tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38209677078542327852024-03-13T10:13:25.111-07:00FLYING FLIP.FLOPSQUESTION Everythingsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-32279710549017202002013-10-31T11:32:00.000-07:002013-10-31T11:39:02.101-07:00Culture Exportation.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Culture exportation.</span></h4>
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<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One US export that goes unmentioned is that of its culture. Its impact in promoting other exports is huge. </span></h4>
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<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Halloween parties for example in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Amman are more common now where they were non existent until.... Hollywood (mainly) among other factors.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hollywood film and Hollywood television as well as the music industry spread the (US) American culture and while doing so promote American products. How us that?<br />Man see, man do.. Humans, not just monkeys tend to imitate others in what they say, what they eat, what they wear and even how they behave in different scenarios. We imitate what we see and we see people, on both the small and the big screen, smoking and we smoke because that character was smoking and seemed to enjoy inhaling the smoke. It must be "cool" and looks like a pleasurable activity. So, at a given chance we take up smoking, cough a little the first few times and then feel proud that the cough is conquered. Philip Morris just gained another customer or in the case of tobacco, an addict.. a victim!</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And then we take up drinking... Pepsi Cola and Coca Cola, 7Up and others. Eating is no different either. Look at all the (US) American fast and not so fast food franchises littering the landscape, worldwide.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A whole slew of US products has entered and became part of a lifestyle that is foreign to people outside the US. From sugary cereals for breakfast to current "pop culture" and gangster lingo and expressions, from "wassup" to "WTF" are not indigenous to the cities and countries mentioned earlier or for that matter any country other than the US. Add to that even a certain mannerism and attitudes acquired from what is seen in Hollywood films and made for TV series and music videos.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, what gives? Hollywood has become, without directly telling us what to do, what to eat and how to behave, a model people follow pretty much wherever Hollywood is allowed to play.<br />In his recent spat with V. Putin, B. Obama teased Putin about the number of Russian food franchises in the US. Probably and almost certainly none. That is also true for most other countries. One does not see foreign franchises in the US. On the other hand US food and clothing franchises are all over the world. Need I say McDonalds, KFC... People in the ravaged and blockaded Gaza (Palestine) were reported to have been smuggling KFC chicken buckets to Gaza from Egypt through tunnels. Need I say more. Oh, yes. In a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon some kids were drinking Pepsi Cola. This was in a small video games room where American products, games were used. Guess what these games indirectly promote.. a culture to inspire and imitate. This is what people do, they imitate what they perceive as good and marketers are good at presenting products in a good light. Movies and TV programs have even a better efficient, intended or not, in promoting culture (naturally), products and industries because they do it at a subconscious level. The culture part is natural because American life is played out. Even Americans take their certain behavioral queues from film and TV.<br />Some aspects of this cultural adaptation are positive, others are negative and in conflict with established ancient cultures; be it in Europe, Asia, Africa or Australia. The only places that remain unaffected are those that have not been touched by TV.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's a cultural assimilation facilitated by a common language: English, American English unless you are down under, in India or the UK.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Bollywood, worth noting, does not have that cultural exportation effect because their films are in Hindi.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Happy Halloween y'all.</span></h4>
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simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-56752156974235032822013-05-18T13:05:00.000-07:002013-05-18T13:05:03.967-07:00The Jewish Lobby claims another victim: Freedom of speech.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hussam Salama and Mahmoud Al-Kumi were 2 Palestinian journalists that were targeted and killed by the Israelis. As journalists, they were civilians armed with cameras and microphones and not enemy combatants.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Newseum, a privately held organization decided to honor them. With its many arms, Jewish organizations with many different names, acting as cover and are part of the Israeli lobby went to work.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After defending its position to honor the journalists, Newseum, that had a chance to stand up to the Israeli and "Jewish lobby" bullying, fell to their knees and now Newseum do not even offer an explanation for their decision reversal as reported by "ei" (electronic intifada) and that is typical when blackmail is involved.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">By doing so Newseum, as an organization dedicated to the news reporting and freedom of speech did something very, very wrong. Reversing its decision says a lot:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now Newseum stands with the an organization, Israel, that supports targeted murder of civilians. The Israelis and their lobby people in the US justify the killings because the journalists were part of Hamas "propaganda" machine. That is how they put it and to them it's a justification for murder. By the same logic Hamas and or other Palestinian organization could do the same, target civilian journalists that they think could play as propagandists for the Israelis or against them. Palestinians know that many News organizations are propagandists in a way or another and that the editors at such organizations decide what airs and what does not; they also decide on how to manipulate news and incoming data from the field.. Should the editors also be targeted if one is to follow the Israelis' and their lobby's logic?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">That is what Newseum's reversal to honor 2 Palestinian journalists means. Two journalists murdered by a propaganda machine that wants to control the truth. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Just imagine how much pressure and blackmailing it takes to have an, now suspect, independent organization like Newseum, to honor, defend and then retreat?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Paul Findley was a US congressman and supporter of Israel. Once he decided to question a matter related to Israel and that same lobby set out to make an example of him to other US lawmakers. How dared he "question"? It was not enough that he was a great supporter of Israel. The lobby wanted US lawmakers' unquestionable LOYALTY to ISRAEL. So at the next term elections the lobby set out to unseat him by supporting another candidate.. and the lobby succeeded. He lost to his opponent by a tiny margin. He is an author: "They dare to speak out". In the book he describes his experience with the lobby.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Newseum is now another occupied territory. It lost its objectivity and integrity by allowing itself to be harassed and manipulated. What does that say to others?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Congratulations to the board of Newseum! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Newseum is not the only loser in this episode but as community that thrives on truth and free speech are losers as well.<br /><br />Newseum could, after giving their decision more thought, do the right thing and restore some of their dignity. Would they dare to do so, or too afraid?</span><br />
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simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-50527548533239927932013-04-08T20:12:00.002-07:002013-04-08T20:16:27.323-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
November 2012: Israel attacked the Gaza district of Palestine.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If a Jew
were in my shoe, singular, because my parents could afford to buy only one pair
of shoes (made in China) that I share with my sister and that, for fun, we
sometimes swap left and right depending on the political mood of the country, a
country that we don't have... I digress. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If a Jew were in my shoe and lived on
the seashore where Asia meets Africa.. The Jew would see soldiers in uniformed
moustaches with two dark lines extending from the tip of the upper lip up to the
nostrils. "Ari" was their name, each one of them! I hear glass
breaking, again! and it's daytime but the Jew in my shoe thinks it's night, the
night of the broken glass, kristallnacht! It's like a weird dream where me and
my shoe and the Jew are scared of the soldiers with the black moustaches but
this time the soldiers are the Jew, the Jew in my shoe! How could that be? The
Jew was supposed to understand.. but the Jew took my shoe! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Gaza girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-65489704215180947962013-04-08T07:45:00.001-07:002013-04-08T07:45:56.170-07:00Syria, now what?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Knowing what we know today about what has happened in Syria in the last two years, the thousands that died, the refugees, said to be in the millions, the destruction of historic landmarks, neighborhoods, towns and cities etc..<br />
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Knowing all that today would the powers that fed this "revolution" do the same thing today?<br />
What could be done today to end the killing and the suffering?<br />
<br />
