I ♥ Amman

Five Facts about me:
1-I can't stand celebrities,The Insider,Oprah,and any other show of this like.
2-I can never turn down any begger or yell at them.
3-My friends tell me that I'm sometimes like Kramer from Seinfeld.
4-I am against loose liberasim,secularism, and religious extremism.
5-I am always optimistic even in worst times.

Three things I like about others:
1-Blunt honesty.
2-Smart and independent youngwomen.
3-Thinking outside the box.

Three things I hate about others:
1-Taking life for granted and being bound by society's norms and stereotypes
2-Low self esteem and not standing up for their rights
3-Snobs,fake people,prejudice,who talks about others, and with no inner peace with themselves.

Fadi tagged me. Baseeta ya Fadi!

I tag : Rania, Nasim Tarawneh, okay can't think of others who hasn'e been already tagged.

اذا حدا بدو ركم الكريدت كارد إحكولي... ما حدا يستحي

Based on the results that could be found here: (http://www.elections.ps)
ARABIC http://www.elections.ps/pdf/Result_DistrictSeatsDistribution_Ar.pdf
ENGLISH http://www.elections.ps/pdf/result_seat_distribution_EN.pdf

So these guys are wasting no time!

Hamas supporters take off the Palestinian flag over the Parliament and places an their flag over the Palestinian Parliament!

How patriotic and responsible! I would say traitors!
This is the house of the people, not yours!If you won the majority it doesn't mean you take off the Palestinain flag and places yours!

Another Hamas candidate refuses to stand up during the Palestinian national anthem was playing!

4 years of hell!Lets hope they'll collapse in less than 6 months.

Now I'm really astonished by all the frenzy that my first post has caused!Some who cowardly commented Anonymously are being rude and ill mannered!I'll keep their comment so you can see how uncivilized they are being. Others only throw accusations without any evidence or saying why, which makes it baseless!
I personally thank Nasim Tarawneh for his civilized discourse!

Now, other Jordanian bloggers are speaking about this. Even some blog got images of the prophet which is banned in Islam, yet it didn't get all this fuss!

I am still in shock and awe!
So it started with Iraq, which is ruled by Islamic thugs now,Syria is on its way, Palestine is now ruled by Islamists, and Egypt could flip anytime!

The region is becoming unbearable! It looks like the future is green indeed!

Why ranting?Okay here is what some blogger who is in the UK called Ahmed got to stay about Muslims taking part in Christmas!


On a final note, The Democratic Front for Liberation of Palestine and other secular factions who heleped Hamas winning this, you idiots, it gonna backfire on you!

The majority chooses not follow Democracy, this is democracy as well?

I bet you, my next post in few months will be : Christians no more in Jesus Land (that is the Holy Land, historical Palestine!)

So what would you do if a classmate asks you to borrow your calculator just minutes before his final exam?

Okay, I'm no Smurf! I had many bad experiences where I got my textbooks back in pieces (Thank you Dan if you are reading this :p). I've given a guy what is equivalent to JD50 knowing on what he gonna blew it off and would never return the money, and surely he did not!

January 22
So when I gave him the calculator I've told him to meet me at 11:15am sharp the next day to return back!

Janauary 23 11:15am
He doesn't show up!

January 24
So I see him in the hallway....Dude sorry I've forgotten the thing at home (Home is ZARQA!).
He was like, yeah come and get it from my home at Zarqa!And I was like Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? He said that he got no business in Amman so why should he come just to give me the damn cal?
And I was like, sorry dude but you are the one who didn't show up yesterday and you are the one who took the thing!
So we agreed to meet today in front of the Uni gates at 10:00 am

January 25 10:00am
He doesn't show up! So I call him, and he is faking the "Oh I was sleeping" thing! Sorry dude I've overslept! So I told him to leave it with some Prof and I will go pick it up!

