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June 5th, 2007


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Russia: LiveJournal DDoS-Attacked 

a small portrait of this author Veronica Khokhlova · 22:58

LiveJournal's Cyrillic users are in distress again: for the past week or so, Russian bloggers have been experiencing problems when they tried to post their entries or leave comments.

Some claimed they were being censored.

LJ user insie wrote (RUS) about “political terror in LJ” on June 4:

Just a few hours it was impossible to post messages that contained the following links: “ru_nbp”, “nbp_ru” [NBP is the National Bolshevik Party], “ru_politics” и “dрni” [DPNI is the Movement Against Illegal Immigration] (the last one is written with the Russian “p” because Latin script is still not being let through). It doesn't matter what my attitude toward NBP or DPNI is. What's important is that a purposeful pressure on democracy is taking place and the citizens' constitutional right of free access to information is being limited.

Since plenty of apolitical bloggers were also unable to use their journals, it wasn't easy to accept censorship as the reason for the blackout. But Russian politics is behind the current crisis after all.

Here's an explanation (RUS) from a representative of Sup, the Russian online media company running the “Russian-speaking” segment of LiveJournal in partnership with Six Apart:

[DDoS Attack]. Official reaction from Six Apart

According to the explanations we've received from Six Apart this morning, a powerful DDoS-attack is being carried out against the LJ servers in California since Friday, June 1. The source of the attack is allegedly located in Russia. Servers are receiving 50,000 requests per second. The attack's main goals are dрni, ru_рolitics и ru_nаzbol communities. To resist the attacks, the LJ administration introduced filtration of incoming packages and limited access to the server for large blocks of Russian IP-addresses beginning last Friday. These are temporary measures that had to be taken. Technical services of Six Apart decide on the specific lists of words and addresses to be blocked, taking into account the analysis of incoming requests.

These filters make it impossible to post LJ entries and comments that contain the words “ru_рolitics,” “dрni” и “ru_nbр.”

[…]

Needless to say, there's an avalanche of comments to this post, dealing both with the political and technical aspects of the issue, but here's a translation of just one thread (RUS), which begins with a serious question and evolves into an absurdly comical exchange:

natias: I'm not a member of the communities and organizations mentioned above, but I'm still not able to post anything. When will this ban be over?

beri_llii: “When the oil runs out, and our president dies…” (c) [DDT, a Russian rock band]

Around that time.

v_katin: An “A”

supmaker [a Sup representative]: As soon as the programmers of Six Apart stop the attack. Otherwise, LiveJournal servers would've been dead for everyone.

welgar: Nowadays, it's not enough not to be a member of “these organizations.” You have to publicly renounce NBP, DPNI and ru-politics (only once, still, thank God), and the copy of your renouncement should be sent to this address: fsb@fsb.ru. Then they'll restore your LJ access, as well as NTV+ [satellite channel], and, possibly, even hot water. [Hot water is turned off for a few weeks every summer in most cities in Russia and Ukraine, allegedly to allow maintenance and repairs.]

natias: Thanks. I do have NTV and hot water =)

But why just once??? What if the copy doesn't reach the addressee)))

welgar: Renounce three times then and request a delivery confirmation for the letter.

grajo_che: And while doing that, don't forget to cross yourself three times in front of the portrait of Putin wearing a KGB lieutenant's uniform ))

heleknar: Damn! Are you sure they'll turn hot water back on? I'd renounce my membership in anything for hot water! :)

welgar: Well, that depends on how sincere you are in your renouncement…

2 comments · »»

Israel: Food for Thought and Thoughts of Food 

This author has no photo Yaeli · 20:29

Food, whether it be descriptions of a favourite nosh (snack) or something you'd really prefer to never pass by your palate again, places to consume or acquire particular food items, preparations of said items, and what was occurring while food was being eaten, prepared, or just thought about provide frequent food for blogging content within the Israeli blogosphere.

This week McDonald's featured in two bloggers' musings. Lisa Goldman, of On the Face provides a look at their newest commercial appearing in Israel and explains the premise:

So an American couple gets hungry during a long day of shopping and darbuka drumming in Jerusalem's Old City. Instead of making the obligatory stop at Abu Shukri for hummus-chips-salad-pita-falafel-who-cares-about-the-calories-we're-on-vacation meal, they run over to a taxi driver and ask him where they can get a real “local” salad.

Meanwhile, Lirun of East Med Sea Peace describes a scene he witnessed at his local McDonald's in Yaffo that is, as he notes, not at all uncommon, and inspired him to write about it in a post titled “McPeace“:

…a birthday was well underway.. a beautiful bunch of local kids was celebrating hysterically.. the 7-8 year olds were on the verge of a food fight but just about under the control of the 3 mothers supervising.. a closer look and listen clarified to me that these were Arab and Jewish kids although it was hard to tell who was who without listening to each kid's default language setting.. there were fair kids i expected to be Jewish that were Arabs including a very animated little blond girl and a very elegant and well mannered brunette.. and darker kids that surprised me with their Jewish accented Hebrew. An elderly lady with head covering walked in and saw the gathering and administered one hell of a tongue flick - middle eastern cry of joy..

He continues the story to the ending that is sure to put a smile on your face and concludes with the sentiment “we know how to laugh together.. surely we can do more..”

But in this region even food can be disputed and used as a point of acrimony as the folks over at Jewlicious point out:

I thought it both amusing and interesting that a mildly amusing article about Israeli passion for hummus, had commentators writing in the comments section that hummus was Palestinian food and the Israelis stole it, just as they did the land.

What is wrong with people?

Stephanie, writing for Israelity, points out that not all parts of the country are peaceful as well and in the south of the country, in Kibbutz Kfar Aza kindergarten children are attending school in the most unlikely but the safest place from the Qassam rockets that are being shot at the kibbutz from Gaza –the fortified Kibbutz pub. In her post titled “Kinder Pub” she notes that life has become pretty warped “when you find humor in the fact that little kids are attending kindergarten inside a pub because it’s the safest place for them to be during school hours” and goes on to describe the scene of children sitting on bar stools across from shelves of bottles of Jack Daniels and Grey Goose as they play and put together Lego structures.

