tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79032802024-03-13T06:15:02.780+02:00Bob's blogAfter years of politics, and a long hiatus, I am back. But this time my focus will be on the brighter side of life: reviews of my favorite pass time, like books, series, and movies.
In addition, to the unfortunate political commentary...BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.comBlogger227125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-35032777494300939852017-01-06T14:30:00.000+02:002017-01-06T15:50:25.989+02:00How I surrendered my digital life to Google…<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We all take pictures. We used to take them with cameras; I even
used an SLR (yes I’m that old) and then a DSLR, in my more artistic years. But
now, like almost everyone else I take them with my phone. The question is what I
do with these thousands upon thousands of pictures. Well, I periodically empty
my phone, and the pictures go onto a hard disk, on my pc. I have been promising
myself, and my wife to delve into that stash of pictures, memories, and bright
moments of our lives and try to organize it, so we could enjoy them.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I have failed. With each year, the task becomes more arduous,
more complicated. Plenty of duplicates, low resolution, blurry, and missing
pictures, makes that task impossible. The pictures lay forgotten and unseen;
except for a few I posted on social media, or immediately sent to our close
family on Whastapp. I tried to use automated programs to make sense of that
mess. Picasa seemed promising. Yet, it fell by the <a href="https://picasa.google.com/">roadside</a>, Google stopped
updating it, and it failed at the most important aspect: ease of usage! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Organizing pictures by date, place, and removing duplicates
is one side of the coin. The other more important aspect is using these
pictures. What good a program like Picasa is, if it does not help me rediscover
these memories, in a meaningful way, without spending hours trying to find one
specific picture or memory? This where <a href="https://photos.google.com/apps">Google Photos</a> brilliance is. Here allow
me to thank my friend <a href="https://mustapha.me/@Mustapha.Hamoui">Mustapha Hamoui</a> for re-reminding me of Google Photos in
a <a href="https://mustapha.me/a-search-engine-for-your-life-already-exists-and-its-amazing-299e1b390330#.lhc99xjma">post</a> a few days ago!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Pc9ga7GZu5EBAMeQaa-yfnT7B8Y-mFC5vfr3Wlg8G1DFolueeqjMZvz8ZdOl616I2frFcJjwmzFXoxOINxxJtO2_VXFdeKnd5fToRv-pHQMJ6FEElZApc3STLmsCOzoTJXpT/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Pc9ga7GZu5EBAMeQaa-yfnT7B8Y-mFC5vfr3Wlg8G1DFolueeqjMZvz8ZdOl616I2frFcJjwmzFXoxOINxxJtO2_VXFdeKnd5fToRv-pHQMJ6FEElZApc3STLmsCOzoTJXpT/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://photos.google.com/apps">Google Photos</a> has the basic features of any photo-organizing
program. You upload your files, and it sorts them by date, place, and then
apply its facial recognition algorithm. Yet, that is not all, its brilliance is
in the videos, collage, and GIFs it starts producing. All automated, all on its
own, and constantly updated. Every day, It became a pleasure to open the app
and see what old memories it has dragged up, packaged and offered me. Yesterday
I had “the smiles of 2016 video”. A short video of around 20-30 pictures of me
and my family, smiling! Today it brought tears to my eyes with a “They grow up
so fast” video of my little girl, speeding up from zero to three years old! Two
days ago, it was the highlights of our latest trip. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
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Google Photos does not stop there. It also apply its amazing
AI to help you sort out your life, making a sort of a “search engine for your
life”. Here I will quote <a href="https://mustapha.me/a-search-engine-for-your-life-already-exists-and-its-amazing-299e1b390330#.rsu808e5t">Mustapha on this</a> “Often times, we ask ourselves
questions relating to our lives and frequently, embarrassingly, we can’t quite
remember the answer. You know that the answer to almost any other question
exists online. But what you may not know is that you can as easily search your
life as Google crawls and indexes the web.”</div>
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<br />
My advice? Surrender your digital soul to Google and let it organize all
pictures in one glorious, accessible cloud. Now could they come over and
organize my physical life: books, papers, odds and ends for me? <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698789857418680729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-20458862784217347252016-05-28T21:08:00.000+03:002016-05-28T21:08:10.657+03:00That scene at the DOOR!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Against my better judgment, while the wound was still too
fresh I delved into that scene trying to analyze exactly what happened. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just to make it clear I used past/vision for when bran is in
the past having a vision of his father Ned Stark and his grandfather Rickard
Stark, while Ned is saying goodbye and going to the Vale as a ward of Jon Aryn
(where he will meet Robert Baratheon, another ward of Jon Aryn and become
friends) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Present is Bran in the cave, being attacked by the weights
and the white walkers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wylis is Hodor in the past, in the vision.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hodor is Hodor in the present with Bran and Meera escaping. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIg4Xgv9_wl_vaMGkjl-ph-KTzjnN0GMeU2m1bhXGsNKlGmh8BwoKCEgA17ic966rJ9jiTc_uGFBK8IwutHyYom9Jlt49F8a1YTQI0Si5O8Q477TpUy9IlqqRFwAmTByxRADh/s1600/d1984cb0-f2cd-0133-243b-0e1b1c96d76b.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIg4Xgv9_wl_vaMGkjl-ph-KTzjnN0GMeU2m1bhXGsNKlGmh8BwoKCEgA17ic966rJ9jiTc_uGFBK8IwutHyYom9Jlt49F8a1YTQI0Si5O8Q477TpUy9IlqqRFwAmTByxRADh/s320/d1984cb0-f2cd-0133-243b-0e1b1c96d76b.jpeg" width="320" /></a>Let us start; Bran and the Three Eyed Raven are in a vision,
seeing the past. They are witnessing the moment (at least 30-40 years before
the present time) when young Ned Stark was being sent to Jon Aryn. This is a
special vision for several reason: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1- Before going Three
Eyed Raven tells Bran “you are going to be me”. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2- when Bran is pulled away from the tree root by Meera the
vision does not end, like it did before with the White Walkers when the moment
Bran let go of the tree root, the vision ended. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3- Three Eyed Raven can hear and see what is happening in
the present, while he is in the vision (he tells Bran to do as his friends are
telling him –Meera was calling for him to warg into Hodor to escape). Three also
knew exactly when the Night King was in front of him and about to kill him, so
he told Bran goodbye. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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All hell break loose, the white walkers and their Night King
break through the Children of the Forest magic and they are in the cave. Meera
tries to wake Bran up, without success, so she screams at him to warg Hodor.
