tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88261300858067879442024-02-20T08:08:34.110+02:00My Funky Family!My Funky Family!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17455358036302981367noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826130085806787944.post-88438765742120784182009-03-05T03:21:00.010+02:002009-03-05T04:13:37.599+02:00Dr. Hany El-Barbary Wins First Prize for Invention!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qQ1YRsD5HBGP3IhRALbGjihg13flAKLGLXA1UTvKW2dFgNHEoXGEjGO0brcMQNGTbxxNWqdXyNfc-lY18cq-UAC0wEXNa1uNha2Kr4-b7fZm2k89yINELYW-ZWJpH7cXcYYHSSkuvdId/s1600-h/Hany+19+Feb.+2009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309511571358934386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qQ1YRsD5HBGP3IhRALbGjihg13flAKLGLXA1UTvKW2dFgNHEoXGEjGO0brcMQNGTbxxNWqdXyNfc-lY18cq-UAC0wEXNa1uNha2Kr4-b7fZm2k89yINELYW-ZWJpH7cXcYYHSSkuvdId/s400/Hany+19+Feb.+2009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2TdpIav7njtcPnSCxi84ebC7u3MqziPH0cZL7QnTQ9uetvOs-5gPCP7IJVD2jCINyk7nNG0CgLhXgsRByMQb0UXJ0ummH1tqLvZuegL_jvIY9DrECzoNfUm1uhWIr47m6VJJs8KcJp0W/s1600-h/Hany+making+speech+for+Award+win.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309510962213108530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2TdpIav7njtcPnSCxi84ebC7u3MqziPH0cZL7QnTQ9uetvOs-5gPCP7IJVD2jCINyk7nNG0CgLhXgsRByMQb0UXJ0ummH1tqLvZuegL_jvIY9DrECzoNfUm1uhWIr47m6VJJs8KcJp0W/s400/Hany+making+speech+for+Award+win.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdpLTwK5siQ_gdVvNRXrS5huEr3bTMQEn0utUVInHhisuFuIWTJy3YPW4pEtFAU80pUZwm_VNthAiysvL9pyGGAHHtSDqJjrYo9ex3ripz42vyxe6ExIUObS2SjCRAcdeVnbZnvRAAVRF/s1600-h/H.Speech,+cl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309510299728674914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdpLTwK5siQ_gdVvNRXrS5huEr3bTMQEn0utUVInHhisuFuIWTJy3YPW4pEtFAU80pUZwm_VNthAiysvL9pyGGAHHtSDqJjrYo9ex3ripz42vyxe6ExIUObS2SjCRAcdeVnbZnvRAAVRF/s400/H.Speech,+cl.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvMVrlYonJJSGG80c4GFoofPmhxoUs8LpJV70jIM-8Z55QLKhfhavAlds_1NhnVE_772oNHZwP83xaWoOLBeZ0wRf7toWVjOLUxGJ_gVxt7kzCbT2SRl0hFd_inKQLALfN2VKMAtRGpIt/s1600-h/Hany"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309509742140737234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvMVrlYonJJSGG80c4GFoofPmhxoUs8LpJV70jIM-8Z55QLKhfhavAlds_1NhnVE_772oNHZwP83xaWoOLBeZ0wRf7toWVjOLUxGJ_gVxt7kzCbT2SRl0hFd_inKQLALfN2VKMAtRGpIt/s400/Hany's+invention+19+Feb+09.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309509231343492034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 143px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBvM_cS8Gtq6fl7_zaHJ3YDLrNgMyBAH5fEDbMocLBX8CqhAKl04-Gz8vuAaVPuxGY3OnuNSX0D7GGhrIg6FBPdIDkm9TupD5MZcdQ99Gd4L9PRYxFzAadXvb-9NMnS_bl5TdpOqLD-Sm/s400/Hany+2008.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3366ff;"><strong>Hany El-Barbary Wins First Prize, Over Egypt!</strong></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Announced on 19 February 2009, Dr. Hany M. El-Barbary, MD., FRCS, was winner of First Prize for best ‘Prof. Shawki Kamal’ research from the ESS for his new invention: A novel “Pelvitrainer”, which is an apparatus he built to help young practicing surgeons learn laparoscopic skills necessary to do safe surgery.</span><br /></span></strong></span></div><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;"><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Contestants had to be doctors or researchers, under the age of 40 and the inventions were to be genuine and authentic, displayed in a 15 minutes slide show.</span> </div><br /><div></span><span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong>Dr. Hany presented the invention on the 18th of February 2009, and the results were announced the following day, 19 February 2009, with an award ceremony held at the gala dinner of the 27th annual conference of the ESS, at Cairo's Semiramis Inter-Continental Hotel.</strong></span> </div><div> </div><div><span style="color:#3366ff;"> </div><div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#3366ff;">(Hany is the son of </span>Hoda Nassef, creator of this blog!)</span></strong></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>My Funky Family!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17455358036302981367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826130085806787944.post-75751080808492210242009-02-15T23:07:00.029+02:002009-02-16T00:27:50.413+02:00Iman Maleki's Fabulous Art<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BFaJjuf7s4yDMk2xt0m8N9au_YTRNOpNT1cpjI5T5KPDTy-tAJ2HSNmaOKCSy2mHHDWf3A3AmI8xcPvbGTzq1njgJ3nxFsPadbI0Rt8OAcx_9MUBmkZCgY4-DjQ3tAbBU2sLQsKdEtGP/s1600-h/Picture15.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303154160835823586" style="FLOAT: right; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 219px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqTRllPV5iCsMJS_MWdpbLXNeh4fsUtNN7AzDnp8IOZ8TmmEbkahfJTAUreeRil23R4EY8aLvYAZzwK4CeEvPzXx2BRVPuPy3Zqrj_2HxnLQfN48M2KmZXC_zA8NXFaUhIYqp4CQC32k/s400/16.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303136687644304162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 389px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3hiJ-xGoySG23veXiFCUGzKGZTedyWy-F59K_p62q9AMzycvRsFb888DBK7Qv76Q299gP0J_LzvqH8lCsjqwUdPBylIcI7Iz1Kc7QEsOp7FNXYl9jEqtnTYBaG5O0-JdJZ5iN6xeOvE/s400/Picture3.jpg" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsx4I30aHOX4v3Bd-pRSNOU5MHWj_uUYsFBnIJcDyMf6iLKdFlLP5smspceMUpPSO0MamNKcxRgRU7bTCv5TiCiX4pfpKijD_ztN6dfMZN8B89uWEl32m5v29q9-1CoAof66kVQ1av4Ew/s1600-h/Picture2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303136211119195490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 298px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsx4I30aHOX4v3Bd-pRSNOU5MHWj_uUYsFBnIJcDyMf6iLKdFlLP5smspceMUpPSO0MamNKcxRgRU7bTCv5TiCiX4pfpKijD_ztN6dfMZN8B89uWEl32m5v29q9-1CoAof66kVQ1av4Ew/s400/Picture2.jpg" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303136084813864274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRb_Puvfn8ij4rc7jrZC4WDFUuQV-sQ6Eh86UIk-yzYLTywirNKm_Ql98s1bpcBKbnIbMPFTTBjWOUPC7EYiyZBoEjyIH1B_7fBePoKvtp7t27bChFyt0JwqbOXT2TrKu3Ixi2s2lxpKQ/s400/Picture8.jpg" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvieJYbTCwj2vxFBW-Ru8nQ-nSTwzadbryHdLnhKzAkfSDj5HqvedJU-R2KEpAZTC_CxGMErWsKxtnGR3ro8VI_HjU4kMNivocNa0u1pOqiVh_sK2ccturSrwQPfrONBK_D-H8m8ooO4/s1600-h/Picture17.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303135279332367298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 257px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvieJYbTCwj2vxFBW-Ru8nQ-nSTwzadbryHdLnhKzAkfSDj5HqvedJU-R2KEpAZTC_CxGMErWsKxtnGR3ro8VI_HjU4kMNivocNa0u1pOqiVh_sK2ccturSrwQPfrONBK_D-H8m8ooO4/s400/Picture17.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2-82TdBqXi6n-iorPFdHjVDL83Q9iClvr8-ap-idHHLJmEP4wi_xkz5FRid1f0gN_qRs01Ev2zyNx0RKl3frRDEK4ARvKxnPJ4vuTk_5RIBWE5eIW05G68Pugnjpi81Xy2TPHEmh30Y/s1600-h/11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303135397278654466" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2-82TdBqXi6n-iorPFdHjVDL83Q9iClvr8-ap-idHHLJmEP4wi_xkz5FRid1f0gN_qRs01Ev2zyNx0RKl3frRDEK4ARvKxnPJ4vuTk_5RIBWE5eIW05G68Pugnjpi81Xy2TPHEmh30Y/s400/11.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN-yvfoRRrpBhX4SodA5xIkwVxFeYll8Am4eCer24kSeF9UoGU2qbe0xlA_ysu6cLVqcD5J7C-osMzwmHt9AWJCkXmcn4y3uXRfHxmGwsQwzDDAO6jpO7oMdR_P41xjL52NO1CMj_lhE/s1600-h/Picture13.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303135559413404034" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 218px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN-yvfoRRrpBhX4SodA5xIkwVxFeYll8Am4eCer24kSeF9UoGU2qbe0xlA_ysu6cLVqcD5J7C-osMzwmHt9AWJCkXmcn4y3uXRfHxmGwsQwzDDAO6jpO7oMdR_P41xjL52NO1CMj_lhE/s400/Picture13.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtCRXeZj1gF7Z5ipCsiY90pH0tEi8RiBZY16bfLI7HHCD8Bo6NJR2CaUgirdzs26obv_ojt1T_7quxSJ9Stof1Y6SplqjwOcsiLX5otVb9VydATC5d_mlKf8nge0jkGbN5NE0qJ_p5F0/s1600-h/Iman+Malaki.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303135172859474626" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 160px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 203px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtCRXeZj1gF7Z5ipCsiY90pH0tEi8RiBZY16bfLI7HHCD8Bo6NJR2CaUgirdzs26obv_ojt1T_7quxSJ9Stof1Y6SplqjwOcsiLX5otVb9VydATC5d_mlKf8nge0jkGbN5NE0qJ_p5F0/s400/Iman+Malaki.png" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;"><span style="color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#ff6666;">Iman Maleki was born in 1976 in Teheran. From an early age he was fascinated with paintings. When he was fifteen, Maleki studied with Morteza Katouzian, the greatest realist painter in Iran, and ever since he has had many successful exhibitions of his paintings</span></span><span style="color:#ff6666;">.</span> </span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;">The most important exhibition to date was the “Exhibition of Realist Painters of Iran” in the Contemporary Museum of Art in Teheran (1999) and the “Group Exhibition of KARA Studio Painters” in the SABZ gallery (1998) and the “Sa'ad Abad Palace” (2003).</span> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>My Funky Family!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17455358036302981367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826130085806787944.post-86645630514898683922009-02-15T22:57:00.014+02:002009-02-16T00:30:20.820+02:00New Antiquities Unearthed!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvy_X6PTZY8TzhiUGXxa6uDGi3S64BZZLa_123Q1qCCm931zgraFZmg8CaR3fb17GpGhkUlGXC-9SEcbRD2SrI4OrdrHcmOBSdbl3pe4CYq1HcJwM7_OqjWogNXpjiBvN3z0mLc0AUFM/s1600-h/04-01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303133052653792322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 247px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvy_X6PTZY8TzhiUGXxa6uDGi3S64BZZLa_123Q1qCCm931zgraFZmg8CaR3fb17GpGhkUlGXC-9SEcbRD2SrI4OrdrHcmOBSdbl3pe4CYq1HcJwM7_OqjWogNXpjiBvN3z0mLc0AUFM/s400/04-01.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjpYRhpvGUQfFTvzIw0_9oer3ROdyPdRoGp8v1-PBf2jmBeELIVXhpr1i-hRC9MTd00xxYKaZ8g6_X3VDcEFNULEcaqHk11xCUBTMqtKNbB7JT_t-esOkfNDHPjSShbW4Ry7pgbaitUM/s1600-h/04-02.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303132973837998754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 247px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjpYRhpvGUQfFTvzIw0_9oer3ROdyPdRoGp8v1-PBf2jmBeELIVXhpr1i-hRC9MTd00xxYKaZ8g6_X3VDcEFNULEcaqHk11xCUBTMqtKNbB7JT_t-esOkfNDHPjSShbW4Ry7pgbaitUM/s400/04-02.jpg" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303132757815850322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 247px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYrzaqXtLUEwMKGX-5vcxMPvdQ9NInO99re0gg3xUWsTQgd72zKLWFD4ybjwYAZHDksbh0QtkjO-ekMf_4l6mx0VRXTaHb2bWlMQUYLXOQ6mZK5zhIkoQC4773u4WlZb_tp5WS3YpMEg/s400/04.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303132630013522466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 247px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4SgThhWzvScvhk7WTSaEbEeVfssE-2p4FbMoVnJipwcP2wvlHUlomodAMvb9yO-BLWlkuwT87I6P-CwTdFX9tTWkZrJgnPOmCBBsh5srqqduBPBXWmjab-sdZIusMooD-KA723iQP7s/s400/04-03.jpg" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyzJUFpAD51ThromCvkIm4TLZISDnWDvJ4Shlg07Orza_2sygiu6NOHV277uZ4PLKWZd7RM5huJd2KHmLVHJuuXp2-6ilFIQpBL40f612jIMcf0GXIUKeR1q_BG1R061909EzobhhVoQ/s1600-h/04-05.