Archive for July 22, 2005

Another view inside the village of Sir`il. (I forgot to say that it is in North Lebanon near Zghorta). 

Posted on July 22, 2005 by As'ad

Inside the ancient village of Sir`il. 

Posted on July 22, 2005 by As'ad

Yet another book. 

Posted on July 22, 2005 by As'ad

Another book. 

Posted on July 22, 2005 by As'ad

One of the oldest books mishandled by Angry fingers. 

Posted on July 22, 2005 by As'ad

This is one of the oldest books. The first printing press that produced Arabic books was in the monastery of Khinsharah by `Abdullah Zakhir in the 18th century (I will visit that one next time I am there). The Mar Qizhiyya printing press printed books in Syriac (and some in Karshuni–Karshuni is writing Syriac in [...]

Posted on July 22, 2005 by As'ad

The oldest books are kept behind a glass counter, as is seen in this picture. I talked to the director of the monastery and he kindly permitted me to take out all the books I wanted, and to take pictures of the inside. He did not know how clumsy I can be; I dropped one [...]

Posted on July 22, 2005 by As'ad

Back to the monastery of Mar Qizhayya (I have only 40000 more pictures to go). This is one of the oldest printing machines. The site of the museum (the wall in the picture is visible) is the site of the oldest monastery on the compound. The place is badly managed, and the gift shop only [...]

Posted on July 22, 2005 by As'ad

Commenting on Syrian tightening of the border with Lebanon, Condoleeza Rice says that “neighbors don’t close their borders.” But is that not what US wants Syria to do with its border with Iraq? And is the US, which has been strangling Cuba for decades, in a position to preach here? Of course, Syrian measures on [...]

Posted on July 22, 2005 by As'ad

“Pentagon: Iraq Progress ‘On Track’ (although it describes the insurgency as “capable, adaptable and intent,”)

Posted on July 22, 2005 by As'ad

“Police in India forced nearly 200 cinema goers to do ten sit ups each for watching a porn film”

Posted on July 22, 2005 by As'ad

“Iraq: Bush’s Islamic Republic”

Posted on July 22, 2005 by As'ad

“Amartya Sen offers a brilliant corrective to the myths surrounding his homeland in The Argumentative Indian”

Posted on July 22, 2005 by As'ad

“Remote-controlled robot jockeys have made their debut as camel riders in the United Arab Emirates” (One wrong pull, and you can pull the camel’s neck. What a foolish idea–I saw the footage on TV)

Posted on July 22, 2005 by As'ad