Tunis is not a model to topple Arab leaders. Egypt and Libya had different results and the African trio's revolutions are far from over. Bahrain is quiet in the western media.. so the west does not look favorably on toppling Arab leaders that follow certain policies compliant to American interests, or so it seems!<br />
<br />
When the Jordanians started acting up, American help in the form of money found its way to the Jordanian capital. Money, channeled properly, seemed to cool things a bit there. <br />
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You can tell much about American and Israeli interests by the moves of one US senator..John McCain and his buddy, now retired, another staunch supporter of Israel, x US senator Lieberman who had been seen in video and photographs whispering in McCain's ear what to say at press conferences while touring the "Middle East".. So, McCain goes to Libya, arms the rebels and brings the demise of Qaddafi in a short period of time. After 40 years of his reign, the west saw fit the removal Qaddafi. And the question is why now?<br />
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Trouble in Syria!! McCain stands on the senate floor and says let's arm Syrian rebels. Al Qaeda and Al Nusra are enlisted and so is Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia providing enough to bleed Syria but not enough to bring down the Assad regime quick enough.. which would theoretically save lives, unless of course some Afghani-Taliban style Islamists take hold of the country, as they did in some small town in Syria, and try to impose a style of living that the indigenous Syrian population does not know nor would approve of. That would lead to bloodshed of a different sort and for other reasons. <br />
<br />
Bleeding Syria seems to be the end game that might also weaken other players in the region. In Lebanon there are people that support and others not, the Assad regime. And this could start another fire in a place that needs it the least.<br />
<br />
Before March 2011 Syrians did not enjoy freedoms of a free country, many wished to travel abroad and stay abroad dreaming of a better life. Americans too want to find a place where the economy is good and jobs are plentiful and they too are having a hard time. The difference is that, here in the US, the government keeps printing money and keeps borrowing money, in the trillions and any economist would tell you that this is not good. There are people protesting and many movements such as the Occupy people, they demonstrate from sea to shining sea however, another difference between the US and Syria here is that there is no Syrian senator McCain to arm these American rebels.<br />
<br />
So, knowing what we know today about the events of the past 2 years on the Syrian scene:<br />
1- Would the players make the same moves leading to the same results we see today? and<br />
2- What's done is done. What can be done to end it?<br />
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simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-88447386597353260892013-01-17T11:05:00.000-08:002013-01-17T12:25:17.428-08:00In Love with a Slut.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCQecqIaaD4uDClp5lPH3mQaXXQaznB-oc66DVCkV1li3cAiK4e4syQeMSUn1fpR1oO9VYMjX6I4OGALd6blbnKjbIZ3JCkzVzLdjxDtNsNdQsDC4VPdbKOyotdckLXOdP2WgTG3VWABZ/s1600/IMG_20121228_172511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCQecqIaaD4uDClp5lPH3mQaXXQaznB-oc66DVCkV1li3cAiK4e4syQeMSUn1fpR1oO9VYMjX6I4OGALd6blbnKjbIZ3JCkzVzLdjxDtNsNdQsDC4VPdbKOyotdckLXOdP2WgTG3VWABZ/s200/IMG_20121228_172511.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">You are such a slut... </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">you give yourself to whomever can afford a piece of you. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">you are shameless. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I see you on little kids faces, in their little hands. To young and old and no matter the gender, come and take me, you say, get me out of the wrapper!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You are such a slut. You can't wait to be anyone's and everyone's. You come on so nice and so strong.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSd391voRACA2EulsKK4os2ycC223az7crkk2rpdKV03YbgaD9UBii-_SUeu-tYIMYopGosFVDh2boCs-tw6x29dYzJp4Wuw9HeVHl2kfjtcH13s5VFJhLjH23XD24H9oVtPASwUvrzBK/s1600/IMG_20121224_115357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSd391voRACA2EulsKK4os2ycC223az7crkk2rpdKV03YbgaD9UBii-_SUeu-tYIMYopGosFVDh2boCs-tw6x29dYzJp4Wuw9HeVHl2kfjtcH13s5VFJhLjH23XD24H9oVtPASwUvrzBK/s200/IMG_20121224_115357.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">You make them smile and as you pleasure them they kill you and yet you come back for more. You just can't get enough. you are an insatiable circle of seduction, pleasure and death... and resurrection; but i love you!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Just tell me one thing.. What are you made of? chocolate!</span></div>
simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-66714942553899485512012-08-15T10:16:00.000-07:002013-06-28T02:44:06.746-07:00Tamriyyeh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some sweets are much less known than others in a part of the world that prides itself on making Baklava (Ba2lawe), Knafeh, Karabeej Halab, Znoud el Sitt, Halawet El Jiben among many others. Such less known sweets surface on special occasions in Lebanon namely something called Tamriyyeh.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Tamriyyeh comes to life on the Feast of St. Elias and the Feast of Assumption of Mary (3eed El 3adra), the latter on August 15. These are two religious feasts at two locations where Tamriyyeh is made fresh before you. The one that takes place at St. Elias in Mazraa (Mar Elias Btina) is huge and hosts many Tamriyyeh vendors or at least it used to. The other one has one vendor that sets up in the Kniset El Saydeh, Makhoul Street, Ras Beirut (parallel to Bliss).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Wow, I can almost smell Tamriyyeh!! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Smeediyyeh, the filling for the pastry is already made and ready. The dough is oily. It's stretched out and cut up into squares. A piece of Smeediyyeh is placed in the center and pressed down lightly. The dough is then folded from the corners to the center on top of the white Smeediyyeh filling and pressed again, picked up and dropped in oil. There it fries until golden brown. When removed it is placed in a strainer to allow excess oil to drain. One must wait a little for the Tamriyyeh to cool down and then the Tamriyyeh is topped with some confectioner's sugar just before serving. Ready! MEEN BADDOOOOO?? want some :)</span><br />
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photos are copyright their owner! </div>
simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-8297934370377781942012-08-14T23:24:00.000-07:002013-07-25T11:57:52.632-07:00Tamriyyeh - <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Some sweets are much less known than others in a part of the world that prides itself on making Baklava (Ba2lawe), Knafeh, Karabeej Halab, Znoud el Sitt, Halawet El Jiben among many others. Such less known sweets surface on special occasions in Lebanon namely something called Tamriyyeh.<br />
<br />
Tamriyyeh comes to life on the Feast of St. Elias and the Feast of Assumption of Mary (3eed El 3adra), the latter on August 15. These are two religious feasts at two locations where Tamriyyeh is made fresh before you. The one that takes place at St. Elias in Mazraa (Mar Elias Btina) is huge and hosts many Tamriyyeh vendors or at least it used. The other one has one vendor that sets up in the Kniset El Saydeh, Makhoul Street, Ras Beirut (parallel to Bliss).<br />
<br />
Wow, I can almost smell Tamriyyeh!! <br />
Smeediyyeh, the filling for the pastry is already made and ready. The dough is oily. It's stretched out and cut up into squares. A piece of Smeediyyeh is placed in the center and pressed down lightly. The dough is then folded from the corners to the center on top of the white Smeediyyeh filling and pressed again, picked up and dropped in oil. There it fries until golden brown. When removed it is placed in a strainer to allow excess oil to drain. One must wait a little for the Tamriyyeh to cool down and then the Tamriyyeh is topped with some confectioner's sugar just before serving. Ready! MEEN BADDOOOOO?? want some :)<br />
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simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-39234426917292635652012-05-13T00:41:00.000-07:002012-05-21T02:52:16.392-07:00Kidnapped in Beirut.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Beirut, Lebanon. During the civil war..</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Being at the wrong place at the wrong time carries great risk if you are in a war zone. Being in a civil war with a multitude of factions could be a lot worse and gets very complicated. One morning I found myself at the wrong place at the wrong time! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When the Kalashnikov appeared from behind a car, it was held
by a young man, and what came to mind instantly was my mother. I worried about my mother the instant I
thought I was going to die. I truly
believed I was about to be shot, but I was not and you would understand why I
worried about my mother, whom was safe at home, soon enough.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A man across the street yelled: "shou dinak?" Oh
well, sarcasm, I get to live few more seconds and my answer could hasten my
fate. He wanted to know what my religion
was and I told him. Apparently he did
not like my answer: “w wi2e7 kamen, jibo
la hon" he said. He exclaimed that
I was audacious and ordered for me to be brought in. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">At times like these adrenaline rushes through your blood so
fast that things seem to move in slow motion.
I have visual pictures in my head of a little alley that the car I was
driving was moved to, a few steps that I climbed, after being blindfolded. Yes, blindfolded. "Put him with the
rest" said the man and I objected: "I know no one, may I see the
person in charge?" I asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The truth is I had no time to be scared, I worried about my
mom at first and now my priority was to keep my composure. The last thing I want to feel and show is
fear. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Earlier that morning I drove my car few streets from my
house and through Clemanceau street where at one point people from one
political party were offering their newspaper.
