gregarious euphoria

UPDATE! Important info regarding my blog.

2010-09-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. I'll be moving all my blog "operations" to tumblr. Yes, I know, it's not blogspot, but I've made the change because tumblr allows you to interact so much more than blogspot. Here's my new and improved blog:

http://assurgent.tumblr.com/

Humanitarians Under Siege: Tragedy strikes in the Mediterranean

2010-05-31T20:27:00.000-07:00

It was dark over the seas of the Eastern Mediterranean late in the evening of May 31st, 2010. A convoy of ships sailing from Cyprus and bound to Gaza were met with fatal, and deadly force. The convoy, a part of the Free Gaza movement, was attempting to break the blockade over the intensely-occupied strip of desert, known as the Gaza strip. At approximately seventy miles of the coast of the strip, in international waters, the main vessel, the Mavi Maramara was raided by Israeli commandos. A few activists on board were thought to have used clubs and rocks to counteract the commandos' offensive. The violence ended when at least 10 activists were killed, and dozens more wounded, by Israeli forces.

The international convoy consisted of vessels flagged from Turkey, Sweden, Greece, Ireland, and the United States. As Greta Berlin, an American who is in fact the organizer of the Freedom Flotilla, stated, "People certainly have the right to resist if they're being attacked. We taught our Free Gaza Movement people to be non-violent, and the Turks did the same, but if anyone resisted, it was in response to soldiers opening fire on them when they hit the deck."

The action by Israel has been met by a sweeping international outcry, and an essential political disaster for the nation of Israel. Turkey, Egypt, Cyprus, Spain, Greece, Denmark and Sweden have summoned their respective Israeli ambassadors. The widespread condemnation and disapproval of the raid, is seemingly unprecedented.

International repercussions are, as a result, intense. Protests against Israeli embassies or consulates have been noted in dozens of countries, most notably Turkey, which according to the Los Angeles Times, had up to 10,000 protestors take to the streets in Istanbul, Turkey. Other significant demonstrations took place in Cairo, Egypt, Gothenburg, Sweden, Spain, Jordan, France, Germany, and many other nations. Turkey recalled its ambassador, and along with Greece, has canceled plans for military exercises with Israel. Turkey has now stated that future vessels carrying aid will be escorted by a Turkish naval contingent. Turkey, Israel's closest ally in the Middle East, appears to be fading away, especially in the wake of Gaza Flotilla raid.

The international convoy was comprised of citizens from the Turkey, The United States, The United Kingdom, Norway, The Netherlands, Brazil, Germany, Israel, Palestine, Poland, Spain, Belgium, Kuwait, Australia, Greece, Canada, Malaysia, Serbia, Algeria, Cyprus, Ireland, and Sweden. Those on board the convoy included, a former US Congresswoman, a former US Ambassador, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, the retired archbishop of the the Melkite Greek Orthodox Church of Caesarea, and even an Israeli Knesset Member. In addition, members of the parliaments of The United Kingdom, Ireland, Kuwait, Sweden, and Germany were part of the convoy.

Israel's response consisted of the cliché "We were defending ourselves." But, that excuse has its limits. What were the commandos afraid of? What was Israel afraid of? And why would they raid the ship in international waters- a blatant contravention of international law? The convoy went through customs checks before it sailed to Gaza. Why was such disproportionate force used against the peace activists? And what rights does Israel think it has to behave in the manner that it did? Israel's own trade minister, Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, even recognized the raid as a huge "scandal." But most Israeli government officials are staunch supporters of the action. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, canceled his talks with President Obama to deal with the Gaza Flotilla incident. He said that Israeli commandos were protecting themselves. But again, the amount of force used does not seem defensive, but rather instigative.

If Israel genuinely acted as the democracy they claim to be, and let the flotilla pass, then the thousands impoverished in Gaza would be happy, Israel wouldn't have almost every country on earth upset with it, and those people who lost their lives would be, well, alive. But then again, if Israel genuinely acted as the democracy they claimed to be, Gaza wouldn't need that aide.

There is a twist to this whole story, as the vessel attacked was Turkish. Turkey, a NATO member, is protected under NATO doctrine, and accordingly is guaranteed rights if and when its vessels are attacked. Although a NATO intervention is highly unlikely, Israel is sailing through dangerous waters, no pun intended.

What the Fakih is going on?! Rima won Miss USA

2010-05-19T21:37:00.000-07:00

Rima Fakih, a Lebanese American, recently won the title of Miss USA this past week at the Planet Hollywood Hotel, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Rima is thought to be the first Arab and immigrant winner of the pageant, as past records are not thorough enough to prove otherwise.

Rima moved to the United States at a very young age from Lebanon, first landing in New York, and later Michigan, where she eventually grew up, in Dearborn (A highly Arab populated city). From there, she would win the Miss Michigan pageant, and later go on to the national level in Las Vegas. Rima actually sold her own car to achieve her ascendancy to the pageant.

As with every contestant, drama is a large factor. A few pictures of Rima "pole-dancing" surfaced, but were not an issue. It seems that the bigger issue is her religious affiliation. With Rima being of Arab background, religion plays a big part. Rima identifies as celebrating both Muslim and Christian holidays. But, many amongst the American right wing identified her as solely Muslim, regardless.

Within the Arab and Muslim spheres, there's been talk of how she isn't a good Muslim. But to each their own. This isn't a religious issue, it's a cultural one. Many take pride to know that as of today, the "The most beautiful American," happens to be Arab. It's a large source of pride for both Arabs, and Arab Americans alike.

As Rima put it, "My victory means anyone can make it in America."

Hell yes Rima, hell yes.

2010-05-19T21:24:00.001-07:00

Who will fight for you?

