BLOGS ROUNDUP

February 22, 2012

Could sabotage procedures against the Syrian regime put the U.S. and the Syrian resistance in hot water?
22:15 GMT
Sabotage is one way to get what you want, but should the Syrian resistance be using such tactics? ; Sometimes leaving is the only way to keep loving your homeland; Two Jordanian bloggers reflects on that heartbreaking subject, coming of age; Are the standards around monogamy too high?
Like a tattoo, Khader Adnan is marked onto the pages of Palestinian history. (Image source: "electronicintifada.net")
11:15 GMT
In light of Palestinian hunger striker, Khader Adnan's release date, supporters, activists and family are rejoicing; Sorrow spills over over the death of Syrian online activist Rami Ahmad Al Sayid; Tunisian journalists have a big responsibility towards change.

February 21, 2012

Intestines- Mightier than the pen and the sword.
19:01 GMT
“The Battle of empty Intestines"- In light of Khader Adnan's struggle, here's a history of hunger strikers in Palestine; Yemen's Ali Abdullah Saleh bids adieu, but have we seen the last of him? ; The Foreign Guide to the Maneuvering Beirut's city streets; Does the Arab Spring have room for an Algerian revolution?
Twitter censorship: Kuwaiti Mohammad al-Mulaifi is not the first and won't be the last to be arrested for 'controversial' tweets. (image source: "theverge.com")
09:06 GMT
Due to a remark deemed anti-Shia, Kuwaiti Mohammad al-Mulaifi has been detained. He's not the first or the last to be arrested due to Twitter's censorship minefield; The Arab Spring was a secularist failure; Lebanese menus get pescatarian for Lent; Lebanese celebrity weddings.

February 20, 2012

The sands of time may rip at this flag, but the resolve of the Libyan people remains.
13:34 GMT
With one of the most bizarre dictators, Libya can celebrate its freedom one year on from the revolution; Morocco's main telecom provider blocks Skype; Egypt's NGO controversy- Has the U.S. gone too far? ; More of that Middle Eastern "flowery behavior".
The Syrian flag hangs hight, but is still surrounded by unrest- on- and offline.
09:06 GMT
Syria's ordeals is going on beyond its ravaged streets and hidden shelters. These battles are extended to the intangible online world. From arrested bloggers to pro-regime trolls, these bloggers lament, contemplate and discuss all things Syria.

February 19, 2012

Even FBI agents do a "whoopsie". Luckily, Obama made it safe and sound to the G20 Summit in France.
14:03 GMT
A Lebanese man working in a French cafe managed to save Obama's France visit security dossier from getting into the wrong hands; Arming the Syrian Free Army- yay or nay? ; Playing the dumb foreigner won't get you out of domestic abuse charges- who knew! ; Books- a love story; Are smart women just settling?
A special 'massage' device in 1960's Lebanon uncovered- shown for illustrative purposes.
09:59 GMT
A rare find on the streets of Lebanon gives good vibrations; The new child custody laws of Jordan; Is Islamic hegemony overwhelming Egypt's non-Muslim community? ; The awkward moment when Microsoft's new logo is made on a Mac- one blogger discovers; Kuwait shows its love of vintage cars.

February 18, 2012

Razan Ghazzawi was arrested at work, according to her sister Nadine. (Image source: "imowblog.blogspot.com")
06:30 GMT
As the Syrian regime clutches at straws, iconic Syrian blogger Razan Ghazzawi is arrested again; Revered and beloved journalist Anthony Shadid passed away in Syria; The Lebanese Civil War is over and the electricity still isn't back; Fashion Recessionista Arab-style.