Returning to a lighter side of things, over at FiLi's World congratulations are certainly in order as he writes about being chosen to receive a 3-year scholarship to study International Business in Taiwan and his experiences at the Dragon Boat Festival Feast that was thrown for the current and previous scholarship winners in Israel. He provides a few pictures of the “Philippine cooked Taiwanese food” served at the celebration and of the scholarship winners.

Other Israelis blogging about food and things related this week include Jameel at The Muqata who titles a post with what is obviously a truism in his life, “Mondays are for Waffles.” Savta (Grandmother) Dotty doesn't mention a word about what was consumed at the weekly soup salon she hosts but she does detail how her Friday soup guests have pitched in to help her fix up her apartment at Cousin Lucy's Spoon.

3 comments · »»

Oman: Tropical Cyclone Gonu Hits Oman 

a small portrait of this author Riyadh Al Balushi · 20:19

The government of Oman declared a state of emergency as the country was hit today by the Tropical Cyclone Gonu, a tropical storm that has now reached a category 5 danger status. The storm is expected to run across the coast of the country over a period of three days. The Royal Oman Police has been making continuous announcements over TV and radio on how to deal with the crisis. ROP reported that they have evacuated the 7,000 residents of Mesirah Island, the first Omani state to be hit by the cyclone.

Though initially not taken seriously by many, the majority of the people are now seriously terrified as recent announcements state that the cyclone is moving towards the capital of the Oman, Muscat. Surprisingly, the Omani media has been doing a great job by proving coverage over TV and radio regarding the latest updates, but as the evening approaches now approaches, everything seems to cool down. OmanTV is now showing a drama TV series as if nothing has happened, I do not have access to a radio right now to hear what's going being broadcast there.

Blogger Sleepless in Muscat is keeping a constantly updated list of the major recent developments, these include airport and all commercial establishment closures. Sleepless also says that he will upload a video on the situation soon.

Another blog with excellent coverage is newsBriefsOman in which Sue posted several links to forecast resources illustrating the situation. However, she warns her readers saying:

[D]on't be distracted by the forecast track of the centre of the storm. It's the wind fields and the associated rain that you need to watch. At the moment, the forecast is that the area of intense wind and rain would take in all of northern Sharqiyah, the coast between Al Ashkhirah and Muscat and certainly as far inland as Nizwa.

Suburban posted a detailed survival guide sent to all employees of a certain Omani oil company. It is surely worth a read as she said:

This was forwarded to me by three different people who work for PDO, and I thought it was worth sharing. I think it's worth noting that PDO deserves credit for disseminating clear, concise, and useful information at a time when it's needed most. It's one of the many good services that PDO provides for it's staff and the community at large, the next time you see a PDO employee somewhere, tell them thank you.

There are no sources for instantaneous news updates regarding the cyclone in Oman. I think that visiting one of the Omani forums such as OmanForum and EnglishSabla can provide somewhat of a helpful guide on what is happening.

8 comments · »»

Iran in the eyes of a Swedish Blogger This is a Photos post

a small portrait of this author Hamid Tehrani · 17:33
lingua → fr · zht · zhs · pt
sample image for this post

Jonathan Lundqvist is a Swedish blogger who visited Iran a few months ago and shared his experiences with Global Voices in an interview. Jonathan has published several photos on his blog about censorship, daily life, tradition, and modernity in Iran without forgetting beauty of the country. Here are seven images which say much more than thousands of words:

swedish2.jpg

magazine

Two first photos show us a glimpse of the censorship that occurs in Iran. Jonathan says the Nashravaran Journalistic Institute is the agency that handles all censorship. They also stamp all magazines with a stamp upon inspection. It’s mind-boggling to think of the people whose work it is to sit there with a giant felt-tip pen and cover up skin all day long.

In third photo Iranians need to go far and away to date and to have privacy.

park

Dating Iran style. A boy and a girl sitting by the winding river, enjoying their quite conversation. The mountains felt like a haven of sorts where once in a while you can even see women without scarves!

The fourth photo shows how western brands meet eastern dress.

swedish4.jpg

Jonathan explains, “I saw this girl working in a sports clothing store in northern Tehran and became intrigued as to the logo on her wimple.”

The last four photos show an electronics shopping center, a beautiful park in Tehran, a fantastic bridge in Esfahan, and window in a mosque covered with Persian calligraphy.

electronics

park

bridge

swedish.jpg

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Arabeyes: Saudis in Bahrain and Kuwaits and their Cars 

a small portrait of this author Amira Al Hussaini · 15:27

Today's translation of Arabic blogs takes us to Saudi Arabia, where a blogger takes refuge in nearby Bahrain to clear his head over the weekend; Kuwait, where Frankom discusses the state of affairs in Arab countries and again to Kuwait, where Krakatoa 's car problems open our eyes to the unscrupulous practises of car agents.

Fresh Air in Bahrain

Faisal is a Saudi blogger who travels to nearby Bahrain whenever he needs fresh air.

