As tanks and explosions plough through Syria’s streets, and thousands of bodies pile up in its morgues, all is well inside the plush garden studios of state-backed Al Dunia TV.
While mothers wail in rubble-strewn villages, flowers are blooming to soft muzak on the show “Good Morning with Al Dunia”:
Despite the everyday miseries of thousands, smiles are ubiquitous in the hosts’ glass paneled box:
Today’s hot topic: the annals of pregnancy and its potential complications. Here to explain is a certified, and smartly dressed gynecologist, or “women’s doctor” as he was introduced.
He brought a series of charts with him:
And was deeply engaged in this “very serious” topic, which could concern many mothers:
Of course pregnant women in Syria right now may be a bit more concerned about getting to hospital without being shot, let alone the type of world their child will grow up in…
But never mind that for now. On to more fun topics like… horoscopes:
With the expert horoscope lady:
Which is great fodder for banter to get everyone smiling and laughing again:
It wasn’t clear if readings differ based on proximity to the fighting.
Meanwhile the other anchor took viewer questions on her Ipad 2, 4G:
The cost of such a device is equivalent to almost half the annual per capita income in Syria, even in the best of times. Now many towns have reportedly been cut off from the grid and struggle to survive amid fuel and electricity shortages.
No worries, the chef on Al Dunia is whipping up a treat to warm all hearts, both shivering and worrisome among them.
Equipped with his matching scarf and apron:
And plastic gloves to ensure sanitary conditions are met…even when pouring water into the blender and cracking eggs:
Don’t want to take any chances…
And before you know it, Voila!
A mushroom and swiss quiche.
The show continued, but I couldn’t watch anymore.