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303132425257238738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 207px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 315px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyzJUFpAD51ThromCvkIm4TLZISDnWDvJ4Shlg07Orza_2sygiu6NOHV277uZ4PLKWZd7RM5huJd2KHmLVHJuuXp2-6ilFIQpBL40f612jIMcf0GXIUKeR1q_BG1R061909EzobhhVoQ/s400/04-05.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1vA142Cmd13jgCd15sySISZeS_qOrRRsx9ke9WoR4kBw_CdQflLacnck9Mn8F6s4SxHXXzowIhgxNIrTsK92LFYxyuHWfqfyp3jJDX8aIQyZCX8irZ2hDnCaZe-g-zLPKGEHYp1L5Es/s1600-h/04-06.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303132298463510178" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 235px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 315px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1vA142Cmd13jgCd15sySISZeS_qOrRRsx9ke9WoR4kBw_CdQflLacnck9Mn8F6s4SxHXXzowIhgxNIrTsK92LFYxyuHWfqfyp3jJDX8aIQyZCX8irZ2hDnCaZe-g-zLPKGEHYp1L5Es/s400/04-06.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqCmtPAWvaoi6nY1nd3YZEyibDZer0oUhCxfhytRgHq-SDImvKe-rL84yvEsxvZUcQtjFvIEH2Jr29hL5ND_PwsUn5Wev1Rv_MmMFQlUUtI-0exaxz6SJpoJLC2z8xnOTIf9ZQsFA2Tg/s1600-h/04-05.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303132504721696274" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 207px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 315px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqCmtPAWvaoi6nY1nd3YZEyibDZer0oUhCxfhytRgHq-SDImvKe-rL84yvEsxvZUcQtjFvIEH2Jr29hL5ND_PwsUn5Wev1Rv_MmMFQlUUtI-0exaxz6SJpoJLC2z8xnOTIf9ZQsFA2Tg/s400/04-05.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHUZO8sRm3yzzBaW16ac25S3fjmTPlM-qAbVYu6EWDiBuQWwTljPl5XDl_OFQE4n04L6r37HysVSZEl6ZGg5HCJw8uKkch9rD28Hyd-zZgqe03iTmEdCfxzZx65gVYnFN-BykJYoPnHE/s1600-h/04-07.jpg"><span style="color:#cc9933;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303132176029196610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 209px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 315px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHUZO8sRm3yzzBaW16ac25S3fjmTPlM-qAbVYu6EWDiBuQWwTljPl5XDl_OFQE4n04L6r37HysVSZEl6ZGg5HCJw8uKkch9rD28Hyd-zZgqe03iTmEdCfxzZx65gVYnFN-BykJYoPnHE/s400/04-07.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><br /><div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc6600;">Preserved Mummy Discovered</span><br /></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffcc66;"></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><span style="color:#ffcc66;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Egypt's archaeologists unveiled on Wednesday,</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">February 11, a newly-discovered, completely-preserved mummy inside a limestone sarcophagus sealed 2,600 years ago during pharaonic times. The rare intact mummy, covered by a thin layer of dust, was unearthed at the Step Pyramid of Saqqara, one of the earliest large stone structures in the world. It is believed to contain up to 100 gold amulets in the folds of its linen wrappings, Egypt's chief archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass said.</span></span><br /></strong><br /></span><span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong>h.n.<br /></div></strong></span></div></div></div>My Funky Family!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17455358036302981367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826130085806787944.post-40949111964908385722009-01-31T16:57:00.012+02:002010-09-12T19:38:22.841+03:00G. A. Chandru - An Indian in Yokohama<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxrrNznbTrXeIGZdQ_5DYRdP2v8wI1jlKTP7vLiP1_BBnBhjD2ZVfqLx4Kz6N7AsR-Bm8wmivfqlIcuA6J-1Pwi-iwq5k_GIv6PFJ4bzjmtYoxQ1ls67y4m9KJ9JO964lSUqFPsKw-bM/s1600-h/japflag.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 80px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 54px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302013603251598786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxrrNznbTrXeIGZdQ_5DYRdP2v8wI1jlKTP7vLiP1_BBnBhjD2ZVfqLx4Kz6N7AsR-Bm8wmivfqlIcuA6J-1Pwi-iwq5k_GIv6PFJ4bzjmtYoxQ1ls67y4m9KJ9JO964lSUqFPsKw-bM/s400/japflag.gif" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPKhbU0Iiwk-_VV6IbY2JVI7AS9kzhUE1Zg6V5RDck6arbc2-JLWqjeKFW8xJr23ey4r-x0q6AckIj9-KQ-y_pEgWWd8S_5A0W3Sva89-ZlLdgE3Mc_U0PdlR8QxRpTVmq1EsMBfh7i4/s1600-h/indiaflg.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 82px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 55px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302012300416991186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPKhbU0Iiwk-_VV6IbY2JVI7AS9kzhUE1Zg6V5RDck6arbc2-JLWqjeKFW8xJr23ey4r-x0q6AckIj9-KQ-y_pEgWWd8S_5A0W3Sva89-ZlLdgE3Mc_U0PdlR8QxRpTVmq1EsMBfh7i4/s400/indiaflg.gif" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpvNFE-KWqZ0wwr1ZQsKzmpaHTdmMqfok7-YQposc2UEb9eN9zKYqIZyq0pqGfjQQwrIA_mov_hbcCASKsc_idtbcImuVGBR1vP4pxYauhBw2We5TGYyPx7K2oTbx7x3RADKhoL26uCo/s1600-h/Chandru.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 281px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302012955574739810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpvNFE-KWqZ0wwr1ZQsKzmpaHTdmMqfok7-YQposc2UEb9eN9zKYqIZyq0pqGfjQQwrIA_mov_hbcCASKsc_idtbcImuVGBR1vP4pxYauhBw2We5TGYyPx7K2oTbx7x3RADKhoL26uCo/s400/Chandru.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoyyLNvb4MsMlhHQecept00ecIltZzWbApx2SSgHGCGvfOGCgYDvUcSH5jtuqm8nTm_R9_r9WAJzwNa0yB_3cgkQaTXLWp7wRUTUFZdPlB2A2jDtqUtdKgvc7POHhqlBIjNVNViIH3d0/s1600-h/Impression2.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 115px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 103px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302011807938522210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoyyLNvb4MsMlhHQecept00ecIltZzWbApx2SSgHGCGvfOGCgYDvUcSH5jtuqm8nTm_R9_r9WAJzwNa0yB_3cgkQaTXLWp7wRUTUFZdPlB2A2jDtqUtdKgvc7POHhqlBIjNVNViIH3d0/s400/Impression2.gif" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9PVFjvIhBieE_9Cu5Jg95Kzo0Fl9-FSlHW7exuZ8ARLwOHkTP0PpmOwUu6UPaSoAx7jlaDbzb_3-T0KogVEf4nEsVqiorWDF_1AhqS5Z5uYYbfX9VFCrIyPTacTcAOSmzPsX8FHGykI/s1600-h/smokepipe.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 230px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 232px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302012481491107058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9PVFjvIhBieE_9Cu5Jg95Kzo0Fl9-FSlHW7exuZ8ARLwOHkTP0PpmOwUu6UPaSoAx7jlaDbzb_3-T0KogVEf4nEsVqiorWDF_1AhqS5Z5uYYbfX9VFCrIyPTacTcAOSmzPsX8FHGykI/s400/smokepipe.gif" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3366ff;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3366ff;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3366ff;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3366ff;">G. A. Chandru - An Indian's History in Yokohama</span><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">An Indian’s History in Yokohama, Japan.</span></strong><br /><br />“<span style="color:#6666cc;"><strong>The family I come from believes in the Hindu faith, and has its roots in the Sindh province, in what is now part of Pakistan…. Under British rule, the people of Sindh were encouraged to travel … and act as … go-betweens between various cultures, in particular in areas of trade and finance.<br /><br />Under these circumstances, my father was sent to Yokohama in 1917. He worked for my grandfather’s company Tarachand Parsram, and was sent to run the Japan branch which was located in Yokohama.”<br /><br />G. A. Chandru relates the circumstances which led to the beginning of his family’s long history in Japan. An Indian resident whose personal history in Yokohama spans over 50 years, Chandru, the President of Nephews International, energetically details his family’s history as Indians in Yokohama.<br /><br />Chandru’s father had moved to Yokohama in 1917 to manage a branch of his father’s business. However, after only three years he returned to India to aid in its struggle for independence from Britain. Thus, Chandru, who was born in 1924 in Sindh, never once laid eyes on Yokohama during his youth. Even so, during his childhood he held a great interest in Japan. “I recall how [my father] talked about the very high social and cultural standards of Japan. Whenever someone came back from Japan we received ‘Tombow’ pencils, fancy toys, and were shown the Japanese cameras. This created in our mind a very special admiration of Japan, of the beautiful designs and perfect performance in the products we saw.”<br /><br />Chandru’s father came to and left Japan during a period when Indian trade of silk, cotton, and yarn was thriving; Indian traders had been active in Japan since the late 1800s.<br /><br />Memorial fountain in Yamashita Park for the Indians who perished in the Great Kanto Earthquake<br /><br />However, the prospering Yokohama silk and textile trade would soon be thrown into crisis by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923. The earthquake, of magnitude 7.9, left Yokohama in ruins, and in the earthquake’s aftermath, large numbers of Indians relocated to Kobe with the aid of the Kobe city and national governments. However, a number of Indians later returned to Yokohama, and it is said that just before WWII, India was Japan’s third-largest trading partner, after the U.S. and China.<br /><br />Merchants traded on slim profit-margins, turning profits only by moving large quantities of goods. They sold silk at-cost, earning money only on the sale of the wooden packing cases (petti) holding the silk, constructed from high-quality kiri wood.<br /><br />However, the unfolding of WWII shook the Indian community and many left Japan, preferring that to the alternative of being interned in Japanese camps as British subjects.<br /><br />After the end of the war in 1947, India’s newly-won independence from British rule triggered a religious conflict which tore the country into two: Pakistan, an Islamic state, and India, a secular state.<br /><br />Chandru’s family became subject to intense religious persecution in Pakistani Sindh, and was forced to abandon everything and take refuge in India. There, Chandru became responsible for supporting his parents and siblings, and he remembers this period as the saddest in his life. However, the images of Japan were engraved in Chandru’s imagination, and in 1953 he sprang on an opportunity to try his luck in business in Japan. “I sensed a bright future [in Japan], a chance to work hard and have my hard work rewarded."<br /><br />When Chandru arrived in 1953, though Yokohama was still rebuilding, Indian businesses had already planted firm roots. Chandru, who initially worked as the manager of an Indian trading firm located in Yamashita-cho, recalls his early years in Yokohama. “I worked hard day and night for 6 years…. in my 7th year, I started my own firm…. I called the company Nephew’s International, taking the name from the company which my Uncle has started with his nephews (myself included) in India during the British rule.”