Garbage

Last weekend I was invited to a barbecue by friend. There I met a lot of people, some of them I could recognize and others I met for the first time. One of the visitors was a man from Sweden, on a week visit to the Netherlands, so the talk was about life here and compares it to Sweden. His impression was very high of the Netherlands. That answer did not make one of the guests happy, that was Z, and he didn’t say anything but I can see that on his face. For that reason I asked him how long has he been living in the Netherlands, and he answered “10 years”. I felt what next to come, but I wanted to hear it, so I asked him if he “can give us based on his experience living in the Netherlands, using one word”. My voice was a little louder than usual so the rest turned their attention to us. The young man squeezed hard on his teeth and said “Garbage! My experience of living in this country is like garbage”. I was shocked because of the intensity when he was saying the word “garbage”. Honestly I wasn’t expect it to be that hard, especially from someone who already live here for more than 10 years, working in an international company and from the outside look no one can expect but to get the impression that he has a happy and comfortable life. However, immediately I snapped him with the “why?” I wanted to know!! He started telling me (us) his story in a certain way that made me feel like he was either; relieved, as if he was letting it out his deepest secret, or he was not happy with my question but decided to give the answer, like “I am going to tell you why… I am not afraid of you!” sort of thing.

Without going into all details, he was newly graduate who came to this country and lived with his relatives who promised him to arrange all papers related to his residency. Later on he had a big fight with his relatives because of money and was kicked out to the street. From there he tried to find ways to get a job, money, and papers to stay in the country. He had no work experience – I mentioned he has just finished studying in his own country before coming here. He worked in restaurants, shops, farms…etc and he suffered immensely from the treatments of his work owners in these different places, until finally managed to find his current job and settle down. He has plans to buy a new house for himself!!

While driving late night heading back home I was wondering what forces made a person like that guy decided to stay in the Netherlands, even plan further for his future and life, such as buying a house in a country he doesn’t like? He has no wife, girlfriend, and he doesn’t talk to his relative anymore. He has no friends – he acknowledged that, and he doesn’t want to have any more friends because making friends mean inviting problems and he had enough problems already in the past years. Is his job the main factor feeling secure? I realize that his country cannot provide him with the same life style, he acknowledged that too and talked badly about many aspects in life exists in his own country. In addition, he told me with sad tone that he couldn’t go back to his own country at any moment in the past 10 years, because he consider that some sort of disgrace and embarrassment to his own self, especially when seeing his old colleagues at the university already made a career and moved on with their lives while he was still wobbling!

Does this make him a bad person? Or to be sympathized with?

One thing I can say; that young man is lonely to highest level, something that might make him envious of others in some cases, but that doesn’t make him in particular harmful to others because some keep their feelings towards others inside.

Fend Off Central Authorities!!

I heard on the news that the Iraqi Kurds rejected calls to deport Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) members from the north of Iraq into, which in itself gave some motive for the PKK to do exactly what the Turkish had in mind: incursion through Turkey and attacking the troops, leaving tens of both sides either killed or wounded. On the Kurdish Iraqi political front, Massoud Barazani and Jalal Talabi rejected calls to hand over members of the banned Kurdish party. Barazani expressed his readiness (and his people?)to fight the Turkish troops in case of any incursion. However, Talabani, Iraqi president had a little bit more rational to deal with this issue by saying that the PKK must put down their weapons and turn into a political organization and submit their cause through parliamentary means, especially (according to Talabani) that the PKK actions and operations in Turkey and Iran won’t serve the overall Kurdish cause.

Yesterday I watched an interview on TV with a high official in the regional government of Iraq's Kurdistan. After a long question answer related to the current crisis with the Turkish government, the program host asked: "in your opinion, what the solution?" He replied with emphasis “the solution goes through us, and the government in Ankara must have direct contact and have a transparent dialogue with us to reach a solution for this problem”.

This is one bold statement by ignoring and bypassing the central government in dealing with issues related to a group of foreigners hiding in the mountains of the same country.

Stroopwafels

If there was something I would really miss (among other things) if one day for a reason or another I decided to move from the Netherlands to another country (not that I am planned to, though) It is the stroopwafel.

I am addicted to stroopwafels.

We’re Still Alive...

A couple of months ago an Iraqi man of 70 years old died of a heart attack. His poor family mourned his death almost with no one, not a lot of people (including relatives) managed to attend his funeral, because of fear from false checkpoints in different areas in Baghdad. Yesterday I called the man's youngest son to see how he and his family are doing. He told me about the continuous tragic situation ... how people are struggling with living regarding high prices of everything from fruits and vegetables to meat, from the level of corruption penetrated every single aspect in society..etc I asked him: "so people now are more concerned with that more than with the daily kidnapping, killing and other forms of violence?" He replied "They do fear death, but they lost hope in life too, some of them wish to die. Imagine, I was talking the other day to a friend and he mentioned my father. He said "God rest his soul, he's now in a better place. We should be happy for him, because we’re still alive... in this misery!""

Brighter Than A Thousand Suns

We are not the sons of God
We are not His chosen people now
We have crossed the path He trod
We will feel the pain of it beginning

Shadow fingers rise above
Crying figures stab the desert sky
Oh behold the power of man
On its tower, ready for the fall

Locking hands together well
Raise a city, build a living hell
Join the race to suicide
Listen for the tolling of the bell

Out of the universe
A strange life is born
Unholy union
Trinity reformed

Yellow sun, it's evil twin
In the black the wings deliver him
We will split our souls within
Atom seed to nuclear dust is riven

Out of the universe
A strange life is born
Unholy union
Trinity reformed

Out of the darkness
Brighter than a thousand suns

Bury your morals
And bury your dead
Bury your head in the sand
E=MC squared you can relate
How we made God with our hands

Whatever would Robert
Have said to his God
Of how we made war with the sun
E=MC squared you can relate
How we made God with our hands

All nations are rising
Through acid veils of love, and hate
Chain letters of Satan
Uncertainty us all to this

All nations are rising
Through acid veils of love, and hate
Cold fusion and fury

Divide and conquer while ye may
Others preach and others fall and pray
In the bunkers where we'll die
There the executioners they lie

Bombers launch with no recall
Minutes warning of the missile fall
Take a look at your last day
Guessing you won't have the time to cry

Out of the universe
A strange love is born
Unholy union
Trinity reformed

Out of the darkness
Brighter than a thousand suns

Holy Father we have sinned

--------------------------------------------

from the song "brighter than a Thousand Suns" by Iron Maiden

Joke Of The Day

The Man in the photo smiling is Lieutenant General Carter F. Ham. He is the chief of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, US army, of course. He said today during an interview with a French News agency that Iraq would take the defense of its national sovereignty "quite seriously" in the event of a Turkish incursion. Actually he said “It is important to note that Iraq is a sovereign nation, and they would take their sovereignty and the defense of their territory quite seriously."