Bran can hear Meera from inside the vision and Three Eyed Raven tells him to
listen to hear. Thus, Bran look at Wylis, who is totally oblivious to Bran, in
fact looking away from him, and Bran use Wylis (in the vision/past) as a
conduit to warg Hodor in the cave. Indeed, Hodor, in the cave, has his eyes
turn white and then back to normal, and he spring to action. This sequences
(eyes turn white, then back to normal and then Hodor moves, was repeated several
times in the past when Bran warged into Hodor. For example, check in season
four when Bran escaped the Black Watch traitors at Crasters) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTjd7TB6CfO79lV_Q9ibNPEWyNnMgzmv2tUn1Uu-LbwmiXUIvW37UkN-SgUjZMenSbi0D3pf0TlDDVxuhZnlCp8-ZxjMqtfQpFmMB309uUbDpl4H0RUYnKgMwo9bMG4E9ys5U/s1600/hodor+close+up+game+of+thrones.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTjd7TB6CfO79lV_Q9ibNPEWyNnMgzmv2tUn1Uu-LbwmiXUIvW37UkN-SgUjZMenSbi0D3pf0TlDDVxuhZnlCp8-ZxjMqtfQpFmMB309uUbDpl4H0RUYnKgMwo9bMG4E9ys5U/s320/hodor+close+up+game+of+thrones.png" width="320" /></a>Therefore, we have Bran inside a vision with Three Eyed
Raven, looking at Wylis (young Hodor) and using his power to warg Hodor in the
cave. Hodor picks up Bran sled, Meera puts Bran on it, removing his hands from
the tree roots. Bran doesn’t wake up, unlike previous visions. The events continue,
and after the sacrifice of Summer and Leaf, they arrive at the Door. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Here, Bran still warging Hodor, break through the door, and
Meera seeing the horde of weights, asks Hodor –still warged by Bran- to Hold
the Door. Bran, hearing and probably seeing, from his vision what is happening
to Meera, Hodor and his body, watches on horrified. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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At this point, Hodor is holding the Door and Meera keeps
screaming at him to hold it. The pressure becomes too much and Wylis (in the
vision/past) is overwhelmed. Wylis, turns to Bran, seeing him for the first
time, and start hearing Meera screams “Hold the Door”. His eyes turn white, and
he falls on the ground seizing. It seems that Wylis has been warged too, and
now his mind can see, hear, and experience what is happening to Hodor holding
the Door. Poor Wylis mind is warged along with Hodor’s at the door, being
shredded alive by the weights. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There in the Land of always winter, under the Weirdwood tree
of the Children of the Forest, Hodor sacrifices his life, and the mind of his
younger self to save Bran Stark, and maybe the fate of all westeros…</div>
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698789857418680729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-42484865231965708072016-04-27T23:34:00.001+03:002016-04-27T23:50:22.020+03:00Rhaegar Targaryen!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rhaegar Targaryen, the last Dragon Prince of House Targaryen,
was born in Summerhall, among the grief of the false spring. He was the Son of
the Mad King Aerys II Targaryen, older sibling of Viserys and Daenerys
Stormborn, the Mother of Dragons. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">He was a quiet, shy child, who spent his time reading in the
Library in Kings Landing, instead of training to become a Knight as befit the
Heir of House Targaryen. Yet, around the age of ten he left his books behind
and presented himself to his household’s knights asking them to train him in
combat. Many wondered at this sudden change, few whispered that the young
Prince read a prophecy in one of his books, about the Long Night to come and
the need for a Champion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5jI0ZUrXDDcuMJRChNfsykKUC1Lke5o5qfwV9DNw0lX4AyJOKZgW6Hm-tFAMbcPDjvWUewFIlWcTDE7CWipD8rOYNJJFELFM08dBDfxxI1nRf5UdIFpyXn7d76YERIM8pVWc/s1600/RHAEGAR_FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5jI0ZUrXDDcuMJRChNfsykKUC1Lke5o5qfwV9DNw0lX4AyJOKZgW6Hm-tFAMbcPDjvWUewFIlWcTDE7CWipD8rOYNJJFELFM08dBDfxxI1nRf5UdIFpyXn7d76YERIM8pVWc/s400/RHAEGAR_FINAL.jpg" width="298" /></span></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Regardless of the reasons, the young Prince rose in the
ranks and became a Knight to be reckoned with. He constantly trained and became
close friend with Ser Arthur Dayn, the Sword of the Morning, who held the great
sword Dawn. Rhaegar was not enamored with fighting or tourneys, but once he
entered the fray few stood against him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">He married Princess Elia of Dorn, and had two children. It
is whispered that the same prophecy that pushed him to become a Knight,
foretold a Dragon with three heads, and a Prince that was promised. Elia, being
frail and ill, was unable to bear him a third child, and the last Dragon Prince
feared for the fate of Westeros. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, his father, the Mad King fell deeper into insanity. Rhaegar, beloved
by the common people, and many of the nobles, became the hope of the seven Kingdome.
