The Giver by Lois Lowry.


Has anyone read it?


If not, you should.


It is not a long read, and it is very thought provoking.


I would love to discuss it if anyone has read it.

In a small Texas town, (Mt. Vernon) Drummond's bar began construction on a new building to increase their business. The local Baptist church started a campaign to block the bar from opening with petitions and prayers. Work progressed right up till the week before opening when lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground. The church folks were rather smug in their outlook after that, until the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building, either through direct or indirect actions or means. The church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the building's demise in its reply to the court.


As the case made its way into court, the judge looked over the paperwork. At the hearing he commented, 'I don't know how I'm going to decide this, but as it appears from the paperwork, we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer and an entire church congregation that does not.'

It's the first book in the teen vampire trilogy. I'm almost done with it and I must admit I'm hooked. I just took a peek at the movie trailer and it looks good!! The book is not scary and I see why teens (and adults) are so fascinated by it. It's kind of like "The Breakfast Club" for dead teens. LOL! Has anyone else been reading this?

http://arabia.msn.com/News/MiddleEast/AFP/...90.aspx?ref=rss


US embassy seeks Iraqi fans on Facebook


Released on - Thursday,21 January , 2010 -21:29 In what could be seen as a new front in cyber diplomacy or a naive gesture, depending on your point of view, the US embassy in Baghdad launched a Facebook page on Thursday to "reach out to Iraqis."


The page opened with a video posting by ambassador Christopher Hill, who spoke of his high hopes for the forum where "fans" will be encouraged to follow embassy news and learn more about American culture and society.


"This is something new we are trying," said Hill, who delivered his opening address from a sofa where he sat dressed casually in a blue cardigan and white shirt.


"We'd like to be able to <b>reach out </b>a little better to the Iraqi people, especially young people who know about Facebook and know how it all works."


A statement announcing the page launch promised fans would receive a news feed highlighting news and events of interest, photo albums, as well as audio and video clips.


An "English-language corner" will also be updated every week with American expressions and "useful grammar and vocabulary hints," it said.


In the one minute and 13 second long video, Hill said the face of America was going to be changing in Iraq with soldiers being replaced by outreach programmes and cultural exchanges.


"There's gonna be less military, more civilians," he said, alluding to a withdrawal of US combat troops by August 31 and of all other soldiers by the end of 2011.


"So, this is our way of reaching out to people, understanding what Iraqi problems are, what Iraqi concerns are and we hope you all will be able to reach out to us a little better," he added, urging people to become fans of the page.


More than 800 people had signed up by 9.30 pm (1830 GMT).

Bismillah: Assalamo Alikum,


They wants to kill <i>thier enemies</i> using weapons that carry Biblical references... is this a Christian Holy War against Islam and Muslims?


<b>Don't forget to watch the video on that link...</b>


YahooNews


Salam


Wael.

Assalam O alaikum


bros and sisters


hope this finds u in best of health and faith Insha Allah.....


My elder brother "Mohsin Siddique" is very very sick... he is suffering from Alsar


and his condition since last week is un-explainable


he had been admitted in the hospital since 4 days.....please make special dua for my brother that May Allah cure him.ameen


and do remember all the muslims around the world in ur duas too.


May Allah always keep us under his loving care and cure all the sickones around the world.Ameen


Jazak Allahu Khayran


ws wr wb


ur sister


Juwayriah Haani

<b>Ban on Youth Converts to Islam?</b>


Not exactly all converts - only the minors.


KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Pressure from minority religions (Hindu, Christians, etc.) on the government could force a ban on...


...religious conversion of minors by one parent without the spouse's consent — a source of several interfaith disputes in this Muslim-majority nation.


A meeting of Malaysia's king and state sultans decided late Monday that they would consult Islamic authorities before deciding whether to approve a proposed amendment banning such conversions without both parents' consent.


The proposed amendment to the law was aimed at appeasing non-Muslim minorities, who feel their rights have come under threat and that they lose out in conversion disputes.


The hereditary monarchs have a largely ceremonial role in Malaysia but they are seen as the guardians of Islam, the official religion, and are revered by Muslim Malays, who make up 60 percent of the country's 28 million people.


