Imagine

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say I'm
a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one....
peace, love and harmony
happy new year 2007
G.

Aoun the Hero

for all who forget the truth of this Hero!!!!

The Message of the Christmas

The Message of Matthew 1:21
"And she will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins."

This angelic proclamation to Joseph is possibly one of the most culturally incorrect statements within the Gospel birth narratives. In this one sentence, the angel sent from God delivers to Joseph a message that runs contrary to most popular Christmas messages you are likely to hear on TV, radio, and from many pulpits. It also runs contrary to the worldly understanding of the message of Christmas, and what the birth of Christ means for the world.She Will Bear a SonThe angel informed Joseph that his betrothed was to become supernaturally pregnant. In verse 23, Matthew says that this startling revelation is a fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy (Is. 7:14). It has never ceased to amaze me how some try to wiggle around the idea that this was, indeed, a real virgin birth. Yes, the Greek term parthenos can be used to refer to a young maiden. However, in the context of the passage, the Lord was encouraging Ahaz to ask for a sign, something remarkable that would indicate to him God's hand at work. "Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; make it deep," God says to Ahaz; but Ahaz does not want to be presumptuous, so the Lord offers the sign in 7:14. If all the Lord meant was "a young maiden will become pregnant and bear a son," that hardly seems a remarkable sign. Many young maidens became pregnant. Where is the "deep sign" demonstrating an act of God?Furthermore, this child was to be a son (huios), not a divine principle: a real, tangible, human being. But not just a mere human being. This was to be Emmanuel, "God with us." Was he just supposed to be a symbol of God's presence among His people, like the ancient Tabernacle? Not according to the gospel accounts. The angel spoke of a real child; Mary carried true flesh and blood in her womb for nine months. But this flesh and blood was more than merely a man. He was born "of a virgin" by supernatural intervention. This child was was God with us--literally. The baby that lay in the manger was fully man and fully God: God incarnate.He Shall Save His People from Their SinsNow the angel tells Joseph the purpose of God becoming incarnate. The child's name was to be Jesus, which is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua meaning "God saves." Who is God going to save? According to the angel, "His people." For those interested in textual variants, there is a variant at this point. The Curetonian Syriac text actually reads ton kosmon here, making the angel say that Jesus will save "the world." There are two things to note about this. First, this is the only text that says this; all other manuscripts, including the Byzantine manuscripts read ton laon autou, "His people." Second, this maverick reading in the Curetonian Syriac more than likely came about due to scribal error since the Syriac for "people" (`ama), is very similar to the Syriac word for "world" (`alma). (If you want to see this for yourself, take a look at this blog entry in Evangelical Textual Criticism. I am indebted to this entry by P. J. Williams for this information.) Christ did not come into the world to save every man. If He did, then you can be assured that everyone, from the most pious saint to the worst reprobate will be in Heaven when they die. Whatever God plans to do comes to pass (Psalm 33:11), so if God planned to save every person in the world, He surely would. Yet, we know He hasn't (John 6:44; Acts 13:48).So, God is coming into the world as a man to save a particular group of people that He will call His own. But what is God going to save them from? Sickness? Famine? Disease? Oppression and poverty? Every year, we are told by the secular media that the point of Christmas is peace, and that the birth of Jesus symbolizes God's love, so we need to share that love and peace in order to end all the evils to which we are subjected every day. That's what Christmas is all about, we are told. But that is not what the angel says. The angel says that Jesus Christ came into the world with one objective in mind: to save His people from their sins. If Christ came to do anything other than this, then there is no hope for us. The evil in the world is not caused by wrong thinking, mismanagement, poverty, abuse by authority, or bad upbringing. Evil exists in the hearts of men because man is at enmity with God. Until sin is dealt with, man can never be at peace with God. And men cannot hope to have true, lasting peace with one another without first having peace with God. World peace does not begin at the UN; it begins with proclamation of the Gospel: "You shall call his name Jesus; for He will save His people from their sins."God has made provision for the sins of men. Peace on earth is now possible, because Christ has come to reconcile God and man. God's perfect justice that demands payment for sin has been satisfied in Christ on behalf of His people.This is the message of Matthew 1:21, and the true message of Christmas.

As our world becomes increasingly secular, and the images of Christmas--and even the word "Christmas"--become replaced with warm feelings and empty platitudes, it becomes more important for us not to forget this. May the Lord be pleased to ignite our hearts with love and gratitude to Him for His awesome grace!

Byblos Bank Christmas Commercial

Shame on us all...
Merry Christmas all Lebaneses

Christmas in Downtown Beirut

Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone

It's my 1st Christmas away from home... i wish you all peace and love in your heart...
Enjoy the season...
G.

IF

Something to inspire us in the coming days, cheers!

[IF]

If you can keep your head when all about youAre losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
--Rudyard Kipling - 1909

Celine dion and Josh groban live - the prayer

Celine Dion - The Prayer Lyrics


I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go.
And help us to be wise in times when we don't know
Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way
Lead us to the place, guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe

La luce che tu hai
I pray we'll find your light
nel cuore restera
and hold it in our hearts.
a ricordarci che
When stars go out each night,
eterna stella sei

The light you have
I pray we'll find your light
will be in the heart
and hold it in our hearts.
to remember us that
When stars go out each night,
you are eternal star
Nella mia preghiera
Let this be our prayer
quanta fede c'e
when shadows fill our day

How much faith there's
Let this be our prayer
in my prayer
when shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe

Sognamo un mondo senza piu violenza
un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace, di fraternita

We dream a world without violence
a world of justice and faith.
Everyone gives the hand to his neighbours
Symbol of peace, of fraternity
La forza che ci da
We ask that life be kind
e il desiderio che
and watch us from above
ognuno trovi amor
We hope each soul will find
intorno e dentro se
another soul to love

The force his gives us
We ask that life be kind
is wish that
and watch us from above
everyone finds love
We hope each soul will find
around and inside
another soul to love
Let this be our prayer
Let this be our prayer, just like every child

Need to find a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe
Need to find a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe

E la fede che
hai acceso in noi,
sento che ci salvera

It's the faith
you light in us
I feel it will save us

First Anniversary of Gebran Tueni's Murder

First Anniversary of Tueni's Murder 11-12-06 05:20
BY: NAHARNET
More than 5,000 people, including journalists, Tueni's family members and friends, and politicians attended the ceremony

First Anniversary of Tueni's Murder: Honors and Praise

The editor-in-chief of the Yemen Times Nadia Al-Saqqaf was on Sunday awarded the 2006 Gebran Tueni prize on the occasion of the first anniversary of An Nahar General Manger's assassination.

Al-Saqqaf, who is the first woman ever to be appointed an editor in Yemen, received the award Sunday during the opening ceremony of the "Press Under Siege" conference at the Beirut International Exhibition and Leisure Center (BIEL).

The new prize from the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) aims at honoring an editor or publisher from the Arab region.
More than 5,000 people, including journalists, Tueni's family members and friends, and politicians attended the ceremony, a small distance away from the scene of an ongoing sit-in by anti-government protestors.

Sunday's ceremony went ahead despite heavy security in downtown Beirut ahead of a mass Hizbullah-led demonstration aimed at toppling Premier Fouad Saniora.

The prize honors the memory of Gebran Tueni, An Nahar's General Manager, legislator and WAN Board Member who was killed in a car bombing in the Beirut suburb of Mkalles on December 12, 2005.