The rest of the article is here

Can you feel how he emphasize when he say "it is important to note..."?? I wasn’t aware that an occupied country can also be considered a sovereign state!! Is this man stoned or something? Or did foreign forces left the country yesterday night while I was sleeping?

Questions On Personal Characteristics - P.1

Can someone suddenly decide unconsciously to give up certain characteristics within his personality? There was a colleague of mine during university days. He was very friendly with everyone, always a smile on his face, and known for his good heart. Sitting with him for hours on many occasions surprised me how an emotional person he is – he used to tell me his secrets too, about his first and only love in his life to a fellow student in college who dumped him later for another guy. More than a year went by before I met him again and I was shocked: He was not the same person; I was talking to a cold-hearted man, so dried out of anything related to humanity. He did not want to listen to anything but to himself, and his “achievements”! Do I have to acknowledge that I have been deceived by that person for years till that moment after long absence which gave me the opportunity to see his real face?

How can someone who is for years famous for having certain characteristic suddenly change similar to the way I witnessed with that colleague? Personal characteristics are either inherited or acquired since childhood! I am not talking about meeting someone, get together very well and become close friends, and after sometime gradually discover certain qualities that might effect (and later ruin) that friendship. It is about real characteristics and personalities of people you used to know for years and for some reason… that’s it: for some reason they change!

The most important question related to this is: will that person be back to his old-self? Can I say that the change he has been going through is merely hype?

Do certain personal characteristics change over time? Does age has something to do with it? Maybe it is something to do with the amount of energy one has, or a person’s energy has nothing to do with it? I mean inner energy of a person to be able to do something in particular for years of being able to show certain quality for years. For example, a good listener is someone who many friends (relatives too) like to sit with, talk, trust and seek for answers. Can that good listener suddenly change his habit and becomes something else? Something else not necessarily negative, but he might have the feeling that he has no energy anymore to listen to other like he used to. Or there are other elements in life that made some kind of restrictions within that person inner self? It might be life itself when a person getting older he or she becomes more occupied with many tasks and responsibilities where time becomes more valuable. But would that also be considered a change in someone’s personal characteristics or qualities?

I thought if the above can be applied on a relationship between a man and a woman! No, I don't see it relevant at all! Maybe because of the nature of intimacy that make such an analysis of personal characteristics approached differently.

Bab El Hara 2

The final episode of this series in its second part has ended last Saturday. Bab El Hara is really a great series ("Bab" means gate or door in English, and El Hara means Neighborhood, or district)! The title of this series episodes refer to the main gate of a neighborhood in old Damascus, Syria, and the events surrounding the life of the inhabitants of that neighborhood with each other and towards others from nearby neighborhoods. Like millions of Arabs around the world, I was paralyzed on my seat watching this show every night from 9PM onwards - I used to watch it for a second time on another channel at 10PM - it sounds crazy, in the weekend I watched it during the day for a third time sometimes! I can’t recall when was the last time I followed every single episode of an Arabic show. There are many reasons I loved that show; one for sure is simplicity; no gigantic special effects (it is not Star Wars), neither the useless overestimated budget applied on production like many Egyptian drama series in recent years. I also loved mostly the little details on every scene (big salute to the director, Bassam Il Mila), such as the scene when women from the neighborhood as a group visited Suaad; The focus of the scene was on the group of old women with their daughters entering the house and the way they greeted each other after long time no see. It was beautiful to watch small details like young Khairiyah sneaking through the other women and walked exactly behind her mother with a shy smile on her face. There were many other small details I considered adorable while watching Bab El Hara, a gesture, a wave and even a movement by a man or a woman, all were done perfectly. The atmosphere reflecting Damascus in the early 20’s century was so real and believable, from the grocery, rituals of Ramadan, the food, the customs, the alleys in the neighborhood, even love. The relationship between the different characters, old and new captivated the hearts and minds of all.

I don’t know if it was the director who is so smart, or the actors (main and secondary roles) are so perfect and professional, or both? Each character played by each actor was done in thrilling and astonishingly excellent way. It is the first time that I fail to find a point of criticism towards an Arab show ever.

I read that in Arab countries it was like martial laws imposed during the time the show time. The effect on Arabs in Europe was no difference, the majority was glued in front of the television screens waiting to see what will happen to Abu Isam during the period he locked himself up in his shop, or what is the next move by the wicked Firial (Um Taufiek), or how and when the killer of the neighborhood’s leader, Al Za’eem, will be caught and justice prevail… The episode was packed with thrilling events surrounding numerous characters. The influence the show made has reached real life in some Arab countries: I read that young teens on the streets of Lebanon adapted the same terminology and nicknames used in the show, such as calling the brave by the name of “Ageed”, which the nickname of one of the main characters, Abu Shihab, or children shouting in the streets “beleele …” imitating the villain, Abu Ghalib in the series, or some people who exchanged SMS messages wishes each that God protect him from the magic of Um Abdallah (played by the great actress Muna Wassif).

I loved the end, and loved the way the two main actors in the show, Abbas Il Noory (Abu Isam) and Samer Al Masry (Abu Shihab – Ageed) appeared at the end titles wearing suits and without the familiar make up we used to see them on that show – they looked younger, actually more handsome, and with cute sense of humor indicated that part 3 of Bab El Hara might have a lucky woman will be the wife of Abu Shihab.

Gale's Life Thoughts

The intention is not to advertise one's blog on my own blog, but this one I am really enjoy reading recently, it is Gale's:

The variety of topics she writes about and diversity of feelings expressed on her blog (and within the comments and replies on her own posts) are really outstanding!

Above all reasons I liked most about Gale's blog is the simplicity!

Whom Do You Follow?

First, Happy Eid to all Muslims all over the world, and special wishes to our beloved ones in Iraq. May this Eid mark the end of sorrow and pain put upon us and on them and that Iraq and Iraqis regain good and prosper life, forever.

As its always the case on every year, not all Muslim countries announced today as the first day of the Eid. Some countries are celebrating that today, though, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Libya, and Muslims in non-Arab countries such as those in China, Afghanistan and Philippine followed along. While Egypt, Syria and Oman announced that Saturday is the first day of the Eid! It has been the case for years, and every year I see on TV the endless discussions about how to put an end to such a dilemma. However, there is none and it seems that even if one muslim climb the roof of his house in the middle of the night and see the sign in the sky (a crescent), he will not be able to celebrate the joyful days because the country did not announce through its official religious channels!