<br /><br />Textiles and fabrics, mainly silk, remained significant exports through the 1950s; however, they were later surpassed in popularity by synthetic textiles such as nylon. By the 1960s textiles had become less profitable, and the trade of electronics, technology goods and sundries became more common. However, in general, as Japanese industries expanded their global networks, the need for the middleman was eliminated, and slowly Indian businesses either moved abroad or west to Kobe and Osaka.<br /><br />Thus by the 1980s, trading in Yokohama had slowed, and many Indians sold their properties in Yamashita-cho or converted them to apartment buildings and parking lots. Some moved to Kobe or Osaka, and others returned to India. Currently there are only a small number of “old-comer” Indian residents in Yokohama remaining; however, there has been a recent influx of Indians coming from the IT hubs of India (Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai) to work in software companies in Yokohama, as well as those who come through their work in multinational finance or engineering companies.<br /><br /></strong></span><span style="color:#9999ff;">Darren Yamaguchi</span><br />________________________________________<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong>Mr. G. A. Chandru is a family friend since 40 years.</strong><br /></div></span></div></div>My Funky Family!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17455358036302981367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826130085806787944.post-51820141428641942792008-11-25T04:56:00.010+02:002008-11-26T15:50:06.195+02:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGdsVLSmpxDm-omdJ9svvoGlbqUIzUBrDpl0__lUBBdqwi-U78bgSpwN1PBwpgBTxRI8zQQoIK8zyV5AOmtkRuvjzaZiLG-U6gGVcrR1BsWprhc2FeC-24A7_vHyfboJOcpE3BdPuHuk/s1600-h/newspapersondesk.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272425377235172770" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGdsVLSmpxDm-omdJ9svvoGlbqUIzUBrDpl0__lUBBdqwi-U78bgSpwN1PBwpgBTxRI8zQQoIK8zyV5AOmtkRuvjzaZiLG-U6gGVcrR1BsWprhc2FeC-24A7_vHyfboJOcpE3BdPuHuk/s400/newspapersondesk.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvOfeuxT9BihHo-0zvlwNu2YuuwqmKaJULN7xljvbNPXTU2pYIizpOz0D4ZSMpNsyAZYUjPaMTdY7fnlyPyQRqfDSFFns8zoB8MoRBXtmolTo7pPM95l1m8K7RlZ8ZF-jXtNISRmV8jg/s1600-h/leering+at+her.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272425198771110578" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 75px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 125px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvOfeuxT9BihHo-0zvlwNu2YuuwqmKaJULN7xljvbNPXTU2pYIizpOz0D4ZSMpNsyAZYUjPaMTdY7fnlyPyQRqfDSFFns8zoB8MoRBXtmolTo7pPM95l1m8K7RlZ8ZF-jXtNISRmV8jg/s400/leering+at+her.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIek-S0t3fdFGVFR-F8AI_06B1yBlnRJEgzENquGjlnQANbDzVfMUel9xe_XVzmhMrcOscGxv4F_lAd6GbZJqAYD1cvyE219kO9WP4tm-7E7fo3p6Dd957dAjaUUnA86Pn5tcRFT7YafE/s1600-h/flirting.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272425106837395762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 75px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 58px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIek-S0t3fdFGVFR-F8AI_06B1yBlnRJEgzENquGjlnQANbDzVfMUel9xe_XVzmhMrcOscGxv4F_lAd6GbZJqAYD1cvyE219kO9WP4tm-7E7fo3p6Dd957dAjaUUnA86Pn5tcRFT7YafE/s400/flirting.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span></span></strong></span></div><div><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Sexual Harassment at Work;</span><br />Women’s Rights? … or Wrongs?!</span><br /></span></strong><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">By Hoda Nassef</span><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Where are our so-called Women’s Rights in Egypt?</strong></span><br /><br />Sexual Harassment on the Workforce is the Rule in Egypt, and other Middle-Eastern countries, and not the exception. It is one big criminal action that we ignore, or dismiss as trivial! We brag about “women’s rights”, just to imitate the western countries, pretending that we are as civilized as they are, with real punitive laws! For women’s real protection? Let’s face facts… and tell it how it is.<br /><br />How many SILENT women were and will always be especially harassed or abused at the workforce? What did they do about it? Did they protest? Object? Complain? Or just give in, to get that ‘job’? Does the law actually implement protection for women against sexual harassment? If there is no REAL law, then the harassers will continue making life hell for girls and women, thinking it is their holy right to bother women, and we can just like it, or lump it.<br /><br />Well, it all depends actually on the fair-sex’s personalities, their upbringing, and how desperate they really are for getting the job that they applied for, and are qualified for. Maybe they need the money more than upholding their principles and religious views. Or, let’s admit it… maybe they don’t mind being harassed. You have all types of women, after all, just as you find all types of men…and by this I mean the male employers. Also, there are women harassers as well, but my concern is mentioning only the majority of sex-harassers: men.<br /><br />Most employers use their positions or their offices to induce or coerce women to accept their unwanted advances; the uglier they are, the more they act the part of Don Juan, because they actually cannot attract any female outside of the office. As for the women who already have a job with the harasser; the higher their pays are, the more they are likely to accept the bosses’ advances, in order to keep their jobs. The unwritten rule is “use it, or lose it”!<br /><br />And how many times have women tried to apply for jobs, and during the interview or first meeting with their potential male managers or employers, they would be duped into thinking that, ‘oh there’s a decent guy at last…he’s not staring at my legs or other parts of my anatomy’ – only to discover later that they are ‘seasoned’ harassers, and know when to play it down or act cool at first, in order not to scare away the ‘victim’. Yes, victim. She is eventually the victim of his advances, and if she doesn’t like it, then she can quit. He makes that very clear too, eventually, especially after he realizes that he’s not getting to First Base with her, and never will. And so, she usually does quit, instead of telling him to jump in the Nile River, or quit himself!<br /><br />So, back to job hunting, and new CVs. But, how many times did women have to delete all their previous ‘job experience’? Personally, when I used to job-hunt, I had no way of explaining to my interviewers that I left so many jobs, because my bosses were literally almost chasing me around the desk…his desk or mine, doesn’t matter. Who would believe me? (It would often be in subtle ways, such as ‘accidentally’ brushing against her, while passing by…or on purpose, such as saying lewd words or so-called ‘compliments’.) So, I would often delete some jobs that I quit, thus, leave big gaps in my ‘career’. The next questions, if the interviewers were observant enough, would be why I wasn’t working during so-and-so period, and what did I do between jobs. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">Getting pissed off by the inquisition, I would there and then decide that I didn’t want the job anyway, so my retort would often be flippant, such as, ‘I’m filthy-rich, and don’t really need the job,’ or, ‘I’m saving up for a world cruise, and you’re my last stop…for next month,’ … or anything dumb like that, just to get back at the idiots. Once or twice, however, I would admit that I was being harassed by the previous manager(s), and had no choice but to leave. Whether they believed me or not wasn’t the issue, but I avoided lying, whenever I could.<br /><br />I will give you some hints on the types of harassers, and they come in all shapes, sizes, forms, age, and background. Following is my personal portfolio of all the freaks I’ve met…and each category of Freak consists of 5 to ten of them! I lost count….<br /><br /><strong>Now, meet GM Harasser Number One:</strong> He’s ugly, so has an inferiority complex, and wants to prove to himself that he isn’t ugly.<br /><br /><strong>GM Harasser Number Two:</strong> He’s an opportunist, and from a low background, and wants to get into the circle of this females’ friends and acquaintances; being attractive to boot is all the better for him, so why not give it a try?</span></div><div><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>GM Harasser Number Three:</strong> He’s a natural womanizer, and conceited, thinking that because he is attracted to the interviewee (you) at first sight, you reciprocate the same attraction!<br /><br /><strong>GM Harasser Number Four:</strong> He’s married, but bored with his wife, and wants to renew his libido, stamina, or whatever he thinks is lacking!<br /><br /><strong>GM Harasser Number Five</strong>: He’s married, relatively satisfied with his boring wife, but he’s getting on in age – or is middle-aged – or is actually old, and wants to prove that he isn’t; so, the younger she is, the better it is for his ego…libido, whatever!<br /><br /><strong>GM Harasser Number Six:</strong> He’s actually drop-dead attracted to you, but you aren’t, and he will employ you, woo you, do anything for you, just to get you in bed, then drop you! (No, I was never that dumb, nor that immoral! So, gals, hang in there, and don’t go on ego-trips yourselves! Don’t believe everything you hear from these horny bastards. These types just go raving mad if you so much as dare to reject them, let alone politely turn them down. Then they turn downright vindictive, so…beware…let them down, nicely, if you can.) For him, it’s a Package Deal on First Sight; the Job AND Him, or you go the highway… and he goes the low way! (I heard that rhyme from one big ass harasser, by the way! He’ll know whom I’m talking about, if he reads this!)<br /><br /><strong>GM Harasser Number Seven:</strong> He’s not so hot physically, and deep inside knows it; the less of a man he is, the more he tries to prove that he’s Tarzan…with you as Jane. He’ll stop at nothing to get you, and beware of this type too; he’ll defame your name (behind your back) and tell all his buddies and cronies that you were a one-night stand, or some such scenario. Anything in that line, just to secretly get back at you, and your rejection.<br /><br /><strong>GM Harasser Number Eight:</strong> He’s a cool customer and you actually have no clue yet that he has an eye on you. You are employed by this type, and then start working in a relatively relaxed atmosphere, not aware that he is all the time calculating and laying out his strategy to lure you into his trap. Then one day he may casually invite you for lunch or a meal outside, making you believe that the whole company or department would be there. That happened recently to me; my boss invited me for Iftar, after making it known that the company always has one such occasion for the whole staff. Being new on the force, and unaware of the manoeuvre, I innocently asked him, ‘Who’s coming from the Department?’ His answer was a nonchalant, ‘It will be very limited.’ And then he gave me the name of the restaurant to join the staff at the appropriate time. The ‘limited’ staff was himself, alone! So, I was forced on a private date…after the meal, I new it would be the beginning of the end of my short career with them! </span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;">Officially Defining Sexual Harassment:</span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that violates part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Sexual harassment at work threatens your self-esteem and confidence; it stops you from working effectively, undermines your dignity, and can affect your health and happiness. Sexual harassment is unwelcome behaviour of a sexual nature, and even just one isolated act is enough to amount to it. It could take the form of sexual innuendo or lewd comments about your appearance or sex life, whether these are written or spoken. It could be a physical act, for example, deliberately brushing up against you or trying to caress you. Or, it could be more general, where, for example, the environment of the workplace creates a hostile or humiliating atmosphere for you. This could be the result of sexually explicit material displayed in the workplace, the downloading of internet porn by other employees, or other behaviour that creates an uncomfortable environment. Nobody should be subjected to it. The unfortunate reality is that it is happens all too often. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.<br />If you are unhappy with the way your employer has dealt with your grievance, or if your harasser is your employer, then you should take legal action. You can bring a sexual harassment claim regardless of how long you have worked for your employer, or how many hours you work. This option is available to you whether you are a man or a woman, and whatever age or sexual orientation you are. If you have previously had a relationship with the harasser then you can still bring a claim. You can bring a claim even if the harassment happened at your job interview.<br />The employer cannot argue that he or she did not intend to harass. If the behaviour undermined your dignity on the basis of your gender then it is discriminatory by law.</span></div><div><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sexual harassment can occur in a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to the following:</span> </span></div><div><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>· The victim as well as the harasser may be a woman or a man. The victim does not have to be of the opposite sex.<br />· The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, an agent of the employer, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or a non-employee.<br />· The victim does not have to be the person harassed but could be anyone affected by the offensive conduct.<br />· Unlawful sexual harassment may occur without economic injury to or discharge of the victim.<br />· The harasser's conduct must be unwelcome.</strong> </span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;">International Laws not Adapted or Applied in Egypt:</span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">Luckily for the American women, a variety of laws exist to protect them. When will these laws be adapted in Egypt? In the USA, for example, your employer has a duty to provide a safe system of work, safe equipment and competent employees. Consequently, he or she has a responsibility to protect you from harassment. They are also protected by the Sex Discrimination Act, which guards you against less favourable treatment because of your sex. Similar laws apply in Scotland as in England and Wales.</span></div><div><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">It is helpful for the victim to directly inform the harasser that the conduct is unwelcome and must stop. The victim should use any employer complaint mechanism or grievance system available.</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">When investigating allegations of sexual harassment, EEOC looks at the whole record: the circumstances, such as the nature of the sexual advances, and the context in which the alleged incidents occurred. A determination on the allegations is made from the facts on a case-by-case basis.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">If you keep quiet about harassment, the employer might argue that the behaviour was not unwelcome at the time, or that you have fabricated the story after leaving the job. According to an Equal Opportunities Commission report in 2001, however, nearly half of all applicants bringing tribunal claims between 1998 and 2001 had not made formal complaints while still employed. The reasons given were fear of receiving poor references, fear of harming their careers, embarrassment and concern they would not be believed.</span></div><div><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Prevention is the best tool to eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace. Employers are encouraged to take steps necessary to prevent sexual harassment from occurring. They should clearly communicate to employees that sexual harassment will not be tolerated. They can do so by establishing an effective complaint or grievance process and taking immediate and appropriate action when an employee complains.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">Sexual harassment claims are founded on the Sex Discrimination Act, on the basis that the (female) victims were discriminated against because of their gender. Furthermore, if their employers decide not to investigate, and the harassed leave their jobs because they can no longer bear the harassment, then they could claim constructive unfair dismissal. This means the employer's action, or lack of action, caused them to hand in their notice, even though the women/girls were not directly asked to leave.</span></div><div><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">European Union agencies have recognized that reluctance to complain is a distinguishing characteristic of sexual harassment. Employment tribunals are increasingly acknowledging that workers may have good reasons for delaying their complaint, and they examine the individual circumstances of each case when making decisions.</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;">What action should you take?</span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">If you are experiencing sexual harassment in any or all of its forms, then there are steps you can take. First, you should make it clear that you find the behaviour inappropriate and unwelcome. When you do this, speak clearly and do not smile or apologise. If possible, confront your harasser in front of another person who you trust. You could also write to your harasser, if you find it too difficult to directly confront him or her, and you should keep a copy of the document. </span></div><div><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">If the behaviour continues, keep a diary of when and where it happened, what occurred, and who was there to witness it. Report the behaviour to your employer, who is then obliged by law to take action to investigate it and prevent it happening again. Take notes of any meetings with your employer about it. Many workplaces will have a specific procedure in place to deal with such complaints.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">If other people are experiencing harassment, ask them to keep notes as well and to also make a complaint. If an employment agency organized your work placement, then tell them. If you are a member of a trade union, it is a good idea to let them know about the problems you are experiencing. If your health is suffering, then tell your doctor. In some cases the harassment may technically amount to assault or another criminal offence, in which case you should report it to the police. At a later stage, if the harassment continues, you may need to prove that you took every step to stop the behaviour.</span></div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#cc0000;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">There are many other categories of harassers, but there would be no space to name them all. If you spot one during the interview, don’t think that you can take the job and smugly assume ‘oh, I can handle him.’ Some men stop at nothing. But, I want to point out that I am always conservatively dressed during interviews, and in fact am a bit conservative by nature, so don’t get the impression at the end that perhaps I’m giving out the ‘wrong signals’… I don’t. Or rather, I didn’t.<br /><br />Unfortunately, there exists no real law for defamation of name, slander, and all types of male abuse and harassment. If on the job or workforce, it’s often a matter of His word, against yours. Hardly any colleague would risk losing his or her job, to take your side! There is no protection for women, and less for relatively attractive women, nor legal punishment for the abusers and harassers.<br /><br />We women live in a jungle here in Egypt …and that’s a fact. Sexual harassment at work is a subject not mentioned nor defined by any laws here. The ‘victims’ are too embarrassed to complain, and find it futile even if they do. The more attractive she is, the more she has to struggle to survive, and the more she has to prove that she’s not an object of abuse, let alone keep her name and justified honour intact. At the extreme end of sexual harassment, even raped victims prefer to remain quiet, rather than sue the harasser and keep the stigma of shame. Somehow, they are always the ones to be blamed in the end.<br /><br /><br />h.n.<br /></span></div></span></div></div>My Funky Family!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17455358036302981367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826130085806787944.post-52175836475960166992008-11-16T15:26:00.001+02:002008-11-16T15:30:24.160+02:00"Bedouin Obama"!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYkwQ_qIHzLxhL6dw2PAuEU7HT-XcyPAzh290ydmMPjfLNYF0u3B0e1q_Lxni-EZ61wJ-5a3RP-89ucMBVpD7QrK-YkGBMRwycXMXHFGp2-klvSOYVkhg43ZuVsC-liRN-IPWg4-sXPw/s1600-h/Barack+Obama+&+Family.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269247146802894738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 380px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYkwQ_qIHzLxhL6dw2PAuEU7HT-XcyPAzh290ydmMPjfLNYF0u3B0e1q_Lxni-EZ61wJ-5a3RP-89ucMBVpD7QrK-YkGBMRwycXMXHFGp2-klvSOYVkhg43ZuVsC-liRN-IPWg4-sXPw/s400/Barack+Obama+%26+Family.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">'Bedouin' Obama!</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Nearly 8,000 Arab Bedouins in northern Israel are claiming kinship with US president-elect Barack Obama. (Reuters)</span><br /><br /></strong></span><span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Islam Online News:<br /></span><br /><br />CAIRO — Already having relatives extending from Hawaii to Kenya, nearly 8,000 Arab Bedouins in northern Israel are also claiming kinship with America's new president-elect, Barack Obama.<br /><br />"We knew about it years ago but we were afraid to talk about it because we didn't want to influence the election," Arab Bedouin elder Abdul Rahman Sheikh Abdullah told The Times on Thursday, November 13.<br /><br />"We wrote a letter to him explaining the family connection."<br /><br />Abdullah, from the village of Bir al-Maksour in Galilee region, says his 95-year-old mother first noticed that Obama looked like one of the African migrant workers in the British-mandated Palestine in 1930s.