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Laith
Jan 21, 2008, 4:17:39 PM1/21/08
to iraqi-bl...@googlegroups.com
Hi guys,
I have an idea that I want to run by you guys and you tell if you
think this will gain momentum, at this point there are many blogs and
websites on the Arab world that provide news, also there are tons of
websites that publish the work of writers, but usually its either left
or right, nothing allow true expression, what i want to do is create a
community website, which is more like a web magazine that people
provide the content to it, it is very similar to many blogs aggregated
into one place and people will decide who they want to read and who
will succeed, of course there will be minimum restriction, like there
will no encouragement of violence or threats allowed on the website.
I have an idea that I want to run by you guys and you tell if you
think this will gain momentum, at this point there are many blogs and
websites on the Arab world that provide news, also there are tons of
websites that publish the work of writers, but usually its either left
or right, nothing allow true expression, what i want to do is create a
community website, which is more like a web magazine that people
provide the content to it, it is very similar to many blogs aggregated
into one place and people will decide who they want to read and who
will succeed, of course there will be minimum restriction, like there
will no encouragement of violence or threats allowed on the website.
Have you seen something similar, ( I intend to build it with very nice
look and feel ) I know there are tons of Arabic websites for posting
articles , but honestly they suck visually.
any thoughts?
Laith
Baghdadia 88
Jan 21, 2008, 7:14:41 PM1/21/08
to iraqi-bl...@googlegroups.com
Olivebranch Optimism is the closest thing I can think about, integrating lots of Iraqi bloggers/writers from all walks of life and all political orientations.
khalid jarrar
Jan 21, 2008, 7:25:51 PM1/21/08
to iraqi-bl...@googlegroups.com
what would be really unique is having it in Arabic only:) and hence would be directed to developing our own thoughts, and also for Arab readers. that are rarely targeted by iraqi bloggers.
Laith
Jan 21, 2008, 10:00:56 PM1/21/08
to iraqi-bl...@googlegroups.com
my plan is to have it in arabic as you mentioned,
I have seen olive branch, it is different, I really wanna make it like
a magazine that is edited by the community, It kinda collect the work
of many writers ( Iraqis and other arab writers) and make it the first
arabic magazine that is controlled completely by the community).
, and also I want it to provide subscription by email so that if it
get blocked over time I want to make sure that readers will always get
the articles they want.
khalid jarrar
Jan 22, 2008, 12:00:57 AM1/22/08
to iraqi-bl...@googlegroups.com
i love the idea and will write you the first article too:) Ba3ad Shitreed?:)
--
Khalid Jarrar
secretsinbaghdad.blogspot.com
khalid jarrar
Jan 22, 2008, 12:42:28 AM1/22/08
to iraqi-bl...@googlegroups.com
and, beside the point: i just woke up, i was dreaming i was 6alib
kolliya 3askariya and that delila was infact an old bald man.
what the!
kolliya 3askariya and that delila was infact an old bald man.
what the!
--
Khalid Jarrar
secretsinbaghdad.blogspot.com
Salam Adil
Jan 22, 2008, 5:38:50 AM1/22/08
to Iraqi Blogodrome
I contributed to Olivebranch - Olivebranch failed for two reasons,
first its founder lost interest in the project and just stopped
chasing after new articles and second it never really broke out of the
mould of just repeating posts already made on other blogs.
My weekly post at Global Voices Online (http://
www.globalvoicesonline.org/author/salam-adil/) is a better way of
introducing people to what has been already written in blogs for the
week.
I think you are definitely on the right track. What is needed is a way
to get new writers out there without the overhead and responsibility
and dangers of creating their own blog.
Arabic should be the first language of the site but English is very
important. What attracts a writer to the web is not just that they are
read by their people but that they reach an international audience.
What I suggest is to have bloggers help correct the posts of new
writers who want to write in English but do not have strong command of
the language and,if there is time, translate some of the best posts to
English.
And as you say design is very important. It needs to be clean and very
easy to access - I think that alone will put this ahead of other
sites.