2010-05-13T16:53:00.000-07:00

2010-05-13T16:42:00.001-07:00

Bienvenue à bord d'Air France

2010-04-26T22:32:00.001-07:00

I haven't flown on Air France, but I've heard it's great. Their prices are unnecessarily high though. Whenever I check prices, British Airways seems to be 500.00 USD cheaper than the average AF ticket.

Moloko.

2010-04-20T00:07:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love Anglo-Irish bands?

And by the way- 'Moloko' means milk in Russian, duuhhh! Just kidding, I didn't know that either.

They're electropop. Sort of.

The time is now!

Marina and the Diamonds

2010-04-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

Marina and the Diamonds, or more like just "Marina," is actually not a band, but a solo indie artist. Marina is her name, and the Diamonds refer to her real last name; Diamandis, which means diamonds in Greek. She hails from Eastern Wales, but currently resides in London. She is of Greek and Welsh heritage.

Here's two versions:

Original

Acoustic

I really like the original.

2010-04-16T18:44:00.001-07:00

2010-04-16T18:42:00.000-07:00

Northern European airspace: SHUT DOWN.

2010-04-15T19:13:00.001-07:00

Volcano erupts in Iceland

An Icelandic volcano erupted on April 15th, 2010 leaving enormous plumes of ash that rise to higher altitudes, where in fact most commercial aircraft fly. It marks the second volcanic eruption within a month in the Eyjafjallajökull region of Iceland. The governments of Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway have simultaneously closed their airspace to commercial flight service, with the exception of emergency aircraft. According to CBS, this is the first time since World War Two that Northern Europe has experienced such paralyzing effects on its airspace. It's thought that the ash within the plume contains various shards that, if sucked into jet engines, will cause the materials to melt and reform, thus causing catastrophic failure.

Stabilo

2010-04-15T18:59:00.000-07:00

A slightly different type of rock. I don't know what it is, but I really like it. Check out Flawed Design. It should impress.

Angus and Julia Stone

2010-04-15T18:51:00.001-07:00

Amazing music. I like Big Jet Plane and Just a Boy. You should check it out. They're Australian. And they're music is really mellow.

2010-04-13T20:38:00.001-07:00

Colombian-Arab Explosion

2010-03-26T16:58:00.001-07:00

Really interesting. The singer's name is Manel Filali. She was born in Algeria, and speaks English, French, Arabic, and German.

So Essomenic.

2010-03-21T20:37:00.000-07:00

that's right. go look that word up.

HOUSE BILL. PASSES!? Well pretty much...

2010-03-21T19:51:00.001-07:00

Iceland Volcano Eruption. Oh Snap.

2010-03-21T19:50:00.001-07:00

Mika's new song is kick ass.

2010-03-16T21:23:00.001-07:00

So Mika has a new song out, for a new movie coming out soon.

It's called kick ass and it's kick ass.

Turkey. Armenia. The genocide?

2010-03-10T20:55:00.000-08:00

As you may have heard, or have not, the American Foreign Affairs Committee voted recently to address war activities during the Ottoman War as means of genocide. What does this mean? It means that Turkey and the United States are at a diplomatic standstill, as Turkey recalled its ambassador to Washington, outraged regarding the newly found American stance.

But what else does this mean? And what does it put in jeopardy?

Turkey is a regional political and economic superpower. Some may not even solely use the term 'regional,' as Turkey has a thriving economy, with a bustling tourism industry; among other things. Turkey is an ally and friend of the United States, it allows US troops to use Turkish military bases and airspace to transport to Iraq. In general, Turkey is vital to American interests.

But let's not get off task here. This all stems down to the recognition of genocide. At this point, and to my knowledge, I believe it was. What's the use in denying it? Strong evidence compiled by both witnesses and historians gravitate towards this finding. The Ottoman Empire, although separate from the current Turkish political composition, is widely thought to have committed war crimes and acts of genocide during the war, which caused thousands upon thousands of Armenians to flee to Syria, Greece, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and even Egypt.

Look at history. Other countries have been known to have committed atrocities, like Germany, Japan, and even the United States, and yet they are not forever hated, their acknowledgement of their actions make all the difference, it allows them to move past their grave and horrendous past behaviour.

My advice for Turkey? Suck up your pride, and admit it. Admit that what you did was wrong. Put aside religion and culture for a minute. You can't deny one big act of discrimination (against the Armenian Christians), and yet still condemn current acts of widespread discrimination (against Muslim and Christian Palestinians in Palestine/Israel). The recognition of genocide will help Turkey more than it will hurt it. Turkey and Armenia will have better relations, Turkey will have a better chance at entering the European Union, and the international community will respect Turkey for admitting something that truly is difficult to do: To admit the extermination of thousands of people who, by far, were not warriors, but innocent people.

political cartoon: Turkey-EU

Armenian Genocide Memorial

Allocation of Armenian refugees in the Middle East

the gaga.

2010-03-04T18:48:00.000-08:00

She wants your ugly.

Farewell Couver 2010. It was fun to watch you.

2010-02-28T23:26:00.000-08:00

Vancouver 2010

2010-02-16T07:30:00.000-08:00

It's here, it's finally here! The 2010 Winter Olympics have arrived, and have done so in style. It's an amazing phenomenon, that dozens upon dozens of countries from around the world can come together to compete.

[add details?]

However, not everything goes flawless. Nodar Kumaritashvili was found dead seconds after a training run down the fastest luge course in the world. The Georgian athlete flew of the side of the half tube that was supposedly meant for protection, and subsequently died instantaneously after colliding into a metal support beam. Canadian Olympic medical personnel were unable to recessitate him.

The global media followed suit broadcasting in the event, from the start, and with glimpses of the finish. Some, like NBC, even aired it in slow motion. I watched it, and was horrified. It's an odd feeling, seeing someone, even if it's on the tv, seconds before they die. You ask yourself, "I wonder if they knew that in about 2 millaseconds they would lose their life." It's really depressing. There was a minute of silence dedicated to Nodar towards the end in the Opening Ceremonies.

