Archive for
April 22nd, 2008
Stories
Japan: Love and Hate Story of the Mascot Character, “Sento-kun”
· 22:53
Creepy?! Ugly?! Sacrilegious?! Not many people are happy about the mascot character for the Commemorative Events of the 1300th Anniversary of the Nara-Heijyoko Capital to be held in 2010. The character was designed by a sculptor and professor at Tokyo University of the Arts, Satoshi Yabuuchi, who is one of twelve guest designers invited by the Association for Commemorative Events of the 1300th Anniversary of the Nara-Heijyokyo Capital. The name, SENTO-Kun, was selected out of over 14,000 public applicants by the association of the event on April 15th. Ever since the announcement of the official mascot character in February, many, including media and religious groups have expressed negative opinions about SENTO-Kun. Needless to say, many bloggers responded to the announcement of the mascot character.
Chidai[jp] wrote about Sento-kun:
薮内の描いた妖怪みたいな「平城遷都1300年祭」マスコットキャラクター、本気で気持ち悪いです。
奈良県が笑いものになっています・・実にグロテスクです。
レベルの低さに唖然としています。これは、仏に対する冒涜です。これをよしとする人は、神も仏も関係ない人でしょう。
The monster-like mascot character designed by Yabuuchi for the Commemorative Events of the 1300th Anniversary of Nara-Heijyoko Capital is seriously gross.
Nara prefecture has become the laughingstock. .. It’s really grotesque.
It’s blasphemous towards Buddha.
People who are ok with this must be people who have nothing to do with faith.
Sentokun from YouTube clip.
Some people have positive views about Sento-kun and describe it as kimokawaii (creepy but cute) or even as adorable, but they are not the majority in the blogsphere.
An online community was created on Mixi to call for a withdrawal of the mascot selection by the event association immediately after the debut. Now the community has over 1000 members, and it launched a website called “Sen Sanbyaku-nen Kinen wo Sukuu Kai[jp](The 1300th Anniversary Support Group)” on March 1st. Besides the unpopularity of the mascot character design, the group criticizes the Association of Commemorative Events for spending over 5,000,000 yen in tax money to buy out the copyright from Mr. Yabuuchi. The group gathered petitions on the streets to call for a withdrawal of the mascot character design, and conducted a questionnaire survey on the design.
There’s a debate about the inappropriate method of character selection as well, and the author of Tenkannijicho criticizes the Association:
デザイン料に500万円
で、しかも
広告代理店電通が籔内佐斗司に決め打ちして提案
だってよ。裏で
どういう金の流れになっているのか
是非知りたい。つまり
籔内佐斗司を電通が推薦するに至った経過でどれだけ県民の税金が電通に行ってるのか
ってことだ。
5,000,000 yen for the design fee. On top of that, Dentsu, an advertising agency, preselected Satoshi Yabuuchi and suggested the design. It was behind the scenes.
I would like to know what the flow of money has been like. I mean, how much of residents’ tax money went to Dentsu in the process of the agency selecting Mr. Yabuuchi?
Neither the Governor of Nara-prefecture nor the Association has any intention of changing the mascot character, and the Association issued a statement asking for support from the public for Sento-kun and for the event.
These debates around Sento-kun certainly helped to attract public attention to the event.
4 comments · »»Kuwait: Just Give Me My Espresso 
· 19:23
With Kuwait still recovering from last week's storm, blogger G, over at G's blog, posts a couple of pictures of the damage left behind. They include this:
… and the following remark:
This morning I arrived to work early, mostly my usual, and when I crossed the street i saw this. I felt really sorry for the people who had their cars under it
Moving from the storm, Fonzation speaks of the new traffic penalties that the Kuwaiti Interior Ministry is imposing. He writes:
Just read an article on Arab Times about expats who fail to respect the traffic rules. Apparently, now they can be deported if they jump a red light and have previous traffic violations
And K The Kuwaiti talks about how impossible it has become to order his morning dose of espresso:
A simple order of an espresso in the morning is extended into a ridiculously long banter about the million different variations of beans and water that they offer. They ask you if you want to add several layers of caramel, chocolate, vanilla, coconuts and almonds. After the exhaustive repetitions of the word no, no, no… They attempt to sell you yet another drink which has absolutely no correlation to your intended order. You want an espresso? Then how about you try our frozen cinnamon mango shake with a crushed snickers bar. By the time your order is complete, your constant begging for an espresso has evolved into a seven shot caramel affogato accompanied by a chicken quiche.
