CNN : A Florida pastor Thursday called off his controversial plan to burn copies of the Quran on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack.
The Rev. Terry Jones…
Pastor Jones during his press conference
CNN: A Florida pastor Thursday called off his controversial plan to burn copies of the Quran on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack.
The Rev. Terry Jones of the Gainesville, Florida-based Dove World Outreach Center, standing with a Florida Muslim leader, also said the imam who planned a mosque and Islamic center near ground zero in New York has agreed to move it to another location. But the imam who appeared with him said that Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf in New York agreed to speak with Jones about possibly moving the center.
A spokesman from Soho Properties told CNN producer Vivienne Foley that "the Muslim community center called Park51 in lower Manhattan is not being moved."
Jones, meanwhile, said he will travel to New York on Saturday to meet with Rauf.
The pastor appeared at an afternoon press conference with Imam Muhammad Musri of the Islamic Society of Central Florida, who said he will make the trip with Jones.
"I think the location of the mosque next to the ground zero location is unnecessary," Musri said.
Jones told reporters that he took a phone call from Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who "was very gracious and encouraged us not to continue." That conversation could not be confirmed.
Real estate mogul Donald Trump has offered to buy the lower Manhattan site where the Muslim group plans to build an Islamic community center for 25 percent more than the current owners paid for it.
MIND SOUP : For weeks now, a minute church by the name of "Dove World Outreach Center" in Gainesville, Florida, has been advertising for an event it calls "Internati…
MIND SOUP: For weeks now, a minute church by the name of "Dove World Outreach Center" in Gainesville, Florida, has been advertising for an event it calls "International Burn a Qur'an Day".
Pastor Terry Jones is insisting to hold this "event" on September the 11th "to honor those killed in the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington."
He says the burning of the Qur'an will "send a message to violent Islamic extremists like al-Qaida, which carried out the attacks against the United States."
The second day of Eid el-Fitr falls this year on the same day.
As many world leaders and institutions, including the Vatican, US President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and others, have denounced this act, this pastor is insisting on carrying out this event.
This is as much facts as I am willing to give about this issue. Below in ten points is my opinionated response.
First of all, as a Muslim, I don't give a rat's ass about a close-minded pastor burning the book that is the basis of my religion. For one, the Qur'an isn't about the papers it is printed on, but the meaning it holds. Also, we have been taught that the proper way to dispose of a Qur'an is to burn it (in case it got torn or fell apart) and not throw it away. So I don't see that much harm in what he's doing. (At least he's abiding by the proper disposal method!)
Second, this act is racist at best. Even if the few Muslims from al-Qae'da were behind the attacks of 9/11 (highly debatable), this does not mean that the whole religion is responsible for what happened. One of my close friends was telling me just yesterday that we (as Arabs) have a wrong impression of the Americans; that they are not as racist as we think. I don't see this pastor supporting her argument. (Ha! you didn't see this one coming!)
Third, if you have done any research at all, you would see how the CIA was part of the plan for these attacks. They were the people who trained Osama bin Laden and his crew. You would learn that George Bush and/or parts of his administration had prior knowledge of the attacks. Are they Muslims? No. Perhaps you should burn the Bible too, don't you think? (you know, to honor the victims more)
Forth, I (and most of the sane people) don't see how burning a book would honor the victims of 9/11. Would it bring them back? Would it bring peace to their families? Would it pay their children's tuition? No. It will probably cause them more humiliation and uncomfortableness than you think.
Fifth, the pastor should look at what he "beloved" country is doing in other countries. Making up wars to enter countries and steal their oil, forcing countries to stop their scientific advancements under the typical alibi of "weapons of mass destruction" and stealing the resources of poor countries whose population doesn't even have food to eat or clean water to drink, that's angel-work isn't it? That's not terrorism in any way.
Let him look at what his country's soldiers did in Iraq. They went in, messed up the place and killed hundreds of thousands of civilians, children, elderly, women. Look how they started a civil war there and now casually left after they have claimed all the oil resources they need, and after destroying all the infrastructure that the country desperately need.
Let him look at Afghanistan. Let him look at Palestine. Let him look at all the countries the US is sucking dry. If he's going to burn the Qur'an for 9/11, then every day should be "burn the bible" day in these countries.
Sixth, I don't even consider this person a religious figure. I would call him a clown, but I would rather not, because it will stir some religious conflicts that I don't want to go into.I'm just calling him "pastor" for reference.
Consequently, I would like to ask him: Does your religion tell you to burn the Qur'an? Did Jesus tell you to do that? Show me where it says that in the bible. I wonder if you are really a pastor: even the Vatican has denounced you. I sure hope that none of God's followers take in to your footsteps.
Your bible specifically states: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"(Matt. 5:44). I don't see how your applying that Mr. Pastor! It's not that you're only letting your own church down, you're making Christianity as a whole look bad.