Well, I call him back, and he's angry: Dude I regret the day I've gotten your Cal, dude why ur dealing with me like this! I have something important to do in Zarqa Blah Blah!

So he got me all fired up! I told him that I got an exam this Sunday and I need it! And he is the one who didn't show up for 3 times, and I've never scorned him or said anything wrong!

These people are unbelievable! So now I'm the bad guy for trying to get my Cal back before my exam, and he's Mr.Joe Citizen who got what he need and would care less if I got it back or not, it's not his business anymore!

Do I have to mention that he's one of those: I've not taken a bath since I was born? He keeps picking his nose in public and then lay up the thing on seats and stuff.

Do I sound negative? "Man mish 3ajbak shee?" Yes. And call me mfalsaf!But he really got me on my nerves!
I didn't want to post this, but since it took 3 days of negotiations and he's now accusing me of wasting his time, he has really done it!

PS:Till now I've gotten it back!He should call back at 3:30pm ,I hope he does...I got 2 others Cal at home!But since he's dealing like that with me I won't go easy with him!They think that we are fking Ammanis kids,Shmesidani kids that could be fooled and fuked over.

>>UPDATE (January 25 - 16:06)
He was supposed to call at 15:30 but he didn't.
I've called him at 16:00 he's not answering.
I'm thinking of possible options for a swift retaliation.

>>UPDATE (January 25 - 16:31)
Second attempt of calling him has failed.
I've made some phone calls. I have now his exact home location, one of my friends lives near him.
It seems I'll get it tommorow.

I have no problem in displaying the logo of this Jordanian company on my blog, and yes I'm not getting anything out of this. I'm just a satisfied customer

Well, maybe some people had a bad experience with them, but seriously; they are the best!

They are really fast!And their tariffs are unbeatable!
Yeah, currently they got for students some kick ass offer!

Why would you pay others some outrageous fees to get ur stuff delieverd in 4 days, meanwhile Aramex delivers your thing to the US in 3 days for a reasonable fee?

Thank you Aramex for delivering my package in 3 days for JD7 only!

إسمعنا من قبل هالحكي و كتير من الزملاء البلوجرية حكو عن الموضوع.

طبعا إحنا مع هيك أفكار و تقوية ثقافة حرية التعبير و الرأي! بس شكلو الحكومة نسيت الًنمر و العالم إلي راح تكون من رواد هاي المنطقة! يعني نسيو إنو راح إتصير المكان المفضل لجماعة اللحا و الدشاديش و أحاديثه عن أهوال عذاب القبر و مدى الفجر و الكفر الذي يعيشه المجتمع؟

ماذا لو إجا واحد بدو يثبت إنو الله (أستغفر الله) غير موجود بلرياضيات؟ ماذا لو أخت بدها تحكي عن حقوق المرأة؟ مش راح يلتم الزعران و هدول أبو شعر طويل ملفلف من ورى إلي لسا طالع من السجن؟ مش راح إيغرقوها بعبارات :إيش يا نظيف إيش هال أزرق، يلعن عمري و يا حنون إلخ إلخ؟

طب نسيو شركة "يا عمو الله إيخليك؟يا عمو" و أبناءه؟ نسيو جماعة : ببس علكة دربس إل سي دي بليرة!

يا زلمة هل قصص لبلاد برة! هلا من كل عقلقم بدكم واحد يطلع يحكي إنو هو النبي أو المسيح بدون ما يكلو خمسين شلوط!؟؟

الحل؟ بدكم إتحطو شرطة؟طب شو إستدفدنا من الشرطة هيك ما صرت ساحة حرية! طب لو إجا واحد بحكي أنا موضوعي اليوم إنو بدي الناس إيبطلو يحكو عني عربي! راح تلاقي خمسين واحد تافين عليه و سابين أهلو و هو لسل ما حكى!
ما راح تسمحو للشحادين؟طب كيف صارت ساحة حرية؟


شكلو أصحاب الفكرة مفكرين بدو يجيلك فنان عامل لوحة بتعبر عن الغلاء و كفاح الشعب و لا واحد عاملك قصيدة و ملحنها و بنتقد الأداء الحكومي و قانون جرائم الشرف!