في هذا “الويكند” بالذات أحسست انني بحاجة للهروب لأي وجهة كانت .
اخترت البحرين كالعادة ..
الإنزواء في بهو الفندق ..يجعلني اتحرر من جميع تلك القيود التي تمارس علي بشكل غير مباشر ..
أنا ممتن لهذه الدولة .. جعلتني افرح .. وجددت جميع تلك الابتسامات التي افتقدها في بعض الأحيان ..
هناك.. غرقت في تفاصيل غريبة و قد مرت بشكل سريع وكأنني اخوض تجربة التمثيل لأول مرة من خلال فيلم ضخم!
تعرفت على أرواح كثيرة .. كانت متخفية من وراء ستار أبيض ..
سبحت هناك بين الكتب وبين السينما وبين المطاعم الهندية .. حتى السائق الذي وقعت عليه بالصدفة في الفندق .. اصبح صديقي الان .. هو في الاربعينات من عمره ويسرد لي دائما قصصه البطولية في العشق العفيف .. كان وسيماً ومثقفاً .. أبهرني ذلك الرجل ..
على أية حال أنا هنا الان في الرياض .. ورجعت الى قواعدي سالماً :) وحاولت بقدر المستطاع أن أزيح بعض الترسبات المميته التي تثقل تفكيري .. اعتقد انني نجحت في محو بعضها …
This weekend, I felt compelled to escape to any destination possible. As usual, I selected Bahrain to be alone in a hotel lobby. This makes me break free from all the pressures being indirectly imposed on me. I am so grateful to that country. It made me happy. I found all the smiles that I miss at times. There, I drowned myself in peculiar details, and they all passed so quickly, as if I was an actor for the first time in a giant film production! I got to know a lot of souls, which were all hiding behind a white curtain. I swam between the books, the cinema and the Indian restaurants. Even the driver I met by coincidence at the hotel, is my friend now. He is in his 40s and always regales me with his heroic deeds in platonic love. He was handsome and educated. I am impressed with that man. At any rate, I am now in Riyadh, where I am safely back to base :) I tried as much as possible to delete all the deadly thoughts weighing me down and I believe I have succeeded in getting rid of some of them.

Made in the Arab World

From Kuwait Frankom shares his ideas with us on the latest developments in the Arab world under the title: Made in the Arab World.

مع من أنت ؟ هل أنت شيعي ؟ اذا انت ضد السنة … مع من أنت ؟ هل أنت سنّي ؟ اذا اللعنة على الشيعة … مع من أنت ؟ هل أنت مع جنبلاط ؟ اذا اقتلوا حسن نصرالله … مع من أنت ؟ مع حسن نصرالله ؟ اذا اشعلوا لبنان … عذرا …! ولكن أنا مع “فتح” … أي فتح ؟ فتح الاسلام ؟؟؟
لا لا … انا مع فتح “العادية” … هممم حسنا لاتقتل أحد … اقتل الفلسطيني !! … انتظر قليلا … من القائد ؟ الاخبار تقول أن جميع تلك الافعال من تنظيم القاعدة !!! (يضحك قليلا) … أي قاعدة ؟ هناك أفرع كثيرة منتشرة في جميع انحاء العالم … حسنا !! لا أدري … ولكن أليس حريُّ بنا أن نكون تابعين الى “اسامة بن لادن” ؟ … لا تكن ساذجا … كيف له أن يدير أمور العالم وهو في كهف … بوش لايستطيع أن يدير العالم وهو يملك آخر ادوات التكنولوجيا الحديثة … أصبخت في دوامة … من يعطي الاوامر ؟
من يقتل من ؟ ماذا أصابنا ؟
Who are you with? Are you Shia? So you must be against the Sunnis? Who are you with? Are you Sunni? Then damn the Shia. Who are you with? Are you with Junbulat? Then Kill Hassan Nasrullah. Who are you with? With Hassan Nasrullah? Then burn down Lebanon.. excuse me! But I am with Fateh? Which Fateh? Fateh Al Islam?
No..No.. I am with the “normal” Fateh.. hmmm… Ok then, don't kill anyone.. Kill a Palestinian!! Hold on.. who is the leader? News says that Al Qaeda is behind all these incidents!! (He laughs for a while)… Which Qaeda? There are a lot of branches spread around the world.. fine!! I don't know…But should we all become followers of Osama bin Laden? Don't be an idiot.. how can he run the world from a cave…Even Bush cannot control the world with the latest technological innovations at his finger tips. I am confused. Who gives the orders? Who is killing who? And what has happened to us?
شخص متحمس يقف ويصرخ بأعلى صوت” …. إسرائيل …. (الحضور يهتفون بشكل غبي) …. نعم !!!! انها اسرائيل … “شخص عاقل ينهض ويقول” … أنكم حقا أغبياء … أخبروني كيف ؟
أحد الاغبياء يقوم وبكل ثقة يقول … سمعت انهم يريدون شّن حربا على العرب … !!
صباح الخير
عودة الى الماضي القريب … الم نقل أن الفلسطينيين يقتلون بعضهم البعض … الم نقل أن اللبنانيين يقتلون بعضهم البعض ؟ الم نقل أن المصريين يعذبون يعضهم البعض في السجون الملكية ؟؟؟
أخرس ولا تتحدث مرة أخرى
Someone enthusiastic stands and yells: “Israel..” (the crowds chant in a stupid way).. “Yes!! It is Israel.” Someone wise in the crowd stands up and says: “You are all truly idiots. Ask me how?” An idiot stands up and replies in all confidence: “I heard that they want to wage a war on Arabs!!”
Good morning.
Let's go back to the near past. Didn't we say that the Palestinians are killing each other? Haven't we already established that the Lebanese are massacring each other? Don't we know that the Egyptians are tormenting each other in the Royal prisons??? Shut up and don't speak again.
يرفع أحد الاشخاص يده للتحدث
يسمح له بأن يتكلم
يقول … نحن هنا في هذه القاعة منذ عشرات السنين وأصبحت رائحتي “نتنة” لقد شاركتكم جميع أفكاركم من حروب أهلية وسفك للدماء وكذب ونفاق وسرقة وجميع الافعال التي يستحي منها الشيطان
دعوني أقول لكم … أنني كنت سعيد جدا خلا هذه الفترة الكبيرة التي لم أعرف بها أحدا حتى أنني لا أعرف أسمائكم الحقيقية ولا مذاهبكم الحقيقة … دعوني أقول لكم أنني لا أريد أن أرى أحد منكم … أريد العودة الى وطني … الى أهلي … الى أصدقائي الحقيقيين … الى … “يبدأ الحضور بالضحك” … صوت قادم من بعيد : كم عمرك أنت حتى تقول ماتقوله ؟
يرد (هذا المسكين) ويقول … لا أعلم ولكن نظرا الى هذا الشيب الكثير والكثيف … أعتقد انني قاربت على فراق الدنيا !؟
ينهض القائد … و تنهض الجماعة ومن في القاعة وجميع الحراّس الشخصيين … ويقول
نعم … قد فارقت الدنيا بكل تأكيد
ثلاث طلقات من مسدس مرصّع بالالماس والذهب والياقوت … عليه أفخم توقيع عرفته الانساسية … “صنع في بلاد العرب ” … انهت حياة من لاحياة له … وعاود الجميع الى مؤتمرهم السري مرة أخرى يبحثون في أمور أكثر دموية
للاسف
لا توجد نهاية
Someone else raises his hands to speak and is granted permission. He says: “We have been in this hall for decades and I have started to stink. I have shared with you all your thoughts regarding civil wars, bloodshed, lies, hypocrisy, thieving and all the other acts that would put Satan to shame. Let me tell you that I have been happy doing all that despite not knowing your real names or religious sects. Let me tell you that I don't want to see anyone of you any more. I want to return to my country, my people, my real friends.. I want to return to..” The audience start to laugh. A voice from far asks: “How old are you to say what you are saying?” The poor man responds: “I don't know but looking at this white hair, I think I am about to leave this world.” The leader gets up and all those in the hall, including the personal guards, and he says: “Yes. You have surely left this world” as he shoots him three times with a gun, adorned with diamonds, gold and rubies. It had the most luxurious signature ever known to humanity: Made in the Arab World. It ended the life of those who have no life. The rest returned to their secret meeting to discuss more bloody topics. Unfortunately, there is no end.

