Glimpses of other worlds... 'Aqoul's Shaheen has put together a collection of YouTubes showing nightlife and clubbing rituals among Middle Eastern and North African youth, from Egypt to Morocco: "To shake that idea of a clash of civilizations a bit, it's worth mentioning how in most Arab Mediterranean cities, upper and middle class lifestyle has more in common with Rome than Kabul." If the clips are any guide, techno is the new world music. Which is depressing in some ways, but not in others, I suppose.
As for Englishman in New York, he's been celebrating Purim in raucous style, and has the video to prove it: "A roomful of Chasidic Jews ate, drank and danced like they were at a German techno party circa 1995. The highlight of the evening—Chasidic reggae artist Matisyahu’s impromptu performance with Stanley Ipkiss." Some spectacular false beards in evidence on the bandstand.
And a dash of political satire is supplied by The Arabist, flagging up the controversial Israeli Eurovision entry, Push The Button, a gallows humour riposte to cuddly Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
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