WAN said that Saqqaf received the prize because she demonstrated the values incarnated in Tueni: attachment to freedom of the press, courage, leadership, ambition, and high managerial and professional standards.
The award carries a 10,000 Euro scholarship to enable Saqqaf to undertake advanced newspaper leadership training by An Nahar's training institute.

The ceremony included a documentary film about Tueni and speeches by world renowned journalists and artists who praised the late An Nahar general manager.

Tueni's daughter Nayla, who is also Lebanon's leading newspaper's assistant general manager, made a speech urging for the continuation of the Cedar Revolution and rejecting the toppling of Saniora's government.

She called on President Emile Lahoud to resign his post.

The dean of the Lebanese press Ghassan Tueni during his speech urged for a pact of honor that prevents media instigation.
Saniora also made a speech from the Grand Serail that was broadcast live to the conference at BIEL.

The prime minister vowed his government would overcome the challenge posed by opposition protesters.

Lebanon is a strong country. We will overcome this crisis," Saniora said.

He also played down the country's deepening divisions, saying there "is no divorce between the Lebanese" and reiterating his call for talks between the bickering parties.

LEBANON

L LOVE EACH OTHER
E ENJOY OUR FREEDOM
B BE LOYAL TO OUR COUNTRY
A ALLAH IS PEACE
N NO ONE IS BIGGER THAN LEBANON
O OUR LEBANON WILL STAY,
N NOW, TOMORROW & FOR EVER

Toto I Won't Hold You Back

Lyrics:

If I had another chance tonight I'd try to tell you that the things we had were right Time can't erase the love we shared But it gives me time to realize just how much you cared Now you're gone, I'm really not the same, I guess I have myself to blame Time can't erase the things we said But it gives me time to realize that you're the one instead [Chorus:] You know I won't hold you back now The love we had just can't be found You know I can't hold you back now Now that I'm alone it gives me time to think about the years that you were mine Time can erase the love we shared But it gives me time to realize' ' just how much you cared [Chorus:] You know I won't hold you back now The love we had just can't be found ( Listen to me baby) Y ou know I can't hold you back now [ Instrumental break] You know I won't hold you back now The love we had just can't be found You know I can't hold you back now The love we had just can't be found [Repeat until fade]
I Miss You My Real Eternal Love...
Peace,
G.

Killing Lebanon Economically

Killing Lebanon, economically
By Michael Karam

And so to the latest tented village. That the Rafik Hariri-inspired downtown area should be the field of battle between what must be seen - wittingly or unwittingly - as those who want prosperity and those who wish to obstruct it, is sadly fitting. Say what you want about the late prime minister, he was a deal maker of the highest order. In his book "Killing Mr. Lebanon: The Assassination of Rafik Hariri and Its Impact on the Middle East," Nicholas Blanford describes Hariri as "a corrupter rather than corrupt." That kind of behavior might be beyond the pale in Western politics, but compared to his colleagues in Parliament and the Cabinet, Hariri was an angel. He was the self-made prodigal son who rode into town on the back of a billion-dollar fortune, and set about realizing his dream to transform Lebanon into what he saw as its rightful position as Hong Kong of the Middle East.
But on Saturday night, while trying to make my way to the Hamra neighborhood from Achrafieh, I took a wrong turn and found myself somewhere I didn't want to be: near Riyad al-Solh Square, where opponents of the government have been protesting since last Friday. It was more Dante than downtown, as I watched a nation deliriously assisting in its own suicide. Was it really meant to be that way?
Crunch the numbers and it becomes obvious that this is neither the time nor the place for such a jamboree. Lebanon's total debt stands at $39.4 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6.9 percent. The debt-to-GDP ratio is a staggering 190 percent. PM Fouad Siniora, a banker by training, is aware of the urgency of reform. He is also acutely aware that nearly 30 percent of government spending goes to servicing the debt. There is a $3 billion deficit in public finances and even more worrying is the imminent maturity of $5 billion worth of government bonds in 2007.
The Paris III economic conference, already a year late, looks like being postponed once again. Rating agencies have given Lebanon a negative outlook and any delay in Paris III without a definite new date will see an automatic downgrade to a CCC rating - one step away from a default, putting Lebanon on par with the likes of Belize, Ecuador, Cuba, Moldova, Nicaragua and Paraguay.
Without a donor conference the Lebanese Treasury will have to refinance its debt at much higher rates, as there will be few if any takers with an appetite for Lebanese risk. Any inability to refinance could see Lebanon "do an Argentina." True, the Central Bank could mobilize its foreign currency reserves, but that would leave the Lebanese pound exposed. Sadly the country might not be able to fight on two fronts. Remember that during the summer war, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait gave Lebanon $1.5 billion to defend the pound; otherwise the currency would have nosedived.
If the Siniora government is toppled then Lebanon could be in for it. There would no doubt be increased political tension within the country, and with Israel, and major economic reform, the single most important obligation international donors have imposed on Lebanon, could be blocked by Hizbullah and its allies. There would be a massive flight of financial and human capital and the gains of the past six years could evaporate.
At the moment, Paris III is scheduled for January 25, 2007. Lebanon needs a minimum of $4 billion to avert a slide, and ideally $8 billion to finance reconstruction and pay back its $2.4 billion Paris II loan that matures this month. The conference was meant to happen in January 2006, so time is of the essence. Siniora's is the only government that has so far demonstrated a commitment to economic and fiscal management of the country. The prime minister has the tools to reduce the fiscal deficit and debt and create growth - primarily by privatizing the two telecom companies, the national electricity grid, and Middle East Airlines. He has pledged to increase taxes and encourage investment. Even on a "good day" it is estimated that Lebanon looses $1 million for every day it stalls in carrying out economic reform. Does the opposition care about such figures? One wonders.
The resurgent Beirut Stock Exchange looks likely to suffer from a prolonged political crisis, especially as Gulf markets are also falling off. Three Lebanese banks - BankMed, Credit Libanais, and Lebanese Canadian Bank - were considering listing in early 2007, one year after they had originally planned to do so. In the current climate they will wait even longer. And let's not forget that because of the summer war, 35-40 percent of the exchange's market capitalization was rubbed out. It is still falling.
Lebanon's other sectors can ill afford political gridlock. Tourism, which at conservative estimates represents 10 percent of GDP, will be out for the count if this situation continues for much longer. Lebanese industry is also punch drunk. Any gains the sector made in the first half of 2006 - 51 percent growth in exports by all accounts - were wiped out during the war. Fighting also cost the sector $1.1 billion and damaged 142 plants. The outlook for 2007 is not good: Both tourism and industry are expected to shed jobs.
Yes, the economy is hurtling to hell in the proverbial hand basket. Latest estimates put crisis losses at $70 million a day with roughly 7,000 jobs on the line. Lebanon's image as the region's party town is evaporating faster than you can say Bacardi Breezer, while brand Lebanon, which nearly two years ago oozed with equity, is looking very brittle. A widely televised war, a gangster-style assassination in broad daylight, and the sight of soldiers behind razor wire defending a holed-up Cabinet are not good for business, and whether we like it or not business is what makes Lebanon.

Michael Karam is managing editor of Executive magazine, a regional business monthly. He wrote this commentary for THE DAILY STAR.

i've to add that 80% of the new protestors are not paying any taxes for their houses, neither electricity bills nor traffic... they have more than 20,000 mid-range missles and receive financial aid from Iran... if you want to know the Lebanon they are looking for just visit the area where they lived... you'll be shocked
Peace,
G.