Car Trouble in Kuwait

Still in Kuwait, blogger Krakatoa narrates his experience when he took his car to the garage after he encountered problems with it.

وكالات السيارات وما ادراك ما وكالات السيارات..ياجماعة الخير انا مستعد ان ادفع فلوس بمزاجي بس لاحد يستعبط علي وينصب علي بأي حجة من الحجج..قبل جم يوم سيارتي خارتها حبتين..واضطررت ان اوديها الوكالة للتصليح..قعدت عند الفاحص..وقتله شالمشكله ورحنا طقينا فره بالسيارة وشاف المشكله بالضبط..المهم..قتله ها يبا جم تكلف..قام وطقطق بالاله الحاسبة جان يقولي..تكلفك حوالي 500 دينار..انا هني قمت ما اشوف..شنو ما اسمع جم؟؟ خمسمية حته وحده..ليش بالله بتطلونها ذهب ولا بتنكلون رنجاتها ولا شنو..قام قالي بدنا نعمل وبدنا نساوي وبدنا نشيل وبدنا نبدل..المراد طلعلي ستين الف عذروب

انا هني سكتت وقلت خير ماشي توكل على الله ( بس قلب ناغزني) المهم دقيت على واحد من الربع..من اهل الوكالة وقتله السالفة..اهو طق على راسه..قال ليش هالمبلغ قتله وكالتكم وانتو اخبر..قالي عطني وقت واشوفلك الموضوع..قتله خير..بعد يوم دق علي..قالي ترى السالفة كلها خرطي..ومالك الا طيبة الخاطر والمبلغ يكلف 200 بس..بيني وبينكم ميتين اهون من 500 قتله زين ليش ضربني بالعالي..الشاب اللطيف..قالي اثول ومايعرف..قتله انزين جم مواطن مايعرف احد بالوكالة واضطر انه يدفع مبالغ التصليح وهو يضحك..هني سكت..قتله يابن الحلال الفلس الحرام مافيه بركة وهالفاحصين هاللي تيبونهم غيروهم ولا حطو عليهم ناس تراقبه ترى قاعدون يوكلونكم فلوس حرام

You will never know what is behind car agencies. I am ready to cough out money at my whim but am not ready for for people to take advantage of me, whatever their reason. A few days ago, my car started playing games with me. I had to take it to the car agency for repairs. I told the mechanic what the problem was and took him for a ride for him to see what exactly was wrong. After he found the problem, I asked him how much would it cost to fix it. He took his calculator and started punching on it and then said it would cost around KD500 (US $1,735). This made me lose my senses. How much?? I can't hear? 500 in one go? Why? You will gold plate it for me or change its looks or what? He made 60,000 excuses and said they will change this and do that.

Here, I said it was OK and asked him to go ahead with the job but my heart wasn't happy with the decision. I called one of my friends, who owns the agency, and told him what had happened. He was surprised with the high quotation and asked me why the price was so steep. I responded that it was his agency and he should know better. A day later he called me back and said that it wasn't a big deal and that he will only charge me KD 200 (US $694). Between me and you, paying 200 is better than 500 but I still asked him why they asked for a high price. He said that the mechanic was stupid and didn't know what he was doing. I asked him how many people out there, who don't know anyone at the agency, would be paying out of their teeth while smiling. Here, he went silent. I told him to change those mechanics and bring more able ones because they were tricking people and charging them more. The money they make isn't blessed and they are making you eat from money gained out of sinful activities.