Seventh, this stupid purpose of this act is merely seeking attention, seeking 15 minutes of fame. Oh look at him, he's defending out country by burning the Qur'an. He's standing up to those Muslims.
Geez! Does the media even focus on things that matter? I don't know why this person is getting a lot of media coverage. Stupid media! Show what the Americans are doing in Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan. You think the incidents of Abu Ghraib prison was bad, go see for yourselves!
Eighth, these 15 minutes of fame may cause the US a lot of trouble. If he thinks that these extremists that he is targeting will not retaliate, boy is he wrong. I sure hope they bomb his little church to show him, just as Americans and Israelis (who are not called extremists -- no!) bomb and attack mosques every week.
Ninth, none of the true Muslims support the acts of 9/11. The actually condemn them. Islam is more about peace than any religion. By this measly little event, the US will be losing the support of hundreds of thousands of Muslims in the US, and millions (maybe a billion) around the world. Does he really want to start a new war because of his ignorance? Perhaps the bigger question is: Will the US administration even allow this to happen?
Tenth, both the first and fourteenth amendments to the United States Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Doesn't this act break these laws? Shouldn't he go to jail for this? Or will he be left unpunished because he is a religious figure?
I don't know if he realizes this, but the whole world is against him, even the vast majority of the people from his own religion. Even the Jews, who are known to be the most hateful to Muslims, are against him!
I would just like to see him emerge as a fool on that day, and may God ("Allah") smack him with a lightning bolt that burns his hair off his head (in irony).
I was getting my daily fix of news from google reader this afternoon and I fell upon this inspirational blog post about religious tolerance in Lebanon from Seif and his Beiruti Ad…
I was getting my daily fix of news from google reader this afternoon and I fell upon this inspirational blog post about religious tolerance in Lebanon from Seif and his Beiruti Adventures and I thought I'd share it with my readers, especially after the journalist incident last week. I sure hope that Ali Seif doesn't mind the repost.
[...] Ramadan seems to have passed by very quickly this year with 10 days or so left of fasting (depending on where you are). Ramadan is one of my favourite months, as I really enjoy the days of fasting, prayer, forgiveness, and blessing associated with this month. It’s a break from the 11 other months of hectic busy schedules, anger, and nagging.
I may have mentioned this before, but my family has never been “all that religious” in the past, as is the case with many Sunni Muslim families of the Bekaa Valley (specifically in the Zahle province). I was taught how to pray, fast, and the basic necessities of Islam, but not much more, even though my father is very religiously educated and knows very much when it comes to Islam. Instead, my family focused on religious tolerance, respect to any faith, and education. My father has his PhD in Mathematical Education and a Masters in “Applied Mathematics”, so education was of prime importance to him and my mother. I ventured to discover more about Islam, and I went into more “in depth” topics which really did scare me off for a while. It took me a while to discover that religion does not have to be a scary thing, or something that holds us back from many things. It doesn’t have to be something “left wing” or “right wing” but instead something in the middle.
Today, I practice religion very differently from most people. I pray 5 times a day, fast, and follow most Islamic traditions…. but I also fast during Lent, go to Church during Christmas, and of course Good Friday. It’s not because I am unsure of my religion, but instead I feel that both of these religions have the same “concept” or “hadaf” in the end, and thats what is important. I remember the days of fasting with Charbel during easter, while he fasts in Ramadan with me (this year is no exception, even if I am far LOL). It’s a great feeling knowing that I am so understanding and my mind is so open, something I wish Lebanon would adopt… but unfortunately it does not. Ramadan is so special to me not only for my own beliefs, or for a time where I practice something “Muslim” but because I have friends in Lebanon who are different denominations of Christians who fast with me. It’s rewarding to know we accept each other despite religion, and actually practice bits and pieces from the faiths of each other…and after all isn’t that the spirit of Ramadan? Acceptance, welcoming, and peace? I sure think so. I guess that’s why I love Ramadan, it makes acceptance and coexistence so easy for me, I don’t know about others, but it really does for me. I will never forget last Ramadan. I was on the far end of the city here, and I broke my fast quickly. I wanted to pray, and as there was already snow and cold weather… praying outside would have been very difficult. I realized I was next to the Lebanese Maronite Church that is located in this city, so I parked my car and opened the door. I was greeted by the priest who runs this church. I talked to him and introduced myself which he also did. He was a pleasant man, full of smiles and laughter. ”I need to pray”, I said, very bashfully. And he smiled back at me and said “Of course, take a seat, I will be back in 5 minutes”, is what he replied. As soon as he was gone, he was back carrying a sheet and told me to follow him. He took me to a room in the back of the church, where he placed the mat on the floor for me, and told me he already placed the sheet facing the Kaaba so I can pray. I thanked him, the smile on my face and my voice really did show how grateful and how embarrassed I was of him. He shut the door behind him and went out of the room. During my 6th ruq3a (or bow) in my prayer (which was a quick Taraweeh) I smelled the most beautiful scent of incense filling the room. I finished my prayer and rolled up the sheet which he so kindly provided for me. “I hope the incense did not bother you, I prayed along side you, maybe God will answer our prayers if they go together”, he said smiling so warmly. “Of course not, I love it”, I replied. We walked out of that room and past the Alter. I knelt before the large statue of Mary on it and asked for a safe drive home. “I wish more people were like you, and myself. It would make our home country much better. May God accept your prayer, and a blessed month of fasting to you my son”, is what he said. From that day, I realized what Islam and Christianity are, what Ramadan is all about, and what Lebanon should be.
