A New York art gallery has decided to cancel an exhibit of a chocolate sculpture of Jesus Christ after protests by a US Catholic group. The six-foot (1.8m) sculpture, entitled “My Sweet Lord”, depicts a naked Jesus Christ with his arms outspread.
…”We’re delighted with the outcome,” said Kiera McCaffrey, spokeswoman for the Catholic League […]

I want to hear a sermon

addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fwww.black-iris.com%2F2007%2F03%2F31%2Fkhutba-on-the-prophets-birthday%2F’;
addthis_title = ‘Khutba+%5BOn+The+Prophet%26%238217%3Bs+Birthday%5D’;
addthis_pub = ”;

Time: 11pm, Thursday night
Place: KFC Swefieh
Imagine the place packed, and I mean packed. Seven cars in the drive-thru and a valet double parking the cars in the lot. At the counter a crowd of people have gathered and my friend and I are wondering where the heck we’re going to sit.
As I order my […]

Every year the government seems to make some symbolic gesture to battle child labor in Jordan. It usually involves a ribbon cutting ceremony of a center that will be abandoned in a few months.
I was reading lately about one of those latest gestures: the “Social Support Centre” launched a pilot project in Sahab to […]

Date: March 21st 2007
Time: 12 am
Ingredients: 1 Egg
About a week ago, out of boredom and nostalgia for winter, I tried balancing an egg on its end on the first day of spring i.e. the vernal equinox. As (Chinese) legend has it, an egg can be balanced on its end during the vernal or autumnal […]

The government may brag about how great education is in Jordan compared to the wonderful Arab world, always ready to quote our high literacy rates, but every Jordanian is aware of the disastrous situation of our educational system. From lack of teachers, all of whom are under paid and many of whom can be deemed […]

I think Hajjaj’s latest explains perfectly the inflation situation in Jordan…

addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fwww.black-iris.com%2F2007%2F03%2F28%2Fhow-they-see-you%2F’;
addthis_title = ‘How+They+See+You’;
addthis_pub = ”;

AMMAN — Lack of quorum at the lower House on Sunday prevented deputies from discussing the findings of a special committee entrusted with investigating the alleged involvement of a former minister in a corruption case.
At 4:30pm — the scheduled time for the session to begin — only 55 deputies were present under […]

addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fwww.black-iris.com%2F2007%2F03%2F26%2Fediting-peace%2F’;
addthis_title = ‘Editing+Peace’;
addthis_pub = ”;

Sometimes I can’t help but wonder what nations and indeed governments would look like if the will of the people truly dictated policy. If we created national policy based on polling results, what would happen? Would people be satisfied that majority truly rules?
What would Jordan look like?
Walking to work today I let my mind […]

Tololy emailed me a picture she stopped to take on her way to Salt. It’s basically my Jordanian retirement plan.

addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fwww.black-iris.com%2F2007%2F03%2F25%2Fthe-black-iris-retirement-plan%2F’;
addthis_title = ‘The+Black+Iris+Retirement+Plan’;
addthis_pub = ”;

…The cinema: packed.
…Apparently, the hottest sold out ticket in town.
…A 95% male audience by no coincidence: Ammanis sway to the “oohs” and “aahs” as I write this post in my head.
…The last showing on a Friday night.
…Enough blood, death and testosterone.
…Enough 6 packs to make us all want to join gyms.
…A round […]

With house parties all over Jordan busy disturbing the peace, plus the latest female party animal and a group that’s keen on banning alcohol and running around telling people to put their clothes back on, the country this year is kind of like Mardi Gras, without the nudity and, you know, joy.
But let me backtrack […]

…but in a much different way…
Father serves 3 months for son’s murder
By Rana Husseini
AMMAN — A 52-year-old man walked free from the Criminal Court this week after receiving a reduced sentence for murdering his son in August 2005.
Z. K. was first sentenced to six months for shooting and killing his son at his […]

There are times when the old Arab proverb: شرالبلية مايضحك, which roughly translates to: it’s sad that we find laughter in misery, will apply perfectly to life. The following tale is one of those times.
My father spends most of his days now in the Shunna area as we’re building a house down there. The house […]

After a little pass and play between the two Houses of Parliament, the Lower House voted to cancel (i.e. remove) the clause that upheld the imprisonment of journalists in the new press and printing draft law after it was sent back from the Upper House. The hefty fine is still on but at least journalists […]