على نفس القصة..احدى وكالات السيارات الاخرى..ولدهم عضو مجلس امه..قبل لايصير عضو مجلس امه كنا بناخذ سيارة منهم..يوم درى انا من نفس الدائره قام وطيح 5000 دينار من ثمنها علشان خاطر عيال دائرته..السؤال..باجي المواطنين عيال عبده يعني ولا انتو يا اهل الوكالة عليكم قاصر فلوس؟؟؟
While on the topic of car agencies, there is another agency, which is owned by a family whose son is a member of Parliament. Before he became an MP, we wanted to buy a car from them. When he knew I was from his constituency, he dropped KD5,000 (US $17,355) from its price. My question is: are the rest of the people sons of slaves or are you car agency owners lacking money?
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Korea: To Live as ‘Samsungman' 

a small portrait of this author Hyejin Kim · 13:48
lingua → bn

‘Samsungman.’
That’s a priviledged title that puts a person among Korea’s elite. It brings up ideas like ‘good brain,’ ‘deep pockets,’ and ‘most qualified husband’ (I’m not sure about the female side because I have not heard about the term, ‘best wife’ so far).
In May, a Samsungman quit that great job. The job everyone wants to have. While he left the golden gates of Samsung within a year, he put the letter why he resigned on the company web-site. The long letter of his resignation has been spread over all blogs. I summarize it below:

1년을 간신히 채우고, 그토록 사랑한다고 외치던 회사를 떠나고자 합니다.
다른 직장이 정해진 것도 아니고, 공부를 할 계획도 없지만 저에게는 퇴사가 어쩔 수 없는 선택입니다.
회사에 들어오고나서 이해할 수 없는 일들이 참 많았습니다. 술들은 왜들 그렇게 드시는지, 결재는 왜 법인카드로 하시는지, 전부다 가기 싫다는 회식은 누가 좋아서 그렇게 하는 것인지,
정말 최선을 다해서 바쁘게 일을 하고 일과후에 자기 계발하면 될텐데, 왜 야근을 생각해놓고 천천히 일을 하는지,실력이 먼저인지 인간관계가 먼저인지 이런 질문조차 이 회사에서는 왜 의미가 없어지는지..상사라는 회사가 살아남으려면 도대체, 문화는 유연하고 개방적이고 창의와 혁신이 넘치고 수평적이어야 하며,제도는 실력과 실적만을 평가하는 냉정한 평가 보상 제도를 가지고 있어야 하고, 사람들은 뒤쳐질까 나태해질까 두려워 미친 듯이 일을 하고, 공부를 하고, 술은 무슨 술인가 컨디션을 조절하면서 철저하게 자기관리를 하더라도, 도대체 이렇게 해도 5년 뒤에 내 자리가 어떻게 될지10년 뒤에 이 회사가 어떻게 될지 고민에,걱정에 잠을 설쳐야 한다고 생각했는데, 도대체 이 회사는 무얼 믿고 이렇게 천천히 변화하고 있는지 어떻게 이 회사가 돈을 벌고 유지가 되고 있는지 저로서는 도저히 이해할 수 없었습니다. 인사팀 자신이 정한 인사 규정상의 업무 시간이 뻔히 있을진데, 그것을 완전히 무시하고 사원과의 협의나 의견 수렴 과정 없이업무 시간 이외의 시간에 대하여 특정 활동을 강요하는 그런, 신문화 데이같은 활동에 저는 좌절합니다.변혁의 가장 위험한 적은 변화입니다. 100의 변혁이 필요한 시기에 30의 변화만 하고 넘어가면서 마치 100을 다하는 척 하는 것은 70을 포기하자는 것입니다. 우리 회사 미래의 70을 포기하자는 것입니다. 더욱 좌절하게 된 것은 정말 큰일이 나겠구나, 인사팀이 큰일을 저질렀구나. 이거 사람들에게서 무슨 이야기가 나와도 나오겠구나 생각하고 있을 때에, 다들 이번 주에 어디가야할까 고민하고, 아무런 반발도 고민도 없이 그저 따라가는 것이었습니다. 하루하루 적응하고 변해가고, 그냥 그렇게 회사의 일하는 방식을 배워가는 제가 두렵습니다. 회사가 아직 변화를 위한 준비가 덜 된것은 사실입니다. 하지만 그 준비를 기다리기에 시장은 너무나 냉정하지 않습니까. 어제 오늘 일이 아닌 것도 사실입니다. 하지만 내일에 반복되어져서는 안되는 일이지 않습니까. 조직이기에 어쩔 수 없는 문제인 것도 사실입니다. 하지만 그말은, 정말, 최선을 다해서, 조직이 가진 모든 문제들을 고쳐보고자 최선의 최선을 다 한 이후에 정말 어쩔 수 없을때에야 할 수 있는 말이 아닙니까. 많은 분들이 저의 이러한 생각을 들으시면 회사내 다른 조직으로 옮겨서 일을 해보라고 하십니다. 하지만 저는 어느 조직을 가던 매월 셋째주 금요일에 제가 명확하게, 저를 위해서나 회사에 대해서나 해가 된다고 생각하는 활동에 웃으면서 동참할 생각도 없고 그때그때 핑계대며 빠져나갈 요령도 없습니다.남아서 네가 한 번 바꾸어 보라고 하십니다. 하지만 저는 이 회사에 남아서 하루라도 더 저 자신을 지켜나갈 자신이 없습니다. 또한 지금 이 회사는 신입사원 한명보다 조그마한 충격이라도 필요한 시기입니다. 제 동기들은 제가 살면서 만나본 가장 우수한 인적 집단입니다. 제가 이런다고 달라질것 하나 있겠냐만은 제발 저를 붙잡고 도와주시겠다는 마음들을 모으셔서 제발 저의 동기들이 바꾸어 나갈 수 있는 환경을 만들어주세요.
사랑해서 들어온 회사입니다. 지금부터 10년, 20년이 지난후에 저의 동기들이 저에게 너 그때 왜 나갔냐. 조금만 더 있었으면 정말 잘 되었을텐데. 말을 해주었으면 좋겠습니다. 하지만 저는 10년 후의 행복을 보장할 수 있는 유일한 근거는 오늘의 행복이라고 믿기에, 현재는 중요한 시간이 아니라, 유일한 순간이라고 믿기에이 회사를 떠나고자 합니다.
2007년 5월 2일

