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    Nathan Hamm

  • In Afghanistan, Smaller Is Better (28.07 14:58) I have a new piece up at World Politics Review, talking about a program I think might actually work. What LDIs show is that in Afghanistan, smaller is better. LDI teams themselves do not “solve” problems or impose massive projects on Afghan communities. Instead, they provide local populations the space and responsibility to participate in solving their own problems. That makes talking easier and m... ]\" id=\"f_223995005\">In Afghanistan, Smaller Is Better
  • Talking Wikileaks (28.07 14:43) Spencer Ackerman, née of Wired’s Danger Room blog, and I had an enjoyable, free-wheeling discussion about Wikileaks and other issues relating to the Afghan war. ... ]\" id=\"f_223995007\">Talking Wikileaks
  • Talking Wikileaks in Afghanistan (27.07 16:56) I managed to get out two pieces yesterday about the Wikileaks leak, as promised. The first is at my homestation, of sorts, at PBS Need to Know (which is a great show, if you don’t watch it already!). There, I said the leak is both more and less important than people probably realize: Can an organization whose sole purpose is exposing secret information really do a good job safeguarding the lives i... ]\" id=\"f_223995008\">Talking Wikileaks in Afghanistan
  • Kabul: A Day in the Life (27.07 02:18) Naheed Mustafa is a Canadian freelance broadcast and print journalist. She’s currently on a reporting trip to Pakistan and Afghanistan and will be posting dispatches from her trip. It’s always nice to get away from work and walk around the city. My time ended up being short on this trip and I didn’t get a chance to leave Kabul except for a quick jaunt just north of the city for a day. I love the f... ]\" id=\"f_223995010\">Kabul: A Day in the Life
  • Trying, Desperately, to Catch Up (26.07 14:15) I took a break from working double-overtime this weekend to talk with Chuck Mertz on his radio show, “This is Hell,” about the Washington Post’s Top Secret America. A direct link to the audio, which is 4 hours long, is below. My segment begins about 15 minutes in and continues for about another 40. This Is Hell, July 24, 2010.mp3 Additionally, I’m celebrating General Petraeus’ decision to scrap th... ]\" id=\"f_223995013\">Trying, Desperately, to Catch Up
  • Forum Plug (24.07 19:12) This is just to remind our readers that Registan has a Forum, the link to which you’ll see on our front page. I’ve been dumping some time into the posts to add something of a skeleton, as I understand an empty forum is about as enticing as a non-existent forum. So, at the moment we have sections on Recipes posted on Registan in the past, Job Offers and notices of new publications as posted on Cen... ]\" id=\"f_223995014\">Forum Plug
  • Dispatches from AfPak: Death Isn’t Tragic, It’s Neutral (23.07 13:25) Naheed Mustafa is a Canadian freelance broadcast and print journalist. She’s currently on a reporting trip to Pakistan and Afghanistan and will be posting dispatches from her trip. “They believe killing ordinary people is mubah.” The statement came from a Kandahari veteran of the 80s Jihad. I was sitting with him in his house in Kabul, politely trying to drink, without heaving, the Red Bull I was ... ]\" id=\"f_223995016\">Dispatches from AfPak: Death Isn’t Tragic, It’s Neutral
  • Part Two of Discussing Top Secret America (23.07 03:58) I wrote the second part of my discussion of Top Secret America over at the Columbia Journalism Review, where the critique seemed more appropriate. Overall, I give the series a “meh” and really wonder why it took two years to put together. Priest and Arkin write that, near Ft. Meade, employees and contractors who work for the NSA can’t function in normal life: they walk around hunched over, unable... ]\" id=\"f_223995017\">Part Two of Discussing Top Secret America
  • Justice Versus Punishment (23.07 03:54) ISAF seems pretty excited to see Pashtunwali in action. An Afghan citizen suspected of providing support to an insurgent commander in Pakistan was subject to traditional “pashtunwali” justice after he was turned over to tribal elders by Afghan Security Forces operating with international coalition forces near the village of Bermel in Paktika province, July 18. Pashtunwali is an ancient tribal code... ]\" id=\"f_223995019\">Justice Versus Punishment
  • Good Reads, part the second (21.07 04:54) UNICEF, in a new report, is warning of an upcoming AIDS epidemic among the youth of Central Asia. Drug abuse, high-risk sex and social stigma have increased the incidence of HIV/AIDS and deterred afflicted youth from seeking treatment, according to the publication, “Blame and Banishment”. The region has 3.7m drug users, nearly a quarter of the global total, the report found. It also has over 1m s... ]\" id=\"f_223343093\">Good Reads, part the second

Nathan Hamm's Photos

 

    Ben Paarmann

  • Out the door (21.11 14:54) ... ]\" id=\"f_178336568\"> Out the door
  • This is it (10.11 22:31) Iran supports Turkey’s EU bid and Brazil warmly welcomes Ahmadinejad, even sporting flying banners across Ipanema beach. What a strange new world we’re living in. In Buenos Aires still, off to Uruguay tomorrow. Will meet with fellow SOAS pal Marc tonight, which should be fun. ... ]\" id=\"f_178336569\"> This is it
  • So far… (09.11 05:01) A tour de force, and only one week has passed! Beginning in Chile, where two days were spent to see whether the December 13 poll contain some risk to the markets. Interestingly, while Chileans rightly point to the fact that the upcoming elections are the most open ones since the resumption of democracy, people from other Latin American countries think Chile is boring whatever the story is. Any... ]\" id=\"f_178336570\"> So far…
  • Turkey observations (14.04 22:05) A beer for eight euros at Ankara airport comes with the advantage of free Internet, so while I wait for my flight back home, I may as well jot down a few observations from my trip here. In Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district, an American woman tells her little son: “Look honey, this is very special about Turkey - they put their flags everywhere! People are really proud of their country. Not like in... ]\" id=\"f_23525029\">Turkey observations
  • Lutz’s travels (26.01 22:56) My friend Lutz Kleveman has teamed up with a filmmaker to produce a bit of a summary of his past ten years as an international conflict zone reporter. Impressive: ... ]\" id=\"f_19416870\">Lutz’s travels
  • Sunday Fine (25.01 19:16) The results of a lazy Sunday afternoon during my last weekend in Groningen. Not entirely done yet obviously, but a contender for a spot on the next EP. Download ... ]\" id=\"f_19416872\">Sunday Fine
  • Leaving the north (19.01 00:09) It’s packing time again. Can you believe it’s already 17 months since I moved to Groningen? Me neither, time’s been flying at an insane speed. I’ll relocate to the Hague at the end of this month and start a new job from February 2nd onwards. It will take me from analysing numbers to analysing political risk in emerging markets, although still for the same company… And from somewhere I heard i... ]\" id=\"f_19416874\">Leaving the north
  • Menahan Street Band (15.12 21:01) From the 2008 album Make the Road By Walking ... ]\" id=\"f_16959321\">Menahan Street Band
  • Having fun with Logic loops (14.12 23:29) They sound great, especially the drum fills. Download ... ]\" id=\"f_16959322\">Having fun with Logic loops
  • We Can Do Better (14.12 18:06) Finally managed to get a few unfinished projects off the Logic workbench so I can concentrate on taking on new stuff. And the result is: “We Can Do Better”, a 3-track EP, all done over the last six or so months. Not much, I know, but hey… I decided to keep “Solidspace” as the artist name, although Jenny is unfortunately not featured on any of the tunes (as she’s living across the big pond). ... ]\" id=\"f_16959323\">We Can Do Better

Ben Paarmann's Photos

 

    Leila Tanayeva

  • Transformation of Space in Almaty: Interview (13.08 17:04) You might have seen posts on Kazakhstan’s art scene by Daniel Gallegos, an American artist who is now in Almaty. I visited Daniel and his colleagues from the Artpologist project Zhanara, Aminotou and Gaisha at Soros Centre for Contemporary Art in Almaty. The project reflects on the transformation of space in Almaty influenced by rapid development and construction, and focuses on artists’ person... ]\" id=\"f_3068637\">Transformation of Space in Almaty: Interview
  • Almaty More Expensive than Los-Angeles (22.06 10:05) Mercer Human Resources Consulting released its 2007 Cost of Living Survey: Mercer’s annual Cost of Living Survey covers 143 cities across six continents and measures the comparative cost of over 200 items in each location, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment. It is the world’s most comprehensive cost of living survey ... ]\" id=\"f_2337463\">Almaty More Expensive than Los-Angeles
  • The Downfall of Rakhat Aliev (23.05 15:47) Interfax Kazakhstan reported today that a criminal case is initiated against Rakhat Aliev on the charges of kidnapping. Aliev, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Austria, a shareholder in “Nurbank” and the president’s son-in-law, is charged with the kidnapping of the former head of the Board of “Nurbank” Abilmazhen Gilimov, and a former first deputy of the bank’s Board Zholdas Timraliev. As Kozhakhmetov... ]\" id=\"f_1637727\">The Downfall of Rakhat Aliev
  • The Conflict Between the Oil Company and the Villagers Continues (21.05 14:12) Translation of the post by Elena Platonova, an author of the Russian-language neweurasia from Karaganda. A huge accident occurred last year at the oil pipeline in Central Kazakhstan. About three thousand tons of oil spilled to the ground from a broken pipe not far from the Molodetskoe village. The consequences of this accident are still being dealt with. However, one day after the accident it was ... ]\" id=\"f_1637728\">The Conflict Between the Oil Company and the Villagers Continues
  • National-Patriots Create a Party in Kazakhstan (16.05 09:28) A new political project emerged in Kazakhstan, reports blogger sarimov, political observer of “Zhas Alash” Kazakh-language newspaper. The party unites national-patriots and was a new government project, which was under way for almost five months, according to sarimov. We decided to create this democratic party “Khalyk Rukhy”, which means “The Spirit of the People”. This party will not be purely... ]\" id=\"f_1447630\">National-Patriots Create a Party in Kazakhstan
  • Interview with the Blogger, adam_kesher (20.04 12:31) Adil Nurmakov is a 28-year old political scientist and a journalist from Almaty, who started as a blogger in 2004. He writes his own Livejournal adam_kesher and is a regular author on neweurasia. Recently, Adil wrote an open letter to the mayor of Almaty about the situation with the increasing amount of cars in Almaty and appealing to open the car parks. Adil collected 40 signatures from blogger... ]\" id=\"f_1186636\">Interview with the Blogger, adam_kesher
  • Interview with Yuri Mizinov, Zonakz.net (19.04 14:41) Yuri Mizinov is a founder and an editor of Zonakz.net, an online newspaper, previously known as Navigator. Zonakz.net is planning to launch blogs on their site, and Yuri Mizinov agreed to comment on blogs and citizen media for neweurasia. Q: What is a blog for you? The definition of a blog is well-known. But for us it has additional features. Blog is the source of information that passes by the ... ]\" id=\"f_1186637\">Interview with Yuri Mizinov, Zonakz.net
  • Interview with Kazis Toguzbayev, Journalist/Blogger from Kazakhstan (15.04 17:16) Cross-posted on Global Voices Kazis Toguzbayev is a Kazakhstani journalist/blogger, who was sued for insulting the honor and the dignity of the president in January 2007 when he uploaded two articles on a group blog KUB.kz. Kazis is 59, married and has grandchildren. He is a colonel of the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan in reserve and a pensioner for 10 years now. We spoke about the lessons t... ]\" id=\"f_1186638\">Interview with Kazis Toguzbayev, Journalist/Blogger from Kazakhstan
  • The Jury Starts Working in Kazakhstan (09.04 01:03) Kazakhstan introduced a jury trial in cases where crimes are punished by the death penalty. The trials have already taken place in Eastern and Northern Kazakhstan. The jury consists of eleven people, selected by special computer programme from a long list of people’s surnames, suggested by regional Akimat. People who do not have legal capacity, public servants, police officers, military personne... ]\" id=\"f_1186639\">The Jury Starts Working in Kazakhstan
  • The Square of Architectural Experiments (02.04 10:44) After his posts on the demolition of old Stalin and Khrushchev houses in Almaty, Adam Kesher continues writing about the changes in the city in his Livejournal (RUS). In his post, he writes about the new project for the Square of the Republic in Almaty. “This comes in addition to a huge undeground construction, renovation of the facades of the buildings, that constitute the square ensemble, con... ]\" id=\"f_1186640\">The Square of Architectural Experiments

Leila Tanayeva's Photos

 

    Artur Papyan

  • Yerevan’s Singing Fountain (27.07 08:43) From early Spring to late Autumn each evening there is a fountain and light show in front of the Art Gallery and History Museum at Yerevan’s Republic square. The program includes classical favorites, as well as contemporary Jazz, Rock and Pop (US or Russian). Usually it spans from 10pm to 11pm. The show is free of charge and is a lively, crowded and pleasant place on hot summer evening. PS: Sorr... ]\" id=\"f_223996315\">Yerevan’s Singing Fountain
  • The questions that Sargsyan, Nalbandyan are avoiding… (26.07 15:08) Armenia -- Serzh Sargsyan gives a foreign policy talk at a youth camp, 21Jul2010 Armenian leaders used and abused pro-government Miasin youth movement’s camp at Lake Sevan to voice important political messages on Armenia – Azerbaijan and Armenia – Turkey relations last week. The ‘sudden’ interest of Armenia’s president and foreign minister towards socializing with young careerists, can only be exp... ]\" id=\"f_223996316\">The questions that Sargsyan, Nalbandyan are avoiding…
  • ICJ clears road to Karabakh independence (23.07 09:15) Public hearing at the ICJ, via Wikipedia In a ruling which could have important implications for Armenia – Azerbaijan conflict over the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, the highest UN Court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has affirmed Kosovo’s 2008 unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia, saying it did not violate international law.“The court has concluded above that the ... ]\" id=\"f_223996317\">ICJ clears road to Karabakh independence
  • Camp that converts young people to messengers of peace (23.07 08:12) Hamburg (dpa) – Words instead of weapons. Harmony instead of strife. The European Council wants to prohibit war and to that end sponsors an annual youth camp where representatives of rival groups meet and sit at a single table. Israeli youths meet Palestinian youths. Serb youths come together with Albanian youths from Kosovo for the first time on neutral ground. Armenians youths get to know young... ]\" id=\"f_223996318\">Camp that converts young people to messengers of peace
  • Bing search features Cascade as background image (22.07 06:19) Microsoft’s popular search engine, Bing is notorious for featuring beautiful background images. Today Bing’s background image in most countries of the world is Yerevan’s Cascade – Cafesjian Centre for the Arts. Bing, which has been slowly gaining ground in the search engine market dominated by Google, has made the image of Cascade the default background in most countries of the world, includin... ]\" id=\"f_223996319\">Bing search features Cascade as background image
  • Leading online news portal caught cheating on statistics (21.07 20:43) Armenia -- Screenshot of News.am website, 22Jul2010 News.am, a leading Armenian online news portal has apparently attempted to cheat in order to boost its website visitor statistics on Armenian website rating system Circle.am. “On 20th of July, 2010 membership of NEWS.AM and ARMTODAY.INFO Web Sites in the Circle.Am Rating was temporary suspended. This was done to conduct investigation on the chea... ]\" id=\"f_223343984\">Leading online news portal caught cheating on statistics
  • The Legend of Illuminator’s Lantern (20.07 21:48) Mount Aragats, Photo by Haik Barseghyan Legend holds that when Saint Gregory the Illuminator prayed one day on Mount Aragats, a miraculous ever-burning lantern hanging from the heavens came down to shed light on him. Armenians believe, that the Illuminator’s lantern is still there and only those pure in heart and spirit, can see the eternal lantern – the symbol of hopes and dreams of the nation. M... ]\" id=\"f_223996320\">The Legend of Illuminator’s Lantern
  • Back to Ararat… (19.07 19:01) I spent my holidays in Gyumri – it turned out to be a ‘cool’ idea in all respects, as Yerevan was unusually hot in July with temperatures rising above 40°C. There was something missing in Gyumri, however… back in Yerevan and looking out of my car’s window, I was quick to realize what exactly I was missing. The incredible presence of this wonderful mountain – Mt. Ararat everywhere in Yerevan canno... ]\" id=\"f_223343985\">Back to Ararat…
  • Hacking Facebook in 3 easy steps (05.07 20:06) Users of the Armenian version of Facebook social networking site logged in to their accounts only to face a facebook-load of unpleasant surprises today. Apparently, all it takes to ‘hack’ the world’s largest social network is 1) go to Facebook Translations application, 2) modify the text there to your liking (e.g. to display advertisement for your website) and 3) vote it up so it will show to hun... ]\" id=\"f_221454025\">Hacking Facebook in 3 easy steps
  • Clinton Urges Final Push For Karabakh Peace (05.07 08:14) U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to finalize a framework agreement to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as she visited the two South Caucasus states on Sunday. Note how Clinton says “we regret the incidents of the last several weeks” referring to the fighting on the Karabakh-Azerbaijan border, which Armenian Defence Ministry described as a “sabotage attack”... ]\" id=\"f_221454026\">Clinton Urges Final Push For Karabakh Peace

Artur Papyan's Photos

 
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