With a heavy heart, the Prince shouldered his responsibility and in an effort
to gracefully replace his father, he organized a large tourney at Harrenhall.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The greatest lords and knights of Westeros were invited, to
hold a Grand Council and depose his father. Somehow, the Mad King learned of
his son’s effort and attend the Tourney. With his plans in shambles, the Dragon
Prince fought fiercely and won against the best knights of the realm, even the
fabled Sword of the Morning fell to his lance. As custom dictate, the Prince
was given a Crown of beauty to present to his beloved. Yet, he rode past his
wife Elia, and gifted the crown to Lyanna Stark, the betrothed of Robert
Baratheon. At that moment All smiles faded…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Instead of uniting the great houses, and ushering a new era of peace under his
wise leadership, Rhaegar angered many nobles houses, and once the tourney
ended, the Prince and Lyanna Stark disappeared. The hot headed wolf, Brandon
Stark, brother of Ned, took off in anger to King’s Landing demanding the return
of his kidnapped sister. The Mad King considered it an act of treason and
summoned Brandon’s father, Rickard Stark to court. Once he had both stark he
summarily executed them in a gruesome way. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Lord Jon Arryn, fostering Ned Stark and Robert Baratheon
raised his banners and rebelled against the Mad King. Thus started the war of
the usurper. After months of skirmish and minor battles, Prince Rhaegar reappeared
and led the formidable loyalist forces against an equally large rebel host,
formed by the houses of the North, the Vale, and the Stormlands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLLKUTadr19ilQMaNL201z7tTuKMz9PLgJEU8q_U7g5BSdVDFTjwj7dHFKOHllo0amvVVj8SCl6iFcHxvctOCi1D2t953EQekgZF-qVvXIvXg1BXIhjX2PxdtgP4EaBiFlDlX/s1600/battle+at+the+trident.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLLKUTadr19ilQMaNL201z7tTuKMz9PLgJEU8q_U7g5BSdVDFTjwj7dHFKOHllo0amvVVj8SCl6iFcHxvctOCi1D2t953EQekgZF-qVvXIvXg1BXIhjX2PxdtgP4EaBiFlDlX/s400/battle+at+the+trident.jpg" width="286" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In a great battle on the river Trident, the fate of the
House Taragyen, Westeros, and even the world was decided. In single combat,
Robert Baratheon wielding his war hammer faced the last Dragon wearing his
famous armor, adorned with a three headed dragon made of rubies. The
combatants, both loyalist and rebels, stood still, transfixed by the epic duel…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The world held its breath, as blows were exchanged, until with the fury of
storms and the anger of a scorned lord, Robert Baratheon drove his massive
warhammer into Rhaegar’s armor, shattering the ruby dragon piercing the
Prince’s heart.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Rhaegar Targaryen, the last Dragon Prince, died on the
trident, on a ford forever know hence, as the Ruby Ford.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What drove the wise Rhaegar to choose Lyanna Stark as the Queen of beauty? What
madness seized him to disappear with her? What spell impelled him to risk his
father thrones, his house’s fate for a woman. We may never know, yet a single
word can be heard, whispered by the water of the trident, echoing through the
hall of Harrenhall… PROPHECY… The Dragon Has Three Heads… There must be one
more, the Prince that was promised…</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thus, end the sad tale of the last Dragon Prince. Remember travelers that when
pass the ruby Ford, to look hard and long in the turbulent water. It is there
that the fate of the Westeros was sealed, it there that the world was doomed,
or possibly saved. Look hard for you also might still find rubies in those
waters…</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698789857418680729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-10435118391709479642016-04-24T17:43:00.000+03:002016-04-24T17:43:09.482+03:00Arthur Dayne!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">Sir Arthur Dayn, the knight whom Eddard Stark called
"The finest knight I ever saw was Ser Arthur Dayne, who fought with a
blade called Dawn, forged from the heart of a fallen star." He was famed
for his prowess and his chivalrous and kind heart.</span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_bVmGmLLQPbsO9PeSJ9DVSvPjzlCo0fgwXdvgyT9pzgR8U-9NOWxOaffFOrTVq5NA4FeXB4vObNDLNDXUnMtXVX2mWA21koVJeNSuJPe8fUZywhoMZ1j2t3CW4ZBMWWZDS4R/s1600/300px-Ser_Arthur_Dayne_by_henning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_bVmGmLLQPbsO9PeSJ9DVSvPjzlCo0fgwXdvgyT9pzgR8U-9NOWxOaffFOrTVq5NA4FeXB4vObNDLNDXUnMtXVX2mWA21koVJeNSuJPe8fUZywhoMZ1j2t3CW4ZBMWWZDS4R/s1600/300px-Ser_Arthur_Dayne_by_henning.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">Arthur Dayne was the deadliest Kingsguard of Aerys II the mad
king (father of Rahegar, Viserys and Daenerys the mother of Dragons.) He carried
a greatsword, called Dawn, milky white and made out of a meteorite. It is not
made of Valyrian steel, but it is thought to be as strong and sharp.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He was a friend and close campaign of Rahegar, the Crown
Prince who was killed by Robert Baratheon at the trident, in his revolt against
the Targaryens.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, Ser Arthur Dayne was killed at the tower of Joy, and his sword was returned to his sister. His fate, why he was there and not at the battle of the trident is of critical
importance to our story. However, i will leave that for the show to reveal...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Great Sword Dawn is currently in the ancestral home of the Daynes,