About next month's parliamentary elections, Bint Alshamiya discusses the issue of election bribes. She writes (Ar):
عندى صديقه عزيزة علي من أيام الجامعة
من الصبح دقت على وصوتها متغير شويه
سولفت معاها وسألتها شلونكم مع الإنتخابات
مسكينه كانت إتحلطم…نسيت لا أقول لكم
صديقتى العزيزة من سكان صليبيخات
قالت الله ما يرضى بهالكلام …كل من يتكلم عنا
وعن بيع ذممنا مقابل رشاوى يدفعها ناس فاسدون
لناس أفسد منهم…… أنا ما أنكر إن هناك ناس يشترونهم
بالمال السياسي….بس مو كل صليبيخات
جم نسبة الفاسد من بين جموعنا….10% 20% اكثر
إذا هم قبضوا فهم مرتشين
بس مرشحينكم هم الراشين
بس الباجين شرفاء ما يبيعون الوطن من أجل حفنة دنانير
0 comments · »»I have a dear friend from my university days. She called me this morning and there was a strange tone in her voice. I chatted with her and asked her about the elections. The poor thing was nagging. I forgot to mention that my friend is from Sulaibikhat. She said that God doesn't accept what is happening, and how everyone was talking about them - about selling their conscience in return for elections bribes paid by corrupt people for those more corrupt than them. I don't deny that there are people whose votes are bought with political money ..but that doesn't apply to the entire Sulaibikhat. How many people amongst us are corrupt: 10% or 20%? If they have accepted bribes then their candidates were the ones who bribed them. But the remaining people are honest and will not sell their country for a few dinars (Kuwaiti currency).
What's Carter Doing in the Middle East?
· 18:34
Former US President Jimmy Carter just concluded talks with Palestinian Hamas leaders in Cairo, Egypt. First, it was the turn of the US Presidential elects to snub the visit. Now, bloggers from the region join them to rebuff it.
Will from Palestinian blog Kabobfest sarcastically writes:
His trip undermines the American/Israeli policy of negating the Palestinian elections after years of demanding them. It causes ripples in their brilliant peace-forwarding vision of ignoring half the Palestinians, the same half in charge of Gaza.
Will continues:
What will this nutty ex-Nobel prize winner suggest next? We include Syria and Iran in regional peace talks? Ha!
The Sudanese Thinker, from Sudan, says Carter's trip to the Middle East:
… is based on well-meaning intentions but is ultimately flawed thanks to the “super religious, no-comprise” mindset of the people he wants to talk to. I emphasize the “well-meaning intentions” part because Jimmy’s characterization as someone evil and anti-Semitic is something I disagree with. I understand that the title of his notorious book is provocative but that doesn’t mean he is what he’s accused of. After all, it was Carter who negotiated the peace deal between Egypt and Israel.
He further adds:
I don’t think Carter gets that Hamas - like al-Qaeda - isn’t a typical rational enemy. They’re religious right-wing radicals hellbent on regaining back what they perceive to be “the land of Islam.” This is why I doubt Hamas can ever agree to a true and long-lasting peace. But hey, I give Jimmy credit for at least trying. Plus, you never know. He might actually be able to convince Hamas to release Gilad Shalit.
From Israel, Aussie Dave writes:
He might be foolish and decrepit, but Jimmy Carter also happens to be an ex President of the United States. So when he decides to meet up with a terrorist group dedicated to Israel’s destruction, said terrorist group feels legitimized.
He also concludes:
I have to agree with Shimon Peres on this one. Carter has caused great damage to Israel and the peace process, and continues to do so.
Rabbi Yohana closely examines Carter's stances on Tibet and Darfur. Turning his attention to the Middle East, the blogger explains:
Today, Carter roams around Israel, visits Sderot, gets rebuffed by Israel’s leaders, and ignored by the Shin Bet. Any goodwill created when they inked the Peace deal with Egypt nearly 30 years ago has evaporated. I just have one suggestion for the Israelis - pay up. For a mere 5 million of so, Carter could “re-examine” his views on the subject. He could “have a new understanding” and become more of an ally. We could get a ghost writer from the Shalem Center to whip together a new book too.
As it says in Pirkei Avot, “K’ne l’cha chaver”, “acquire for yourself a friend.” It will do Israel a lot more good to support Jimmy Carter with backsheesh, than to rebuff him.
Still in Israel, Batya questions Carter's impartiality and says:
Former US President Jimmy Carter sees the world through distorted lenses. Yes, that's the nicest way I can describe him.
He blames Israel for everything.
But Carter has a still managed to garner the support of a new fan in the Middle East. Egyptian blogger Zeinobia tells us how much she loves the former US president, saying:
Seriously I love this man more and more. This man seems from the few people who know the true meaning of Peace Negotiations , the true meaning of Peace negotiations in my humble point of view is to sit down with everyone involved in the fight or the conflict even those bloody ones and to listen to them in order to reach to point of agreement.