The chaotic situation, in my opinion, is when someone like me living in Europe, do I have to celebrate the Eid on the same as in Iraq, because I am an Iraqi? The Sunnis are celebrating today and it looks like the Shiite are going to do that tomorrow! But I don’t believe in this Sunni and Shiite concept! I have no option but to celebrate for four days instead of the three days in this case, but that against the rules, right? A little bit of simple thinking provided me with more than one solution, in fact: we should count the days of the month of Ramadan and accordingly decide which day to start celebrating the Eid. The other solution is to follow suit on a one religious figure in the Netherlands (for sure there is one, or not?) who would watch the sky at night for a clear sigting of the crescent then declare the next day as the first day of the Eid. Simple, especially if we take into the consideration that Ramadan rituals (fasting) is based on the local time in the country where I live i.e. The Netherlands, not local time in Jakarta!

Yet, there are some here who decided to reject such simplcitiy: the mother of a friend of mine met yesterday with her neighbor, and during conversation she asked her about the first day of the Eid. The woman neighbor looked confidence and replied “whom do you follow?” She meant Sunni or Shiite??

Immigrants, A Disaster

Three days ago I waked down to the entrance of the building where I live, when I saw on advert-board a big peace of paper printed on it "Immigranten een Ramp", which means “Immigrants, a disaster”.

I don’t know if the person who hang that piece of paper meant a certain ethnic group or is he generalizing to include all non-Dutch citizens, especially that there in addition to me there are Asians, Indians, Spanish and even Albanians living in the same building! Or is it targeted as the case now (by some) towards Islam and Muslims in particular?

In the evening, when I came back home from work, that piece of paper was taken off!

There are many changes within the way the Dutch conceive immigrants, this started by the late 1990s, but it reached its climax after the death of the famous film director, Theo van Gogh by an extremist who thought that he could change things with a knife, a sword, and a pistol! Since then the smile I used to see on street from the by-passers has diminished. There is fear, and fear leads to rejection – and for many to hatred. This is among other reasons why one and a half million people voted in the last general election for someone yet with another extremist ideology i.e. Geert Wilders

Yet, it is not that immigrants living in the wet green low land must pack their stuff and leave, because doom’s day for them is near due to this kind of behavior by some. There are a lot efforts clearly witnessed to bridge the ever expanding gap between the two: It is like some “forces” trying their best to lay down a sort of a status quo of hatred towards Muslims living the Netherlands (which in no way that is going to impact other ethnic groups), however, there are who counter attack (or defend) these forces.

It is very interesting to see a documentary the other day about a couple of interviews with Jewish scholars and academics who gave their opinion about Muslims in the Netherlands, mainly, when they resembled them with the Jewish during Nazi Germany, when the whole situation began with hatred within the one society, and gradually developed into a mass humiliation, deportation, which ended up towards mass concentration camps for them. I won’t ask if this would happen in the Netherlands, and see Muslims are relocated in such camps, but as one friend of mine once told me: “Unfortunately, any major event similar to the death of Gogh would take place in the future, accusations will be directed to ALL Muslims in the country and not only to the one who committed that crime”.

Why Don’t We Swap Countries?

I read today the news on the obligation by the Bush administration has made towards the Iraqi People by allowing more, as refugees, to enter the United States. The one statement intrigued me was that of the assistant secretary of States, Ellen Sauerbrey: “We have a moral obligation to protect Iraqi refugees, particularly those who belong to persecuted religious minorities as well as those who have worked closely with the United States government since the fall of Saddam Hussein". The focus on allowing “certain religious minorities” was in fact meant Iraqi Christians! Not that I have something against Iraqi Christians - my best friend from childhood was a Christian, but I don’t think she meant the Sab’ies or the Yezidis, right?? Remind of the 1991 Gulf War when the Netherlands and Sweden decided to take Iraqis from Rafha camp sepcifically as refugees! Anyway, the move by the US administration makes me wonder if losing ground in Iraq for the US made their government seek other alternatives to save innocent souls! and that by either providing shelter for Iraqis in the United States, or financing humanitarian organizations to help Iraqis resituated, as indicated in the article?

I find it odd that a country is occupying another country, watch its people getting humiliated, get killed and displaced, and not able until this very moment to provide order and security to an alley or a couple of houses’ blocks. Is it Planned for (oh, not conspiracy theory again) but is it only oil they do care for (as former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan admitted in his new memoir, Age of Turbulance, by saying that “the Iraq war is largely about oil.”)?? Taking into the consideration the cost of human souls lost among US soldiers, and the actions taken by their government, I only become more convinced of the fact that the war generals seems to only have partially solutions. God knows if that the exact meaning of incompetence; One day they come up with big concrete walls to separate areas within the one city; another time sponsoring militias and half-killers to bring order to the street; and now they are dividing the population of Iraq into certain groups based on religious and social aspects and watching this exodus of millions to start all over again somewhere on a spot on this planet.

OK, Iraq is a resourceful country, and has its impact on the world economy with its huge oil reserves maybe - in addition to its strategic and geographic location in the region. Therefore, why spending millions on conquering in the name of freedom? Why having thousands of soldiers getting killed for a reason everyone now knows that it became a child’s (and comedian’s) lie? Why don’t we just swap countries and end the whole tragedy once in and for all? At least this will definitely ensures innocent Iraqis to finally live and die in peace ;)

One Year Blogging Anniversary

I have been asked on a number of occasions why my blog is called “Mixed Mode” instead of “Mixed Mood”? Discipline and putting things in order are two things I consider very important in dealing with many things in daily life; that doesn’t make someone with such attitude boring or viewed by others as being dead serious 24 hours a day (including in his sleep), or someone with a tight suit and thin ties, with glasses, while his hair is ironed on his head with gel!! Discipline is the contrast to the concept of chaos! People with short temper are considered chaotic; it is also chaotic when one acts towards someone or something in a certain way and after few minutes he or she acts / behave differently i.e. quick change in mood. There is nothing wrong with “change of heart” or “change ones mind” – some call it emotional decisions, but there is no harm of this “change in attitude” especially if it was the result of rational analysis of things. Therefore, the combination of reason (or rationality) and emotions can build the correct formula into separating chaos from constructive variety, i.e. mixed mode.