We Have The Right for a Merry Christmas Too

Les chrétiens aussi ont des fêtes
BY: L'ORIENT LE JOUR
les chrétiens aussi ont le droit de passer leurs fêtes et nous espérons pouvoir profiter de nos fêtes
Le métropolite de Beyrouth, Élias Audeh, s’en est pris, hier, aux organisateurs des manifestations et a affirmé, lors du prêche du dimanche, que « les chrétiens aussi ont le droit de passer leurs fêtes et nous espérons pouvoir profiter de nos fêtes comme les autres le font.
L’archevêque grec-orthodoxe a vivement critiqué les jeunes qui vont manifester et paralyser le pays.

Sommes-nous devenus aveugles ? s’est-il interrogé. « Ce sont ces mêmes jeunes diplômés, dirigés comme des moutons, qui vont manifester aujourd’hui, qui iront demain dire qu’il n’y a pas de travail dans le pays et qui boucleront leurs valises pour quitter le Liban », a-t-il souligné.

Metropolite Elias Awdeh’s (ArchBishop of Beirut and all coastal Phonecia, for Greek Orthdox) sarmon during Sunday’s mass was an attack on the blind people following their leaders like sheep , about the demonstrators in the DT, about the right for us Christians to have a merry Christmas.
He quoted: “Those who are planning our future should not forger we have the right to spend our Christmas peacefully as well”, Why is it that everyone who loves Lebanon is killed?
He continued: ” I am sad to see that all those educated young men are becoming like sheep and not thinking of their future, We are a blind people”.
Our economical situation is at its worst, and i feel bad to see our youth sitting uselessly and demonstratings, because those same people will be cursing Lebanon and leaving in few years time.
He finally concluded that we deserve to spend our holidays and asked those planning for all that to take into consideration that both of ‘us’ have holidays. He always addressed the ‘Saints’ demonstrating asking if they wanna save the country or destroy it? Are they feeding the poor people instead of cursing the government and accusing it of not feeding those?

He ended it with a beautiful quote :
” ان من يجاهر بحبه لهذا الوطن يتم قتله”.

Bachir Gemayel - this is the president we want...

This is the president who we want. a president that can be responsible on the 10452km2, not an ass licker

Enough!!!!

Enough you are killing our young Leaders since 3o years... Does a presidency chair deserve all this Sir????!!!!!! Shame on you Mr. Killer Aoun

Too Many Lebanese Citizens are Already Wearing Black

Too many citizens are already wearing black
25-11-06 07:59 BY: DAILY STAR

Justice will not be allowed to elude Lebanon. With the cowardly silencing of every freethinking, outspoken voice in Lebanon, the obvious goal is to try and push justice farther and farther away.
The murderers seem to have the courage to kill, but not enough courage to show their faces and claim responsibility for their actions. Why don't they have the courage to allow Lebanon to be free and sovereign? Why don't they have the courage to let men speak their minds? Why don't they have the courage to let justice take its course?

We, as Lebanese, should have no fear of justice. The actions of those who are vainly trying to bury justice betray their fear and cowardice.
Their fear that they will lose power and control has driven them to kill. These cold-blooded murders have changed our nation forever. But we humans have a remarkable ability to forget our pain and our struggles with time.
Even though our physical body has been designed with eyes facing forward, giving the impression that we should always look ahead, we must not forget the past. If we stop learning from the past, we lose the lessons that have been hidden there. So far, that lesson is that violence cannot solve any problems. And as this cycle of violence perpetuates itself, is hope fading for true unity and genuine peace? We can keep hope alive, and reach our goal through our words, actions and our determination to bring justice to all Lebanese. Is our purpose on this earth to destroy violence through enlightenment, education, vision and evolution or are we destined as a nation to continue to destroy ourselves with violence?

My husband Basil died because he believed in Lebanon. Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Samir Kassir, George Hawi, Gebran Tueni and now Pierre Gemayel and our Martyrs have all suffered the ultimate punishment for having the courage to raise their voices for unity on behalf of their beloved Lebanon.
Are we now facing a future where we will have to tell our children that their fathers died because they believed in a lost cause? Too many citizens are already wearing black, let us see no more of them, or else Beirut may turn into a city of ghosts.
Some would try and split the trunk of the majestic cedar, but we must not allow ourselves to fracture. Instead we should stand firmly together, with courage to heal this tree and not allow any more branches to die.
It is said that those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it. Let's not repeat history at the expense of any more Lebanese martyrs.

It is enough.

Yasma Fuleihan is the widow of late former Economy Minister Basil Fuleihan, who was killed alongide...

With each New Martyr we become more stronger.. their death is our new baptism. Lebanon will be strong by the blood we are paying, it's expensive to all of us and to the martyrs' family. but we are here to stay

Long Life Lebanon...

peace, love and harmony...

G.

Stop Killing Our Free Independent Leaders...

لن نحيد عن خط حددناه بالدم...

BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- Lebanese Christian Cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel has been shot dead by apparent assassins in Beirut, senior Lebanese government officials said.
Gunmen opened fire on the industry minister's convoy as it drove through a Christian area of the city on Tuesday, security sources told Reuters. Gemayel, who was in his 30s, was taken to hospital where he died of his wounds.
Lebanese television showed angry and distraught supporters gathering outside the hospital, the news agency said.
Gemayel was a member of the Christian Phalange party and supporter of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority.
The killing is set to deepen the political crisis in which the Lebanese government is currently locked in a power struggle with pro-Syrian factions led by Hezbollah.
"We believe the hand of Syria is all over the place," Lebanese parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri told CNN Tuesday, shortly after the shooting. Hariri is the son of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The United States described Tuesday's killing as an "act of terrorism," a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
"This is a very sad day for Lebanon. We were shocked by this assassination. We view it as an act of terrorism and we also view it as an act of intimidation," U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said of the assassination.
In the ongoing political crisis, all five Shiite Muslim ministers and one Christian in Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's 24-member Cabinet resigned over the creation of an international tribunal to probe the assassination of Hariri.
U.N. investigators linked Syria to the death of Hariri and 22 other people on February, 14, 2005, when an explosion was set off near his motorcade. Damascus denies any involvement, and Hezbollah says Syria's accusers have no evidence to back up their claims.
Hariri's assassination led to a wave of anti-Syrian protests, dubbed the "Cedar Revolution," and the withdrawal of Syria's military from Lebanon. Syria had dominated Lebanon since 1976, when Syrian troops entered in the early days of Lebanon's civil war.

Il Divo - Mama

Mama, Il Divo : lyrics
I didicate this song to the soul of my Mum and to all the mothers of the world, an awsome song that makes me cry the 1st time i heard it...


Mama, thank you for who I am
Thank you for all the things I'm not
Forgive me for the words unsaid
For the times I forgot

Mama remember all my life
You showed me love, you sacrificed
Think of those young and early days
How I've changed along the way [ along the way ]

And I know you believed
And I know you had dreams
And I'm sorry it took all this time to see
that I am where I am because of your truth
And I miss you, yeah I miss you

Mama forgive the times you cried
Forgive me for not making right
All of the storms I may have caused
And I've been wrong, Dry your eyes [ dry your eyes ]

And I know you believed
And I know you had dreams
And I'm sorry it took all this time to see
that I am where I am because of your truth
And I miss you, I miss you

Mama I hope this makes you smile
I hope you're happy with my life
At peace with every choice I made
How I've changed along the way [ along the way ]

And I know you believed in all of my dreams
And I owe it all to you, Mama

May God rest your soul in peace my mum, i'm missing you.

peace

G.