Until this day, I visit this priest, and he has become a part of my family. Charbel, my friend in Lebanon, also has done things which showed me the feeling of coexistence, and displayed to me the beauty of religion. I no longer fear religion, but embrace it as a tool, and the key to peace and love…. no matter what it is. This is Islam, this is Christianity, and this is Ramadan.
I hope the remainder of this holy month brings you more of it’s blessings, and helps pave the way to understanding, love, and unity, as it has for me. Maybe… just maybe one day, Lebanon will do the same.
MIND SOUP : Journalist for the Lebanese daily Annahar, Hiyam al-Kosayfi, expressed her anger about being denied wine in a hotel restaurant in Down Town Beirut during Ramadan.
This …
MIND SOUP: Journalist for the Lebanese daily Annahar, Hiyam al-Kosayfi, expressed her anger about being denied wine in a hotel restaurant in Down Town Beirut during Ramadan.
This hotel which was "founded by a Maronite Christian and blessed with sacred water by a priest" has made it a policy not to serve any form of alcoholic beverages during the month of Ramadan, where Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset on food, drinks, and sex, and usually abide strictly to Islamic Law during this month.
According to al-Kosayfi, she said the that waiter recommended a good bottle of wine, but then embarrassingly apologized and took back the wine glasses from the table after realizing the policy.
The (Christian) writer and her crew made a fuss about this incident until a manager approached them and offered to serve them wine in blue tinted glasses, as not to alarm the Muslim customers who were having breakfast (iftar) there. She proudly announces that they refused the offer, and declared that their desires should be respected because she "is in a country called Lebanon and not in an Islamic estate."
The journalist and her group left the hotel after that without having dinner. She ended her article by asking if the "religious police" has emerged to Lebanon and Beirut's Down Town area which she called a Lebanon's "civilized front"?
Of course, the hotel's management is clearly looking after its own back. During the summer season, and Ramadan in particular, most of the tourists who bring the institution its profit come from the (Muslim) gulf areas.
Most of these tourists strictly abide by the Islamic law and Teaching's of the Qur'an. The law (which applies to both Sunni and Shiites) states that "a Muslim should not drink or hold or keep in reserve an alcoholic drink or sit at the same majlis where a drink is being served," and is considered to be Damned by God if he/she does.
The restaurant probably does not care about the beliefs or even aforementioned “religious police”. They care about making profit from the rich tourists who are usually big-tippers and very influential, meaning that they do recommend places to their rich friends. The restaurant can afford to lose a few Christian customers, but they cannot bare to lose loaded rich tourists during the season in which they can generate the most profit.
Moreover, the journalist claims that not being served wine breaches the rules of "mutual living" (العيش المشترك) between the Muslims and Christians in Lebanon. Personally, I believe its the other way round. Not accepting the "under-the-table" offer of wine in tinted glasses breaches the "mutual living" concept. This concept does not entitle a party to act freely and keep poking people from other religions in the eye. Its about compromise, not stubbornness.
Would it have killed them to use the tinted glasses (and get the free wine bottle which was offered to them)? NO.
Would it have killed them not to make a scene and have a pleasant meal? NO.
But the Lebanese mentality is always the superior "I don't compromise" mentality. This stupid arrogant mentality is going to keep Lebanon sinking in the hole of sectarianism.
If this is the way the older generation will keep acting (and I am referring to Muslims and Christians alike), the new generation will only be worse, filled with ideas of superiority and sectarianism.
For God's (who is common between both religions) sake, stop being so arrogant and superior. AND LEARN HOW TO COMPROMISE!
---
You can find the mentioned article in Arabic here (Lebanese Forces website). I couldn't find the original Annahar link.
AFP: Manchester United 's fans in Malaysia erupted in astonishment and anger on social media Thursday after clerics warned Muslims against wearing the team's famous jersey …
AFP: Manchester United's fans in Malaysia erupted in astonishment and anger on social media Thursday after clerics warned Muslims against wearing the team's famous jersey with its "devil" emblem.
