Atlantis of Dubai

Retweet this button on every post blogger Not like the ones you see in ads!!! But these are from a real experience!! Beautiful place. Just beautiful

Status Update

Retweet this button on every post blogger Weather: 2.5
Nothing much changed for the past two weeks. Still, it is not that hot during the night, which means I can walk outside without hating that I was ever born!

Health: 5
No Cough!! But I’m losing weight!! What a waste of resources.

Finance: 6
Again, same forecast as two weeks ago! I actually thought of having this review before Eid, because I’m not going the bloody money leak affect my score!!

Social: 6.5
Yesterday, I had a nice iftar with the company, in the awesome The Palace Hotel, in Burj Dubai Downtown!. What a nice hotel. Today, I’m having a big FAT Iftar with the Gang!! So these two deserve a 0.5-point push!

Professional: 9
Still good.

Insomnia: 4
Slightly better than last week! And it is promising of getting even better.

Overall: 5.5
So, out of the red zone! And into the Yellow-reddish one! I’m contemplating starting a revolution during Eid Holidays. The scene is set. I just need to take advantage!

Ahmadinejad speaks to the UN General Assembly

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Ahmadinejad finally spoke before theUN General Assembly. I remember one at one stage the Iranian president was not granted a visa to enter the US to have such an opportunity. I thought, at that time, and I still feel the same that it is impolite, irresponsible & condecending behavior from theUS part.

If you claim to be a global power, an avid supporter of peace, and a host of the nations' podium (The UN), then you shouldn't act like an angry wife, and deny someone admission to the nations' home! I think if they want to behave in this childish way, the UN headquarters should be moved to some other mature state.

Now, I'm not a fan of Ahmadinejad. I believe he is overexcited, rushes things, and puts himself and his nation in awkward situations!

However, in this speach, I haven't seen any unreasonable statements, or any non-evedince based claims.

He touched base on several issues, both while addressing the UN, and talking to Larry King!

1. On the global policeman attitude of the united states, He said:

"As long as the aggressors, because of their financial, political and propaganda powers, not only escape punishment, but even claim righteousness, and as long as wars are started and nations are enslaved in order to win votes in elections, not only will the problems of the global community remain unsolved, but they will be increasingly exacerbated"

One will need to look at the post 9/11 world, and count the number of Iraqis & Afghans who died without a purpose .

2. On the Palestinians situation, and the Arab-Israeli conflict, he said:

"Palestinians have undergone 60 years of carnage and invasion ... at the hands of some criminal and occupying Zionists. Zionists in Israel have forged a regime through collecting people from various parts of the world and bringing them to other people's land, by displacing, detaining and killing the true owners of that land.
The Security Council cannot do anything, and sometimes under pressure from a few bullying powers, even paves the way for supporting these Zionist murders."

I don't think anyone, at these times, can turn a blind eye to the suffering of the palestinians. Just because Europe & The United States are being extra polite with the Jewish state, it doesn't make the atrocities the palestinians suffer less inhumane.

On the Jews he said:

"We have no problems with Jewish people. There are many Jews who live in Iran today ... but please pay attention to the fact that the Zionists are not Jews. They have no religion ... they just have -- wear masks of religiosity. How can you possibly be religious and occupy the land of other people?"

Therefore, I think the Anti-Defamataion League should know better that calling him anti-semitic! I don't see them getting worked up everytime Mr. Bush decides to label people, as terrorists or Villains left right and center. Or, when he declares a crusade!!!

3. On Iran's Nuclear program, he said:

"Their concerns about us are not new. They've always been concerned. They were the ones who inspired Saddam [Hussein] to attack Iran and get us involved in an eight-year war. The terrorist groups that killed our president, our prime minister, our officials, are now freely asked to live in the Western countries.
The nuclear issue, has been politicized and is not a legal struggle at all, noting the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog group, has not detected any noncompliance or deviation on the part of Tehran"

Beat that!! You wanted inspector, you got it. You want to check on us, you got it. Nothing we do is against the international law, so what the hell is all the fuss about? Meanwhile, the west still doesn't see a problem with Israel being a nuclear power, and not signing any treatment to control the spreading of nuclear weapons!

4. On the American-Iranian Dialogue, his words were:

"I have said that, in fact, on this very trip, currently in New York, that I am ready to speak with the presidential candidates before the press. I believe that we've really done whatever we could do in this respect"

So for a country who supports democracy and dialogue, the US government should be the initiator of such a dialogue. Insteas they are shying away from it! I wonder why? In fact, during his speech at the UN, no more than a note-taker was representing the US delegate! The perminant member of the United Nations... Talk about denial!

5. On Homosexuality in Iran, he said:

"We do pay attention that in Iran nobody interferes in the private lives of individuals. We have nothing to do with the private realm of people. This is at the non-private, public morality. In their own house, nobody ever interferes."

Well, I think here, he was caught off guard! I don't think anyone can deny the presence of Homosexuals in their society, and I don't think that Iran doesn't interfere with people's private life!

All in all, I think he was being reasonable. Not "on fire" as he usually is, which I think is good for his people. Sadly, I don't think anything he said will change the leading powers' plans for the region. It most probably will not be more than a cry which will fade away in a week or two. Probably just before the next speech Bush will grace us with regarding Iran or the Axis of Evil!

It's funny how differently this label "Axis of Evil" is conceived when he said it, as opposed to how it sounds when Dean Obeidallah or the rest of the Axis of Evil comedians say it.

Finally, I think I have to say, we still love Americans. Just not those sitting in Washington DC!

Today's Dose of Wisdom! History

Retweet this button on every post blogger History is the sum total of things that could have been avoided.
Konrad Adenauer
(True...)

History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon.
Napoleon Bonaparte
(I think this is the best qoute about history)

History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.
Winston Churchill
(So..., was it?)

History is a tool used by politicians to justify their intentions.
Ted Koppel
(What do you think Mr Goerge W. Bush?)

Olmert grows a conscience

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"The state of Israel does not allow pogroms against non-Jews," Olmert said. Speaking at the weekly Cabinet meeting, he said settlers who take the law into their own hands will be punished." Ehud Olmert.

Strong words from the prime minister soon to be the X. Certainly, it's kind of him to say that, but the question is; would he have said that provided he stayed the prime minister of the Israeli state for a longer time!

Then comes out Yisrael Meidad, and says that Olmert is blaming the wrong side!

"Violence begets violence, and in my indication and sources, the violence started from the Arab side," He said.

I wonder if Yisrael Meidad had in mind the past 60 years, and the thousands of palestinians who were killed all across Palestine, and those who are currently being starved to death in Gaza when he said that.

I'm all for his theory. However, he needs to remember that this theory works both ways. So, you can not blame the palestinians for the settlers' madness, and blame them for the rockets they fire at the settlements next to Gaza, after being seiged, killed, and starved by the israeli "defence" army.

Even a cat would go violent, if you put it in a corner, and make it feel that its kittens are threatened! Let alone being killed.

So, no applause for Olmert, because it's a little bit too late!

Today's Dose of Wisdom! Mark Twain

Retweet this button on every post blogger "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society."
(Oh Mark you sure hasn’t seen any of the 21st century)

"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education."
(That’s what everyone should do)

"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint."
(Absolutely true)

"A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain."
(Tough break Lehman)

Mark Twain US humorist, novelist, short story author, & wit (1835 - 1910)