Global Voices Online

Abkhazian LiveJournal user sukhuti has photos and impressions of Baku.

Onnik Krikorian registers his hatred of ArmenTel over their high prices for substandard service.

Ktemoc writes about the callousness shown by authorities in demolishing a village and a place of worship within it. “But what was typical was the brutal suppression of the villagers by the MPAJ enforcers. It seems that in Vision 20/20 Malaysia, the mentality of authority enforcers are still of Vision minus 20/minus 20.” MPAJ is the local municipal council responsible for the demolitions.

Novoye Uzbekskoye Slovo has photos from Boysun, a place he says is a must to visit in the spring.

Tom Terry has more on Tuesday's hijacking of a plane in Mongolia by government agencies saying they were conducting a drill. One post includes comments from passengers and the government while the other comments on how the media and the government handled the story.

Yulia writes about the anti-death penalty rally in Bishkek and says that she has very mixed feelings about the issue.

At Life in the Armenian Diaspora, Raffi Meneshian reviews “Ethnic Experiments” from Deti Picasso, a band based in Russia with two Armenian members. Onnik Krikorian has more on the band and thoughts on the Armenian music scene.

Torn and Frayed in Manila reports that the thyphoon Renming has spared Manila and veered south.

The EducationMalaysia blogs writes why students are leaving national schools for already overcrowded vernacular schools. “Now, even as mother tongue programmes have yet to be fully implemented in the schools, you will find bungling headmasters and education department officials implementing the most clumsy of policies like forcing Indian students in a school to take Arabic lessons and sit for the corresponding examinations!”

A taste of shaddock, a citrus fruit, re-opens Guyana-Gyal's senses to the newness of things.

Ria Bacon recounts the story of the twice- — indeed thrice- — buried man and other bits of history pertaining to Port Royal, Jamaica, which, before its destruction by earthquake in the 17th century, earned itself the title of “wickedest city on earth.”

Geoffrey Philp pays tribute to Perry Henzell, director of the Jamaican cult classic The Harder They Come, who passed away today.

Caisoqueen reviews some of the new musical selections of the 2007 Carnival season.

Karlito writes (Fr): “[We] hold the police and government responsible for not doing enough to fight insecurity. But we forget the role that artists can play in helping that fight. One organization that has caught my attention is ONE. An organization filled with international artists whose goal is to help fight poverty … I am always thinking about ways in which our artists could be more involved.”

Dateline Bombay on rude airline staff and why the one of the best airlines in India will lose its grip. “So you can have the best technical staff, the best equipment and the best food (in the airline business). But when your number one position gets to you and arrogance begins to creep in, then people lose respect for you. And they will opt out the moment they can.”