Happy New Year 2007!

I didn't want to end this year on a sad and disturbing note, that's why I would like to wish you all a happy, prosperous and joyful New Year 2007!

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true

Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)

Saddam's Excutioners Shouted Long Live Mouktada Sadr!

CNN broadcasted an amateur video (probably from a cell phone) that shows the final moments of Saddam's execution. The video shows the death chamber filled with chatter and shouting. His executioners shouted and chanted calling for support to Shiites and Mouktada Sadr. (view the video here).

For the uncensored video check here (WARNING: video contains graphic content, viewer discretion is advised).

Saddam Hussein Executed

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Three years after he was hauled from a hole in the ground by pursuing U.S. forces, Saddam Hussein was hanged Saturday under a sentence imposed by an Iraqi court, an Iraqi official told NBC News. (more)

عيدكم مبروك وكل العام وأنتم بخير

Wish you all 3id Idh7a moubarek and a happy, healthy & peaceful New Year 2007!

A bit of humor in this end of year 2006! Enjoy!:)

The Biggest Heroes & Villains Of 2006

Who were the biggest heroes and villains of 2006? The Associated Press has an answer, after conducting telephone interviews with 1,004 adults in 48 states. (more)

9/11 Revisited

September 11th Revisited v.2 is a follow up to perhaps the most riveting film ever made about the destruction of the World Trade Center. This is a powerful documentary which features eyewitness accounts and archived news footage that was shot on September 11, 2001 but never replayed on television. Featuring interviews with eyewitnesses & firefighters, along with expert analysis by Professor Steven E. Jones, Professor David Ray Griffin, MIT Engineer Jeffrey King, and Professor James H. Fetzer.

Jade: A Doll With Dirty Mouth

After Fulla, the doll "with muslim values", here is Jade, a doll "with dirty mouth" ( Watch video here)

Via CNN

الفلكي حسن الشّارني: سنة 2007 ستشهد خريفا ساخنا في تونس

هذه آخر توقعات الفلكي التونسي حسن الشارني بالنسبة لسنة 2007. لم أفهم ماذا يعني "بخريف ساخن في تونس" لماذا لم يركّز كثيرا على ما يمكن أن يحدث في تونس على الصّعيد السّياسي والإقتصادي والإجتماعي... على كلّ كذب المنجّمون ولو صدقوا

Poetry Of Misery In The Middle East

A neat piece in today's The Washington Post that looks into the literary repertoire of some Arab and Muslim poets and philosphers who through their wisdom and prophetic manner have predicted the present situation in the region with precision.

Write it down!

I'm Arab,

And my card number is fifty thousand;

I have eight children

And the ninth...is due late summer.

Does that annoy you?

Moroccan Dance

Be it North or South, African folklore is more or less similar with minor differences!

South African Dance

Numbers Of The Day

As of today, December 26, 2006, the number of US soldiers killed in Iraq reached 2976. This number exceeds by 3 the victims of September 11, 2001. In 5 years the USA lost almost 5949 people. On the other hand and according to a report publihsed by the British medical journal, The Lancet,the number of Iraqis killed since the onset of US-British military operations in March 2003 has exceeded 655,000.! Are they looking for more???!

Freedom of Speech

Warning: video contains adult language

Schwarzenegger's Broken Leg

Who said The Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is not vulnerbale?? Well according to his spokesman, the poor California governor broke his leg while skiing in Idaho with his family. (more)

الصفحة البيضاء

أحمد مطر

فكرت بأن أكتب شعراً

لا يهدر وقت الرقباء

لا يتعب قلب الخلفاء

لا تخشى من أن تنشره

كل وكالات الأنباء

ويكون بلا أدنى خوف

في حوزة كل القراء

هيأت لذلك أقلامي

ووضعت الأوراق أمامي

وحشدت جميع الآراء

ثم.. بكل رباطة جأش

أودعت الصفحة إمضائي

وتركت الصفحة بيضاء

راجعت النص بإمعان

فبدت لي عدة أخطاء

قمت بحك بياض الصفحة

!!واستغنيت عن الإمضاء

Traditional Turkish Song

A Child Prodigy!

