Stories about Arts & Culture from May, 2007
Estonia: The Emperor's Menu
Nami-Nami examines the menu of the Emperor of Japan during his recent visit to Estonia: “The only ‘outsider’ is the snow crab, which was caught in Kamtchatka.”
Russia: Off-the-Beaten-Path Research
Darkness at Noon blogs on his scientific research from “a run-down bus station in a little village about 2 hours outside of Lipetsk, which is itself about 10 hours from Moscow by train”: “Never did I think I would long for Moscow so intensely, but after a week in and...
Arabeyes: Short Skirts Looked Down at in Tunisia
From a conversation about her friend Fatima, Tunisian blogger Maheva takes us deep into an argument about education, freedom of choice and personal preferences. Click to read the full translation.
China: Lost in “preservation”
Wang Jun comments that media attention has succeed in preserving part of “old Beijing”, however, the old part might still get lost in actual preservation plan, as it allows rebuilding and radical renovation (zh).
Pakistan: East and West Punjab
I, Me, Myself in Punjab, Pakistan – and reflecting on the similarities with the Punjab in India. “Then there were the sights and sounds of a Punjab that I had only read about in books or heard about from my elders. There were children studying in a village school in...
Swahili Blogosphere: Higher Education Blame Game, Miss Universe, and Personal Privacy vs. Public Life
Hardship is the name of the game, it seems, for Tanzania's higher education students both at home and abroad. While the University of Dar Es Salaam has readmitted all the suspended students after the recent students’ strike over ‘unaffordable fees’, another crisis over students funds ensues for Tanzanians in Ukraine....
Pakistan: The Urs
Metroblogging Islamabad with a brief post on the urs of Bari Imam. “His yearly urs, celebrated in these days of the year, is attended by thousands of devotees from all over the country. The urs, now becoming a festivity for many city dwellers and people coming from across various villages,...
Mauritius: a new book on art in Mauritius
An announcement about a new book on art in Mauritius: “Art in Mauritius – Post Independence issues and perspectives is being launched on Wednesday 30th May 2007 at the 26th Salon de Mai, at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute’s School of Fine Arts in Moka.”
Jamaica: Thank You, Miss Lou
“Miss Lou in her life and poetry had many things to teach us. And she taught in a way that only the best teachers can—without us knowing.” Geoffrey Philp pays tribute to a Jamaican cultural icon.
Mexico: Shakira Concert in the Zocalo
More than 200,000 fans of the Colombian singer Shakira packed Mexico City's Zocalo to attend a free concert. Many of the fans waited the day before for a chance to get close to the stage, and when she did begin performing they were not disappointed. Dfinitivo [ES] r
Brazilian Express Loves (and jealousy) around the world
The Brazilian blogosphere entered in alert a few weeks ago when the major publish house Companhia das Letras (PT) announced a huge literary project. Idealized by Rodrigo Teixeira, the project called Express Loves (Amores Expressos) wants to take 16 writers to 16 cities around the world for a one month trip. Shanghai, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Lisbon, Berlin, Cairo, Saint Petersburg and São Paulo are some among those chosen cities. At the end, each one of them must write a love history tied with those cities. All in 90 days.
Panama: Political Season Heating Up, The Return of Noriega, and Crime in Panama: a Love Story
Presidential elections in Panama are not scheduled until May 2009, but bloggers are already keeping a watchful eye out for any developments. Another interesting turn of events that will arrive sooner than the elections is the expected release of former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega. Finally, in addition to blog entries about visas, travel and food, one blogger's hopeful encounter with a beautiful woman turns out to be something more unexpected and less appealing.
Lebanon: More on the Crisis in the Country
For the second week, Lebanese bloggers have posted anecdotes, reflections, updates, photos, videos, jokes, sarcasm and drawings on the issue that is taking precedence over all other topics. The issue is the ongoing violence which is taking the form of clashes in the north between the army and the militants and the terrorist explosions jumping from one location to another around the country, writes Moussa Bashir.
Bulgaria: Academy of Sciences Tour
Sofia's Hidden Beauty tours the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Poland: “A Teletubby in the Closet”
The beatroot writes on the Polish Children’s Ombudsman (Ombudswoman) Ewa Sowinska and her discovery of a “Teletubby in the closet.”
Albania: Paramotor Photos
A sampling of Alket Islami's pictures of Albania from the air – over at Our Man in Tirana.
Corruption in Senegal
Le Blog Politique du Senegal posts data on the incidence of corruption in Senegal and reminds us that the definition of corruption differs around the world; in Senegal, the practice of exchanging gifts is deeply rooted in traditional culture.
Belarus: Blogger br23/Uładzimer Katkoŭski Passes Away
Belarusian blogger Uładzimer Katkoŭski/br23 passed away in Prague on May 25 at the age of 30. As one of his online friends wrote, "To a large degree thanks to his effort Belarusian-language Internet is now what it is."
Kuwait: What Kuwaitis Did This Week?
It's been yet another busy week for Kuwaiti bloggers who give us a break down of their day to day activities. While one contemplates why he should register to attend a film festival, others are visiting relatives and friends, ordering lunches in, comparing hypermarket prices and scrutinising Google Earth for places they didn't know existed in their country. Abdullatif Al Omar has more.
Japan: Miss Universe
Marie Mockett from Japundit comments on Miss Japan, Riyo Mori, who has just taken the crown of Miss Universe pagent: As long as the Japanese were sticking to their version of “kawaii,” they were never going to win a thing.
China: Graffiti art in Shanghai
Panthea Lee wrote a report on graffiti art in Shanghai at Shanghaiist.
