Google Believes it has Solved the Egyptian Traffic Problem

With 200K in seed money, Google has chosen a winner of its Egyptian Traffic App competition; One Egyptian blogger shares her tales of road rage and obvious need for this new app; and a fun pictorial review of the argeelah pipe in all facets of Lebanese life.

Bumper to Bumper in Egypt is an all too common sight

The Next Web: Middle East [2]

Google awards $200,000 in seed capital to Egyptian traffic app, amid harsh criticism

Managing the traffic in Cairo is indeed daunting but after 4000 developers dared to try, Google's ‘Start with Google’ competition has finally come to a close with Egyptian traffic app Bey2ollak walking away with the grand prize of $200,000 in seed capital. Let's hope this makes a dent in trying to fix the traffic congestion.

Beirut Spring Blog [3]

The Arguileh as Witness to Lebanese Life

Who knew that a hookah pipes was such a chalice of culture and life in Lebanon? Enjoy this amazing collection of photos with Lebanese citizens and their beloved water pipes. A crowd favorite is most certainly the one that features a man running during the Triploi clashes, tobacco tower in hand. "From politics, to weddings to modern art, the mighty arguileh established itself as an ultimate cultural icon, an icon that was never camera-shy."

INNER WORKINGS OF MY MIND [4]

Cairo Traffic Will Bring Out the Worst In You (And You’ll Be Proud)

Sounds like Google has found its first product tester for the new traffic app: "My father had road rage. Growing up, it made me proud to watch him get out of the car on a narrow road and block another car heading in the opposite direction and not letting him get by. My Baba has a well-known story that I was not witness to but I can see it in my head as if I were." Read on for this unforgettable story: