Last night I, along with bloggers Ayesha Saldanhaand Deonna Kelli Sayed, was invited to participate in a special Elhamevent regarding the role of blogging in cultural development, with particular emphasis on the literary aspect of online writing. I read several of my posts and answered some very interesting questions from the attendees. This was my second Elham participation (I participated in the first Elham gathering in November of last year.) As usual, Deonna Kelli Sayed, Phoebe Boswell,Al Riwaq Galleryand of course Ali Al Saeed(who unfortunately couldn’t make it as he was abroad,) did a wonderful job of organizing it.

Some of you might have noticed the January 2007 issue of National Geographic with Dubai as one of its cover articles. On that note, here’s a little something to look at from my archives. National Geographic, February 1946: That’s right, probably one of the first articles in NG dealing solely with our little island of hope, Bahrein: Port of Pearls and Petroleum – With 6 illustrations and Map, 11 Natural Color Photographs by Maynard Owen Williams.

Many might have kid about Bahrain’s most popular blog, Mahmood’s Den, being blocked one day. It seems that day will be tomorrow according to a ministerial order. While one can only speculate on the reasons for the block, some have pointed out that it most likely has to do with the Bandargatescandal. Mahmood has been quite outspoken about the issue on his weblog, and has also started the much commended Just Bahrainicampaign.

_Listen to podcast: _ [audio:lfdpc1.mp3] Transcript: While research suggests that people are connected to one another within six degrees of separation worldwide, one of the charms of a small island country like ours is that everyone on it seems to be connected within a degree or two at the most. Such closeness of relation in large cities or countries provides for happy coincedences, perhaps even serendipitous encounters. Yet in Bahrain finding out that for instance a certain stranger in a restaurant happens to be a friend of a friend does not call for celebration.

_The following vignette is fiction, including the quotation. _ I looked out the window on this cool spring day, thinking of how mother used to enjoy days like this. I remembered Fridays at our villa. Mother would take the opportunity of unusually good weather to walk in the garden. “Our villa’s garden,” she would say, “go out there and enjoy it people, go enjoy the garden that’s right there waiting for you.