“Mode” means approach, but many arguably describe a mode as being a “form”. In music, though, a mode can encompass of different mixed groups of scales, which in total can make a musical form. Life, in my personal opinion is like a musical mode; it contains a mix of different happy and sad flow of events (hence scales). I want my blog to be like that, to be mixed mode! In the past year, this has been noticed by any visitor to my blog: from expressing rage and frustration of daily news about Iraq and the world, to sharing and posting imaginary headline news. I even wrote a song on the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq!

In the past year, I wrote about many things, and different things. It was not my intention to make my blog political (as some accuse me), or to limit the topics to the daily tragedies and events fiercely put upon Iraq and its people by the mercenaries. I wanted my blog to be informative; When I talked about the Yezidis, for example, I wanted to bring attention that Iraq is not all about Sunni and Shiite and Kurds, and that there are communities who are living under the same conditions as the rest. Above all the aim I personally have is to have my blog consists of everything and anything; From reviewing movies, such of “Yacoubian Building” and “the last King of Scottland”, or music, such as my all time favorite guitarists , and being passionate about a female singer from the beautiful country of Lebanon.

About Iraq, in the previous year I realized that bloggers vary from one person to another, depends on the way they see their blogs, the events around them, and how they want it to be at the end. I did not want my blog to be like a daily journal like some; I never pictured myself as an online reporter, unless I transform my blog to an exclusive blog about an Iraqi who lives in the Netherlands. In fact I did that once and twice. One of my main aims from this blog is to put my own perspective into the events in Iraq in spite of the fact that I live outside the country for many and many years. Among many sad (and sometimes happy) events in Iraq, I wanted to share fear of the danger surrounding a specific community group in Iraq. I wanted to bring awareness to actions, such as the one about a threat message written on the walls of a disserted house in one of Iraqi cities. I also talked about new dilemma’s took place in Iraq after the 2003 invasion. On many occasions, simply put, I voiced my loud opposition to anyone who did and keep on trying to harm the Iraqi people either in the name of democracy or freedom or religion…etc you take your pick!! However, with all the violence engulfing Iraq’s society there are really still people over there who think rationally and most importantly think positively, to the contrary of those whom without any notice stand in the middle of everyone and start spraying curses and accusations like random bullets in the dark.

Blogging was like taking a time-travel machine and go back to the old days. I felt the sad smile printed on my face while writing about these days, because the circumstances were not that good at all, but on many occasions I cherish every minute of it. One example of that is when I wrote about the corner of the doomed. In fact, the whole concept of revising “the good old days” was the main idea behind creating a new blog specifically for that purpose i.e. Iraq the Lasting Love. Speaking of that blog, I want to send a big thank you to a friend who did a brilliant job helping me and supporting me in order to make that blog successful. You know who you are; my dear friend… thanks a lot. I realize that Iraq the lasting love needs a lot of work and has been neglected but work will presume on that blog too in the very near future. This is something I promised myself to do.

When I look back to one year of blogging, I ask myself: were there any achievements from all this? Spending hours in gazing at the monitor either for reading or for writing! I guess the answer is too long to answer, or is it that already been written to be considered as an answer? Or, maybe other Iraqi bloggers can give an answer!

Reincarnation of Sa'dy Al Hilly

Who said that only Shatha Hasson has a singing talent

Bored Soldier

A US soldier in Iraq decided to bring order and discipline in his own way

Perfect Imitation

This is hilarious, an Iraqi artist imitating all Arab actors... enjoy

Resource Security

I read the news today about the Australian defence minister, Brendan Nelson acknowledging that oil (or as he called it ''resource security') is the reason behind Australia's involvement with the US in invading Iraq.

Well, At least he got balls to come out and admit the truth, and not keep on telling the same bla bla bla about WMD or ousting a big rat!

Keep up the good work, Dr. Nelson.

Quraish

I came across an article by coincidence about the first Real Time strategy game in Arabic, called Quraish. The game is made by a Syrian multimedia and technology company called Afkar Media Productions. Quraish is a 3D real time strategy game about the first 100 years of Islam. The name of the game is based on the name of the chief tribe used to live in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. There is a contradiction between the name of the game with the content of the game, which focus on Islam rather than on a tribe.

According to the makers of the game, it is not about war and conquest, but more to manage and administrator like any real time strategy game of that kind, such as Command & Conquer Generals, or Age of Empires series, or even Red Alert, so no need to explain more how these games are supposed to be played with! The game consists of four campaigns, with more than 30 levels. The player can play the role of Bedouin sheik and “earn your tribe respect”, or command an army “as the only hope of the new born Moslem state, defeat the gathering tribes round your capital and push them back through the burning sands of Arabia”, or simply follow the conquer routs of Muslim heroes and generals like Khaled Ibn Al Waleed and Abu Ubaida Al Jarrah. The game has been made in a way to reflect every detail of each culture each character the players takes; this includes buildings, custom, military and war tactics…etc

The main goal for the makers of this game is to answer questions such as: how Islam and Muslims spread their religion to the different countries? Where they any different from any other military force around history? How did Muslims deal with other cultures, religions and societies they met? It is not only about leading an army to victory, but the game also expands for the player to perform other tasks such as the preservation of water resources, ensure safe trading routes and maintain good economic situation for the tribe or the nation.

The official website of the game is very well designed but it has not been updated since October 2006. However, it seems that the makers of the game and the designers of the website wanted to ensure that anyone from any country in the world can be familiar with the timeline, the characters, the battle names and events, and even with tribes. In addition, there are plenty of information on the way the game was made, with many pictures and screenshots. The game can be played in both Arabic and English (with help of American-Muslims). There is also a discussion forum where people already gave feedback and many offered their help and suggestions to improve the game in many ways.

As usual with discouragement factors in the Arab world, there are two common problems: first is marketing, especially with the advert of seeking international distributors. The other is budgeting, which is also plays a role in improving everything! In addition, I wished there was a kind of a demo can be download from the website, so a portion can be seen of the game and this in itself can be as a marketing tool for the game itself.



The official website is: http://www.quraishgame.com/

Tribute To Nazik Al Mala'ika

The least I can do to commomerate another legend in Iraq's history, here

Bruce Take A Tumble

Bruce Dickinson, the singer from the legendary Iron Maiden taking a tumble onstage while singing Wrathchild. The footage is taken from the Download Festival at the Donington Park, UK on 10 June 2007

This Attack is the Key...

I don't want to sound weird with such a title to this post, but I will start with this question "wasn't everyone expected last year when the dome of the shrines in Samara was bombed that THIS will happen again?". I am not getting old or my memory is betraying me, but I still remember the talk by many people, on the internet and on TV that the same location will be targeted again due to its importance and due to its signifance to the Shiite community in Iraq, which makes it as the igniting spot for an overall secterian violance. Well, it happened again!


