Helpful Arabic Language Media Resources

Sabeel Media is a great resource for Arabic language videos ,  and Arabic language MP3 audio downloads (podcasts). They produce videos and other media resources in several languages and dialects.

For instance, Sabeel recently released some new videos in their Arabic Culture and Life series – entitled “Reliving Harat Abu Awad”. It’s an interesting glimpse at a historical theatrical tour (in 1991) of “Harat Abu Awad”, the famous Jordanian play, in five U.S. cities. Including some never before seen documentary footage! In this segment, we will meet the artist Nabil Mashini (Abu Awad), the artist Hassan Ibrahim (Marzooq), the artist Rashida Dahani (Um Awad), and the producer of the theatrical tour, Mr. Samir H. Haddad. Also, the artist Musa Hijazin who will play the oud and sing on stage with Marzooq and Abul khil (Ghassan Mashini).

Sabeel Media also offers a collection on DVD of 12 short films:  Scenes from the  Heavenly Books, which contains short stories (video clips) – Stories of the Prophets in the Bedouin dialect of Arabic.  You can preview many of the Sabeel Media videos on the Sabeel Media YouTube channel, or the Sabeel Media Vimeo channel.

Along with Arabic language resources, they have recently added some Indonesian. You might also be interested in their FREE downloads of original poetry, featuring many audio podcasts in the Stories of the Prophets series.

Haiku For Blue Beanie Day

Haiku

Haiku Graffiti

Near Blue Beanie Day; Happy orange, green, blue; HTML5.

Wondering about how to write a Haiku for Blue Beanie Day 2010?  According to Wikipedia, a Haiku is a short Japanese style poem, consisting of 3 phrases (17 moras).  So you’ll need 3 lines. First line with 5 sounds or syllables, a second  line with 7 sounds or syllables, and a final line with 5 sounds or syllables.

In my example above, the final phrase is only one word (HTML5) but five syllables – tricky huh?

This year’s Blue Beanie Day will be celebrated on Nov. 30th.  There will be prizes for the best Haiku. Put your thinking cap on (I mean Blue Beanie),  and get your Haiku ready.

Cleaning Up After the Party

The Blue Beanie Day 2009 party is over, and by many reports (google shows 492,000) it was a happy and festive day in support of Web Standards — and a big success.

Partying With Web Standards - in Los Angeles

Partying With Web Standards - in Los Angeles

We’re still sweeping up the confetti, and emptying the ashtrays after the last visitor left the party.  We still have some awards to give out, and a few books to give away.  Meanwhile, Andy Clark says  Taylor Swift is still recovering from the after party hangover, and Max Weir is trying to figure out if the CSS Squirrel is a nut case.