I hesitated and thought about the consequences and what would they think
and more importantly do if I did not stop and get their paper? I kept driving and the car's speed and momentum
helped me make the decision. Keep going,
don't stop. One afterthought, good thing
I did not pick up that paper, that decision may have saved my life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I arrived at my
destination, a storage building for audio equipment and supplies. I wanted to buy some branded blank cassette
tapes. I found a parking spot on the left side of the
street and I parallel parked my car without noticing anything unusual except
for the lack of traffic which in a time of civil war is not unusual. Earlier it was reported on the radio that
things are quiet and that there was no fighting, a truce perhaps. Why else would I venture out?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">They took me to the man in charge.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was a tiled area in front of a small one house. It was
typical to have such a space in older Lebanese homes. That's where people and neighbors visit and
spend time in the shade of a tree perhaps or enjoy a cool night breeze with
friends.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">What these people were looking at was a young man yielding a
reddish long beard dressed in blue jeans and wearing a pair of clogs. Yes, clogs! The most comfortable things I
have ever put my feet into. This is not
a very conforming image of a typical Lebanese youth at the time. The car that I
was driving, a light blue FIAT 125 Special with red interior and a 5 gear stick
shift. Unimportant detail in this story
but it won’t hurt. So, if they were
making any first background assessments it would have been on these. But the most important one was the direct
question by the man across the street:
"shou dinak?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The war in Lebanon was simple and yet complicated but this
is not for me to assess except for the part where I was involved, or rather
really not involved and not by choice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">During the war there were a lot of kidnappings from the
different sides that were fighting.
Often you would read in the papers or hear on the radio that a body was
found in a plastic bag and under some bridge.
The parents and or relatives of that person would be looking for that
person and had not heard anything for a long time and as things go or went in
Lebanon, would have called on all influential people they knew to help find
their missing relative not knowing if he or she is dead or alive and hoping for
his or her safe return if not safe at least knowing if the person is dead or
alive is actually relieving to the family.
If the person is known to be alive then the family would work on their
safe return if not then they would hope to get the body for burial so that they
could grieve and go on with their lives, as shattered as they may be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">That is why my initial thought went to my mother when I saw
that Kalashnikov. I did not want my
mother to go through the horrors many parents went through looking for their
sons. <br />
Thousands are still missing to this day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I sat down and the man offered me coffee. I never turn down coffee, well, almost
never. "jibe 2ahwe ya mara" he
said. Even though it was an order, it was
friendly. It was what people that have
known each other and like each other do, put away formalities. I felt comfortable just from the way he asked
his wife, a fairly good assumption, I admit, to make us some coffee.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The man asked me many questions, name, nationality, what was
my business in the area, why I was on their street. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">3osmalleh was the coffee, not too sweet and not too bitter
that is. The conversation took a
different turn and was more of a discussion on the war itself. I don't know where and especially in my
situation, where I found the courage to tell the man that, between all the
fighting factions Lebanon was being destroyed, and that they, all the factions
that is, are responsible for the destruction.
There was another man sitting there on the conversation as well and at
one point he said: "I lost a cousin and I want 10 of them in exchange for
his blood". The revenge cycle does
not help Lebanon, mistakes were made on all sides and that was not the way to
help the country. That way of thinking
won't end the war. And I spoke my mind to that effect. For a moment I was telling myself to be quiet
but I love Lebanon and what was happening was wrong, and I gave my opinion
freely knowing real well that I am at risk and my fate could be at the whim of
a stranger. Luckily I think they judged
me by my sincerity. I was not attacking
them, with words, I was merely showing general concern about the war and the
people and how this war is forcing my family to leave. My family was making preparations to immigrate
to the US. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The people that offered me the coffee were Muslim. I don't know if they were Sunni or Shia and I
did not ask. It mattered not to me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">They decided to let me go.
They had searched my car and found a picture of the Virgin Mary. My dad
had placed in the car. They, the Muslims
said, this is what saved you today. And
I said to myself, good thing I did not pick up that newspaper on the way here,
the paper was from an opposing faction, I think.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The man that had asked me "shou dinak?" offered and
I had no choice but to accept, to ride with me around the block. “I am riding with you because the Kurds up
the street know me and will let you through without hassle”. Good thing he said, you stopped here (in his
area) because if you went further into the Kurds area they would have killed
you first and then asked questions. That
man also told me that he was a Christian Armenian. That made no sense to me and he explained:
"we're neighbors and we're looking out for each other". Well, how about that fact to confuse a
complicated civil war in progress. That
part of the war was civil where the civil war itself was not. I don’t think that there is civility in
people killing each other. A civil war
is a misnomer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Once I was on the main road I dropped him off and I went home
without my blank cassettes. I went home
to see my mother. I fortunately did not
cause her to suffer. It would have
killed me to see her pain over my death or disappearance. I made no conscientious effort to think about
my mother the moment that Kalashnikov appeared, it was purely instinctive. That’s where we go when in danger, a
comfortable happy place we call mama.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Mother’s day!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">copyright author and assigns </span></span></div>
</div>simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-41967217480243125302012-04-18T11:20:00.000-07:002012-04-18T11:20:53.493-07:00Palestinian Refugee Camps celebrate Israel's 64th anniversary !!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ElAl is doing a promotion for Israel's 64th Anniversary.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ElAl fails to invite Palestinians living in and outside Refugee Camps for the celebrations.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is to draw attention to the 64 year old problem that Israel and company have created.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Refugees, victims of systematic </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and ONGOING ethnic cleansing..</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and the world is supporting the RAPIST.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Feel free to use the "Timeline" cover below </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and or the poster on your social media </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and spread the word</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi085a_A2Cg3_V_VqU-oHbdSPE42dciEJAz6Q7IMA_Vj4bsSHTtLM10jtFQKnQI_O9lSniw3ONTDa_FkzHKabTajJxKmDve7I_UzL2uQfo3PncvWutcMx3fn11TB4GiZozI5jBPIrUt_g_P/s1600/64th+anniv+poster+v3+SMALLER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi085a_A2Cg3_V_VqU-oHbdSPE42dciEJAz6Q7IMA_Vj4bsSHTtLM10jtFQKnQI_O9lSniw3ONTDa_FkzHKabTajJxKmDve7I_UzL2uQfo3PncvWutcMx3fn11TB4GiZozI5jBPIrUt_g_P/s640/64th+anniv+poster+v3+SMALLER.jpg" width="451" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poster size</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioz-aaBpDhk4ZGwxQz9qTBRXx8OesMctwXyxvjN-6pUrGnCgU7nNVKlPoQ8958bE4Ze7QsjBQFnNBfgac-Imvz7R3Pjkjzu2QnJn4DtmChhBl9qX9ZN5-0qCkU0xV17jPVCCbL4OHyS5O4/s1600/64th+timeline+banner+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioz-aaBpDhk4ZGwxQz9qTBRXx8OesMctwXyxvjN-6pUrGnCgU7nNVKlPoQ8958bE4Ze7QsjBQFnNBfgac-Imvz7R3Pjkjzu2QnJn4DtmChhBl9qX9ZN5-0qCkU0xV17jPVCCbL4OHyS5O4/s640/64th+timeline+banner+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Timeline cover size - </td></tr>
