Unrest Presses On as Internet Goes Out in Egypt

Just like yawning and the flu, uprising and unrest is contagious in the Middle East.

After weeks, even months, of unrest in Middle Eastern countries across the world, it is now the Arab world's most populous country's turn: Egypt.

Gaining inspiration more recently from the successful ousting of the corrupt Tunisian President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali two weeks ago, the Arab world has been fired up and become fearless in taking on corrupt and dictatorial regimes.

The nearly 30-year reign of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is no exception.

After days of protests in numerous regions across the country, President Mubarak has sent troops into the streets to regain order as police struggle to keep control of the growing throngs of protesters (video). However, for the embattled government in threat of toppling like its Tunisian counterpart two weeks ago, destroying the efforts for protesters to organize at all is top priority.

About a half hour past midnight today, all (yes, ALL) internet service was severed in Egypt, cutting the protesters off from their main source of organization and communication. Just like other citizens' uprisings across the Middle East in the past 5 years or so, social networking such as Facebook and Twitter have been used to organize groups in protest and in uprising against the government.

Just like Iran and China, internet has played an integral role in protests similar to the one in Egypt, and just like Egypt, Iran and China have attempted to cut off these protests by cutting off the internet. However, despite the cutoff, the protesters are still organizing and taking to the streets in Egypt, so an end to the unrest cannot be seen as of yet.

I believe that Egypt is on the brink of reform whether President Mubarak is sent packing or not (even though I think it's inevitable at this point). The unrest is destined to continue in the country and throughout the region as long as the citizens are dissatisfied with their autonomous, corrupt governments.

However, this particular uprising does put the United States in a very awkward position. Because Egypt is the gateway to the Arab world, an ally of Israel and of the United States, it is hard to say what will happen in the next few weeks. It is very possible that if the government is overwhelmingly in threat of toppling in the next few weeks, Egypt may ask its Western allies for assistance in suppressing the uprising, which puts the U.S. at center-stage in this conflict.

So, Comment Now: What do you think of the uprising in Egypt and should the United States take any action is asked to do so?

"Oh, the Weather Outside..."

"...Is Frightful"!

Seems like this snow came out of nowhere, and looks like it will be our biggest snow of the year so far. Here in Congress Heights in Southeast, it is "showing no signs of stopping"! Here's the rundown:

Good Side: Classes are cancelled at my school tomorrow, and some well-deserved rest (and a day full of blogging) is in order.

Bad Side: In the middle of writing this blog (8:13PM), our power went out (the whole block). This, just as other family members were anticipating coming over our house because THEIR power is out! The power returned at 8:36 and at 8:38, back in the dark again! And now, hopefully permanently, power is restored. Outrageous (Thanks, Pepco)!

Of course, I cannot finish this blog without a dash of politics: This first big snow may be the first test for Mayor Gray and even though it will not even come close to the "Fenty Era" storms of December 2009 and February 2010, it will still show what the Mayor can do when it comes to cleaning up from the weather and getting the city running again.

So, give me some news: Comment on this blog and tell me what's going on in your neighborhood. Power outages, snowy streets? Let me know!

And also, send photos of your snow from your neighborhood, so we can post them here on the Batch' Blog. Send them through email to markusbatchelor@gmail.com!

In your comment, put your name and neighborhood and tell us about what you're experiencing!

Update (1/27/11- 7:49am)- Mike Debonis from the Washington Post: "Frustrated by snow response, Twitter unloads on Gray" Check it out! Metrobus systems in DC, Maryland and Virginia have already gone on an emergency schedule, DCPS has closed and the DC Government is closed, but a plow did come down my street just before I took this photo (even though I live on a main street and that doesn't mean much for the "side-streeters" around the city).

Update (1/27/11- 11:56am)- Though it might have taken you a little longer to get home last night, don't feel bad: the President had the same issue. Also, was your power out yesterday or today? Well, still don't feel bad- the city's chief executive was in the dark Wednesday night too.

Update (1/27/11- 6:42pm)- DCPS has just announced there will be a two-hour delay tomorrow.

Welcome to the Batch' Blog

Welcome to the Batch' Blog, a new blogsite by M. Batch', about opinions, politics, events, tidbits and other happenings here in Washington, D.C.

I am very excited to get the Batch' Blog started, because for a long time, I have been trying to find a medium to get my views, opinions, experiences, interests and aspirations expressed in one place to my friends, colleagues, mentors, fellow Washingtonians (and total strangers at times), so now I think I have found that medium.

Stay tuned to The Batch' Blog for more updates and I look forward to what this blog can and will become!

-M.Batch'