Manchester United and the rest of the English Premier League are hugely popular in Muslim-majority Malaysia, where conservative religious leaders said the jersey was un-Islamic and should be banned.
Social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook were flooded with comments from fans in the Southeast Asian nation.
"Maybe the religious leaders are just fans of Liverpool?" quipped one supporter on Twitter.
"Why this become an issue after Manchester United has won the title for 11 times? They haven't been watching the matches all this while?" said Sharifah Shahidah, a die-hard Manchester United fan of two-decades standing.
"What am I gonna do with all my Man Utd jerseys? And my sons' jerseys?" Sharifah, a Muslim mother of two and an IT programmer, asked on her Twitter account. "Should I cover the emblem with a picture of flower?"
Malaysian clerics said Wednesday that Muslims must not wear the iconic red jersey because devils should be shunned, not celebrated, and urged those who had worn the garment to "repent immediately".
Also off-limits are the shirts of teams including Brazil, Portugal, Barcelona and Serbia, all of which carry an image of the Christian crucifix in their team emblems.
"This is very dangerous. As a Muslim, we should not worship the symbols of other religions or the devils," said Nooh Gadot, a top Islamic leader from southern Johor state.
Manchester United Fan Club Malaysia, which has about 7,000 members, declined to comment, but the fan club's chief, Lawrence How, noted there was no official ban on the jerseys.
The clerics agreed there was no "fatwa", or religious edict, but that one was not needed when it was clearly wrong for Muslims to wear such a garment.
Malaysia is a generally moderate Islamic country, but conservative clerics have issued controversial edicts in the past, including a ban on the ancient practice of yoga, which is criticized for including Hindu elements.
The following article is extracted from Debbe Schlussel's blog and is only presented to you here for humor purposes. [ via ] May 16, 2010, - 11:38 pm Donald Trump, Dhimmi: Miss He…
The following article is extracted from Debbe Schlussel's blog and is only presented to you here for humor purposes. [via]
No, it’s not “just another beauty pageant.” Donald Trump, Muslims (who mostly support Islamic terrorist groups, like Hezbollah, which features many of Fakih’s close relatives as top officials), and even Barack Obama will exploit this as propaganda for Islam. Mark my word. Hezbollah is laughing at us, tonight. One of its auxiliary members won the Miss USA title without having to do a thing to denounce them and their bloody murder of hundreds of Americans, including the trampling/torture murder of Navy Diver Robert Dean Stethem aboard TWA flight 847, the 25th anniversary of which is next month.
Dhimmi Donald Trump simply didn’t have the guts to demand that Fakih denounce the Islamic group Hezbollah, whose martyrs and top terrorists are Fakih family members. It doesn’t matter to the Donald that this is the terrorist group that murdered more Americans than any other after Al-Qaeda, and probably more, when you count its joint ventures with Hezbollah. Trump made a bigger deal with Miss California USA and her bimbo activities, when–hellooooo–it’s a bimbo contest. Now, Hezbollah has the chief USA bimbo. And they’ll use it.
I don’t just wonder if this whole contest is rigged. I have a feeling that it is. Clearly, there is affirmative action for Muslim women in beauty pageants and other such “contests.”
We know that political correctness and bending over backward (and forward) to all things Islam, are the rules of the day. I had a bad feeling they’d pick her to try to pander to the Islamic world some more because–ya know–the collective American nose isn’t yet brown enough from ass-kissing Islamic butt all around the world . . . at least according to the conventional wisdom of idiots. The Islamic world is especially laughing that a sequined gay man dressed like the world’s ugliest cross-dresser, Johnny Weir, helped make a woman from their intolerant world, Miss USA. If they could, they’d still rip him to shreds and sever his penis, the way they torture their Israeli and even their own fellow Islamic victims.
Tonight, they celebrated and laughed at us from within at Dearbornistan’s Hezbollah restaurant, La Pita, where workers openly sing Hezbollah war songs and anti-Semitic “ditties” in the kitchen. It was the site of Fakih’s victory party, where falafel, and hummus, and hate were all on the menu, as they usually are there and throughout Fakih’s community.
I wonder how much influence Miss USA’s Islamic sponsor Farouk Shami–the racist 9/11 Truther and Palestinian terrorism supporter whose Farouk Systems helped pay for the pageant and broadcast–had on this win. A lot, I’d bet, especially since Fakih tweeted gushingly about hanging out with him. He probably urged Trump and the judges to make sure his fellow Muslima won. After all, it makes no difference that she’s a Shi’ite and he’s a Sunni. She had the support of Sunni terrorists like Imad Hamad, who helped fund her bid. And, as anyone who knows anything about the Islamic world knows, they’ll happily put their internecine Shi’ite-Sunni war on hold, if it means helping Islam in its propaganda war and fight to take over the West.