November 02: a Foggy Weather in Dubai

This Morning the weather was so Humid and Foggy here in Dubai... All road was covered by water and dews. The sight view is haisy, just we can see for a distance of 10 meters...

Why dont we sue the martyrs?

editorial by Ghassan Tueni from Annahar:

http://www.annaharonline.com/htd/GHASSAN061031.HTM

I dont recall reading such an aggressive and “angry” post by Ghassan Tueni, but he had every right to be angry and his editorial today in Nahar was beautifully written !
The title : Why dont we sue the martyrs ?… ولماذا لا نحاكم الشهداء؟
I will attempt translating the article or sort of resume the contents.
” I dont wanna go into a debate with the president concerning his sudden position opposing the International tribunal memo that the UN proposed, knowing that he is illegitimate locally and internationally …
What Lahoud did today was never done before, and his position i fear could be the first step towards putting an end to protecting HR in Lebanon and the invididual freedoms by bringing back the Syrian regime !!!
Lahoud has become the symbol of this rotten regime and his last guardian, and has been trying in a very filthy and direspectful way to the victims, defending the innocence of the four generals in jail ..
But what was even worse was Lahoud’s attack on the UNIFIL and the UN, disregarding the latest incident between the Germany navy and the Israeli air force.
What Does Lahoud want ? get Lebanon back to total isolation ? make Lebanon yet again a playground for the wars of others and a base for terrorism ?Does he want us to think that the martyrs who were killed during his mandate committed suicide … and not just Rafic el Hariri, but Bassel Fleihan and Samir Kassir and George Hawi and Gebran Tueni ??Or Does he want us to adjust the international tribune text in order to sue those martyrs for killing themselves ?
NO & NO, the international justice shall stay the strongest and most capable, and no one can escape justice ..
Our biggest concern remains that the blood of our martyrs wont be wasted, and let them know that the country that they sacrificed for will punish harshly anyone trying to threaten its sovereighty or trouble its peace and most of all dishonor its martyrs.

Thank you Ghassan Tueni

The Eagle & The Storm

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks?The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.To face the challenges of a storm, not by fighting it, but moving with it, and rising above it.Turn every storm into opportunity knocking, what do you think, somehow detaching ourselves and spirits lifted to better deal with the onslaught that inevitably hits us all, may we soar with eagles carefree majestic devoted to freedom.

i like to think it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.

The October 15th

The October 15, event was cancelled due to bad weather.

We were promised that Lebanon after Oct. 15 will be different from before Oct. 15;

We were promised by Aoun that the event will change Lebanon to become the country that we "all" want; We were promised miracles which will save Lebanon from the ruling mafia. However, it seems that the weather is too cloudy for such a great change to take place. Oh great people of Lebanon, you will have to wait until the clouds clear and the sun shine before Aoun can deliver his promise of the great change for the great nation of the great people.

Meanwhile, oh well, drink orange juice...

It's Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th
Unlucky No. 13 combines Christian and pagan beliefs
by David Johnson


Friday the 13th is an unlucky day in much of Western Europe, North America, and Australia. Many people avoid travel and avoid signing contracts on Friday the 13th. Floors in tall buildings often skip from 12 to 14. And while the superstition is believed to be fading, it nonetheless has deep roots in both Christian and pagan culture.

The Day Jesus Was Crucified?

Many Christians have long believed that Friday was unlucky because it was the day of the week when Jesus was crucified. The number 13 was believed to bring bad luck because there were 13 people at The Last Supper. Since there were 12 tribes of Israel, that number was considered lucky.

Roots in Norse Mythology

Thirteen was also a sinister number in Norse mythology. Loki, one of the most evil of the Norse gods, went uninvited to a party for 12 at Valhalla, a banquet hall of the gods. As a result, he caused the death of Balder, the god of light, joy, and reconciliation. Loki tricked Balder's blind brother, Hod, into throwing a sprig of mistletoe at Balder's chest. Since mistletoe was the only thing on Earth fatal to Balder, the beloved god fell dead.

Literature and Folk Wisdom

During the Middle Ages, the superstition against Friday the 13th grew. On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered the arrests of Jaques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templars and sixty of his senior knights in Paris. Thousands of others were arrested elsewhere in the country. After employing torture techniques to compel the Templars to "confess" to wrongdoing, most were eventually executed and sympathizers of the Templars condemned Friday the 13th as an evil day. Over time a large body of literature and folk wisdom have reinforced the belief. In the 18th century, the HMS Friday was launched on Friday the 13th. It was never heard from again. Since then, ships are not usually launched on that date. (Click here for other mysterious ship disappearances.)

Dinner With 13

It is considered especially unlucky to have 13 people at the table during a meal, such as in Agatha Christie's mystery novel, Thirteen at Dinner. During the 1880s, a men's group that felt superstition was an unhealthy influence on public life held Thirteen Club dinners. Those diners would have doubtless deplored Triskaidekaphobia, which is a fear of the number 13. They would also have looked askance at Triskaidekamania, which is an excessive enthusiasm for the number 13. (Take our Phobia Quiz (part I) on Triskaidekaphobia and other scary phobias.)

Unconditional Love: a motivation story

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco.
"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me."
"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."
"There's something you should know the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."
"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."
"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."
"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."
At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.
The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.

Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!!
There's a miracle called Friendship That dwells in the heart.You don't know how it happens or when it gets started but you know the special lift it always brings and you realize that Friendship Is God's most precious gift!
Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.

peace

Childhood Memories!!!!!!!

AHHHHHHHHHH MEMORIES!!!


Close your eyes...And go back...

....Before the Internet or PC or the MAC......

....Before semi-automatics and crack....

....Before Playstation, SEGA, Super Nintendo, even before Atari...

....Before cell phones, CD's, DVD's,Ipod, voicemail and e-mail....

....way back....

....way.....way.....way back.....



I'm talkin' bout hide and seek at dusk

Red light, Green light, erase the map (ma7ou el kharita)

Playing kickball & dodgeball until the first...no...second...no...third

Streetlight came on

Ring around the Rosie

Jump rope

YOU'RE IT!!

Parents stood on the front porch and yelled (or whistled) for you to come home - no pagers or cell phones

Mother May I?

Hula Hoops

Seeing shapes in the clouds, counting stars at Dusk & starring at the big yellow summer moon raising behind the mountain.

Endless summer days and hot summer nights (no A/C) with the windows open

The sound of crickets

Running through the sprinkler

Cereal boxes with that GREAT prize in the bottom

Cracker jacks(Oath) with the same thing

Ice pops with 2 sticks you could break and share with a friend



...but wait.....there's more....



Watchin' Saturday Morning cartoons

Fat Albert, Road Runner, Smurfs, Picture Pages, G-Force & He-Man, Tom & Jerry

Zeina & Nahool, Lulu & Tabboush... the mighty Grandeizer...


Watchin' Sunday afternoon football match (mostly german league)

Wonder Woman & Super Man Underoos without forgetting Abou Salim el tabel...

FONZIE.....AYYYYYYYY

Playing Dukes of Hazard

Catchin' lightning bugs in a jar

Christmas morning

Your first day of school

Bedtime Prayers and Goodnight Kisses

Climbing trees

Swinging as high as you could to try and reach the sky

Getting an Ice Cream off the Good Humor Truck

A million mosquito bites and sticky fingers

Jumpin' down the steps

Jumpin' on the bed

Pillow fights

Sleep-overs

A 18" black and white TV in your house meant you were RICH

Runnin' till you were out of breath

Laughing so hard that your stomach hurt

Being tired from PLAYING

WORK: meant taking out the garbage

Your first crush

Your first kiss (I mean the one that you kept your mouth CLOSED and your eyes OPEN)

Rainy days at school meant playing "Heads up 7UP" or hangman" in
The classroom, Remember that?