This kid knows by heart the names of the 50 State capitals of the USA.

Heni Damak, Le Plus Jeune Chef D'orchestre Tunisien

Le journal Al-Hayat (en arabe) a consacré un article sur le jeune, talentueux et dynamique musicien et viloniste tunisien Heni Damak qui est aussi un ami de longue date.Bravo Heni!

The Eyes Of Jesus

Dec. 20 - A mysterious painting of Jesus is attracting people from all over the Czech Republic.The picture shows the face of Jesus with his eyes open and closed.

Many visitors to Oldrich Klima's "Gallery of Handicrat" in Pilsen are asking if it's a trick of the light or something more spiritual. (More)

Watch video here

Virginia Congressman: "I Will Not Be Putting My Hand On The Quran"

According to an article by the Las Vegas Sun, "Virginia Republican Rep. Virgil Goode triggered angry responses from a civil rights group and some colleagues with a letter this month to constituents concerned about a decision by Rep.-elect Keith Ellison of Minnesota, the first Muslim elected to Congress, to use the Quran when he is sworn in."

The congressman added that "he will not retract the letter warning that unless immigration is tightened, "many more Muslims will be elected" and use the Quran to take the oath of office".

He went even further to say that "he wants to limit legal immigration and do away with "diversity visas," which he said let in people "not from European countries" and "some terrorist states."

In response, newly elected Representative Keith Ellison said "that Goode and others had nothing to fear about Muslims." He added that "They are our nurses, doctors, husbands, wives, kids, who just want to live and prosper in the American way,".

In an interview with CNN, "Ellison said when asked what he would say to Goode if they met. "All of us are steadfastly opposed to the same people he's opposed to, which is terrorists, and so there's nothing for him to be afraid of." Asked whether he thought Goode was a bigot, Ellison said, "I don't know the fellow, and I'd rather just say that he has a lot to learn about Islam. ... I don't want to start any name-calling."

US Blogger: If You Support America & Children, Then You Should Be For Murdering Arab Kids!

BROOKSVILLE — A local blogger who bills himself as the “right wing howler” has apparently been silenced by his Internet service provider after a Muslim advocacy group complained about content that encouraged the killing of Muslim children.

Indeed, the Tampa chapter of the Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR) helped shut down this loccal's blog.

Wait! what about freedom of speech??? How come this blogger is silenced for "calling to murder Arab children in order to ensure the safety of American children from being the victim of terrorism"??? How come this happens in the USA, land of freedom of speech and democracy??? Is President George W. Bush aware of this story? What about Condi's birth pangs of a New Middle East?? Did the State Department's spokesman issue a statement of protest? Where're Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Co?? Why Reporters Without Borders didn't react and issue a message of condemnation and protest?? Well I guess it's crystal clear : HATE AND VIOLENCE MUST NOT BE TOLERATED, period! In the land of freedom of speech and democracy you are free to say what you want to say but bear in mind there will be always red lines and when someone dares crossing them, he/she should assume the outcome of his/her act.

You should read the post of the this blogger whose blog is suspended and judge by yourself! (click on the image for a larger view)

If you cannot view the image, try this link.

Via Bareknucklepolitics

كلا والصبح إذا أسفر

كُـرَةُ الثّلجِ إذا ما كَرَّتْ كَبُرَتْ أكثَرْ
وانحدَرَت وَفْـقَ طـرائِقها
جاعِلةً كُـلَّ عوائِقها
مَعَها مُذعـِنَةً تَتحـدَّر!
كُرةُ النّار إذا ما كرَّتْ صارتْ أكبَرْ
وَجَرَتْ في كُلِّ مَفارِقِها
تَفْغَـرُ أفواهَ حَرائِقها
لِتَسَـفَّ اليابِسَ والأخضـر!
وقَضيّتُنا مُنذُ ابتدأتْ
كُرَةٌ يتقاذَفُها العَسكَر.
فلماذا كَـرُّ قَضِيَّتِنا
يَتضاءَلْ مهما يتكرَّرْ ؟!
ولماذا شِبرُ تَقدُّمِها
خمسينَ ذِراعاً يتأخَّرْ ؟!
(في البَدْءِ قَضِيّتُنا ( وطـن

