If you love the TV show, Big Brother, and if it’s been a life-long goal of yours to be a contestant on it, then I’ve got good news for all you die-hard reality TV fans; Big Brother is coming to Jordan and in the most hi-tech of manners. The better news is that every […]

U.S. diplomats will begin moving into the mammoth new, heavily fortified embassy in Baghdad next month after long delays in the $736 million project — and not a moment too soon.
….S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker said Friday that construction is complete at the Vatican-sized compound
…The new embassy will be the largest U.S. diplomatic mission […]

Director of the Financial Disclosure Department Nazim Aref on Sunday said 61 out of 110 deputies have submitted financial disclosure statements. Yesterday was the last day for deputies to file and submit their financial statements according to the 2006 Financial Disclosure Law, he added. The department provided lawmakers with the statement form on January 13, […]

If you haven’t read Khalaf’s primer on the issue, definitely check it out. The new Salt Document is a pretty stunning and rare act of cultural and social reform on the ground level, specifically in adherence to the new socioeconomic realities. Some of the highlights focus mainly on wedding festivities:
- A bride’s jewelry (as part […]

Could this editorial in the Jordan Times be any more propagandistic? I mean, come on people, a little show of objectivity can’t hurt you. Can it?

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The legislative session is over and MPs are on holiday. After doing pretty much nothing about helping the average Jordanian deal with rising prices, low wages, and fuel hikes, the MPs have decided to take this time off to help themselves. According to Ammon, MPs are asking for their wages to be increased, their cars […]

I wanted to point to a recent piece of local news where the government is expected to remove both the 16% sales tax and customs duty on renewable energy devices like solar panels and windmills. It was interesting because a few days ago I was in a meeting where Ahmad Humeid noted the high prices […]

No, they’re not turning them into hybrids or any thing environmentally friendly. It’s not that kind of “green”. Public buses and taxis in Aqaba are all being painted green to symbolize the “uniqueness” of the city. Now even though it’s my favorite color, when I think of Aqaba I don’t really think of green. Red, […]

Apparently, there were “secret” plans, headed by the Bakhit government, to build a Casino at the Dead Sea; a project that was supposedly funded in the millions by an unnamed “British Kurd” investor (don’t ask me why his nationality is important, you know how the Jordanian media is). Upon discovering these plans, it also seems […]

Last night, Amman joined the list of cities all around the world and turned its lights off in honor of Earth Hour, a WWF initiative to raise awareness about global warming. Here’s a picture of the Capital that I took last night as it was plunged into darkness.

Ok, ok, so that picture was totally photoshopped. […]

Well, how about everything?
I know it would be easier to read my own summary of this Washington Post article, but I truly thought it would be funner if you just read it for yourself. Trust me, you’re going to enjoy it.
MUWAQQAR, Jordan — A U.S.-funded program to train and equip Palestinian security forces is mired […]

Here’s a selection of my delicious pickings for this week:
Some Politicking:
- The Unpopular Hilary: Nicholas Kristoff has an interesting oped in the New York Times on how Hilary will have to drop out if she can’t win the popular vote over Obama. The article is timely considering Senator Casey’s endorsement of Obama that might help […]

While in Uganda to open a large mosque for the Muslim community…
Ugandan Church leaders have asked Christians to forgive Libya’s leader for suggesting the Bible was forged as it didn’t mention the Prophet Muhammad.
LOL!
Ugandan clerics pointed out the Bible was written before Muhammad was born.
ROFL!
At Kampala’s Christ the King Church, Monsignor Paul Ssemwogerere said: “Since […]

The man who stabbed the German tourist a few weeks back has been charged by a military court with committing a “terrorist act”, after earlier being passed off as a mentally deranged person with no terrorist intentions by the Interior Minister. The charge has to be approved by the attorney general and it probably will […]

Two articles of interest caught my attention today, both related to water in Jordan, or the lack thereof:
Jordan has invited private firms to tender for the Disi project — estimated to cost 944 million dollars — on a build, operate and transfer basis under a 25-year-concession agreement.
“The treasury will handle around 220 million dollars […]

The latest draft of the new traffic law has been given urgent status in the Lower House, and will likely be put up for discussion but seeking an endorsement after the recess. Running a red light will now cost you 250JDs, that’s twice the average monthly minimum wage, which the average Jordanian earns. If you’re […]