Oh, I'm not finished yet....


Tang was the drink of the summer

Giving your friends a ride on your Chopper (bicycle)

Passing a Syrian checkpoint walking back from a Volleyball tournament was a challenge...

Hiking in the valleys and among the olive trees... walk to the abbey is an achievement...

Wearing your new shoes on the first day of school

Class Field Trips with mushy sandwiches... eat Thymes to become smart.

Sitting at the back sit of the school bus was the priority...

When nearly everyone's mom was at home when the kids got there

(except for me:(...)

When a lira(Lebanese Pound) seemed like a fair allowance;
and another Lira a MIRACLE

When ANY parent could discipline ANY kid, or feed him, or use him
to carry groceries...And nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing of it.

When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to
the fate that awaited you at home.

Basically, we were in fear for our lives but it wasn't because of
drive by shootings, drugs, gangs etc.

Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! And some of
us are still afraid of em!

Didn't that feel good? Just to go back and say, "Yeah, I remember
that!"


Well, let's keep going!!

Let's go back to the time when...

Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-mo"

Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "do over!"

"Race issues" meant arguing about who ran the fastest.

Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in "monopoly"

Catching fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening (Nar ya nar ya nar ya hoooo)

It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends.

Being old, referred to anyone over 20.

Nobody was prettier than Mom

Scrapes and bruises were kissed by mom or grandma and made better (w tfouh 3al shaytan)

It was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the "big people" rides at the Church park.

Getting a foot of snow was a dream come true.

Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dog-dare"

Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for giggles.

The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team.

Water balloons were the ultimate, ultimate weapon.

Older siblings were your worst tormentors, but also your fiercest protector

If you can remember most or all of these, then you have LIVED!!!

Ehhh who cares right? Age is just a number.With age comes Wisdom

Sunset at Dubai Creek from DFC

It was the Dusk on the creek, being at work at this time is something normal here, but staying 15 minutes starring on the sunset from the project site is unusual. i beleive it's a sign : I'm in Love with Dubai...

But i'm missing you here.

peace

Georges & Dalia wedding pictures

Georges Zakhem get married to Dalia Mouawad on 29-07-2006

Mabrouk Georges
congratulations my dear friend

Gebran Tueni Quotes

Gebran Tueni (September 15, 1957 – December 12, 2005) was a Lebanese politician, famous for his editorials in the An-Nahar daily newspaper in Beirut, Lebanon. He was assassinated by a car bomb on December 12, 2005.

To access all 2005 editorials written by Gebran click on: http://web.naharnet.com/editorials.asp

The Oath of Independence:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJzUE5soKVU

"I swear to God As a Muslim and a Christian To defend my dear country ‘till the death And to stay united with my brethren (to stay muwahadeen) Until my last days on earth Defending my great Lebanon (Al A3zeem) "- (March 14, 2005 – during Lebanon’s biggest Independence March in Downtown Beirut. Marking one month exactly to the day of former Lebanese Prime Minister; Sheikh Rafik Al Hariri’s assassination)

Sourced:

"You must realize that many Lebanese are not at ease either with Syrian policy in Lebanon or with the presence of Syrian troops in our country..."- open letter to Lebanese leader Bashar Assad, published March 23, 2000,

"We are on the edge of a new era. It can be something completely positive for Lebanon, and it can be something completely dark for Lebanon. ... That's why we are really at a turning point where anything can happen..." -Associated Press interview, May 2000
This followed the withdrawl of Israeli troops from Lebanon.

Attributed:

"Don't think it is easy for anyone to be forced to live abroad, far from his country, colleagues, wife and children. But sometimes I think, maybe if I am far away I will spare them difficulties and problems. I would transfer the danger to somewhere else and I would not involve those I love..." - Interview with LBC television station

"Yes, there may be other attacks and assassination attempts. One of us may pay the price. Anyway, hopefully it will be us, not anyone else.
The Lebanese security authorities and the remnants of the Syrian system in Lebanon, and directly the Syrian regime from top to bottom, is responsible for every crime and every drop of blood spilled..."

"The Syrian regime is responsible from head to toe for this horrific terrorist crime. Lebanon's opposition should promptly close ranks anew to have every Syrian intelligence cell left behind in Lebanon ruthlessly smashed," June 2, 2005, following the assassination of colleague Samir Kassir

"It is time for us to put an end to our fear for which we paid a very heavy price, to face all the lies of the Syrian security regime..."-Dec. 1, 2005, editorial in An-Nahar

"The Syrian security regime should know ... that despotic regimes and tyrants who committed massacres against humanity were pursued, prosecuted and collapsed..."-Dec. 8, 2005, editorial in An-Nahar

The Father call at Gebran Funeral:

"I call on this occasion not for revenge or hatred but for us to bury with Gebran all our hatreds and to call on all Lebanese, Muslims and Christians, to unite in the service of great Lebanon and its Arab cause," Dec 14, 2005- Ghassan Tueni

The Daughter Cause:

"I, Nayla, daughter of my father Gibran, daughter of my grandfather Ghassan, daughter of my grandfather's father Gibran, I, the daughter of Tueni, am the daughter of freedom. I am the daughter of a martyr, and a martyr never dies..."
"In the names of all those martyrs I solemnly swear our freedom will never die...My father is not dead! He will live through me. I will be the eye of the rooster [An Nahar symbol] which will follow the murderer until the last grave, until we know the truth...An-Nahar will never die, Lebanon will never die...My father always wanted to die for his country and he did. I call upon you all never to forget the oath that he taught you on March 14."- Dec 14, 2005 Nayla Tueni

"We swear by God Almighty, Muslims and Christians, to remain united and defend great Lebanon forever and ever."

May God Bless his soul. (Allah Yirhamou)

Peace.

G.

Dubai is Second Worldwide in Building Offices

Dubai is second worldwide in building offices
http://archive.gulfnews.com/business/Hotel_and_Tourism/10071646.html
10/02/2006 12:19 AM Staff Report
Dubai: With over 24 million square feet of commercial office space currently under development, Dubai has been ranked a close second in the world in terms of office real estate construction activity by Colliers International one of the top three global property service consultants.
According to the company's mid-year Global Office Real Estate review, which assesses the worldwide commercial property markets in 50 countries, only Moscow ranks higher with the Russian capital boasting an estimated 26.90 million square feet of ongoing commercial property construction.
John Davis, CEO, Colliers International Middle East, said: "It is no surprise to see Dubai so close to the top in terms of construction activity. This go-ahead emirate has been making massive progress in recent years with development steaming ahead at an incredible compound annual growth rate of 42.5 per cent.
"Positioned to become the business capital of the region, Dubai has implemented a succession of world-class incentives to attract corporations, NGOs and SMEs from across the globe."
According to the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), the emirate's nominal GDP grew 27 per cent in 2005 more than five times the global average. Buoyed by massive increases in non-oil dependant industries, Dubai is generating strong demand for commercial office space.
"Dubai currently boasts 14 million square feet of available primary and secondary grade office space within its established Central Business Districts (CBD's), a relatively small amount considering the rapid influx of foreign business and the development of indigenous entities currently being undertaken here. Supply is quite simply not meeting demand and developers are feverishly trying to correct the market," added Davis.
According to the report, Asia's commercial construction industry is also thriving. China's ongoing economic boom was evident with Beijing and Shanghai placed third and fourth in the global rankings with 23.58 million square feet and 21.61 million square feet respectively of office space under construction. In addition, Tokyo Central Wards, Guangzhou, Kuala Lampur and Hong Kong, were ranked nine through 12 respectively.
Ranked fifth was South Africa's most populous city, Johannesburg, which is currently undertaking 17.87 million square feet of office space construction.
Only one European city finished in the top ten rankings, Paris, which is currently undertaking 14.61 million square feet of commercial development.

