Author: Mohamed Marwen Meddah

Mohamed Marwen Meddah is a Tunisian-Canadian, web aficionado, software engineering leader, blogger, and amateur photographer.

Borrowed Heaven

I just bought The Corrs’ new album Borrowed Heaven a couple of days ago, and well let’s just say it’s been playing in my car non-stop ever since.

I’ve been a fan of The Corrs ever since I heard “Only When I Sleep” from their album Talk On Corners. After that, I went on to buy all their albums starting from Forgiven Not Forgotten to Borrowed Heaven passing by the great Unplugged.

I love their music, their style is simply unique.
This album continues on the same tone. It lifts you off the ground with it’s sweet tunes and lyrics, and Andrea’s sweet voice makes you feel like you’re floating somewhere between the heavens.

From the opening song “Summer Sunshine” to the instrumental “Silver Strand” at the end, this album is full of great and beautiful songs.

My faves from the first listen are: Summer Sunshine, Angel, Long Night, Baby Be Brave and Silver Strand.
I always love the celtic intrumental pieces they include in their albums. They’re amazing.

I’m in my second listen to it, and it’s getting even better and better 🙂

The Corrs rock!

Anti-Israel is not Anti-Semitic!

“Our government is pouring petrol on the flames by instructing its representatives around the world to stigmatize all criticism of its actions as anti-Semitism. This way it sticks the label of anti-Semitism on the entire world, from the UN General Assembly and the International Court of Justice to humanitarian organizations.

It is easy to create this confusion when one does not differentiate between ‘Jewish’ and ‘Israeli’. Everything becomes mixed up: anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, criticism of Israel, criticism of Sharon. Such a mix-up is convenient for those interested in manipulations, but it not good for the Jews. ‘Jew’ and ‘Israeli’ are not the same.

Israel is a state like any other state. It was indeed created by Jews and a majority of its citizens are Jews. But Israel is an independent and separate entity. It is permissible (and, in my opinion, desirable) to criticize the policy of our government, much as it is permissible for us to criticize that of any other state. There is no necessary connection between such criticism and anti-Semitism.”

Uri Avnery

[Via: Aron’s Israel Peace Weblog]

Canadian government demands nude pics of stripper immigrants

Canadian Immigration officials are requiring that exotic dancers looking to enter Canada submit nude photos of themselves dancing, so ensure that they aren’t nude-dancer-impersonators, sneaking into the country to do other kinds of work.

The potential dancers have to prove they can dance in the nude, immigration lawyer Mendel Green said Monday.

“They can’t be partially nude,” he said. “If they don’t have pictures in the nude, they are not going to wiggle their bottoms in Canada.”

Lol…
Now, that’s funny…

[Via Boing Boing]

Spiderman 2

I just watched Spiderman 2 last night.
After hearing so much about it and reading all the great reviews it got, I’ve been itching to see it.

And well, what do I think after seeing it?
Well, I enjoyed the movie a lot. It’s a lot of fun, the action is cooler than the first, the villain is greater (I always thought Doc Ock was the best villain in the Spiderman comics), the story is nice, the miserable love story goes on and the cinematography, photography, special effects and directing are great.
This movie is a must see for fans of this genre.

Now, to the other big question. Which did I like most? The first or the second movie?
Well, I’m still not very sure about that. I loved the first, and I really liked the second.
I guess if the first movie wasn’t the one in which Spiderman gets in touch with his powers, then this one would definitely rule.
So, I guess, to me these movies are of the same great level.
I’m sure I’ll be buying the DVD when it’s out.

Spiderman 1 & 2 are the most successful movies from this superhero genre, I think.
Sam Raimi and the cast did a wonderful job.
Can’t wait till 2007 for the third.

Sudan Sanctions

Now, call me ignorant or stupid even, but explain to me how UN sanctions on Sudan could help end the crisis that’s happening in Darfur?

The US and EU are pushing for these sanctions if the Sudan government doesn’t move in to stop the bloodshed in Darfur.

Darfur is a region as big as France, and Sudan is one of the poorest countries on Earth. How in hell are they supposed to get the necessary means to control this situation and solve it alone?
And instead of stepping in and helping them with whatever is possible, sanctions are imposed on them?
I really don’t see the logic in this.
How will that solve any problems?
Sanctions only affect the people of the country, not the governments, haven’t they learned this yet?!

I think that the US and EU should stop babbling and throwing blame and instead put their money where their mouths are and help end the crisis.

When the problem is solved, then maybe we can see who is to blame for it. But not now while thousands of people are dying.

Eye to Eye, A Palestinian Poem

This is a very touching Palestinian poem addressing the American people written by Gihad Ali. I just found it and just had to share it with you guys here.

Eye to Eye
by: Gihad Ali

Look into my eyes
And tell me what you see.
You don’t see a damn thing,
’cause you can’t possibly relate to me.

You’re blinded by our differences.
My life makes no sense to you.
I’m the persecuted Palestinian.
You’re the American red, white and blue.

Each day you wake in tranquility,
No fears to cross your eyes.
Each day I wake in gratitude,
Thanking God He let me rise.

Continue reading Eye to Eye, A Palestinian Poem

Arab attitudes to US hardening

The Arab world’s opinion of the US has further deteriorated in the last two years over widespread impressions of an “unfair Middle East policy”, two new polls have found.

An overwhelming percentage of 3,300 Arabs polled said US policies, rather than American values, shaped their overall attitudes towards the US.

The polls underscored the frustrations with the Iraq war. The majority said the war would result in more chaos, more terrorism against the US, and less democracy.

Respondents answered “nothing at all” when asked to identify “the best thing that comes to mind” about America. Top responses to the “worst thing” about the US included “unfair Middle East policy”, US responsibility for “murdering Arabs” – primarily in Iraq – and the perception of US preoccupation with “Arab oil”.

[Source: Financial Times]

Sidi Ali El Mekki

Yesterday was one hot day.
We woke up relatively early (for a weekend) and we went out for a couple of errands, and by the time we were home we were dying from the heat.

Only one solution to that: The Sea.

So, we threw our swimwear on and headed off to the beach.

Living in Tunis, the closest beaches are: La Marsa, Gammarth, La Goulette, Rawad, Sidi Bou Said and Carthage.
But I personally don’t like swimming in any of those places for various reasons.

My favourite beaches are scattered around the north of Tunisia in the Governorate of Bizerte (My home city).
Beaches there are clean, water is crystal clear and cold, sand is pure and not too many people.
My favourite place among all those is: La Grotte in Bizerte’s Corniche region.

Anyway, being in a rush yesterday, we chose to go to the closest one of those great beaches, and that is the beach of Sidi Ali El Mekki.
Sidi Ali El Mekki is next to a city called Ghar El Melh which is around 50Kms north of Tunis.
I discovered this place 2 years ago when I went there with some friends from work.

It’s a really cool place where the mountain meets the sea. The scenery is great, the water is cold and clear, the beach is clean, and it’s a delight swimming there.

We had a great time.
Man do I envy the fish.

Just laying there floating on the cool water with nature surrounding you not only relaxes your body, it also relaxes your mind and soul, taking away all the stress of everyday life and putting your mind at ease.

Osama Bin Laden Virus

A virus purporting to show images of Osama bin Laden’s suicide popped up on the Internet on Friday, designed to entice recipients to open a file that unleashes malicious software code, security experts said.

The virus was attached to a message that was posted on over 30,000 Usenet newsgroups and is not being spread via e-mail yet.

The fake bin Laden suicide file, when opened, unleashes a Trojan horse that makes it possible for attackers to take over infected personal computers running Microsoft’s Windows operating system.

[Source: Wired]