Models. from. Turkey. Who knew.

2010-01-12T22:18:00.000-08:00

The Best Store Ever.

2009-11-25T19:41:00.000-08:00

Well, at least one of the best.

Buffalo Exchange is an American second-hand store with locations across the country. Of course the term 'second-hand' seems cheap and unappealing, but in reality, it's the exact opposite. Buffalo Exchange accepts clothing that's in the best condition, as well as of the best quality to sell in their stores. Much of what BE carries is actually really expensive, and is sold less simply because it may have been worn lightly already. The company is ingenious, they make hefty profits, and at the same time, end up donating great sums of money to charity. What more could you ask for?

Archbishop of Canterbury.

2009-11-25T19:31:00.000-08:00

.Rowan Williams.

This guy is really interesting, he's the current Archbishop of Canterbury, he's basically the head of the Anglican Church in England. He's not even English, which I found today; he's actually Welsh, and was born in Swansea. I've done a little research, he has some interesting views. He's fairly liberal, religiously speaking, which is good.

She's crazy. But you gotta love her.

2009-11-24T23:00:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you know who Lady Gaga is. She's been at the top of charts many times already, and her music videos are really trippy. The thing that seperates her from the rest of her adversaries is that she can actually sing, she's a fantastic singer. Although not all of her songs are decent, she's had some big hits, and her whole vibe comes off as really creative. I like that.

What happened to them?

2009-11-05T22:15:00.000-08:00

Remember them? The Olsen twins? I remember watching their shows and movies back when I was a child. I haven't heard of them since.

They're probably too busy with the immense fortune they've accumulated.

They look pretty cool here though. :)

YAS

2009-11-03T19:45:00.001-08:00

Did you know that the Middle East has a bustling music industry? Well, maybe not compared to the American charts, but compared to other parts of the world, the Middle East has a developed music industry that spans decades. Most Americans may not be aware of Arabic music, obviously, because of the fact that it’s in Arabic, and because it hasn’t really been introduced to the American people.

That’s all changing now, as a new scene of Arabic-Indie takes the stage in liberal strongholds such as Cairo, Beirut, and Istanbul.

The music group YAS seems to be the most significant artist in the current genre. The main singer, Yasmine Hamdan, who was previously in the band "Soapkills," is back on the music scene. She's working with world renowned Mirwais Ahmadzai, a Paris-based record producer, and song writer, together as YAS.

Half Afghan, half Italian, it’s virtually impossible to imitate Mirwais Ahmadzai’s fascinating style. He's collaborated with Madonna on three of her albums, as well a few tracks on Fischerspooner’s second album. The band is slowly reaching listeners across the Middle East, Europe, and the world. The band is sure to draw in those who like Indie, Arabic, electronica, or all three!

Their album, ARABOLOGY, came out on June 8th, 2009 in France, as well as other markets.

What’s astonishing about YAS is that there's no other group out there that's similar. YAS sets a beautiful indie precedent. The mixture of Arab culture, with a French flare really makes the music spark. YAS is one of the frontrunners in the new Arabic-indie scene, and their music video, as well as their music, clearly decimates the typical Arab stereotype.

In the video, “Get it Right,” Arabs are portrayed more realistically, having a good time, and well, just having fun. The music video prefaces with a haunting reverberation indicating that the year is 2019. From then on, random, yet interesting scenes are shown, as if from a documentary, regarding a “cosmopolitan” Cairo lifestyle. Then towards the end of the video, everyone ends up partying, which is always fun.

So you might not even know what the word Arabic even means, but if you have any international taste in music, YAS is right for you. They essentially portray a story; all while singing and mesmerizing you in the process.

Great job YAS.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

It's bloody fantastic. And it's set in Cairo!

Religion

2009-11-03T19:17:00.000-08:00

So instead of presenting late Byzantine art, like our group was supposed to do, we ended up having an intriguing conversation about religion. About the legitmicay of it. The point of religion. And basically the common denominator: faith.

We talked about the Abrahamic religions, about how the three are so interwoven, that you'd have to be an ingnorant redneck not to realize it. We talked about Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Mormonism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.

We talked about how every religion has its extremists, and how those extremists ruin the name for thier religion.

This is sort of random, but one of my classmates, who happens to be Arab, asked me something one day in class..

He asked, "Hey, wasn't Walt Disney a.. an anti-Semite?"

Then I responded and said, "Well, yeah, he was.."

His response? He said, "Oh, hehe, cool."

I was appauled, as always. It's ridiculous how much hypocracy lies in this world. Little did this ignorant anti-Jewish teenager know, was that the technical defintion of a Semite is:

A member of any of a number of peoples of ancient southwestern Asia including the Akkadians, Phoenicians, Hebrews, and Arabs.

Arabs are Semites, so when someone makes fun of Jews, they should be offended as well.

I just thought to share this story I had.

Steve Aoki.

2009-10-25T10:19:00.001-07:00

Steve Aoki is a Japanese American DJ and is an amazing artist! My favorite song is the chris cornell remix he made of "Part of Me," the video is below. Thanks Ash, Again.

Genocides suck. This world is so cruel.

2009-10-24T17:39:00.000-07:00

Ugh. I was watching a video on BBC about Srebrenica. It's so sad, and unfathomably heinous. dammit why don't people stop these atrocities? It just is so unfair. Russia, Nazi Germany, Ukraine, Rwanda, Bosnia, who's next? Oh wait, Palestine. :/

Us humans need to learn to coexist.

Bronze skin and Cinnamon tans.

2009-10-20T19:58:00.000-07:00

Medium. An Invigorating Series

2009-10-20T07:59:00.001-07:00

Medium has been on for a while now, first broadcasted on NBC, but now on CBS.