far south close to Dorn, and is awaiting the next worthy knight to hold it and
become the next "sword of the morning". The only Dayne we came across
in GOT is the young squire Edric Dayne, who is with the brotherhood without Banner.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For more info check these pages (some spoilers, especially
about the death of Dayn)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Arthur_Dayne<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/Arthur_Dayne<span style="font-size: 14px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698789857418680729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-14829309781712392162014-09-08T22:51:00.000+03:002014-09-08T22:59:52.257+03:00Leftovers finale review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The music, oh heaven, the music!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Starting us up with Nina Simon’s extraordinary
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q7w7gk1JhQ">interpretation </a>of Jaque Brel’s sorrowful “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za_6A0XnMyw">Ne me Quitte pas</a>”, then whisking us
out on the show’s hypnotizing piano theme, passing through <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbTozgoj9OQ">Apocalyptica’s </a>interpretation
of Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters”, to end with the theme again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">What magic is this! Unbelievable!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The final of “the Leftovers” did not disappoint. It kept on emotionally
hammering us, until the last few minutes, to end with a faint glimmer of hope,
normality, that I believe is going to be short lived. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The show ambiguity, cradling us between what reality and
dreams, between prophets and con men, between white and black, between grey and
greyer still. It is this post modernism malaise once again, the moral ambiguity
that we all feel in this crazy world, where heroes are nowhere to be found, and
where villains hide in plain sight…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I ll just leave you with this: part of a characters
monologue, just savor it sheer poetry, while listening to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q7w7gk1JhQ">Nina Simmons</a>: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">“I was pretending<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Pretending as if I haven’t lost everything<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I want to believe It can all go back to the way it was <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I want to believe that I am not surrounded by the abandoned
ruin of a dead civilization <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I want to believe that it is still possible to get close to
someone <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">But it is easier not to <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It is easier because I am coward<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">And I couldn't take the pain, not again…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Do yourself a favor, go watch this excellent show, a study
in human nature that is seldom so thoroughly interpreted, and just listen to
the music, the heavenly <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIQyYX-zf_Y&feature=youtu.be">music</a>…</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-30264547398381166712014-08-25T14:46:00.001+03:002014-09-08T22:32:51.035+03:00The leftovers, a review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQIHe5o05Ck"><b>music</b></a>. The <a href="http://youtu.be/cIQyYX-zf_Y"><b>music</b></a> is faeric, it works as a feedback
loop, feeding off the images, and the images grow, feeding off the music, both
transcending their immediate meaning. Just for the play of music and images, I
would watch this series. That haunting piano melody, it transforms you, I am becoming
a perfect Pavlov dog, every time I hear those few piano strokes I cringe, my
heart constricts, and I hear…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The series follows a few tortured souls, adrift in a world
devoid of meaning, of anchors, of purpose, except for a few fanatics full of
raging, deadly purpose. </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This opposition reminds me of “the second coming” poem
by W.B. Yeats:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">“Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;<br />
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,<br />
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere<br />
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;<br />
The best lack all conviction, while the worst<br />
Are full of passionate intensity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,<br />
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Dreams intrudes on reality, nightmares takes shape, and the
haunting music swirls around. Symbolism abound, images, relations, and links
can be made, yet I don’t feel the urge. That is the genius of the show’s
creator, I care more, much more, about these tortured souls and their struggle,
than about what caused the departure, and what powers are hiding behind the curtain,
pulling the strings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The characters struggles, their emotional turmoil awaken
feelings in me, new old feelings that are forgotten, yet vaguely remembered, like the memory of a bittersweet dream fading away. I hate it, yet I’m slowly falling
in love with it, with these new feelings...</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Thankfully, you might think, we live in this world, not in theirs.
