Inspired by Khalidah’s post on Personal Attacks, and Hamzeh’s comment…

These are just some random thoughts …

-So what differentiates virtual interaction from online interaction? Should we consider our online interactions with others through our own personal websites, blogs, discussion forums (online communities) a complete waste of time or time well invested? Should we consider our virtual friends as ‘real’ friends or just some people we go to when we have a few hours to kill on MSN or Yahoo?

-I am a firm believer that online is relatively very different than real life. One of the key differences between online and real life is the personal touch. In online discussions, we tend to lose the facial expressions, body language and tone, not giving us a personal touch - the real human interaction…and though our use of emoticons in an attempt to humanize the interaction as much as possible works, it does not replace the real. Real life interactions give us a more accurate evaluation of personality, style and character. (Read on …)

“Continuity of the Tune”

 The hair looks beautiful, the make-up looks good, the dress is not big, and looks gorgeous…the ring is oooh, aaaaahhh … the hall is gorgeous, the food looks delicious, the groom, mashallah yikhzi il 3ain (he’s o.k ) … bottom line, everything looks perfect! She looked dazzling, so I really have no idea why she held a 4 hour weeping session and is threatening to beat up the lady who fixed her hair and make-up?! …

Any cuties there? I wish Lili and I were there…Congratulations, Sayeda & Nizar! Wishing you the best of what life has to offer!

     I love the traditional look!

(Read on …)

Arab names I love:
Males:
Ali, Yousef, Zayd (Zaid), Omar, Adam
Females:
Iman, Salma, Zaina, Mariam, Jena, Aya, Mona, Nour

Arab names I ‘hate’:
Males:
3adel; Sala7, Sameer, Ra3d, Tamer
Females:
Khitam, Khawla, Kholood, Shatha, Sa2ida, Sa3eeda, 3inayat, Hiba, Hala, Du3a2

Palestinian militant group Hamas has said it will not join a planned national unity government if recognising Israel is a condition.

It follows a speech by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in which he said the government would recognise Israel and renounce violence.

Hamas spokesmen said there had been no change in the position on Israel.

But Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, in a mosque sermon in Gaza City on Friday, said: “I personally will not head any government that recognises Israel.”

Ahmed Youssef, a senior adviser to Mr Haniya, said there would be no explicit recognition of Israel, but Hamas was prepared to agree to a 10-year truce with the Jewish state. - how do you agree to a truce with something you don’t recognize?
It’s about time Hamas takes a pragmatic approach and accepts the political realties and facts on the ground! At the rate they’re going, they will achieve nothing but failure and more bloodshed.

(Read on …)

The first day of Ramadan is Sunday 9-24. This beautiful month is a month for purification and self-reflection …Hoping that it brings with it -to all - peace, love and deeper faith. As each day of this month ends, please remember the wounds and struggles of the people of Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon and others… Wishing everyone and the entire Muslim world a happy and spiritually uplifting Ramadan … Ramadan Mubarak

A co-worker of mine sent me an IM today asking about Sayeda (one of my best friends and also a co-worker) … she asked: So, have you heard from the Turkey honeymooner? When does she get back from Jordan? I wanna see pictures, I wanna see camels! … I said: hahahha, you wanna see what? Camels? Why would you see camels? she said: Sayeda told me she was going to the hall on a camel! was she kidding me?!

I could not stop laughing! I have no idea why Sayeda would even say such a thing!

Speaking of weddings, here are a few traditions … 

The Lucky Couple

On a bride’s wedding day in Sweden, a mother will put a gold coin in her daughter’s right shoe. Her father will put a silver one in the left. The bride is then assured a wealthy married life.

A wedding day in Africa calls for a Libation. A few drops of wine or other liquid is poured on the ground for ancestors to enjoy. (Read on …)

I buy one pair a week…It seriously is an addiction - an addiction I see no shame in… This book inspired me to put my own shoes on center stage … It might take me a while though to get as creative as Eric Boman and Manolo, so I’ll put a few up for inspiration … ‘The epitome of sophistication and taste, they [shoes ] have graced the feet of royalty, supermodels [i fit in this catgory ] , and movie stars. In these breathtaking pictures by Blahnik’s longtime friend, photographer Eric Boman, the shoes take center stage in a dazzling array of intriguing and often lighthearted scenes and settings. A white leather stiletto plays an incriminating role in a suggested crime worthy of Hitchcock. A pale green mule nestles among ferns in homage to Blahnik’s recurring botanical themes. The straps of a sandal echo the strands of spaghetti in which it lays entwined.’