The plots are interwoven with ingenious style and the acting is good as well.

hah.

2009-09-05T18:58:00.000-07:00

I love how my blog counter thing reset like 3 weeks ago, and I already have viewers on like 5 continents. Make that 6.

But it's kind of weird because the only comments I get are from the US. And even American comments are limited.

What's wrong people!

Bad news. As if I was expecting good.

2009-09-04T20:53:00.000-07:00

Israel has approved the continued construction of approx 2,500 homes in occupied East Jerusalem. Accoring to International law, this is a signifigant breach. Israel is further delaying, if not destroying any hopes of a peace agreement for a two-state solution. The White House immedietly condemned the unofficial announcement and reiterated its goals on a freeze of settlements. The European Union and The United States do not endorse the political step in the wrong direction Israel has decided to take.

Boo.

Janet Jackson.

2009-09-04T17:58:00.000-07:00

We all know she's sturred controversy in the past. And with the current Michael Jackson death and drama, she's in even more spotlight. But as with her brother, drama aside, she's a great artist.

Cool Remix and of coure, great video: here.

Girls Aloud. Of course they're British!

2009-09-04T17:48:00.001-07:00

Cool Music video. I think you might like the remix more.

OMG. It's Ramadan!

2009-09-04T17:44:00.000-07:00

Okay people, the 22nd of August marked the beginning of Ramadan, the holy month of prayer in Islam. The month is basically the most endeared and cherished out of the entire Islamic calendar. Muslims around the world unite, and together, fast from dawn, to sunset. Fasting really allows one to feel the pain of poverty, it builds spiritual strength within a person, and promotes appreciation for, well, food!

The Elders

2009-08-28T00:16:00.000-07:00

The Da Vinci Code.

2009-08-24T21:12:00.000-07:00

I like the book. I find it fascinating. I spent about 5 hours nonstop reading the book today, just because I couldn't put it down. The plot is very unique, and there are a plentiful amount of flashbacks, but I'm following along. When I read books like these, I get entranced by description, as if I've been transported to the scene in the book that I'm reading.

I've researched references that the book made to real life occurrences, and sometimes get confused between fact and fiction. But I wish it were true, because it's so fascinating, it would make life seem that much more exciting. I also love how much of the book is set in Paris. I've learned some French as I've read the book. I'm hoping that all of Dan Brown's linguistic references are true..

I'm a little more than half way done with the book.

What the hell?

2009-08-13T21:42:00.001-07:00

These kids are flipping scary.

AHahhahhahaha.

Apparently there's a lack of good actors in India, because these kids are real novices. Do you see thier expressions? Aghh!

Current TV and the release of thier journalists.

2009-08-11T12:19:00.000-07:00

Laura Ling and Euna Lee.

They're back home.

First off, a brief background about Current tv: The network was cofounded by Al Gore to provide viewers an alternative to the mainstream media here in the US. The channel is unique in that much of its programing is provided by viewers themselves, many of whom are amateur journalists and documenatrians.

The channel has been running strong for a few years now, it's one of my favorites. I love thier programs and thier series. They are mostly unbias, and if they ever are (which rarely occurs), they lean towards the left (which in my book, is always a good thing). They cover topics that are sometimes surprising to hear of. Some of which you'll never hear on CNN, FOX, MSNBC, or even the BBC. They're a relatively small network, based in SanFran, and have launched off shoots in other countries.

nOW bACK tO tHE dRAMA:

Laura Ling and Euna Lee are both American citizens, and were on the job for Current, trying to film the human rights atrocities in North Korea. They were crossing over throught the Chinese border into a remote section of the country. North Korean officials detained the two, and they were later found guilty at a hearing. Some reports say that the they were held in relative comfort, and that the food was alright, although not nourishing.

Political Analysts suggest that the detainment of the two journalists was simply an act of diplomatic bluff. The journalists were simply 'pawns,' so that NK could get a high profile diplomat (Bill Clinton) to visit. I personally believe that the fact Bill Clinton supposedly 'apologized' for Laura and Euna's actions reinforced the North Korean communist regime's strength.

2009-08-03T23:15:00.001-07:00

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/objects/pages/PrintArticleEn.jhtml?itemNo=868385

Can you believe this?

2009-08-03T16:43:00.001-07:00

Listen to this little shit speak. Especially at the end when he gets pissy. The reporter is so well versed! Woo Hoo!

She's probably worse.

Mock Israeli blockade

2009-08-03T16:21:00.000-07:00

ahhaha. I love this!

Let's look back: The Israeli siege(s).

2009-08-03T14:56:00.000-07:00

As you all may know, I am fascinated by Middle Eastern geopolitics. I keep up with the news and headlines coming out of the region, but more specifically Israel, and the occupied territories of Palestine.

I was reading a British political magazine yesterday at B&N and it reminded me about how British media pounds on Israeli officials, b/c they so obviously deviate from the question, and provide weak, and foolish responses.

I's like to share these links:

My favorite:

Interesting:

Mark Regev is a load of shit. There's no other explanation:

Some older footage back from the Lebanon War:

It's funny how the spokeswoman totally ignored like 3 questions. She talks about other countries not following international law, when in fact Israel is one of the biggest offenders.

MIKA

2009-07-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

I just found out about this singer from London who's half American, half Lebanese.

It's super Indie. I love Indie!

It's impossible not to sway back and forth when escucharing his music.

Wooh! British music!

U2. They really are magnificent.

2009-07-24T16:22:00.000-07:00

I haven't really followed u2's work work over the years, but I know they have great talent, and great music. They recently released the song: Magnificent.

I think it's an amazing song. I believe the music video was shot in Morocco, and the lyrics are fascinating and mezmerizing all together. I think the chorus is great, and the whole feeling of the song is really mellow.