كُنّا نَدعُـوهُ ( فلسطين
ألقَتْهُ مَخالِبُ مُحتالٍ
بَينَ بَراثِنِ مُحتَلّين.
فكتَبْنا بدِمانا عَهْـداً
أن نَفْنَى، أو أن يَتحرَّر.

لكنَّ ( صلاحاتِ الدِّين

جَمَعوا أسلحةَ الإسكندَرْ
وأَغاروا.. بعَصا أَيُّوب!
واقتَحموا الميدانَ كعنتَرْ
وانسَحبوا مِنه كشَيْبوب!
بالإنقاذِ.. أضاعُوا نِصْفَه.
بالغَوْثِ.. أحاُلُوهُ لِضفَّه.
بالرَّفضِ.. اختصروهُ لِمَخفر.
وَبحكمةِ مِلِّيمِ الأصغَرْ
وَبَصيرةِ منظارِ الأَعوَرْ
وَصُمودِ زَرافَةِ مَدْغَشقَرّ
أمسى تعريفُ قَضيَّتِنا
مُختصراً..بعَريفِ المخفَر.
ألِهذي الوَهْـدةِ ياحَمْقـى
كُنّا نَرقـى ؟!
أحَسِبتُم أنَّ مقاعِدَكُمْ
بزوالِ فَلسطينَ سَتبقـى ؟
أيُقايَضُ مِلْكُ سِيادَتِنا
بقَضيّةِ عَبْدٍ مُستأجَرْ ؟!
كلاّ.. والصُّبْحِ إذا أَسفَرْ
وَبطُهْرِ دِماءِ ضحايانا,
وتُرابُ مَواضِع أرجُلِهمْ
مِن هامَةِ أطهرِكُمْ أطَهَر.
سَنُريكُمْ سُودَ لياليكُم
في رابعَةِ الظُهرِ الأحمَر.
وَسَنَسْقيكُمْ كأسَ حَياةٍ
هِيَ مِن كأسِ المِيتَةِ أخطَر.
مِمَّ نخافُ ؟ وَِمَّـمَ سنَحـذَرْ ؟
أطبقْتُمْ بالمَوتِ عَلَيْنا
فإذا مِتْنا..ماذا نَخسَرْ ؟!
كُلُّ فَتـىً مِنّا قُنبلَةٌ فانتظِروا.. حتّى نَتفَّجر!

أحمد مطر

قَلـم

جسَّ الطبيبُ خافقـي

وقـالَ لي

?هلْ ها هُنا الألَم

ْقُلتُ له نعَمْ

فَشـقَّ بالمِشرَطِ جيبَ معطَفـي

وأخرَجَ القَلَمْ

هَزَّ الطّبيبُ رأسَهُ .. ومالَ وابتَسـمْ

وَقالَ لـي

ليسَ سوى قَلَمْ

فقُلتُ : لا يا سَيّدي

هـذا يَدٌ .. وَفَمْ

رَصاصةٌ .. وَدَمْ

وَتُهمةٌ سافِرةٌ .. تَمشي بِلا قَدَمْ

أحمد مطر

Bush: "We're Not Winning, We're Not Losing" In Irak

Anyone could answer this sphinx-like riddle??

Babel

Yesterday, I saw "Babel" a new movie directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. All in all, I found the beginning of the movie a bit boring but as the plot unfolds you almost identify yourself with the the actors and the story and you submerge in the three entertiwned stories that take place on three different continents (Africa, America, Asia) wishing if the movie will last for ever!.

