Month: April 2005

Truth…

Is there such a thing as absolute truth?

People always seem to have different perceptions of what the truth is. There are always different sides and versions of every story, different points of view, and every version is further interpreted in various ways by the people learning of it.
So how can there be one absolute truth? How can anyone ever be sure which version is the true one? How can anyone be sure that their intrepretation of the truth is true?

I guess the only things we can be sure are absolutely true are things that are fixed, invariable, unalterable facts that can be unquestionably proven one way or the other.

Other than that, truth is pretty relative, as it depends on how you look at things, which strips it of its right to be called truth and makes it more of a belief.

People mostly just believe that some things are true or right without them having to be.

Israel Exposes Palestinians to Killer Radiations

Action AlertRead and spread this…

Amidst stark warnings of potential outbreak of chronic and deadly diseases, Israeli occupation troops have recently set up a “radioactive” glass room at the main Rafah crossing through which Palestinians have to pass to enter or exit the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian medics said that potential diseases include thrombocytopenic, sterility, congenital anomalies, cancer, leukemia, mental retardation and ductless glands disorder, warning that Palestinians are slipping toward slow death.

“I was forced by Israeli occupation troops to enter this scary room-like radiating device, which consists of glass and barbed wire,” Mohammad Al-Sadoudi, 40, says.

Walid Al-Salhi, the director of preventive security at the Rafah crossing, said the room is made of lead-coated glass and is holding inside it a one-meter high cylinder-shaped device.

“Doctors warned that this device produces life-threatening, bone-piercing rays and Israeli troops can easily see the body parts of Palestinians, using the infra-red technology,” Salhi said.

[More: Islam Online, GCMHP]
[Via: The Black Iris]

Tunisian Blogger Meetup

I’m trying to organize the first Tunisian Blogger Meetup this month.

The initial feedback I’ve had from some bloggers for the when and where for the meetup is as follows:

When? The time some suggested and that seems to be good for everyone up to now is a friday afternoon after work. I’m thinking something like 7:30PM on April 22nd.

Where? The main places that were suggested are:

– Downtown Tunis (e.g. L’Etoile du nord).
– Les Berges du Lac (e.g. Biwa)
– Sidi Bou Said (e.g. Sidi Chabaane Caf

links for 2005-04-04

My Favourite Arab Singers

I just felt like sharing some of my favourite Arab singers, in no particular order.

Marwan Khoury: This guy is really talented. I love his style of music. He’s been writing music for a number of singers for some years now and just recently got into singing himself. He and his music are very classy whether the song is a ballad or a faster catchier tune.

Kathem El Saher: I love how he’s taking Arabic poems and turning them into beautiful songs with his great voice and amazing music. It keeps reminding me how beautiful a language Arabic is. Everytime I hear a song of his, I fall in love with our language again and again.

Saber El Rbai: I love his voice and how much feelings he puts into his performances. He’s very talented and has great musical taste. Makes all us Tunisians proud.

Julia Botros: I more than love her voice, she’s totally amazing. I love her music and the meanings she chooses to pass through it. I could listen to her music forever.

Feirooz: The angelic voice of Arab music. She’s a legend and truly deserves to be. Her songs are just so beautiful, you can’t help but feel lifted.

Marcel Khalifa: Another legend in Arab music. I can’t find enough words to describe him or his music. He’s simply great.

Majida El Roumi: If class, beauty and perfection could be embodied in one artist, it would be Majida. Her voice is great, her songs are amazing and she conveys so many feelings through her music.

Fadl Shaker: He’s like a bunch of warm feelings with a beautiful voice over a soothing tune. Do I need to say more? I don’t think so.

Ilham Madfai: I truly enjoy his music, that’s based on Iraqi folklore with an added touch of spanish guitars. Great stuff.

I Hate Carrefour!

Did I ever mention how much I hate Carrefour?!
Well, there was this and then this, but now I totally despise it!!

Carrefour has become the shittiest place to shop for me.
From the time it opens to the time it closes it’s constantly buzzing like a bee hive with mad people.

Everytime, I try to go at times when it’s supposedly the least crowded, but it seems that recently there are no longer such times, it’s always overcrowded.
And what makes it even worse is that it seems Tunisians forget their manners when they go to Carrefour. It feels more like a crowded bus than a mall.

I have taken the decision to stop going to Carrefour. I’d rather drive some extra kilometers and pay some extra cash than have to go through Carrefour’s shitty experience time and again.

Pope John Paul II is Dead

Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II died today, Saturday April 2nd, the Vatican announced. The 84-year-old Pontiff, who had headed the Roman Catholic Church for 26 years, died at 9:37 p.m.

Prayers are being said in St Peter’s square, where many thousands of people are gathered to pay tribute.

He was a great man who worked for peace and justice. His pro-active style underlined the fact that a pope is not just a spiritual leader – he is also a player on the world’s diplomatic stage.

One theme of his papacy was his attempt to reach out to other faiths, in search of reconciliation after centuries of hostility and suspicion.

He travelled to Islamic countries and became the first pope to set foot in a mosque. As a symbol of religious tolerance, it took on new meaning after the events of 11 September 2001.

The world has lost a great man today.
May God bless his soul.

US Army to Produce Middle East Comic

The next US brainwash effort…

The US military is planning to win the hearts of young people in the Middle East by publishing a new comic.

The comic is to be a collaborative effort with the US Army, which says it has already done initial character and plot development.

It will be based on “the security forces, military and police, in the near future in the Middle East” and is being produced by US Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

Fort Bragg is home to the army’s 4th Psychological Operations Group, known as “psy-op warriors”, whose weaponry includes radio transmitters, loudspeakers and leaflets.

The unit, whose slogans include Win the Mind – Win the Day and Verbum Vincet (The Word Conquers), is schooled in marketing and advertising techniques.

[Source: BBC]

After Al Hurra TV that was aimed at Arab adults and Hi Magazine that was aimed at Arab youth, here comes another US effort to brainwash Arab children.

This is very serious and dangerous, all Arab families should be very careful what their children are being exposed to and should shield them from these psychological manipulations.

There is an Egyptian alternative comic for your children called Middle East Heroes, that is published by an Egyptian company.