The second thing which became so obvious is about the guards: Last time they arrested a number of people including some who were working as guards for the shrine - this time I don't remember how many, but never heard about the conduct of the envistegation! This time again, the sabotage took place from inside the holy shrines, and we hear the same record again of arresting a number of people including guards!

Most of the reactions I read on the internet about the situation and what happened yesterday was described in one word "disgusting"! Will this apply to the event or is it that the situation of the position the Iraqi governement (as the protector and servent of the people) became so disgusting? I am not a military analyst or a political expert, but the attack on the holy shrine took place in Samara, why the curfew on whole Baghdad? Allow me to put the question in different context: why everytime an attack on Samara or Najaf or Karbala or anywhere else a full curfew is imposed on Baghdad? Is this some kind of a show off? or is it a matter of act of desperation?

Some says that it is the gangs of Saddam and al Qaeda who committed this crime, others accused Iran and others the U.S. because this will ensure their control over Iraq - what control do those mean? nothing is under control, ah, they meant ensure that all kinds of chaos remain intact. In either way, whenever I look at the pictures on the internet of the al Askari shrines in Samara without the two minerates I always reach the same conclusion... I am sure many reached the same: The attack proved last time to be the key to a bloody secterian conflict in Iraq, attacking it for the second time will enrich such tragedy.

Coma

One of my relatives is going through coma since yesterday evening. This is the latest news I received today morning from Baghdad. The 70 years old man was ill for sometime now, in the last three days he stopped eating and drinking, and yesterday night he lost his consciousness completely. After receiving this news, my family contacted another close relative, she is considered as the mother of all young and old in the family. She told us that she is planning to go and be with the other family while they are going through this hard time. She asked other relatives about who can drive her to the other family’s house, but no one seems willing to go! The problem is that “no one want to take me there, because the road is too dangerous”!!!!!!!!!

Even show of mercy and solidarity need second thoughts these days in new Iraq!!

Update: He died later in the afternoon!

Kidnapped!!

They are four kidnapped! No, the number is 5: one financial expert and his four bodyguards were kidnapped from inside the ministry of finance. The whole world is turning upside down for those 5 British nationals (some sources says they are in fact German); the spokesman for the ministry of foreign affairs in Great Britain is urging citizens to cooperate if they know anything or have any hints to help finding the kidnapped. Prime Minister Blair announced that “the U.K and Iraqi governments are doing everything they can to find the five people and are fully investigating the circumstances.”

This piece of news is found on every single news website – some of them were two headlines with one saying 4 and the other saying 5 is the number people kidnapped!

I always admired the way the west value its citizens – something as part of their culture, or shall I say moral? I watch Sky news from time to time and in the past month or more there is this huge campaign on every single bit related to the little girl kidnapped on a vacation location in Portugal. Yes, I mean the kidnap of Madeleine McCann, the four-year-old British girl who vanished during a vacation in a resort in Algarve with her parents. They even have a website for that purpose, with telephone numbers, updates, information…etc There is also a reward of around 3 million euro, pictures of the child has been everywhere from Belgium to Great Britain in case someone sees here. In addition, the parents of the little poor girl are also preparing to meet the pope on the 1st of June. I won’t doubt for a minute that a book will be published by the end of the story.

Another kidnapping took place almost three months ago, this time in Gaza. I am referring to the BBC journalist, Alan Johnston, who has been kidnapped by masked gunmen while he was driving his hired car in one of the streets of Gaza city. The events that followed and until this moment we witnessed a lot of condemnations on newspapers, or from the mouth of politicians and leaders from Arab and non-Arab countries, and from time to time a boost in hope when a headline here or there about how soon the British journalist would be released. Most (if not all) press organizations appealed for the release of Johnston by calling the kidnapping of a free journalist as an attack on international law and a crime against humanity.

I wish from my heart that the end will be a happy one for all of them, and I don’t want to give a reason for such wishes, except that there are parents, brothers, sisters and others who are in pain from being in fact living within such an experience.

By the way, do we have a list of how many people have been kidnapped in Iraq? Do we have information on which they are, such as names and whereabouts? And is there an effort to find them… I mean the same effort expressed by British Prime Minister Blair relating to the kidnapping at the ministry of finance? How come we don’t hear in the news about a campaign or protest or even an announcement relating to missing loved ones in Iraq?

Keep on cursing, Tita!!

UPDATE on the Wall Paintings

More talk about the painted walls in Baghdad, which I mentioned in my previous post. Some believe that the pictures of artists painting the segregation walls are of Al Sa'doon Street and not as many believed that of Al Adhamiya's. Others believe that this action is supported - even paid - by the government. I don't blame the latter opinion, especially with the argument that these walls will become a sort of a status quo after painting them.

Here (in Arabic) are some information on these wall paintings, which claims that around 45 artists began working on transforming the giant walls around al Sa’doon Street to colorful paintings, each displaying a certain area in Iraq, in order to give a new spirit to the way the street looks like after the installment of these concrete walls. The same source also claims that this is sponsored by the municipality of Baghdad in coordination with a number of businessmen who took the responsibility for the implementation!

Love for Life… Love for Iraq…

…This is what Iraqis are made of!!

On the fourth occasion of the invasion I wrote about how Iraqis presents one quality in particular In spite of death, sorrow and hard time they have been through: Iraqis' love for life surpasses anything else. In spite of the ongoing attempts to divide Iraqis on purpose or without purpose (is there any?) the Iraqis remain unique with their ability to invent and shine!!

Long live Iraq and the Iraqis

Check out the photos below…

Sarkozy, The 6th Son of the 5th Republic

Finally the results of the French presidential elections came out a couple of hours ago to announce Nicolas Sarkozy, 52 years old former minister of interior, as the winner with more than 50% of the total votes. A lot of people expected Sarkozy to be the winner, mainly because of his tough grip on dealing with internal problems in French (2005 riots on the superb of Paris), but above that his preparation and conduct during this campaign compare it to the way his contender, Segolene Royal, did. Therefore, tonight’s results was no surprise to me or to any other person!

However, there are a couple of interesting observations about Mr. Sarkozy; First of all, in a country like France where its people are very proud of their nationalism and French identity, here we have a president who is originally from a Hungarian father and a Greek mother. Despite this fact, more than the half of the French population voted for him.

