Blogs Roundup

January 23, 2013

Nathalie plans to rack up the votes in her run for Lebanese parliament.
Owner of modeling agency Nathaly Fadlallah to run for Lebanese Parliament
10:00 GMT
Nathaly Fadlallah, owner of a modelling agency in Lebanon, lately announced she’s going to be a candidate in the next Lebanese elections; Obama’s Inaugural and the Danger of an Iran War; and letters from Syrians outside of Syria.
Jordan's elections show no hints of a Brotherhood presence since they are boycotting.
Muslim Brotherhood boycotting today's Jordanian elections
07:06 GMT
Many of the parliamentary seats in Jordan will be won by ‘independents’ who support Jordan’s monarchy and not the Muslim Brotherhood; the making of the Kuwait Fireworks Guinness World Record; and a documentary about America's covert wars.

January 22, 2013

When it comes to who wins the elections in Israel, most Palestinians could care less.
'Nothing really matters' is the election attitude in Palestine
10:00 GMT
Finding consensus in Palestine's fractious politics is often difficult, but there is one thing virtually all Palestinians agree on - it doesn't matter who wins Israel's election; Egypt's sinking schools; and Obama's failure in Syria.
Another 4 years of drone bombings in Yemen is nothing to smile about for President Obama.
Another four years of 'Yes, we can drone Yemen!'
04:00 GMT
Yemeni blogger Afrah Nasser offers a warm serving of congratulations dripping in sarcasm to President Obama; Is Lebanon a Federal or Unitary Republic? Have you tried horsemeat? and Qatar buying up Egyptian land.

January 21, 2013

Gay Arabs: Is this an oxymoron or is such a thing true to Arab culture without the West to blame?
Is it the Western media that makes Arabs gay?
10:00 GMT
“Not Quite the Taliban” poses an interesting and different perspective on the ability to mix culture and religion with the impact of Western influence; Christian center opens in Iraq; Facebook likes are like votes; and fashion police make an arrest.
Jordan elections coming soon and according to some, things look a little better for democracy.
Reforms change the outlook of Jordan's upcoming elections
04:00 GMT
While the system looks much like the elections from last decade, significant reforms makes Jordan's 2013 elections hopeful; thriving startups in Jordan; more parodies on the Orthodox law video and the Brotherhood may have gotten something right.

January 20, 2013

Syrian President Bashar Assad would rather destroy his own country than give up control of it.
If Assad has to go down, he's taking Syria with him
09:43 GMT
Syria is dying. Bashar al-Assad has made it clear that the price of his removal is the death of the nation and the shift to armed insurgency has produced catastrophic results; Saudi Arabia: 2012 Year in Review; and photos from the Salafi-Jihadi Protest at the French Embassy.
Noam Chomsky is no pushover when it comes to completely lying about what he has said. (Getty Images)
Noam Chomsky calls out an Egyptian TV station for misquoting him
04:00 GMT
Chomsky recently sent Egyptian TV station Youm 7 an email where he made it clear all the quotes were untrue; 3 reasons to be ashamed of Yemen's leader visiting Bahrain; and why is Turkey really in Somalia?

January 19, 2013

A Who's Who of the Al-Queda groups in the MENA region (image courtesy of freakingnews.com) .
A Dummy's Guide to Al-Queda in the Middle East North Africa
04:00 GMT
Understanding Al-Queda is a bold task but Karl reMArx has the complete guide to the who's who in MENA AlQueda groups: women playing greater role in refugee camps; and another sneak peak at the new C7 Corvette Stingray.

January 17, 2013

Afer initially fighting stereotypes in Hollywood, it seems portraying Muslims as terrorists is back in style.
American movies and media still strongly Islamophobic
13:26 GMT
Homeland and Zero Dark Thirty are the latest in a stream of increasing media that portays Arabs and Muslims as people to be feared; a beginner’s guide to Lebanon’s oil and gas and Google expands its Street View coverage in Israel .
Do the Lebanese Christians have it a lot better than they think they do?
Not enough Cross and too much Crescent in Lebanese Government?
07:31 GMT
Are Lebanese Christians really being under represented in their government? Some would say quite the opposite; the growing pains of Salafi politics; and 4 Jordanian gaming startups go out of business.

January 16, 2013

For one night, the Lebanese had to find their shawarma somewhere else!
No Arabs allowed: Cheyef 7alak enacts reverse discrimination on the Lebanese
10:58 GMT
In response to discrimination in Lebanon, Cheyef 7alak decided to reserve a whole restaurant for a group of foreigners and for once turn away the Lebanese who tried to enter! a small step for womankind in Saudi; and bungee in Kuwait?
King Abdullah is redefining Saudi leadership with his decision to appoint 30 women in the Saudi parliament.
For first time ever, Saudi King appoints 30 women to Shura Council
05:00 GMT
King Abdullah will likely be remembered as one of the most progressive leaders in Saudi Arabia’s history and particularly in regards to rights for Saudi women; Samsung Introduces World’s First Curved OLED TV at CES 2013; and MTV Lebanon’s website hacked.

January 15, 2013

Want to be part of Egyptian school curriculum as a female leader? You better be wearing a hijab!
Egyptian Textbook Bias: from cover to cover, women must be covered
11:32 GMT
The picture of a women’s rights pioneer was deleted from a high school textbook because she was not wearing a hijab; Apple has new plans for the new iPhone; animal abused at Kuwaiti Zoo; and two Lebanese woman making a difference.
Jessica Alba was one of many stars that shined extra bright at the Golden Globes.(photo courtesy of temptalia.com)
Fashion hits and misses from the 2013 Golden Globes
08:06 GMT
One Arab blogger gives her takes on the outfits that sizzled and those that fizzled out at this year's Golden Globes; Saudi Arabia: Should Customers Be Levied an Additional Charge for an Unfinished Meal? and the unorthodox Orthodox Proposal in Lebanon.