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</div>simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-18644263640820607242011-12-05T19:23:00.000-08:002012-08-14T09:57:50.040-07:00My kitty loved ice cream :)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The cat was thought to be a female so I named it Shiba or Shibeh, a term used in the sense of playfully mischievous, an endearing term. When Shibeh turned out to be a boy, I had to change its name; meet Shibo.</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shibo, a tabby kitten was shy for the first few days but soon would own the house. Cats are notorious for that and Shibo did not disappoint. Shibo also thought he was human, whenever I sat down to have a meal he wanted to share; he wanted me to share my food with him even though I never asked to share his. He had a love affair with anything dairy, be it milk, cheese, yogurt and of course ice cream.</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On occasion I would get some ice cream, the kind that comes on a stick, get one from the freezer and go to the living room, sit on the couch, lift my feet up on the coffee table and get ready to relax and enjoy my ice cream.</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shibo is already there, well not even 5 seconds after I sit down on the couch he is there and keeping his eyes on the prize. He's on the coffee table or in my lap with his eyes fixed on the ice cream that is now disappearing, lick by lick, bite by bite. Shibo tilts his head as the ice cream continues to disappear and I can sense that he is getting anxious. Sure enough he lets a little moan out accompanied by a paw movement. He lifts a paw and gently reaches for the ice cream without touching it, he knows his limits. Then he comes a little forward and persists. There is little ice cream left on the stick now and a little meow comes out. Shibo knows though that he always gets his share. How could I not give him his treat. Now Shibo! I offer him the stick with the vanilla ice cream on it - cats by the way should not be fed anything chocolate as it will make them sick and even kill them - and I hold the stick while he licks away. I turn the stick to the other side and he finishes off the rest in no time and gives the wooden stick a couple of extra licks just to be sure that nothing is left there. Once satisfied that there is no more ice cream he loses his anxious mode and settles in my lap or next to me for a little nap or some petting followed by some heavy breathing, purring happily.</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shibo was the only cat out of six that I have that enjoyed and demanded dairy products. Mr Sheebs, another nick name for Shibo, used to do many unique things: like fetching a little soft ball. He could do that for an hour and not get tired of the game.. well when he was younger. He would fetch that little soft red ball and drop it in front of me and then find a chair or a corner to hide behind and anticipate the next throw. His hind legs would be tapping the floor making his hips look like they are moving from side to side, faster and faster as the moment of the throw, as he anticipated it draws to a close and off he goes, the ball goes up in the air and he jumps and with one move of his right or left paw blocks it. Rewind, repeat, loop mode. </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was a time when I had a regular job and I would come home almost at a regular hour. Shibo would be waiting at the bedroom window that is closer to the back patio door that I used to enter the house. As soon as I disappeared from his view, I would have 4 more steps to go before I got to the door and opened it. Shibo would already there even though he would have to jump off the window sill run out of that room, turn a sharp left, and another sharp left and go towards the heavy glass sliding door. I would take off my shoes and massage his belly with my foot. He knew the routine and he would lay on his back and enjoy the little rub. All of a sudden he starts playing rough and grabs my foot with his front paws while his hind legs start painfully kicking me. I'd laugh and manage to get lose.</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If I was sidetracked with a phone call or something when I first entered the house Shibo would chase me position himself next to me and then would paw me, he would paw my arm repeatedly until I gave him attention in the form of petting and eye contact. If I'm too close to him he would rub his face against mine. For Shibo that was love, recognition renewed daily and often.</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The thing he (not it) did often that was human like motion and sound was when he looked me straight in the eyes and his head moved up and down slightly accompanied by a gentle emmmh sound. I suppose it meant different things depending on the time, I would like to eat now, how about some ice cream (you worked hard and I deserve it), hello or maybe let's chat a bit, how does google translate or interpret “meow”?</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shibo enjoyed playing with balls made out of chocolate rappers. He was easy to please and yet demanding, but demanding for attention and affection. Sometimes I would hear him meowing as if crying, well that’s what it sounded like. And I’d look and see him with one of his toys in his mouth. I’d call him by name and he would come and drop the toy at my feet. He wants to play, but other times he acts like that, like babies do when they’re tired and sleepy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirO1wk_qmqItFuiwidAsW3cJt_qgLTvvmh-wDbflgsRv4M7ZtBg6NfJ82VdQG2pgPhako6eEHX4reA3N4MKQfJeCGEPxpp3Q5IlnJqCV3K3xjLK6BWOnzXk-R2zd6HMYV-gEmHUofqWW7O/s1600/P3230151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirO1wk_qmqItFuiwidAsW3cJt_qgLTvvmh-wDbflgsRv4M7ZtBg6NfJ82VdQG2pgPhako6eEHX4reA3N4MKQfJeCGEPxpp3Q5IlnJqCV3K3xjLK6BWOnzXk-R2zd6HMYV-gEmHUofqWW7O/s320/P3230151.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shibo died December 9, 2010 and I miss him. Thanks for the memories Mr. Sheebs :') <3</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-46610597813104627172011-09-18T08:20:00.000-07:002011-09-18T08:23:17.612-07:00To Palestine or not to Palestine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUebGISsEE92KgESo74hcSclRtbXSf6xqT5nOxi7J7Q5QaNeMOY5vlrxTCKp1hJIGSgB5nwFBMkQoQi4Dcvwagxa_29sB0dx0sntnoCEuZBg5Axu9vQyNghOOBWUtRMj52Z9p2KmjnPv2/s1600/P9113061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUebGISsEE92KgESo74hcSclRtbXSf6xqT5nOxi7J7Q5QaNeMOY5vlrxTCKp1hJIGSgB5nwFBMkQoQi4Dcvwagxa_29sB0dx0sntnoCEuZBg5Axu9vQyNghOOBWUtRMj52Z9p2KmjnPv2/s640/P9113061.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by simon hanna (copyright)</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">WHAT SHOULD THE PALESTINIANS EXPECT FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AT THE UNITED NATIONS?.. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">(Judge them by their actions!)</span></div>
simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-11843399467828883432011-09-03T23:37:00.000-07:002011-09-03T23:37:54.972-07:00LINK. Jewish Assimilation<a href="http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/not-all-jews-appreciate-israel-s-new-anti-assimilation-campaign-1.8487/#.TmMbxPudkQI.blogger">Not all Jews appreciate Israel's new anti-assimilation campaign - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News</a>simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-44526110539293360542011-06-11T17:12:00.000-07:002011-06-11T17:33:58.744-07:00Father's side or Mother's side? This will clear things up for uncles, aunts and cousins.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">The Arabic language distinguishes between whose side of the family an uncle, aunt or cousin is. And now, the English and French languages DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER FROM THIS LINGUAL AMBIGUITY ANYMORE !!</span><br />
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I would like to UnVague the english language when it comes to the use of the words uncle, auntie and cousin, since none would tell you which side of your parents the uncle, auntie or cousin is from.<br />
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What applies to the English language also applies to the French language.<br />
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I will use two letters to revolutionize the French and the English:<br />
M and F for English and M and P for the French.<br />
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Used in the following manner, M and F will unveil this cognitive dilemma:<br />
A "muncle" is an uncle on the "M"other's side, while a "funcle" is an uncle on the "F"ather's side.<br />
So, why not Mauntie and Fauntie, Mousins and Fousins.<br />