I will be happy to help you with managing and setting up the site.
regards
Salam Adil
On Jan 22, 3:00 am, Laith <lnyou...@gmail.com> wrote:
> my plan is to have it in arabic as you mentioned,
>
> I have seen olive branch, it is different, I really wanna make it like
> a magazine that is edited by the community, It kinda collect the work
> of many writers ( Iraqis and other arab writers) and make it the first
> arabic magazine that is controlled completely by the community).
>
> , and also I want it to provide subscription by email so that if it
> get blocked over time I want to make sure that readers will always get
> the articles they want.
>
first its founder lost interest in the project and just stopped
chasing after new articles and second it never really broke out of the
mould of just repeating posts already made on other blogs.
My weekly post at Global Voices Online (http://
www.globalvoicesonline.org/author/salam-adil/) is a better way of
introducing people to what has been already written in blogs for the
week.
I think you are definitely on the right track. What is needed is a way
to get new writers out there without the overhead and responsibility
and dangers of creating their own blog.
Arabic should be the first language of the site but English is very
important. What attracts a writer to the web is not just that they are
read by their people but that they reach an international audience.
What I suggest is to have bloggers help correct the posts of new
writers who want to write in English but do not have strong command of
the language and,if there is time, translate some of the best posts to
English.
And as you say design is very important. It needs to be clean and very
easy to access - I think that alone will put this ahead of other
sites.
I will be happy to help you with managing and setting up the site.
regards
Salam Adil
On Jan 22, 3:00 am, Laith <lnyou...@gmail.com> wrote:
> my plan is to have it in arabic as you mentioned,
>
> I have seen olive branch, it is different, I really wanna make it like
> a magazine that is edited by the community, It kinda collect the work
> of many writers ( Iraqis and other arab writers) and make it the first
> arabic magazine that is controlled completely by the community).
>
> , and also I want it to provide subscription by email so that if it
> get blocked over time I want to make sure that readers will always get
> the articles they want.
>
> On Jan 21, 2008 7:25 PM, khalid jarrar <khalidjar...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > what would be really unique is having it in Arabic only:) and hence would be
> > directed to developing our own thoughts, and also for Arab readers. that are
> > rarely targeted by iraqi bloggers.
>
>
> > what would be really unique is having it in Arabic only:) and hence would be
> > directed to developing our own thoughts, and also for Arab readers. that are
> > rarely targeted by iraqi bloggers.
>
> > On Jan 22, 2008 2:14 AM, Baghdadia 88 <baghdadi...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > Olivebranch Optimism is the closest thing I can think about, integrating
> > lots of Iraqi bloggers/writers from all walks of life and all political
> > orientations.
>
>
> > > Olivebranch Optimism is the closest thing I can think about, integrating
> > lots of Iraqi bloggers/writers from all walks of life and all political
> > orientations.
>
AK
Jan 22, 2008, 7:23:34 AM1/22/08
to Iraqi Blogodrome
It sounds like a great idea. There are too many websites like this
though, I wonder how will you make it different? There's Kitabat,
Iraqi Rabita, etc, but as you mentioned, those sites are biased in one
way or another, I mean are you going to try and do something focusing
on citizen journalism? Or will you try to incorporate more prominent
writers?
and please don't use the wiki build, other than that I have full
support.
On Jan 22, 1:38 pm, Salam Adil <salama...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I contributed to Olivebranch - Olivebranch failed for two reasons,
> first its founder lost interest in the project and just stopped
> chasing after new articles and second it never really broke out of the
> mould of just repeating posts already made on other blogs.
>
> My weekly post at Global Voices Online (http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/author/salam-adil/) is a better way of
though, I wonder how will you make it different? There's Kitabat,
Iraqi Rabita, etc, but as you mentioned, those sites are biased in one
way or another, I mean are you going to try and do something focusing
on citizen journalism? Or will you try to incorporate more prominent
writers?
and please don't use the wiki build, other than that I have full
support.
