Manal and Alaa's bit bucket

It all started with famed Iraqi blogger, Raed Jarrar being forced to take off a T-shirt before boarding a flight. The T-shirt had "We will not be silent" in English and Arabic.

One of the officials said that:

... wearing a t-shirt with Arabic script in an airport now is like going to a bank with a t-shirt that reads, “I am a robber.”

Say what? This is absurd and highlights how low the US has descended in its phantom war on terror. The hysteria by the media has succeeded in swaying public opinion against Arabs big time.

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As expected, Drupal sites are popping up all over the place.

Here are a few random Drupal sites that I ran into while surfing the net for non-Drupal related stuff.

• Scripps News is a Drupal site that is part of other E. W. Scripps sites, including HGTV, Fine Living, Food Network and others. It aggregates news from other sites. Plain looking but clean theme.
• AllEmpires.com is a community about history. The forums are not Drupal, but the rest of the site is.
  

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I got this from Dr. M. S.

I would like to ask about the registration fees for an [some citizenship] Girl wants to egister in the second year of the secondary school (Grade 11). Also, the fasilties for aquiring studying Visa to enter Egypt.
Thanks

It seems that Gavin Menzies is not the only person who claims that the Chinese discovered the Americas before Columbus.

Paul Chiasson, a Toronto architect and amateur archeologist, claims that some ruins at Cape Breton are indeed due to Chinese navigators who circumnavigated around Africa and came to Cape Breton and settled there. He claims that Mi'kmaq natives were culturally influenced by those alleged Chinese navigators too.

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A new study shows that tea is mostly beneficial to the health.

Tea cuts down the chances for heart attacks, has flouride in it and hence good for teeth, and has antioxidants in it as well, which although not conclusively cancer-preventing, has other benefits.

Tea is also a source of fluid.

The myth that tea causes dehydration, because of its caffeine content, has been debunked.

All this is good news to me, since tea is my main source of fluid.

The only downsides are the caffeine content of tea, which is less than coffee, and its prevention of iron absorption if taken around meal times.

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If you suffer from information overload in the Drupal Universe, take a look at Drupal Digest.

This is a human edited RSS feed for the Drupal mailing lists. The best posts are added in there, so you only need to point your RSS reader to the feed and you are up to date on what is happening.

Volunteers are needed for the themes, consulting, translations and infrastructure lists.

Thanks to Moshe Weitzman for this site. Also uses the new comment RSS module.

Liquid explosives have been known for more than 150 years.

The first was Nitroglycerin or TNT, easily manufactured by concentrated Nitric acid and glycerine. Since it is very unstable, dynamite was invented as a means to stabilize TNT. Note that nitroglycerin is used for heart patients, specially angina pectoris.

Of the organic peroxides groups, acetone peroxide, known as TATP (Triacetone triperoxide) is a powerful explosive. In theory it can be made from peroxide (more concentrated forms than what is sold in pharmacies), and nail polish remover (acetone). Although manufactured from liquids, TATP is a white crystalline powder, and not a liquid. It is suspected to have been used in the July 7, 2005 London bombings.

If you want to buy a new digital camera, it is best to check the reviews from more than one web site first.

Here are sites that do these reviews on a regular basis.

• Digitial Photography Review. Founded by a Phil Askey, professional photographer. The site has in depth reviews of digital cameras and other products related to digital photography. Its main focus is the high end pro and pro-sumer cameras. Recently, the site hired other reviewers and started to look at mid and low end cameras as well.
• Steve's Digicams.
• DC Views.
• Imaging Resource.
• DC Resource.

Another example of winning the lottery.

INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROMOTION
PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
HAARLERBERGWEG 16
1101 CH AMSTERDAM

REF: CMWN321501/55 BATCH: 32/852042/ILPPA/CMWNIP

Dear Sir/Madam,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners International programs held on the 12th August 2006.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 2154892-09 with serial number 8542189-92
drew lucky numbers 92-21-21-99-3 which consequently won in the 1st category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$ 500,000.00(Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims has been processed and your money Remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.

The term "Islamic fascism" or "Islamofascism" has been in use for some time, specially by right wing talk shows and Islamophobic web sites.

Now, it has gained currency in the jargon of the Bush administration. President G. W. Bush used it several times in speeches recently, including the recent trans-Atlantic bomb plot.

The term is ambiguous and imprecise, since historically, fascism was confined to secular governments, and not non-official religious groups. It also maligns Islam and Muslims in general by associating fascism with Islam.