In her answer to a dumb question about insurance covering birth control, Fakih gave an even dumber answer. But it was a feminist, big government, anti-business, politically correct answer. And because she’s a Muslim, Fakih got away with her utterly conceited statement in a video profile: “When people meet me, they see a very beautiful, very smart, very funny person.” Hey, don’t be so modest. We gotta beat that fake notion of “Islamic modesty” that really doesn’t exist in the real world.
I knew the classy Miss Oklahoma USA, Elizabeth Woolard–who gave a good and somewhat educated answer about Arizona’s immigration law (watch the video, above)–would lose, the minute she said she supported the Arizona law. After all, the right answer was to say how “unAmerican” and “oppressive” this law is and how great these illegal aliens are for doing “the work that some Americans just won’t do” (like kidnapping, rape, stealing jobs, and driving down wages). It doesn’t matter that the question–uttered by judge Oscar Nunez–was incorrect, since his premise was that the law allows authorities to check the immigration status of anyone they think is here illegally (That’s not what the law allows at all). Since she said the right thing for America and Arizona, not the politically correct answer to win Miss USA, she lost.
Oh, and she wasn’t a Lebanese Muslim Hezbollah supporter with relatives who are top terrorists and “martyrs” in the group. If you don’t have relatives that have died killing some Jews and relatives who’ve murdered hundreds of Americans, you really don’t deserve to be Miss USA.
VATICAN CITY — Papal bodyguards overpowered a woman who rushed at Pope Benedict XVI, yanking him to the ground Thursday as he entered St Peter's Basilica to celebrate Christma…
VATICAN CITY — Papal bodyguards overpowered a woman who rushed at Pope Benedict XVI, yanking him to the ground Thursday as he entered St Peter's Basilica to celebrate Christmas Eve mass.
Video footage showed the woman, dressed in a red sweatshirt, jumping over a security barricade and rushing at the 82-year-old pope as he began leading the traditional procession of about 30 cardinals to the vast basilica's altar.
She was immediately tackled by a security guard, but succeeded in grabbing Benedict's vestments near the neck and yanking him to the ground, according to video footage taken by a pilgrim broadcast on Sky News.
Several others fell over in the melee.
Prominent French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, 87, broke a leg in the incident though he was "several metres (yards)" from the pope, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told AFP, adding that the prelate was rushed to hospital.
The woman is in the custody of the Vatican police, the ANSA news agency reported, adding that she said she wanted to hug the pontiff.
Lombardi said she may have been the same woman who tried to approach Benedict on the same occasion a year ago without getting past the security barrier.
After the incident, Benedict quickly recovered, and bore a gold cross in a solemn procession to the altar as the mass began at 10:00 pm (2100 GMT).
Dressed in gold and white vestments and mitre, the pope showed no discomfort as he read out his Christmas Eve homily, decrying selfishness, which he said "makes us prisoners of our interests and our desires that stand against the truth and separate us from one another.
"Conflict and lack of reconciliation in the world stem from the fact that we are locked into our own interests and opinions, into our own little private world," the spiritual leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics said in Italian.
Thursday's incident occurred amid concern over the pope's health prompted by a Vatican decision to schedule the mass two hours early this year instead of the traditional midnight hour due to the pontiff's advanced age.
Lombardi insisted earlier that the change, a Vatican first, was only a "sensible precaution" for the octogenarian pontiff.
The decision was taken several weeks ago. Lombardi said the change was "no cause for alarm," adding that the German pontiff's condition was "absolutely normal" for a man of his age.
Lombardi said the move was aimed at making Christmas "a little less tiring for the pope, who has many engagements during this time".
On Friday, Pope Benedict is to deliver his traditional "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world) message broadcast to dozens of countries at noon on Friday.
Benedict has had no notable health problems since his 2005 election apart from a fractured wrist from a fall in July while holidaying in northern Italy.
Four years before he became pope however, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger spent nearly a month in hospital following a brain haemorrhage, according to the German daily Bild. It said he has suffered from fainting spells.
Pope Benedict's long-serving predecessor John Paul II insisted on observing the tradition of beginning the mass at midnight despite years of ill health, notably the ravages of Parkinson's disease, at the end of his life.
Deck the pools: Festive divers work at an aquarium in Manila As the lights were switched on in Trafalgar Square last night – and we all start thinking of getting ours in this weeke…
Deck the pools: Festive divers work at an aquarium in Manila
As the lights were switched on in Trafalgar Square last night – and we all start thinking of getting ours in this weekend – other countries were creating their eye-catching variations.
The smallest would be pretty tricky to decorate – because it measures less than half the width of a human hair.
Little bit of fun: This silicon tree is 0.04mm wide
It is made from silicon with an ion beam, normally used on silicon chips, at Britain’s National Physical Laboratory.
Meanwhile, Mexico City has gone to the other extreme, hoping to enter the record books with a tree that towers 90m (295ft) over shoppers – beating Rio de Janeiro’s 82m (270ft) effort.
