Smoking …

Me: Are you still smoking?
Friend: I have recently quit for a while, then I have gone back to smoking, and currently I am trying to quit again … but it must be stress.
Me: I hate smoking … I just do not understand how people smoke especially when they know how dangerous it is!
Friend: Yeah well, you need to smoke to understand :/
Me: *loses sight of last glimpse of hope*

Referred to by my friend Abeer … I wonder what she was searching for An interesting read.

The following techniques to telling if someone is lying are often used by police, and security experts. This knowledge is also useful for managers, employers, and for anyone to use in everyday situations where telling the truth from a lie can help prevent you from being a victim of fraud/scams and other deceptions.

Warning: Sometimes Ignorance is bliss; after gaining this knowledge, you may be hurt when it is obvious that someone is lying to you.

Read more here

Do ethics compel people to follow the law, or does following the law make people ethical?

Feedback appreciated!

In the title of the post: two refers to my sister and myself, and one refers to our bedroom that we share.

As some of you know, I have a sister who is two years younger than me. I love her to death, but I have to admit that things have not always been rosey between us when we were younger. Like normal sisters, we used to have our bad days and arguments and whatnot. However, we do get along greatly and we do like each other most of the time

Having a sister -or a brother for that matter- is such a blessing from God. Each and everyday that passes by makes me more appreciative and thankful for what I have. In my opinion, family is the most important thing in life. If my family is okay, then nothing else matters. Recently, I have been told by a person who does not have any siblings that the greatest joys in life include having siblings, in addition to getting married and giving birth. I smiled and kept quiet, it was really the first time when I actually realized how lucky I am.

When I was a little girl, I always wanted to have my own bedroom. I would ask my parents to move houses just so that I can have my big bedroom with pink furniture and lots of toys that I arrange in accordance with my taste. My sister would also ask for her own bedroom. Even though we asked for it, it all ended right after asking … Almost like it was never bound to happen for real.

As I grow older, I still share a bedroom with my sister. But you know what? I love it! I would not have it any other way. Sharing a bedroom with my sister has made us closer. It is more than sharing a room with four walls; it is about sharing small talks and giggles before going to bed. It is about feeling grateful to have someone you can trust who would listen to you and not ever judge you. It is about knowing that there is someone out there who knows you better than anyone else even yourself. Believe it or not, but my sister knows too much about me to the point where she can taste something and tell whether I would like it or not. She knows what I want to say before I even say it. She gets all my jokes, and well, attempts to laugh at them. And she is one person I am most comfortable around. The above are all simple examples among many.

People, you might not be aware of it, but you are surrounded by numerous gifts from God. All you have to do to open them is extend your arms

“A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.”

Below is one of the most disturbing videos I have seen in a while, I just had to post it.

It is absolutely pathetic what people can get away with nowadays; not only on a political level.

The video contains inappropriate language, but I think we passed ‘inappropriate’ a long time ago.

I received the following by e-mail. I have to say, it is hilarious Rated PG-13 so if you are under 13, now is the right time to leave

This was written by a guy … It is pretty damn smart.

Girls — Please have a sense of humor!

I never quite figured out why the sexual urge of men and women differ so much. And I never figured out the whole Venus and Mars thing. I never figured out why men think with their heads and women with their hearts.

FOR EXAMPLE:

One evening last week, my girlfriend and I were getting into bed. Well, the passion started to heat up, and she eventually said: ‘I don’t feel like it, I just want you to hold me.’

I said, ‘WHAT! What was that?’

So she says the words that every boyfriend on the planet dreads to hear…

‘You’re just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman enough for me to satisfy your physical needs as a man.’

She responded to my puzzled look by saying: ‘Can’t you just love me for who I am and not what I do for you in the bedroom?’

Realizing that nothing was going to happen that night, I went to sleep.

The very next day I opted to take the day off of work to spend time with her. We went out to a nice lunch, and then we went shopping at a big, unnamed department store. I walked around with her while she tried on several different expensive outfits. She could not decide which one to take, so I told her we would just buy them all. She wanted new shoes to compliment her new clothes, so I said: ‘Let’s get a pair for each outfit.’

We went on to the jewelry department where she picked out a pair of diamond earrings. Let me tell you… She was really excited. She must have thought I was one wave short of a shipwreck. I started to think she was testing me because she asked for a tennis bracelet when she does not even know how to play tennis.

I think I threw her for a loop when I said: ‘That’s fine, honey.’ She was almost nearing sexual satisfaction from all of the excitement. Smiling with excited anticipation, she finally said, ‘I think this is all dear, let’s go to the cashier.’

I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out: ‘No honey, I don’t feel like it.’

Her face just went completely blank as her jaw dropped with a baffled, ‘WHAT?’

I then said: ‘Honey! I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while. You’re just not in touch with my financial needs as a man enough for me to satisfy your shopping needs as a woman.’

And just when she had this look like she was going to kill me, I added, ‘Why can’t you just love me for who I am and not for the things I buy you?’