Filling with one year, I leave the company I shouted out my love for.
I don’t have any alternative plans, such as going to another compay or studying more.
But this is the only choice I can make now.
Since I started working here, so many things happened that I cannot understand. Why do they drink so much? And then why do they use company credit cards all the time? Why are there so many dinner engagements after work which nobody likes?
They can work hard during the working hours and can improve themselves for their own future. But why do people work so slowly, taking for granted over-time? Is the capability more important or the connection?
These kinds of questions are meaningless in this company.
In order to survive in this market, company cultures should be pliable and open-minded. They should be full of creativity and reforms. There should be horizontal relations and reward systems based on objective judgement with employees’ capabilities and achievements. Workers should work hard not to be behind, should study hard, and control themselves from drinking… all these efforts don’t guarantee the company’s future five or ten years later.
But why on earth does this company change so slowly? How is it possible for this company to earn money and retain it with that attitude? I don’t understand. There are working hours the company promised. But I am desparate whenever I run into extra activities, such as ‘new culture day,’ which is forced on employees without any discussions or compromise. The most dangerous enemy of the reform is the small change.
In the period which we need 100 percentage revolution, we do 30 percent and pretend it is 100 percent. It means they give up 70 percent. What makes me more desperate is other employees who follow without any objections….
I am afraid of myself who would adjust to this system day by day…
I don’t have the knack for evading these unnecessary activities or to join them with a smily pretence. Some say that I can change the company if I’m that unsastified with it. But I don’t have any confidence to keep myself here….

His letter divided bloggers into two kinds, those who agree and those who disagree.
Here is the opinion of someone who agrees:

삼성맨이 사직서를 냈다. 입사 1년차의 피가 끓는 심정으로 사직서를 냈을 것이다. 그러나 그 삼성맨의 이야기는 남의 이야기가 아니다. 나의 이야기였고, 수많은 젊은 청년들이 고민하는 주제일 것이다. 삼성에 입사하기 위해 얼마나 노력을 했을 것인가? 꿈을 꾸었을 것이고, 인생을 설계했을 것이다. 입사 1년차 때는 여러가지 고민을 하게 된다. 특히 사회초년생일 경우는 이제껏 살아왔던 환경과는 너무 판이한 문화에서 생기는 갈등과 고민을 수반할 수 밖에 없다. 그리고 그때의 시각과 시선은 정확하고 객관적일 가능성이 높다. 아직은 때가 덜 묻었기에…조직으로 보자면 어린아이의 눈이라고 볼 수 있는 것이다. 하지만 우리나라 대부분의 기업은 신입사원의 순수한 열정과 당돌함을 무너뜨리기 바쁘다. 신입사원 교육부터 기를 죽이는 교육이 대부분이다. 이놈들아 사회란 이런거야…조직이란 이런거야..그러니까 잘 적응해..뭐..대충 그딴 식이다. 겉포장은 화려하지만, 궁극적인 교육의 담론은 조직적응 훈련이다. 22세기에는 이런 교육행태를 굴종이라고 표현할 지도 모른다. 하지만 우리는 자랑스럽게 그런 교육을 받기 위해 너무나도 열심히 공부하고, 정성스레 머리를 다듬고, 예쁘게 얼굴에 화장을 한다.
입사 1년 후의 과정은 대부분 조직에 적응하는 시기다. 때맞추어 나오는 월급이라는 게 참으로 끊을 수 없는 유혹이다. 그리고 연애하고 결혼하고 애가 생기고…당연히 월급은 삶에서 가장 중요한 것으로 자리잡게 된다. 개인의 삶이 월급에 묶이는 것이다.
그렇다고 월급쟁이가 비겁하다는 이야기가 아니다. 우리들의 삶의 형태가 이렇게 되어 있다. 그것을 우리들은 너무나 잘 알기 때문에 알면서도 적응하고 사는 것이지, 몰라서는 아닐 것이다. 그리고 그런 삶이 무겁기도 하고, 때론 견디기 힘들기도 하다. 그래서 술을 퍼마시고,,40대, 50대에 돌연하게 횡사하게 된다. …
입사1년차 삼성맨의 사직서..당돌함이 마음에 들고, 용기가 마음에 든다. 젊은이답고, 패기가 넘쳐 흘러서 좋다. 조직에 너무 신이나서 적응하는 친구들, 그렇게 마음에 들지는 않는다. 적응하는 사람도 있고, 뛰쳐 나오는 사람도 있어야 한다. 그런데 우리는 너무 적응하는 친구들이 압도적이고, 그런게 당연한 문화였다. 아무리 삼성이고 판검사고 의사라고 하더라도 우리는 그 자리를 박차고 당돌하게 뛰쳐나오는 사람이 더 필요한 사회일지 모른다.

Samsungman resigned. He must have left his letter of resignation with tears of blood. But it’s not just a story of the Samsungman, but could be our own stories. It was my story. It could be all other young people who just stepped into society. He must have made efforts in order to get a job at Samsung. He must have had his own dream and planned his future. In the year of entering the company, everyone has a hard time. Especially in the case of rookies, they encounter conflicts and worries due to different ‘cultures’ which they had not had before. The perspectives that they have at that moment would be more objective because they’re more naïve at that time. Inside the system, they have children’s transparent eyes.
But enterprises in our society are busy to break rookies’ passion and courage. “This is society… this is the system… so you should adjust well…” they say. The main point is to train them to adjust to the system. In the 22nd century, this kind of the system could be regarded as submission. But now we study hard, trim our hair, and have beauty care for our appearance in order to survive.
After the one year adjustment in the company, it is time to adjust to the system. It is really hard to avoid the temptation of the monthly salary. And then… you date, marry, and have children… Of course, salary becomes the most important element in your life. Humans’ lives are tied to the salary.
That doesn’t mean that salary men are all cowards. This is the process of life. We know about this so well. Then we recognize life is heavy and sometimes it is hard for us to endure. So we drink… and then die in the 40s and 50s.
The letter of resignation from the one year old Samsungman. I adore his bravity and boldness. I like his prowess. People who adjust to the system so well… They’re unlikable. There should be various people who adjust to it or those who jump out of it. But our society is mainly managed by the former. Maybe we need more people who can bravely leave no matter they are Samsungmen, lawyers, or doctors.

Dissenters, like resist75, are not a few either.

