I would like to preface this post by saying I am well aware of the type of comments such a topic might draw, but as a blogger, staring at this article on my screen, I felt it would be utterly wrong and self-defeating to self-censor myself as a Jordanian citizen. There is an obligation to […]

The Islamic Action Front (IAF) on Monday expressed concern over news reports of an alleged government decision allowing MPs to sell vehicle customs exemptions. Local dailies reported on Monday that deputies were given the green light from the government to sell the customs exemption they receive on vehicles after assuming their posts at Parliament.
The news […]

Two sites were brought to my attention recently, both having similar missions in mind: a Jordanian bloggers association and a Jordanian bloggers union. Both are hosted on Maktoob blogs, and looking through them briefly I read their respective charters. The idea is fairly unique as you don’t see too many blogging associations or unions in […]

More universal proof that the readers make up at least half of a blog’s identity. My deepest gratitude to all of you who voted for the Black Iris as the best blog in the Middle East. It is probably not, but it was indeed fortunate enough to be nominated by the readers and voted for […]

The eye-catching swimming pool in Mumbai, India, has been built to raise awareness about the threat of sea level rises as a result of global warming. It was constructed by attaching a giant aerial photograph of the New York City skyline to the floor of the pool. The idea was conceived by advertising agency Ogilvy […]

According to a recent poll conducted by WorldPublicOpinion.org, 41% of Jordanians believe that the US “opposes democracy in Muslim nations”, making it the highest of 21 nations polled. Moreover, 40% of Jordanians believe that the US does favor democracy in Muslim nations, as long as they are cooperative with the US. Only 6% believe that […]

Seven Pounds is probably one of Will Smith’s more interesting dramatic roles, along the lines of “The Pursuit of Happyness” and 1993’s “Six Degrees Of Separation”. The story feels almost cut and presented in pieces so that you don’t know exactly what Will Smith’s character, Ben Thomas, is up to. All you can really tell […]

I know this post might sound repetitive because a year ago a similar tragedy took place and a similar commentary on this blog unfolded. The point that I was trying to get across back then is the same point I’m trying to get across now: the fact that we, as a people, tend to place […]