Blogs Roundup

March 6, 2013

With rules that harken back to the Apartheid era in South Africa, Palestinians are calling out the Israeli government for making them feel like second class citizens. (image courtesy of activestills.org)
Apartheid much? “Palestinian Only” bus system in Israel
10:00 GMT
There's no better way to keep people from working out their differences and prejudice than to make them ride separate buses; the Shiites are coming to Egypt; Brotherhood gets trounced in student elections; and Porsche’s new GT3 has arrived.
In Lebanon, a yellow card made footballers so red-faced, they gave a black eye to the now blue referee.
Caught on Tape: Lebanese football players and coaches attack referee
04:00 GMT
An official gives a yellow card at the end of a match and the players respond by literally punching and kicking the referee in the head; Shmeisani, Amman is slowly dying; policy changes in Egypt; and Obama to receive Khatib and FSA chief of staff.

March 5, 2013

The new Tomb Raider will have an Arab version and Nadine Njeim fits the part of Lara Croft to a tee. (image courtesy of Gamerekon )
Move over Angelina Jolie! Miss Lebanon 2007 is the next Lara Croft
10:00 GMT
Lara Croft will be speaking in Arabic in the new Tomb Raider game series with Miss Lebanon 2007, Nadine Njeim, lending her voice to the character; the Birdman of Jeddah; Assad’s full interview with Hala Jaber; and the Lebanese lower class always get the shaft.
Petra is among the Seventh Wonders of the World for good reason.
See Petra through the eyes of a skeptic turned lover
04:00 GMT
A family somehow went to Petra in Jordan expecting boring rocks and came home overwhelmed by its amazing beauty; Arabs make the list of richest men; Saudi marriage gone awry; and Israel lobbys for exceptions and permission.

March 4, 2013

The kidnapping business in Lebanon has turned lucrative and entirely too easy. (image for illustrative purposes only)
Easy money in Lebanon - Kidnapping without fear of reprisal
11:11 GMT
Last year in Lebanon, groups were able to collect more than $16 million in ransom money out of 19 operations, and it does not look like the kidnapping will end soon; the most powerful Kuwaiti women; see the new Lamborghini; and Royal Jordanian avoids Syria.
More than just a pretty face? In terms of Myriam Klink in politics, most would say no.
Myriam Klink the Politician? Not as crazy as one might think
04:00 GMT
Lebanese singer Myriam Klink has been working on her debating skills and gives one blogger a surprise; Bayt.com and Mjalati Partner for women; Moaz al-Khatib’s walkabout in Aleppo; and so far, Sec. of State Kerry's visit to Cairo does not impress.

March 3, 2013

The web is buzzing about the newest Assassin's Creed IV, a first person shooter game.
Fans of Assassin’s Creed IV throng to watch leaked trailer
11:41 GMT
The debut trailer for Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag was leaked ahead of the game's release it and has left gamers in a cold, giddy sweat; Cairo raided by locusts; exploring the implications of a single National District in Lebanon; and trash removal a sure sign of elections.
This is Dr. Salwa al-Hazzaa-- a successful opthamologist, new Saudi council-women, and subject of extreme bigotry by some of her religious leaders. (image courtesy of saudiwoman.me)
New female Shoura Council members in Saudi deemed 'prostitutes' by clerics
04:00 GMT
Saudi clerics went to twitter to voice their opinons of the female council members, calling them ”the filth of society” and ”prostitutes”; more ME documentaries for Westerners are needed; Facebook blocks the Free Syrian Army; and MB of Egypt crave America's approval.

March 2, 2013

This poor Syrian boy pours out his heart in the wake of the shelling of his neighborhood and family.
Lament of a Syrian child: Assad, when will the killing stop?
04:00 GMT
A young Syrian boy speaks from his heart after seeing most of his family destroyed from a nighttime shelling by Assad and his military hooligans; educating Syria's future 'rulers'; Manaf Tlass goes back to the grind in Moscow; and a funny spoof of the Lebanese finding America.

February 28, 2013

U.S. Sec. of State Kerry said the U.S. is making a major policy shift in Syria.
New U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at a Crossroads on Syria
11:00 GMT
More non-lethal aid – body armor and night vision goggles – does not merit the headlines that suggest the US is preparing a major shift in its policy; Salafi policemen protest in Egypt; the other face of Hezbollah; and a Lebanese Christian family’s Sunday lunch discussion.
Egyptians are using their Harlem Shakes to protest the Sheiks yelling "Haraam!"
The Arab peoples protest their right to 'Haram' Shake!
06:45 GMT
In the words of Twisted Sister, Egyptian and Tunisian students aren't gonna take it anymore. On Thursday, Egyptians will gather outside the Muslim Brotherhood's headquarters in Cairo, and on Friday Tunisians will meet at the Ministry of Education in Tunis -- and then dance the Harlem Shake.

February 27, 2013

Terror strikes in Luxor, Egypt as 18 tourists die in the worst hot air balloon accident in Egyptian history. (image courtesy of 2oceansvibe)
Video of Balloon Crash in Egypt: 18 tourists and 1 Egyptian dead
10:00 GMT
As the ballon shuttles down in flames, those watching can only pray to God and cry, "Why?"; where do the 25 million in Saudi get thier food? Scuds killed 71 Aleppo children last week; and the quote abuse on the Internet has to stop.
Recognizing and/or labeling people as 'Liberal' in Lebanon is not so black and white. (image courtesy of crispme)
'Secular' and 'Liberal' are not black and white terms in Lebanon
04:00 GMT
Why it is wrong to reserve the words “secular” and “liberal” for people who are outside the Lebanese political system; “Argo” as Orientalism and why it upsets Iranians; President Mohammed Morsi losing fans; and a cool map of Arabic dialects.

February 26, 2013

The ultimate red card for any football player is a lifetime ban. Two Lebanese players got carded. (image courtesy of epl talk)
Banned for Life: Lebanese football players involved in scandal done
11:26 GMT
After the discovery of something gone awry in Lebanese football, 24 players turned out to be involved. Two of them will banned for life; Easy TV Subtitles via Google Translate! and Egypt’s first dedicated e-commerce training program launched.
Most two year anniversaries are exciting. For the Shiites in Bahrain, it is exasperating.
The Bahraini Opposition: Two Years of Protests and Holding
04:00 GMT
Last week saw the commemoration by the opposition in Bahrain of the 2nd anniversary of its protests, demanding a move toward constitutional monarchy and rights for the Shiite majority; how to help Syria; and helpful tips to make a honeymoon sweet.