Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Sunday, December 04, 2005
A Glimpse of Iraq
A Glimpse of Iraq: "All those 6000 years of glory, violence, suffering and achievement are there. I see them everyday in people's words and gestures, in their toughness and resilience, in their capacity to handle impossible hardships. I see those 6000 years in the features of little children… and I feel them in my veins.
Many people can only see the hardship, the dirt, the blood and the suffering. I can see a people who, unassisted, put a limit to looting and lawlessness. I see a people who refuse to kill each other and be drawn into stupid sectarian battles. I can tell you stories! I see people with patience that is legendary. I see people who try to go about their shattered lives amid the blood and the chaos and the suffering. I see people who spend all night and fast all day sitting in their cars, waiting for petrol… and when dusk sets in, they break their fasting with a cold sandwich.
I can see people who can tell jokes about it all.
All those 6000 years are there. I see them in little things people do, in their everyday gestures, in their unique way of handling impossible hardships. Those years are there. They come to the rescue… and most people don’t know it!
I see them in date palm trees, tall, proud and beautiful… with their fruit only accessible to the skilled and their beauty only maintainable through expertise and hard work. Yet, they can survive unendurable neglect, and be ready to shine again with care.
Yes! I feel sad and angry and bitter most of the time. But these people remind me every single day that I cannot lose hope. It is only a question of scale. We have to think in longer terms. And that, that is what this country is all about.
This country can be invaded, and it has been, more times than I would care to count. It can be ravaged, bombed, looted and ruined. But I know, in my heart, that it will never be permanently crushed. Six thousand years of experience tell me that it will rise again… and that it will be a lantern to show the world yet again the missing link between mind and soul, between knowledge and spirit… for the world seems to have largely lost that link.
This is where I want to live. This is where I want to be buried when I die… in the hope that my decomposed body will one day be food for a tall and proud palm tree."
Many people can only see the hardship, the dirt, the blood and the suffering. I can see a people who, unassisted, put a limit to looting and lawlessness. I see a people who refuse to kill each other and be drawn into stupid sectarian battles. I can tell you stories! I see people with patience that is legendary. I see people who try to go about their shattered lives amid the blood and the chaos and the suffering. I see people who spend all night and fast all day sitting in their cars, waiting for petrol… and when dusk sets in, they break their fasting with a cold sandwich.
I can see people who can tell jokes about it all.
All those 6000 years are there. I see them in little things people do, in their everyday gestures, in their unique way of handling impossible hardships. Those years are there. They come to the rescue… and most people don’t know it!
I see them in date palm trees, tall, proud and beautiful… with their fruit only accessible to the skilled and their beauty only maintainable through expertise and hard work. Yet, they can survive unendurable neglect, and be ready to shine again with care.
Yes! I feel sad and angry and bitter most of the time. But these people remind me every single day that I cannot lose hope. It is only a question of scale. We have to think in longer terms. And that, that is what this country is all about.
This country can be invaded, and it has been, more times than I would care to count. It can be ravaged, bombed, looted and ruined. But I know, in my heart, that it will never be permanently crushed. Six thousand years of experience tell me that it will rise again… and that it will be a lantern to show the world yet again the missing link between mind and soul, between knowledge and spirit… for the world seems to have largely lost that link.
This is where I want to live. This is where I want to be buried when I die… in the hope that my decomposed body will one day be food for a tall and proud palm tree."
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
todays stock
BBD 61.40 +0.14
CGYN.PK 0.19 +0.01
* DALRQ.PK 0.55 -0.01
FDG 39.64 +0.38
HOLX 71.11 +1.12
* KRY 2.11 -0.09
LIHRY 34.40 0.00
MDR 41.86 +0.40
NTRI 38.93 +0.13
* OMC 84.56 +0.82
PAAS 18.99 -0.60
PTN 3.58 -0.27
TIE 63.15 +1.75
$$CASH 6808.67 0.00
CGYN.PK 0.19 +0.01
* DALRQ.PK 0.55 -0.01
FDG 39.64 +0.38
HOLX 71.11 +1.12
* KRY 2.11 -0.09
LIHRY 34.40 0.00
MDR 41.86 +0.40
NTRI 38.93 +0.13
* OMC 84.56 +0.82
PAAS 18.99 -0.60
PTN 3.58 -0.27
TIE 63.15 +1.75
$$CASH 6808.67 0.00
Monday, November 28, 2005
Major K.: The Honest Broker
Major K.: The Honest Broker: "The Honest Broker
There were protests the other day over the murder of a fairly prominent Sunni Sheikh here in Baghdad. The murderers were dressed in Iraqi Army uniforms and it happened in a sector patrolled by the Iraqi Army. The Iraqi Brigade Commander tried to meet with the family of the Sheikh and the protesters to try to calm the situation. He made little progress as he was not trusted by the Sheikh's relatives. This matter was immediately elevated to the highest military levels on both the American and Iraqi sides. Several Iraqi Officers here in the TOC suggested repeatedly that American involvement was necessary to calm the situation. Yes, an Iraqi Commander should meet with the protestors, but he must be accompanied by a Senior American Officer. Although most Americans considered this an internal Iraqi matter, many Iraqis did not share that opinion. Neither side appeared to trust the other and wanted American involvement to ensure fair treatment.