The second interesting observation is the sort of a contradiction nature French society has shown during these elections, becuase everyone realizes how Sarkozy represents the departure form the Digol school, which former president Jacques Chirac, for example, and all his predecessors have been always loyal to around the years. Sarkozy made it clear during his campaign that “deep change” must begin in France. A strong figure like of Sarkozy’s can serve many purposes for French people. I have been in France during the last elections, and most of people I talked to during my visit told me that the reasons for voting mainly because of the danger that this candidate or the other might put to their society i.e. not because they believe in the ideology or the agenda or the personal qualities of the candidate. The same thing happened this time, but not with the same scale 5 years ago. Thus, a lot of people are afraid of Sarkozy, and they might voted for Royal instead to diminish the chance foe Sarakozy to win. Part of some people’s fear is related to the expectations for the future, especially with a president who’s known for his high temper, which might make great impact regarding important decision an influential country in the world like France can make.

One thing for certain is that the French are fed up and they want change, and in that case, nationalism can have less than the highest priority. They voted for someone this time whom they have from him a lot of expectations.

On foreign affairs track, there were two messages Sarkozy sent immediately after his win; the first is to ensure the United States that France is taking a new direction and that the US can count or rely on its French friends. The second thing Sarkozy’s call for all countries around the Mediterranean sea to follow a new policy of unity and working together - Sarko is loud about his objection to Turkey joining the EU because he consider it as an Asian country more than anything else, but he offers strong trade and economic partnership! Both message send vague signals because many questions will be asked; one is related to Lebanon and the responsibility especially after last year’s war against Israel, not to forget the speculations of a new era of a new relationships with the Jewish state - his statement about the deep friendship with Israel during the elections campaign made most, if not all French Jews, vote for him. The other question is related to the relationship with north African countries like Algeria and how this relationship will result, especially with the impact on the existed Algerian community in France itself – partially a problem within French society. Last but not least is the relationship with the United States: On which way the United States will rely on its French friends? Will France finally help the US in its crisis in Iraq? And how? Sending finally troops to Iraq?

One thing for certain: Sarkozy is very motivated, energetic and offensive of a kind during his time as the minister of interior, but will this be the case during his presdency? He want for sure to show the heavy weight of a France among all countries in the world in more effective way, but the future will show how!

Comments On The Yezidis

Last February I wrote about the Yezidis, a religious and social community living in the north of Iraq. Among the comments I received a couple from an anonymous Yezidi who gave more insight on his community - and looks like he going to add more in the future. For that reason, Therefore, I want first to express my gratitude to him and I am obliged to point out to these comments/information here so people can have more knowledge and informatnion.

Special thanks to the Anonymous friend, I apreciate his input and effort in sharing the cultural and theological background of the Yezidis.

Another Planet Earth

While I was driving to work early this morning, I heard on the radio that European astronomers announced today the discovery of a new planet more than 60 trillion miles from earth orbiting outside our solar system. The significance of that discovery is their assumption is that this planet has the most suitable conditions for supporting human, with temperature lies between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius – theoretically, this also indicates the existence of water in liquid forms on it. Its radius is 1.5 times the radius of our planet Earth, and has a mass five times the mass of earth, which scientists predict that this planet is either covered with rocks or with oceans.

Later in the day I opened alarabiya news channel website to read the news, and the same news about the discovery of the new planet was there. The interesting part about this news is people’s comments. Some were skeptical about the existence of life outside planet Earth. However, almost half of the comments took a religious course regarding the subject: many praised God and the creation of the universe, some backed up this discovery with verses from the Quran and some disapproved it using the same in regards to the existence or non-existence of extra-terrestrial life. There were some obscured comments, such as that of someone who wrote “God gave us another chance [with this discovery] to live together, Arabs and Jews on it”. Other comments emphasized that this discovery is the sign for the re-appearance of the Imam Mahdi, and the approach to the moment at the end of time!

Others, many others, were sad and wrote about how Europe and the west in general became advanced with their technology in which wonderful discoveries like this are made, while Arabs nowadays are still behind and plagued with dictatorships, ignorance, poverty, extremism, corruption, agony, wars… etc In fact, many of the readers pleaded to alarabiya website to put more news about science and technology so people can learn and get more educated from it. There are some who expressed their grief for the future of the new discovered planet because “we humans will turn that planet into a play-field for evil and bloodshed”. It is very interesting that some of the readers already predict a universal war that will wipe out human race entirely and that “the new planet is too far, until the time we discover ways to travel there, the ‘war’ will be already took place”!!!

One reader regarded the newly discovered planet as the ultimate alternative for our current planet, especially with the increasing danger of global warming and what might result from it in the future.

Other readers suggested sending all extremists to live on that planet and “let us here to live in peace” – or the opposite for others who recommended full immigration of human race except for extremists and fundamentalists to do what they like to do most!!

Not all comments were that serious or darkly-viewed; there are comments that showed sarcasm, humor and ambition in some cases, such Azzoz who prayed to God that the planet has its own inhabitants who can play football in order for us to arrange with them football tournaments called “Football League of the Planets”. An Iraqi reader wrote that the discovery is a problem, big problem if people leave earth for the new planet, because “we won’t be able to sell our oil to anyone, we won’t be able to get medicine, electricity…etc” and for that reason he “decided to buy a camel, before camel crisis happen”.

Some guy with the name of Ahmed asked if there is Khat (or Qat) on that planet, and if not, then he is not willing to go!!

Another guy asked if he is allowed to live on that planet, but has one condition: He doesn’t want the following to live there: neither Bush nor Blair… neither Arabs nor Jews, no republic or monarch state systems, no thieves or drugs… but he was wondering if a peace of land there is cheap or not! Speaking of Bush, one warned that this planet is now doomed, because Bush will sooner or later lead a campaign to bring democracy there! But he showed some sympathy for the American president by “hoping that oil is can also be discovered there, so Bush won’t be disappointed and take that long trip for nothing”. Yasmin said that she wants to have her honeymoon there, while Blend did some mathematics by writing “the planet is huge, so buying a piece of land and building a house will be very cheap, but due to its massive gravity, the planet is not for fat people, because someone with 100kg on earth will be 220kg on the new planet”.

Another Iraqi asked if there is a place on that planet for 27 million of his fellow men and women!

Finally, there were many praises by alarabiya readers for the Egyptian singer, Midhet Salih, because he was the one who wrote a song predicting the existence of another planet and that he wants to live on it.

