بلاد العرب أوطاني

Israeli newspapers alter photos because they contain "women's pictures!"

Well, I certainly had a Déjà vu experience while reading this. HAHA.

Read in BBC NEWS | Middle East.

Two ultra-Orthodox Jewish newspapers have altered a photo of Israel's new cabinet, removing two female ministers.

Limor Livnat and Sofa Landver were grouped with the rest of the 30-member cabinet for their inaugural photo.

But Yated Neeman newspaper digitally changed the picture by replacing them with two men. The Shaa Tova newspaper blacked the women out.

Publishing pictures of women is viewed by many ultra-orthodox Jews as a violation of female modesty.

Other Israeli papers reprinted the altered images next to the original photos, with one headlining it "Find the lady".

The ultra-Orthodox community separates itself from mainstream society through its traditional religious practices and distinctive attire of black hats, coats and sidelocks for the men and long skirts and sleeves for the women.

Restrictions include using only Kosher telephones, and not accessing websites with content deemed inappropriate.

Palestine before 1947

A Guitarist with a Different Style..

When someone talks about guitarists, a Latino, long-haired, mariachi image pops up to my mind. Or some gypsies gathering around in the wilderness. But a Saudi style guitarist, that I would have never guessed. I am saying this because recently, I came across a really nice video of a Saudi guitarist (in thobe and Ghotra) playing a Francisco Tárrega capriccio. The guy, Adil Zahrani, is a self-taught, very skilled guitarist and Oud player. See for yourselves:



I keep asking myself until when will my country ignore the development of art and the nurture of new talents. Really, it's such a great loss to have so many local musicians without a single institution to support them.

I Quit Reading

Books are Bad

Reading is bad for your health and there are various reasons for that.

1- It keeps you alone.Although a good book may be more interesting than your friends' company, you pay a social price by choosing the book over society.

2- It prevents you from REAL learning. It does! There is a difference between reading about Cuba and visiting Cuba. You don't learn it unless you experience it. So instead of wasting your time reading about Cuba, move your ass and go there!

3- It turns the world into an unbearable, miserable place. When you read a book, your imagination is doing half the work. It's not like watching a movie, it's much richer. And as a result, the harsh reality would fail in comparison with your sky-is-the-limit imagination.

4- You do not think. You are just reading what you are told or what you like, and as someone with wisdom once said, you can't interrupt the writer.

For the preceding reasons, I declare that I will quit reading books. However, Internet newspapers, work materials, and my own blog are to be excluded.

You think the Isaeli-Palestinian Conflict is complicated? Think Again...

يخلق من "الشنب" أربعين

Tony Hanna and Jean Ferrat