Turkish Presidential Office was busy with refuting American claims

This is more political, not much can be done. Turkey rebuffs Pompeo’s remarks over ‘slaughtering Kurds’ Hurriyet Daily News “Turkey has decried recent remarks by the U.S. secretary of state on Turkey’s role in ensuring Syria’s security and territorial integrity… This is more interesting: A Twitter user explains presidential statistics usage. But we have cats. You … Read more

#TrollWatch Theological pressure, Hagia Sophia and Syrian Refugees

Dear readers, let me tell you about a few incidents I have followed from my troll list at Twitter. This is about Aktrolls but I have some other lists that include accounts from other ideological leanings with troll characteristics   But this is limited to Aktrolls. I hesitate to give account names because some of them … Read more

Not only brain drain, capital drain, elites drain etc. “Spurning Erdogan’s Vision, Turks Leave in Droves, Draining Money and Talent…

Spurning Erdogan’s Vision, Turks Leave in Droves, Draining Money and Talent NYT > Turkey by By CARLOTTA GALL Driven by fear of persecution and economic mismanagement, the exodus threatens to reorder the society permanently and set Turkey back decades. Can Netflix Take Turkey’s TV Dramas to the World? NYT > Turkey by By ALEX MARSHALL Glossy Turkish-language shows are … Read more

Two veteran actors comment about fascism, then targeted and released on probation…

I guess this proves their points. Nearly anyone at my age and older grew up watching comedy films in which Metin Akpınar was one of the main actors. New Turkish elites’ crusade against “old Turkey” continues at all fronts… **** Turkish prosecutor launches probe into actors after Erdoğan’s rebuke over ‘fascism’ comments Hurriyet Daily News A … Read more

Courthouse lightning is the new thing in Turkey

As the state of justice declines fast, Turkey seems to be investing in weird courthouse lightning… Journalist Ümit Alan tweeted about one of them and some in the subtweet posted Bakırköy Courthouse (İstanbul) via  In other news:  Check our President Erdoğan’s entourage in a busy Friday traffic: Cuma akşamı, Levent’te Erdoğan’ın konvoyu. Polislerin trafiği açmak … Read more

Terrible: “Turkey ranks 130th in gender gap index…

Turkey ranks 130th in gender gap index Hurriyet Daily News Turkey has been ranked 130th in the World Economic Forum (WEF) gender gap index out of 149 countries, while recording progress on closing its gender gap in labor force participation as well as professional and technical roles… In other news: Eskişehir in central Turkey qualifies for … Read more

Why Gezi again?

The easy answer is it is the election time and He and his followers like to have an enemy at this time. There is no need to look for a rationale behind this renewed interest in criminalizing the Gezi resistance. It is a straw man. It is an easy target after more than five years. … Read more

From Kızılcaköy, İzmir to French Riots

This image is from Kızılcaköy, İzmir. Locals are resisting against a geothermal power station project that may give harm to the local environment. The photo is actually taken by Ferdi Uzun from the state-owned agency, Anadolu Ajansı. In the meantime, Turkish public TV (TRT) correspondents are busy with reporting from French Riots and a Turkish speaking protester catches’em … Read more

Cats of #Istanbul- last week edition

  A cute picture from Turkey. by in Turkey A Starbucks in Istanbul, Turkey by in Turkey This may not be from Istanbul though: Pisi by in Turkey  

Only the good die young. “3 Years Without Tahir Elçi…

3 Years Without Tahir Elçi… Bianet :: English Diyarbakır Bar Association Chair Tahir Elçi, who was murdered in front of the Four-Legged Minaret in Sur in Diyarbakır in 2015, has been commemorated by his colleagues, friends, relatives, family and loved ones. In other news: UK court rejects Turkish extradition request for media boss World news: Turkey | … Read more

Turkey’s inadvertent tribute to Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of SpongeBob 

R.I.P to Stephen Hillenburg, the visionary creator of “SpongeBob SquarePants”… The only good part of this historical castle renovation fkup is what in the end looks like…   Historic castle in Istanbul turns into ‘SpongeBob’ after restoration

Rethinking gender (!) “Erdoğan: Assume That We are Equal, Let Men and Ladies Run 100 Meters at the Same Time

Erdoğan: Assume That We are Equal, Let Men and Ladies Run 100 Meters at the Same Time Bianet :: English President Erdoğan has spoken at the 3rd International Women and Justice Summit: “Some say that were are equal. Assume that we are equal, then, let men and ladies run 100 meters at the same time. It … Read more

A BBC Report: “Fake news in Turkey: Hunting for truth in land of conspiracy…

Fake news in Turkey: Hunting for truth in land of conspiracy BBC News – Nov 14, 4:39 PM A headscarved woman whose baby was kicked while she was urinated on by anti-government demonstrators. Veteran political activist Noam Chomsky championing President Erdogan in a newspaper interview. Photos of bloated corpses of Muslims in a river in……

Turkish cats at work again- now in a fashion show…

Cat crashes a fashion show catwalk, hilarity ensues  Boing Boing by Rusty Blazenhoff A cat stole the show at the recent Esmod International Fashion Show in Istanbul, Turkey by preening itself, playfully attacking models, and actually walking the catwalk. Fashion designer Göksen Hakkı Ali told The Dodo, “Everybody was in shock.” I’m dying, this is too good! Brb, gonna go … Read more

Turkey’s Intelligence Agency has an e-museum

Not a very well designed museum, more like a photo gallery. Still, why now? here is the link: http://www.mit.gov.tr/emuze/hakkimizda.html   Turkey’s intelligence agency opens digital museum of espionage  Hurriyet Daily News Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT) has opened an online museum dedicated to the history of espionage on its website. From Turkish intelligence reports on Lawrence … Read more