상사맨들 술 참 많이 마십니다. 하지만 그것을 탓하기가 참 힘듭니다. 상사맨들이 연구직이라면 상사맨들이 관리직이라면 술만 퍼마시는 조직에 대해 욕해줄 수 있겠지만 상사맨은 그럴 형편이 아닙니다. 접대문화가 달라져야 한다고요? 예 그렇죠 하지만 그것은 상사맨들에게는 적용 대상이 아닙니다. 상사맨이 바뀌어야 하는 것이 아니라 접대인들이 바뀌어야 하는 것이겠지요. 상사맨은 물건을 이리저리 파는 사람이지 사회 문화 변화를 주도하는 세력이 아니라는 것입니다.
그리고 어찌되었건 간에 위의 글에는 그런 모습을 자신이 바꿀 생각도 의욕도 없다는 것이군요. 자신이 자유롭기 위해 자신이 원하는 회사의 모습이 아니기 때문에 그만둔다는 것 아닌가요? 결국 이것은 조직부적응이라는 말 이상도 이하도 아닌 것입니다. 삼성에 입사했을때 TV에서나 보는 그런 장면들을 생각했었나요? 다른 사람은 모두 이상속에 사는 것 같은가요? 경찰은 범인을 잡기위해 스릴과 모험을 즐기는 것 같습니까? 소방관은 매일매일 힘들지만 인명구조를 위해 자신의 몸을 바치고 있는 것 같습니까? 그런것들은 그의 직업 인생에 극히 일부분일 뿐 대부분의 시간은 위의 삼성맨이 생각하는 별것 아니고 따분하며 변화없는 생활속에 있는 것입니다.

Samsungman… they drink a lot. But it is hard to blame them. If they work as researchers or managers, it’s fine to blame their drinking culture. Don’t we have to blame reception culture (jeop-dae mun-hoa) rather than them? It’s not that Samsungman should change, but that reception culture should change. They are the people who sell their products here and there, not the people who lead to change society and culture.
Anyway in terms of his writing, it seems that he is not even willing to fix the problems he mentioned. Doesn’t his letter indicate the reason why he quits is because it is not the company he dreamed and he just wants to be free himself? Simply, it means that he just could not adjust to the system. Did he fantasize Samsung which he saw in media? Do other people all live in ideology like that? Do you think that policemen enjoy thrills and adventures in order to catch criminals? Do you think firefighters devote their lives in order to rescue people? Those kinds of moments are just mere parts of their lives.

해서 저로서는 결국 자기가 할 생각도 없고 적응하기도 싫으니 난 회사를 때려 친다는 치기어린 생각을 그럴듯 하게 포장한 사례로 밖에 생각되지 않습니다.

To me, it seems that he didn’t want to work there and didn’t want to adjust to the company at all, and as a result he quit, like a childish behavior.

Some bloggers, like wo3n, criticize his rash decision with one year working experience.

저는 그 글을 보면서 슬픔과 분노를 동시에 느꼈습니다. 글의 어떤 부분에서는 고개를 끄덕였습니다. 그 분이 몸 담았던 관계사만이 아니라 우리 사회 전체가 자각 없이 그냥 흘러가고 있는 부분에 대한 사회 초년생으로서 할 수 있는 지적이었기 때문입니다. 하지만, 인생에 쉬운 길만이 있지는 않을 것인데, 그 정도의 어려움에 너무도 빨리 뜻을 접고 만 것이 슬펐습니다.
분노를 느낀 것은 나 아니면 모두 틀렸다는 식의 태도였습니다. 퇴사하는 본인은 진흙탕이 싫어서 나가는 깨끗한 사람이고 남아있는 사람은 목구멍에 풀칠이나 하려고 현실과 적당히 타협하면서 그럭저럭 주어진 삶이나 살아가려는 ‘월급쟁이'에 불과하다는 것인지. 그가 소속되었던 회사를 윤리수준이 낮은 집단으로 정의해 버린 그의 글은 한때는 선배,동료였던 이들에 대한 모욕이라고 생각되었습니다.
판단은 정보를 기반으로 이루어 집니다. 큰 조직에서는 1년도 채 안된 신입사원에게 회사의 의도가 충분히 전달되지 않을 수도 있고, 전달되었다고 해도 이해되지 않을 수 있습니다. 그것은 가지고 있는 정보의 양과 깊이에 차이가 있기 때문입니다.

Reading his letter, I felt sadness and anger at the same time. I agree with some parts of his writing. He made appropriate indications about society as well as the company he worked. But I was sad that he gave up so fast. Life does not have easy paths all the time. The reason why I felt angry was his attitude that everyone is wrong except himself. He identified himself as an upright person who quit the company in order to avoid dirty mud and regarded others as salarymen who compromise with the real world in order to make easy lives. His writing is insulting to other co-workers who have worked for years and entered the company with him. Judgement is based on information. He has worked there less than one year. What the company looks for could not have been conveyed to him enough. Or he even didn’t understand. The understanding is from the quantity and depth of information.
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Morocco: June Brings Blogging, Festivals, and a Reopening 

a small portrait of this author Jillian York · 12:58
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As the month of June rolls in, so do many events across Morocco, and the greater Maghreb. The first is Big Trap Boy's call for posts for a unified Maghreb - bloggers across the Maghreb were asked, on June 1, to make a post in favor of the Maghreb Union. Youssef from Maghrebism shared his opinion:

The Maghreb for me doesn’t really exist. In name it does and there is an institution called Maghreb Union, but for me it is useless and a hassle.
All the Maghreb countries are still little children fighting over their toys and pulling each others hair out. Just like your normal dysfunctional family. The Union will do nothing to solve that.

Let us first grow up before we decide to marry into an union. Seriously, that union came way too quick and was actually more part of this low self-esteem of our elites who desperately tried to model everything to European standards. In the mean time they forgot that an union needs basic things like a working judiciary, healthy economies, good democracies etc.