Dizzying: Mexico City’s 90m tree dwarfs the traffic passing by
Big in another sense is the effort standing in New York’s Rockefeller Center. It has been bedecked with a dazzling 30,000 lights.
But lights would be a fairly risky decoration for the tree being set up in the Philippines – it’s underwater.
Divers wearing Father Christmas outfits have put the finishing touches – such as festive starfish – to the fir at the Manila Ocean Park aquarium.
A lot of bottle: Paris boasts Christmas trees made from recycled plastic bottles
In both Paris, France and Sydney, Australia, they opted for the eco-friendly option, building their own trees entirely out of recycled plastic bottles.
Closer to home, an ice tree was unveiled at St Pancras International last night and Claridge’s in Mayfair boasts the first tree to come with a leopard.
Spotty: Claridge’s tree-and-leopard scene, designed by John Galliano
The papier-mache and polystyrene creation was thought up by Christian Dior designer John Galliano.
The "invention" of language is not known except for references in the Bible. It is not known what language Adam and Eve spoke. The first mention of different languages i…
The "invention" of language is not known except for references in the Bible. It is not known what language Adam and Eve spoke. The first mention of different languages is the reference to the tower of Babel when different tongues were bestowed.
The invention of writing, however, is credited to the Sumerians of Mesopotamia in the 4th millennium BC. Their descendants, the Sumero-Babylonians, developed the time system that we use today: an hour divided into 60 minutes, which are divided into 60 seconds.
Today, there are more than 2 700 different languages spoken in the world, with more than 7 000 dialects, most of which are catalogued by the Ethnologue language dictionary. In Indonesia alone, 365 different languages are spoken. More than 1,000 different languages are spoken in Africa. The most difficult language to learn is Basque, which is spoken in north-western Spain and south-western France. It is not related to any other language in the world. Mandarin is the most spoken language in the world, followed by English. But as home language, Spanish is the second most spoken in the world.
Youngest language
The youngest language in the world is Afrikaans, spoken by South Africans. Dutch and German Protestants fled persecution from the Roman Catholic Church in the 17th and 18th century to settle in the Dutch colony of Cape of Good Hope on the southern point of Africa. By the early-20th century Afrikaans had developed from Dutch, German and other influences into a fully fledged language with its own dictionaries. After a mere 100 years, it is the second most spoken language in South Africa (Zulu being the most spoken, the Zulu people being the largest ethnic group there).
New languages develop as different cultures meet and mix. For instance, about 700 different languages are spoken in London. In some suburbs of the London, English is now a second language. The same is happening - or has taken place - in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Singapore. Already the Internet and mobile phone texting are influencing the development of languages as people communicate freely across cultural and regional borders.
The smallest country in the world is the Vatican. It also is the only country where Latin is the official language.
The Berbers of North Africa have no written form of their language.
A lovely and useful confectionary, chocolate, is rich with charms itself. Since the first time people discovered chocolate, it has become a hit among those who consider themselves…
A lovely and useful confectionary, chocolate, is rich with charms itself. Since the first time people discovered chocolate, it has become a hit among those who consider themselves as chocolate lovers or chocoholics.
Nowadays, chocolate is more than food and superb desserts, human’s creativities bring to an idea of transforming chocolate into unusual things.
1. Chocolate Spa
Hershey, American’s largest chocolate company, has created an exotic and sublime spa at THE HOTEL HERSHEY where you can unwind your tensions and enjoy chocolate without gaining more calories.
The Chocolate Spa is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania and more than its beautiful view that attracts people, Hershey provides extraordinary therapies with ingredient for innovative spa treatments such as the Whipped Cocoa Bath, Cocoa Butter Scrub and Chocolate Fondue Wrap. All are worth indulgence.
The sweet and bitter spa has made itself to perfection with several ways of chocolate treatments; Chocolate Foundue Wrap, an exclusive formula of warmed moor mud and essence of cocoa revives the skin, Whipped Cocoa Bath with foaming milk chocolate, Chocolate Hydrotherapy and Cocoa Massage which you can enjoy chocolate-scented massage oil along with a traditional Massage.
2. Chocolate Sushi
Suedy’s Koo-Ki sushi is a cookie-based sushi with chocolate and confections for toppings and fillings that were created by Karen Sasaki. Every piece of Suedy’s Koo-Ki Sushi is made by hand using good ingredients like chocolate, crispy rice cookies and candies instead of seaweed, raw fish, vinegar and rice. It is best known for its unique features and flavors, such as green tea, piña colada, lemon and caramel, which are perfect for both sushi and chocolate lovers.
