My latest post for the Guardian's newsblog is here. So far the comments are not only sane but - incredibly! - rather nice and thoughtful. I don't expect that to last though; tune in later...for the nutters. (or the haters. or the nutty haters). There's also some guy (I presume he's a guy!) who refers to me as a "McFittie." I thought this was some bizarre Anglo neologism until the fabulous Noorster pointed me here for the definition.
Shai's second post for the Guardian is here.
My most recent post for Global Voices Online is here.
Here is a site that lists all 31 Israeli political parties, their platforms, leaders, candidates and websites. Given that most of the parties do not have an English version of their sites, this is a very valuable resource.
And here is a list of the new members of the Palestinian Authority cabinet, complete with bios. Note that the list was just submitted to Mahmoud Abbas for approval; I don't know whether this is a formality or whether Abbas will cross anyone off. All of the new cabinet are Hamas members because none of the other parties agreed to sit with them in the same government.
Part Five of Jill's series, "Not Jewish?!" has been up on the OJ site for a few days. It's called Love is Blind. If you're not checking OJ regularly, you're missing out - we're updating the site several times each day. (except on Saturdays; even we seculars need a day of rest;) )
Onthe excellent Al Bawaba (betcha didn't know that Lina manages the Al Bawaba blog site) there's a hilarious article reporting that, according to Professor Hasan Bulkhari, a senior cultural adviser to Iran's Education Ministry, Tom and Jerry was created as part of a Jewish conspiracy. (you heard it here, folks).Roba has written a lovely, evocative post about her favourite Amman bookstores; she also gives a synopsis of the titles she purchased recently - seems that she's an Ayn Rand enthusiast. ;)
Fayrouz is back to blogging after a week-long silence.
Please visit this site to read about Hao Wu, a Chinese documentary film maker (and blogger) who has been detained by Chinese State Security for more than one month on unspecified charges. Ethan Zuckerman and Rebecca MacKinnon, the co-founders of Global Voices, have brought Hao Wu's case to the world's attention in the uncertain hope that outside pressure might influence the Chinese authorities to release him. They are of course aware that the effort might backfire, which is why they waited a month - at his family's request - before publicising Hao's detention.