ضروري إنزكركم بشارع الثقافة؟ إلي في العيد بقلب ساحة تجمع لكل زعران البلد؟ و الأيام العادية مسرح لمشطيب مفكرين حالهم "هوميز" و نازلين بريكدانسنج و لا ولاد شميساني
"aka. Shmeisani Kids©"
مفكرين حالهم طوني هوك و كل واحد مسكلي كلبو و بعملو سكيت بوردينغ!

الخلاصة: ما بصير تعمل هيك إشي و الناس مش فاهمين شو هي الحرية! الولاد في المدرسة بخافو يناقشو المعلم، ليش لأنو أكبر منهم!
علموهم بالأول كيف ينضفو حالهم و يستعلو الحمام! أدخل على حمامات الجامعات ، الإسطبلات أنضف منها!

PS: نعم اليوم صار معي شغلة خلتني أكتب هال البوست، نفسي أفهم ليش الحمامات دايمن وسخة إكتير؟ طب أفهم ليش الخر** كانت عل حيط؟

SORRY, THE TITLE SHOULD READ : HYDE PARK !

Who said we don't have Jordanian blogs specalized in local politics?
Here are two blogs owned by Ashraf Zeitoon
1.Jordan and the Middle East Peace Process (Information, analysis, and ideas)
2.A Future Jordan نحن الأردن

I would like to write a preview, but no time. Well I think both of them are very interesting and to the point.



Here is a list of Jordanian blogs specializing in local politcis (If u know any blog please email me or send a comment here):
1. Jordanian Issues
2. Batool
3. Jordan and the Middle East Peace Process
4. A Future Jordan نحن الأردن
5. Whats up in Jordan?

Disclaimer: I do not necessarily endorse the blogs that I have listed here. I am not responsible for any opinions,comments,links and facts appearing on these blogs.

The Lost Honor is a book written by Norma El-Bag3ain aka. Norma Khouri, about her personal experience with honor crimes in Jordan. The book claims to be telling a true story of her Muslim friend "Dalia" who was killed by her father for dating a Christian military officer named Michael. It all started when Norma and her childhood best friend Dalia opened a Unisex Saloon in Amman called "N&D", where Dalia fell in love with the Catholic officer -Michael in 1995. After one year of this relation she was stabbed to death 12 times by her father after Dalia's brother saw her holding hands with the guy, which is according to her is forbidden in Jordan, and dating is forbidden.
So poor Norma who was threatened by her family as well fled to Greece in late 1990s where she has written the book and then asylum to Australia.
The book is then published in 2002 and sells more than 250,000 copies worldwide, Australian journalists went on a frenzy praising her book and her courage!

So here is a time line of her life according to here:
Born 1970- Jordan, went to American school.
1990: Started N & D's Unisex Salon with her friend Dalia..
1995: Dalia's love affair was discovered and her father stabbed her to death.
Late 1990s: Greece Norma fled Jordan in fear of her life
2002-3: Forbidden Love (in Australia, in the US: Lost Honor) published in 16 countries, selling an estimated quarter of a million copies.

The MSM jumped all over here, even Dick Cheney's daughter was moved by the story and had contacted her several times. The books talk about a stone age country that allows Unisex salons but forbids men to talk to women! The book invokes all the required ingredients demanded by the increasingly over-populated genre of Tales of Oppressed Muslim Women: the religious chauvinism of the Arab Muslim male, the stifling oppressiveness of a Muslim society, the systemic misogyny of the Muslim state and, of course, the primitive tribalism and pride that would drive an ordinarily mild-mannered father to murder his own daughter.