On Jan 22, 1:38 pm, Salam Adil <salama...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I contributed to Olivebranch - Olivebranch failed for two reasons,
> first its founder lost interest in the project and just stopped
> chasing after new articles and second it never really broke out of the
> mould of just repeating posts already made on other blogs.
>
Laith
Jan 22, 2008, 9:36:18 AM1/22/08
to iraqi-bl...@googlegroups.com
thank you all for the response, and the comments, let me tell you how
the application should work from my prospective, and you elaborate on
what can go wrong or what we should focus on,
Also about ownership, I really dont want to be more than somone who
oversee the app and make sure it work at the begining , but after that
i will get anyone who want to be part of it in charge, now let me get
back to the app.
the application should work from my prospective, and you elaborate on
what can go wrong or what we should focus on,
Also about ownership, I really dont want to be more than somone who
oversee the app and make sure it work at the begining , but after that
i will get anyone who want to be part of it in charge, now let me get
back to the app.
1. it will use mainly a ready made app, yesterday I was searching and
found this one , http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ , I like how it work,
am not sure though how we can switch to arabic.
2. I intened to get well known writers to contribute too, but the main
writers are anyone who want to write, and the clicks will identify who
can survive and who sucks, many people post in this website
http://www.ahewar.org/debat/nr.asp , I do not intened to compete
against them, even though one way or another we will, but the design
is so aweful, and do not encourage anyone to continue reading. also
the emails of writers left on the website make those writers email
account full of spam, thats like 101 of posting.
3. I think arab people are hungrey for a web magazine that is not
edited by one group or another. and even better not controlled by any
government , east or west.
4. the writers will have sort of microblog, and I will see if cross
posting can be done, so that blogers can configuer their app to
directly post on the website.
5. I think the app will require several sections defined at the
begining so that people post on them and we define the home page news
based on the most popular and interesting items. for example if you
contrbute more , your voice in making the home page structure is
higher. by sections i mean, "Politics", "Sports" , "Women" , "Human
Rights", "Oddly Enough", ("Poetry" <-- that would be my baby ;) )
AK for sure this is not a wiki Idea, in fact the engine that run the
previous link i provided is this http://www.movabletype.com/
although not sure how it can be managed if we wanna switch it to Arabic,
Salam thanks for the offer, I will take you fr your word :) , Arabic
will be the main langauge for the articles, we will not stop anyone
from writing in other languages,
Laith
aNarki-13
Jan 22, 2008, 11:13:18 AM1/22/08
to iraqi-bl...@googlegroups.com
the engine is weird. a hybrid between a blog and a wiki.
why not use something out of vbulletin?
and a million more examples.
other than that, excellent idea :)
> > My weekly post at Global Voices Online (http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/author/salam-adil/ ) is a better way of
1. Serve The Public Trust.
2. Protect The Innocent.
3. Seriously Prod Buttock.
AK
Jan 22, 2008, 12:01:21 PM1/22/08
to Iraqi Blogodrome
That huffington post thing is really good, but what really kicks my
ass lately is the AJAX-powered things like Akhtaboot, even the Gmail
is a good example of this, ease of use and flexibility does wondrous
things to the heart.
PLEASE NO VBULLETIN BULLSHIT! I hate those slow crawlers.
On Jan 22, 7:13 pm, aNarki-13 <anark...@gmail.com> wrote:
> the engine is weird. a hybrid between a blog and a wiki.
>
> why not use something out of vbulletin?
>
> www.bullshido.netwww.sociocide.com
>
> and a million more examples.
> other than that, excellent idea :)
>
> --
> Prime Directives
> --------------------------
ass lately is the AJAX-powered things like Akhtaboot, even the Gmail
is a good example of this, ease of use and flexibility does wondrous
things to the heart.
PLEASE NO VBULLETIN BULLSHIT! I hate those slow crawlers.
On Jan 22, 7:13 pm, aNarki-13 <anark...@gmail.com> wrote:
> the engine is weird. a hybrid between a blog and a wiki.