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Here is another one that showed up on the Drupal development list. I guess we don't have to any fund raising for servers anymore, and Dries can retire early ...

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Although intelligence is a better anti-terror weapon than wars, there are some side effects of arrests such as the recent ones for the trans-Atlantic flight bomb plot.

One of these side effects is what is termed Security theater, coined by Bruce Shneier.

This is for government actions that are designed to look like they are improving security, but really do not.

This is like the old joke that goes like this:

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David Farber writes an article detailing some of the possible chemicals involved in the recent trans-Atlantic bomb plot.

He then comes to the same conclusions I made on where this might lead.

My version would be:

2001: nail clippers banned.

2002: passengers made to take of shoes.

2006: liquids, laptops, cell phones and carry on luggage forbidden on flights.

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The recent terrorism arrests for the trans-Atlantic flights alleged bomb plot shows that the tried and tested method of using security agencies gathering intelligence is the best way to combat terror, before the plots are put in execution.

There is no need for a "war on terror" that invades other countries, killing tens of thousands of civilians, destabilizing countries, created new terrorism leaders and alliances (such as Abu Musab al-Zarqawi), and having thousands of new recruits for terror organizations like Al-Qaeda.

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A recent poll commissioned by a upcoming reality TV show confirmed that Americans are more likely to know pop culture factoids, but not news, classical literature, science or history.

Quote:

The poll found that:

• About 77 per cent of Americans can name at least two of the dwarfs from the fairy tale Snow White, but only about 24 per cent can name two U.S. Supreme Court justices.
• 57 per cent of the U.S. respondents know that English writer J.K. Rowling's fictional boy wizard is named Harry Potter, while only 50 per cent can name U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair.
• 73 per cent can name the Three Stooges (Larry, Curly and Moe). Only 42 per cent could name the three branches of the U.S. government (judicial, executive and legislative).
• 60 per cent of respondents knew that, on The Simpsons, Homer's son is named Bart. Only about 21 per cent could name one of the ancient Greek poet Homer's epics (The Iliad and The Odyssey)
• Of those polled, 60 per cent could name Krypton as the home planet of Superman. Only 37 per cent could name Mercury as the closest planet to the sun.
• While 23 per cent of poll participants know that Taylor Hicks is the most recent singer crowned American Idol, only 11 per cent could name Samuel Alito as the most recent judge to join the U.S. Supreme Court.

Seems like carbonated sugar water is making news in politics again.

Earlier, I reported on how six states in India banning Coca Cola and Pepsi caused the US government to warn India about the effect of those decisions on investment from American companies.

Today, Pepsi announced that an Indian born woman, Indra Nooyi is to become CEO of the company.

In the past, Nooyi has made comments at a graduation ceremony where she said that the USA is the middle finger, and when it extends a hand to other nations, it should appear as a helping hand, not just extending a finger.

Some states in India have banned Coca Cola and Pepsi due to alleged high pesticide content. This goes back to 2004, and even 2003.

Now, the USA is warning India that investment by American countries could suffer.

Here is another scam email for the Euro Million Lottery.

From: EURO MILLION AWARD <euromillionaward2006@caramail.com>
To: ...
Date: Aug 14, 2006 11:45 AM
Subject: FINAL WINNING NOTIFICATION 2006 EMAIL AWARD PROGRAMME

EURO MILLION AWARD
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF: EMLA/61-ILGI0509/45
BATCH:EMLA/15/096/WRCS
RE: WINNING FINAL NOTIFICATION:
We happily announce to you the draw of the Euro Million Lottery
International
programs held on the 30th July 2006 in Madrid Spain.Your e-mail address
attached to ticket number: 213440056545 168 with Serial number
4188/05drew thelucky numbers:4 9 22 24 30 41 20 which subsequently
won you the lottery in the 2nd category.You have therefore been approved
to claim a total sum of 500,000.00 Euro(Five Hundred Thousand Euro)
in cash credited to file KPC/9087533308/03.This is from a total
cash prize of Five Million Euro(5 million Euro), shared amongst the first
Tenth(10th)lucky winners in this category.Please note that your lucky
winning number falls within our Madrid booklet representative office in Spain as
indicated in your play coupon.In view of this, your 500,000.00 Euro(Five Hundred
Thousand Euro) would be released to you by our security firm in Madrid, Spain.
Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your
funds as soon asyou contact him.

The Economist has a well written article on how the Lebanon-Israel war is perceived in the USA and the rest of the world.

