Just when I thought that maybe Toot’s website stopped evolving, I noticed this week a few minor changes that made a huge difference. Particularly the new tags (hot, naughty, etc…) I find to be very successful, and pretty. The link to the next page is fresh, contrasts just enough versus the homepage in terms of colours and layout, and has two features which I really like: icons are smaller and less distracting, and the title of the blog is larger than the blogger’s nickname. —I think we have room to render more dynamic the grid on the homepage, and want to experiment with along these lines.

There’s a funny thing about websites. In general, the websites I visit are remarkably static in their design, and also remain quite committed to maintaining it’s basic frames. Why not do what the posh NY or London vitrines do, with monthly revamps, completely adventurous layouts, experimental forays. We have a loyal community, and we can take some risks…

I am in the midst of a similar debate regarding another website I am distantly involved in, www.olivoice.com, which only has a “Coming soon page” at the moment but has been up for a week now. I protested, why hasn’t it’s colours changed, why don’t we move around the frames, why not alter the slogan, etc… It’s just been a week, I know, and such changes are not as trivial, either. But…

Had a long and tiring and amazingly productive week on several fronts, so a bit syrupy here. Need to go to sleep, but couldn’t help check a few blogs out there from our parts. Amazing stuff being produced by Arab bloggers. What a wonderful thing that people are able to just describe their lives thoughts and feelings. I think it’s a profound thing that’ll blossom in an intellectually confident and independent minded ethos. Very powerful times…

I just noticed Imaan’s blog on Gaza. I am really glad you featured it. I am convinced of the importance of women in the development of a prose writing culture. (Incidentally, it is said that the first novels were written by women, with Lady Murasaki’s 源氏物語 a leading contender.) Also, it is impossible not to be impressed by how powerful this blogging phenomenon is in the Arab context, partly because it is such a diverse Arab world.

After a busy busy week, I decide to say a few nice things about Toot, and some constructive things as well. I get polite rejections from everyone else on the team… I feel hurt and left in the cold, in a nastily freezing London… But all this is milder than this sinister email I got over the weekend. All it said was “I disagree.” From Sabri. This Sabri is someone who does not care to elaborate, just states his opinion. Jesus, what’s going to be next? For a second I thought such a strong response could only be to my post on the bombings in Amman. (Again, tells you something about what distance does to one’s way of thinking…) Bravely, I decided to continue cooking? Well, well, by the time I went back upstairs to check this guy out, I found out that he was disagreeing to my post on a South African radio play, probably to my statement that theatre is outdated. (Me: “Theatre is outdated.” Response: “I disagree”) In any event, he takes the most beautiful pictures I’ve seen from Amman. Basta. Sabrihakim.blogspot.com. Just maginificent stuff. We should feature him. And maybe I should offend more people if it leads me to find gems like this.