Until you open the TV and watch all the horrors happening a few miles away,
perpetrated by people who also had a purpose, a purpose to live for and a
purpose to die for. And you fervently wish to stay lost, without a purpose,
adrift … </span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-40425502843989343872013-11-28T17:00:00.000+02:002013-11-28T17:01:48.804+02:00Idiocy has reached new heights!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">While the region is being racked by deep transformations and
upheavals, our esteemed Lebanese politicians are bickering fighting over the
scraps of scraps…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Some, like Hezbollah and Aoun, are congratulating themselves
considering that the US-Iranian deal announces their ultimate victory, while
March 14, or what s left of it, are bidding their time convinced that the
importance of our small “piece of paradise” is undeniable and the powers that
be give a damn!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This might come as a surprise but Lebanon is currently so
low on the international agenda that it is practically invisible. All what is required
is for the current </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">semblance of status-quo to continue with minimal bloodshed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">No you haven’t won, the price for the “deal of the century”
might be Lebanon and it might not! It might
be the head of Hezbollah or not! Fact is the deal is still in the making, and if
I were Hezbollah, I would hide in a corner and stand still until the storm has
passed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Meanwhile, no white knight will save March 14, not the US,
France, and not even the KSA. Grow a spine, get your act together, and for all
what you hold dear STOP betting on Joumblatt!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">However, I fully know that my words are wasted, like the
last sun rays before sunset, idiocy has gripped this land so tight that only
blood and more blood is the only future I see…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-5670922765049119632012-12-04T01:54:00.004+02:002013-03-15T18:50:09.901+02:00Can you hear it?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Can you hear... can you hear that faint sound above the horizon.. that sound that keeps getting closer, higher, that deafening sound!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br />
Can you hear it? that's the sound of the people coming to claim their freedom! that s the sound of all the mothers whose children you killed, the orphans, the widows, the angry young men!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br />
They are coming... RUN, RUN, RUN... your time is up... or better yet stay, and suffer the fate you deserve!</span></div>
BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-6444187918900161042009-06-09T16:48:00.004+03:002012-11-30T21:40:00.274+02:0071 vs 57!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It is a clear victory! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The 14 march coalition got 71 MP out of 128! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Aoun</span> popularity suffered a huge drop. I am waiting for the official detailed numbers to calculate the exact number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Meanwhile, the main <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">armenian</span> party (the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">tachnag</span>) have failed to deliver the much taunted surprise. And their snobbish refusal to the Future Movement alliance proposal (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Saad</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hariri</span> agreed to give them 4 MP) has dramatically affected their power base and influence, as they only got two <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">MPs</span> out of six Armenians MP in the parliament. </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Now it is time to put the elections behind us and start working to earn the trust that was bestowed to our coalition by the majority of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Lebanese</span> people.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I am eagerly waiting for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Aoun</span> speech tomorrow... </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">More to come on detailed results in the next week...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">for general results check the official <a href="http://www.elections.gov.lb/">website</a> of the Ministry of Interior.</span></div>
</div>
BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-36514153606790934812009-06-08T00:47:00.000+03:002013-03-15T18:48:21.348+02:00we won!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
let peace reign supreme!</div>
BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-21523425681141416902009-06-07T13:03:00.003+03:002009-11-18T22:34:49.582+02:00It seems the armenians have failed to deliver!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Although the total participation rate is pretty low all over Lebanon, but there is no </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">armenians</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> surge </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">detected</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">. Only 14% have voted till now in the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Metn</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> (their stronghold) in 2005 around 30% voted.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">if the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Armenians</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> do not </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">deliver</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> on their promise to bring thousands from abroad </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Aoun</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> will lose the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Metn</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">, Beirut 1 and most probably </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Zahleh</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Let s wait and see, but it is looking good for march 14...</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> </span></span></div>BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-78163725704846420732009-06-06T13:42:00.004+03:002009-11-18T22:36:16.095+02:00I am calling it: 68+ for march 14!!!<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:courier new;">My predictions: it will all depend on how far <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Aoun</span> popularity dropped. If the trend that started in 2007 by-elections, in which his popularity dropped by more than 30%. Then I can confidently say that March 14 will win with flying colors.</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:courier new;"></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:courier new;">Now if the drop was closer to 20% then the election will be tied at around 64-64</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:courier new;"></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:courier new;">And if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Aoun</span> only loses around 10% then March 14 will lose, with a minimum of 59 candidates from them and the rest for March 8.</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:courier new;"></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:courier new;">Finally, i will offer my own projection: March 14 will win 68+ members of parliament. </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:courier new;"></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:courier new;">Tomorrow keep your eyes open on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Metn</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Zaheleh</span> and Beirut 1 districts. But for an earlier projection of the results ( as these districts are larger and the counting of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">the</span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ballots</span> will longer) look for the results of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">smaller </span> districts and how did <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Aoun</span> popularity change. (like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Batroun</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Koura</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Jbeil</span>)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:courier new;color:black;">Additionally, participation number both of our supporters and the Armenians supporting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Aoun</span> will give early indications during the day... i ll keep you posted </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Finally, let us all hope that the election are peaceful and may the best wins!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></o:p></p>BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-2278881602475714632009-06-06T13:28:00.007+03:002009-06-06T13:54:23.271+03:00It is time!<p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">The time has come to go vote. Tomorrow at 7 am the voting center will open, democracy at its finest...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">No matter what is your a political affiliation, or lack off tomorrow go vote! Just vote... and unfortunately in Lebanon blank votes are not counted so vote. choose between the lesser of two evils and choose!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Just Vote!</span></p><p></p>BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-32677724310556453002009-05-08T14:57:00.003+03:002009-06-06T13:54:50.991+03:00A year ago...