February 16, 2012

Hosni Mubarak on a gurney, Suzanne Mubarak possibly under house arrest- these two have probably seen better Valentine's Days.
14:54 GMT
Egyptian Valentine's Day jokes from the heart of the revolution; Israelis make inappropriate comments about Palestinian children deaths on Facebook; Saudi humor T-shirts, ranging from cool to laugh out loud funny; Beirut's night time activities revealed; Friendship- that everlasting love.
Khader Adnan was not the first and will not be the last to be imprisoned for reasons unknown- shown for illustrative purposes.
09:58 GMT
Self-sacrifice is nothing new to the Holy Land. Palestinian Prisoner, Khader Adnan, is on Day 61- and counting- of his hunger strike, wasting away for unjust imprisonment; Syrian smartphones can't outsmart censoring software; The CIA Country Infiltration Guide- unofficially.

February 15, 2012

This isn't the first time that Google has found itself in a less than savory position in the complex world of international relations.
14:29 GMT
Adding to its banning wish list, Iran has blocked more of Google's products, including YouTube and Gmail; Caricatures via banners should be the next big thing; Breakfast dessert could help you lose weight, studies say; Lost your passport in Jordan? Here's a how-to-guide on dealing with this monumentally irritating situation.
Passion. Strife. Separation. Tragedy. Just another day in Middle Eastern Romantic folklore. (Image source: "fandor.com")
11:48 GMT
Shakespeare isn't the only one to master romantic tragedy. It has been the bread and olive oil of Arab folklore for centuries; What you didn't know about female genital mutilation; The Lebanese are ranked #6 on the list of most romantic around the world; Feb 14 or Hariri Day? ; Palestine Press Photos from across history.

February 14, 2012

One year on: Bahrain is still the least fiery of the revolutions.
14:37 GMT
It is one year today since the 'Bahraini' Spring. Activists and citizens alike wonder, will this undercooked revolution reach full ignition? ; Playing the Valentine's Day blame game: Blame it on yourself, not religion; Battered, but unshaken: The Syrian resistance keeps powering through; Interview with an Egyptian Presidential Candidate.
Even Israeli apartheid will not put a damper on Valentine's Day in Palestine.
10:30 GMT
Israeli apartheid may stand in the way of love geographically, but not in spirit; Lebanese February 14th memes; Palestinian refugees are not getting any more love from UNRWA this year; Demonstrations Jordanian-style; Kuwait implements public smoking ban- maybe.

February 13, 2012

Valentine's Day or Single Awareness Day? Depends on what side of the crumpled wrapping paper you're looking at.
13:58 GMT
Your guide to surviving the glare and stigma of Single Awareness Day, the one day of the year dedicated to making singles feel worthless; One woman's experience marrying a closeted gay man; Your guide to writing about Salfis; 10 Photos that represent the Arab Spring.
There is no lack of wondrous bookshops, as can be seen in this bookstore in China.
10:29 GMT
Do you love bookshops? Yes? Then you're going to love these 20 stunning bookshops from around the globe; 'Cinderella' may never have demanded her rights, but that doesn't mean every woman shouldn't; Happy Darwin Day! ; The dilemma of corruption in Palestine.

February 12, 2012

Whitney Houston as some of us will remember her. She passed away at the age of 48.
14:56 GMT
Greatly popular in the Middle East, Whitney Houston has passed away at the age of 48 in the infamous Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles; Asma Al Assad's fake official website gets "hacked"; More on the Syrian debate; A Mexican experiences the oddity that is Beirut; Innovation in design: amazingly cool shelves made out of pipes!
In spite of Mubarak's ousting and Baradei's withdrawal, are there viable alternatives for the presidential candidacy?
08:53 GMT
Mohamed El Baradei's refuters claim he was not up to the responsibility in the first place; 700 Palestinian prisoners start a hunger strike; What if western media was from the point of view of Iran? American comedy website The Onion explores; Make your own Valentine's Day- themed frame.

February 11, 2012

The future is burning bright for Dubai's international status, but big business seems to be eating up smaller competition.
16:54 GMT
Is Dubai, in fact, the last place for new business? Business experts weigh in; A rebuttal for the "Shit People Say About Israel" video; Kuwait Times gets.. interesting.. with its editorial picture choices; The problem with "cultured" people and pseudo-intellectuals.

