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Post by mich64 on Feb 21, 2011 17:08:21 GMT
I remember in 2009 in Iran, the opposition members used signals from roof top to roof top to organize some of their protests. Mich
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 22, 2011 6:52:54 GMT
I didn't know that, Mich. Great example of "where there's a will, there's a way". ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ What's the sign say? The man is proudly showing off the name of his new baby daughter! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Egyptian father Jamal Ibrahim has reportedly named his newborn daughter "Facebook" to honor the social media site's role in Egypt's revolution. According to TechCrunch, Egypt's Al-Ahram newspaper reported the following: A young man in his twenties wanted to express his gratitude about the victories the youth of 25th of January have achieved and chose to express it in the form of naming his firstborn girl "Facebook" Jamal Ibrahim (his name.) The girl's family, friends, and neighbors in the Ibrahimya region gathered around the new born to express their continuing support for the revolution that started on Facebook. "Facebook" received many gifts from the youth who were overjoyed by her arrival and the new name. A name that shocked the entire world. Facebook was used to organize the initial January 25 protest in Tahrir Square. Since then, Egyptians taking part in the uprising used Twitter, YouTube and a host of other sites, in addition to Facebook, to communicate and coordinate. above from the Huffington Post
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Post by mich64 on Feb 24, 2011 22:39:55 GMT
I just read a report that Ghadafi said today that he now believes the problems in Libya are the fault of Bin Laden. He tells parents that they have let their children be inspired by him and that they need to take hold of their children and stop this uprising.
I was watching CNN yesterday and was surprised to hear Wolf Blitzer asking his guest if the USA gets intelligence of what tent Ghadafi is in, should the Obama call an airstrike? This was very upsetting to listen to. I believe Ghadafi needs to stop his persecution of his own people and suffer the consequences from his people. I do not believe another Country should even think yet alone vocalize, should we murder him.
Now that Ghadafi has put the blame onto Bin Laden, he should fear him, he has shown through actions he does not take criticism well.
Some days I hate reading or watching the news, but we cannot hide from it. Mich
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Post by onlymark on Feb 25, 2011 9:32:40 GMT
The difference between Egypt/many of the middle eastern countries and that of Libya is that Ghadafi is a nutter.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 3, 2011 16:34:43 GMT
from Voice of America Turkish President Offers Support to Egypt Thursday, March 3rd, 2011 at 4:10 pm UTC
Turkish President Abdullah Gul called on Egypt Thursday to hold a “transparent transition” as it moves to fill popular demands for democracy after protests forced the departure of longtime President Hosni Mubarak last month.
He commented as he led a Turkish delegation to Cairo for talks with Egypt's interim military leaders and political officials. He is the first Turkish official to visit Egypt since Mr. Mubarak resigned under pressure in February after three decades of rule.
Turkey is seen by analysts as an example of how a predominately Muslim nation can move from autocratic rule to democracy. Its military has participated in the overthrow of four governments since 1960. Some Turkish leaders were vocal supporters of the Egyptian protest movement.
Mr. Gul arrived in Egypt as the nation faces continued political change. Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, appointed while Mr. Mubarak was still in power, resigned on Thursday amid demands by protesters for a clean slate from the Mubarak era.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2011 18:37:10 GMT
My colleague's husband, who is currently chief of security for Alain Juppé (who just became French minister of foreign affairs last weekend) flew to Cairo yesterday ahead of Juppé's visit, so clearly the EU countries are a bit less skittish about dealing with the transitional government.
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Post by onlymark on Mar 8, 2011 7:39:11 GMT
Taken apparently last Friday above Tahrir Square were a number of photos stitched together to make a gigapan photo. It's fairly reasonable and you can zoom in quite well, though there are some places it is obvious to see where it has been stitched. Anyway, many people are still gathering every Friday and will continue to do so, they say. It also gives you the opportunity to see the range of dress that the women have here. It ranges from the very western to the extreme Islam. See if you can spot the guy in his vest on the balcony to the right. To the left the large building is the Mogamma, the main bureaucratic offices, the road to the right of it between it and the mosque, leads after a couple of hundred metres to the Nile, as does the next road (in fact you can see glimpses of the river as well), a couple of buildings further is what was the Nile Hilton now the Nile Ritz Carlton, the orangey/sandy coloured building the the famous Egyptian Museum - so you can see how close it was to the action. The burnt out building just to the left of the museum is the old Party HQ. Across the Nile is the island of Zamalek. Extreme right, halfway down is the tourists delight, KFC, just to the right out of shot is where you go to Talaat Harb Street leading to the Yacoubian Building (famous book). gigapan.org/gigapans/71965/
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2011 12:46:28 GMT
Excellent photo. The Ramses Hilton where I spent almost a month seems so far away from the square, but I always felt really close to it except for all of those annoying roadways.