As usual, the USA is staunchly pro-Israel and can't understand why would anyone think otherwise. The rest of the world has a very different perception.

The influence of lobby organizations like AIPAC, and the Evangelical constituency cannot be underestimated.

Read the Economist article To Israel with love.

A recent poll in the US show a disturbing trend.

In a USA Today / Gallup poll shows that almost 40% of Americans acknowledge having prejudice against Muslims. A similar percentage, 39%, favor subjecting Muslims to stricter security measures including carrying a special ID. 41% favored Muslims undergoing more intensive security checks at airports. Most respondants said that they don't personally know a Muslim.

While this is not unexpected in the USA, where the right wing media has been demonizing Muslims even before September 11, the fact that Canada has similar negative views of Muslims is saddening.

This is a web site that collects media articles hostile to Muslims. Although they can use better wording than "Western Imperialism" on their About us page,  the collection is valuable, and categorized by country and topic.

Even notorious Islamophobes like Daniel Pipes and Oriana Fallaci have their own category, not a surprise given the volume and vitriol of their writing.

Visit Islamophobia Watch and judge for yourself. 

A new scarecrow term that has emerged recently, specially in right wing media and the Bush administration's rhetoric. The term is the caliphate.

In this article, I mention some facts on the caliphate, and what the above rhetoric is.

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In an open letter published in several newspapers, four British Muslim MPs, and 38 organizations accused Prime Minister Tony Blair of fuelling extremism and terrorism.

They specifically name the UK government's foreign policy towards Iraq and Israel.

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Wal-mart has accepted that its Chinese stores will be unionized.

The retail giant employs 28,000 workers in China, and the union is the state-sanctioned All China Federation of Trade Workers (ACFTU).

This is in stark contrast with North America, where Wal-mart closed stores in Quebec shortly after they unionized.

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The Christian Science Monitor is reporting from various sources how the influential neo-cons in the White House are urging Israel to attack Syria.

This is like trying to widen a fight during lunch break in a high school ... specially when the person doing the encouraging is doing so to further their own agenda ...

As the saying goes : Even a broken clock tells the correct time twice a day ...

Little Green Footballs is a political blog that often has an Islamophobic tone. It often gets anonymous tips of important news.

It broke the word on Dan Rather's flop with G. W. Bush's army service letter.

It also broke the news on photoshopped pictures from Beirut freelance photographer Adnan Hajj. See the CBC coverage as well.

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As a child, I used to spend summer with family in Agami, west of Alexandria. The blue water of the Mediterranean, and the white sand were a major part of the activities there.

Jellyfish torture

On some summers, we would see an invasion of large blue jellyfish with purple fringes, probably Pelagia noctiluca. These caused a lot of pain that lasted for hours.

Several years ago, my two eldest daughters were subjected to the same torture. We were watching a Balans بلنص (traditional fishing boat in Alexandria) hauling in its catch to the shore, as often is the case. As the net was taken out of the water, the girls ran between the net and the surf. The net was dripping a lot of water, and since there were lots of jellyfish in it, the water was like a caustic fire. That resulted in a lot of crying and tears.

Here is a classic scam from Craigslist.

They offer to buy your item you advertised via classified for more money than you ask for ($375 in my case, he offered $500).

They even give you a bleeding heart story about wife dying in accident.

From: ike derico

Alright,i live in North Georgia United State.Am quite comfortable with the condition of the item since i wont be making any repairs on it,i will like to offer you $500 including packing materials without you paying for any shipping charges b'cos i already have an account with FedEx,i would have loved to make the payment in cash and carry but we are not in the same state so i will like to go ahead with the payment by sending you a Money Order But i will need your contact infomation in which the money will be deliver ok.I wonna buy this [item name] for my step son to fulfill the promise his mum made before she died,i lost my lovely wife to an auto accident on 29th of June 2005 and since then i and her step son john have been living seperately and i want to buy this item for him because his mom promised him before death took her away from us and i think with this i and tobi can live as a family. Kindly get back to me immediately you receive my e-mail and i will like you to take it off craigslist for auction cos am serious in buying it.So let me have your full infomation ofr pyment to be made....

Classified ads on craigslist attract scammers from Nigeria and elsewhere.

Here is a recent example when I was trying to sell something.

Not that I asked for $375, and was offered more for it.

Here is the first message I got:

pls can you tell me if this item is still for sale ?and the price

When I replied it was available, this was the reply:

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There are many internet scams in circulation.

This section details some of them.