I live in Beirut. Speed depends on the whim of the driver, the traffic, the number of potholes in the road, and which VIPS are blocking traffic. If I venture up into the hills traffic speed is directly impacted by herds of goats or sheep crossing the road. I guess the complex answer is the solution for me...
The Senate was supposed to be a voice for the State in Washington, not a voice for the people. The House represents the common folk like you and me while the Senate, if it worked as it was planned, gives representation to the State itself. How can Mexico, Russia, and France have a direct line to the Federal government but Virginia, New Mexico, and Wyoming don't? The system is broken for many reasons, one of which is direct election of the Senate.
(X) I'm bulimic, will get stuffed and unstuffed, repeatedly
(i am a counselor and don't treat eating disorders lightly)
I live and volunteer overseas (Middle East) with an American missionary program. My bank, a CU, has denied me access to my own money because I live in a country that has connections to terrorism. When pushed about it they first replied that it was due to the US laws making it illegal to do business there...yet larger banks and financial companies (Visa, HSBC, AmEx, Wachovia/Suntrust, Bank of America, etc) were not being blocked, I know this because I know other Americans that hold accounts with those companies. So I pushed this and they said it was illegal and they were prohibited and couldn't speak for larger banks. I researched the "law" they claimed and it did mention something about financial transactions in said country, but it didn't block it. There was a specific watch list of people and organizations that were blocked but the entire country wasn't. My host country also has a reputation as a hotbed for fraud so that was also mentioned.
In the long run I figured out that the CU just didn't want to take the risk and used some law related to terrorism to block all transactions (legal and legit) to, from, and within this country. I moved all but the min. money from my accounts and opened a new account at an American Mega Bank that does allow business here. If the CU is going to prevent me from having access to my money AND LIE about the reasons they deserve to not have my business. I'd close the account down completely but I've had it for too long.
The financial institution in the story here likely wants to get rid of as much risk as it can and distance itself from companies or individuals the US and other places are upset with.
i agree, it seems that if you look at the beginning and end of the string the numbers are mirrored. could be something fun, could be something meaningful, or could just be that way 'cos he likes it that way.
two of the cafes I frequent in Beirut do this, when you purchase something from the counter you can ask for an internet receipt which allows you to use the internet for either 30 minutes or 2 hours, depending on the cafe. Of course people just go to the counter and ask for an internet receipt, which is usually freely given...but the system is in place for when they decide to enforce it.
I have no vehicle. I either walk or use public transportation...cheaper, while not the most convenient it has saved me much $$.
while not on the 4th of July I am more excited about that than celebrating the 4th in proper American style. The holiday doesn't mean anything where I now live (am an expat American living in the ME), but can't say I ever really celebrated it when I lived in the US.
and I predict Argentina will go far
I agree with you completely. Seems that this enterprising man discovered that if you can claim your country has connections to terrorism, Iran, being roguish, and is otherwise a junior member of the Axis of Evil then you can get the US ad Britain to help you overthrow the government. As you said, playing off the fears of the US. We have no business being involved with a spoiled baby who is mad because the family cut off his 'trust fund'.
mod +2 insightful up!
Yet in the process of "revering" prophets they have done just what they wanted to avoid, creating an idol. If a prophet is just a man should it matter if people draw or satirize him? By acting so roguish in regards to Muhammad they have in fact idolized him and seem to be placing him almost on parity with God.
If you can read Arabic, the Quran's language is much harsher and reflects certain ideas and concepts as less "enlightened" or tolerant. Yusuf Ali's translation may be one of the most common English versions but it doesn't accurately translate all the concepts and words of faith from the Arabic. I see Ali's version more as an apologists take on the Quran and Islam...besides, aren't the only proper readings of the Quran done in Arabic?
Using 47:4 as an example, it *does* seem to be talking about the general idea of war (in Arabic and English). The problem you get into here is how to interpret the concept of war. Is the US at war with Islam? If so then any act of retaliation (terrorism, kidnappings, etc) done by fringe/extremist groups could be done in the name of that verse.
"The most important thing in a man is not what he knows, but what he is." -- Narciso Yepes