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">A year ago Hezbollah thugs invaded Beirut, killing, maiming and burning... They occupied the city, terrorized its people and shut down its press... </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Yet They failed. A year past, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Saad</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Hariri</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> is still here, and so is </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Joumblatt</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> and the rest of the Cedar revolution. Moreover, they even denied them their goal: All what it would have taken was for </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Saad</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Hariri</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> to call the banners, and hell </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">would</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> have broken loose. The army </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">would</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> have split and the country would have plunged into an never ending civil war (in the days following may 7, most </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">of</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> the senior army officers close to march 14 presented </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">their</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> resignation because the army </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">command</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> failed to defend the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">people</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> of Beirut. It took </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Saad</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Hariri</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> all his clout to change their mind and convince them to return to their post, in order to </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">preserve</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> the army unity.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">A year has past, and the country is poised for another test: the parliamentary election. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has proven once and for all that they are just another militia, and all of </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Nassrallah</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> promises that he </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Will</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> never turn his guns against other </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Lebanese</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> have proven </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">false</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">, and his other promises about his party ultimate goals </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">stooping</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> at defending </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Lebanon</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> has also been </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">shattered</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> when the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Egyptian</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">caught</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> a </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Hezbollah</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> cells </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">planning</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">terror</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> attack in Egypt... </span></div>BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-16322589202126943952009-05-05T15:04:00.001+03:002009-05-05T15:04:56.517+03:00Lebanon and Syria...<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zBxTrmBbV7k&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zBxTrmBbV7k&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-79339222858981324782009-05-04T17:01:00.008+03:002009-06-06T13:53:41.636+03:00Here we go again!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">With a bit more than a month left before the June 7 parliamentary election in Lebanon, the political arena is feverish...</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">during the last stretch i will try to restart my blogging, offer some insight and as per my blogging tradition i will offer my own electoral projection. ( for past example check </span></span><a href="http://ibosblog.blogspot.com/2007/08/aoun-popularity-suffers-31-drop-in-last.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> and </span></span><a href="http://ibosblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/electoral-analysis-part-ii.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">) </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Glad to be back and let's really see which way Lebanon will take... moderation, progress, democracy, freedom of speech and development or the other way, a la Syria and Iran.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">I will have a counter on the right side of my blog, showing the projected results for each party. On one hand the 14 March coalition (Future Movement, Phalangist, Walid Joumblatt, Lebanese Forces and several other smaller groups), and on the other hand the 8 march coalition (including Hezbollah, Aoun, Speaker Berri's Amal Movement, and a constellation of smaller pro Syrian parties like the SSNP...)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">In the next couple of days i will present the two main coalitions in details with links to their main web sites. And additionally, i am starting a parallel blog solely for a detailed projection of the next election.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></div>BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-23893492374212021682009-01-04T12:38:00.009+02:002009-01-04T18:15:31.002+02:00The madness must end!<span style="font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I am sick and tired of this endless circle of bloody violence. I am sick of the self serving, righteous rhetoric that both sides are using. I am sick of so called "resistance" movement and supporters, who care less about the welfare of there people, than about their divine victories, that leaves thousands dead in their wake. The madness must stop, and it will never do unless the moderates, the peace loving people, from both sides raise their voice and act...<br /><br />Amid all this bloodshed, nothing reeked more of hypocrisy and double talk than Nassrallah. He launched a full blown attack against Egypt and the rest of the moderate Arabs, almost forgetting about Israel.<br /><br />What is worse is his call for the Egyptian army to revolt and attack Israel and its own government, to help their brother in Gaza. But wonder of all wonders, Nassrallah asked OTHERS to revolt and attack, while he sits in his cozy little bunker hoarding his 40000 missiles, watching his allies in Gaza being blown to pieces, accusing Egypt and the rest of the Arabs of inaction!!! What a perfect text book example of hypocrisy and what an ally!!!<br /><br />So Hezbollah needs to act and show us how much you care about the welfare of the Palestinian, before going berserk against the rest of the Arab. But maybe their weapons will only be used against fellow Lebanese, like they did on the 7th of May, but maybe they are waiting for their orders from Iran?<br /><br />In the end, no one cares about the civilians in Gaza, neither Israel or even less Hamas and Hezbollah. Once more the Palestinians are paying the price of the struggles of regional and world powers on their land.</span></span>BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-23648240132095481012008-09-18T12:17:00.000+03:002008-09-18T12:19:02.514+03:00A slow unraveling of the state...<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link style="font-family: courier new;" rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cbob%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link style="font-family: courier new;" rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cbob%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link style="font-family: courier new;" rel="colorSchemeMapping" 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mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><o:p style="font-family: courier new;"></o:p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Despite all the agreement, reconciliation and dialogue day by day the security situation on the ground worsen. A shooting there, a killing here, some bombs in that neighborhood, an assassination over there, and the trends is growing.</p><p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">The army, since Hezbolah attack on Beirut, has been sitting by, rarely getting involved for fear of clashing with the perpetrators and unraveling into several warring armies divided by sect. (Similar to what happened in the 1976-90 civil war)</p><p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">People fearing for their lives, have either resorted to buying some weapons for self defense or resorted to the famed Lebanese tradition of nonchalance: we die when we die. Or simply immigrated to a less crazy country.</p><p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, everybody is waiting for the big explosion, the next war in the region. Unfortunately no one knows where it will start or between whom: Israel-Hezbollah, US-Iran, Israel-Iran, or any other possible permutations.
