The bumpy bus ride

During my last trip to Cyprus, I took a shuttle bus from Larnaca to Nicosia and I had the opportunity to sit on the front row.

Needless to say, it was one of the funniest rides ever. The driver was sitting on a bouncing chair. How's that for entertainment on a usually boring shuttle bus?

The voice behind MixFM's announcements

Everytime I listen to a MixFM announcement on the radio, I remember the great Don LaFontaine, the voice behind most of Hollywood's trailers.



I really like the voice behind MixFM's announcements and previews but it is becoming a bit boring.
He really works on his lines and draws the audience's attention, but in some cases it's pretty ridiculous.

Every DJ has "circled the globe", every event "will change Lebanon's dance scene". I might agree when it is Armin Van Buuren or Michael Jackson (God bless his soul) maybe, but not when it's DJ Franco from Amsterdam!

Point is, it is certain MixFM has the best Voice for announcements and all that, all the rest of the radio stations are even trying to imitate them, and don't even come close.

Credit should also be given to the female voices participating in the announcements, and I think it is a good way of "mixing it up" a bit, just don't go too far;)

Here is one of my favorite stand up comedians of all time, imitating Don LaFontaine (and MixFM's Voice).  

Syria and media: a love story?

DAMASCUS - For several months now, the Syrian regime has been the victim of a massive media campaign for the atrocities and the violence it has been committing against its own people.
Surely, no one can deny the fact that the syrian government is guilty on all counts for the repression of demonstrations, the arrest of innocent men and women and so on and so forth.
After all, the amateur video and pictures taken are proof enough. But did it ever occur to someone that media coverage in Syria by international agencies and newspapers that do not even have eyes and ears there are, well, sort of taking their reporting a little less seriously than they are supposed to?
I mean seriously, "more than 1.2 millions protesters took to the streets" two weeks ago in cities with estimated populations of 1.2 million?
Wasn't anyone, by any chance sick that day? Wounded? Sleepy? Paralysed? A little too old or too young to "take to the streets"?
Frankly, there is no difference right now between the Syrian government's media coverage and the rest of the media's coverage. It's pure lies.
The Syrian news agency has been accusing "armed gangs" of these violences for the past four months, and it's not ready to give up. It seems to me the journalists are convinced and sure about what they are publishing.
On the other hand, the rest of the media seems like it is taking part of the conflict. Without hesitation speculation become facts, rumours make headlines and legends become special investigative reports.
Again, as journalists and as International media none of us have the right to justify the violence or support the revolution.
For God's sake people, all we ask for is some serious news reporting!