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For the French the spelling and pronunciation is slightly different:<br />
Moncle, Poncle, Mante and Pante, Mousin and Pousin (and the gender consideration: cousine et fousine (not available -yet- in English)).<br />
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You get the idea.<br />
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Use at your own risk!<br />
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(copyright 2007-2011 simon sakkab)<br />
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</div>simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-25573509403786775152011-04-30T11:27:00.000-07:002011-04-30T11:31:12.405-07:00Show me yours, I'll show you mine. LIKE-A-TITION?? what is that?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>(No offense to anyone.. just some observations on this cultural phenomenon). </b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Facebook page promotions are run under the guise of "Competition" where the most likes determine the winner. Competitors solicit their family and friends for votes or Likes and post a plea on the "Competition" page repeatedly, so as to maximize visibility to new page dwellers and get their vote. Such persistence seems to pay off as well. Some invitations sound like this: your vote gets mine, Like mine and I'll Like yours, Support me please, Help me win</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>There is absolutely nothing wrong with this except for one word: competition.</b></span><br />
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</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>To put this into perspective imagine a race where a slow runner that comes in last in the race would actually win the race because the runner had the most audience or spectators' cheers. Finish last and get the recognition and the awards, ok maybe not necessarily last and maybe not even finish the race, but you get the idea. Ok, another example would be a dancing competition but the audience, who decides the winner, supports a mediocre performer. This is how these so called competitions are run on Facebook and the real winner is the page itself as it builds, if it builds, a large audience and recognition to itself or its agenda.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>One cannot blame entrants for directing the traffic to their thing to vote on. Sometimes the sheer number of entries discourages people from browsing the entries and "liking", but that is what they're supposed to do. Many would just satisfy the urge to be done with the task of helping one or more in need by linking to them directly. So, the system is not perfect!</b></span><br />
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</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Again, there is nothing wrong with that activity except the name, competition. That, it is not. Call it what it is, "Like-a-tition".. how is that for a new word? Win prizes based on your ability to get "Likes".</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Here are some screen grabs from a very successful page promotion for an event: </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>AUB Outdoors 2011 Samsung Photo Competition.</b></span><br />
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</div></div>simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-84245584485048428552011-04-14T13:18:00.000-07:002011-04-14T13:35:09.845-07:00It's Dandelawns when dandelions prevail.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm thinking of dandelions. Why do people spend so much time and energy trying to kill them and get them out of their lawns. Who said lawns have to be 100% green, and the cost to keep that perfect green could amount to quite a bit of money. So, why not let the dandelions take over. They seem happy to take over your lawn and for free at that. And what is the difference to you and your neighbors anyway?. Besides, if you get hungry you can grab few dandelions and have them for lunch :p</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well, the other difference is color. Your lawn would reflect a very bright yellow with some dark green which would actually bring out the yellow. A yellow and green lawn. I love it. Let them dandelions prosper and multiply. Dandelions, they're not a weed anymore, they are dandelawns.</span><br />
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</div>simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-45518573726906493182011-02-15T21:27:00.000-08:002011-02-15T21:27:03.894-08:00The Girls got milk, but watch out for skunks!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">From a distance one's reaction to the view might be "oh what the heck". These skunks must have hit a huge patch of steroids except that they are cows and not skunks. These cows adorned skunk colors, all black and a wide white strip running from head to tail. I had never seen cows trying to pass for skunks before. There were normal cows too, but if you don't believe me when I say these cows have skunk features, well, take a look at the evidence.<br />
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I tried to talk to the owner about this phenomenon, so I walked towards the barn and when I finally got there I announced myself but no one came out. I got closer to the door and stuck my head in and to my shock and surprise there was this big mean skunk.. Oh my God, what's this skunk doing? Oh, the horror! I had to get away in a hurry; besides, the stink of pungent ammonia smell suddenly filled the place. But is it possible that the skunk, uh! no can't be!! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTaURR_FrPaiFC0SrkjtrmKPe6lH2p2YpgAzeNho4cexa6nc07mmiDHla1wNd_zqB_4W70skIsmd2JOmR_r3RGSOIVOWyUOyXibH1gzrHPkvYQiGEgbGeaML3SMgFXLpTwTPBIhT6dONe/s1600/PC221030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTaURR_FrPaiFC0SrkjtrmKPe6lH2p2YpgAzeNho4cexa6nc07mmiDHla1wNd_zqB_4W70skIsmd2JOmR_r3RGSOIVOWyUOyXibH1gzrHPkvYQiGEgbGeaML3SMgFXLpTwTPBIhT6dONe/s320/PC221030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They say cows never forget a face.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBKQ9pgV3Dev_HE_DoIwUwbRxdA07PjvlCN_0wvUtRKZOs_MV05Joi433LpmPsuUT0rQKdUOCAUqyzNHyT3OEUr3FXdcpegLTXz48_vy-uTObSa5RzKJjXti4bToy3ifdvJtJFieoVZDj/s1600/PC221038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBKQ9pgV3Dev_HE_DoIwUwbRxdA07PjvlCN_0wvUtRKZOs_MV05Joi433LpmPsuUT0rQKdUOCAUqyzNHyT3OEUr3FXdcpegLTXz48_vy-uTObSa5RzKJjXti4bToy3ifdvJtJFieoVZDj/s320/PC221038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH96lGzKxdyd6Fv6Hd2XMo9hYD7zgLu8EPHQLfQHOY5hGfLlNQpPOdMCRehDXlhOYAwcyHWakTJxQ9iDHYFsZV_-JxRexOkg7OCWtb5YxJZL5uieve8LKgsg6neszqnrjw8Yw-sqUhufyZ/s1600/PC221044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH96lGzKxdyd6Fv6Hd2XMo9hYD7zgLu8EPHQLfQHOY5hGfLlNQpPOdMCRehDXlhOYAwcyHWakTJxQ9iDHYFsZV_-JxRexOkg7OCWtb5YxJZL5uieve8LKgsg6neszqnrjw8Yw-sqUhufyZ/s320/PC221044.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many just stared at me..</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMYpy-mXINqGu237rakeo7ICiVQqf4UDG2KmdG3X5dC64Amttrk3XbIpOSwkQW8JEy5xIQfBmDigKoh6ia2WQrKcbjoh1qB3YW1d4NLNbbsf0o5iLvck4Fhw_bO22ksOsAnF2Vf-GWHqf/s1600/PC221046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMYpy-mXINqGu237rakeo7ICiVQqf4UDG2KmdG3X5dC64Amttrk3XbIpOSwkQW8JEy5xIQfBmDigKoh6ia2WQrKcbjoh1qB3YW1d4NLNbbsf0o5iLvck4Fhw_bO22ksOsAnF2Vf-GWHqf/s320/PC221046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NmxStOopDydshLEzrRyEVDC7JhAbrB7aYCcG_M1CiTOHRRllND-1jAS55NC1hJiehEk1xpK8xXyWeofKAdPHAgmypKR_h-66vxUjq_RZj_n8mZ4p7qsudNso4TzjMJUEfRNoQHO9Y5Vm/s1600/PC221047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NmxStOopDydshLEzrRyEVDC7JhAbrB7aYCcG_M1CiTOHRRllND-1jAS55NC1hJiehEk1xpK8xXyWeofKAdPHAgmypKR_h-66vxUjq_RZj_n8mZ4p7qsudNso4TzjMJUEfRNoQHO9Y5Vm/s320/PC221047.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and stared, maybe it's the camera.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmABymkRU5Y9nYHyBIMBAxq5H5WOnBAK74vWKBf8mDrp3C6MTPW97lJexL2wYSyDIXhjRE2mCIMhGE2W-TXAnqolUlvEz3jKAHgkY0EYisCNsbnD55Hw3SzKBchlD4PiJaBS_79VPt_lvC/s1600/PC221048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmABymkRU5Y9nYHyBIMBAxq5H5WOnBAK74vWKBf8mDrp3C6MTPW97lJexL2wYSyDIXhjRE2mCIMhGE2W-TXAnqolUlvEz3jKAHgkY0EYisCNsbnD55Hw3SzKBchlD4PiJaBS_79VPt_lvC/s320/PC221048.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well girls, you sure are pretty.. and who's that in the distance?</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTTifkECVOzp8uQ1VRt8VC2Ffu-_EOZUCBIGDyRBrJeeJ4hZbdKvwbhIw7nMoVTCbFk2xDSlqX28wyxKPe10HJDMcIkKMkI6fcWVB8uI-b9CVX_aoQZXEZwnpNtQJZrdHqA7QayyDIh1Z/s1600/PC221051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTTifkECVOzp8uQ1VRt8VC2Ffu-_EOZUCBIGDyRBrJeeJ4hZbdKvwbhIw7nMoVTCbFk2xDSlqX28wyxKPe10HJDMcIkKMkI6fcWVB8uI-b9CVX_aoQZXEZwnpNtQJZrdHqA7QayyDIh1Z/s320/PC221051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeVaHtME0QLZpxFdNXnR6sOk-8jQlPI9PSyyKpTnJhiAsY9Nhiyb5mQqpzLgllONal5rMYHchfP4E47uFFMTQuNjxI9nsWloXVysehrVu1NP3ZTdT6Qqeutn9DHaMqaHWpi6anhLa9Co_/s1600/PC221053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeVaHtME0QLZpxFdNXnR6sOk-8jQlPI9PSyyKpTnJhiAsY9Nhiyb5mQqpzLgllONal5rMYHchfP4E47uFFMTQuNjxI9nsWloXVysehrVu1NP3ZTdT6Qqeutn9DHaMqaHWpi6anhLa9Co_/s320/PC221053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFf2NirjNSD9sxEiAUTGrx_pDj7P-CVly7YzCrdW89Oi-DfFZtDnGsveq79oPVux_qZrpdoKrb28Q9KbbORUp7UaIadKvlLi0BWda6uufVneg8_zEl6nx78mLzo7UdZjPIVgdQWwwx85NI/s1600/PC221032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFf2NirjNSD9sxEiAUTGrx_pDj7P-CVly7YzCrdW89Oi-DfFZtDnGsveq79oPVux_qZrpdoKrb28Q9KbbORUp7UaIadKvlLi0BWda6uufVneg8_zEl6nx78mLzo7UdZjPIVgdQWwwx85NI/s320/PC221032.