Mona Taleb's Team In Training Page

Koullona Lillwatan

For all my countrymen, for all Lebanese & Friends,

A young and active Lebanese Mona Taleb is a medical student in the US. I am sure you all remember the snap shot from the Martyr Square demonstration onMarch 14th showing a lady wearing the Lebanese flag on her face with the cedar tree decorating her nose. Yes, this is she Mona Taleb who wants to wear the Lebanese flag again in Chicago while running the Marathon for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on October 22, 2006.

Mona is a proud Lebanese nationalist and I call on all my countrymen to support her and make a token contribution to her fundraising. She wrote: " I just wanted to remind you that I am training with The Leukemia andLymphoma Society's "Team-in-Training" for the Chicago Marathon. I have already fundraised $1065... but that's still short of my $4000 goal. I would really appreciate your contribution!

The website for online donation is: http://www.active.com/donate/tntsc/tntscMTaleb

Let us show the world that Lebanese people are caring and everywhere and Lebanon shall prevail.

Mona E-mail is: mona.taleb@gmail.com

Good Luck Mona,

Peace,

G.

Will Try to Give You an Idea about Love

Will try to give you an idea what is love for me...

The Allegory of Love: Unfaithfulness 1570

The painting is one of a series of four executed for Emperor Rudolph II for the Castle of Prague.

It's to be in need to do whatever to make another one feel good and happy... with no reason, not waiting anything in reply, no matter how much it could take you... not just a will to do it, but a real need... like you need the air you breath

it's when you're able to forgive and understand each other in whatever situation, and never stop loving after that

it's when you love someone so deeply that it doesn't matter to you wether that person looks worse than before or not, cause to you that one is always beautiful and that beauty is somewhere deep so nobody else can see it sometimes...

it's when you try to remember someone's name or are going to call someone by name and get the name of your loved one instead, just cause it's always on your mind

it's just trusting each other like you trust yourself and being able to share everything without being afraid of not being understood

it's when you can't get tired of each other just cause you're one... like you can't get really tired of your own self... when you correct mistakes of each other by your own will, without argumenting and counting who did more cause you act as one

it's when getting apart for 1 hour feels like not seeing each other for ages

it's when you don't really need words to communicate and understand each other

it's when you hug each other and feel love of whole the Universe (...how much I would love to hug you right now...)

it's when you look into each other's eyes and can just cry... cause it's a real miracle that you have found each other in this big big world....

When you just love... with no reasons... just love... and can't stop... ever... cause it's the only way for you to live...

Probably I've missed something, it's 5 am now, I'm sleepy:)

G.

hut is on fire today !!!

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited
island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned
the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he
eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect
himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived back to find his little
hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had
happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief,
and anger. He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?"

Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching
the island! It had come to rescue him! "How did you know I was here?"
asked the weary man of his rescuers.
"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

The Moral of This Story:
It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't
lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of
our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut
seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that
summons the Grace of God.

Peace.

14 September 1982: Dream of 10452Km2

in the memory of our leader Sheikh Bashir Gemayel, Annahar Newspaper post an intresting report about el Bash... May God rest his soul in peace
ahhh how much we are in need for such leader and such dream in these days...
http://www.annaharonline.com/htd/TAHKIK060914-1.HTM

A Theif Thinks Everybody is Like Him!!!

Opposition leader flays Lebanon's "mafia" cabinet
September 10, 2006 -Reuters
By Alistair Lyon, Special Correspondent
Lebanon's government is clinging to power so it can steal foreign aid meant for reconstruction after Israel's war with Hizbollah guerrillas, Opposition leader Michel Aoun said on Sunday.

Strange is General Michel Aoun, he used these words forgetting the fact that our beloved country was destroyed by his ally Hizbullah Party.

i'm not defending anyone by this post, but i'm simply expressing my thoughts.

Michel Aoun, stop playing on the rods of confessions, stop claiming that you are an angel in the forest of demons. your history shows clearly that you are the only demon for your society, you are climbing the mountain on envy, hate, religious conflicts and on throwing the sands in the eyes of your followers. Be a man for once in ur life, talk like a man... don't react. show us for once that you a real wise leader, not a follower for your instinct. i really regret the fact that i'm wasting my time to write this post. Stop your quioxotic wars, you are the Mafia, your party along with Hizbullah, in what they call "Jihad el Binae'", are the Mafia, by distrubuting dirty money on Southerns... As a Lebanese "from where you get this money?" i'm asking you... which embassy is giving you that money, and for what reason? aren't you a major player in the conspiracy of destroying Lebanon again, as you did before in 1989 and in 1990... please, tell us what's your program for the future of the country. it's so clear for me and for lot of free thinkers that you are ready to destroy everything, especially the independence achievemnet, just to reach that chair, and what a chair!!!!
Stop pretending that you are asking for "auditing", we insist on it too, but please tell me do u know how much it costs us the July adventure War? i'll tell you just 10 billions American Dollars, strange huhhhhhhhh. yeah as stranger as you. This money we lost in the time of peace and independence, not in the occupation era.
you are happy because you are gainning popularity by the dirty money you are distributing. Lucky you, your 21 dolls will become 30 in next election (but you forget that Lebanon needs real men not dolls)... wawwwwww a big achievement, you'll be the President of the Republic, Congratulations!!!!!! but please answer me for what Republic, and what's the cost you have to payback for the countries supporting you... Stop being a Mafia, a real Mafia, stop your negative thoughts toward the real defenders of free Lebanon... Free Lebaneses are paying their blood to sustain the independence while you just playing with the fire with your Pro-Syrians new allies... one more question, tell me have your new allies changed their political ideology toward Syria and Lebanon or you did??? whatever your answer will be... i'll just tell you:

Shame on You!!! Shame On you!!! Shame on you...

Peace...

Schumacher wins Italian GP, retires from Formula One

Schumacher wins Italian GP, retires from Formula On
Schumacher 10 points, Alonso none
Michael Schumacher wins in Italy as Fernando Alonso fails to finish
By ANDREW DAMPF, AP Sports WriterSeptember 10, 2006
MONZA, Italy (AP) -- Michael Schumacher announced his retirement from Formula One on Sunday, moments after the seven-time world champion won the Italian Grand Prix.
The 37-year-old Ferrari driver, who holds every major record in the sport, will leave after the year-ending Brazilian Grand Prix on Oct. 22.
``Soon my future will belong to my family,'' Schumacher said. ``But for now, what matters is this world championship.''
Ferrari said it would announce a ``new role'' for Schumacher at the end of the season.
``I will always be part of the Ferrari family,'' he said.

Seasons in the Sun

I don't know why i was mumbling and repeating this song all the day long...

Tomorrow is 9/11, a very milestone in my life...