Synopsis

Armed with a Winchester rifle, two Morrocan boys set out to look after their family's herd of goats. In the silent echoes of the desert, they decide to test the rifle… but the bullet goes farther than they thought it would.

In an instant, the lives of four separate groups of strangers on three different continents collide. Caught up in the rising tide of an accident that escalates beyond anyone's control are a vacationing American couple (Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett) a rebellious deaf Japanese teenager and her father, and a Mexican nanny who, without permission, takes two American children across the border. None of these strangers will ever meet; in spite of the sudden, unlikely connection between them, they will all remain isolated due to their own inability to communicate meaningfully with anyone around them.

One observation is related to the story of the American couple's ordeal in a distant small village in the Moroccan desert. As the movie presented the small moroccan village, Tazarine, I was shocked by the level of poverty and squalor there, but nevertheless the director highlighted aspects of hospitality, solidarity and compassion among its inhabitants which the American couple benefitted from contrary to the "individualistic and egotistic" reaction they received from their fellow americans travelling with them on the same bus.

Another observation is that of the reaction of the Moroccan authorities, mainly police, following the shooting of an american tourist.Generally speaking, I understand that this is a very sensitive situation for countries like Morocco when it comes to acts of terrorism on their soil and their deep concern especially if the victim is a foreigner (who happens to be an American citizen here) and the repercussions of such acts on the image of the country itself, but I nevertheless found their treatment of local suspects (men and women) outrageous, exagerated, violent and inhuman. Furthermore, I could not understand how the police arrived quickly to the crime scene and started investigating the incident whereas it took a long time for the US Embassy in Morocco to dispatch a helicopter to rescue the victim and take her to the hospital.

One last observation is how the director presented some of the Moroccan actors and non-actors in this small village and some of the problems they were suffering from and which remain, I guess, subject to further discussion (poverty, lack of education, sexual frustration, drugs...)

Zimbabwe: To Survive, People Eat Rats!

A troubling report via CNN :

This is a story about how Zimbabwe, once dubbed southern Africa's bread basket, has in six short years become a basket case. It is about a country that once exported surplus food now apparently falling apart, with many residents scrounging for rodents to survive.

Do you think people there will bother asking for freedom of speech and the right to have a blog ?? Think about it!

Bushisms

Top 10 George W. Bush Favorite Moments

Condi's Birth Pangs Of A New Middle East

The Outcome:

Afghanistan:

Irak:

Palestine:

Lebanon:

Le Buste De Hannibal Barca

Suite à un commentaire anonyme sur le blog de notre cher Zizou, prétendant que Hannibal Barca n'avait jamais une effigie, un buste ou une statue érigée en son honneur et curieux de savoir la vérité et ce malgré le fait que mon avatar est celui du buste de marbre de Hannibal, j'ai fait une petite recherche sur "Google", et voici ce que j'ai trouvé:

Première photo:

Buste romain en marbre de Hannibal. On l'a trouvé à Capoue

et il est actuellement exposé au Musée National de Naples. (pas de date)

Deuxième photo:

Une gravure montrant le portrait de Hannibal

datant du 19ème siècle et inspirée du buste de Capoue.

Troisième photo:

Un shekel en argent ( c. 230 BC), représentant le portrait de Hannibal (British Museum).

Quatrième photo:

Statue de Hannibal par Sébastien Slodzt (1702) . Elle est exposée au Musée du Louvre.

Internet Address Book

I found this website interesting. It allows you to find internet addresses worldwide ( msn, icq, flikr, my space and more).

Lu Dans Un Entrefilet

Je suis tombé sur cet entrefilet au journal Essabah de ce jour et je me suis dit "Just Smile"!

