Jerusalem, Israel For the past three weeks I have been in Jerusalem. I am here a student of the university of Haifa, relocated to Jerusalem because somebody shot rockets at Haifa. The Hebrew University in Jerusalem is a digital dump. The campus is stunningly beautiful but Internet access for students is very sporadic, computer labs are badly equipped, and the most reliable Internet connection around is the (sporadic and slow) wireless access in Cafe Aroma (which has excellent sandwiches...
This is a list (with explanations) of some questions about history I have often been wondering about. Enjoy! Question 1 How did Egypt evolve into the expensive pharaonic system several thousand years ago? I have always wondered how one culture among so many evolved into that supreme exaggeration of an absolute monarchy. (Yes, I know about human stupidity. I also know about the joke with the Egyptians falling for a classic "pyramid" scheme back then.) Question 2 Was ...
"The Peshmerga guard Kurdistan's de-facto border with ruthless effectiveness. Those who attempt to cross away from the checkpoints and the roads are ambushed by border patrols. Anyone who doesn't speak Kurdish as their native language stands out among the general population. Iraqi Kurds, out of desperate necessity, have forged one of the most watchful and vigilant anti-terrorist communities in the world. Terrorists from elsewhere just can't operate in that kind of environment. Al Qaeda member...
You shouldn't be so proud of your faith. Islam is currently the least sophisticated major culture on the planet. You should work to change that. Instead you applaud those who drag you further down. Do you want Islam to be the religion known for terrorism and burning embassies as well as genocide and anti-Semitism? Just continue as you do. You are already there. You will get in trouble afterwards. G-d doesn't take these things lightly. I believe in G-d and the afterlife. I also ...
And here it is: 1. Don't burn down stuff and stop killing people. Now that that is out of the way, or if you are not the type of person anyway, follow the next few easy rules. 2. Don't educate the west, educate fellow Muslims. This is your religion and your rules and thus your problem, not ours. 3. Don't act as if other people made a mistake but learn from your own mistakes. 4. And stop pretending that your prophet is worth more than anybody or anything else. For you he might...
One year ago the Queen of Denmark apparently nailed it: Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has called on the country "to show our opposition to Islam" http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/04/15/wqueen15.xml Of course, the telegraph puts its own spin on things, using words differently than I would: "Her comments further undermined the image of Denmark as a liberal haven for those seeking a new life in northern Europe." For example, I would say that a ...
"The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic consecration for future Muslim generations until Judgment Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered; it, or any part of it, should not be given up," the Hamas charter states. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060202/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_palestinians Palazzi believes that Israel exists by "divine right" and that the Koran clearly states (Sura 5:21) that God granted the Land of Israel to the Childre...
A very good analysis: http://www.slate.com/id/2134378/ And a conclusion: http://www.slate.com/id/2134761/ Via my friend Sam, the sandmonkey (http://egyptiansandmonkey.blogspot.com/) Exam questions: 1. Is the fighting in Iraq related to fighting Al-Qaeda? 2. Does the American presence in Iraq make it easier for Al-Qaeda to recruit followers?
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Every now and then an anonymous (and temporary) poster replied to an article, usually in a rather stupid way. The regular sometimes refer to such a poster as an "anonymous" poster. Now, it appears that most regulars here are anonymous as well. I realise that many regulars here believe they have very good reasons for not telling the world who they are. But I also think that many of these reasons are not very good, compared to the principle of standing up for one's own opinions and sta...
A guy in Paris saw a pit bull attacking a toddler. He killed the pit bull and saved the child's life. Reporters swarmed the fellow. "Tell us! What's your name? All Paris will love you! Tomorrow's headline will be: "Hero Saves Girl from Vicious Dog!" The guy says, "But I'm not from Paris. "Reporters: "That's OK. Then the whole of France will love you and tomorrow's headline will read: 'Hero Saves Girl from Vicious Dog!'" The guy says, "I'm not from France, either." Repor...
A guy in Paris saw a pit bull attacking a toddler. He killed the pit bull and saved the child's life. Reporters swarmed the fellow. "Tell us! What's your name? All Paris will love you! Tomorrow's headline will be: "Hero Saves Girl from Vicious Dog!" The guy says, "But I'm not from Paris. "Reporters: "That's OK. Then the whole of France will love you and tomorrow's headline will read: 'Hero Saves Girl from Vicious Dog!'" The guy says, "I'm not from France, either." Repor...