Stories about Ideas from August, 2008
Egypt: Respecting Traffic Lights
What does people's attitudes towards crossing the road have to do with where their country stands in the world? Egyptian blogger Egyptian in the USA brings us the answer in this translation from Arabic.
Libya: The Ramadan Special
Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, begins in all parts of the Islamic world. Depending on where you are located, it could have either started, will start tomorrow or even Tuesday in some areas. Fozia Mohamad shares the Ramadan spirit from Libyan blogs in this post.
China: gold medals=a great power in sports?
51 gold medals, a comment of "truly exceptional" from IOC, and spectacular images left to the world, China held a real party of sports in 16-day Olympics. But does this achievement necessarily mean China has been a super power in sports, and even common people could fully enjoy the glory and health brought by sports?
Saudi Arabia: Independent women
While there are no doubt restrictions for women living in Saudi Arabia, they do not necessarily match the oppressive image that many foreigners have of the country. In this post we have advice for women wanting to visit Jeddah alone, a review of a women-only hotel in Riyadh, and a plea to those foreigners who feel they want to speak on behalf of oppressed Saudi women.
Brazil: Digital TV with Digital Rights Managements
Sérgio Amadeu [pt] has just learned that the Brazilian National Standards Organization is considering to have Digital TV setup boxes with DRM (Digital Rights Managements). “It is unfortunate that such an issue is decided by a small group of technicians. This decision is not purely technical, it has extremely serious...
Africa: Mutual Aid Between African Bloggers
Ramon writes about his recent drive to create stronger relationships between South African bloggers and bloggers from the rest of Africa.
Brazil: Rights of bloggers, rights of blog readers
Brazilian blogger Alex Castro [pt] posts the Terms of Use of his blog, among them the rights of bloggers and of blog readers. “Blog readers should remember that reading and commenting on a blog is a privilege that can be revoked at any time. Nobody has the “right” to read...
Saudi Arabia: Criticism for the sake of it
At a social gathering, Saudi blogger Broken Wing meets an annoying woman who is full of criticism of Saudi Arabia: ‘I am not a fan of what Saudi offers to its citizens, but I don’t find sitting around in a place full of people from other countries and start criticizing...
Saudi Arabia: Off the road
Desert Flower, an American Muslim living in Saudi Arabia, is tired of not being permitted to drive: ‘…it gets down right stupid when you have to schedule an appointment to go grocery shopping or to get to the pharmacy or the doctor for that matter.’
Jordan: Hanging On
Jordanian blogger Roba Al Assi pays tribute to a decade old pair of sneakers in this post.
Jordan: Ramadhan, Prayers and Clean Blogging
With very little to go before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan, which is signalled by the sighting of the new moon with the naked eye, Jordan's blogs are already abuzz with greetings, religious observations and personal promises.
Jamaica: Athletic Subversion
“Jamaica's garrison politics found its way onto the Olympics stage in two performances – once in a scintillating display of athletic grace and vigor, and once in a celebratory performance of the “gully creepa”: Abeng News Magazine explains.
Brazil: Independent newspaper arrives to the web
Jornal Pessoal [Personal Newspaper, pt], an independent newspaper that goes out every other week since 1987 in the outskirt of Amazon, Belém do Pará city in Brazil, has finally arrived to the Internet, announces [pt] the one-man behind the project, Lúcio Flávio Pinto. He is now working on making the...
Sao Tome and Principe: Reflecting on value crises
Wilson Bragança [pt] talks about value crises, a subject that tends to repeat itself cyclically in all generations. “What seems to be happening now, in our society, is that conduct, standards and overall sense of individual and community life are not based on ethical standards, values, but the immediate criteria,...
UAE: Market for Fish Podiatrists
The Emirates Economist believes there is a market for fish podiatrists in Dubai.
Palestine: I want a vending machine
“I don’t care how much those suckers cost, I will even take a loan out, and I will buy a vending machine!” writes Palestinian Rebellious Arab Girl, who lives in Canada. She complains that the cost of soft drinks and candy have increased on campus.
World: Dolls of the world
Australian Blogger Ange, from Hegab-Rehab, wrote about a collection of few dolls gathered from all around the world, some are Muslim dolls and others are just ethnic-based.
Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica: People Power
“The pictures of the Jamaican track teams facilities haunt me. But what they prove, perhaps is that all the high tech this, that and the other can’t take the place of the sheer power of the human spirit”: Trinidadian blogger Attillah Springer wonders “if we have what it takes to...
Jamaica: Patwa Power
Annie Paul gives a rundown of Jamaica's outstanding Olympic achievements, making the point that “the phenomenal performance of the Jamaican athletes is also due to the cultural self-confidence they feel…this is not a confidence manufactured by the abjectly self-conscious, respectability-seeking, hymn-singing English-speaking middle classes but one bred out of the...
Bahamas, Guyana: Walcott's Warning
At the opening of the Carifesta Symposia in Guyana, Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott warned that regional governments are killing their artists – making Bahamian blogger Nicolette Bethel even more convinced that her decision to resign her post as Director of Culture for the Bahamas Government is the right one.
Anguilla, Bermuda: Parental Liability
Bermuda considers passing legislation that would make parents liable for the criminal behaviour of their children. Corruption-free Anguilla thinks the idea has merit: “It is what happens or does not happen in the home that decides whether or not a child grows up to be a pillar of society or...