<br /><br />One of those migrants, who sometimes used to marry local Bedouin girls, was a relative of Obama's Kenyan grandmother, says Abdullah. Abdullah says he has papers and pictures supporting his claim, but would not divulge them until Obama is in the White House. "We want to send a delegation to congratulate him, and we know we'll get an answer soon."<br /><br />Obama was elected America's first black president last week after crushing his Republican rival John McCain.<br /><br />Born in Hawaii, the Illinois senator is the son of a Muslim-turned-atheist Kenyan father and a white American mother.<br /><br />He lived from ages 6 to 10 in Indonesia with his mother and Muslim stepfather. Bedouins are traditionally pastoral semi-nomadic Arab tribes indigenous to the Negev region.<br /><br />“Relative Obama”<br /><br />Bedouins have been distributing sweets and dishes of baklava and pastries in celebration of Obama's election win.<br /><br />"We knew he'd win," Abdullah said, constantly interrupted by a barrage of phone calls from well-wishers. "We have always been a lucky family.<br /><br />Two baby boys born into Abdullah's large clan have been named Obama. Congratulators have been also flocking to Abdullah's region to pay their respects to the "Bedouin Obama".<br /><br />"Everyone is talking about [Sheikh Abdullah's ties to Mr Obama] . . . They believe it," said Sheikh Issam al-Khalil from the occupied southern Lebanese town of Ghajar.<br /><br />"The sheikhs from all the villages are talking about it. There's a whole delegation of Druze leaders coming from the Golan Heights to congratulate him."<br /><br />Many Bedouins hope that their "relative" Obama will solve their problems. "We hope to God that Obama will solve the problem of Ghajar," said Khalil. Abdullah, the Bedouin elder, is also hopeful.<br /><br />"We hope he'll end all wars and intervene here to solve our problems in Israel. The Bedouin are the people who suffer the most here."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hoda Nassef<br /><br /><br /><br /></strong></span></div>My Funky Family!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17455358036302981367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826130085806787944.post-39923458526583137312008-08-04T07:58:00.007+03:002008-08-04T08:12:35.817+03:00VITAMINS & MINERALS...where to get them<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwMaQ6EfDshmfilNUBEZEd6Sjp4VNXdFJponJzjyWShRBNBuQujbRffpQqHrnND324GMw-PBiL-9ONE7IGCBlSy0P34HpODyn_ZM-sRsMuvo2LvqBX6Svodr-faXac8-LQD30CaTmb8E/s1600-h/guava.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230525795036765714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwMaQ6EfDshmfilNUBEZEd6Sjp4VNXdFJponJzjyWShRBNBuQujbRffpQqHrnND324GMw-PBiL-9ONE7IGCBlSy0P34HpODyn_ZM-sRsMuvo2LvqBX6Svodr-faXac8-LQD30CaTmb8E/s400/guava.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwMaQ6EfDshmfilNUBEZEd6Sjp4VNXdFJponJzjyWShRBNBuQujbRffpQqHrnND324GMw-PBiL-9ONE7IGCBlSy0P34HpODyn_ZM-sRsMuvo2LvqBX6Svodr-faXac8-LQD30CaTmb8E/s1600-h/guava.gif"></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiojCQc3xLltB-5ku7M7G334wIizNpuA30ILorh_216Sb07UbtQZG1oVf535nC0jtpmoXT6RCJKXcNoH61tXWfDop8BWqd57xk0K4V1jPgdypuRgTR3TW230VTyZzwAzTtBju9und9Og/s1600-h/tomatoe.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230525501131453698" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiojCQc3xLltB-5ku7M7G334wIizNpuA30ILorh_216Sb07UbtQZG1oVf535nC0jtpmoXT6RCJKXcNoH61tXWfDop8BWqd57xk0K4V1jPgdypuRgTR3TW230VTyZzwAzTtBju9und9Og/s400/tomatoe.gif" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiO8DmnYDNPI7K4mGZXP5wn7eV5y5-vx6mF_G5us97EQvRlWbih_vRRga5Uid9DOiCBHfa5C27fisUpjODSkTBx-3RAbezlR0M24rCr6E6tfX3uDQnatwlwUzJOAHkt0bp6C0-ZhAPVY/s1600-h/celery.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230525616249646690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiO8DmnYDNPI7K4mGZXP5wn7eV5y5-vx6mF_G5us97EQvRlWbih_vRRga5Uid9DOiCBHfa5C27fisUpjODSkTBx-3RAbezlR0M24rCr6E6tfX3uDQnatwlwUzJOAHkt0bp6C0-ZhAPVY/s400/celery.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiO8DmnYDNPI7K4mGZXP5wn7eV5y5-vx6mF_G5us97EQvRlWbih_vRRga5Uid9DOiCBHfa5C27fisUpjODSkTBx-3RAbezlR0M24rCr6E6tfX3uDQnatwlwUzJOAHkt0bp6C0-ZhAPVY/s1600-h/celery.gif"></a><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="color:#3366ff;"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Getting Back In Shape!</span></strong> </span></div><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span></div><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span></div><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#3366ff;"><div> </div><div>By Hoda Nassef<br /><br />Despite the persistent heat, it's time to get ready for the summer vacations. The following are some vitamin and mineral tips to perk you up, give you energy, and keep you in shape!<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><strong>VITAMINS & MINERALS …</strong></span><br /><strong>why you need them and where you'll find them.<br /></strong><br /><br /><strong>Vitamin A</strong> Growth, skin colour & night vision - (liver, carrots, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, butter, margarine)<br /><br /><strong>Vitamin B6</strong> Red blood cell formation, helps PMS and nervous disorders - (cod, salmon, herring, bananas)<br /><strong><br />Vitamin B12</strong> A great energiser, promotes mental health, helps prevent anaemia - (liver, oily fish, red meat)<br /><br /><strong>Vitamin C</strong> Boosts our immunity to colds and infections, promotes healing and may protect us from pollutants - (oranges, lemons, kiwi fruit, blackcurrants)<br /><br /><strong>Vitamin D</strong> Bone formation - (cod liver oil, herrings, mackerel, sardines)<br /><br /><strong>Vitamin E</strong> An anti-oxidant, protects the heart, blood vessels and skin - (sunflower oil, peanut butter, avocado)<br /><br /><strong>Vitamin K</strong> An anti-blood clotting agent - (green vegetables, yogurt)<br /><br /><strong>Folic Acid</strong> Vital for preventing spina bifida in babies - (green leafy vegetables, oranges, liver, brewer's yeast, wheatgerm)<br /><br /><strong>Calcium</strong> Bone formation - (dairy products, sardines, nuts and beans)<br /><br /><strong>Iron</strong> Forming red blood cells - (red meat, dried apricots, wholemeal bread, dark green vegetables)<br /><br /><strong>Zinc</strong> Growth, hormone function, male fertility, liver function - (shellfish, liver, cheese, wholemeal bread, eggs)<br /><br /><strong>Magnesium</strong> Energy production, allows vitamins B6 and B12 to function, tissue growth and repair - (brazil nuts, cashews, almonds, brown rice, peas)<br /><br /><strong>Iodine</strong> Function of the thyroid gland - (haddock, cod, mackerel, mussels)<br /><br /><strong>Selenium</strong> Vital for the anti-oxidant process, protects against certain cancers and heart disease - (wholemeal bread, seafood, eggs, brewer's yeast)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Have a Healthy Life … <em><strong>Naturally!</strong></em></span><br /></div><div> </div><div>h.n.</div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>My Funky Family!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17455358036302981367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826130085806787944.post-28912780847259418602008-05-07T23:48:00.014+03:002008-05-08T01:04:52.471+03:00Being A Mother<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZTNIJ-b8ux-QbI_ohvm-USHoaGXBBSh8tz2PtMCdf0BT8dsndpJVktZFAiM7QdVlez5cYS12qBAFPpaC1q3v5y2pO-Vyf3vLAlr945FJukAnCRgeY8nMThFhyphenhyphenhuPYi0ID8cZDlKdFHU/s1600-h/mother&children.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197754229684319954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZTNIJ-b8ux-QbI_ohvm-USHoaGXBBSh8tz2PtMCdf0BT8dsndpJVktZFAiM7QdVlez5cYS12qBAFPpaC1q3v5y2pO-Vyf3vLAlr945FJukAnCRgeY8nMThFhyphenhyphenhuPYi0ID8cZDlKdFHU/s400/mother&children.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbmIkc9ZG7uoCwe8QnK2wDN1E6cCD1soiNLYRYh5HUnb7FudTy79emi33I9L-J1zmJZUtQ0oMdy_XCduhAdsfFpcoL2cfDQKVpIIXeiXmsG1yGgguaBNx7togV3hez3zAp6JDbDWG-1I/s1600-h/mothers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197753332036155074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbmIkc9ZG7uoCwe8QnK2wDN1E6cCD1soiNLYRYh5HUnb7FudTy79emi33I9L-J1zmJZUtQ0oMdy_XCduhAdsfFpcoL2cfDQKVpIIXeiXmsG1yGgguaBNx7togV3hez3zAp6JDbDWG-1I/s400/mothers.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBdOUx9qLkcpAJDG8SOdVU1MhrBxfPU3eRgZM1jb4jdobt7VjbdewhC2WjAGImTy3UvuCSk3O0Xxf9kG99d9HZU8nKGI89-F7kt1tiTS9MMPBBQdF0Mh2gGvdt3s9vNmB0JS7NkDS1zY/s1600-h/signature(2).gif"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197744574597838498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBdOUx9qLkcpAJDG8SOdVU1MhrBxfPU3eRgZM1jb4jdobt7VjbdewhC2WjAGImTy3UvuCSk3O0Xxf9kG99d9HZU8nKGI89-F7kt1tiTS9MMPBBQdF0Mh2gGvdt3s9vNmB0JS7NkDS1zY/s400/signature%25282%2529.gif" border="0" /></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6666;">BEING A MOTHER</span><br /></strong><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, "I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you."</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my Mother, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">"What's wrong, are you well?" she asked. My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. "I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you," I responded "just the two of us." She thought about it for a moment, and then said, "I would like that very much."<br /><br />That Thursday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">"I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed," she said, as she got into the car. "They can't wait to hear about our 'date'."</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, it was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">After we sat down, I read the menu as her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mother sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. </span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">"It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small," she said. "Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favour," I responded. During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation - nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie time!</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">As we arrived at her house later, she said, "I'll go out with you again. . .. but only if you let <em>me </em>treat <em>you</em>." I agreed.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">"How was your dinner date?" asked my wife when I got home. "Very nice, much more so than I could have imagined," I answered. A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to go help her. </span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Sometime later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the restaurant Mother and I had dined at. An attached note said: "Dear son - I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I would be able to be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your lovely wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you, son."