The endorsement of the monarchs is necessary before the government can push any change in religion-related laws through Parliament.


Debate over conversions of minors flared again earlier this year when a Hindu man converted himself and his three young children to Islam and claimed custody in a Shariah court despite his Hindu wife's objection.


Malaysia has a two-tier court system — Shariah courts handle civil matters for Muslims, while secular courts rule on those for Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and other religious minorities, who make up 40 percent of the population.


It is unclear which court has the ultimate jurisdiction in disputes between Muslims and non-Muslims, and non-Muslims claim they often lose out.


IslamNewsRoom

Bismillah: Assalamo Alikum.


In the two parts video attached, you will see a proclamation of a Christian missionary who is addressing his huge congregation and informing them that Pork is prohibited according to the Christian scriptures.


Anyone against what he says?


Salam


Wael.




Part_1.wmv

Part_2.wmv

Attached Files

  Part_1.wmv (Size: 1.9 MB / Downloads: 8)
  Part_2.wmv (Size: 1.86 MB / Downloads: 7)

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/artdesign/story/201...bai-launch.html





World's tallest building set to open in Dubai


Last Updated: Sunday, January 3, 2010 | 12:29 PM ET Comments171Recommend97CBC News


The Burj Dubai, the world's tallest building, officially opens its doors Monday evening amid tight security, including plainclothes police. (Kamran Jebreili/Associate Press)


There's a lot of security and secrecy around the opening of the world's tallest free-standing structure in Dubai, due to be officially unveiled on Monday.


The Burj Dubai (Dubai Tower) is expected to measure more than 818 metres.


Bill Baker, the structural engineer from Chicago-based company Skidmore, Ownings & Merrill, says he wasn't sure just how high they would make the building, saying it was "a kind of exploration."


Toronto's CN Tower, at 553 metres, retains its Guinness World Record as the world's tallest tower. Guinness defines the Toronto landmark as a building in which less than 50 per cent of the construction is usable floor space.


By that definition, the Burj is definitely not a tower. Underway since 2004, it already boasts the most storeys and highest occupied space of any building in the world.


Emaar Properties, the Burj's developer, has kept quiet about the building's launch Monday evening.


Local reports say more than 1,000 security personnel will be on hand, including plainclothes police.


The opening comes at a poor time in Dubai's economy. Property prices have plummeted during Dubai's recent financial turmoil.


In late November, the investment arm of the Dubai government, Dubai World, defaulted on $59 billion US in debt and asked lenders for a reprieve on repayment until May. In mid-December, neighbouring Abu Dhabi threw it a $10 billion US lifeline.

Taken From ( http://www.vivapalestina.org/home.htm )


New Year Emergency Appeal


31st December 2009


On 6th December 2009 the third Viva Palestina international aid convoy set off from London. Over the next few weeks it traveled almost three thousand miles through 9 countries gaining support as it went. By 24th December, Christmas Eve, when it reached the post of Aqaba in Jordan it had grown to almost 500 people in 250 vehicles - carrying much needed medical aid for the besieged people of Gaza.


And there its journey could have come to an end. The convoy was refused passage across the Red Sea to the Sinai by the Egyptian authorities - gatekeepers of the Rafah crossing into Gaza. The convoy would only be allowed to enter Gaza if it landed at the port of Al-Arish on the Mediterranean coast.


The convoy was forced to turn around and head back through Jordan and Syria to take ship from there to Egypt. But this solution, imposed by the Egyptian authorities, has come at a cost. Viva Palestina and our partners will need to charter three ferries and a plane to move our vehicles and convoy members from Syria to Egypt. And we need to raise the money to pay for this.


So we are asking our friends and supporters to dig deep in their pockets and make an emergency donation towards the costs now facing the convoy. With your help we will once more deliver aid to the people of Gaza - and once more demand the end to this in human siege.


Thanks you for your support and may we wish everyone a Happy New Year.


TO MAKE A DONATION PLEASE VISIT (CURRENCIES ACCEPTED ARE BELOW)


http://www.vivapalestina.org/emergency.htm


New Year Emergency Appeal


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