الجدل
جدل قائم في الولايات المتحدة حول آلة «جهنّمية»... هذه الآلة تمكن من تعرية الأجسام الآدمية. والغاية من هذا هي البحث عن الأسلحة تحت الثياب... وبالطبع قصد الأمريكان هو مكافحة الإرهاب. لكن هذا الجدل لا يهم بلدان العالم الثالث وشعوبهم.. لأنّ جل المهاجرين منهم إلى أمريكا «عريانين» بطبعهم!. محمد قلبي

Time Magazine's "Person Of The Year"

It's not Ahmadinejad, nor Kim Il Jong, nor Condi Rice and even forget about George W. Bush and Donald Rumsfeld. Time magazine's "Person Of The Year" is but "you", yes you, me ;P and everyone of us!

NEW YORK (AP) - Congratulations! You are the Time magazine "Person of the Year." The annual honor for 2006 went to each and every one of us, as Time cited the shift from institutions to individuals - citizens of the new digital democracy, as the magazine put it. The winners this year were anyone using or creating content on the World Wide Web.

Apocalypto: Trailer

Mel Gibson's APOCALYPTO

Just saw Mel Gibson's recent movie "APOCALYPTO": I shall say "Two Thumbs Up !", and as Peter Travers at Rolling Stone described it " Pure Adrenaline. Tremendously Exciting!".

PS: Rudy Youngblood, playing the lead role of "Jaguar Paw" in Apocalypto, was excellent.Check his website here.

Duoud

Hannibal Barca In 57 Seconds!

Gendering Traffic & Exit Signs

The city of Vienna, Austria, launched an awarness campaign entitled "Wien sieht's anders" (Vienna sees it differently)as part of the City's "Gender Mainstreaming" project.

Its aim is to "give both genders the same exposure and ensure an equal distribution of chances, opportunities and duties" by changing the gender of figures pictured on familiar signs.

Female exit signs and pictograms in bathrooms featuring a man, rather than a woman, changing a baby, will be introduced at City Hall to start with, the statement said. Seats reserved for the elderly and pregnant women on Vienna's buses and trams will soon also picture a man carrying a child on his lap.

However, a roadworks sign picturing a woman in a skirt digging into a pile of dirt and used on a campaign poster will not see the light of day, because of traffic regulations.

Via Drudge

Feu Vert Pour "Corps-Otages"?

Selon le journal tunisien Essabah (en arabe), la pièce de théâtre, "Corps-otages" (Khamsoun), de Jalila Baccar et Fadhel Jaibi devrait très prochainement être présentée au grand public tunisien. (lire la suite)

Séance Unique

Ceci va sûrement plaire à notre cher ami Tarek ;)

لطيفة، فيروز العرب؟

جاء هذا التشبيه على لسان مايك فغالي (اشكونو هذا؟) في إحدى الصحف العربية وأنا بالطبع أرفض أن تشبه السيدة فيروز بأي كان فلا مجال للمقارنة بين لطيفة وملاك الصباح السيدة فيروز. مع احترامي للطيفة كشخص فإني وكما عبّرت عنه سابقا في إحدى المدوّنات التّونسية فإنّ صوت لطيفة لايعجبني وهذا رأيي الشخصي بالطبع وقد شاهدت أغنيتها الأخيرة "نص جو" والحقيقة كان اداء لطيفة هزيلا رغم ان الأغنية لزياد الرّحباني وما أدراك فإذا كانت لطيفة تريد أن تقلّد السيدة فيروز وتغني أغاني مثل كيفك أنت، سلّلملي عليه،إلخ فأقول لها ستوب فلا مقارنة ويا حسرة على أيام لطيفة في فرقة الرّاشدية ويا لايمي على الزين ما نصبرشي وأم الحسن غنات فوق الشجرة

"Friends" A La Tunisienne

"The Decider" Decided Not To Decide

Washington -- President Bush is delaying until some time in January his planned report to the nation on the direction he and aides are charting for the United States in Iraq, the White House said Tuesday, pointing to a need for continuing internal discussions of policy and tactical shifts. (more)

Source : The Los Angeles Times

Beware Of The Devil Food!