I would post the video, but it's only available directly through youtube, so click HERE.

Sleepthief

2009-07-24T14:42:00.001-07:00

World Gone Crazy

I recently encountered Sleepthief on myspace music, and I instantly liked thier music. A mix of electronica and new age, with an amient flare. Thier music videos are very interesting.

COLDPLAY. SO FUCKING AWESOME.

2009-07-20T00:29:00.000-07:00

I have so much to say, yet so little patience to say it. I will try to write the whole story on how it went, but for now, some video from the people standing next to us. WOW. What a great concert!

I WAS HERE! I WAS HERE! YOU CAN SEE MY CAMERA PHONE ON THE LEFT SIDE OCCASIONALLY!

WOW!

Click HD, even though the quality is amazing to begin with, curteosy of starbright31.

What a fantastic view of Beirut!

2009-07-17T22:34:00.000-07:00

Woahh.

The Death of MJ.

2009-07-09T12:05:00.000-07:00

I know, it's a big deal, and almost ever magazine has him on the cover, but he should still be acknowledged. I honestly didn't recognize his amazing talents until after his death. Before he died, I just thought of him as an über-famous performer, with a troubled past, filled with allegations and condemnations.

I think he was innocent. Of course, he acted like a freak in public, had the oddest skin transformation, endured really sketchy relationships, and of course, operated the infamous Neverland Ranch, but I still believe he didn't do those 'things' that he was accused of.

Michael Joseph Jackson had a very difficult childhood, with a father who was abusive and degrading, and a career that began at such a young age. His mother has been described as a very kind person by numerous acquaintances and stars of the family. The Jackson 5, including his brothers have 'stuck with' MJ through his early years, but the difficulties that he faced could never have been reversed.

I watched the memorial. It was great.

The motorcade of 5 Rolls Royces and a near-fleet of Range Rovers was really impressive (Apparently British vehicles are the new-thing). Stars flooded in to the Staples Center to say their goodbye's, as did 11,000 other people. It is said that airline passengers into Los Angles increased significantly during the later part of June and early July. With people flying in from across the country, but more importantly, throughout the world, especially the United Kingdom.

It's said that close to 1 BILLION people watched the memorial. That's impressive.

Mariah Carey sang through the heart, Jennifer Hudson with passion, and Usher with tears. It was sad. It is sad. That such an icon, such a legend, had to die young, and that his legacy will be great, but will also be blurred with the troubles he had to face.

Great music. Great entertainment. Complex life.

Iran. Seriously? The government is really effed up.

2009-06-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

First off, I'd like to say:

The Iranian government can go F*** themselves.

I'd like to make my opinion clear: Iran has been pretty stupid lately. I'll share what I know, and what I think...

Iran has a population of 80, 000, 000. That's pretty substantial. I would have to say that Iran is one of the Middle East's superpowers. It has a largely developed military, vast oil reserves, raw materials, and a strategic location. That really makes no difference. Corruption is basically part of Middle Eastern politics. The level of democracy in the Arab world is near-null. The fact of the mater is that the International community's previous involvement has led to the chaotic reality we have today.

Iran's government is ridiculous.

Absolutely Ridiculous.

The Iranian elections of 2009 have marked the most drastic change in Iranian politics since the 1979 Revolution.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is currently the president of Iran, after "succeeding" in the elections. His major opponent, Mir-Hossein Mousavi has led various protests in response to the election results. There has been much speculation of vote-rigging. Thousands of Mousavi supporters lined the streets in the past week or so, many wearing green, to protest, in dismay, of the re-election of Ahmadinejad.

We'll see what happens. Any leader is better than Ahmadenejad. He's a bigoted, anti-Semite, who not only ruined relations between Iran and the US, but Iran and the world. Many Iranians within Iran disagree with his policies, and almost the vast majority of the Iranian diaspora disagree with Iran's current political state.

Stupid Iran. Where's its vote?

Is this in accordance with Democracy? Or even Iran's state religion of Islam? NO:

Brace yourself:

Hey. Quick update.

2009-06-22T18:01:00.000-07:00

Hey viewers. Sorry for the wait. I know it's been a while since my last posting. I'm going to try to get back into it this summer. A lot of stuff has happend. It's been crazy. This world is going through a lot of turmoil. And of course, the most appropriate word to use is: chaos.

Alright. That's that.

Soraya.

2009-06-08T18:42:00.000-07:00

Soraya is a singer that I've recently discovered from the 2009 Eurovision competition. Notice how she has an Arabic tattoo on her back. That's really interesting.

Country Profile: Colombia

2009-06-08T18:15:00.000-07:00

The first thing that came to my mind regarding Columbia was: drugs. Columbia, has in the past, have had to deal with overwhelming problems in the fields of drug trafficking. Once a major gateway for drugs to flow to Mexico, and other third party countries. It's not to say drugs aren't still a problem in Colombia, but the situation has drastically improved due to the policies of the Colombian president.

Colombia is a country located in Northwest South America. The country borders Panama from the North, Venezuela from the East, Ecuador and Peru from the South, and Brazil from the Southeast. Its capital is Bogotá.

Colombia has a few major cities besides its capital, such as Barranquilla and Cartagena and many others. The geography of Colombia varies, including parts of the Andes mountain chain, the Pacific Ocean on its Western sea board, and the Caribbean to its North. In addition, many low-level plains and knolls are found, and parts of the Amazon extend to the Southern region.

Ethnicity within Colombia is mostly Mestizo, which accounts for more than 60%, European, which accounts for around 20%, and mixed. Other minorities include native/Indian races and Africans. There are also sizable population of Lebanese Arabs in the northern coast.

Colombia is a relatively liberal country, when in contrast with its neighbor Venezuela, and has developed and stable government.