Then the truth breakout! She was not in fact living in Jordan during the time when her story allegedly happened! Even worse; she was born in Jordan 1970 but her family immigrated to the US in 1973! Now this is not the end of the story, more investigation shows the real life of Norma.
Forbidden Love or Lost Honor is a fiction written by a woman who lived in Chicago from the age of three, and who left that city in 1999, when the FBI wanted her for questioning over a series of possibly criminal property transactions. Norma moved to the US with her parents Majid and Asma in 1973. She then had four siblings born by 1980 (Diana, Rita ,Mike and Will). She went to a Catholic school in south Chicago. Later she studies computers. In 1991: Norma conceives Zoe from John Toliopoulos
1993: Norma and John have a son, Christopher, and get married.
1996: Norma obtains a US passport.
c2000: Norma, John and their children leave Chicago, probably for Greece. She starts writing Forbidden Love.
November 2000: Norma enters Jordan for one week to obtain identity papers. Later she moves to Australia, where she lives in a secret location in Queensland because she fears for her life .

Brandy Murphy, Khouri's best friend in Chicago, recalls a tempestuous marriage. "I used to see her running down the street chasing her husband with a knife," Murphy said. "She had a violent marriage. He (Toliopolous) threw her through a wall once. Literally through the wall: she ended up in the bedroom. Once, he tried to run her over with his car."How do I know? I know because I lived with them, and then I lived across the street from them. And they were always screaming at each other."
More of Khouri's story can be found on the eighth and 10th floors of the Cook County Circuit Court building, at the corner of Randolph and Clark streets in Chicago. One document, dated 1998, says that Norma Bagain was once arrested for battering her mother-in-law, Zoi Toliopoulos. The police report says that she "struck the victim, pulling her hair and scratching her neck, causing injury to her person". She also broke four windows in the house, and told police she would return to kill her mother-in-law.Another document, dated 1999, suggests that Khouri once tried to defraud her own mother by transferring ownership of her mother's house to her own name and then borrowing against it. The mortgage company let Khouri's mother, Asma Bagain, keep the house. Other documents suggest that the FBI wants to interview Khouri and her husband about alleged fraud. Chicago legal firms are chasing her for money owed on mortgages. Utility companies want to speak to her about unpaid electricity bills. Brandy Murphy said Khouri was once madly in love with Toliopoulos. "She told him she was an Arabic princess, so he would marry her." Murphy said she saw Khouri on the news "about two years ago, when the book came out. I couldn't believe it. I rang her sister Diana and said: 'What is this?' and her sister said: 'Oh, her publisher said she had to write it like that, so they could sell more copies.' I didn't believe it. I know her as a liar."
Murphy also said that Khouri's book about life in Jordan was not her first. "She wrote one before this, about how her father was molesting her, but that didn't get published," she said. Among friends in Chicago and Bribie Island, Khouri is also known for fits of depression and self-loathing.
Most of the credit in exposing Norma goes to Amal Al-Sabbagh –president of the Jordanian National Committee for Women (JNCW) and Malcolm Knox, editor of the Sydney Morning Herald . After reading the book it was clear to her that the writer is not Jordanian. Then Ms.Sabbagh and Rana Husseini, an investigative journalist at the Jordan Times who has written countless articles on honor crimes in Jordan , did a thorough page-by-page analysis of the book and documented dozens of serious errors and anachronisms, covering geography, history, Islam, Arabic language and law.

For example on page two of her book, Khouri wrote that the Jordan River is "no longer strong enough to flow down to Amman." Yet, the Jordan River has never flowed anywhere near Amman, not least because it would have meant flowing uphill for a distance of 1 kilometer.
She mentions nonexistent hotels and confused geography (on page 2, Jordan is erroneously described as "bordered by" Kuwait).