Have you ever heard about the "devil food"? Well it is simply "soy beans" and mainly "soy milk"!. According to an article by Worldnetdaily website, soy milk can decrease one's masculinity, lead to sexual confusion and turn our kids into homosexuals!... (more)

Via Dappled Things

حكومة وحدة وطنيّة

أصبح هذا المفهوم يقلقني ويزعجني فعن أي حكومة وحدة وطنية يتكلّمون؟ عن الحرب الأهلية التي تدور رحاها حاليا في العراق؟ عن بوادر حرب أهلية أخرى في فلسطين أو عن الوضع المزري والمؤسف في لبنان؟ هل هذه هي فعلا الديموقراطية التي يتحدّث عنها العم سام والغرب بصفة عامّة؟ أيّ معنى للدّيموقراطية في ظلّ الإنشقاقات والنزاعات والفتن وعدم الاستقرار؟ آه كم طعمك مرّ علقم أيتها الدّيموقرطيّة!وللحديث بقيّة

إسمي فلسطين

إحدى المتدخّلات في أحد البرامج التي تبثّها إذاعة جوهرة أف أم قدمت نفسها بأن قالت أن إسمها "فلسطين" في الحقيقة هذه أول مرّة أسمع بشخص يحمل هذا الإسم الجميل رغم أن هناك من يسمّي إبنته "تونس" أو "إيران" أو "عراق" وهنا أتساءل هل هناك أسماء أخرى مرتبطة بأسماء البلدان؟

Réflexions Sur Le Maroc

Je suis tombé sur ce commentaire écrit par un bloggeur marocain ( le blog semble fermé mais l'auteur se présente comme étant : رؤية مراهق سياسي للاحداث الجارية - لا اكترث بمن أولا يتفاعل مع افكاري بقدر ما يهمني ان لا امتهن الصمت ) sur un autre blog d'un autre marocain vivant à Washington DC. Le commentaire m'a un peu intrigué et je me suis permis de le poster ici sans pour autant être sur si les propos de ce bloggeur reflètent vraiment le réalité au Maroc ou non?

المغرب هو هو إن لم نقل أسوأ الشئ الوحيد الدي تغير فيه أنه أصبح بإمكانك قول ماتريد - مازالت بعض الخطوط الحمراء - لكن وللاسف "الكلمات تخفف الاحتقان لكنها لا تغير الواقع وهده أخطر ماساة يواجهها المغرب إلى جانب اخريات تحياتي

Haredi Representatives To Set Up Their Own Airline

In a previous post I talked about the crisis affecting the israeli airline company El Al. In a recent move and to show their boycott of El-Al, Haredi representatives and busnissmen in the US are considering the idea of setting up their own airline company.

USA Secret Service Spied On Lady Di

It seems that they won't let Lady Di rest in peace in her grave. According to The Evening Standard, American intelligence agencies were bugging Princess Diana's telephone over her relationship with a US billionaire. According to the same source, Lady Di's phone was bugged even the night of her tragic death.

World Airline Meals

This is really a neat and original website!.As the owner has stated, it is " The World's first and leading website about nothing but airline food" !

Check the section reserved to our national and private airline companies:) Don't miss the comments! and don't forget to take pics of your airline meal the next time you travel :)

Highlander, would you please give us more information on the water brand name ( see photo) served by your national Airline company?:)

Picture Of The Day

Ces deux photos sont de la "National City Christian Church" à Washington DC. Faire la queue pour prier: C'est formidable non? :)

Sleeper Cell: A New Cell Awakens

CBS's Sleeper Cell second season mini-series will premiere December, 10, 2006. I am no fan of Sleeper Cells, but here is a peek at this season's first episode.

Chakchouka Loubnenia

Cette recette peut servir toute la Communaute Internationale:

Ingredients :

Deux ou trois Courants du Futur, trois Partis Socialistes Progressites, Un parti National Liberal, 4 Kataibs, trois gousses du Rassemeblement de Kornet Chahwene , 1 verre du Courant Patriotique Libre (ou deux si vous voulez plus de sauce), 4 cuil á soupe du Mouvement du Renouveau Democratique, un peu du bloc National, Amel, Hizboullah et Forces Libanaises.