For those who can read Arabic, the link to the article is here

Last King of Scotland

The movie is inspired by true historical events, however some of the characters shown on the movie, such as Dr. Garrigan, are fictious. In addition, the movie is very different from the book – didn’t ruin the story, though! The movie, as many already seen and read previews is about the Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin (1925-2003) from the day he took power in 1970 until 1976 when the Entebbe hijacking event took place. Forest Whitaker, who plays Amin in the movie, deserves a big salute for that role. He received considerable critical acclaim, winning the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and the BAFTA Award, for best actor in addition to awards from the Broadcast Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Circle, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the National Board of Review and many other critics awards. The film further received BAFTA awards for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best British Film, in addition to receiving nominations for Best Supporting Actor, James McAvoy (who played the role of Dr. Garrigan) and Best Film.

Anyone familiar with the history of Uganda under the rule of Idi Amin might notice how events were chronically smartly put in a very fast pace. In fact, the whole movie from the beginning till the end does not give a chance for the viewer to take a breath, because of its fast rhythm and suspense in the 121 minutes of its total running time. However, even for those who are not familiar with Uganda and its history, the movie is regarded as an educative show about that African country and how it has been ruled in early 1970s.

One of the nicest things about the movie is the way it has been filmed. I believe that the director of the film wanted it to be like a documentary. In addition, the colors, techniques and methods used in making this movie gave the impression that the movie was made during the 1970s and not in 2006. It was not meant to be filmed as a typical Hollywood movie (actually the movie is British) where many fixed cameras shooting from different angels, or using other advanced technology in today's movie making. Throughout the movie, I wondered if they only used one camera (or merely two) on certain scenes! On many scenes throughout the movie, the camera suddenly jerks off from the main frame of that scene, became blurring for a second then zoomed onto a sort of symbolic gesture or a movement, such as a finger pointing into a direction, or a hand resting on a shoulder, and with a semi-shaky movement, the camera settles on that close up and remains focus that way until the end of the scene! There is an empahzise on many parts of the movie on body movement, or shall I say body language, rather than relying on the dialogue or action scenes.

It really gave extra pleasure and joy watching the movie that way.

The movie also showed the development of the other main character beside Amin; Dr. Nicholas Garrigan, who was intentionally (or not!) has been transformed from a simple (or shall I say reckless) adventurous type of person, who is always walking with a big charming smile on his face, a womanizer who’s sexual lust did not have any moral or ethical drawback. This young physician was transformed chaotically into a political tool within the Ugandan political system.

After watching the movie, I began to have doubts if all third world leaders have copied their Curriculum Vitae from each other, especially when representing themselves as revolutionary; have similar background by coming from families suffered poor economic situation; and most of them were enrolled into the military academy; promise their people prosperity in the early days of taking power, but show the contrast in later years…etc All dictators seems to follow the same trends and course in their rule. While watching the movie and after it ended I couldn’t stop thinking how many similarities are there between Idi Amin and Saddam Hussain; his feeling of mistrust towards anyone and everyone, and that mindset that “everyone wants to kill me” type of thing. Amin’s ego is also very clearly and perfectly seen in the movie; of regarding himself as the symbol of Uganda, which means that if a person does not love Idi Amin, then that person doesn’t love Uganda (this would regard that person an enemy of Uganda and deserve to die). There are other similarities such as the recruitment of doubles, and not to forget the brutality where thousands and thousands of people from all different sectors of life applied to by this regime.

Here is another link, to the Wikipedia article about the movie. It contains spoliers so it will be more enjoyable if you read it after watching the movie.

Divide People With Walls and Bloodshed

Sectarian violence have eaten up Iraqi society, which led to hatred feeding people hearts in the same neighborhood. This is how it started. It led some blinded minds and hearts men to initiate a campaign of deportation on every alley, neighborhood, village and city as a whole.


Innocents are dying either by masked men, or bombs, or on their way to a safe haven…etc
A new map is in the making, pulled its basis from concepts such as: who do you belong to… which group or person you are loyal to… it does it matter where you live or who are you acquainted with… etc The result, innocents follow the rest in an exodus in all direction, inside and outside the country


Instead of bringing people together, healing the wounds of the past, and to strengthen loyalty for the nation.


The new map is taking its shape, attempts to blow bridges, houses have been sold to strangers, factious construction and re-construction companies own by war lords are gaining more basis and more money… finally neighborhoods are now separated by a wall! Like ‘al Adhamiyah great wall’, as the Americans call it, a 3 miles long concrete wall have been built around it, which took 10 days until now and will continue till the end of the month, and God knows how much it cost – instead of spending that money on services for the people.

This is not the end, it is the beginning!

Instead of finding a solution for the problem of million of Iraqis shattered in different countries, again countries representatives meet somewhere and decided to deal with the issue with another wrong approach: allowing countries to receive Iraqis on their lands as refugees and give aid of millions of dollars to them! Why? Is it Iraq became so useless to find a solution inside the country? why do I have to bring families who used to live all their lives among their neighbors and loved ones to another country and let them began their lives from zero? Shouldn’t the solution be searched for inside Iraq? Forget about the invaders and their effort to restore order, why don’t we all Iraqis come together as one, reject the building of such a wall, let the whole world knows that we are one, we don’t want to be isolated in blocks, because we used to live with each other without walls or barriers.
Once, one of my fellow bloggers said that we need miracle! Is it became that impossible for good and honest people to raise their hands and prevent things from becoming worse? It will not need a miracle… the situation will explode, sooner or later, but only god knows how devastating the impact of such an explosion will be!

Million of Iraqis were happy that Saddam finally gone – some could not believe that they would witness such a day, but it took place, but the whole thing was based on wrong action, and when an action is taken based on wrong basis, then nothing or no one will be able to amend the situation and make things right. This is logical, but what really makes me sad is the fact that no one is recognizing and admitting that he or she is wrong…

And the killing machine keep on rolling!

Condoleeza rice was right when she said that we are witnessing the “birth pangs of a new middle east”! You are right, Condi, it is obvious, it began from Iraq, when the flags of Kurdistan replacing Iraq’s flag on every official building in Sulaimaniyah and Arbil, or from the calls of Abdel Aziz Al Hakeem to implement the federation and feeding up separation principle with such calls, or from those who want to establish an Islamic Nation of Iraq in the middle of the country

In either case, the building of the wall, which I am sure it will follow suite in other neighborhoods in Baghdad will only means one thing; the security plan for Baghdad failed.

Truck Bomb on Al Sarrafiyah Bridge

I ask the same question Zyad put on his blog: whyyyy??


What is the significance of blowing out a bridge like that, and during rush hour? what kind of a threat such a bridge can make? Al Sarrafiya Bridge is neither a military location nor used by the military. It is just a normal bridge that people can go from the west side of Baghdad to the east side, on car or on foot. Nothing more, nothing less!