<br /></p><p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">The summer is over, and once more we wait. We wait for a solution, a settlement that will never come and fear a crisis that is slow to erupt, living in perpetual limbo, while the state, our country, our lives slowly disintegrated around us...<o:p></o:p></p> BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-58909889434454658302008-08-18T13:35:00.000+03:002008-08-18T13:39:15.710+03:00What is brewing in Syria?<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link style="font-family: courier new;" rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cbob%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link style="font-family: courier new;" rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cbob%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link style="font-family: courier new;" 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mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><o:p></o:p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" face="courier new" class="MsoNormal">In the last couple of months Bashar Assad’s totalitarian regime have been subject to a series of high profile assassinations. First, Hezbollah’s military operations commander, Imad Mughnieh, who was killed in one of Damascus most secure neighborhoods. Then Mohammad Suleiman, Assad’s military right hand, was killed in his sumptuous villas on Tartous sea side.</p><p style="font-family: courier new;" face="courier new" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">When Mughnieh was first killed, my first impression was that the Mossad (Israel foreign intelligence service) was behind the assassination. But I felt that if we witnessed a certain rapprochement between Israel and Syria after the killing, it might means that the Syrian were somehow involved. And without much surprise, two countries started peace negotiations a few months after Mughnieh assassination.</p><p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">So in view of all these developments, several scenarios were put forth, to explain Suleiman assassination: <span style=""> </span>he was killed by the Iranian/Hezbollah for his involvement in Mughnieh termination, a scenario that I do not favor. Or it was an internal job caused by some inter-fighting between several Syrian clans (maybe Assad’s and Ashaf Shoukat’s). Or maybe the Mossad is once more settling some old scores...</p><p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Never the less that who did is less important than the act itself, and its immediate implications. Syria is witnessing a power struggle and there is a hidden power shift currently at work. Who will come on top is the question that should be asked.<o:p></o:p></p> BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-16938666539207147822008-07-17T11:58:00.003+03:002012-11-30T21:42:34.437+02:00My humanity cringed...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As most of the Lebanese politicians lined up to salute the returned prisoners, my humanity cringed... like it did when innocent children were killed in Qana, the South and even in Israel. </div>
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<br />There are no worse criminals than those who kill children. And nothing, not a cause, no matter how holy or an ideology, no matter how right; or a demand, no matter how just, that can justify the killing of a child...
<br />
<br />Samir Kuntar did not deserve a hero’s welcome, he is a child killer. Maybe he atoned for his crime, in his thirty year imprisonment, but that does not absolve him of his barbaric act and warrant him such a celebration. He killed a father in front of his four years old daughter and then smashed her head on a rock, with his machine gun...</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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<o:p>
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In the future, when the next war erupts and children will die from both sides, refrain from condemning Israeli brutality and massacres, for on this day you stood silent... and silence is a crime.<o:p></o:p><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><!--[endif]--></div>
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BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-10047584769882502012008-07-14T12:01:00.001+03:002008-07-14T12:11:42.384+03:00Electoral projections! <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link style="font-family: courier new;" rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cbob%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link style="font-family: courier new;" rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cbob%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link style="font-family: courier new;" rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cbob%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> 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style="font-family: courier new;" face="courier new" class="MsoNormal">As the new “national unity” government was formed, after much horse trading, the focus now shifts to formulating the government’s agenda. Yet despite all these petty squabbles the main issue remains the parliamentary electing that should take place in eight months or so. Each faction is preparing its electoral apparatus and starting the incessant polls and statistic gathering to succeed in the next crucial election.</p><p style="font-family: courier new;" face="courier new" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">However, I still believe that the election will not take place. The stakes are too high and both parties cannot afford to lose. A silver lining remains, if the two parties firmly believe that they will win then we might have a slim chance of holding a “peaceful” election, but I doubt that. Lebanon has a small population and at one point the election result will be know, to certain percentage.</p><p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Till this moment, at least 75 seats, out of 128, are already divided among the country’s power that be. The main electoral battle will rage among the Christian districts, between Aoun (Hezbollah’s ally) and the 14<sup>th</sup> of March coalition.
<br /></p><p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">During the next few months I will try to keep an ongoing, gradually refined electoral projection, on my blog.<span style=""> </span>My methodology will be as follow: I will collect as many projection and polls as I can find in the local and international press, and use the 2005 and 2007 by election results to try and form a projection. (For those interested you can view my earlier attempt at projecting the results of the 2007 by elections <a href="http://ibosblog.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html">here</a> and <a href="http://ibosblog.blogspot.com/2007/08/aoun-popularity-suffers-31-drop-in-last.html">here</a>)</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-37534529712775061382008-06-25T12:14:00.004+03:002008-06-25T12:34:07.591+03:00Hezbollah and Chebbaa farms<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link style="font-family: courier new;" rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cbob%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link style="font-family: courier new;" rel="themeData" 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<br />In 2000 when Israel withdrew from South Lebanon, Hezbollah decided to continue its resistance against Israel's occupation. So they dug up old maps of a 50 km2 strip of land called Chebbaa farms and decided that it was part of Lebanon.
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<br /></p><p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">However, that piece of land being under the control of Syria in 1967 it was occupied by Israel and considered Syrian. So Israel refused to give up this small plot...eight years forward, after one war, several clashes, thousands of casualties, the land is still "occupied” by Israel and Hezbollah is still trying to free it.