Myrtus called for bloggers to breathe new life into the Union:

The good news is that the Maghreb blogosphere is now trying to come together to say “hey you slackers, enough of that”! Let's all get together and breathe some new life into this Maghreb Union, who cares if it doesn't really exist, maybe we can make it happen ourselves if we try hard enough, even if it's just a virtual union on the World Wide Web.

While other bloggers were enthusiastic for a Maghreb Union, Xoussef explained why he wouldn't be blogging on June 1:

We, bloggers, always condemn maghrebi politicians for there hypocrisy. I dislike hypocrisy too, so i won't be hypocrite, i won't blog for a United Maghreb.

Let's be clear: i don't have anything against other north African countries, but i don't believe in that grand Maghreb Arabe myth.
Let's face it: Morocco is not ready. I can't talk about what i don't really know, so i will only talk about my country. we have to deal with a lot of problems including forging a national identity, Amazigh rights, sahraoui problem, representativity and democracy issues, let alone other poverty and economic problems. You can't give what you don't have, and until we reasonably solve these issues, thinking of building a big union is vain.

June 1 was also the day for a special concert in Meknes which benefited Bayti (which means “my home”), a local organization which helps children from all different circumstances. This particular benefit not only helped the children financially - they were actually invited as well. El Hafa reported on the event, saying “Another marvelous night, but this time it was in my hometown, in the French institute in Meknes.”

Bayti Benefit II

Finally, June 1 also brought the opening night of the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music, a prominent festival featuring performers of sacred music from all around the world, as Braveheart Does the Maghreb describes:

There are different bands from around the world all playing religious music. The theme this year is “Weavers of Peace”. In addition to the bands there are readings of Sufi poetry. On the program are listed musicians from Sweden, Iran, south Africa, Portugal, Brazil, France, Turkey, Pakistan, Mauritania, Spain, Benin, India, Syria, Lebanon, and Uzbekistan. The London community Gospel Choir from the UK will be performing the last evening. There are to be art exhibits and films as well.

Everything Morocco, a Fez resident, shared fears prior to the festival:

“So more than anything, I hope we will be left in peace to enjoy the festival, the chance encounters with strangers and the ambience that comes to place so full of excitement and anticipation. It promises to be a fabulous and memorable festival week.”

As the festival began, the blogger shared experiences from the festival, including a speech made by HRM King Mohammed VI:

First, the King commended the festival efforts to pursue a dialogue on coexistence between different cultures and civilizations and the bonds between the revealed religions and values we all have in common.

He went on to say he is not surprised that Fez is the location of a World Sacred Music Festival because, in his words, “…music has flourished only in places where man can forget about material things, embrace faith, and the Absolute in order to experience all the gifts with which the Almighty has endowed him, particularly his spirituality. Furthermore, music is a most powerful form of spiritual expression; it is also the medium most likely to bring humans together.”

He continued saying, “Islam is a faith based on reason and wisdom.” He cited instances where the Holy Qu'ran praises the mind and encourages reflection. There should be balance between the sacred and the modern because one cannot fully exist without the other. The sacred would wither and the modern would lack soul. A complement of these two concepts, sacred and modern, is what the festival aspires to with its message of hope, discernment and brotherhood.

Despite the sanctity of the festival, there was still room for celebrity sightings. Queen Rania of Jordan and Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco were both in attendance, along with a different sort of special guest, reports four continents:

Surely enough, both Sir Bono and his band-mate the Edge are wandering Fes listening to sacred music this week - I'll snap a photo if I run into them somewhere light.

One last important June event occurred early in the morning on Monday, June 4. The American Consulate in Casablanca, which has been closed since April (due to security concerns following suicide attacks near the building), reopened, according to The Morocco Report:

Regardless, the Consulate is now open and those applying for immigrant visas will be contacted by June 11 in order to reschedule their appointments. The Consulate is also accepting applications for nonimmigrant and business visas again.

Photo by Hamza Daoui.

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Touring Libyan Blogs: The Bloggers who have Gone AWOL 

a small portrait of this author Fozia Mohamed · 12:51

While exams continue to disrupt a little the Libyan blogosphere both locally and overseas this week's post is dedicated to those Libyan bloggers who are ‘absent without leave', we don't know why they stopped blogging and we miss them very much.
I'm sure most Libyan bloggers would join their voices to mine and ask them to come back or at least update us.

It is a strange fact how we become attached to our ‘virtual' community and at one point it morphes into ‘our community' and the internet becomes simply another means of communication.

The first blogger whose news I wish to know is : zizo , he stopped in March with this cryptic post :

“I am very thankful to that one of my ever best friends& the real dog& ayman ..for his help and sweet surprises that he keep getting to me all time & and even he has done a great mistake and did me wrong some day& even though ..I admit he is on e of few persons in this world who can understand me right…thank yo my homie..peace”.

The more mysterious one is Unfettered Swallow, although not a regular blogger he did update from time to time. However, this month he deleted everything and simply posted ” Sorry“.

Um Dania may be very busy with Dania, but hey not posting for the last two months? We need to know how is Dania !

Smokeyspice has been missing in action for six months, her political analysis and wit are greatly missed too.

Nura our resident philosopher has been gone for the same period too maybe they are together? Although there is a rumour that Nura is in Libya for the summer.

The Lost Libyano's blog is no longer visible. I'm wondering if someone hacked it?

Controversial blogger Mindamir who writes in Arabic has not updated since February, I'm praying that he is OK.

Following his lesson on Fukuyama in April, Hafed has not been back, is he kept busy? or has he gone to study political science ? I do miss his satire.

Benghazeeya is still keeping me in suspense since March, so what happened has she gone to college in Libya ? Is she now married ?

Even dear Trabilsia has not been blogging for a while.

I'm sure my list is not comprehensive so if you know anyone else please tell us about him/her.

My advice to you all when you want to go on a hiatus or have writer's block take the lead from American Libyan's ‘Dealing with personal issues' notification - at least don't leave us in the dark !

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