I really respected him for his daring decision to have a direct channel with Hamas and Syria as primary parties in the conflict of the middle east regardless of what is said , regardless of what the American , Israeli and Egyptian Media are saying , this is what it should be for the sake of everyone in the Middle East if we truly want a just unbiased Peace.
** This article also appears in Voices without Votes.
4 comments · »»U.S. Papal Visit: The World Reacts
· 18:31
As Pope Benedict XVI makes his first papal visit to the United States, the media and blogosphere are in a frenzy - primarily due to the sexual abuse scandal that shook the foundation of the American Catholic church six years ago. The Pope addressed the issue in Washington D.C. on Thursday, speaking with victims of sexual abuses, which pleased some bloggers but for others was too little too late.
Darryl Wolk, a Canadian blogger, is of the former category, stating:
As a Catholic, I am glad that Pope Benedict XVI addressed this issue head on. It will take more than words and apologies, to heal the scars caused by the actions of some priests towards the victims. I think today was a step in the right direction for my church.
Leon J. Suseran of the Guyana Chronicle Blog, wishes he could have been there:
IF there was a time that I wished I was in the United States, then it would be right now, when the leader of the world’s 1.2 Billion Roman Catholics Pope Benedict XVI makes his first apostolic journey to that nation. His visit comes at a time that the holy Roman Catholic Church is under attack from all corners, including the recent sex-abuse scandals that have rocked the Church, but not the faith of tens of millions worldwide, who have continued under these dark times to practice the faith that was handed down by the apostles.
From Trinidad and Tobago, Jeremy Taylor, on the other hand, is frustrated by the Pope's inaction:
It's not enough for the Pope to be “ashamed” of his American paedophile priests, as he claimed to be today on his way to the US. He also has to do something about them. Actually, a lot more than just “something.”
Talk Turkey wonders what effect the papal visit will have on the U.S. elections:
I wonder if the Pope will meet with Obama, Hillary, and McCain as well. After all, this is an election year. And there are an estimated 70 million Catholics in the U.S., some of whom I would suspect have experienced divorce, practiced sex before marriage, had an abortion, and were (or know someone who have been) abused as a child by the clergy.
And Dave Weinberg of Jewneric focuses on the positives of the Pope's visit to a synagogue, which sets an historical precedent:
The Pope going to an American shul is, however, a very big deal and really shows the positive progress our two communities have made. It is even more appropriate that the Pope visit a synagogue on the eve of Passover, being that the Last Supper was a Seder.
Creative Commons-licensed photo by john.sonderman.
**This article is also cross-posted in Voices without Votes
1 comment · »»Dominican Republic test drives new metro system in Santo Domingo 
· 17:59
People scream, yell and cheer as they see it pass: in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, the newest celebrity is the Metro transportation system. The city is buzzing at the new metro system which starting last Saturday began operating tentatively for testing to bring visitors to and from the Santo Domingo Book Fair [es]. Excited Dominicans have been recording the metro passing by their houses on the different test runs and uploaded videos of themselves walking into the completed metro stations and travelling in train carriages which are so new they still have bubble-wrap on the seats.
User noe0324 has uploaded a video that manages to transmit the overwhelming expectation and pride for this massive public transportation method. On the first minute you can hear and see the excitement of the people who standing on their roofs at the side of the metro track, cheer, wave flags and clap as it passes by. The video can be seen by following this link or by viewing it on the embedded video that follows.
DJBlastor shows us another view: people standing in line 3 people deep waiting to get aboard the metro cars, and then the people rushing into the cars to see if they can get a seat. He has 3 other videos recorded that same day, with political commentary which seems to be the underlining current of support for the actual president as well as rare footage of people crammed inside a metro car, and most of them cracking brilliant smiles.
As mentioned previously, the metro seems to have raised President Leonel Fernandez' popularity, and it was high to begin with, since it's his second non-consecutive presidential period. The following video was uploaded by macaco993 and you can hear the crowd cheering and chanting “Leonel, Leonel, Leonel”:
Supercrackers also recorded last week's calmer entrance into the Metro system, where she travels through the station, down stairs and sits, while watching children and adults happily pop the bubble-wrap between the seats.
India, Sri Lanka: Temple Festivals on both sides of the Palk Strait
· 16:26
Temple festivals are an integral part of life for Hindu Tamils, across the countries they live in. The following photo essay captures a few moments of these festivals.