February 9, 2012

The Holy Kingdom of the two Mosques is the last setting for slurs on the Prophet (PBUH).
15:04 GMT
Hamza Kashgari has since fled the scene of his "crime" against the Prophet (PBUH); 1 Human year = 12 months. 1 Lebanese prison year = 9 months; The American Red Cross doesn't recognize Palestine in its database; The full text of the Doha Declaration between Hamas and Fatah; An act of kindness in giving away a (sterling) pound.
Apparently, employers in the Middle East favor skills over experience.
10:31 GMT
In Spite of today's difficult employment terrain, here are some reassuring stats of hiring practices in the Middle Eastern; A Saudi journalist flees his homeland over controversial tweets; Is Syria the new problem state of the region? ; Political prisoner Khader Adnan is on Day 54 of his hunger strike; Electronic engineers = quirky artists? Apparently, so.

February 8, 2012

A Still from the video "Shit Middle Eastern Guys Say".
14:38 GMT
In response to the "Shit Middle Eastern Girls Say" phenomenon, here's some stuff that you might hear Middle Eastern guys say; Challenging Middle Eastern cultural codes, break dancing finds its way to Gaza; Not all donating is charity- donating arms creates moral ambiguities; Russian FM Lavrov's visit yields mixed reactions.
Shown for illustrative purposes- Writing: Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
09:01 GMT
Much like a steps program, writing has similar phases that all writers have to endure; Charlie Chaplain's vintage, somewhat obscure speech on dictatorship still resonates 70 years later; The violence of a word: Why this blogger speaks against the word "binit"; Female friends = unsubtle matchmakers.

February 7, 2012

Shown for illustrative purposes- Could this sexist perception change with more women behind the camera?
14:39 GMT
According to Lebanese sketch and comedy shows, rape humor is the norm and women are nothing but superficial shopholics. Is this what comedy has degenerated into? ; Gaza is a beacon of hidden historical treasures and artifacts; Lebanon suffers from "first world problems"- Stuck without Skybar!
Jordan's military has toughened up over the last decade.
10:33 GMT
Surprisingly, Jordan has been listed the 5th most militarized country in the world! What's more shocking is that the U.S. isn't even in the top five! ; Jordan needs to care more about climate change- or else; Would you marry a plumber? ; Maya Diab shows that less.. is less; Make your own Valentine's Day card this year!

February 6, 2012

Shown strictly for illustrative purposes- Hilary Clinton speaks to the Press at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.
15:08 GMT
The U.S. has been critical of China and Russia's decision to veto, but seems to have overlooked its own 241 or so vetoes in the past 40 years; Cairo isn't the only place with instability; Kuwait's election disappointment; The Saudi women drivers saga continued.
Ayotallah Khomeini's cardboard replica doing the rounds. Looks just like the real thing.
12:59 GMT
Iran goes the unconventional route with the 33rd anniversary of Ayatollah Khomeini's return- by having a cardboard cut-out of him travel around the country- No, seriously; Egypt's university student unions are set to protest; Egypt- from Camel Battle to teargas; Beginning or end, there is no middle for this blogger; "Satan's" bad day at the office- sketch.

February 5, 2012

Honor killings are considered misrepresentations of holy texts.
14:34 GMT
In light of the recent honor killing shocker in Canada, a Canadian imam intends to release a fatwa opposing honor killings; The conundrum of sexual harassment for women; Show your support for the Syrian people; Vittorio Arrigoni's birthday postmortem.
Shown for illustrative purposes- Demonstrating actors in New York, speaking out against Bashar and Putin.
11:02 GMT
Separated by thirty years, parallels between the Homs and Hama massacres cannot be overlooked; It's looking like murder by number in Egypt; An in depth look at the Port Said tragedy; Muslim protesters show that NYPD so-called "anti-terrorist" training is unacceptable.