“A Palestinian suicide bomber attacked a bakery in the southern Israeli resort town of Eilat on Monday, killing himself and three people, police said.

It was the first suicide attack in Israel in nine months and the first ever to hit Israel’s southernmost city. A spokesman for Hamas, the radical Islamic group that controls the Palestinian parliament and Cabinet, praised the bombing as a “natural response” to Israeli policies.”

An Islamic Jihad Web site said the attack was meant to help bring an end to weeks of Palestinian infighting that has killed 60 people in the Gaza Strip since December.

“So long as there is occupation, resistance is legitimate,” Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza said. [source]
this is pure stupidity! I would call it resistance had it been carried out in military posts…but I guess that would be legitimate!
We’ll await israel’s response….and I’m sure more than 3 innocent people will pay for a heavy price for someone else’s irresponsibility and utter stupidity (I cannot think of another word!)

“Egypt is scoffing at a global contest to name the new seven wonders of the world, saying it’s a disgrace that the Pyramids of Giza - the only surviving structure from the original list of architectural marvels - must compete for a spot.Egypt is scoffing at a global contest to name the new seven wonders of the world, saying it’s a disgrace that the Pyramids of Giza - the only surviving structure from the original list of architectural marvels - must compete for a spot.”

The head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass, recently said the “New 7 Wonders of the World” campaign had “no scientific or official stature.”

The pyramids are “living in the hearts of people around the globe, and don’t need a vote to be among the world wonders,” Hawass said.

Doesn’t this sound familiar?

not only that but Egyptian officials refused to meet with Swiss adventurer Bernard Weber who started the “New 7 Wonders of the World” in 1999 who, as part of the campaign, was visiting each of the 21 sites. “They have not allowed us any kind of dialogue,” said contest spokeswoman Tia B. Viering. “We think it’s about ego, and we don’t know why the hostility is there.”

Egypt’s Culture Minister Farouk Hosni called the competition “nonsense,” saying it was “meaningless to vote on the pyramids” because they are the most important and most ancient wonder.

What’s nonsense and embarrassing in the Egyptians’ reaction to all this. I don’t understand their childish reaction! Like mentioned, the objective of this contest is “not about taking something away, it’s about moving something into modern times.” [Source]

Back in December I read briefly about the release of the fourth Arab Human Development Report 2005 focusing on the rise of women in the Arab world and though not surprised by its grim findings, I felt extremely disappointed…the truth is almost always painful. Despite this and this the overall picture is very bleak and it seems that we have a long way to go before we can be fully ‘developed’ as nations.

“In the Foreword to the report, launched in Yemen on December 7, 2006 Saudi prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, the President of the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations and a Saudi prince, made an attempt to disassociate religion from the adverse conditions and, often, the abuses, discrimination, and maltreatment suffered by women in the Arab world. Prince Talal writes:
“Religion has no connection with any of the mistaken practices that are carried out against women. Our societies, however, give precedence to custom over true worship and provide foundations for assumptions that have no grounding either in the Holy Koran or in the authenticated practices and sayings of the Prophet (the Hadith).”

The accumulated impact of the three previous reports, combined with pressures from the outside, particularly from the United States, has escalated the demand for reforms in the Arab countries-reforms that “go beyond window dressing,” meaning reforms that address the major problems from which Arab countries suffer: “political repression, marginalization, and absence of the basic components of good governance.” [source]
The report says that Arab nations must build on the progress they have made in empowering women to live healthy and productive lives, and address the cultural, social, economic, and political factors that impede women from reaching their full potential.

I searched for Arab leaders’ reaction to this report, but maybe because it was released a bit over a month ago it still has not prompted a response by the leaders of the Arab nations..I did find this interesting read (Rima Khalaf drops a bomb) that dates back to 2002!

Though said back in 2002 about that year’s report, the following stand for this year’s: “The Arab development report hangs out the Arabs’ dirty washing before the world and offers a wealth of information that mars the image of the Arabs in the world, but unfortunately the information is correct.”

A copy of the report…

An israeli health and beauty spa is now offering a new service for its customers - a snake massage. The treatment comprises of six non-venomous serpents massaging the client’s aching muscles and stiff joints.

I cannot believe some people are willing to pay $70 for a few snakes to crawl all over their body! Who in their right mind would even think about doing that? Barak believes that physical contact with the reptiles can be a soothing experience? how so? I always thought that peeing after holding it in for 4 hours is one of the greatest feelings in this world and the only relation to a soothing feeling is the fact that just reading about it makes me wanna go in my pants!

Located in northern israel, Ada Barak’s spa uses California and Florida king snakes, corn snakes and milk snakes for the massage.

“I’m actually afraid of snakes, but the therapeutic effects are really good,” said one customer. [via msnbc]

*shivering!* Should I dare try it this summer when I go!? Not for a million dollars!

Every single day seems to prove to me that the majority of people out there are nothing but selfish, inconsiderate, rude, evil, envious, did I say selfish? creatures!

I give up on some!

As I walking inside a restaurant to buy some falafel and bread this morning, a young beautiful woman walking side by side me got in line first …

Beautiful woman: Can I have a dozen falafel?