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Post by onlymark on Mar 8, 2011 13:14:57 GMT
Did you not use the subways?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2011 13:30:16 GMT
There were no subways back then. We ran for our lives through the traffic.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 8, 2011 16:34:27 GMT
That's an amazing picture, Mark. The resolution is great. I started over by the tents on the right-hand side and immediately realized it was the time of prayer. Well, not for everyone: I am going to scrutinize the picture more, as it's fascinating.
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Post by onlymark on Mar 8, 2011 18:28:48 GMT
Obviously we have to assume that those not praying are the Copts.
Plus the one registered Atheist in Egypt.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 9, 2011 2:09:19 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Mar 9, 2011 5:43:54 GMT
I've heard of this incident and there are always simmering tensions between them. But in the vast majority of cases they get on well. The Copts complain of being disadvantaged because of their religion, which is true enough. However, no matter how wrong it is, I can't think of a minority of any peoples in any city/country who don't complain of the same thing. It is a natural human condition.
When they have a greater evil to overcome then all will band together, but when the threat has lessened then they go at each other again. Imagine on a far smaller scale with a family. Left alone they will bicker and fight. Threaten the family and they join together. Take the threat away and they resume. I'm not saying the fighting is acceptable, just that it is to be expected unless there is a greater threat.
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Post by onlymark on Mar 9, 2011 18:21:08 GMT
Dr Zahi Hawass, the head (and face, of Egyptian antiquities) has resigned. He's throwing his toys out the cot, spitting out his dummy and decided to leave - www.drhawass.com/blog/why-dr-hawass-resignedNever liked the man anyway.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2011 18:53:04 GMT
Any idea what has become of the eternal minister of culture, Farouk Hosni?
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Post by onlymark on Mar 9, 2011 20:00:57 GMT
I'll look into it, but isn't he still the Minister? He had a few painting exhibitions but I've no idea what he's doing.
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Post by onlymark on Mar 10, 2011 5:12:50 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 10, 2011 5:58:19 GMT
I wonder who the people were attacking the protesters. People with businesses around the square, maybe? The note about their showing up with swords was interesting -- just the sort of thing most people have lying around their homes.
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Post by onlymark on Apr 7, 2011 13:29:42 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Apr 13, 2011 5:33:23 GMT
I'm not sure what news you get in your part of the world but there have been a few violent episodes still in Cairo. One thing to cheer some people up though is the chief prosecutor has decided to interview Mubarak about certain aspects of his regime - only for him to suffer a heart attack and be taken to hospital. Now it seems his sons have been detained for questioning also - www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13058855
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Post by bjd on Apr 13, 2011 8:23:59 GMT
Health problems seem to be an autocratic response to losing power. Wasn't Ben Ali hospitalized in Saudi Arabia shortly after going into exile there?
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Post by onlymark on Apr 13, 2011 10:36:06 GMT
It must be the stress of losing something. A bit like when your favourite puppy dies.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2011 10:56:58 GMT
He had a lot of favourite puppies.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 13, 2011 19:06:57 GMT
I saw the news about the heart attack, but not about the sons being detained.
Isn't it common practice nowadays, when a person is terminated from his/her employment, for security to accompany them in the process of clearing out the desk or office and exiting the building?
It would be interesting to know what kinds of files, archives, hard drives, etc. exit the building when regimes such as Moubarak's topple. I imagine that was some frantic shredding and burning going on as the situation deteriorated, as well.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2011 19:52:41 GMT
Knowing the culture quite well, I am sorry to say that they don't even worry about such things, a main reason being that they do no even realize that there was any wrongdoing.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 13, 2011 19:57:52 GMT
Well, in this instance, that is a good thing, right? At least there is documentation for historical and bureaucratic purposes.
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Post by onlymark on Apr 13, 2011 20:21:48 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2011 20:36:52 GMT
Some people will always have a modicum of sense. After all, lots of them were raised or schooled in "normal" countries and have the values or at least techniques of those countries.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2011 11:04:55 GMT
Egypt no longer appears to be a news priority in much of the world (and I admit that there seem to be a whole lot of things happening), but I was wondering if life in Cairo has more or less returned to normal, stores reopened, repairs made, usual level of chaos...
I know that municipal police are quite rare, because there have been a few articles about that, but are any new police being recruited and trained?
And is there any idea when the elections will be held?
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