Archive for
July 9th, 2006
Stories
The Syrian Blogsphere, Away from Politics
· 16:09
This week, we'll keep dirty Middle East politics away for a change. And focus more social side of the Syrian blogsphere.
To start off with artsy Soraya, talking about the Jazz Festival that was held in the old city of Damascus this month, with live bands performing in the newly restored Citadel of Damascus, and deep inside the alleys of Old Damascus.
the Swiss Syrian Jazz orchestra is considered to be the only one in the Middle east And its music is wrote and composed by many well known composers all over the world Like Frank Kalberg (Finland) Amadis Duncal and Oliver Verdle (Switzerland), and Allen Johnson (US). The Jazz Orchestra( The big band) consists of 42 musicians divided between Syrians and Swiss members.
Abu Kareem has a good review of one of the most important books on Syrian History, Steel and Silk…
Sami Moubayed's 623 page opus is subtitled: Men and women who shaped Syria 1900-2000. This book contains short biographies of 341 Syrians whom Moubayed feels have had the largest impact -good or bad- on the history of the nation. He profiles personalities from all facets of public life including politicians, military officers, administrators, educators, and literary figures.
Abu Fares, shares a beautiful one hour journey from his hometown in Tartous to al-Sawda, with magnificent scenery.
If I had one free hour on my hand and if the weather was suitable to ride, a possible itinerary is to leave Tartous from the north and head toward Al-Sawda, 12 km to the northeast. I ride by the Free Zone and continue straight on the old Tartous-Lattakia road. 3 km out, I reach a railroad crossing and a bridge over Nahr Al-Hsein (نهر الحصين).
On to a more serious issue, Brian Anthony, speaks of how Israel fights Terror with Terror, from a British living in Damascus point of view…
“Don't go anywhere near Yarmouk,” my colleague warned, shaking her finger.
“Why?” I asked, wondering what was going on in the Palestinian refugee camp outside town. I had heard there were demonstrations there a couple days ago.
Finally, we'll close off with Omar's interesting pour of thoughts, namely, Deconstructed Thoughts…
0 comments · »»there should be a rule against people who suddenly develop interest in international politics.. you shouldn't be allwoed to discuss current affairs until you watch at least 180 hours of international news.. (i.e. don't watch new breaks in between two episodes of “law and order” and “CSI Miami” and then come talk about the threat of international terrorism.
Global Food Blog Report #24
· 15:53
#1: From Thailand, B'Tonian in Siam : Thai Food & the Market
I’ve heard so many people say they love Thai food, but few can name more than a handful of Thai dishes. In actuality, there are thousands of Thai dishes and most Thais eat hundreds of different dishes yearly. I’ve been to restaurants with menus that are like books – some 30-40 pages. I’ve even heard of the legendary Royal Recipe Book that is full of ancient food dishes, to which commoners have no knowledge and never tasted. For me, a renowned fussy eater, I do not particularly like real Thai food – the food consumed on a daily basis in villages. Much of my fussiness is due to decades of my lingering vegetarianism and an aversion since childhood of pork and most beef products. My father loved fishing and eating fish and I tried, but I never could develop a taste for fish. The Thai cuisine, however, is quite dependent on pork, fish, and seafood with not many options for a vegetarian diet. Even some of the vegetable dishes take an acquired taste. In the south, they eat many types of bush and tree leaves and many types of pods, roots, and plant leaves; some are very bitter or too robust for me to eat casually like a carrot. Continue reading…
#2: From Soul Cocina: Persian Gazpacho! So refreshing and delicious—perfect for the warm weather. Enjoy!
We found some Persian cucumbers at Berkeley Bowl on a hot day, so we decided to use them in a chilled soup. I was inspired by Chef Sean's bright green cucumber soup with mint at Citizen Cake last week. Get the recipe now!
#3: From Philippines: In Our Kitchen on the traditionally delicious Pichi-Pichi, a dessert made with grated cassava and coconut…Yum!
#4: From Pakistan: The best Pakistani food outside Pakistan:
As a Pakistani in America, the first thought that comes to my mind when I think of Chicago, is Devon Avenue; or ‘Dewan Street’ to us desi types. How can you not be intrigued by a street one part of which is called Mohammed Ali Jinnah Way, another is called Gandhi Marg, and yet another is known as Golda Meier Boulevard! Notwithstanding the sociological and political nuances of the multi-ethnic immigrant community that lives and works in and around Devon Avenue, for me the real significance of Devon Street is the food. Good food. Some would say great food. Continue reading…!
#5: From Venezuela, La Guayaba Verde tells the tale of such an enigmatic edible flower: Flor de Jamaica (ES), Hibiscus Sabdarifa, or Saril for some of us! Sometime ago I wrote about the same plant: Cooking with Saril = Jamaica = Roselle (English)…Now you do not have an excuse! Head over to either blog and learn about this marvelous flower!
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Links
East Asia
ESWN translates a local report about the angry reaction of Chinese game players when they found out the graphic of “rising sun” appeared in Netease game “The Fantasy of the Journey West”. “To raise a ‘Rising Sun flag' in a Great Tang government office is obviously a challenge and an insult!” said local game player .
Later ESWN finds out that the Rising Sun flag incident was in fact hyped up by The Alliance To Resist Japan.
Americas , East Asia
The USFK bashing Korean movie, “The Host” is about to begin screening in Korea; GI Korea Blog comments that the movie is too anti-American. However, Michael Hurt from Scribblings of the Metropolitician disagrees and suggests other to “go see the film – Americans might bristle uncomfortably for a few minutes, but once you see what the film is doing, you'll forget all about it and fall right into the place where this very smart director wants you. “
East Asia
Joshua blogs some precious photos of Korea in 1906 in the Korea Liberator.
East Asia
Lee in Tokyo times blogs about a gang of Japanese middle age men organized themselves to express their love towards their wife. The organizer explains: “overseas, Japan tends to be seen as a chauvinistic country. We want to improve the image of Japanese men overall by carrying out public displays of affection for our wives.”
East Asia
William Long reports that the chongqing provincial government recently demanded that individual going online at home should set up a file at the police station or else the online service would be suspended for six months (zh). The blogger comments that such policy is like boiling frogs with warm water.
East Asia
Raymond zhou translates a post from China Daily on the environment and livelihood in Yellow Earth Plateau - one of the poorest area in China, Gansu Province.
East Asia
HanSong, a science story writer in China posts an excrept of his fiction “the special ticket to Tibet” (zh). Joel Martinsen in Danwei has an introduction and translation.
East Asia
Joshua in the Korea Liberator posts a chronology from 1981-2006 of North Korean's efforts in resisting the authoritarian regime.
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