Stories from 30 August 2009
Israel: Social Media Advances Jewish Identity
How can social media enhance identity? eJewishPhilanthropy reports: “For a people who have fretted over a loss of identity for generation after generation… innovations like Twitter and Facebook are nothing less than, dare we say, a godsend.”
Israel: When Translations Go Wrong
Literal translations aren't always your best bet when moving between Hebrew and English, explains How to Be Israeli. She writes that the movie title “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” which is Biblical in tone in the native English, is translated in Hebrew as “Achi, Efo Atah?” which sounds a lot...
Israel: Hollywood in the Holy Land
September is a major month for Hollywood in the Holy Land. Israel will welcome Madonna, Leonard Cohen, Faith No More, Julio Iglesias, MGMT, and Dinosaur Jr. Both Madonna and Cohen's shows have sold out their 45,000+ seats. Israelity has the scoop.
Hungary: St. Stephen
Hungarian Spectrum writes: “Because there are so many references to St. Stephen nowadays in Hungary I thought I ought to write a post on what ‘Hungary’ looked liked in his days.”
East Timor: “Happy Day” of freedom vote
Timorese bloggers have celebrated the 10th anniversary of the popular referendum which led to the territory's formal independence. One commemorates the "happy day", another recalls his determination to drive out the Indonesian military occupiers, and yet another uses the day to question the current moment in Timor.
Bahrain: One Ramadan and One Eid
The beginning of the holy month of Ramadan depends on the actual sighting of the new moon, resulting in different dates for its start among the various Muslim sects. This year Sunnis and Shi'ites in Bahrain kicked off the month on the same day - and one blogger celebrates this rare unity.
Costa Rica: The Passing of Felipe Granados
Costa Rican writer Felipe Granados recently passed away at the age of 33. Fusil de Chispas [es] is saddened by the loss of the author, who penned such books as Soundtrack.
Chile: Technology Platform of Candidate Sebastian Piñera
Luis Ramirez writes about the technology platform of Chilean Presidential candidate Sebastian Piñera [es] and notes that his proposals include funding for a computer and broadband internet in every household.
Costa Rica: Manuel Mora Valverde Founder of Communist Party
Marco of ¡Que Clío nos guarde! [es] commemorates the 100 year anniversary of the birth of Manuel Mora Valverde, who was the founder and leader of the Communist Party in Costa Rica.
Ecuador: All Aboard the Trolley Bus
The trolley bus system in Quito, Ecuador has been helping to alleviate traffic congestion. A recent experiment invited the city's twitterers to submit live news about riding on this form of public transportation.
Colombia: Another Massacre of the Awá Indigenous Community
Plan Colombia and Beyond writes about the report from the National Organization of Indigenous People about another massacre of members of the Awá indigenous community by an unidentified armed group in the department of Nariño.
Japan: We will not forget Hiroshima and Nagasaki
64 years ago, on the 6th and the 9th of August, atomic bombs were dropped by the U.S. forces on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Over 200,000 people died and every year, ceremonies are held to commemorate those victims and to remind humanity of the horrors of war and of the use...
India: Blogging Tips From An Award Winning Blogger
Amit Varma, one of the most popular Indian bloggers who won many awards in blogging, posts some tips on how to write a successful blog.
Bangladesh: The Traditional Iftar Market At Chawkbazar
Desher Chobi posts some ravishing pictures of the traditional Iftar market at Chawkbazar in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Microsoft Bing has highlighted a photo of this market on their main page a few days ago.
Afghanistan: Voting Day in Photos
On the nation's second-ever election day, Afghan photo bloggers shared pictures from the polls showing military presence as well as voter enthusiasm.
Arab World: Welcoming Ramadan
Ramadan is an important month in the Muslim calendar. Bloggers writing in Arabic celebrate the month, already in its first week, in this post, where we share some of the artistic creations used to greet their readers on the month.