Viva Colombia!

I didn't catch everything she said, but I got the basics of it. I'm pretty sure she's describing how like Colombians are actually different compared to other Latinos, and that they have a unique culture. Somthin like that.

Here's a funny clip about Colombian accents. Ahah.

2009-06-05T18:59:00.001-07:00

Stop the Clash of Civilizations

2009-06-05T18:09:00.001-07:00

Amazing.

Rachida Dati

2009-06-04T18:32:00.000-07:00

Rachida Dati is probably the most powerful Muslim politician in Europe.

Ms. Dati was born in Saint-Rémy, Burgundy, France, to Algerian and Moroccan parents. She has a very rich history, holding many positions first in business, and then in finance, and finally in French government.

She served many positions in lower government, but later advanced as an advisor of Nicolas Sarkozy, and later became a spokesperson.

Dati later became Minister of Justice.
Nicolas Sarkozy recently appointed her to run in the European Parliamentary elections, which are occurring this month.

French and European press have labeled her as a "glamorous," due to her Gallic style, and insatiable need to wear Christian Dior to many of her government functions.

Carmen Rizzo

2009-06-01T19:30:00.001-07:00

I honestly don't know much about this guy. I presume he's some artist, because Morgan Page made a remix out of his song:

Écouter

(To listen to the song, click the link on the left, labeled 'Partner Blog.')

Yes folks, another Israel posting.

2009-05-25T16:50:00.000-07:00

WATCH!

Okay. This is really interesting. Some Eurovision Info.

2009-05-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

So as many people know throughout Europe and the rest of the world, the song competition, Eurovision, ended recently, with Norway finishing in first place.

But who cares who won? All of the entries who performed fall under a unique music genre, and represent, in most cases, thier country in which they grew up.

The point of this post was to just point out some really wierd facts, and also to point out some performances I found interesting.

The following will be listed by country:

Spain. Represented by: Soraya La noche

ISN'T THAT THE WHITEST SPANIARD YOU'VE EVER SEEN?

Another wierd thing..

Germany. Represented by Oscar Loya.

This guy was raised in Indio, California. He ISN'T GERMAN! But apparently he lives in Munich and speaks German.. but I don't know why he was chosen.

Russia. Represented by: Anastasia Prikhodko Mamo

All I can say, is that this singer is really, really wierd. The song was boring, and a tad mono-toned.

Norway. Represented by: Alexander Rybak

This is actually a really good performance. The guy wasn't even born in Norway, he's originally from Belarus.

So interesting!

2009-05-11T22:42:00.001-07:00

Can you believe this is the Qatari first lady? I would have never have guessed.

The United States. Defining Liberty since 1776

2009-05-09T18:48:00.000-07:00

So effing awesome.

2009-05-07T18:26:00.001-07:00

London is so awesome. I love the city. Pictured, is British Airways' London Eye.

They're back, and they're the Black [Eyed Peas]

2009-05-07T17:53:00.000-07:00

When I was in middle school, I was all over The Black Eyed Peas, I had thier CD, and new all thier songs.

I love thier new video of Boom Boom Pow.

Well apparently they're back:

[Click the HD Tab]

2009-05-07T15:00:00.000-07:00

Robyn. A Swedish Hit. Robyn is well known throughout Northern Europe, The United Kingdom, and even in the United States. She has had many hits, one of her most famous being Handle Me.

Her music videos aren't exactly provocative, they're just weird. But, even so, she's still very popular. She was featured on the Daily Show (I'm going to mention this video again in Sweden's country Profile), illustrating her modest lifestyle, and her small apartment in Stockholm.

She's very world-conscience, working with UNICEF in Southern Africa, and she's Swedish (So that speaks for itself, I mean come on-- The Swedish People, so globally aware--liberal).

Here's another video, With Every Heartbeat, in high definition, (it's embed disabled), so click HERE.

Shy'm.

2009-05-06T21:40:00.001-07:00

Seriously, I'm currently hooked on French music.

This video has some interesting aspects to it, imitating the R&B of the United States. The artist, Shy'm, has made many music videos, many of which have meaningful messages to convey.

Here is La premiere fois:

Lorie. The face of pop in France.

2009-05-06T21:33:00.000-07:00

Laure Pester, or Lorie, is a French icon in the music industry, with her hit: Je vais vite, which hit French charts with great enthusiasm. If you are familiar with French modern culture, you would know that the video has some hints of Tektonic, the new dance movement in France.

Offenders must pay for thier crime(s). Literally.

2009-05-06T20:35:00.000-07:00

Amongst a mélange of things, including speculation of court proceedings under the jurisdiction of International courts in the Nertherlands, and Spain, Israel has recently come under fire for its illicit activity during Operation Cast Lead, in which it bombed and destroyed an array of United Nations compounds.

It makes me so dissapointed that the country were I was born adheres to a foreign policy, that is, in essence, so Anti-American.

"UN chief Ban Ki-moon says he will seek more than $11m (£7m) compensation from Israel for damage to UN property in Gaza but ruled out further inquiries."

"The report found Israel to blame in six out of nine incidents when death or injury were caused to people sheltering at UN property and UN buildings were damaged."

"The investigations of this board of inquiry are not the last Israel may face over its conduct in Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in December and January, when some 1,300 Palestinians were killed, including many civilians."

"A four-person team has been appointed by the UN Human Rights Council with a mandate to investigate alleged violations of international law including possible war crimes."

BBC International

The above are some quotes taken from BBC International News. The excerpts state the definite reality regarding the illegal bombardment of United Nations compounds, illegal, under international law.

Although 11 million is a lot, I'm sure a lot more compensation should be asked for.

As I've described numerous times before, the bombardment of civilians is a horrendous act. It is the fault of rogue governments (such as Israel), that believe they can get away with heinous crimes that they commit.