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<br />A week ago the US secretary Condoleezza Rice visited Lebanon and declared the US intention to work on placing Chebbaa under UN control until its border is firmly marked and placed under the Syrian or Lebanese sovereignty. (Syria to keep the resistance going in Lebanon always refused to deliver the necessary paperwork to the UN to award Lebanon sovereignty)</p><p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Lo and behold Hezbollah officials bristled with indignation, denouncing this move as a ploy to end the resistance and strip its weapons… in other words Hezbollah was against a full Israeli withdrawal from supposedly Lebanese lands because this will end their divine resistance.</p><p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">A Lebanese paradox par excellence. A resistance that encourages an occupier “occupation” and attacks any effort at freeing the land, maybe Hezbollah has an exclusive dealership on freeing lands…</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile the political crisis drags on, slowly rotting the stats and its institutions away; at least we have a president. And this is what driving General Aoun (Hezbollah staunchest ally) even madder.<o:p>
<br /></o:p></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-39686953838629409252008-06-03T11:16:00.004+03:002008-06-25T12:34:37.786+03:00"I am proud to be part of the Wilayat el Fakih"<span style="font-family: courier new;">Nassrallah was very adamant in admitting that he was part of Iran's politico-religious hegemony, saying outloud that he was " proud to be part of the Wilayat el Fakih" But, he claimed that this same supreme authority wanted only the best for Lebanon and insisted on a multicultural and diverse country.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">A simple question comes to mind... what would happen when this divine authority no longer desire a multicultural, democratic and free Lebanon? Nassrallah himself answered that question: he is first and foremost part of Iran's hegemony and he will follow it regardless of Lebanon's interests. Further evidences were abundantly witnessed in Beirut's street when Hezbollah went on a murderous rampage.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">Meanwhile, the truce brokered in Doha seems to be holding. But the volcano that erupted two weeks ago is far from dead. Too many issues were left unresolved, and too much blood has been spilled. And most of all, it seems that Hezbollah has suffered its first military set back in years.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">The Druze in Mount Lebanon fought Hezbollah militiamen to a stand still, inflicting heavy casualties (Nassrallah admitted 14 death, the toll is rumored to be much higher and includes two top ranking field officers...)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">Everyday brings more tales of the fierce battles that raged in the mountains, when Hezbollah was forced to use artillery and mortars to fend off the fierce defense of Joumblatt's men and even Hezbollah own druze allies who refused to see their homes overrun by Nassrallah's militiamen.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">In the mean time, despite all the venomous rhetoric, threats and accusations hurled at PM Siniora and all the pressure Nassrallah exerted, PM Siniora is back in office with a strong President holding the fragile peace together. And until further notice, Lebanon is a democracy and in such a system there is only one method of gaining political control...elections...</span>BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-57106504601739571132008-05-26T21:43:00.003+03:002008-06-25T12:35:22.599+03:00We have a new president!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAslaYH7jxjTu233IkIPSiKefMCgPzKGeqg4O9Cvn493dV6kYDtpciEeKdrz-0WpUThsjIc4ACXyY96gJRKVZ8HldNW799mODwK1vJ1R0tvK7cO-i8lzQLhnv_XQze0jdZ25i/s1600-h/p01-01-23360.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAslaYH7jxjTu233IkIPSiKefMCgPzKGeqg4O9Cvn493dV6kYDtpciEeKdrz-0WpUThsjIc4ACXyY96gJRKVZ8HldNW799mODwK1vJ1R0tvK7cO-i8lzQLhnv_XQze0jdZ25i/s400/p01-01-23360.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204759595879325730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />May he be better than the last one...</span>BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7903280.post-86851544220306414882008-05-22T13:23:00.005+03:002008-05-22T14:02:06.497+03:00Finally, some good news!<span style="font-family: courier new;">As the dust settled after last week's bloody turmoils and the miraculous Doha accord has been signed, i cannot but wonder why blood is always necessary to cement any agreement, even as tentative and precarious as the one our esteemed leaders signed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">The agreement is a pure horse-traders compromise, with a Lebanese flavor. All large factions got a share of the cake, but one, while the small minorities and emerging parties were sacrificed on the altar of national entente.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">The propaganda machines of the two opponent switch to high gear in order to portrait the accord as a victory. Yet a the FPM emerged as a clear loser, while its TV network is toiling incessantly to portrait the orange General as a major winner in the current agreement, with his successful defense of the Christians rights, that was threatened by 14 March voracious appetite.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">But the bitterness, disappointment and aimlessness was so evident. General Aoun has lost his final bid to an illusive presidency, that he has been chasing for the last 20 years. His defense of "Christian rights"was only a narrow selfish battle for his own political power. As the General waged his battle on Beirut's Christian MP seats that were controlled by Sunni majority, asking for their transfer to another district ( which falls under Shiite control- the current allies of the general-) He "forgot" all about the Christian seats controlled by Shiite majorities in the Bekaa...i wonder why...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">All in all, Wednesday was a bright day in Lebanon's history. An agreement has been reached, and peace once again twinkle closer on the horizon, like an ever illusive rainbow. Hezbollah's men, who have been occupying Beirut's central district folded their tents and packed their guns. Beirut regained its heart. And a new President will finally be elected this Sunday.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">Good news...yet a distant voice keeps me worried... But the time is for happy thoughts and not for dark ruminations... So i will go out and celebrate in Beirut's Down Town, maybe hit Buddah Bar for a night of drunken festivities, and of course make a </span><a style="font-family: courier new;" href="http://ibosblog.blogspot.com/2006/12/next-year-in-taboo.html">long forgotten toast</a><span style="font-family: courier new;"> in a pub named Taboo...</span>BOBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05089227138835334263noreply@blogger.com1