<br /><br />At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: "I love you" and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than our family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off until 'some other time.' </span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby.... that somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, "normal" is history. </span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the first....that somebody doesn't have two or more children. </span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labour and delivery....that somebody never watched her "baby" get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten ... or on a plane headed for military "boot camp." </span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Somebody said a Mother can stop worrying after her child gets married....well that somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a Mother's heartstrings. </span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Somebody said a Mother's job is done when her last child leaves home....that somebody never had grandchildren.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Somebody said your Mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her... that somebody isn't a Mother. </span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Pass this message along to all the "Mothers" in your life and to everyone who ever had a mother. This isn't just about being a Mother; it's about appreciating the people in your lives while you have them....no matter who that person is: </span></strong></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."</strong> </span></div><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#ff6666;">H.N.<br /></p></span></div></div>My Funky Family!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17455358036302981367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826130085806787944.post-4868536861440070582008-04-30T23:45:00.012+03:002008-05-01T04:45:15.688+03:00Second Wives<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PkMe6SJPTlMQWwDSeIESkM0Fp-l2XiuVDqYt2RWq6WlUno38qFOjnwkd55Av9ZWhQ4pk201XzS9hpB0uareT3ikkg4JGnceRl4cm4ximS97cIVNti4skUtgpxW0T2SfKhp0EO_PWj68/s1600-h/CA01MDMH.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195214926644473170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PkMe6SJPTlMQWwDSeIESkM0Fp-l2XiuVDqYt2RWq6WlUno38qFOjnwkd55Av9ZWhQ4pk201XzS9hpB0uareT3ikkg4JGnceRl4cm4ximS97cIVNti4skUtgpxW0T2SfKhp0EO_PWj68/s400/CA01MDMH.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_quWdT0bj9Pdw7ToZZs_Fsq-BLkRIN2T8MzEn9vZbj3OjNqja0ybaG8qKGY0197v4Ksr1SrZpLvd_TrPd9lJ11QnjMJVOF1BmBzIGmfD8DJblUpChLLo_kc52NwN0g40FbqyjqwidncE/s1600-h/10.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195151979603782978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_quWdT0bj9Pdw7ToZZs_Fsq-BLkRIN2T8MzEn9vZbj3OjNqja0ybaG8qKGY0197v4Ksr1SrZpLvd_TrPd9lJ11QnjMJVOF1BmBzIGmfD8DJblUpChLLo_kc52NwN0g40FbqyjqwidncE/s400/10.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6666;"><strong>Second Wives</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;">By Hoda Nassef</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;">Having a second wife here in Egypt, does not mean that the grieving widow finally remarried, nor does it mean that the divorced man chose his proper mate and had a second chance; it means that he has two wives, both alive, and sometimes actually living under the same roof!<br /><br />In the ‘Islamic World’, men can have more than one wife. A foreign friend recently told me, ‘Lucky Egyptian men…they can have TWO wives!’ I answered, ‘Not all, and not really lucky, but silly, as marrying second wives in Islam should be under strict Islamic rules.’<br /><br />This is a repeated and gross misinterpretation of the facts in Islamic marriages, seen through the eyes of most foreigners, and most religions as well.<br /><br />Strange as it may seem, the poorer and less educated men often have a wife or two, and maybe three! They marry more than once, although they are less able to afford even the ‘first’ wife, than the ‘upper class’ men, and can barely support her, let alone support himself plus a second wife. They would rather be a ‘polygamists’ - (in the eyes of the Europeans) – than commit the BIG immortal and immoral sin and be eternally cursed to damnation for fornication outside of wedlock!<br /><br />On the other hand, many ‘educated’ men prefer to have secret illicit affairs, than get caught with their pants down by their wives! Having affairs here, as elsewhere abroad, is quite common – and kept ‘under cover’. He might brag about it to his close male friends, but acts pious in public and portrays the image of The Perfect Husband and citizen.<br /><br />As for the majority of the ‘Second Wives’ who know in advance that their husbands are already married, many young ladies target men who are already well off, have good careers, and are financially stable if not actually rich, rather than wait years for young suitors or boyfriends to reach that status, and find it a sort of conquest to take another (and much older) woman’s husband. </span><br /><br /><br /><div><div></div><div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ff6666;">The Second Wives usually calculate that they will have to put up with the hassles of the First Wife as well as problems from children of the first marriage, along with the husband’s wrinkles and perhaps impotency, as a price to pay for the ‘easy road’ to wealth and status, knowing that they will be properly pampered by the foolish husbands for marrying someone much younger than the First Wife; cunningly knowledgeable that the husbands’ psyche or egos are easily vulnerable and inflated for having such a catch at their Twilight Age. Consequently, neither of the newlyweds have any remorse for breaking up the first marriage, if it comes to that.<br /><br />Having two wives is not outlawed in Islam, as in Christianity. However, there are new-founded laws to protect the first wife’s rights – the foremost is that she must be told in advance from her spouse that he is marrying another woman. She then has the option to either stay married, or ask for a divorce.<br /><br />Usually she remains married, if he does not prefer to divorce her, simply because she has no other means of livelihood. Sometimes she is even relieved, being already frigid from long years of insignificant sex or none at all. As long as he kept the money rolling in, she didn’t mind!<br /><br />But, laws are meant to be broken, and not obeyed, and usually the First Wife finds out about the Second wife, only at her husband’s funeral!<br /><br />Paradoxically, is statistically known that women out-number men now worldwide, by almost four times. Is that perhaps one of the reasons Allah has allowed a Moslem man to marry more than one – up to and not exceeding four. It is seen as a sort of sanctuary for Single Women, if they chose to be a ‘dorra’ (second wife) - and a Safety Zone for lusty men not to stray.<br /><br />There are various other reasons why a single woman may marry a man who is already married, and vice versa. As one strange example, I know a lady who married years ago, with the full knowledge that her man was already married. She also had a couple of bad marriages in her past, and he seemed a ‘good catch’ even then, for a divorced young woman. They stayed very happily married for several years, until he passed away. She was much younger than her husband, and has many more years ahead of her, but would not want to remarry because she would lose her pension from her deceased husband.<br /><br />Both wives attended the funeral, but avoided each other like the plague. Later on…much later, I asked her, ‘Why did you REALLY marry him? You had a job, a child from the first marriage, a nice flat in the suburbs, plus a beach house.’ Her surprising answer was: ‘We played Bridge or Poker almost every night and had our own poker game ongoing for years, with the same group. Poker nights, with a couple of drinks, made life worth living. His wife hates cards.’ You could have knocked me with a feather! But I put on MY poker face, nodded quickly and politely agreed, while I hurried to the door after barely saying a brief goodbye!<br /><br />As another example, in the eyes of an upper-class man who married a Second Wife, while dining at the Automobile’s Club downtown, I asked the distinguished middle-aged gentleman why he re-married - (after 25 years of happy matrimony!) - since his First Wife was such a wonderful woman, pretty, liked and respected by everybody, and raised their children to be happy and successful citizens, as well. His new wife was ‘a virgin’ when they married, according to him, and obscenely much younger than both of them – almost their own children’s age.<br /><br />Without blinking, he drawled out, ‘You know, the same old story: stimulus. She made me feel young again.’<br /><br />To each his own! She exploited him for his status and wealth, but he also exploited her youth and beauty.<br /></span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#3366ff;">H.N.</span><br /></div></span></div></div>My Funky Family!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17455358036302981367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826130085806787944.post-31442314595028435642008-04-30T23:36:00.010+03:002008-05-01T04:28:17.164+03:00Amazingly Simple Home Remedies!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQwyXlUYFYo6OflmlplKj085y80mznu77Tqf2KrFZTET5fUhOcQ76P7__vAXur-Y-qFu1D-znBh7seXo0gLCh_qgNtgIuewUaYHOFQST9_eX7qyySkO4aHVhyphenhyphenyropDRpgRGrPgMiEuOA/s1600-h/8.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195141362444627234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQwyXlUYFYo6OflmlplKj085y80mznu77Tqf2KrFZTET5fUhOcQ76P7__vAXur-Y-qFu1D-znBh7seXo0gLCh_qgNtgIuewUaYHOFQST9_eX7qyySkO4aHVhyphenhyphenyropDRpgRGrPgMiEuOA/s200/8.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#33cc00;">AMAZINGLY SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES</span> </strong><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">1. IF YOU'RE CHOKING ON AN ICE CUBE, SIMPLY POUR A CUP OF BOILING WATER DOWN YOUR THROAT. PRESTO! THE BLOCKAGE WILL INSTANTLY REMOVE ITSELF. </span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">2. AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES BY GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP. </span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">3. AVOID ARGUMENTS WITH THE FEMALES ABOUT LIFTING THE TOILET SEAT - USE THE SINK. </span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">4. FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUFFERERS ~ SIMPLY CUT YOURSELF AND BLEED FOR A FEW MINUTES, THUS REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON YOUR VEINS. REMEMBER TO USE A TIMER. </span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">5. A MOUSE TRAP PLACED ON TOP OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK WILL PREVENT YOU FROM ROLLING OVER AND GOING BACK TO SLEEP AFTER YOU HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON. </span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">6. IF YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH, TAKE A LARGE DOSE OF LAXATIVES. THEN YOU'LL BE AFRAID TO COUGH. </span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">7. YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE. </span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">8. REMEMBER - EVERYONE SEEMS NORMAL UNTIL YOU GET TO KNOW THEM. </span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">9. IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. </span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">DAILY THOUGHT:</span></strong> </span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING, BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.