British Television

2009-05-06T17:23:00.000-07:00

Here is just one of the British television shows I've watched over the years. With British background, and British relatives, I've watched a good amount of tv from the British Isles over the years.

Just one of the shows is Hollyoaks, the show has a multitude of plots, and is set in many locations, but primarily in a small town. There is so much drama, that I couldn't even go in detail.

Sofia Essaidi

2009-05-04T18:57:00.000-07:00

I actually came across this French-Morrocan singer a few years back, but remembered her again today for some reason. Her most famous hit, Cleopatre was huge in France and North Africa. She speaks French, English, and Arabic, and was born is Casablanca, Morocco.

Tiesto. Known across continents.

2009-05-04T17:50:00.000-07:00

It would be pretty awesome to go to a Tiesto concert.

I've known about Tiesto for a while. He isn't necessarily my favorite artist, but when he has a good song, he has a good song.

Love Comes Again

[Click The HD Tab for best quality]

Louisa Hanoune. What a God send!

2009-04-30T17:35:00.003-07:00

This woman seems incomprable. She's has so much determination. Her name is Louisa Hanoune, and she is the first woman to run for president in Algeria.

Her democratic views regarding government would probably surprise most. She is a staunch supporter of secular government, and social reform. She is a member of the Worker's Party in Algeria, and is aligned with more socialist viewpoints.

Louisa Hanoune. What a God send!

2009-04-30T17:35:00.001-07:00

Country Profile: The Netherlands

2009-04-30T16:29:00.001-07:00

The Netherlands is a country located in Northwestern Europe, bordered by Belgium to the South, and Germany to the East. A country engourged with history, The Netherlands had once been a economic superpower, at one time, having the largest merchant fleet in Europe, utilizing trade routes to South East Asian countries, such as Indonesia (The Dutch Golden Age).

The Netherlands is often confused with the region of Holland. The country is not called Holland, it's The Netherlands. Holland is simply the largest (North and South Holland), and apparently, most popular region within the country.

The Netherlands is considered the 4th most Democratic nation on the planet, behind Sweden, Norway, and Iceland. The country, specifically The Hague, has also been considered the "Legal capital of the world," due to the fact that it houses the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Court, and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

The capital and largest city is Amsterdam (I've been there twice, but couldn't leave the airport.. long story), which sits below sea level, near the Western Coast. It had an immense cultural diversity level, with immigrants from dozens of countries around the world.

The Netherlands has been known to have much progressive social tolerance, towards a variety of issues, such as homosexuality, in which it was the first to legislate same-sex marriage, and in addition, in maintains laid back laws regarding drugs and prostitution.

The country is ridiculously beautiful, it's architecture is jaw-dropping, and the people are cool, and layed back. I hope to travel to The Netherlands again, and this time, I hope to experience the rich culture of tulips, windmills, cheese, equality, anc clogs.

French Scandal.

2009-04-30T16:20:00.000-07:00

Jai Ho!

2009-04-29T19:26:00.000-07:00

JAI HO!

If you don't know, Jai Ho is from the Academy Award-Winning film, Slumdog Millionare.

I really like the instrumentals on the original Jai Ho, but the music video is okay too:

The Pussycat Dolls did a remake of the song, I like this one better.

ATC. Anyone Remember?

2009-04-29T18:29:00.000-07:00

Universal

Also known as: La La La La La

ATC, which stands for: "A touch of Class," was an internationally-acclaimed band from Germany. The band's most popular hit, Around the World, hit airwaves across the globe, but was most popular in Germany, The United Kingdom, and the United States.

Right Now, My Favorite. So hilarious!

2009-04-28T21:42:00.000-07:00

I seriously cannot stop laughing when I watch this skit. I'M YOUR MOTHER!

Spicy Babies.

2009-04-28T21:31:00.000-07:00

Another freaking hilarious skit. Oh how I laugh. Angelina and Madonna. So much humor.

SNL. One of my favorites.

2009-04-28T21:29:00.000-07:00

Israel Weapons Review Planned

2009-04-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

Britain said it was reviewing arms export licenses to Israel after acknowledging that British components could have been in military equipment used by Israel during its 22 day offensive in the Gaza Strip. Foreign Secretary David Miliband faced questions from lawmakers during the conflict in January over whether Israeli forces were using any British equipment, but said then it was not clear what equipment had been used. [from the Los Angeles Times]

Eurovision. A new liking.

2009-04-20T22:23:00.000-07:00

I love Eurovision. It's awesome! It's a competition in which artists across Europe, as well as other proximal countries, perform on the same stage. The show is hosted by the EBU (European Broadcasting Union), which comprises of all of Europe, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The program is also has limited broadcasting in the USA, Canada, India, Hong Kong, and New Zealand.

What I like most about the program, is that it enables every country participating to showcase thier culture, as well as enacting unity amongst each country.

I've really been keeping track of which country does what. My favorites so far are: Iceland 2008 and Turkey 2009. I also think that Armenia 2009 was pretty cool.

The 2009 Eurovision Competition was held in Moscow, Russia.

You know, Muslims gotta look good too.

2009-04-20T21:20:00.000-07:00

It's quite interesting what progressive Muslims are doing in the Middle East right now. Although the hijab is encourged, most women in the Middle East choose to where it.

This has not always been the case though, a few decades or so ago, the majority of modern Egyptian and Lebanese women chose not to where the traditional head cover. But today, there has been a resurgency of women who choose to cover themselves. Not necessarily for religious purposes, but rather to show that they don't have to wear the hijab, but want to.

Believe it or not, there have been Muslim fashion shows all over the Middle East, as well as Europe, such as the Berlin.

My Prediction?

2009-04-16T21:40:00.000-07:00

My prediction of this year's idol:

So I watch American Idol. Well, sort of. I basically flip through the usual 2-hour performance to the part where the contestants sing. Then the next day, I just fast forward to the results (most of the time).