Suedy’s Koo-Ki is served as individual pieces on chocolate plates or in a neatly-arranged multi-piece Bento or Washi Box. Chopsticks are provided not only for their usage but to also consume since it’s made out of chocolate and are called Choc Sticks. You can also visit Suedy’s Koo-Ki Sushi at their retail location: 830 Jury Court, Suite 1 San Jose, CA 95112.
3. Chocolate Toothpaste
(I have actually tried this one)
A study from Tulane University revealed that an extract of cocoa powder that occurred naturally in chocolates is more effective than the fluoride in toothpaste. The study is also supported by scientists from Japan’s Osaka University saying that chocolate could help prevent tooth decay.
Chocolate toothpaste have been launched by many companies which are aimed at kids but not their parents. Unilever Philippines Inc. made chocolate flavored toothpaste under the name ‘Closeup Flavalicious’ but it was relatively for fun as the cavity-fighting component was still fluoride. It contains the taste of chocolate but not really made out of chocolate. In Japan, they sell tiny 32-flavoued tubes of toothpaste including chocolate flavor which is actually light mint toothpaste, while in America, chocolate toothpaste was actually invented. Kids don’t use it for brushing their teeth but they eat it!
4. Fuel from chocolate waste
Microbiologist Lynne Mackaskie and her team of researchers at the University of Birmingham in the UK found a way to produce hydrogen from waste products from a chocolate factory. The fed bacteria which are called E. coli bacteria, diluted caramel and nougat left over waste from chocolate-making process. The bacteria fermented sugar in chocolate waste causing organic acids and ended up with hydrogen which provides enough electricity for a small fan.
This process might be developed until fuel from hydrogen can be used with vehicles and eventually we can reduce the use of petrol.
5. Chocolate Car
Hans Burie’s Belgian Chocolate store wowed the world with its masterpiece made of chocolate, “a chocolate car”. Dare you eat?
A large quantity of Belgian chocolate, which is simply renowned, was used to create this chocolate car. 800 kilograms, 1800 pounds or 28,800 ounces of chocolate which equals to 19,200 bars of Hershey’s 1.5 oz. Chocolate Symphony or 9,600 bars of Lindt 3 oz. Chocolate (US-size) or even 8,228 bars of Lindt 3 1/2 oz. It was worth using since they got the perfect but immobile chocolate car in return. The car is the same size as an actual Opel.
6. Chocolate Jesus Exhibit
An Italian-Canadian artist, filmmaker and sculptor, Cosimo Cavallaro created one of the most controversial art works of the decade which is named “My Sweet Lord”. The art work was scheduled to exhibit during the Holy Week at the Lab Gallery in the Roger Smith Hotel, Manhattan on March 2007. Although “My Sweet Lord” was never displayed. The six-foot sculpture of Jesus was canceled from the exhibition because the hotel had received death threats from some protesters who considered the sculpture as a direct insult to Jesus Christ and Christianity.
“My Sweet Lord” is a sculpture of a naked Jesus with his arms outstretched as if he was crucified on an invisible cross. This controversial sculpture was created from more than 200 pounds of milk chocolate. Unlike the traditional religious portrayal of Christ, Cavallaro’s creation does not include a loincloth. Its creator, Cavallaro is renowned for his idiosyncratic works using food as art, his previous works has been spraying five tons of pepper jack cheese on a house in Wyoming (why?), decorating a four poster bed with 312 pounds of processed ham (again, why?) and repainting a hotel room in Manhattan with melted mozzarella (waste of good cheese!). How is that for art works!
7. Finger found in Chocolate Bar
In February, 2007, a man named Hannes Gruber from Bischofsheim, Germany, was enjoying his chocolate bar when he noticed something strange in his delicious confectionary. German police investigated the case after Gruber said he bit into a chocolate bar and found a finger inside. A police spokesman in the town of Mainz, close to Frankfurt said “He found a fingertip, complete with fingernail, right in the middle of the bar, I suppose it went unnoticed because there were nuts in the chocolate and it was hard to tell the difference”. The finger had been handed over to forensic experts for further investigation but it’s also interesting that police declined to reveal the name the chocolate’s brand.
8. Frozen Haute Chocolate: World’s most expensive dessert sells for a whopping $25,000 per order
For the past few years, Fortress Aquamarine from Wine3 at the Fortress in Galle, Sri Lanka has reigned as the world’s most expensive dessert at $14,500 price. But recently, Frozen Haute Chocolate, an elegant desert of the Serendipity-3 Restaurant in New York has gotten itself a Guinness World Record for the most expensive dessert in the world. This ultra expensive dessert is created by a joint effort between the Dessert Emporium and jeweler Euphoria New York.
Frozen Haute Chocolate is sold at a staggering $25,000 per order. The dessert is made from a blend of 28 finest cocoas from all around the world and is served in a goblet lined with edible gold. Additionally, Frozen Haute Chocolate is topped with whipped cream, more gold and a side of La Madeline au Truffle from Knipschildt Chocolatier, which sells for $2,600 per pound. An 18K gold bracelet with a carat’s worth of diamonds that rests at the base of the goblet and a gold spoon set with white and chocolate-colored diamonds are also given to its consumer as souvenirs.
