Month: July 2004

Amman Soon

We just got home from downtown Tunis where we went to the Royal Jordanian airlines office.
And well finally, we got our tickets to Amman / Jordan.
The nice woman there even gave us a student discount 🙂

We’ll be leaving on August 29th.

It’s already been two years since I last visited Amman, in fact it’s also been two years since I last travelled to anywhere.

I was planning to go to Jordan last year, but I had to cancel because of my work, and my wife visited her parents alone 🙁

Anyway 2 years is a long time for a travel freak like me to not go anywhere. I love travelling and I love being in and out of airports and planes. Something I can’t say about my wife 😛 No matter how much she’s travelled, she’s always afraid of flying. I’ll never forget what she put me through during the 9 hour flight from Amman to Bangkok 2 years ago, lol.

Back to Jordan, It’ll be great to see all the family and friends. I’ve also heard that Amman has changed a lot in the 2 years I haven’t visited. And I can’t wait to get there to see it, check out all the new places and see what happened to all the places I used to go to.

Anyway, other than Jordan we’re hoping to get a chance to jump over to Lebanon and maybe Syria on the way for a few days.

Hopefully, the next days leading to the 29th of August will pass quickly and we’ll be on the plane in no time.

My Current Favourites

Just thought I’d publish a list of some of my current favourites:

  • Favourite Holiday Destination: Thailand
  • Favourite Place to Live: Phi Phi Island (Thailand)
  • Favourite Place in my Country: Sidi Bou Said
  • Favourite Perfume: Higher (Dior)
  • Favourite Food: Couscous (Tunisian National Dish)
  • Favourite Fast-food Meal: Burger King’s Double Whopper
  • Favourite Drink: My wife’s Ice Tea
  • Favourite Book: Nineteen Eighty Four (George Orwell)
  • Favourite Singer: Tina Arena
  • Favourite Group: The Corrs
  • Favourite Song: Open Road (Gary Barlow)
  • Favourite Actor: John Cusack
  • Favourite Movie: Lord of the Rings
  • Favourite Politician: None
  • Favourite Pass-time: Watching Movies
  • Favourite Hangout: Home 😛
  • Favourite Car: BMW X5
  • Favourite Airliner: Swiss

You can post your favourites in the comments 🙂

I, Republican

Just like Asimov’s three laws of robotics, here are the three laws of Republicans:

  1. A Republican may not injure a corporation, or, through inaction, allow a corporation to come to harm.
  2. A Republican must obey the orders given it by corporations except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
  3. A Republican must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

This is simply hilarious, lol…
I love it…

[Via Billmon]

Mecca-Cola

Mecca-ColaI heard of Mecca-Cola a while back and today I stumbled upon their website where I got to learn more about them.

Mecca-Cola is a charity business created to use it’s profit to help relieve human suffering where action is still possible.

10% of the profit it makes goes to the children of Palestine and another 10% goes to local charity acts in the countries of distribution.

Mecca-Cola last donated 111,000 US$ to needy Palestinian students.

I think this is great. And I wish more and more people would actually start businesses like this in which the aim is not to suck as much money as possible out of people but to give back to the community and help the needy and the suffering.

Borrowed Heaven

I just bought The Corrs’ new album Borrowed Heaven a couple of days ago, and well let’s just say it’s been playing in my car non-stop ever since.

I’ve been a fan of The Corrs ever since I heard “Only When I Sleep” from their album Talk On Corners. After that, I went on to buy all their albums starting from Forgiven Not Forgotten to Borrowed Heaven passing by the great Unplugged.

I love their music, their style is simply unique.
This album continues on the same tone. It lifts you off the ground with it’s sweet tunes and lyrics, and Andrea’s sweet voice makes you feel like you’re floating somewhere between the heavens.

From the opening song “Summer Sunshine” to the instrumental “Silver Strand” at the end, this album is full of great and beautiful songs.

My faves from the first listen are: Summer Sunshine, Angel, Long Night, Baby Be Brave and Silver Strand.
I always love the celtic intrumental pieces they include in their albums. They’re amazing.