Red shoes with white slacks, white top and a red purse is dazzling! (substitute the cigarette for a cuban)

I don’t like the shoes too much…perhaps if they had higher heels, i would wear them … I do like peas though!

Exotic!

 
I would not be disappointed if I found this pair on my windshield!

Coffee tastes much better with those on!

A unique arrangement that i wouldn’t mind getting on a random ‘just because’ day!

Delicious!

All unhappiness and stagnation result from a feeling that you are at the mercy of the world and the people in it. But what a joy it is, what a major shift to stregthen and power, when you no longer wait around for others to favor and love you, for others to flatter and reward you. Reward and flatter yourself, favor and lover yourself! -kira Salak

That’s not to say that flattery and reward are not great for you and your ego, but don’t wait around for it to happen…Take care of, cherish, and love you and yourself, for no one is more worthy…

What has gotten into the Palestinians lately? Why are our Palestinian people being driven by ignorance day in and day out. Why have they forgotten who their real enemy is? I am very disappointed, very appalled, very disgusted and very saddened by the latest out of Nablus and Gaza.

Burning churces and threatening to blow up more in Gaza and the West Bank are irrational, ignorant and irresponsible acts which could lead to ‘an unprecedented sectarian dispute in Palestine.’

Supreme Judge of Palestine Sheik Tayseer At-Tamimi called on Muslims in Palestine ‘not to harm any Christian church, home or people, as that would be a violation of the historical treaty which the Caliph Umar Ibn Al-Khattab gave to the Christian people in Jerusalem when he vanquished the Roman occupation.’
Father George Awad, the leader of Roman Catholics in Nablus strongly condemned this incident and denounced both the statements issued by the Pope about Islam and the church arsonists, saying, “the goal of these actions is to create a rift among the peoples who have lived for hundreds of years with love and tolerance.”

“The Pope does not represent all Christian denominations in the world, but the Timorese Christians stood side by side with Muslims against the Crusaders during the Crusader invasion of Palestine, offered martyrs and the wounded. The sons of the Christian community in Palestine are still standing with the struggle of the Palestinian people against the Israeli occupation”.

Father Awad issued a public letter, in which he said, “All the Palestinian people, that the Christians have become an integral part thereof, are in the dire need for unity and solidarity, and people will get out from this crisis as they got out from the crisis that occurred several months ago when the cartoons were depicting the Prophet Muhammad.”

When you have been working on a document all morning and when you’re just about to finalize it, your computer decides to freeze …but that’s not the worst part … you also realize that you didn’t save it as you were going along! and so you lose it!
That some parents are just way cooler than yours?

To have to re-route due to unexpected road closure and get lost as a result?!

To religiously check sites of people you enjoy reading for, yet not finding any newly added posts?!

To have a one-day weekend?

That some people just don’t listen!

Mahmoud Abbas will issue a presidential decree within 48 hours to dissolve the current government, and ask Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh to present a government of national unity. Hamas has earlier assured that negotiations between Haniyeh and Abbas have progressed greatly. President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh announced on Monday that they have agreed on the political borderlines of the national unity government, based on the prisoner’s accord document agreed in May.

Addressing the press in Gaza, Abbas stated, “In the coming days we will start forming the national unity government, and so we appeal to our people to support these efforts.” He also called for an end to the strike, “the Palestinian interest lies in getting all the Palestinians to work together so as to achieve victory and accomplish a Palestinian independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.”

Prime Minister Haniyeh said “Everybody is proud that we are going to establish a national coalition government which will protect the rights of Palestinians and our interests and enhance our national unity. We hope that our people will go forward and achieve our goals, namely the independent state with Jerusalem as our capital.”

Meanwhile… The spokesperson of Hamas government, Dr Ghazi Hamad has on Monday denied the declarations published in the media about President Abbas dismissing the government within 48 hours. Hamad said, “No date has yet been appointed for composing the national unity government, because it takes study, and negotiations between the factions.”

The United States and the European Union have said they would work with such a government only if it met their three conditions for restoring aid — recognizing Israel, renouncing violence and accepting past interim peace deals. Abbas gave no details on the political agenda of the unity government.

But it so remains that Hamas will not recognize israel’s existence!

The chaos that Hamas brought with it since its win in January has only contributed to the suffering of the people in Palestine. so, hopefully this is the start of positive change for Palestinians and Palestine.