Cashier: Sure.

Beautiful woman: But first, can you tell me how many pieces come in a dozen?

Cashier: (with a smile) 12.

Beautiful woman: hehehe thanks. A dozen it is then.

hahahah … maybe classifying that under ‘beauty or brain’ category is a bit too harsh, for we all can have one of those ‘duh moments!’ I speak of experience of course!

Giving peace a chance!

As long as internal fighting and chaos continue, the Palestinians should not count on gaining any sympathy from the rest of the world…if we cannot help each other, why should we count on others to help us?!

Just create a profile and see what might come out of it. It doesn’t hurt to try! Just think of it as one of every other experience one goes through. Besides, being on is a lot of fun…you’ll have the chance to see all types and even have the capability of customizing your preference. Try it! But of course to get the benefits of all features you have to pay.

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Ok. that’s just absurd! Why would I pay for such thing? Well, why would I even entertain the idea of being part of such site? Definitely not a good idea…and do I really have time to waste? maybe I do…but not on this type of thing…I mean, there are a lot of psychos out there…how do I guarantee someone is telling the truth? The best way is for it to naturally happen. Why go out of my way trying to make something happen … chances are it’s not going to. Just let it be. Instead of spending two, three hours online –definitely a waste of time and will bring nothing but headaches - sifting through loser material profiles why not go out, have a change of scenery and just enjoy!

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If I were single, I would definitely create a profile and spend at least two hours a day on every single night. It’s just a way of expanding your options…we really don’t have much here and our chances of coming across someone are very slim!

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Whatever.

To satisfy my curiosity… (Read on …)

you can reach me with your mind…

I’m typically not that cheesy, but this is a good one!

TGIF:)

feel the urge to:

look someone straight in the eyes and genuninely tell them to *$#&  @%%

scream?

puke?

how about drive your car into the car in front of you?

eat an entire pizza with olives, jalapenos and pineapples for toppings?

tell the person sitting behind you on the train to make sure that next time they blow their nose before getting on, and if they insist to do so on the train to find another seat far away from you?

Disappear?

Dance?

laugh?

slap someone?

go for a make-over?

Smile?

I’m going for a complete hair color change this weekend!

Don’t tell your problems to people: eighty percent don’t care; and the other twenty percent are glad you have them.
- Lou Holtz

Men of genius are admired. Men of wealth are envied. Men of power are feared. But only men of character are trusted.
- Arthur Friedman

This I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual.
- John Steinbeck

All my life I’ve been harassed by questions: Why is something this way and not another? How do you account for that? This rage to understand, to fill in the blanks, only makes life more banal. If we could only find the courage to leave our destiny to chance, to accept the fundamental mystery of our lives, then we might be closer to the sort of happiness that comes with innocence.
- Luis Bunuel, (1900-1983)

At the World Economic Forum, taking place in the Swiss Alpine resort of Davos, a group of ordinary Israelis and Palestinians, representing civil society, will have the opportunity to question their leaders, Palestinian President Abbas and Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni – simultaneously and live on videocasts – about how they intend to end the conflict in 2007.

Organized by the grassroots mobilization campaign, OneVoice, this unprecedented event will enable ordinary citizens from both sides to jointly condemn extremism and demand progress on the peace process.

This unique opportunity will take place in front of over 2,000 global leaders attending the World Economic Forum and be broadcast live to rallies planned in Tel Aviv, Ramallah and Jerusalem, a press release from the OneVoice movement has revealed.

According to the BBC, this year’s World Economic Forum, which takes place in Switzerland every year in order to discuss how to improve the state of the world, will bring together some 2,400 business leaders, politicians and campaigners, including the heads of more than 70 of the world’s 100 largest companies. Participants will include dignitaries and personalities from over 90 countries.

The OneVoice movement, which has offices in both the West Bank city of Ramallah and in Tel Aviv, as well as in London, New York and Ottawa, reveals in their press release that Thursday’s podium will be launch of a $5 million dollar campaign entitled, “What Are You Willing to Do to End the Conflict?” This campaign, which will be accompanied by a series of global events, intends to mobilise the largest possible number of Israelis and Palestinians to take concrete individual steps to end the conflict. Check them out here…

I dream of the day I wouldn’t have to stop at a check point every 2 miles. I dream of the day getting to the center of Ramallah from my hometown will only take 10 minutes and not 5 hours. I dream of the day I can walk the streets of Jerusalem without having to stand at a check point for 4 hours first. I dream of the day school children and college students are able to complete one full academic year without closures by the israeli occupation…the day children will be able to play without fear… Even though a just peace seems to be a dream, I believe taking a part and trying to make a difference is possible…one has absolutely nothing to lose …but first, and at this particular moment, Palestinians need to unite and work together as one where the Palestinian agenda is one for every single Palestinian…which is a viable free Palestinian State. We, as a people, cannot afford to lose hope…it is the only thing we really have left…and we must take active steps to achieving the dreams we see for ourselves and our children to ensure that a better future will be… (Read on …)