This article is supposed to be published few months ago. Are Arab News editors facing problems finding new articles? Never mind. Here’s another column by Safinaz Murshid who thinks “Saudis have no reason to be annoyed when foreigners treat them differently.” I have to say that I disagree with her when she says that “most of us want to be treated differently.” Maybe some of us, who have money and power, want to, but I think most of us just want to be treated like anybody else. I must say this whole stereotyping thing makes me sick.

An easy way to convert VHS to DVD from NY Times. A short video is available too.

Al-Arabiya.net interviews Sheikh Hasan al-Saffar, one of the main Shiite leaders in the country. A good read to understand what Shiites want.

If you are still not sure about which side you should take in the new “browsers war,” here is a short guide by Peter Wayner.

Asharq al-Awsat and al-Hayat, the two Saudi London-based newspapers, have decided to focus more on their largest market by adding extended local sections. Both local sections of the two papers are good, but unfortunately, the content of the al-Hayat local section is not available on their website.

Singer Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, is to host a concert in Indonesia for victims of the tsunami on 31 January.

Today’s Asharq al-Awsat local section has two interesting stories. The first is dealing with the “Star Academy problem.” I don’t know why people who don’t like the show are making all this show-offing about it. Let me put it this way: if you don’t like it, don’t watch, and don’t violate others’ freedom. The other story gives us a clear picture on how our ultra-conservative-without-a-good-reason society is killing the girls’ hobbies. I know it is frustrating, but I can do nothing about it. Sorry, girls.