Arab Innovation

After digging to a depth of 100 meters last year, Russian scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 1000 years, and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network one thousand years ago.

So, not to be outdone, in the weeks that followed, American scientists dug 200 meters and headlines in the US papers read: “US scientists have found traces of 2000 year old optical fibers, and have concluded that their ancestors already had advanced high-tech digital telephone 1000 years earlier than the Russians.”

One week later, the Arab newspapers reported the following: “After digging as deep as 500 meters, Arab scientists have found absolutely nothing. They have concluded that 5000 years ago, their ancestors were already using wireless technology.”

Contributed by Amir al-Assad

Ok, I Lied.

Yes, I’m about to drop dead, BUT I had to add my commentary about the photo below.

No, they’re not going out. That’s how people walk in Egypt. Even men get in on the act, and walk together, arms linked.

At any rate, despite the fact that I’m not Muslim (I’m a Christian Egyptian–a Protestant Copt, for those of you who are behind the times), BUT I must say that I’m so happy and impressed to see what these girls are dressed in.

This was mid-July, arguably the most hellish time in all of Egypt. (Unless you like the heat, of course. I don’t like the heat.. of course.)

At any rate, sweat bullets ignored, these girls–and they can’t be over the age of high-school–are dressed modestly, not just covering their hair, but in wearing long sleeves and skirts that go to their ankles (you can’t see them in the photo, but I remember how they looked.)

Also, unlike many girls in higab (the veil), these lassies barely have any makeup on.

Bravo to them! So many people think they can be modest (or merely ‘good’) in one thing, and then pull a stunt in another area, which basically cancels out the modesty or, erm, good thing.

Like a girl who thinks she’s being angelic by wearing a non-skintight turtleneck, but then wears a microskirt.

Or the girl who dresses in full higab but puts more makeup on than the love child of Boy George.

At any rate, feel free to leave comments about my skewed world view, but this is my story, and I’m stickin’ to it..

X Culture Magazine, Spring 2006

Greetings, darlings… Hope you’re all wonderful!

Sitting at the PC is draining my life away, hence today’s entry, which is a photo I took in Egypt (ya 7abibti ya masr a few months back.

As you can see, the photo is on the cover of this month’s
X Culture Magazine. I’d advise clicking on it to see it because it’s all scrunched up, methinks. Hmph.

Anyway, I’d love it if you checked out this month’s issue. After that, feel free to scroll down to see my commentary on religious persecution… in America.

Happy Sunday, love you all, and ma3 el salama

S