armenia's Gegharkunik Region. He goes on to discuss how blogs are better than static sites for drawing attention to charities and also for improving news websites.

Armenia Blog notes that Richard Hoagland has again been nominated as US ambassador to Armenia. Armenia Blog urges Armenians in the US to oppose Hoagland's nomination because he does not recognize the Armenian genocide.

A rally calling for the resignation of Governor Manfred Reyes Villa turned violent in Cochabamba on Monday, writes Cochabamba resident Jim Shultz, who goes on to detail the political fall out, concluding that the call for Reyes-Villa’s resignation was “a political miscalculation.” Day two resulted in an even larger - though violence free - march. Miguel Buitrago has more analysis, reporting that “the opposition in Santa Cruz with the voice of the State Government, expressed its alarm and warned the government that if such acts would want to be promoted in Santa Cruz, the state government would act against them. Jose Luis Paredes, Prefect of La Paz, also condemned with the same alarm the events in Cochabamba.”

Colin Brayton translates a post from Cesar Maia, ex-mayor of Rio de Janeiro on that funny friendship between politicians and the media.