7:55pm of 11th Sept, 1994 my mum expired...
May God rest her soul in peace... Amen

Song: Seasons In The Sun (Lyrics), Westlife

Goodbye to you my trusted friend
We've known each other since we were nine or ten
Together we've climbed hills and trees
Learned of love and ABC's
Skinned our hearts and skinned our knees
Goodbye my friend it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that spring is in the air
Pretty girls are everywhere
Think of me and I'll be there

We had joy, we had fun we had seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climbed
Were just seasons out of time

Goodbye Papa please pray for me
I was the black sheep of the family
You tried to teach me right from wrong
Too much wine and too much song
Wonder how I got along
Goodbye Papa it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that the spring is in the air
Little children everywhere
When you see them, I'll be there

We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons have all gone
We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons have all gone

Goodbye Michelle my little one
You gave me love and helped me find the sun
And every time that I was down
You would always come around
And get my feet back on the ground
Goodbye Michelle it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that the spring is in the air
With the flowers everywhere
I wish that we could both be there

Gaby

Gaby... Is the name i wake up and fall asleep every day with.
Its owner has occupied all my mind and life somehow...
It was very sudden and unexpected...
But curiousl, it's the 1st time in my life that i don't want to resist...
He's been living in my heart... Alone... No friends, no visitors...
I just hope he'll enjoy staying there and there'll be no other ones except for him...
Cause I really love that guy and wouldn't like anyone else to live in my heart...:)
tell him about it when u see him :)

G.

This will Crack You Up!!!!!!

The Origami at DFC-Festival Center

"Origami" is the cascading water feature that forms the dramatic backdrop for events in the Festival square & it animates the sapce when there's no event. Visitors can actually descend or ascend through the water feature from Ground floor to the Sky Walk with terraces in between for people to rest and take in the view.

Nature's Beauty of North Lebanon

What i miss the most in Lebanon is the North, with its splendid greenery, blue sky, diversity of color hues... and above all its good heart people there...

Peace...

Miles Between Us...

There's a sea between us, love, and I wish that it weren't true,
for every day when I awake, I yearn to be with you.
There are many miles between us, love, though you're always here in my heart,
and every night, beneath the silver starlight, I pray for the day we'll never part.

I Miss You...

How could a relaxing evening with a steamy bubble bath, with soft romantic music (Love me tender... love me true...), the warm glow of candlelight, along with the taste of fine wine, and the scent and softness of rose petals get any better?

If you were here to share it with.

Peace...

Lebanon 74- France 73

Congratulation for Lebanon again...

Lebanon 74, France 73
August 23, 2006
SENDAI, Japan (AP) -- Joseph Vogel's free throw with 23 seconds left lifted Lebanon to a stunning 74-73 win over France at the basketball world championship.

August 21st: Desert Safari....

I suggest you experience doing Safari In Dubai, but staying 3 hours at the camp is really boring, but for food is better to take with something. the Sunset is lovely, the desert driving is amazing...
it was my 1st safari in Dubai...
Peace

Hadia Ties the Knot in Front of the Ruins of her Destroyed Home

a good example of the Lebanese Spirit
Congratulation Hadia... Mabrouk in Lebanese

Hadia Ties the Knot in Front of the Ruins of her Destroyed Home
She wore a white lace dress, a wide-brimmed hat and a radiant smile. Hadia Mneimseh was married in front of the ruins of her destroyed home. A primary school teacher, Mneimseh, 31, had planned to wed on July 13 in the apartment where she was born. Everything was ready: the announcements had been sent, the food ordered, the hall rented. But war decided otherwise. On the day before her wedding, after the abduction by Hizbullah of two Israeli soldiers, Israel began bombarding Lebanon, including Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hizbullah stronghold. The Mneimseh family apartment, an 11-storey building adjacent to the headquarters of Hizbullah's welfare arm, was hit. Worse still, the building where the couple had rented an apartment to start their new life together is cracked and could collapse at any moment. Each fled to the homes of relatives to escape the bombardment but more than that would have been necessary to crush Mneimseh's spirit. She insisted on a wedding in front of her childhood home. Her husband Hussein Daher, 37, a worker at a cooperative, agreed. The party took place Saturday at her sister-in-law's home in the mountains, far from the ruins. While war-battered Lebanon faces a struggle to rebuild after the 34-day war, Mneimseh declared herself "very happy."(AFP)

Beirut, 20 Aug 06, 11:53
(Naharnet) http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&09DC75FFB8CB612EC22571D000308570

A Thursday Night

A Thursday night,
From where shall I start, the only song I was able to hear at that dark was “Queen of My Heart” I was curious to check its lyrics (below), it’s really incredible. Some coincidence happen in life cannot be understood. To be with a person is very important, especially at Thursday night, here in Dubai, u need to go out relax, gather, enjoy some happy hours. Therefore, what you’ll do if you are alone. What miracle can u wait? You enter the crowd and chaos of the pub, take your drink, sit on a table, and try to enjoy the music. “But no matter how far… Or where you may be… I just close my eyes…And you're in my dreams”…

Suddenly, I enter to your world, cannot hear anything around, just you and me in a place…

she’s not far anymore, here she’s in the eyes of a swan… feel her soul captivating your breath, u try to smell her scent with every gasp… u can feel her, take her hand and fly again… to a peaceful world… your world… her wonderland… u can see more the lights around her face… she’s a queen with a bright crown … she’s dancing with the swan… lovely….

Where am I??? I’m not dreaming, since I’m feeling… it was a marvelous moment…

You finish your 1st drink; ask for another… ahhh u still have to take one, since you promise her to drink one extra… “No need…” I’m sharing u every drop, my soul is dancing with yours…. The light keep reflecting on a small pool, the colors look bright, mixing, moving floating, fill ur heart with tranquility… time run quickly… moment to move back, take the Taxi, enjoy the sequence of lights of Dubai… unexpectedly, u find urself in need to stay more with her, you stop the driver, decide to walk next to the creek, while the lights are reflecting in harmony, everything is silent…

just you and your mermaid… no instant can be comparable to that one… u share a small chat “loving people create a lot of love in the world…” she said, “Love leads to peace in the world” u replied …”I never felt so much love in my life…” she said… ahhh u shall be sleeping at that time you said, “ it’s better 2 hours with you like that than sleeping 8 hours…” she added… she took your breath away, u cannot tell if that’s a vision or reality… u get confused, u need to move to go out of that wonderful dream… u decide to leave the calmness of the creek, move forward to the street…

car passing fast at that time, roads are empty, hot air hits ur face even after midnights… u see ur building, u try to move fast ur steps… “no, why I’m heading fast there”, u sit on a bench look at the sky, no stars twinkled in the blue… u look upward to see her face again…. yes u feel scared to sleep and leave her alone… but why shall u be selfish like that… she wants to sleep, but u prevent her… Time still running, u r few steps from ur flat, but what r u waiting for don’t u move ahead… waiting for your soul to come back, or to the light of the dawn to wake you up…. Why ur heart is beating fast… are you in love? Why you don’t tell her your truth, what scare you… stop being hesitating, whatever you’ll not loose her… she’s the daughter of your thoughts, she’ll not leave her home anywhere… just stand up and tell her, be sincere and honest to yourself… such a lovely night cannot be lived by urself… she must be here alive just tell her…
“I Love you….”
Yes you do, why you shall lie to her… stop running… leave the lift… “no. I shall move on…”
I take the lift, reach my flat, sit on the couch… wash my face… actually I want to wake up from that dream, look at the mirror, it’s reflecting the beauty of her eyes…” huh, why u r smiling?” you see it was not a dream, it’s your reality… You were living that Thursday nigh with her… are you still scared to tell her the truth…

“No, no absolutely not…” hold your phone and tell her then…. Yes I will…

Gaby says:” I Love you my queen…”
Xoxox says:” Good Night…(k)”

And the storey has no end…..