I have seen similar situations since my 2nd week after arriving here in January. I am not bringing this up to draw any conclusions with regard to sectarian tension and conflict, other than to confirm that such things do occur here. What I would like to point out is how US Forces are regarded here. We have been asked to supervise or arbitrate at every level from neighborhood to national repeatedly. The reason for this is because of the entrenched culture of corruption of the past 35 years. Whether Sunni, Shia or Kurd, the presence of Americans at neighborhood council meetings, disputes and detention facilities is not only favored, but is often greeted with a sigh of relief. The Iraqis know they will get fair treatment from us because ethnic group, tribal affiliation and political power do not weigh upon our measurement of justice.
This brings two things to mind. Firstly, the average Iraqi will often (not always) trust us more than other I"
There were protests the other day over the murder of a fairly prominent Sunni Sheikh here in Baghdad. The murderers were dressed in Iraqi Army uniforms and it happened in a sector patrolled by the Iraqi Army. The Iraqi Brigade Commander tried to meet with the family of the Sheikh and the protesters to try to calm the situation. He made little progress as he was not trusted by the Sheikh's relatives. This matter was immediately elevated to the highest military levels on both the American and Iraqi sides. Several Iraqi Officers here in the TOC suggested repeatedly that American involvement was necessary to calm the situation. Yes, an Iraqi Commander should meet with the protestors, but he must be accompanied by a Senior American Officer. Although most Americans considered this an internal Iraqi matter, many Iraqis did not share that opinion. Neither side appeared to trust the other and wanted American involvement to ensure fair treatment.
I have seen similar situations since my 2nd week after arriving here in January. I am not bringing this up to draw any conclusions with regard to sectarian tension and conflict, other than to confirm that such things do occur here. What I would like to point out is how US Forces are regarded here. We have been asked to supervise or arbitrate at every level from neighborhood to national repeatedly. The reason for this is because of the entrenched culture of corruption of the past 35 years. Whether Sunni, Shia or Kurd, the presence of Americans at neighborhood council meetings, disputes and detention facilities is not only favored, but is often greeted with a sigh of relief. The Iraqis know they will get fair treatment from us because ethnic group, tribal affiliation and political power do not weigh upon our measurement of justice.
This brings two things to mind. Firstly, the average Iraqi will often (not always) trust us more than other I"
Sunday, November 27, 2005
BREITBART.COM - US senators demand oil execs re-testify, under oath
BREITBART.COM - US senators demand oil execs re-testify, under oath: "US senators demand oil execs re-testify, under oath
Nov 16 6:44 PM US/Eastern
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Senate Democrats demanded that oil company executives who testified last week about skyrocketing energy prices reappear before lawmakers and testify under oath, after news reports raised questions about the truthfulness of their testimony."
Nov 16 6:44 PM US/Eastern
Email this story
Senate Democrats demanded that oil company executives who testified last week about skyrocketing energy prices reappear before lawmakers and testify under oath, after news reports raised questions about the truthfulness of their testimony."
THE ASTUTE BLOGGER: "MURTHAGATE" - the loud tear-filled call for immediate withdrawal was a smokescreen
THE ASTUTE BLOGGER: "MURTHAGATE" - the loud tear-filled call for immediate withdrawal was a smokescreen: "'MURTHAGATE' - the loud tear-filled call for immediate withdrawal was a smokescreen"
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Ghostzilla - the invisible browser
Ghostzilla - the invisible browser: "
Ghostzilla !
Ghostzilla snapshot: click to enlarge
Ghostzilla in action
(click to enlarge)
What is Ghostzilla? Take a look at the screenshots and you'll get the idea.
Ghostzilla is a Web browser like Firefox, but it shows up and disappears instantly, discreetly, blended with your application -- any application -- so the Web pages look like part of it and not like the Web at all. (Read here how.) "
Ghostzilla !
Ghostzilla snapshot: click to enlarge
Ghostzilla in action
(click to enlarge)
What is Ghostzilla? Take a look at the screenshots and you'll get the idea.
Ghostzilla is a Web browser like Firefox, but it shows up and disappears instantly, discreetly, blended with your application -- any application -- so the Web pages look like part of it and not like the Web at all. (Read here how.) "
Move over Viagra: equal-opportunity sex drug just a sniff away - Yahoo! News
Move over Viagra: equal-opportunity sex drug just a sniff away - Yahoo! News: "Move over Viagra: equal-opportunity sex drug just a sniff away
Sat Nov 19,12:14 PM ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) - A new inhaler-delivered love drug for women and men is threatening to do Viagra one better, putting anyone with dysfunction in the mood, US media reported.
Sex experts say the drug, known as PT-141 and which is in final trials before US
Food and Drug Administration review, will be the boon to women with desire woes that Viagra has been for millions of impotent men."
Sat Nov 19,12:14 PM ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) - A new inhaler-delivered love drug for women and men is threatening to do Viagra one better, putting anyone with dysfunction in the mood, US media reported.
Sex experts say the drug, known as PT-141 and which is in final trials before US
Food and Drug Administration review, will be the boon to women with desire woes that Viagra has been for millions of impotent men."
Monday, November 14, 2005
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Friday, November 11, 2005
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