How Osama Bin Laden Influenced Architecture

Six months ago, I entered a music shop asking for an oud, the nice old owner with a not-so-nice mouth hygiene asked:
"What kind of oud?"
"The cheapest."
He pointed at some wretched instrument hung above his head in an array of other ouds, it wasn't that bad actually, but the ones next to it rendered it in an abysmal light.
"So how much is this?"
"oh, about 100 dollars"
"and this is made where?"
"Syria."
I was surprised. "What about the Iraqi ones?"
"Oh, those are really expensive."
That was one of the best things I heard this year and probably the few ones to come. as an Iraqi born in 1985, it's common sense that engaging the word 'Iraqi' in any sort of product = usually rear-end results. That Iraqis are actually world-class at something gave me a sense of power and fulfillment I seldom felt, for a brief second I wondered what Americans must feel like having their brands plastered all over the world.
Aside from Oud crafstmanship, world-famous Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid is also one of the very few things in any number of parallel universes that could make me honestly beam in pride. and she ain't the regular by-the-numbers architect either, she is possessed with one nasty Djinni. Her ideas are zany and impossible, and make you feel futuristic albeit soulful.
Looking at this upcoming project of hers in Dubai, I was fascinated for a few moments by the sheer boldness of this concept before bursting out laughing. She's calling them "Dancing Towers" - as if they were influenced by some Pixar kiddie musical number! yeah, right. For Ali's sake, it even has room for your occasional hijacked plane to pass through - Try and blow this up, Ossy! This idea wouldn't have existed had it not been for the inspiration of that crazy man in Taliban, they should write his name on a plaque nearby. Maybe he'd attend the ceremony and use it to test drive any future engagements that might involve airplanes.

NOTE: This is a real project. Walla.

The Metrosexual Imam

Why is The Abrahamic Deity so cruel?
Why does he create people in a body that they do not belong in?
This story is one year old, but it's the first time I see it.

You can see many pictures of this sandshadi who repented his shadi shadiness here.

Is he homo? I don't know much about gay culture, but Iraqis would be quick to label him this, I pick the reserved "metrosexual," anyway, Muslim clerics, like their Christian counterparts, have a somewhat embarrassing history with sodomy. Here's an anecdote that reflects an apologetic justification of Muslim vice:

"A HOMOSEXUAL SAID:

I was having intercourse with a young Sufi disciple, and whenever I'd stick it or take it out he would say: "I beg Allah's forgiveness," after we copulated, I asked : "Why did you do that?" and he said: (Your putting it in is an ill-deed, your taking it out is an ill-deed, and my remembrance is a good deed, and Allah most high said: Lo! good deeds annul ill-deeds." and so I shall go away without a sin added to my book.)
I asked him: "Who told you this wisdom? who learned it to you?" and he answered: "My Sheikh taught me it."

source : al-Tivashi - Nuzhat Ul-Albaab, p 157.

Hilarious

This is almost on par with Shalash al-Iraqi, I've been following this Ameer al-Magamee'a guy for a while and he's quickly polishing his material. This is an extremely rude and extremely hilarious satire of Sunni MP Khalaf al-Alyaan, in which he supposedly tries to pose nude after reading about Victoria Beckham's recent stunt. It's a shame he's a tad sectarian in some of his articles, but that doesn't mean he's not funny.
link:

غيرة بيكهام وتفاعل خلف العليان