From Rakwana in Sri Lanka, a temple car festival in photographs by ‘Irakuwanai' Nirshan. One of the focal points of the festival is the temple car - “Temple cars are chariots used to carry idols of Hindu gods. The car pulling is usually on festival days where many folks pull the cart.”
Surekha, in Tamil Nadu, India, across the Palk Strait blogs about the small time merchants who peddle their wares in festivals such as this. Temple festivals, are as much about the local economy as they are about religious festivities. He captures the moment with photographs and short poems in Tamil. A rough translation has been attempted here.
கிளி எடுத்துத்தரும்
சீட்டைப்பாத்து
கிழவி குரலில்
டேப் ரெக்கார்டர்
பலன் சொல்ல,
வண்டியை போத்தியிருக்கும்
வாசகங்கள்
சிரிப்பை வரவழைக்க
பக்கத்துக்கடைக்காரர்
பீட்டர் இங்க்லாண்ட்
வாடிக்கையாளரை எதிர்பார்த்து..!
(அவரிடம் ஒரு சட்டை வாங்கினேன்)
Parrot Tarrot predicts the future
in an old lady's voice
from the tape recorder,
Wordings on the sheet protecting
the vehicle brings a smile,
while the sales person on the
next stall awaits a customer
accustomed to Peter England shirts.
Bought a shirt from him.
திடீர்க்கடைகளில்
திடீர் பக்தியும், திடீர் படிப்பும்..
சிறந்த நெட்வொர்க்கும்!
(இளையராஜா பாடல்கள் வாங்கினேன்)
Instant devotion and instant knowledge
from a here today, gone tomorrow store.
Though an excellent networking spot.
Bought Ilaiyaraja's book.
இந்த கோபுரங்களுக்குப்பின்னே
எத்தனை
கடன்கள்,
கவலைகள்,
எதிர்பார்ப்புகள்!
கோபுரங்கள்
அழிந்தால்தான்
வீட்டில்
மகிழ்ச்சி வரும்.
(சீனிக்காராச்சேவு வாங்கினேன்)
Trailing behind these towers
are much sorrow,
expectation and mortgages.
Destroying these towers
would only bring happiness
in many households.
Bought some sev.
சத்தியமாய் எனக்காக இல்லை!
வாழ்க்கை மீதுள்ள இவர்களது
நம்பிக்கைக்காக!
But certainly not for me!
Just for their devotion to life!!
Iran: A mysterious explosion in mosque
· 15:54
In south Iran, an explosion at a mosque in the city Shiraz killed at least 12 people and wounded about 200 people on April 12. Fars, a semi-official government news website reported that the blast was caused by a bomb. Later, several Iranian officials insisted the blast was the result of an accident. The mosque’s Imam believes it was a bomb attack by unidentified militants, and has called the victims “martyrs”.
Iranian bloggers have covered this story and shared their ideas on this bloody event and the rumors surrounding it.
Necas says [Fa]:
For me as an Iranian, the censorship of this news in Iranian media is very significant. Until 2am in the morning there was no news about this explosion on Iranian TV. The same station would cover hostage-taking in schools or supermarkets in the USA and start to speculate. Then would say that the USA imposes censorship on its media. In Iran, 12 hours after the explosion, the news is broadcast, and they say the blast was not caused by bomb. They don't call the victims martyrs, but simply dead people.
The video of this explosion has been visited more than 60,000 times on YouTube. A few moments after explosion on the video, a voice asks people to evacuate, and also says, “To become a martyr is our wish…”:
Parcham criticises [Fa] Iranian TV for not mentioning the news regarding explosion. The blogger say you would think Arabs must be the real owners of Iran, since news about Iraq and Palestine are covered immediately, but not ours.
The religious center focused its teaching on Bahi Faith and Wahabism.
Bacheyeh khat writes [Fa] about the Rahpouyan Vesal religious center. The blogger says a young cleric who was wounded in the Iran-Iraq war named Mohmmad Anjavinejad was the founder. Although most of the audience is said to be young people between the ages of 15 and 20, some consider his teaching is outdated, and joke that his followers sleep in empty tombs in graveyards. The blogger adds that members of the religious group ran for office in municipal elections but won only one seat out of 11 on the City Council.
2 comments · »»
Links for Roundups
Americas
According to a recent survey, cigarrette and other tobacco products sales fell 42% following the passage of new laws prohibiting smoking in public spaces in Mexico, writes Vivir México [es].
Americas
A new super tunnel will be built in Mexico City with a distance of 18 km and for exclusive use of cars, and would supposedly help alleviate traffic. However, México Para Los Mexicanos [es] believes that it will only encourage increased car use and will increase pollution and gridlock.
Americas
At the launching of Creative Commons Ecuador, Palulo [es] live blogs the event.