>
> why not use something out of vbulletin?
>
> www.bullshido.netwww.sociocide.com
>
> and a million more examples.
> other than that, excellent idea :)
>
> On Jan 22, 2008 3:36 PM, Laith <lnyou...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > thank you all for the response, and the comments, let me tell you how
> > the application should work from my prospective, and you elaborate on
> > what can go wrong or what we should focus on,
> > Also about ownership, I really dont want to be more than somone who
> > oversee the app and make sure it work at the begining , but after that
> > i will get anyone who want to be part of it in charge, now let me get
> > back to the app.
>
> > 1. it will use mainly a ready made app, yesterday I was searching and
> > found this one ,http://www.huffingtonpost.com/, I like how it work,
>
>
>
>
>
> > thank you all for the response, and the comments, let me tell you how
> > the application should work from my prospective, and you elaborate on
> > what can go wrong or what we should focus on,
> > Also about ownership, I really dont want to be more than somone who
> > oversee the app and make sure it work at the begining , but after that
> > i will get anyone who want to be part of it in charge, now let me get
> > back to the app.
>
> > 1. it will use mainly a ready made app, yesterday I was searching and
> > am not sure though how we can switch to arabic.
>
> > 2. I intened to get well known writers to contribute too, but the main
> > writers are anyone who want to write, and the clicks will identify who
> > can survive and who sucks, many people post in this website
> >http://www.ahewar.org/debat/nr.asp, I do not intened to compete
>
> > 2. I intened to get well known writers to contribute too, but the main
> > writers are anyone who want to write, and the clicks will identify who
> > can survive and who sucks, many people post in this website
> > against them, even though one way or another we will, but the design
> > is so aweful, and do not encourage anyone to continue reading. also
> > the emails of writers left on the website make those writers email
> > account full of spam, thats like 101 of posting.
>
> > 3. I think arab people are hungrey for a web magazine that is not
> > edited by one group or another. and even better not controlled by any
> > government , east or west.
>
> > 4. the writers will have sort of microblog, and I will see if cross
> > posting can be done, so that blogers can configuer their app to
> > directly post on the website.
>
> > 5. I think the app will require several sections defined at the
> > begining so that people post on them and we define the home page news
> > based on the most popular and interesting items. for example if you
> > contrbute more , your voice in making the home page structure is
> > higher. by sections i mean, "Politics", "Sports" , "Women" , "Human
> > Rights", "Oddly Enough", ("Poetry" <-- that would be my baby ;) )
>
> > AK for sure this is not a wiki Idea, in fact the engine that run the
> > previous link i provided is thishttp://www.movabletype.com/
> > is so aweful, and do not encourage anyone to continue reading. also
> > the emails of writers left on the website make those writers email
> > account full of spam, thats like 101 of posting.
>
> > 3. I think arab people are hungrey for a web magazine that is not
> > edited by one group or another. and even better not controlled by any
> > government , east or west.
>
> > 4. the writers will have sort of microblog, and I will see if cross
> > posting can be done, so that blogers can configuer their app to
> > directly post on the website.
>
> > 5. I think the app will require several sections defined at the
> > begining so that people post on them and we define the home page news
> > based on the most popular and interesting items. for example if you
> > contrbute more , your voice in making the home page structure is
> > higher. by sections i mean, "Politics", "Sports" , "Women" , "Human
> > Rights", "Oddly Enough", ("Poetry" <-- that would be my baby ;) )
>
> > AK for sure this is not a wiki Idea, in fact the engine that run the
>
> > although not sure how it can be managed if we wanna switch it to Arabic,
> > Salam thanks for the offer, I will take you fr your word :) , Arabic
> > will be the main langauge for the articles, we will not stop anyone
> > from writing in other languages,
>
> > Laith
>
> > although not sure how it can be managed if we wanna switch it to Arabic,
> > Salam thanks for the offer, I will take you fr your word :) , Arabic
> > will be the main langauge for the articles, we will not stop anyone
> > from writing in other languages,
>
> > Laith
>
> > On Jan 22, 2008 7:23 AM, AK <thea...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > It sounds like a great idea. There are too many websites like this
> > > though, I wonder how will you make it different? There's Kitabat,
> > > Iraqi Rabita, etc, but as you mentioned, those sites are biased in one
> > > way or another, I mean are you going to try and do something focusing
> > > on citizen journalism? Or will you try to incorporate more prominent
> > > writers?