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">doesn't she look like "Pink" the singer?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB7rlwUAntcefePKyGzhyjpce8K2km5hcLgoN8TwFBP2cAmRPPXeDz_K7eE048y-FrOmoXnY-Odckzk25AsujYOYlcOkqg2T_L0dvnAz22PM2GOzG8_LqDZuUcueCQL_t_c6FsWZ-8wMu/s1600/PC221033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB7rlwUAntcefePKyGzhyjpce8K2km5hcLgoN8TwFBP2cAmRPPXeDz_K7eE048y-FrOmoXnY-Odckzk25AsujYOYlcOkqg2T_L0dvnAz22PM2GOzG8_LqDZuUcueCQL_t_c6FsWZ-8wMu/s320/PC221033.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and moo to yoo too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64J89-ej-nZZ2Syejt2NHBH9XAxykDsq4EV5DC57JJe23DwnkAHibZtiwcqSu43rU7-l-LUNNSQID7qo1av3IYk0qSO2GCea8MaKD12mlrna0N7FaC4rOw0sVhL5bVXRahoTWkKuNcIgl/s1600/PC221035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64J89-ej-nZZ2Syejt2NHBH9XAxykDsq4EV5DC57JJe23DwnkAHibZtiwcqSu43rU7-l-LUNNSQID7qo1av3IYk0qSO2GCea8MaKD12mlrna0N7FaC4rOw0sVhL5bVXRahoTWkKuNcIgl/s320/PC221035.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ok, now look straight head, pretend you're thinking. aaaaaaaand perfect. thanks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvb1p1keT1C5I_uklg1DfbflERGMGxWCdQlW6qUgV-pCJaouw5Mm6Li-YO0VbpoZJVHSu-u7eZ7dO3Wk1yZDVjPIZdADVPgglcMYZldam4FzZf5_GWO_mYpalIWHIIEybY0iakNjAS9g4p/s1600/PC221057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvb1p1keT1C5I_uklg1DfbflERGMGxWCdQlW6qUgV-pCJaouw5Mm6Li-YO0VbpoZJVHSu-u7eZ7dO3Wk1yZDVjPIZdADVPgglcMYZldam4FzZf5_GWO_mYpalIWHIIEybY0iakNjAS9g4p/s320/PC221057.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think the girls got milk, whatchu think?<br />
<br />
<br />
Location: somewhere in Virginia, the "Bonanza" state</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-48502284716035995232011-02-03T22:16:00.000-08:002011-02-05T07:44:24.750-08:00an attempt to get one more face for the 1001 Faces project :D<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebrQrj7eiSzlKRy40NSGdK6Yu9epKBfbFJdk64N7Pu-OVYpS11eGPjHVYzVNIJNzHpMe2RnoxOo-JnCO72b2-pbfVjSQZPEYTlzwPnG8zW7BJHfpv6l82O5z18AB16sY8hGNiYO-p3g06/s1600/DSC_1112-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebrQrj7eiSzlKRy40NSGdK6Yu9epKBfbFJdk64N7Pu-OVYpS11eGPjHVYzVNIJNzHpMe2RnoxOo-JnCO72b2-pbfVjSQZPEYTlzwPnG8zW7BJHfpv6l82O5z18AB16sY8hGNiYO-p3g06/s320/DSC_1112-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div>simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-59272710088993805292011-01-19T16:47:00.000-08:002011-01-19T17:13:56.071-08:00Sometimes just one photograph doesn't fully capture the moment.<ul><li>Sometimes a single frame photograph is all you have room for to tell a story and one photograph would leave you with a certain impression about a story, a happening ... or an emotion. Sometimes and when time and space allow, a sequence of frames allow your impression to be sharper and fuller. Here is one of those moments as captured in about 2 seconds by a Nikon D300:</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf8tC7H8z2Hnhqt7dWYwV9WOYJPTmptBQivyC2tJ7cYjM4YzbA60c38iD2aeBcPz4-VV-4SLxAtHiD1M_24fr3s1aS9rMGlizqrvphm-dow7gCuzWBZQz20O-fFJQSgMONpZ8rjxV3rTT/s1600/DSC_7868-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf8tC7H8z2Hnhqt7dWYwV9WOYJPTmptBQivyC2tJ7cYjM4YzbA60c38iD2aeBcPz4-VV-4SLxAtHiD1M_24fr3s1aS9rMGlizqrvphm-dow7gCuzWBZQz20O-fFJQSgMONpZ8rjxV3rTT/s320/DSC_7868-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">More faces can be seen on facebook <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123035491050126">http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123035491050126</a> "1001 Faces Lebanon". Feel free to join.<br />
<br />
You are invited to leave a comment below.</div>simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-64816775944762571262010-12-08T05:27:00.000-08:002010-12-08T05:27:25.689-08:00The Mother of All Leaks<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Wikileaks leaks and the Ellsburg leak.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Much talk about prosecuting Wikileaks and Assange for publishing information that came to them like the information that The New York Times came into back in 1971. Referencing the "Pentagon Papers", top secret documents about the Vietnam war that Daniel Ellsburg felt necessary to release. The Times started releasing and then stopped due to orders from the Nixon adminnistration and then resumed publishing the documents by ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Finally, Ellsberg leaked the Pentagon Papers to the Times. On June 13, 1971, the paper began to publish the first installment of the 7,000 page document. For 15 days, the Times was prevented from publishing its articles on the orders of the Nixon administration. However, the Supreme Court ordered publication to resume freely. Although the Times did not reveal the source of the leak, Ellsberg knew that the FBI would soon determine that he was the source of the leak. Ellsberg went underground, living secretly among like-minded people. He was not caught by the FBI, even though they were under enormous pressure from the Nixon Administration to find him." </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">[source: http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1871.html]</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">All of a sudden the Swedes issue a warrant of arrest against Assange. Why now? Did Hillary have anything to do with it? Is the next document to be released about Hillary ordering information about Bill's whereabouts? probably not but it was a surprise to see for example that she had ordered collecting personal information and data collection on people that worked for the UN as well as world leaders. Since we, the USA, share much with the Israelis is it conceivable that Hillary aided the Israelis in the February 2010 assassination of Mahmoud Al-Mabhuh in Dubai? Was there any information and travel data collected and shared by the US with the Israelis on M. Al-Mabhuh? or is it possible that the americans eliminated the Hamas military commander on behalf of the Israelis? How come no one was brought to justice? Did the information collection ordered by Hillary Clinton help in any way in this man's death? And what would be the consequence of such a finding?. Such personal information collection could not have but bad proviosional intentions, blackmail is the least of them.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The elaborate scheme to eliminate Al-Mahbub could only come from states that have the means and resources and access to credit card information for example and digital tracking of same to pull a job like that. Many laws in several countries were broken in the process of this operation. Where is the accountability for this. Many seem to be accessories before and after the fact. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The murder of a Hamas leader finds justification in the eyes of the Israelis and Americans but how about Folke Bernadotte, the UN special envoy? His killers are well known:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Bernadotte was assassinated on Friday 17 September 1948 by members of the Jewish terrorist Zionist group Lehi (commonly known as the Stern Gang or Stern Group).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A three man 'center' of this extreme Jewish group had approved the killing: Yitzhak Yezernitsky (the future Prime Minister of Israel Yitzhak Shamir), Nathan Friedmann (also called Natan Yellin-Mor) and Yisrael Eldad (also known as Scheib)....." (1)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The US has a tendency to look the other way when it comes to israeli crimes even when such crimes are against the US itself. Ask any surviving member from the USS Liberty [ ussliberty.org ] about the flagrant attack against an american ship and its crew and how our government's coverup. 34 Killed, 174 injured!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now all efforts are made to hush and punish Assange. Assange, like The New York Times, did not steal the information nor spy on the US or other countries and is not guilty of a crime. Unlike The Times, he is not susceptible to administration pressures to hault publication of embassy documents, but then again, The Times had the support of the Supreme Court to resume publication of the Pentagon Papers. (google the Pentagon Papers or see link below for further information) (2)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(1) Folke Bernadotte. He was assassinated in Jerusalem in 1948 by the militant Zionist group Lehi, while pursuing his official duties. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folke_Bernadotte.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(2) [http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1871.html]</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">comments, corrections are welcome!</span>simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-13284197283226832952010-10-01T14:16:00.000-07:002010-10-01T14:32:21.829-07:00Trees, wind and ice. a wind instrument to wait for.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iCjOFoZPWxztF3py1QvaaqvENDShB7VK2-LgQRniFY0TdBJKsQdIlvB7_S03YhB6n1rYkeX60hnM4T9Bk9MhFkYI0k4S8yTy9fo-V30bMOG4igydPepntDjT1Q7avAqWitIemx0XWTLA/s1600/iced+tree.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iCjOFoZPWxztF3py1QvaaqvENDShB7VK2-LgQRniFY0TdBJKsQdIlvB7_S03YhB6n1rYkeX60hnM4T9Bk9MhFkYI0k4S8yTy9fo-V30bMOG4igydPepntDjT1Q7avAqWitIemx0XWTLA/s320/iced+tree.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523190635806251250" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Ice storms too, like big snow storms bring a thing of beauty that's rarely seen... or heard!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br />Every tree branch, every twig, every tiny detail becomes engulfed in ice, like a custom fit glove.<br /><br />I heard it once, yes only once and can still remember it. Upstate NY.. I stopped the car to listen. I took few steps and at the edge of that little forest, the wind played the ice engulfed branches like a gust of wind would passing throug a crystal chandelier or wind chime.<br /><br />Naked tree branches and custom fit ice.. a wind musical instrument with heavenly unrehearsed tunes that no other could...</span></span></span></div>simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-82524557935062750962010-09-30T23:11:00.000-07:002010-12-29T08:09:32.377-08:00Misnomer in the "M i d d l e"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmegl8Cs-Z-5fOsMDdi2CDg0S3g5LqcLAT5wzskDy5fnSc1BjeK1boe2atfmmNhRi1rDIeIYJcZLOoR6uM1IEoI12XC_4NIlQSbcSS_a3S6gTcQQV-uZYIAGtl9NMT0TWRTSwL4-H82d1/s1600/DSC_3776.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523889147776503026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmegl8Cs-Z-5fOsMDdi2CDg0S3g5LqcLAT5wzskDy5fnSc1BjeK1boe2atfmmNhRi1rDIeIYJcZLOoR6uM1IEoI12XC_4NIlQSbcSS_a3S6gTcQQV-uZYIAGtl9NMT0TWRTSwL4-H82d1/s320/DSC_3776.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 213px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The middle is a relevant measure in reference to two other points or regions. For example, take my thumb and my little pinkie and somewhere in the middle is my middle finger and named as such, "middle finger"for one obvious reason, it is in the middle of five fingers. Count them if you will, one is the thumb, two is the index finger, it is used to point at things, three is the middle finger, it is used, oh for many things, followed by finger number four and pinkie is number five. So, number three sits snuggly right in the middle.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Now, let's talk about the "Middle East".</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">To do so, we would have to establish two reference points, the outer points if you will, or more broadly regions of the world and find the center of it or the middle of the "EAST". Fine you say, where is the east? where does it start and where does it end?. Let's pick a reference point of the eastern part of the "EAST", be it right or wrong, but possibly close enough. Let Japan be the farther point east in the "EAST" just like the pinkie is on your right hand.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The region they have been calling the "Middle East" for the past seventy some years or so revolves around what was known as the greater Syria, as in Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. Israel and Jordan were not on the map yet, neither was Kuwait for that matter. Many erroneously reference and map the "Middle East" to include such countries as Morocco and even Pakistan. To exaggerate this sort of definition of the "Middle East" one might as well include Spain, Italy, Greece and the Balkans. But we won't do that.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">For argument sake, let us take the current definition of the "Middle East" the way it is currently used and say that Lebanon or Palestine is in the center of the "Middle East", again as it is used by the media. So, we would now assume that as the term "Middle East" is used, Lebanon or Palestine would be in the middle or center of the "East", just like the middle finger is on your right hand. No pun nor disrespect intended!. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">So, we have defined the east of the "East", the middle of the "East" and now we need to find the west of the "East". If we go on a map and measure the distance between Lebanon and Japan to be, for argument sake fifty units to the right, then we must measure about fifty units to the left to find the other side, the western side of the "East". This would probably land us somewhere in the Atlantic, even beyond the British isles and the British that contributed to this MISNOMER. Besides we all know that the western world begins somewhere in Europe, where the anglo-saxon languages dominate. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The same people that refer to the "Middle East" as that area that includes Lebanon, Syria and Palestine also refer to the "West" as those countries that extend from somewhere in Europe all the way to the Americas. Whether or not poor Latin countries are included in the "West" is doubtful. For that I think they use the term "Third world countries".</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Houston, I have a problem. This argument clearly shows that there is no such thing as the "Middle East" involving Lebanon, Syria or Palestine and certainly not the Arab world nor currently occupied Palestine. The problem is that some people, those who started this "Middle East" error in measurements just don't know their thumb or pinkie from their middle finger. Abolish this term, "Middle East" and let's call it what it really is, Terra dei Miserabili or maybe Via Dolorosa and that would be more befitting.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
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</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">(The "Middle East" is a misnomer. The US state department refers to this area as the Levant, also known or named "Al Mashreq", as well as "Bilad ash-Sham", a sizeable part of western Asia. That's what it is and not the middle of any east unless you can disprove my middle finger theory.)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">(see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
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</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">copyright (c) simon sakkab</span></span></span></div></div></div>simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-44749021518273066242010-09-17T08:23:00.000-07:002010-09-17T08:31:49.160-07:00Francois and Felix and Blue Cheese<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A real fictional story about blue cheese</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The story of blue cheese:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Before blue cheese there was white cheese, yellow cheese and "Kraft". There was soft cheese, hard cheese and cheese with holes. There was cheese with crust that you eat and others with crust that you don't eat. but blue cheese??</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Truth be told, blue cheese is 2 french guys punking the americans.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When Francois and his brother Felix, cheese makers, forgot a small batch of cheese in a poorly ventilated area that had suffered from water damage 6 months earlier, the cheese went on to develop a different taste caused by too much mold. The mold apprently liked the cheese as a place to grow, and not only grow but even thrive.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When one day Felix (happy) was puzzled by the growing bad smell he looked around and discovered the old batch of cheese rotting and full of blue color ... mold!! Felix called his brother Francois to show him what had happened. Francois, it is worth mentioning, does not like americans. Why? Because he does not like them, that's all. You either like something or someone, or you don't.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So, Francois sees the cheese and asks Felix if he had any suggestions. Felix says that the cheese is not good, and it's a lesson learned. The cheese, he said, would go to the trash. