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[Tilla]

They're still going, Mubarak still isn't giving up. There hasn't really been much to comment on.

[Aqizzar]

So, uh....
Anyone have new information?

There's lot of new information, but this thread is more concerned with tangential nonsense.

Omar Suleiman has pledged that he will not run in the upcoming Presidential election, suggesting that Mubarak might step down before September while Suleiman heads the "transition".  The September elections will be opened to parties besides the NDP, and subject to international observation.  The Parliament will be suspended, pending some kind of convention to amend or even rewrite the constitution.  The "Emergency Laws" in place since 1981 will not be renewed in the upcoming session, so police power will be dramatically curtailed, depending on what exactly comes out of that constitution-business.  And the state-run media will stop painting the protesters as idiotic kids, and stop painting the kids as idiots.  Whether or not the government and especially the military will get any more American aid-money is a bit up in the air.

Exactly how much of that is bullshit remains to be seen, and it certainly has a bullshit ring to it.  But the government knows as well as the citizens of Cairo know, that shutting the country down and assaulting the government's edifice head-on did work, and that military didn't come to the administration's aid.  It brought the country to its knees and forced the government to the table.  And if the government doesn't follow through on its promises to at least some genuine degree, you can bet that all Hell will break loose come September.

[Eugenitor]

A senior Google executive was among the people helping the protestors.

[Tilla]

A senior Google executive was among the people helping the protestors.

Yah, Google were the ones to set up the landline and text-message access to Twitter to get messages past the internet blockades, so not surprising!

[olemars]

That's not all. Wael Ghonim, VP for marketing at Google Middle East (and an egyptian national) was one of the main organizers behind the first protests two weeks ago, when he suddenly "disappeared" on jan 28. Yesterday he was released by the secret police after the new president of Mubaraks ruling NDP party dug him out of the dungeons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEbTRJ7bejI

The square is packed again today, seems like tuesday and friday every week is going to be the main days of protests. Tahrir square has almost become its own autonomous republic, with a large tent city in the center and lots of street peddlers and food carts around, as well as an improvised computer lab and a big screen with TV broadcasts. Sort of reminds me of The People's Republic of Treacle Mine Road for anyone who reads Pratchett.

EDIT: Longer interview with Ghonim: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yW59LZsjE_g
Links to the other 2 parts are in the movie description.

[olemars]

Square is so crowded the spillover is going to other points of interest like the fake parliament and ministry of interior. This movent is building up not winding down.

[Eugenitor]

That's not all. Wael Ghonim, VP for marketing at Google Middle East (and an egyptian national) was one of the main organizers behind the first protests two weeks ago, when he suddenly "disappeared" on jan 28. Yesterday he was released by the secret police after the new president of Mubaraks ruling NDP party dug him out of the dungeons.

Can't help but think this one was diplomatically brokered.

[olemars]

There was massive pressure to release him, both international and domestic.

Other news of the day, a number of Suez canal workers have gone on strike. Channel operations aren't affected yet, but if more go on strike there could be problems.

[PTTG??]

And theeeen we liberate Egypt.
And install a nice, temporary president and give him emergency powers. Just until the crisis is over.

In thirty years.

[Puzzlemaker]

And theeeen we liberate Egypt.
And install a nice, temporary president and give him emergency powers. Just until the crisis is over.

In thirty years.

It's funny but true.

[Azkanan]

For the last few months, I've turned the TV on when I go down for breakfast with an English Dry Humour comment of "Let's see how the world is exploding today."

Boy, was I in for a shock when I turned the tvon the other week.

In any case, it's all jolly good fun. I wonder how long till the Brits and Americans fall in line with it?

British scenario: Tori party is taxing everything, and cutting down on everything. Too much, too soon. WE ENGLISH DO NOT LIKE CHANGE.

American scenario: Spiralling Economy, I hear California is already talking of breaking off from the USA.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

I hear California is already talking of breaking off from the USA.

Not really, no.

[Azkanan]

I hear California is already talking of breaking off from the USA.

Not really, no.

Meh, it was a rumour at best.

[PTTG??]

We left in the '80s. We just never told anyone.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

We left in the '80s. We just never told anyone.

We reconqured you with false promises of legalized weed and gay marriage in 81'. No one ever told you.