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Misplaced priorities.

174 killed in Mumbai. 200 killed in Jos, Nigeria. 8 killed in Karachi. Gaza experiencing a humanitarian crisis. Airports in Bangkok are almost entirely shut down. And what’s in the news here in the States? Obama’s choosing Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.

30.11.2008

3 Comments

Lemmings

Will at KABOBfest already covered this one well, but I apparently cannot leave well enough alone. Yesterday, Yazan pointed out to me that there’s a Facebook group that opposes a mysteriously Kaaba-like building in New York. Now that I’ve read it all over, I realize that the group is slightly outdated, but that leaves me [...]

29.11.2008

9 Comments

Blogging in Iran

While we await news about Hossein Derakhshan, the “Blogfather of the Iranian blogosphere,” it’s worth learning a little more about why blogging is so valued in Iran. This video, by the Vancouver Film School, demonstrates a bit about the blogging revolution happening there: Iran: A nation of bloggers from Mr.Aaron on Vimeo. But the video [...]

27.11.2008

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Nostalgia for something you’ve never had…

…Someone really ought to define that. I wonder if any other languages have a special term for this phenomenon that I have experienced all too many times before. One of my favorite things about traveling – perhaps even the primary reason I do it – is catching glimpses, however brief, into the lives of others. [...]

26.11.2008

1 Comment

Free Hoder?

Following my posts here and at the Huffington Post regarding the “arrest” of blogger Hossein Derakhshan (aka Hoder), I realize that perhaps my pronouncements were premature. Many of you are following this story with skeptical eyes, and I want you to know: so am I. For those of you who aren’t so aware of what’s [...]

24.11.2008

2 Comments

Brouhaha over Al-Manar

It’s amazing to me to hear outrage in the U.S. over Germany’s decision to block Al-Manar TV. Al-Manar is a Beirut-based TV station considered the “mouthpiece of Hezbollah” (media’s words, not mine). It is also banned in the United States, hence my surprise (another point of surprise comes from intelligent liberals who are arguing for [...]

24.11.2008

5 Comments

Free Hoder

You may have heard by now that Hoder (Hossein Derakhshan), the “Godfather of the Iranian blogosphere,” has been arrested after returning to Tehran (he holds Canadian citizenship). The story is being told elsewhere, including by me at the Huffington Post. There is a list of media resources at the “Free Hossein Derakhshan” Facebook group, which [...]

19.11.2008

3 Comments

Fall

Walking across Harvard Yard this morning, I noticed a subtle difference. Whereas last week, the leaves were brown, yellow, orange, with hints of green and red, today they’re gone. There are some on the ground, sure, but all the trees are bare and there’s nothing left to shelter my eyes from the glaring sun. This [...]

17.11.2008

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Un-Vettable

Rarely do I double-blog, but I think this one’s worth it. Originally posted at KABOBfest: If you want to work for Obama, you’ll have to be vetted even more strongly than Sarah Palin was for the potential job of vice president. In fact, with the questions on the job application, Rahm Emanuel would’ve likely been [...]

16.11.2008

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Facebook Zionism?

As I mentioned on KABOBfest this morning, I was unable to post this story from Haaretz on Facebook due to the fact that, apparently, users found the content offensive. Oh, really? They found Rahm Emanuel’s apology to the ADC for his father’s digusting remarks about Arabs offensive?

14.11.2008

5 Comments

Bananas!

Does anyone else remember this show? I do. My middle school friend Emily and I used to sing the theme song, accent and all. It was pretty much my favorite thing in eighth grade (in an ironic way, mind you).

11.11.2008

2 Comments

On Humility

For days, I’ve tried to come up with something to write about, in order to bump off that horrendous dead liveblog sitting in the middle of my blog.  I thought about posting on Rahm Emanuel, but another blogger already said more than I possibly could (if you follow that link, know that while I don’t [...]

11.11.2008

4 Comments

Voices without Votes is Liveblogging the Elections!

Starting immediately, Voices without Votes will be liveblogging global reactions as we see them. Our global bloggers will answer your questions, analyze incoming results, and share blog and Twitter links. Join us now!

04.11.2008

6 Comments

I voted, now what?

I’ll make this one brief. If you’re American, you ought to have voted by now. I have: If you haven’t, do it. If you have, here’s a bunch of fun and interesting links to check out while you wait for the results to roll in: -Voices without Votes: The baby that I will miss tremendously [...]

04.11.2008

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Election Day Freebies!

I like my sale clothes better than my full price clothes, and I proudly announce when I’m wearing a free t-shirt. In fact, I stood in a line for over two hours a few weeks ago for an ugly free t-shirt that I’ll only wear around the house. In other words, I love freebies! So [...]

03.11.2008

3 Comments

On the radio!

Interested in hearing my radio voice? I’m kind of proud of how it’s matured since last time I did a radio interview (um, 2003?) Thanks to my GV friend and colleague Deborah Dilley, I was invited to speak about Voices without Votes on New Hampshire Public Radio today! I was very nervous and it got [...]

03.11.2008

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