9. Worker trapped in vat of chocolate for 2 hours
Trapping in a vat of chocolate might sound like a dream come true for chocoholics. But for Donovan Garcia, an employee of a company that supplies chocolate ingredients, this trapping is considered a real nightmare. The 21-year-old man told reporters that while he was pushing chocolate down into the vat at Debelis Cor, he lost his balance and suddenly slid into hot chocolate and stuck in there for 2 hours. “It was in my hair, in my ears, my mouth, everywhere and I felt like I weighed 900 pounds. I couldn’t move.” Garcia said.
Luckily for Garcia, the chocolate vat was 110 degrees which is considered hotter than a hot tub, it could have easily killed him. Policemen, firefighters and Co-workers took hours to take him out of the vat because the chocolate absorbed him like quicksand. After he was rescued from the death vat, he was treated for minor injuries at a nearby medical center and was soon released.
10. Chocolate Calculator
Don’t try to bite into this chocolate bar because you’ll get a mouth full of plastic and glass. This is great news for every chocoholic who is looking for some weird products concerning chocolate. The Choc-U-Lator is not chocolate even if it looks like a nice bar of chocolate which is cleverly packaged in a wrapper similar to a real bar of chocolate. This creative calculator comes in a size 4.3” x 2.4” x 0.3” which able its owners to take with them anywhere they go. To save its battery, the calculator is also powered by solar energy. Another attractive characteristic, The Choc-U-Lator has real chocolate scent which is able to attract everyone’s attention. What a calculator!
The Choc-U-Lator is available in Japan’s Rakuten online mega mall for just about $4 per piece. And this weird product is considered one of the most suitable gifts for chocoholics.
I am free. But my country is still a prisoner of war. There has been a lot of talk about the action and about the person who took it, and about the hero and the heroic act, and th…
I am free. But my country is still a prisoner of war. There has been a lot of talk about the action and about the person who took it, and about the hero and the heroic act, and the symbol and the symbolic act. But, simply, I answer: what compelled me to act is the injustice that befell my people, and how the occupation wanted to humiliate my homeland by putting it under its boot.
Over recent years, more than a million martyrs have fallen by the bullets of the occupation and Iraq is now filled with more than five million orphans, a million widows and hundreds of thousands of maimed. Many millions are homeless inside and outside the country.
We used to be a nation in which the Arab would share with the Turkman and the Kurd and the Assyrian and the Sabean and the Yazid his daily bread. And the Shia would pray with the Sunni in one line. And the Muslim would celebrate with the Christian the birthday of Christ. This despite the fact that we shared hunger under sanctions for more than a decade.
By Robert Fisk What we found inside the Palestinian camp at ten o'clock on the morning of September 1982 did not quite beggar description, although it would have been easier to…
By Robert Fisk
What we found inside the Palestinian camp at ten o'clock on the morning of September 1982 did not quite beggar description, although it would have been easier to re-tell in the cold prose of a medical examination. There had been medical examinations before in Lebanon, but rarely on this scale and never overlooked by a regular, supposedly disciplined army. In the panic and hatred of battle, tens of thousands had been killed in this country. But these people, hundreds of them had been shot down unarmed. This was a mass killing, an incident - how easily we used the word "incident" in Lebanon - that was also an atrocity. It went beyond even what the Israelis would have in other circumstances called a terrorist activity. It was a war crime.
Jenkins and Tveit were so overwhelmed by what we found in Chatila that at first we were unable to register our own shock. Bill Foley of AP had come with us. All he could say as he walked round was "Jesus Christ" over and over again. We might have accepted evidence of a few murders; even dozens of bodies, killed in the heat of combat. Bur there were women lying in houses with their skirts torn torn up to their waists and their legs wide apart, children with their throats cut, rows of young men shot in the back after being lined up at an execution wall. There were babies - blackened babies babies because they had been slaughtered more than 24-hours earlier and their small bodies were already in a state of decomposition - tossed into rubbish heaps alongside discarded US army ration tins, Israeli army equipment and empty bottles of whiskey.
Where were the murderers? Or to use the Israelis' vocabulary, where were the "terrorists"? When we drove down to Chatila, we had seen the Israelis on the top of the apartments in the Avenue Camille Chamoun but they made no attempt to stop us. In fact, we had first been driven to the Bourj al-Barajneh camp because someone told us that there was a massacre there. All we saw was a Lebanese soldier chasing a car theif down a street. It was only when we were driving back past the entrance to Chatila that Jenkins decided to stop the car. "I don't like this", he said. "Where is everyone? What the f**k is that smell?"