Dream gone bad – a year after #Jan25

I posted this video (English subtitled version) on facebook (with a snarky comment about banning the use of requiem for a dream soundtrack music), and I think twitter. But as we close in on #Jan25, I feel the need to say a little more about it. When I was in Cairo over Christmas break, I felt [...]

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On #Maspero and the Revolution Against Ourselves

This is midterm week for me, and since I have been woefully not on top of my academic game this semester, it was supposed to be lockdown for study week. But then out of left field came yesterday’s events at #Maspero and downtown Cairo. At first I was viciously angry. While my rage has subsided [...]

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#endSH – a Post Against Sexual Harassment

In 2006 I wrote a rant titled Why I Hate Ramadan. I posted it in 2007 and you can see the whole post here.  The post was concerned with the hypocrisies and inconsistencies in the way that Egyptians, and particularly Cairenes, practiced this month. The bulk of the post, not surprisingly, had to do with sexuality [...]

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(Re)Enter Sandman ..err.. -monkey

Enter Sandman ..err.. -monkey Sandmonkey says that as all the familiar old faces emerge to start their activism at square one again, he’s back too. I have to agree, at least partially, with the sentiment. We’re back to 2004 with all the political “actors” and activists beginning to reemerge and feel each other and the [...]

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“Cairo, Divided City”

I figured this warranted its own post since it’s about the shift to the desert suburbs leaving the slums behind in old Cairo: I like the sound and images, but i find the commentary to be mediocre. I think there’s much more to be said about this issue.

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Abu Dhabi: local art hard to find

Economist correspondent blogs about the difficulty of finding local art in Abu Dhabi. Ironic, given the emirate’s aspirations.

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Morality Police

Thanks to the Arabist for this link. Self-appointed enforcers of Islamic law are becoming more common in Egypt, a Sunni Muslim nation with a population well above 70 million. Unlike the state-sanctioned morality police of conservative theocracies such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, Egypt’s enforcers are ordinary people who take it upon themselves to offer [...]

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Of Veils and Segregation

I posted this ages ago when a monaqqaba won a case against AUC because they were barring entry with a face veil. To the comments there i would like to add that the reason i am sorry AUC lost the battle is because AUC is a private institution. It’s not a public park, street or [...]

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VisorVeil

This weekend i looked over into the cab next to me and sighted a veil form i had yet to see. This was one of the youngish, fashionable types wrapped up into a ball at the back of the head. The layers were greens and white. The innovation: a small, inch-wide, translucent visor at the front. And, no, it wasnt a hat. It was a veil with a visor.

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“The War we Fought”

I’d previously missed Faisal‘s 6 October post.

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“The New Face of Egypt”

this is ridiculous… an Indian face for Egypt?!?!?!

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“European Governments Battle the Continent’s Birth Dearth”

I recently posted on world population trends. Here’s an article on the the various measures being implemented and discussed in an attempt to  stave off the impending European population shrinkage. Some of the initiatives sound like the US Army. I find it funny that this issue is being raised as European (and other developed) countries [...]

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Why I Hate Ramadan – Ramadan Rant

I found this unposted piece of writing from last year. I’ve done the editing but havent bothered to change much. Though it’s a little dated to my mind, i think all of the meaning is still there. It’s quite different from the general direction of this blog and i hope it will not offend too [...]

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Saudi divorce over face?!

i found this to be absolutely hilarious. Since it’s in Arabic, briefly: Woman got fuming mad, left her husband’s house because he purportedly tried to sneak a glance at her face while she was asleep. Funnily enough, they;’ve been married for some 30 years and have children. Now, i know that Khamees (e)Msheit is one [...]

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“Israel’s Cost to the Arabs”

Another one thanks to the Arabist; this article, written in light of the recent reemergence of the Saudi peace plan, enumerates the many ways in which Israel’s existence and policies have had direct negative impacts on Arab development over the last 60 years.

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