If you look at Google News for Egypt, you will be told that the general strike called for Sunday April 6 was a total bust or that it was a day filled with violence...but how can it be both? In Egypt, that’s easy and when the tiny little spotlight of the news industry strikes, it’s even easier. Cairo was much quieter than usual on Sunday. One of my neighbours who wanted to go downtown was told by the only available cab driver that he would have to wait until after 3 pm. Other people tried in vain to locate open shops, other friends kept children home from schools or found that most coworkers hadn’t shown up for work. Yes, it was violent in Mahala, but in Cairo people, for the most part, did what the original call on Facebook suggested...they stayed home.

The government claimed that the strike was a failure but that is something everyone will have to decide for him/herself. From my point of view empty streets speak volumes, and blaming it on a sandstorm is pretty weak. I’ve been out in sandstorms and stuck in traffic, but that’s not what was happening on Sunday.