Archive for December 17, 2008
Autobiography of a young boy who tried to kill himself at age 12
This was a sad book. The autobiography of the boyhood years of Lebanese playwright, Faysal Farhat (Yawma Bada’t Al-Kitabah). I just received the book and finished reading it. The dedication he wrote for me made me sad: it said to “my friend Dr. As`ad…” Why would you call your friend by a title, I thought. [...]
Posted on December 17, 2008 by As'ad
Angry Arab in the White House
I was thinking today. If I were to become president of the US (assuming an amendment of the constitution is arranged for a foreign-born person), I would face a dilemma. The White House chef would be a problem for me. I would want a chef who can prepare Middle East food for me. Maybe Chef [...]
Posted on December 17, 2008 by As'ad
Do you blame them?
“Twelve percent of Israeli Arab youths abuse drugs, the Israel Anti Drug Abuse Foundation (IADAF) reported Wednesday. The foundation stressed the differences found between the Jewish and Arab populations in the country.”
Posted on December 17, 2008 by As'ad
At least some good news
“Yale disclosed Tuesday that its endowment had fallen at least 13.4 percent in the four months since June as the decline in asset values during the financial crisis takes its toll on another university.”
Posted on December 17, 2008 by As'ad
Olives from Palestine
I am not saying this for political reasons, but I have never ever tasted olives like the ones that I recently received from Palestine. (thanks Aileen)
Posted on December 17, 2008 by As'ad
Ready to take your questions
“Ready to take your questions”
Posted on December 17, 2008 by As'ad
More breaking news on Hariri investigation
The investigator reveals that several members worked together to execute the assassination. This is likely to change public perceptions of the case. You see previously, it was assumed that members worked separately on the assassination. This is a whole new ball game.
Posted on December 17, 2008 by As'ad
If
If you send me one more sockandawe link, I will toss my shoe at you. I mean it.
Posted on December 17, 2008 by As'ad
A question for Human Rights Watch
” Iraq’s central criminal court, the country’s chief judicial institution, has fallen short of international and Iraqi constitutional standards of due process and has failed to provide “basic assurances of fairness,†according to a report released Monday by Human Rights Watch. The report portrays a system under which defendants are often abused in custody and [...]
Posted on December 17, 2008 by As'ad
It is nice
It is nice that the US media is now extensively covering sexual harassment in…Egypt. You see, here in the US we have completely eliminated sexual harassment and we live in the land of gender equality. Oh, yeah. If you don’t believe me, throw your shoe out of the window.
Posted on December 17, 2008 by As'ad
This is Zionism
“An Israeli court has acquitted Julian Soufir despite confessing to the murder of the Arab Jerusalemite Tayseer Karki, 35, with a knife almost a year and a half ago.”
Posted on December 17, 2008 by As'ad
Palestinian voices emerge in Dubai
“Palestinian voices emerge in Dubai”
Posted on December 17, 2008 by As'ad
They will serve two hours in jail.
“Two combat soldiers in the haredi infantry unit of the Nahal Brigade were arrested this week on suspicion of having beaten a Palestinian policeman at a checkpoint, Ynet discovered Monday.”
Posted on December 17, 2008 by As'ad
US arms militias it likes and calls for disarming the militias it dislikes in the Middle East
“The U.S. military will soon launch a pilot program to raise local militias, paid by the Pentagon, in an effort to improve security throughout the country.” (thanks Olivia)
Posted on December 17, 2008 by As'ad
It sadly looks like 10 people showed up
“Activists campaigning against Israeli diamond mogul Lev Leviev urged Dubai residents to boycott the jeweller during the screening of a documentary film on activist hip hop at the Dubai Film Festival on Friday.” (thanks David) PS I am told that there were 300 at the concert.
Posted on December 17, 2008 by As'ad
Shoe of the Year
Will Time magazine select the shoe as the Person of the Year? I wonder.
Posted on December 17, 2008 by As'ad
A brave intellectual
Rudwa `Ashur is a great Egyptian Marxist intellectual. I met her last year in Berlin. She told me how Egyptian intellectuals of her generation dealt with Anwar Sadat and how they received news of his assassination when they were in exile.(They did not cry–let us put it that way).
Posted on December 17, 2008 by As'ad
Shoe analysis
They called me from Aljazeera Arabic to give commentary for the morning newscast. I told the producer: let me guess. You want me to analyze the…shoe. He said: no, the Quartet statement.
Posted on December 17, 2008 by As'ad