Preparation :

1-Couper le "Parti Nationnal Liberal" et les trois gousses du "Rassemblement de kornet Chahwene". Les faire revenir dans une poele avec un peu du "Mouvement du Renouveau Democratique" a feu moyen.

2-Entre temps couper les "Partis Socialistes Progressites" intégralement y compris les "Joumblats" et les ajouter au "Parti National Liberal". Laisser mijoter un peu durant 10 min.

3-Ajouter le "Bloc National", le "Amel", le "Hizboullah" et les "Forces Libanaises" et un verre d'eau si vous voulez avoir plus de sauce liquide. Ajouter 1 verre supplémentaire.

4-Prendre les "Courants du Futur", les nettoyer des pepines et les couper en petits morceaux.

5-Ajouter les "Courants du Futur" á la sauce. Laisser mijoter durant 10 min. Vérifier le "Bloc National". Ajouter ensuite les "Kataeb" un par un.

6-Laisser cuire á feu doux les "Kataeb" dans la chakchouka á couvert pour faciliter la cuisson des "Kataeb". 10 min c'est suffisant normalement.

7-Servir chaud dans votre plat favori. Il est d'usage que l’ONU ajoute un tribunal international ou des forces de maintien de la paix durant la cuisson du plat durant la phase finale pour donner plus de gout

We koulou Bichfe!

PS I: ce poste ne devra en aucun cas etre compris ou interprete comme une atteinte ou un denigrement des differentes formations politiques libanaises qui a mon avis representent les differentes categories de la societe libanaise et constituent un aspect du processus democratique au Liban.Personnellement j'adore le peuple libanais frere avec toutes ses diversites et je salue sa resistance, son courage, son ouverture et son aspiration a la liberte et a un avenir meilleur. Vive le Liban!

PS II: cette recette est inspiree d'une vraie recette de la Chakchouka Tunisienne:)

US Metropolitan Airport Commission: Muslims Have Right To Pray In Airports

Todya's Washington Post, brings up again the incident where Six Muslim Clerics were removed from an US Airways flight but this time the Post reports that the Minneapolis Metropolitan Airport Commission's spokesman Patrick Hogan said that,

while the commission has no say in a pilot's decision to take someone off a plane, the commission is supportive of Muslims' right to pray in the airport. Officials said they are considering a "meditation room" where people of various faiths can pray, and they will visit a mosque at the request of local imams.

"Muslims fly through this airport all the time, and we don't have incidents of this kind," Hogan said. "I have Muslims asking me where they can pray in the airport, and I direct them to a quiet place and tell them which way is east."

Enough is Enough!

The Tunisian Way

A neat article by the american syndicated columnist Georgie Anne Geyer on Tunisian women and the Code of Personal Status.

Richest People Of The Middle East

Documentary about some of the richest people of the middle east and how they live.

El Al's Big Mistake

It seems that the Israeli airways company El Al is under fire from haredi representatives after a second report stating that

passengers were unknowingly served non-kosher sandwiches on a flight from Budapest last Thursday after the kosher food brought from Israel had spoiled due to the plane's long stay at Budapest airport as it was unable to depart due to the general strike in Israel.

Four days of crisis seemed irreversibly bound for an economically painful haredi consumer boycott slated to be announced Wednesday that threatened to cut into as much as 30 percent of El Al's revenues on flights to America and certain destinations in Europe.

Rabbi Yitzhak Goldknoph, secretary of the Rabbinic Council for the Holiness of Shabbat, said Tuesday evening that during a meeting at his office in Jerusalem, Romano provided verbal promises that, if committed to a legally binding written agreement, seemed to fulfill haredi conditions for a rapprochement. "We need a written obligation, anchored in law and enforceable in a court of law, that El Al will never again desecrate Shabbat," said Goldknoph on his way out of the negotiations.