Hadise. Turkish Phenomenon.

2009-04-16T19:49:00.000-07:00

I am soooo going to Turkey after senior year.. lol.. ahahh. Go Turkey!

Okay. So I first found out about Hadise while watching Eurovision (I'll explain what Eurovision is, in another post).

What surprises me so much, is that she is from TURKEY! There are many other singers like Hadise who are, to put it in politically correct terms, provocative.

Here's her Eurovision performance from 2009:

Here is another video. Beware. It might be a tad.. ummm.. interesting:

Morgan Page. Again?

2009-04-16T19:30:00.001-07:00

I've actually blogged about this artist before, but he's one of my favorite artists, so I'll blog about it again: Morgan Page. He's from Los Angeles, and his work consists of progressive house, and some electro. A native of Vermont, Morgan Page worked for a local radio station as a DJ.

His most famous collaboration, Longest Road ft. Lissie:]

Update!

2009-04-12T21:26:00.000-07:00

After 2 weeks of a disfunctional blog, I finally fixed the problem.

I basically just re-edited my whole blog, but unfortunately, I am unable to return it to its original settings.

At least that wierd message doesn't show up anymore.

New Format(s).

2009-03-26T19:23:00.000-07:00

Hey, so I spent over an hour reformating both this blog and its partner blog (http://lifeofhassan.blogspot.com/) because I hated how it looked. So here you go, a more refined and organized blog, with a white background, that not only enhances the color of the pictures, but the text as well.

Tell me what you think.

And I also added some pictures to some older posts, if you care to scroll down, and click 'Older Posts.'

Once Again. Disgusted.

2009-03-26T17:21:00.000-07:00

I'm doubtful.

2009-03-22T12:16:00.000-07:00

So, as you might have noticed in my previous blog postings, I am a total Democrat, and have been a total advocate for Obama's presidency. Some things have changed, and I am questioning whether or not his agenda is the agenda I was expecting. I just watched a super-informative video illustrating a conspiracy theory. Although most of it is bogus, some of it is believable. It made me disappointed, because I was such a big fan of Obama, and the Democratic Party, but now I'm rethinking everything.

Bare with me here. Now, what I originally thought the Democratic Party did, was collect more taxes from the upper classes, and used it to better the humility of those who were less fortunate. I thought that more government was a good thing, that a more socialist society, like that of Europe's, would be more beneficent to America.

Now I'm wondering if more government is better than less government. Now of course, if the government was 100% for the people, and not for the über rich, than I wouldn't be writing this in the first place. But, the independent media outlets across the country have surfaced this idea, that the President has an external agenda, compiled by members of the secret Bilderberg Group. The organization is composed of 130 of the richest, most influential leaders on the planet. Most have ties to big business and banking. The group has often been associated with the "New World Order, " which is another conspiracy in itself, which claims that a totalitarian, world government is imminent.

I'm trying my best to explain it to you, in my own words, but the video below will help make you understand better. May I remind you that this is not a right wing, or left wing video, it's a theory. The beginning, in my opinion, is totall bogus, but later in the clip, some aspects are convincing.

Wait a second. Let me make it clear. I'm still a Democrat, and still totally liberal, and I'm not saying this video isn't trippy, because it is, most of it is total b.s. Just as a whole, any president who gets elected has a sphere of influence. Make a decision for yourself.

Here's the video:

Absolutely Obnoxious

2009-03-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

This little fart needs his head dunked in a toilet. Seriously, Anne Coulter's influence has gone way too far, now we're going to have a bunch of little Anne Coulters roaming our streets. This is not good at all.

Brace yourself:

It's very pathetic how he expects everyone to clap after everything he says. Seriously, this kid needs to get a life. He probably has been watching CSPAN since he was 3 years old. And Sarah Palin is probably his idol. Unbelievably ridiculous! I have a headache now, after listening to this crap.

Hide and Seek

2009-03-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

I recently encountered a perspective-altering remix of the song, Hide and Seek, from the Indie artist, two-time Grammy nominated, Imogen Heap.

Imogen Heap is an internationally-recognized artist from the UK (Romford, England to be exact). Once part of the band Frou Frou, shortly after the band's dismantling, she began her journey as a solo artist.

Fascinating.

The Prestige of BA

2009-03-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

[David Osborn photo credit]

British Airways is a government-sponsored, British airline, with routes to hundreds of destinations globally, and is one of the largest fleets on earth.

British Airways' global hub is at London Heathrow Airport, which is maintained at the new Terminal 5. The building is a miraculous, and jaw dropping engineering feat. The structure took years to build, at a cost of over £4 billion , which translates to nearly $7 billion American!

That's crazy!

British Airways is the flag carrier for the United Kingdom, and has much history. I have flown with the airline many times, I honestly couldn't tell you how many exactly. The service is generally good, but for the money you are paying, I'm sure it could be better. One point I have to make though, is that the food on board is amazing! Really, most people make jokes about airline food, but BA's food service is exceptional (at least on routes from LA-London). I remember having smoked salmon, and a bunch of other cool stuff.

So, if you're traveling transatlantic anytime soon, I would recommend British Airways.

The airline that connects continents.

Longest Road

2009-03-19T18:53:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite artists, in my distant array of random music; Morgan Page is the name.

Here is the "hit" song. He's from Vermont, I believe, and does tours throughout North America.

[Correct me if I'm wrong]

There are many resources you can use to look up more of his music.

Here is the original, Longest Road:

Penelope

2009-03-14T23:36:00.000-07:00

I could not stop laughing when I first wathed this clip, every time I remember this skit, I crack up.

Como Gracioso!

2009-03-14T23:29:00.000-07:00

I love Spanish: