Month: July 2005
-
Do we have too many IT graduates?
HUMAN RESOURCES | Universities are churning out masses of computer graduates, but finding a good programmer is still a pain. Ahmad Humeid looks for the source of the problem. As the owner of a design/technology business, it is me who receives job application in the company. For the past few months I’ve been noticing a…
-
Can Jordan be the bridge-blog nation?
The Jordan blogging community, a small but active group, seems to be well positioned to act as a bridge between the Arab world and the rest of the world. Many Jordanian bloggers write in English and the country is open both to the west and to the Arab world. Amman is becoming a meeting place,…
-
My interview on GlobalVoices with Ethan Zuckerman
Earlier today I had a great chat with Ethan Zuckerman, who’s here in Amman for the Open Source Opportunities seminar. Both of us were ‘showing off’ our Apple gear (Powerbooks, iPods in the lobby of the Jordan Intercontinental. We talked about blogging, podcasting, media, technology, youth and self expression. Ethan just posted this podcast of…
-
Excellent talk by Ethan Zuckerman at the Open Source Seminar
I am sitting at the Open Source Seminar at the Intercontinental hotel in Amman. < a href=”http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/”>Ethan Zuckerman just gave an excellent talk on open content. Really informative and engaging presentation on open content, DRM, Wikipedia, etc. It’s really unfortunate that this event is so small. A lot of people in Jordan would have really…
-
The plane that didn’t crash in Aqaba and the bomb that didn’t explode in Istanbul!
Tuesday evening we were all glued to the web news sites at the office. Friends started calling from abroad and a sense of gloom and concern hung over our heads. Reuters was reporting a plane crash in the King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba. Al Jazeera went as far as reporting that it was a…
-
Open Source Opportunities Seminar | 26-27 July 2005
I’ve just been added as a panelist on the Open Source Opportunities Seminar to be held by int@j on 26-27 July 2005 at the Amman Intercontinental. It’s cool that the subject of open source software is being brought up again in Jordan. There will be a number of international and regional speakers. I hope it…
-
Project Gizmo: An “open standards” Skype replacement?
Quite a buzz is being generated around the launch, a few days ago, of Project Gizmo, a VoIP solution that closely resembles Skype. I downloaded the software, which, incidentally, is available for the Mac, PC and soon Linux. This morning I had the chance to test it with a friend. The voice quality was as…
-
Our anti-learning attitude
Want to get a first hand account on how our culture of anti-learning is stifling creativity? Read Ammar Ibrahim’s recent post on his current experience both as student and teacher in Jordan. Depressing stuff. I remember those who were creative, innovative and wanted to learn got lowest marks. And those who like to be spoon…
-
Pure Bluetooth magic
MOBILE | Want to pace around during your Powerpoint presentation or be a couch potato when watching a DVD on your laptop. Ahmad Humeid finds a Mac application that can do both and more. Being an owner of a Bluetooth enabled phone for almost a year now has left me a bit underwhelmed. Until last…
-
MixUp Arabia episode 4: Part 2 of my converstation with Hady Amr
It’s part 2 of my conversation with political and economic consultant Hady Amr in Washington (see previous post for part 1) on changes in Lebanon, democracy, youth, Arab public attitude towards America, Israel, Palestine and the South African democracy example.. If you like this show, give it a vote on podcastalley. Subscribe to the feed…
-
MixUp Arabia Episode 3: Long conversation with Hady Amr – Part I
Welcome to episode 3 of MixUp Arabia (I just found out I say episode 2 in the cast itself:)). This is a show on media, technology, design and culture from today’s Arab world, in the confusing context of globalization, development, conflict and change. How are media and the internet affecting the Arab world’s relationship with…