I’m in my second listen to it, and it’s getting even better and better 🙂

The Corrs rock!

Anti-Israel is not Anti-Semitic!

“Our government is pouring petrol on the flames by instructing its representatives around the world to stigmatize all criticism of its actions as anti-Semitism. This way it sticks the label of anti-Semitism on the entire world, from the UN General Assembly and the International Court of Justice to humanitarian organizations.

It is easy to create this confusion when one does not differentiate between ‘Jewish’ and ‘Israeli’. Everything becomes mixed up: anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, criticism of Israel, criticism of Sharon. Such a mix-up is convenient for those interested in manipulations, but it not good for the Jews. ‘Jew’ and ‘Israeli’ are not the same.

Israel is a state like any other state. It was indeed created by Jews and a majority of its citizens are Jews. But Israel is an independent and separate entity. It is permissible (and, in my opinion, desirable) to criticize the policy of our government, much as it is permissible for us to criticize that of any other state. There is no necessary connection between such criticism and anti-Semitism.”

Uri Avnery

[Via: Aron’s Israel Peace Weblog]

Canadian government demands nude pics of stripper immigrants

Canadian Immigration officials are requiring that exotic dancers looking to enter Canada submit nude photos of themselves dancing, so ensure that they aren’t nude-dancer-impersonators, sneaking into the country to do other kinds of work.

The potential dancers have to prove they can dance in the nude, immigration lawyer Mendel Green said Monday.

“They can’t be partially nude,” he said. “If they don’t have pictures in the nude, they are not going to wiggle their bottoms in Canada.”

Lol…
Now, that’s funny…

[Via Boing Boing]

Spiderman 2

I just watched Spiderman 2 last night.
After hearing so much about it and reading all the great reviews it got, I’ve been itching to see it.

And well, what do I think after seeing it?
Well, I enjoyed the movie a lot. It’s a lot of fun, the action is cooler than the first, the villain is greater (I always thought Doc Ock was the best villain in the Spiderman comics), the story is nice, the miserable love story goes on and the cinematography, photography, special effects and directing are great.
This movie is a must see for fans of this genre.

Now, to the other big question. Which did I like most? The first or the second movie?
Well, I’m still not very sure about that. I loved the first, and I really liked the second.
I guess if the first movie wasn’t the one in which Spiderman gets in touch with his powers, then this one would definitely rule.
So, I guess, to me these movies are of the same great level.
I’m sure I’ll be buying the DVD when it’s out.

Spiderman 1 & 2 are the most successful movies from this superhero genre, I think.
Sam Raimi and the cast did a wonderful job.
Can’t wait till 2007 for the third.

Sudan Sanctions

Now, call me ignorant or stupid even, but explain to me how UN sanctions on Sudan could help end the crisis that’s happening in Darfur?

The US and EU are pushing for these sanctions if the Sudan government doesn’t move in to stop the bloodshed in Darfur.

Darfur is a region as big as France, and Sudan is one of the poorest countries on Earth. How in hell are they supposed to get the necessary means to control this situation and solve it alone?
And instead of stepping in and helping them with whatever is possible, sanctions are imposed on them?
I really don’t see the logic in this.
How will that solve any problems?
Sanctions only affect the people of the country, not the governments, haven’t they learned this yet?!

I think that the US and EU should stop babbling and throwing blame and instead put their money where their mouths are and help end the crisis.

When the problem is solved, then maybe we can see who is to blame for it. But not now while thousands of people are dying.

Eye to Eye, A Palestinian Poem

This is a very touching Palestinian poem addressing the American people written by Gihad Ali. I just found it and just had to share it with you guys here.

Eye to Eye
by: Gihad Ali

Look into my eyes
And tell me what you see.
You don’t see a damn thing,
’cause you can’t possibly relate to me.

You’re blinded by our differences.
My life makes no sense to you.
I’m the persecuted Palestinian.
You’re the American red, white and blue.

Each day you wake in tranquility,
No fears to cross your eyes.
Each day I wake in gratitude,
Thanking God He let me rise.

Continue reading Eye to Eye, A Palestinian Poem