>
> > > and please don't use the wiki build, other than that I have full
> > > support.
>
> > > On Jan 22, 1:38 pm, Salam Adil <salama...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > I contributed to Olivebranch - Olivebranch failed for two reasons,
> > > > first its founder lost interest in the project and just stopped
> > > > chasing after new articles and second it never really broke out of the
> > > > mould of just repeating posts already made on other blogs.
>
> > > > My weekly post at Global Voices Online (
> >http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/author/salam-adil/) is a better way of
>
> > > It sounds like a great idea. There are too many websites like this
> > > though, I wonder how will you make it different? There's Kitabat,
> > > Iraqi Rabita, etc, but as you mentioned, those sites are biased in one
> > > way or another, I mean are you going to try and do something focusing
> > > on citizen journalism? Or will you try to incorporate more prominent
> > > writers?
>
> > > and please don't use the wiki build, other than that I have full
> > > support.
>
> > > On Jan 22, 1:38 pm, Salam Adil <salama...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > I contributed to Olivebranch - Olivebranch failed for two reasons,
> > > > first its founder lost interest in the project and just stopped
> > > > chasing after new articles and second it never really broke out of the
> > > > mould of just repeating posts already made on other blogs.
>
> > > > My weekly post at Global Voices Online (
> Prime Directives
> --------------------------
lnyo...@gmail.com
Jan 22, 2008, 1:56:09 PM1/22/08
to iraqi-bl...@googlegroups.com
no way to be like vbulletin,
If any know about any other CMS that use Ajax and support Arabic, also
allow siple blogs for any users to submit their work, that will be
awesome.
If any know about any other CMS that use Ajax and support Arabic, also
allow siple blogs for any users to submit their work, that will be
awesome.
Salam Adil
Jan 22, 2008, 5:58:58 PM1/22/08
to Iraqi Blogodrome
Actually I recommend Wordpress - although it is blogging software it
is very powerful and simple to setup and maintain. Oh and it also
powers www.globalvoicesonline.org.
regards
SA
is very powerful and simple to setup and maintain. Oh and it also
powers www.globalvoicesonline.org.
regards
SA
aNarki-13
Jan 22, 2008, 6:47:44 PM1/22/08
to iraqi-bl...@googlegroups.com
keep in mind, script-based thingies like here and others take time to load. dont assume everyone got a broadband connection, thats why i recommended vbulletin to begin with. html page. not much data to load.
Laith
Jan 22, 2008, 9:37:05 PM1/22/08
to iraqi-bl...@googlegroups.com
Salam,
seems like wordpress would be the best way to go, do you have any idea
if the configuration they use for the website any differnt, and if it
is possible to have similar arabic website configuration
seems like wordpress would be the best way to go, do you have any idea
if the configuration they use for the website any differnt, and if it
is possible to have similar arabic website configuration
server wise if we want to be in good shape then we should for sure go
with dedicated server, I think i can get that but if the website moves
well on the long run , we can get sponsers who will cover the runing
cost.
Laith
Jan 28, 2008, 2:24:43 PM1/28/08
to iraqi-bl...@googlegroups.com
I think I am going to go for WordPress as a platform, seems the best
for me, I am now thinking of a Domain Name (anyone have any idea
please share ), also will try to contact few of the writers I do know
to start collecting content.
for me, I am now thinking of a Domain Name (anyone have any idea
please share ), also will try to contact few of the writers I do know
to start collecting content.
Any of you guys wanna integrate their Blogs with this service?
Anyone of you is interested in sharing their writing here
Laith
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