That which heaven has once determined,
That which God’s eternal finger
Has upon the azure tablets
Of the sky sublimely written,
Those transparent sheets of sapphire
Superscribed with golden ciphers
Ne’er deceive, and never lie;
The deceiver and the liar
Is he who to use them badly
In a wrongful sense defines them.
- SIGISMUND from Life is a Dream, by Pedro Calderón de la […]

Maha, a friend of mine and frequent commenter on the Black Iris, told me a story the other day that had me in stitches. It also had me reanalyzing my mental health just at the sheer fact I would laugh at a story so morbid. Then again, Maha could narrate The Exorcist and make it […]

It will be kind of interesting (at least for me) to see if the average citizen has the ability to play a role in holding other members of society and even governments accountable for their actions. Especially in the absence of any efficient and independent mechanism for political accountability in Jordan. Consider it another 7iber […]

A few of the stories I found interesting these past few days:
- UnIslamic Ringtones: A top Islamic body in Saudi Arabia has hosted a stormy debate on controversial issues, including the use of Koranic verses as mobile phone ringtones, newspapers reported Monday. “The scholars were divided on the use of verses from the Koran […]

It’s a slow news day, but a proud day, for the human race…
Man in India Marries Dog As Atonement
NEW DELHI (AP) — A man in southern India married a female dog in a traditional Hindu ceremony as an attempt to atone for stoning two other dogs to death — an act he believes cursed him […]

I know the Black Iris has been on a political bend lately, which I suppose was unavoidable. So I offer this playlist as compensation for all the torture. Some of these tracks are ones I’ve discovered recently, while others are old gems I’ve been rediscovering. On a personal note, it should be noted that I’ve […]

I use the word “debate” with extreme caution and reservation. It was more like six panelists telling everyone their life story, introducing what little platform they have, and then answering questions that have no relevance to their (potential) future position in Parliament.
Suffice to say it was quite an absurd ritual.
First of all, with […]

It’s been three weeks since I started attending the World Affairs Council meetings, and it’s safe to say I’ve grown a bit attached to the place. The first meet saw the discussion of the Annapolis summit, while the second was about domestic energy. This week was probably everyone’s favorite topic these days: the elections. So […]

Many argue that today, Jordan’s middle class is much larger than it was a few year back. However, since I came back to the country I feel the opposite has been true. This is in line with many economists who observe the growing disparity between the wealthy and the poor. Swallowed in the gulf is […]

From Amman’s sister city, the Trio Chicago and Friends played a lengthy program that included Bernstein and Ellington at the Cultural Center last night. It was a great show. And now, A little bit of Porter to lighten the mood…

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Roundabouts, crossroads and traffic lights are the most common venues for posters and banners.

Traffic Sign reads: “Dead End”.
Stand-up posters can not exceed 1.5 meters in height, and 1 meter in width. Posters and/or banners must be placed 4.5 meters above the ground level, where there are pedestrians or cars passing beneath them.

“All Jordanians […]

Today I woke up for fajr prayer, while the world was still dark outside. With eyes more than half closed, I stumbled into the bathroom for wudu’ and with a turn of the faucet I was overcome with a nostalgic epiphany of sorts. It’s November. And I had forgotten how cold Jordan can be. For […]

A very interesting article in the New York Times today discusses briefly the unfolding road to the elections on the 20th. What I found interesting was something that I also found to be true: “liberals in Jordan have set aside demands for political freedom”, in light of rising Islamist groups in the region, particularly Hamas […]

Yesterday, as everyone knows, was the second anniversary of the Amman bombings. I decided to join the caravan of cars that that traveled from the Martyrs of Amman Park, to all three hotels that were targeted, and then back. Earlier in the day, Prince Ali planted an olive tree at the park to honor the […]

It’s 2am on a Saturday and I just finished watching the documentary Jesus Camp. There’s no way I can give a review of it without being called bias, so I’m not going to even try. Suffice to say, and I say this with all honesty and seriousness, I don’t remember the last time watching anything […]

There’s a strangeness to this day. I didn’t know a single victim. I still feel like I lost a close friend. Remember. Everyone is a victim. Two years on. Night falls on a solemn day. Amman Martyr’s Park. Remember. The world is damp with a Friday mist. Join the caravan of cars. A pilgrimage. Remember. […]