Americas
Mariela of Estando Viva La Víspera [es] disagrees with the Costa Rican Minister of Security, who stated that insecurity is not the problem, but rather the problem is the perception of insecurity. Mariela then recounts a recent crime incident and other examples facing her family.
Americas
Lluvias de Locuras [es] provides thoughts on the public universities in Colombia and concludes that “many cultures come together that contribute to the development of the educational community, but there is also a very harmful counter-culture.”
Eastern & Central Europe
Bratislava-based Deleted by Tomorrow finds “that five-pointed star at the top [of John McCain's campaign logo] a bit unnerving.”
Eastern & Central Europe
Maya Markova of Maya's Corner writes asks for help in finding a suitable institution for one disabled young woman - and describes the overall situation in Bulgaria: “After the BBC exposed the shocking conditions in Bulgarian institutions for abandoned disabled children and our European partners began to exercise much needed pressure, options for the disabled Bulgarians seem to be slowly improving.”
Eastern & Central Europe , Western Europe
Douglas Muir of A Fistful of Euros posts a brief update on the Greek-Macedonian relationship.
Eastern & Central Europe
Dr. Sean's Diary and Fruits and Votes - on the Romanian electoral reform.
Eastern & Central Europe
Douglas Muir of A Fistful of Euros posts a new installment on the “Greater Albania” - an extensive overview of the myths and facts about the “Albanosphere.”
Central Asia & Caucasus , Middle East & North Africa
Unzipped says that it is thrilled to discover that there will be a Rock Against Genocide rally in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, tomorrow. The following day will mark the 93rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey.
South Asia
Clipboard Conversations on the Indian Premier League cricket matches that have just started.
South Asia
My deliberations on a new train service between India and Bangladesh.
South Asia
United We Blog! on the balance of power after the elections, and why it's a tricky issue in Nepal.
East Asia
Unbending Notes found out that anti-cnn.com hasn't been registered properly according to the requirement by the ministry of information industry [zh]. The domain is registered under the Jim from Tsinghua University and hosted by www.DNS.COM.CN.
East Asia
Recently many netizens in China joined the campaign in hanging a red heart in their msn signatures. 1bao posted an article written by Qian Gang about the history of red heart in contemporary China [zh].
East Asia
Love Hunan posted at Zhuzhouwang about an American teacher being beaten up by secondary school students[zh] outside Carrefour in Hunan Zhuzhou district in April 20. Shanghaiist has an update.
East Asia
Tu Zhu xi from my1510.com comments on Grace Wang's article in Washington Post. The blogger feels that Wang has turned herself into people's enemy because she has allowed herself to be used by western media[zh].
Middle East & North Africa
Abd from Syria Winks takes us on a photo tour in the ancient city of Safita, and its crusader tower, Chastel Blanc.
Americas
Jamaican Geoffrey Philp says: “Today is Earth Day, a time to pause and think about the environment and the impact that we are having on our ecosystem.”
Americas
“Thirty years ago, Haiti raised nearly all the rice it needed. What happened?” asks Blog de Port-au-Prince, as it examines the causes of Haiti's hunger riots.
Americas
KnowProSE.com blogs about the reality of rising food prices in Trinidad and Tobago, while Craig Butler at Bahama Pundit connects the rising price of food to the level of poverty in the Bahamas.
Americas
As “a group of Cuban women peacefully demonstrating for the release of their jailed husbands were roughed up by a mob and arrested”, Cuban bloggers speak out…Babalu: “The regime still fears free thinkers and political opposition”; Uncommon Sense: “Freedom in Cuba — for the brave men on whose behalf these women were protesting, and for all Cubans — remains absent”; Child of the Revolution, Ninety Miles Away and Free Thoughts all post photos of the incident.
Americas
Montego Bay Day By Day posts photos (not her own) of the recent flood in Jamaica's St. Ann Parish, which also affected the resort town of Ocho Rios.
Americas
Blogging from Grenada, Free Spirit is in the process of harvesting cocoa…
Americas
The collective blog Bolivia Changes takes a look at some of characteristics of the opposition in the country.
Americas
Martin Balao attended and has pictures courtesy of Valentina, a reader, of the world's largest BBQ held in Uruguay. The event attracted more than 20,000 people and witnessed 12,000 kg of meat on the grill.
Americas
A former Argentine congressional deputy asked that an episode from “The Simpsons” be banned for suggesting that former president Juan Perón was a dictator who “disappeared” people, writes Good Airs.
Americas
The Santo Domingo church in Buenos Aires recently resumed its guided tours. Robert from Line of Sight took part and provides a look inside with accompanying pictures.
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