</span></div><div> </div><div></div><div><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong>H.N.</strong></span></div>My Funky Family!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17455358036302981367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826130085806787944.post-86992045140756084402008-02-16T18:02:00.009+02:002008-02-16T19:00:12.212+02:00I.Q. TEST!<span style="color:#ff9900;"><span style="font-size:130%;">MBA IQ TEST</span><br /><br />A little intelligence test for you - no cheating! Some of these questions are from an MBA entrance test. There are 10 questions - DO NOT look at the answers found at the end of this document - that would be cheating!<br /><br />Write each of your answers down; it makes a difference.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Good Luck!</span><br /><br />1. Some months have 30 days, some months have 31 days. How many months have 28 days?<br /><br />2. If a doctor gives you 3 pills and tells you to take one pill every half hour, how long would it be before all the pills had been taken?<br /><br />3. I went to bed at eight 8 'clock in the evening and wound up my clock and set the alarm to sound at nine 9 'clock in the morning. How many hours sleep would I get before being awoken by the alarm?<br /><br />4. Divide 30 by half and add ten. What do you get?<br /><br />5. A farmer had 17 sheep. All but 9 died. How many live sheep were left?<br /><br />6. If you had only one match and entered a COLD and DARK room, where there was an oil heater, an oil lamp and a candle, which would you light first?<br /><br />7. A man builds a house with four sides of rectangular construction, each side having a southern exposure. A big bear comes along. What color is the bear?<br /><br />8. Take 2 apples from 3 apples. What do you have?<br /><br />9. How many animals of each species did Moses take with him in the Ark ?<br /><br />10. If you drove a bus with 43 people on board from Chicago and stopped at Pittsburgh to pick up 7 more people and drop off 5 passengers and at Cleveland to drop off 8 passengers and pick up 4 more and eventually arrive at Philadelphia 20 hours later. ........... What's the name of the driver?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">KEEP SCROLLING DOWN….!</span><br />.<br />..<br />...<br />....<br />......<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Answers:</span><br /><br />1. All of them. Every month has at least 28 days.<br />2. 1 hour. If you take a pill at 1 o'clock, then another at 1.30 and the last at 2'clock, they will be taken in 1 hour.<br />3. 1 hour. It is a wind up alarm clock which cannot discriminate between a.m. and p.m.<br />4. 70. Dividing by half is the same as multiplying by 2.<br />5. 9 live sheep.<br />6. The match.<br />7. White.<br />8. 2 apples.<br />9. None. It was Noah, not Moses.<br />10. YOU are the driver.<br />Ha-ha-ha-ha!!! (Most of them were very easy. Yeah?)<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Grading Scale (out of 10)</strong> </span><br /><span style="color:#ff9900;"><br />10 .........Genius<br />9............Mensa Member<br />8............Engineer<br />7............University Student<br />6............High school pupil<br />5........... Primary school pupil<br />4........... School Teacher<br />3........... University Professor<br />2........... FDA Investigator<br />1........... Member of Congress<br />0........... Why were you born? (Sorry…just kidding!)<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#ff9900;"></span>My Funky Family!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17455358036302981367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826130085806787944.post-71126928721592953492008-02-10T19:35:00.005+02:002008-02-16T18:58:09.556+02:00Law of The Seed<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSZESqppd4hITbNsuICNha82yu4vNd-wGwd0eMTGSDgga6SvbzXBqKSoVektGUmt0-zegj-RoaybD7Pwv9iuiAABePDlZL8jerUqyIN2ks6dgbBTbm2MxtbSVyZ4Ak0vnT6ydo94c6yM/s1600-h/BD09031_.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167622738578780370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSZESqppd4hITbNsuICNha82yu4vNd-wGwd0eMTGSDgga6SvbzXBqKSoVektGUmt0-zegj-RoaybD7Pwv9iuiAABePDlZL8jerUqyIN2ks6dgbBTbm2MxtbSVyZ4Ak0vnT6ydo94c6yM/s200/BD09031_.gif" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#009900;">Law of the Seed </span></strong><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /><div><div><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;color:#33cc00;">Hoda Nassef</span><br /><br /><div></span></div></div></div></div><span style="color:#009900;">Take a look at an apple tree. There might be five hundred apples on the tree and each apple has ten seeds. That's a lot of seeds! We might ask, "Why would you need so many seeds to grow just a few more apple trees?" Nature has something to teach us here.<br /><br /><strong>IT'S TELLING US:</strong> </span><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">“Not all seeds grow. In life, most seeds never grow”.<br /><br />So if you really want to make something happen, you had better try more than once."<br /><br /><strong></strong></span></div><div><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>THIS MIGHT MEAN:</strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">You'll attend twenty interviews to get one job. You'll interview forty people to find one good employee.<br /><br />And you might meet a hundred acquaintances just to find one special friend.<br /><br />When we understand the "Law of the Seed", we don't get so disappointed.<br /><br />We stop feeling like victims.<br /><br />We learn how to deal with things that happen to us.<br /><br />Laws of nature are not things to take personally.We just need to understand them - and work with them.<br /><br /><strong></strong></span></div><div><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>IN OTHER WORDS:</strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">Successful people fail more often. But they plant more seeds. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">When things are beyond your control, here's something that you mustNOT DO so as to avoid misery in your life:<br /><br />- You must not decide how you think the world SHOULD be.<br />- You must not make rules for how everyone SHOULD behave.<br />- Then, when the world doesn't obey your rules, you get angry!<br />- That's what miserable people do!<br /><br /><strong>ON THE OTHER HAND, LET'S SAY YOU EXPECT THAT:</strong><br /><br />-Friends SHOULD return favours.-People SHOULD appreciate you.<br /><br />-Planes SHOULD arrive on time.-Everyone SHOULD be honest.<br /><br />-Your husband or best friend SHOULD remember your birthday.<br /><br />These expectations may sound reasonable. But often, these things won'thappen!<br /><br />So you end up frustrated and disappointed.<br /><br /><strong>THERE'S A BETTER STRATEGY:</strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#009900;">Demand less, and instead, have preferences!<br /><br />For things that are beyond your control, tell yourself:<br /><br />"I would prefer this, but if that happens, it’s OK too!"<br /><br />This is really a change in mindset. It is a shift in attitude, and it gives you more peace of mind ...<br /><br />You prefer that people are polite ... but when they are rude, it doesn't ruin your day.<br /><br />You prefer sunshine ... but if it rains, it is ok too!<br /><br /><strong>TO BECOME HAPPIER, WE EITHER NEED TO:</strong></span><br /><br /></div><div><span style="color:#009900;">a) Change the world, or </span></div><div><span style="color:#009900;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#009900;">b) Change our thinking.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">It is easier to change our Thinking!<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>IN A NUTSHELL:</strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">It is not the problem that is the issue, but rather it is your attitude attending to the problem that is the problem.<br /><br />It's not what happens to you that determines your happiness, it's how you think about what happens to you!</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#009900;">H.N.</span></div>My Funky Family!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17455358036302981367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826130085806787944.post-52466359837662396482008-01-29T07:14:00.003+02:002008-02-16T18:40:53.666+02:00Ten Main Foods for Longevity<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5t20SukSI6Ws5Z5pZcBTnY5QWi1XOEHcD4IJoODixJe0z77ecC394KKLWvki7qq2kT_76TWLMvZI2BsVY3uI8-r6Vt_ftDabo8BxbqhSlSiZ44JdprQxuPDqxiPpM1N4vMCqdbue9uhE/s1600-h/DD00117_.gif"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf769Pc8BXCGrIeQtTNU-jemQ34ZhjdDelku-TOma9akSVtWoLhuUNFw5qPlzzpximv66WJewcjB2Ozr-1H6IWNWTzDkrNrC7srs1fPAuQjm-AV-JdAced9qjMufFDZgtZJPsVG1kTQLI/s1600-h/oldcouple.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165412827581132946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf769Pc8BXCGrIeQtTNU-jemQ34ZhjdDelku-TOma9akSVtWoLhuUNFw5qPlzzpximv66WJewcjB2Ozr-1H6IWNWTzDkrNrC7srs1fPAuQjm-AV-JdAced9qjMufFDZgtZJPsVG1kTQLI/s320/oldcouple.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFKtMp4ZyRjhOca9G8cmmIgoyn1H8Pz3R9Jx-1EctPCYl-6-xGtESiKycJdLPSgAiUUPJA0bI_9LDIm2K09UZXzFb_pX-lMDYWuIOfF4YluM9r20TCjJKMl8MsXV67gzRV32UBbN8yYM/s1600-h/oldcouple.gif"></a><div><div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>Ten Main Foods for Longevity</strong></span></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">By Hoda Nassef</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">There are 10 main foods that prolong life:</span> </span></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">1. Tomatoes.</span></strong> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#3333ff;">A major source of the antioxidant lycopene that reduces the risk of cancer by 40% -- notably prostate, lung and stomach cancers -- and increases cancer survival. Tomato eaters function better mentally in old age and suffer half as much heart disease. Concentrated tomato sauces have 5 times more lycopene than fresh tomatoes, and canned tomatoes have three times more than fresh.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">2. Olive Oil.</span></strong> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Shown to help reduce death from heart disease and cancer. Recent research shows that heart-attack survivors on a Mediterranean diet had half the death rates of those on an ordinary low-fat diet. Olive oil is also high in antioxidant activity.