Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2016

                            Wish a happy, healthy, human and honest new year 

Charity or trade?

An act of charity is beautiful when it is done anonymously; when the person just wants to help others and expects nothing in return. But when the person shouts and announces his or her charity, it is no longer charity; it is almost like a trade, making a payment and in return receiving a philanthropic name or tax deduction or etc. sometimes I look at those websites raising money for needy people and I really adore when I see those donations, different amounts, with no name attached: anonymous paid $...this is the real charity.

Internet addiction

It is a good idea that sometimes minimize the amount of time that we spend online just to prove to ourselves that we are not addicted. There are lots of interesting things online and on the other hand there are lots of garbage that can be addictive. Anyway the time we spend online can be spent on reading an interesting book, reading a newspaper, visiting a museum or an art gallery, doing a sport or               just strolling in a park.

Stars and flowers

How beautiful is the view when there are lots of stars in the sky and lots of flowers in the garden.

A rare piece of art

This magnificent crown is made of 22 carat gold and has 450 emeralds on it. It is currently kept in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. I should say that it is one of the most beautiful pieces in the museum. It is definitely worth to visit the museum for watching this fascinating piece closely because no picture can do justice and reveal its unique beauty. It is called the Crown of the Andes and it was made in Colombia in 16th century.

I am learning

"Don't say "I know", just say "I am learning"."

Bernard Shaw

Social media

Last year a speaker in a business event advised the audience that before dealing with any individual or company, first check their account on the social media: how many followers they have in Twitter, how many employees they have in the LinkedIn or how many friends in Facebook? He added if they don't have any account, don't approach them! The speaker didn't mention anything about the quality. If we think carefully we may reach the conclusion that what is important is quality not quantity. Does it really matter how many people are connected? Is the number so important? I have seen so many cases that during an event, people approach a complete stranger and ask to be friends on the Facebook or other social media and their aim is to increase the "number"! Unfortunately, lots of people think the same way the speaker did. Last month, by accident I visited the LinkedIn account of a person; he had more 500 connections and guess what? His job title was: "Highly Experienced Chocolate Consumer".

Mediterranean Foods

The Mediterranean foods are among the healthiest foods in the world, they are easy to cook and delicious too. They're primarily plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts but the healthy and lean meats that are well cooked always included in the meal.

Paintings on tapestry

Jean Paul Laurens was a 19th century French painter and creator of the Joan of Arc series on tapestry. These paintings are huge and very impressive. The painter's works of art have been reevaluated as important and original renewal of history painting, a genre of art that was in decline during Laurens lifetime.

Traveling: one necessity in life

After the basic needs such as food, cloths, house and culture, it comes traveling. The excitement period before the travel, the enjoyment during and the memory after the travel make it a necessity in life. But it should be light, don't ruin it by carrying many luggages.

Natural vs robotic

Natural category includes: real, genuine, free, sincere, caring and unpredictable; on the other hand the robotic category includes:fake, synthetic, destructive, false, artificial and predictable.

Olives

The olive's fruit, also called the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the Mediterranean region as the source of olive oil. Olives have the variety of usage: in salads, pizzas and different foods or it can be simply eaten with the bread as an appetizer. The edible olive seems to have coexisted with humans for about 5000 to 6000 years, going back to the early Bronze Age (3150 to 1200 BCE). Its origin can be traced to areas along the eastern Mediterranean Coast.

The simple golden rule

Don't buy the things that you don't need, just buy the things that you really need.
This simple golden rule is a nightmare for the marketers whose job is to make you to spend more money and buy the things that you don't need.

Rose water

Rose water is used to flavor foods, cookies, ice cream and tea and also it is used as a component in some cosmetics. The wonderful odor of rose water coming from petals of rosa damascena that are renowned for their unique and fine fragrance. These flowers are edible too and can be added to rice dishes.

Song of nightingales

The powerful and beautiful song of nightingales is so spirit lifting and one wonders how such a small bird is capable of making this powerful sound!

Swedish model

In 1999, Sweden passed a law criminalizing the buying but not the selling of sex. Norway adopted it in 2008 and Island in 2009. The Swedish model has worked very well and there has been sharp decrease in trafficking and prostitution in Sweden. It has created a strong social safety net and many programs to help the women, victims, to recover from the trauma of being exploited. The supporters of the exploitation of women often argue that the prostitution is the most ancient job! but in fact it is the most ancient form of oppression.

Lunch in 20 minutes

We can prepare a healthy lunch or dinner in about 20 minutes without using microwave. There is no need to order a meal and wait until it arrives and pay the extra money for it. Just with some taste and creativity we can make a customized delicious Mediterranean meal in a short time.

It was you

You were the most good-natured and human person that I have ever known in my life. I am always proud of you, my dearest mother.

A moment to smile

A joke from Internet:

"A little girl was in a cemetery with her mother “Mommy” the girl asked: "do they ever bury two people in the same grave?” “Of course not, my dear.” replied the mother, “Why would you think like that?” The little girl said:“On the tombstone back there was written: "Here lies a lawyer and an honest man.”"

Natural desserts

Natural desserts don't have the ingredients such as refined sugars, refined flours, hydrogenated oils, sweeteners, colors or flavoring. Walnuts, pistachios and almonds are the best ingredients for the home made natural desserts. 

The past

The saying "The past is a good place to visit, but not a good place to stay" is true, but we should not forget to respect the past and learn the lessons from it and use it for a better future.

Greed

There is an old saying: "greed doesn't rest until it is satisfied, and greed is never satisfied." And it is not just about the money,but anything that you want more and cannot stop it.

A famous writer and her lawyer

Harper Lee, the famous writer of the mockingbird is now 89 years old and because of suffering a stroke in 2007, she is blind and deaf and could not talk! Previously when she could talk she had mentioned several times she never ever publish a new book. Seven months ago her trustful sister passed away. Now her lawyer suddenly announced the discovery of the manuscript ( the lawyer was boasting how she found the manuscript in the Wall Street journal!!) and the publication of her second novel!!! The respected old writer has no means to object if she could understand what is going on. The literary figures are suspicious of this sudden publication of the book after fifty years!

Taste of watermelon

Watermelon tastes specially good when it is ripe and organically grown and it's a great fruit for the breakfast during the summer time. It is also a good choice of dessert after the main meals. Finally it is very nutritious and very beneficial to the immune system and kidneys.

Independence Day

July Fourth is a national holiday in the USA commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 declaring the independence from the UK. And it has been celebrated by the generations as the great anniversary festival.

Weakness

Weakness usually leads to cheapness and it has nothing to do with the money.

Marriage = a man + a woman

Marriage is meaningful when it is between a man and a woman who love and respect each other.

Habits

"Chain of habits is too light to be felt until it is too heavy to be broken."
An old saying

Good smell

Tarragon is a vegetable with a wonderful flavor. It is easy to grow and has the variety of usages: in different foods, salads, ice creams and juices. You can add it to the apple juice, and it has an unforgettable taste. It is very nutritious too.

A piece of art or a vulgarity?

Today at the Château de Versailles a so-called piece of art was opened to the public. A sculpture by a so-called artist from another country that is insulting both French culture and people. It has already sparked controversy and so many French people has expressed their protests. This fake artist has received so many rewards! Each reward given to him has been a huge disrespect to the art and true artists such as Vincent Van Gogh.

Decorating our kitchen with live plants

Live plants in our kitchen makes it beautiful and also we will have easy access to the required vegetables for the salads and other foods. It will create a relaxing and happy atmosphere in the kitchen too. We should avoid using the artificial plants if we can because it looks a little cheap and fake.