Ok, with due respect to Jewish faith and the really sensitive and sacred issue of kocher food for jews as it is the case, by the way, for Muslims when it comes to pork, I found the reaction a bit exagerated. Indeed, in Islam , eating pork is forbidden, but there is always exceptions, for one is allowed to eat pork in extreme situations where there's no food but pork and when the life of the person is at risk, so he or she can eat pork in order to survive. I wonder what one will do on a El Al flight let's say from Europe to the US and it happens that there's no kocher food?? To think about!

Via The Jerusalem Post

Respecting One's God

Reading Subzeroblue's post on respecting or not respecting one's belief in God, I came across this story where

Fitness USA, a gym chain, is investigating an alleged civil rights violation
involving a local Muslim woman who says her afternoon prayer was interrupted by
a fellow patron, and that her complaint to management about the situation was
rejected.

Fitness US management told the woman that she has to respect her (patron), but that the patron does not have to respect her God. The aforementioned woman, is an American citizen . She was born in Jordan, of Palestinian descent. She arrived in Detroit 17 years ago.

Imad Hamad, regional director of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said that

"It's OK for a Christian fellow or a Jewish fellow to pray, and it would be
regarded highly and respected. When it comes to a person of Muslim faith,
especially if a woman is wearing the head cover or a man with a typical clergy
outfit, yeah, it is becoming like something that is offensive to people and
making them nervous."

Recently and in the same vain of events, six Muslim clerics were removed from a U.S. Airways flight, an incident that set off a nationwide uproar.

In view of these two incidents, the following questions do impose themselves: Do you think muslim americans citizens, especially from Arab descent, are victims of ethnic, religious or racial discrimination? Aren't they entitled to the same Constitutional rights? Is there limits to religious freedom? How much intolerance is in all that? and finally if I respect your God, aren't you supposed to respect mine??

Cartoon Of The Day

The Kids: Santa Claus, where are our gifts?!

Santa Claus: They stopped me at the military barrier

and they confiscated all the gifts!

Ahmed Al Cherif: Why All This Brouhaha??

Ahmed Al Cherif with the Mayor of Sidney

Please anyone could enlighten me and explain why all this brouhaha for Ahmed Al Cherif??? Am I surpassed by the events?? well according to Elaph, it seems that Ahmed's recent visit to Australia made the frontlines and he was honored by the Mayor of Sidney! What confused me, is the fact that the Mayor of Sidney conveyed to Ahmed Al Cherif "his sympathy toward the lebanese people in their plight"! wait a minute, is Ahmed Tunisian or Lebanese?

PS: The Mayor of Sydney expressed to Ahmed Al Cherif his desire to pay a visit both to Beyrouth and to Tunis soon! Alhamdouallah sellekneha !!!;)

لصوص غزة لصوص من نوع آخر

مثل هذه الاخبار يحزن النفوس

أخطر 10 تهديدات اليكترونية عام 2007

كشفت شركة مكافي عن أخطر عشر تهديدات تتوقع أن تتربص بأنظمة الكمبيوتر وتكنولوجيا المعلومات عام 2007 طبقا للدراسات التي أجرتها مختبرات مكافي أفيرت فطبقا لتلك الدراسات ومع الأخذ بعين الاعتبار أن هنالك أكثر من 217000 نوعا مختلفا من التهديدات إلى جانب الآلاف غيرها من التهديدات غير المعروفة فإن كل الدلائل تشير إلى أن أعداد البرمجيات الضارة التي يطلقها المجرمون المحترفون في ارتفاع متواصل.

Via Elaph

Orphans Of AIDS

In Africa, the number of orphans of AIDS is about 12 million. In 4 years this number may rise to 18 million! (Via CNN)

New Version Of Blogger In Beta

I am sure that most of you are familiar with this new version of blogger in beta, but each time I get access to my blog I get the same message do you like to switch to the new version of blogger ( in beta)? I know I've already read the instructions etc but I am still a bit skeptical. In case I switch to the new version of blogger, will my old blog remain unchanged?(ie, the same layout, no posts will be lost etc...)Please I need some guidance:) Thanks!