There were also errors about Jordan's legal system: Khouri claimed that Dalia's killer was released on bail, even though Jordan never releases suspects on bail in capital offences. Khouri also described the lives of a majority of Jordanian women as being akin to that of prisoners, slavishly serving men in silence and eating their leftovers, She also described a society of fear that was unrecognizable to anyone familiar with Jordan. Husseini's investigation determined that no salon as described by Khouri had ever existed (unisex salons are in any case illegal), nor had anyone in Khouri's alleged Amman neighborhood ever heard of her family, or of the brutal murder. Husseini was astonished that Khouri's book contained not a single reference for any of the thousands of "facts" it reported.

Khouri has spent the past two years in Australia denying to friends that Zoe, born in 1991, and Christopher, born in 1993, were her children. On Bribie Island, the story was that Toliopoulos was an American who had helped secure Khouri safe passage out of Jordan, and had come to Queensland to live with her. Now they live large in Australia! They have a basketball ring, a swimming pool, a private jetty, a boat, a big house with a big patio, overlooking the ocean.The pair have told friends that they live separate lives under one roof, albeit a very big roof in a big waterfront house. Toliopoulos is known as a fastidious housekeeper and fanatical chef, setting aside whole afternoons to cook his favourite dish, Chicago-style deep-dish pizza pie. He has made friends on Bribie Island. Many of Khouri's friendships have revolved around her campaign against honour killings in Jordan, and her fake identity. She conscripts women friends into her causes - often legitimate fundraising activities for a range of charities.

Much of this, it would seem, has been a rehearsal for her second book, A Matter of Honour, a sequel to Forbidden Love that she has been struggling to put together coherently.
A Matter of Honour is still in the publisher's list for Christmas, but while officially welcoming Khouri's promises to produce evidence of her life in Jordan, the publisher has been losing patience with an author who has failed them on such promises before.

Well this is not the only book regarding honor crimes that is considered to be a hoax!
Read more about Souad! A tale from the West Bank!

The question is: If she had left the country in 1999 I assume that she still speaks Jordanian very well, right? Well she challenged Ms.Sabbagh for a debate! I really suggest that she should do it!I mean the moment Khouri speaks a word in Arabic she will be discritied!Her book is full of wrong Arabic notions! Or ask her about certain things that any common Jordanian would know!Like who is Abu 3awad :D , what does : Bedde abee3 el Arth o ahajer 3al mdeneh means and so on!

DISCLAIMER: Large portions of this article has been cited from sites listed below (Copy&Paste)

0. Listen to her interview (Lol@ the perfect American accent) or Download the audio file (1.8M) here
1. The lies stripped bare (This is the best article)
2. Khouri - The troubles life of a fake
3. Timeline of her life
4. Amin Butler
5. Ali AbuNimeh
6. Her Best freind account
7. A Jordanian Source

Well, Jameed's post inspired me to rant about art crtics.

Now, I don't really have a problem with modern art or whatever someone comes up with and calls it arts! It's not that I'm a Curmudgeon, like I really dig conceptual artists such as Erwin Wurm and others. But what really get on my nerves is the Art critics who anointed themselves as the ultimate Arts patriarchs. If you ask for their opinion about some work they'll never stop talking some god knows what words they throw in sounding smart, and they will be:Oh you village people are not culturaly aware to understand and appreciate this piece! Then comes some rich guy gets it for millions so others and art critics would compliment his fine taste. I mean he wouldn't pay all that money unless he really digs in!Well it is all load of BS!

The good folks of 20/20, a great TV show produced by ABC network had exposed art critics for real! Under : Give me a break section they had a story titled : You call that art?It was broadcast March 11, 2005.I gotta tell you, that night I've laughed my - off!

So it was like this, they first got four reproductions of art works that are considered masterpieces of modern art along with six pieces drawn by kids. They asked their viewers to decide which work was art and which was not. Of course many failed to figure out the right ones!
So the reporter then went asking some art critics about famous masterpieces, like this black circle shown below(done by Kasimir Malevich): Why it worth millions?

So the critic said that the artist was trying to free art from telling a story and you have to know the story behind the work to understand its full impact and meaning. So I guess this is fair enough.