From the impact of the explosion, and from the pictures, the bridge was cut a big peace in the middle which plunged into the river, as if two explosions took place and not only one on either side!!! I am still wondering if a truck explosion can cause such damage!! There were attempts to blow up this bridge in particular in the past, ; one was last year in August when a suicide bomber ignited himself in the middle of a bus killing tens of people. Another time when explosives were found hidden ready to set off and blow up everything around it...etc In either way, it looks like these attempts were continuously targeting the bridge and the people using that bridge, but where is security from all this? I keep on asking this question: How can someone let a truck pass by checkpoints and go through into the bridge?

God damn anyone who tries to wipe out Baghdad’s identity. The genocide process by those criminals is reaching the heritage of Baghdad. That bridge is one of oldest heritage, whether built by an occupier or by Iraqis themselves, it is part of our heritage and one of the main landmarks Baghdad was famous for.

Why this madness? And why no one is condemning these acts?? Look at Algeria and Morocco and what’s happening there: everyone call it terrorism, is Iraqi blood that cheap?? Is Iraq that cheap in the eyes of the rest of the world?

UPDATE: In memory of Al Sarrafiyah Bridge

British Navy Released

When we were kids we used to have a problem with one or two from the whole group, who used to break the rules of the game and almost a quarrel, takes place between the group and those boys because of this. We spend a lot of time trying to convince them, with no success. No one agree with their objections and as a result the group refuses to play with them. After a little time, those one or two boys or girls realize the situation and decide to get back to the group, follow the same rules, and play wonderfully with the rest of the group.

After the end of the game and before we say good bye to each other, the same "rebellious" kids stand a distance away from the group, they start making funny faces with tongues out and fingers making signs of sarcasm towards us. They say, among many things:”We are not with you” or “you are not good”, “your rules are not right and we want these rules and the way the game played to be changed”. We look in amazement at each other, because the same thing happened before and it happens again: the kids get themselves in trouble, no one want to play with them, after a while they come and say we were right and they were wrong, and at the end of the game they start shouting, complaining and protesting!

I am not a fan of the regime in Iran, neither I want to defend them by any means, but the way the released British navy soldiers came out on TV yesterday on a press conference with the allegations of Iranians mistreated them, Iranians forced them to say this and that... all that is just hilarious and extremely lame. One day only after their release, they even didn't have enough time to get their breath back from the long trip – it looks like military intelligence debriefing did not last long this time with regards to inquiries and information gathering from the released soldiers about the Iranians! However, one day, and they just come out, all look healthy, no bruises, and no shock in their eyes from the mistreatment by the Iranians, with papers in their hands, in front of the joyful press, they sit and tell their story!!


In the meantime and almost three weeks after the capture, the US government kept on watching the situation quietly, of course there was the condemnation part took place, but suddenly they broke that silence with the announcement that the British navy was on petrol to prevent weapons smugglers when they were captured by the Iranians! Funny that we didn't hear that from the British themselves!

But wait a second, where is the Iraqi government from all this? I thought that Iraqi navy has been restored and they are doing the "stop weapons smugglers" task! Ah, I forgot, the agreement is that coalition forces are responsible for restoring peace and order, while the government focuses on provides services and reconstruction efforts around the whole country!
Another comedy scene is the announcement of releasing the soldiers: The Iranian president comes out on a press conference, talk about everything and anything from politics to religion to what else and suddenly before the end of his speech he says that the 15 men will be released as a gift to the British people!!

I am not going to argue about whether they were on Iraqi or Iranian sea territories, but I also find it a bit hard to believe that a British military analyst comes on TV and explains that the sea border between the two countries is not clear and difficult to be identified! Hey! The 8 years war between Iraq and Iran because of that damn sea border (among other things), and the first thing Iraq and Iran agreed upon was where these sea territories for each country lay!!

Iran played it right this time and they had a double winning position: when they captured the soldiers and when they released them. Many political and military analysts confirmed that Iran was in control of the situation from the beginning throughout until the end. I think it is for that reason, the joyful press conference yesterday and the story telling of abuse and mistreatment came altogether at once!

Sabbath Between Heaven & Hell

Regular readers of my blog realised by now that my favorite guitarist is Tony Iommi, so this is worth writing for!

I am talking about the reunion of original band members of Black Sabbath during the Dio years; this is in between 1980 to 1983 and they reunited for one album and a tour in 1992. This time the reunion of Tony Iommi (Guitars), Ronnie James Dio (Vocals), Geezer Butler (Bass) and Vinnie Appice (Drums) took place to go for a world wide tour in support for the latest release called Black Sabbath: The Dio Years. Some might say that this is another greatest hits album, not entirely, because the album also contains three newly recorded songs by the band, three killer songs:

1. Neon Knights 2. Lady Evil 3. Heaven And Hell 4. Die Young 5. Lonely Is The Word 6. The Mob Rules 7. Turn Up The Night 8. Voodoo 9. Falling Off The Edge Of The World 10. After All (The Dead) 11. TV Crimes 12. I 13. Children Of The Sea (Live) 14. The Devil Cried (New recorded song) 15. Shadow Of The Wind (New recorded song) 16. Ear In The Wall (New recorded song)

However, the band is not touring under the name Black Sabbath, because first line-up of the band (with Ozzy Osbourne on vocals) did not disband in the first place, so the band choose the name Heaven and Hell, from the title of the first ever Sabbath album with Dio, released in 1980.

This is a commercial from announcing the Canadian tour of Heaven and Hell

The line-up with Iommi and Dio in Black Sabbath is very special, not that I don't love ozzy-era, I love all Black Sabbath albums and line-ups with no exception, but the first time and the first album I heard of Black Sabbath was Heaven and Hell and that album was the one of the main reasons I got hooked up to heavy metal in the first place.

I can't wait for the upcoming live CD and DVD of that tour, will come out later this year.

I am posting below a number of videos of songs and other stuff, which I found on You Tube related to this tour and band:

After all (the Dead)

Ear In The Wall

Ear In The Wall (Video Clip)

Die Young

Fallen Of The Edge Of The World

Interview with Ronnie James Dio

The Devil Cried

Another After Dead video captured

Mob Rules

Children of the Sea

Shadow of the Wind

Neon Knights p1

Neon Knights p2

Computer God

Tony Iommi Solo

Sign of the Southern Cross

Voodoo

Appice Drum solo

More information on the band can be found on Black Sabbath Online website. It is the ultimate source for anything related to Black Sabbath, greatest site. It also includes photos of the recent tour and updated information from Joe Siegler, the man behind this massive effort.