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Francois looked pensive for a moment and then he smiled. "Mais non Felix" he said. This is the best cheese we ever made. And he continued "first, tell no one of this. This cheese has a name now: Rockfort cheese. I name it like that because its smell is strong like a rock. Besides, with a name like that it would sound really nice and would go great with a Rockfeller wine."Felix did not know what to think of all of this but he knows what his crazy brother Francois is capable of. And he asked Francois as to who might buy this "merde".</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Francois was ready for this question:"les americans mon petit frere, les americans.. ils bouffent n'importe quoi. The americans, yessss. they eat anything. They will probably call it blue cheese".</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There you have it. The blue cheese story.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">draft 1 finished.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">written by simon sakkab</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">created by simon sakkab</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">tasted by simon sakkab</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">important notice: no fictional characters were harmed by this story.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">personally i think the french have the best cheeses, wine and very fine women :P just don't leave any of them in a wet moldy place!!</span></div>simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-6154110354102447402010-09-16T14:47:00.000-07:002010-09-16T17:00:31.804-07:00Praise God and pass the food<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbG7_eb2RZc3Fa8y_qdPu6_Eughs3qMXTogGTJdVc-2f8D9TRhhK8gOcHQVEAcVrHXRKdu0-OqlS9xL0YCZQ9JZr9k-o9eCFa1J0HxedLC_KaDjJK15wXM48V0Jg1RraLIDykZ4himzqbX/s1600/DSC_6016.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbG7_eb2RZc3Fa8y_qdPu6_Eughs3qMXTogGTJdVc-2f8D9TRhhK8gOcHQVEAcVrHXRKdu0-OqlS9xL0YCZQ9JZr9k-o9eCFa1J0HxedLC_KaDjJK15wXM48V0Jg1RraLIDykZ4himzqbX/s200/DSC_6016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517654688622941986" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Beirutiyyat.</span></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Bassam.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >In the old Beiruti accent it is Basseym and not Bassam, and Basseym is an old Beiruti because when he invoked the name of God at the instant he reached into the bowl of fava beans to prepare a customer's meal he would say: "bismIlleh" or in the name of God.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I noticed this the first time I walked into his little reataurant off of Sidani Street in Ras Beirut. I was the first customer of the day and aching for a sa7en foul, or a plate of fava beans with "service" of raw onions, a fresh sprig of mint, olives, pickles, tomatoes, radishes and a large </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >loaf of pita bread. I asked for some hot green peppers too. Those you get only by asking for them. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" > I watched Basseym as he prepared my food and true to form .. "bismIlleh" as he scooped away my foul. I smiled; this is the piece of culture a tourist would certainly miss out on. It is refreshing to see and sample, not only the food he was making but a taste of Beirut, the little things people do that go unnoticed, even by locals. Sure this, invoking God's name with every scoop, is rare but hence its beauty.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Basseym bissami 2ism Allah each time he scoops away some foul or hummos. He told me so when I asked him. "Bissami" is when one mentions God's name as one embarks on a certain action, like saying: "in the name of God".</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >A week or so went by and I stopped by Basseym's to have lunch this time and take a couple of pictures. The place, unlike that early morning days earlier, was very busy. So, I patiently waited until things slowed down a bit and asked Basseym if I could take some pictures and ordered some food. I also added:"3ala fikra, ma smi3tak t2ool "bismIlleh" " (by the way, I did not hear you say "bismIlleh" ). Basseym replied that he's been saying it all along but maybe I did not hear him, but now I could hear him say it loud and clear :) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >simon sakkab</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >iesv@hotmail.com</span></div>simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3820967707854232785.post-56564928749746697082010-06-09T07:25:00.000-07:002010-10-01T14:15:55.331-07:00Children of the Streets<div>Beirut, Ras Beirut, Hamra June 9, 2010 </div><div><br />The opportunity was the traffic light signal; it turned red and cars, even though it was in Beirut, actually stopped. A 10 to 12 year old girl with brown and blond hair ran towards a taxi and started talking to the only passenger in the front seat. She wanted money and she was not shy about her job. She was persistant because she stood there exchanging words. The car windows came up, end of conversation and the girl accomplished no financial gain, this time. But as she talks to strangers, day in, day out, she is apt to learn much, that most of us won't, much about human nature, about people, about attitudes. Even though it is not a socially accepted way for a child to learn or make a "living", it is a fact of life in Lebanon.<br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyX9LnVHO7kNpD5cMOzqjCvRxjW_1oK1WJ4mFy6t-6aNFSxVL4jQ7MVX_XxLUjHJ-yn73gztLt1xG-P31gOwLXMW3aWC04PWB2j4Pt8E-JLJeSf3d6dcC7EJ44KvN57pIQ1Eyen4kPVjo1/s1600/DSC_8940.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480781604690231714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyX9LnVHO7kNpD5cMOzqjCvRxjW_1oK1WJ4mFy6t-6aNFSxVL4jQ7MVX_XxLUjHJ-yn73gztLt1xG-P31gOwLXMW3aWC04PWB2j4Pt8E-JLJeSf3d6dcC7EJ44KvN57pIQ1Eyen4kPVjo1/s200/DSC_8940.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRetL8LXzAUsK_Om4h-33lNtH9B2GR3yOTRnRzMWpaHfoeQRTtNIxQyMw0gMpzxqXpAaxeFBB0jRKBKTdV0bm9kGrhu2Q3tRWc8gmlVSdciFFreDkjcTbGiKdxCV8RCDV7hzyoqzTfRZsl/s1600/DSC_8953.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480783430761786322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRetL8LXzAUsK_Om4h-33lNtH9B2GR3yOTRnRzMWpaHfoeQRTtNIxQyMw0gMpzxqXpAaxeFBB0jRKBKTdV0bm9kGrhu2Q3tRWc8gmlVSdciFFreDkjcTbGiKdxCV8RCDV7hzyoqzTfRZsl/s200/DSC_8953.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div>The other girl that ran to another fancy car was of the industrious type, she offered her unwanted service, car windshield cleaning. As a child of no more than 12 years of age, and still not tall enough to reach long and high enough to do a good job of it, it was obvious that the service was a token for begging without begging. She had a little spponge in the left hand and a squeegy in the right. Afraid for his car and the unwanted service and the proximity of the child and her dirty clothing from his fancy car, the driver turned his windshield wipers on. As this act also automatically activated the water nozzles, the girl blocked the stream of one nozzle with her left hand holding the sponge, and now her dry sponge is holding water. She smiled. She felt she accomplished something by getting water on her dry sponge.</div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid58zZztsBAFj6zbGkwAn8r7UW3-7Bp2EA8yOWOGTbc1a-gbXAHJlZMAeOJGgTtt6LYFu7lTLp3WG-ui6tcTb86CaYhKPi87U95MKOeNNPk-MViEfkIzWhv1VeIOvIWQO9iVyoF0OVT7Zh/s1600/DSC_8945.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 337px; HEIGHT: 193px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480785948862238114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid58zZztsBAFj6zbGkwAn8r7UW3-7Bp2EA8yOWOGTbc1a-gbXAHJlZMAeOJGgTtt6LYFu7lTLp3WG-ui6tcTb86CaYhKPi87U95MKOeNNPk-MViEfkIzWhv1VeIOvIWQO9iVyoF0OVT7Zh/s200/DSC_8945.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><div>Who are these kids?<br /><br />Maybe today I will ask one of them.<br /><br />OK, so I did. I met Layla and Zeinab, cousins. They come from Aleppo, Syria and speak "Turkmani" and arabic. They live in Nab3a and take the bus to come and go places. Today they're in and around Hamra. Today they had no school, like probably other days. They ask for money, food and water which they give to their mother to pay the rent.<br />This, the poor coming to Beirut to make a "living", has not changed. And the poor being so young and independent, that too has not changed. Sad but true. </div><br /><div align="center"><br />Meet Zeinab and Leila :)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlY7Cowg2n8SEaUe9Lww6z0JXgvXg5aC3DDxdPWXuA2nDZZJO07DUBu5bGROIWT6AI1GEhsqeutCCPf0SpNa9IJCMi-fs4cHJWn2q5FUO1GjLc8_yK7W1aNkisG4AwrY6rZ9xH8w60v-Ml/s1600/DSC_9362.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 318px; HEIGHT: 211px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480787267472649458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlY7Cowg2n8SEaUe9Lww6z0JXgvXg5aC3DDxdPWXuA2nDZZJO07DUBu5bGROIWT6AI1GEhsqeutCCPf0SpNa9IJCMi-fs4cHJWn2q5FUO1GjLc8_yK7W1aNkisG4AwrY6rZ9xH8w60v-Ml/s200/DSC_9362.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div>simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005013998813842891noreply@blogger.com0