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THE BEYOND NET (3#) -

# Interesting piece about two guys working in Dubai from the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan and how they stay in touch with their families back home. Sonali Raha at Gulf News tells us that one uses audio cassettes, while the other uses email and the internet. I didn't know that seemingly remote region had access to the net. Sometimes it's amazing. Last week I saw on one of my site meters that I had my first visiter from Sana, Ethiopia. I didn't know they had internet access there either. Ah, the wonders of modern technology!

# Haitham Sabbah has the feeling that Karen Hughes and the US State Dept are somehow impeding his freedom of speech, but does not provide any evidence of it. "Part of Haitham's adventure in USA, Blogging, Freedom of Speech, Arab" --It's the ghost of Edward R Murrow haunting you, Haitham! :-) via *toot*.

# ODD COMBO: Speaking of farflung places, a quick Libyan Blog compilation appeared on toot, while Global Voices says they need someone to do a periodic Israeli blogs roundup.

# Mahmood's server in Bahrain seems to be down right now; will try him again later, if time permits.

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