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">3. Red Grapes,</span></strong> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#3333ff;">including red grape juice and red wine. Red grapes have moderate antioxidant power, while purple grape juice has four times more antioxidant activity than orange or tomato juice. Red wine (not white) has about the same antioxidant capacity as purple grape juice or tea. French research show that drinking red wine in moderation increases longevity, but excessive drinking has the opposite effect, so limit to two glasses per day. Drink grape juice.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">4. Garlic.</span></strong> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#3333ff;">German researchers have found that garlic is packed with antioxidants know to help fend off cancer, heart disease and all-over aging, and prolong cancer survival time. Let crushed garlic "rest" about 10 minutes before cooking to preserve disease-fighting agents.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">5. Spinach.</span></strong> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Second among vegetables only to garlic in antioxidant capacity and is also rich in folic acid, which helps fight cancer, heart disease and mental disorders. New University of Kentucky research shows folic acid may help prevent Alzheimer's disease. Eat both raw and steamed for best benefit. </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">6. Whole Grains.</span></strong> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#3333ff;">A University of Minnesota study suggests the more whole grains you eat, the lower your odds of death by 15%. Whole grains contain anticancer agents and help stabilize blood sugar and insulin, which may promote longevity. Whole-grain "dark" breads, cereals such as All Bran, and "old fashioned" oatmeal are an excellent source.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">7. Salmon,</span></strong> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#3333ff;">and other fatty fish. Contains high amounts of omega-3 fat that performs miracles throughout the body, fighting virtually every chronic disease known. Without it, your brain can't think, your heart can't beat, your arteries clog, and joints become inflamed. You need one ounce a day, or two servings of salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring or tuna per week. </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">8. Nuts.</span></strong> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Eating more than 5 ounces a week can cut heart-attack deaths in women by 40% and help prevent deadly irregular heart beats in men a Harvard University study found. Almonds and walnuts lower blood cholesterol. Most of the fat in nuts is the good-type monounsaturated and/or omega-3. Unsalted nuts are best.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">9. Blueberries.</span></strong> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#3333ff;">High in antioxidants, Tufts University researchers say a half-cup of blueberries a day can retard aging and can block brain changes leading to decline and even reverse failing memory.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">10. Tea.</span></strong> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Green or black tea has equal antioxidant benefit. One cup a day can cut heart disease risk in half Harvard researchers found. Make from loose tea or tea bags, instant and bottled tea has little effect Tufts University shows.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ff0000;">H.N.<br /></div></span></div></div></div></div>My Funky Family!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17455358036302981367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826130085806787944.post-32436192615095330612007-11-20T10:19:00.006+02:002008-02-16T19:08:31.669+02:00Domestic Violence in the Middle East<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dfQq6_wFWjhSx2luFR9Ku_KaGgQaGMIumIcHNHBBaHcAqIKauLSgyj8-6GT3PJGbZtlVa52_mZ4poUjqP_sOPdIffIjnsS-dQzS_jr3geO-yrNFcC8yNLf_3TaVtiM2eoMWcXnIGx2M/s1600-h/Head-01-june.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167625929739481314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dfQq6_wFWjhSx2luFR9Ku_KaGgQaGMIumIcHNHBBaHcAqIKauLSgyj8-6GT3PJGbZtlVa52_mZ4poUjqP_sOPdIffIjnsS-dQzS_jr3geO-yrNFcC8yNLf_3TaVtiM2eoMWcXnIGx2M/s200/Head-01-june.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">Domestic Violence in the Middle East</span><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">By Hoda Nassef<br /></span><br /><br /></span><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="color:#6600cc;">EGYPT</span> </span><br /></strong><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Domestic violence against women is a significant problem and is reflected in press accounts. According to a national study conducted in 1995 as part of a comprehensive demographic and health survey, one of every three women who have ever been married has been beaten at least once during marriage. Among those who have been beaten, less than half have ever sought help. Smaller, independent studies confirm that wife beating is common.<br /><br />Several NGO's (Non-Governmental Organizations) offer counseling, legal aid, and other services to women who are victims of domestic violence. These activists believe that in general the police and the judiciary consider the "integrity of the family" more important than the well being of the woman.<br /><br />Although reliable statistics regarding rape are not available, activists believe that it is not uncommon, despite strong social disapproval. When "honour killings" (a man murdering a female for her perceived lack of chastity) occur, perpetrators generally receive lighter punishments than those convicted in other cases of murder. There are no reliable statistics regarding the extent of honor killings.<br /></span><br />‘Female Genital Mutilation’, is common despite the Government's commitment to eradicating the practice and NGO efforts to combat it. Traditional and family pressures remain strong; a study conducted during the year estimates the percentage of women who have ever been married who have undergone FGM at 97 percent. The survey showed that attitudes may be changing slowly; over a 5-year period, the incidence of FGM among the daughters (from ages 11 to 19) of women surveyed fell from 83 to 78 percent. FGM generally is performed on girls between the ages of 7 and 12, with equal prevalence among Muslims and Christians.<br /></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#6600cc;">SAUDI ARABIA</span></strong> </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The Government does not keep statistics on spousal abuse or other forms of violence against women. However, based on the information available regarding violence against women, such abuse appears to be common problems. Hospital workers report that many women are admitted for treatment of injuries that apparently result from spousal violence. Some foreign women have suffered physical abuse from their Saudi husbands. A Saudi man may prevent his wife and any child or unmarried adult daughter from obtaining an exit visa to depart the country.<br /><br />By religious law and social custom, women have the right to own property and are entitled to financial support from their husbands or male relatives. However, women have few political or social rights and are not treated as equal members of society. There are no active women's rights groups. Women legally may not drive motor vehicles and are restricted in their use of public facilities when men are present. Women must enter city buses by separate rear entrances and sit in specially designated sections. Women risk arrest by the Mutawwa'in (religious volunteer police) for riding in a vehicle driven by a male who is not an employee or a close male relative.<br /><br />Women are not admitted to a hospital for medical treatment without the consent of a male relative. By law and custom, women may not undertake domestic or foreign travel alone.<br /><br />While Shari'a provides women with a basis to own and dispose of property independently, women often are constrained from asserting such rights.<br /></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="color:#6600cc;">JORDAN</span> </span><br /></strong><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Violence against women is common. Reported incidents of violence against women do not reflect the full extent of the problem. Medical experts acknowledge that spousal abuse occurs frequently. However, cultural norms discourage victims from seeking medical or legal help thus making it difficult to assess the extent of such abuse. Abused women have the right to file a complaint in court against their spouses for physical abuse but in practice familial and societal pressures discourage them from seeking legal remedies. Marital rape is not illegal.<br /><br />The Criminal Code allows leniency for a person found guilty of committing a so-called "honor crime," a violent assault with intent to commit murder against a female by a relative for her perceived immodest behavior or alleged sexual misconduct. Law enforcement treatment of men accused of "honor crimes" reflects widespread unwillingness to recognize the abuse involved or to take action against the problem.<br /><br />In December police arrested a man for beating to death his 19-year-old sister in November for "reasons of honor." Police were investigating a second brother for his suspected involvement in the killing at year's end. Police exhumed the woman's body from a cemetery in which she was buried illegally. Medical tests proved that the victim had not engaged in sexual activity.<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;"><strong>LEBANON</strong><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Violence against women is a problem. The press reports cases of rape with increasing frequency, and cases reported are thought to be only a fraction of the actual number. There are no authoritative statistics on the extent of spousal abuse. Most experts agree that the problem affects a significant portion of the female population. In general battered or abused women do not talk about their suffering for fear of bringing shame upon their own families or accusations of misbehavior upon themselves.<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Some religious courts legally can compel a battered wife to return to the house in spite of physical abuse. Many women are compelled to remain in abusive marriages because of social and family pressures. Possible loss of custody of children and the absence of an independent source of income also prevent women from leaving their husbands. Doctors and social workers believe that most abused women do not seek medical help because of shame or inability to pay for treatment.</span><br /><br /></span><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#6600cc;">**Courtesy of Country Reports On Human Rights released by The Bureau Of Democracy, Human Rights And Labor U.S. Department Of State.</span></em></span></div><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#cc0000;"></span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ff0000;">H.N.</span></span></p>My Funky Family!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17455358036302981367noreply@blogger.com