Apparently I am not having sex tonight either… But at least she knows I am smarter than her!

I was browsing YouTube when I saw an old clip of Elissa dancing tango on a talk show. I think it dates back to 2002. As far as I remember, the show was called (Ya Omri يا عمري) and the presenters were really cute and fun.

When I first saw it, the first thought that came to my mind was: “Wow, that is such a Haifa outfit!”

I do not like Haifa, but …

I like Elissa, she is one of my favorite singers. I think she has a good voice and she enjoys singing. She performs passionately and it shows. She is now considered one of the most classy artists. However, Elissa has come a long way. Looking at her then in that hideous outfit, and looking at her now dressing gracefully, I have to give it to her. Image is important. And in 2008, you are what you are wearing. Today, unlike Haifa, Elissa would NEVER wear such a tacky (Or Insert R-rated word) outfit. I mean look at her bare belly button and the skirt that uncovers her upper thighs. Now, Elissa would show some cleavage but her  tummy is always tucked in and her skirts are all conservative that do not show anything above the knees. She would NEVER wear too much makeup, and she would NEVER let men drool all over her while gathering around her feet like shameless puppies. Elissa has changed a lot because she learned a lot. After all, life is nothing but a mixture of experiences. Elissa almost forces people who are around her to respect her, and well, I know I do.

I forgive Elissa for wearing that outfit only because every newbie gets to make an honest mistake and not be judged upon it Just like Ragheb Alameh now would never switch between Lebanese and Egyptian dialects in one song. Ahhh, the days when they were innocent and when music was not yet rotten … 

For people who think it is all about the looks; it is not. Elissa is known for her charisma. Even though she has always been releasing one album every two years, it is not a losing situation for her because people keep listening to her old songs until she relases new ones. She simply is successful, and I do not believe that anyone can maintain success. Anyone can reach it, and the examples are plenty, (Ruby?), but only the smart consider longevity in a career - regardless of what type of career it is, and only the talented keep it up.

Guys are jerks, seriously!

Okay, I know I should not be generalizing. Yet I do think that most guys would flirt and cheat and lie about it … etc if they had a chance to do so. It is the irresistable curse, and they do it regardless of the consequences.

Today as I arrived to my first lecture, I was almost falling asleep while waiting for the professor to arrive. Two girls were sitting right behind me and I could hear everything they said; I mean they were talking right into my ear. You would think they would keep it down especially that the topic of conversation was private, but I guess they did not care. Both girls are married, and while one seems to be getting along with her husband, the other seems to be in trouble. Apparently, her husband has been cheating on her.

The girl is young, young as in her early twenties. Her husband is 25. They have been together for a long time, and they only got married recently. Still, he has been cheating on her for over a year. Apparently, she was left in the dark and he was not planning on telling her anytime soon –if at all. One day, the wife was driving the husband’s car and the husband was driving the wife’s car. The mistress -who works close to the couple’s place- was leaving work when she saw the husband’s car parked outside. She thought he was home alone and actually went up there. When the wife opened the door, she immediately knew what was going on as she already had doubts due to her husband’s behavior.

So the wife asked the mistress to stay and called her husband to come home as soon as possible. The mistress admitted they were having sexual relationships. It started when the couple was engaged, stopped for sometime after they got married, but continued later on because the jerk, sorry I mean the husband, could not resist texting and calling other women. It turns out he would flirt around and get back home with a bunch of girls numbers in his pockets. The husband tried to deny the accusations and claimed that the mistress is trying to ruin his life because she is in love with him and he married someone else. The mistress showed the wife the texts and phone calls, so he had to shut up. In one of the text messages, he had said that he married the wrong person. How humiliating and pathetic.

Eventually, he blamed it all on her and told her that it is her fault for having insecurities about her body. By the way, the girl has a nice, fit body. He probably has a beer belly. He also told her that being mad at him is forbidden because it ‘upsets’ him, so she basically has to put a show. Anyway, she told his parents and they believed him over her. She has no family here, and she decided to put up with it until she graduates and gets a job to support herself.

I feel sorry for the girl, she is young and she already is going to get a divorce?

What to take away from today’s story: If you guys ever decide to cheat, choose a smarter girl who would not go straight up to your place.

On a more serious note; true love is hard to find, learn to appreciate what you have because otherwise, no one will appreciate you. What goes around, comes around.

A promoter shows a stuffed snake and snake powder from China at the International Food and Beverage Exhibition in Chiba, east of Tokyo March 12, 2008. Snake powder is used for medicinal and health purposes.

A model presents a creation by fashion designers Deux Hommes during the fashion week in Athens, Greece, March 14, 2008.

A woman walks a tightrope during Madrid’s “Night of Theaters” March 27, 2008.

Visitors sit on high heels shaped sofas during the opening of the exhibition for the 80th anniversary of the Italian Salvatore Ferragamo Company in Shanghai March 28, 2008.

A woman holds a Canadian Sphinx during a cat exhibition in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek March 30, 2008. Cat lovers from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan took part in the exhibition.