Then he pulled up a paint that was done by a 4-year-old girl, and asked several critics of what they think:

So one of the critics(artists) said the following :"The piece is a competent execution of abstract expressionism which was first made famous by de Kooning and Jackson Pollock and others. So it's emulating that style and it's a school of art". Then the host asked him : but seriously any kid can draw something like that, why it is of a high art value?The guy was still defiant, arguing that you need to have great knowledge of arts to come up with something like that! Then the host could not wait but to kick some sand in his face : Sorry to tell you but this was painted by a 4-year-old kid! Oh my god....you should have seen the look on his face, I was literally on the floor with tears in my eyes! So the poor guy who could barely speak, said : That's amazing. Give that kid a show, with a pitiful look on his face!

It gets better, the host didn't stop with one critic only,he asked another one and she ranked one of the children's paintings among the real artworks. When he told her who did the work she said, "It has good composition. I think it has good depth and space."

The host closes his masterpiece by asking the following : So can anybody explain to me why people want to spend millions of dollars on abstract art if any 4-year-old could create something great? One artists said : "There's some art that's validated by the establishment or by the media and then there's the rest," Now another artist who calls himself Flash Light told the host, "The function of art is to make rich people feel more important."

So can you guess which one of these is real or not?Take 20/20's online Quiz here

You should see the Video if you could! Seroiusly : Art? Give me a Break!

New bloggers have been added to the list :Non-JPers
If you come across any blog that is related to Jordan please do not hesitate to send me their URL to add it to the list, this will make life much easier!

Keep Blogging!

Disclaimer: I do not necessarily endorse the blogs that I have listed here. I am not responsible for any opinions,comments,links and facts appearing on these blogs.

Jordan and the Middle East Peace Process *New
A Future Jordan نحن الأردن *New
Lizard of Oz *New
Ashraf Zaitoon *New
Hamzeh *New
Ala'a Ibrahim *New
Gus(and further away) * New
Angel (Wedad) *New
Bashar *New
SimSim *New
Raeef Saleeh *New
Rana *New
Fadi *New
Hiba Judeh *New
Déesse de chocolat *New
Deus Ex Machina * New

المسيح ولد فمجدوه. المسيح أتى من السماوات فاستقبلوه. المسيح على الأرض فارفعوه. رتّلي للرب أيتها الأرض كلّها ويا شعوب سبّحوه بابتهاج لأنه قد تمجد

"Driven by his morning slumberousness, the suffocating fumes, and the irriation of some Ammani 's cabbies, here are some of the untold stories of the inherent antagonism of him and some cabbies"
PS: I usually tip cabbies, especially if the fair is less than JD 0.6, their job is really stressful
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About three months ago I had a post where I was wondering why Jordanian bloggers barely come across local political issues. The raised question was;is it because BigBrother is watching? Many bloggers and readers said that local politics is not attractive enough to lure them. Some stated it clearly; it was out of fear!(I♥AMM , Tynes's, Lina's , Black-Iris)

Well, the big news came out yesterday!

The security forces have captured a Jordanian - 24 years old - last Sept in Zarqa city while he was in a cyber cafe visiting a website for making fireworks. He was admitted to a State Security Court yesterday for the charge of possessing and manufacturing explosives. His charge sheet states that since 1998 he was visiting several internet cafes, where he downloaded all the necessary information from the internet for producing explosives. Then he would save it on disks and start experimenting at home. He was able to produce and try different explosives at home. He pleaded not guilty.
Source : Al-Ghad (Arabic) , Jordantimes (English)

First of all, good job for our security forces! I mean no one has the right to do what he was doing no matter what their reasons were! Now, I don't think there is any recorded incident in Jordan of arresting anyone over their internet use.
The question is: Do you think monitoring the internet is vital to thwarting terrorist attacks in Jordan?Well I'm in favor of this, as far as it would not violate our civil liberties.