Omar, from over at Iraq the Model, posts on nothing in particular, but it is obviously particular; the daily struggle of urban civilians in a war zone.
First of all we're having a hard time getting reliable electricity and internet access, as you could tell from Mohammed's latest post, thus we're getting fewer hours of online time and this of course is not enabling us to read enough material that is needed to know what's going on and connect events and news.
There's also our satellite TV receiver which died all of a sudden (maybe the news it was forced to show was the cause of death!).
I'm also not getting my newspapers regularly enough for a number of reasons, so we're technically not receiving enough material to be able to blog in the way we wish we were especially when it comes to things happening outside Baghdad.
Some might wonder how someone living in a place as eventful as Baghdad would face difficulty choosing a story to write about. Yes Baghdad is full of events, almost no day passes without breaking news or big stories about the government, the al-Qaeda, security, economy, etc, etc.
Of course most of headlines bring bad news and every once in a while we find some good news or potentially good news but regardless of that, they all can be considered as good raw material for blogging but the thing is that we're growing numb over news whether good or bad.
I would almost say that living in the slums of Washington D.C. is a step up. At least there is reliable electical power.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Parliament Approves New Cabinet.
In a show of hands, the 275-member parliament approved each Cabinet minister proposed by incoming Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The new ministers then took their oaths of office in the nationally televised session in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone.
That completed a democratic process that began following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime in the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
In his first address, al-Maliki told parliament that he would make restoring stability and security the top priority of his new administration. He said he would "work fast" to improve and coordinate Iraqi forces so they can reduce attacks by insurgent groups and militias.
Amen.
To the east, Iran's president, Herr whos-its is still a nut case.
It is a frightening scene that hearkens back to a monstrous crime: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who openly denies that the Holocaust ever happened, now seeks to recreate the catastrophe's earliest moments.
As columnist Amir Taheri discloses elsewhere in today's Post, Ahmadinejad has pushed through the parliament, or Majlis, a law requiring all Jews in Iran to sew yellow strips of cloth to their clothes - and wear a special ID insignia.
And not just Jews: All non-Muslims, including Christians, Hindus, Bahai and Buddhists, must wear clothes that conform to a specific color scheme for their respective faiths - badges that warn Muslims against having physical contact with "unclean" people.
My sympathies to the people of Iran.
Even farther east, the world's tallest peak has been bested x 2?
Playboy Model Climbs Mount Everest.
No, I don't have any photos.
And what is the deal with hot teachers this millenium? It used to be school marms were little more tame & held to higher standards.
Even though this is a non-nude fashion portfolio, it might not be safe for work.