"Queen Of My Heart" lyrics
So here we stand
In our secret place
With a sound of the crowd
So far away
And you take my hand
And it feels like home
We both understand
It's where we belong
[Bryan:]So how do I say?
Do I say goodbye?
We both have our dreams
We both wanna fly
So let's take tonight
To carry us through
The lonely times
[CHORUS:][All:]
I'll always look back
As I walk away
This memory
Will last for eternity
And all of our tears
Will be lost in the rain
When I've found my way
Back to your arms again
But until that day
You know you are
The queen of my heart
[Bryan:]Queen of my heart
[Shane:]So let's take tonight
And never let go
While dancing we'll kiss
Like there's no tomorrow
As the stars sparkle down
Like a diamond ring
I'll treasure this moment
Till we meet again
[Mark: (All:)]But no matter how far
(Matter how far)
Or where you may be(Where you may be)
I just close my eyes(I just close my eyes)
And you're in my dreams
And there you will be
Until we meet
[Repeat chorus twice]
[Shane: (All:)]Oh yeah
You're theQueen of my heart(Of my heart)
No matter
How many years it takes(Queen of my heart)
I'll give it all to you
Oh yeah(Queen of my heart)
Oh yes you are
The queen of my heart

NUCLEAR WAR-FEARIranian cataclysm forecast

I hesitate to much to post this article, but let's share it togther...

NUCLEAR WAR-FEARIranian cataclysm forecast
Aug. 22Islamists seeking heaven could spark apocalypse, Princeton expert warns© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

A top expert on the Mideast says it is possible Iran could pick Aug. 22, the anniversary of one of Islam's holiest events, for a cataclysm Shiite Muslims believe will forever resolve the battle between "good" and "evil."Princeton's Bernard Lewis has written an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal advising that the rest of the world would be wise to bear in mind that for those who believe the end of the world is imminent and good, there is no deterrent even to nuclear warfare.As WorldNetDaily has reported, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has urged his people to prepare for the coming of an Islamic "messiah," raising concerns a nuclear-armed Islamic Republic could trigger the kind of global conflagration he envisions will set the stage for the end of the world.He's also said, in a WND report, that Islam and its followers must prepare to rule the world, because it is a "universal ideology that leads the world to justice."Now comes Lewis, who notes that the world must be concerned about a leader for whom the possibility of death is not a deterrent."In this context, mutual assured destruction, the deterrent that worked so well during the Cold War, would have no meaning," Lewis wrote. "At the end of time, there will be general destruction anyway. What will matter will be the final destination of the dead – hell for the infidels, and heaven for the believers."For people with this mindset, MAD is not a constraint, it is an inducement," he said.Lewis noted that Ahmadinejad has referred to Aug. 22 several times, including when he rejected – until that date – United Nations requests for nuclear program information.Lewis, joining several other Mideast experts who have expressed similar concerns, said Aug. 22 corresponds to the 27th day of the month of Rajab of the year 1427."This, by tradition, is the night when many Muslims commemorate the night flight of the prophet Muhammad on the winged horse Buraq, first to 'the farthest mosque,' usually identified with Jerusalem, and then to heaven and back," Lewis wrote.In Islam, as in other religious, certain beliefs describe the "cosmic struggle" at the end of time. For Shiite Muslims, Lewis wrote, this will be "the long awaited return of the Hidden Imam, ending in the final victory of the forces of good over evil."The significance, he said, is that there's a "radical" difference between Iran and other governments with nuclear weapons."This difference is expressed in what can only be described as the apocalyptic worldview of Iran's present rulers," he wrote. Iran's leaders now "clearly believe that this time is now, and that the terminal struggle has already begun and is indeed well advanced."As for intent, a passage from the Ayatollah Khomeini, quoted in an 11th-grade Iranian schoolbook, reveals priorities: "I am decisively announcing to the whole world that if the world-devourers (i.e., the infidel powers) wish to stand against our religion, we will stand against their whole world and will not cease until the annihilation of all them. Either we all become free, or we will go to the greater freedom which is martyrdom."Lewis wrote, "This might well be deemed an appropriate date for the apocalyptic ending of Israel and if necessary the world. It is far from certain that Mr. Ahmadanejad plans any such cataclysmic events precisely for Aug. 22. But it would be wise to bear the possibility in mind."Lewis, the Cleveland E. Dodge professor emeritus of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University, specializes in Muslim history and interaction between Muslims and the West.His comments echoed those made just a few days earlier by Robert Spencer, another scholar of Islamic history, theology and law and the director of Jihad Watch.In an article for FrontPageMagazine.com, he wrote that Farid Ghadry, president of the Reform Party of Syria, noted the commemoration of Muhammad's ascent to heaven from the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.Spencer said the Night Journey, or Miraj, is what makes Jerusalem a holy site for Islam, and Islamic tradition believes Muhammad, along with the angel Gabriel, went to the Temple Mount, and then to heaven in a bathing of light over Jerusalem.Spencer reported that Ghadry talked of Ahmadinejad's plans for an illumination of the night sky over Jerusalem to rival the light of that Islamic belief.Ghadry said what the Iranian president is "promising the world by August 22 is the light in the sky over the Aqsa Mosque," Spencer said.He said a nuclear attack on Jerusalem, or even a conventional attack, would be consistent with the references that have been made, including Ahmadinejad's talk that Israel "pushed the button of its own destruction" by returning fire for Hezbollah's rocket barrage.Also, "Atomic Iran" author Jerome Corsi notes that it's less significant whether Hezbollah survives, "but it's really the first chapter in the play for Iran and the Shiite Islam nation to come to ascendancy in the Muslim world."First is the battle against Israel and the United States, he said, then against Sunni Islam. Where that group is more dominant, he said, is in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, where group members are "not unhappy to see Iran contained.""They may launch an attack, but I still think if they had a weapon they would just go ahead and use it," Corsi said. "Terrorists don't brag about things they're going to do until after they do it."He said the recent comments are more typical of terrorists' efforts to get attention."When Ahmadinejad is capable of taking action he will do it without any warning or bravado; he'll just do it," Corsi said.In the updated edition of "Atomic Iran: How the Terrorist Regime Bought the Bomb and American Politicians," now available in paperback from WND Books, Corsi discusses many of the disturbing developments related to Iran.Meanwhile, Tanzanian customs officials have uncovered an Iranian smuggling operation transporting large quantities of bomb-making uranium from the same mines in the Congo that provided the nuclear material for the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima 61 years ago, according to a recent report in the London Sunday Times.A United Nations report, outlining the interception last October, said there is "no doubt" the smuggled uranium-238 came from mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's mineral-rich Katanga province.The smuggled uranium discovered by Tanzanian customs agents was hidden in shipment of coltan, a rare mineral used to make chips in mobile telephones. According to the manifest, the coltan was to be smelted in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan after being shipped to Bandar Abbas, Iran's largest port.Uranium-238, when used in a nuclear reactor, can be used to create plutonium for nuclear weapons.
For further reading, more on religous side check this out:http://armageddoncocktailhour.wordpress.com/2006/08/08/ahmadinejad-august-22-and-irans-new-mission/