Chinese food

Home cooked food

Still going up ...1701 views yesterday. Right now today without updating yet ... 1435. This is enough! I don't have more than 20-40 views on a normal day. Is there a problem with the automatic calibration?

Last night we had some good home cooked chinese vegetarian food. Good change from pasta and bread and chicken. The price of veggies are also up. We had pickled cucumbers, vermicelli, egg and tomatoes, long beans grown from the garden. Inflation is hitting everything hard. Growing your own veggies in any small plot of land is becoming popular.

And this is affecting the muslims who are celebrating Eid al Adha tomorrow evening. That's when they slaughter a sheep to commemorate the near-sacrifice of Ishmael (not Isaac). But now sheep prices are exorbitant. The majority of families can't afford to buy sheep. They just watch the rich perform the sacrifice.

Network woes

Damascus Gate in
the morning

Another record .... yesterday's views went up to 1212. And now even before I write there are 955 views. What's happening? This is more than being stalked! This is really scary! 

We've been having a string of Wifi blockages. The network also closes down every now and then and we don't know why. It's frustrating because when we have online classes, we're cut off again and again. There seems to be no remedy except to use another company ... but the same thing will happen again. 

Of course the network people could blame the hot weather for such outages but any company worth its salt ought to know the weather conditions of this region and work according,

Hot

very hot

Yesterday I didn't post anything ... and the views were 1179!!!!!! Oyyyyyyyy this is too much!!!! Alarm bells sounding!!!! Note the spike when I post geo-political opinions. Oh my!!

Still ... the tension in and around the City is palpable. And the heat is not helping much. In the afternoons you can feel the heat from the ground. The nights however are chilly ... I even had to use the blanket last night.

The summer solstice was 2 days back, which marked the start of summer. The muslim call to prayer was earliest that morning ... at. 2.25am (or 3.25am daylight saving). Now it gets later by 2-3 minutes each day. I always thought the summer solstice was mid-summer!!! 

I just noted I finished all my work for the week. So happy! Now I can rest today ... my swollen feet hurt very much even when seated.

Summer lights

Street lights

Yesterday saw 717 views, and right now 312. What is happening?

There was still alot of violence today. The arab village that was burnt is a reminder of how things can get out of hand. Now we read Druze in the Golan had rioted because the govt is pushing ahead to create wind-mills in their land for electricity.

Meantime the rest of the city is determined to enjoy summer. Streets are lighted up and people are out and about. police are everywhere but that's not dampening the spirits.

Enough

My lilies and margaritas

OK short and sweet didn't work. Yesterday's views shot up to 675 and today, before writing this blog, is 425. What is happening????

Well, I cannot but lament the violence yesterday and today. 4 Israelis killed by terrorist shooting near Nablus, and today jewish revenge by burning an arab town there. 60 cars burnt, 30 homes burnt, countless fruit trees and farm land burnt. It doesn't seem to end this cycle of violence. Why can't the adults just let the children enjoy their summer holidays? Stop the violence, Stop the killings. The earth is tired from being opened everyday for the burial of another person. We spend more time in summer at funerals than enjoying the season. Enough is enough.

Short & sweet

Sunrise today

 Wow ... yesterday's views rose to 448 and today, while not even writing this blog yet, is up to 315. Alarm bells ringing. Something very unusual is happening in my blog. I'm being watched. OK no more geo-political commentary.

The weather is fine. My health is not fine. Have a great day. Bye

Stromata

Damascus Gate at night

... So yesterday I had 120 views on this blog. Today 222. Something fishy is happening here ... I usually don't get more than 25 views a day. I'm being stalked.

This morning was very violent in the Jenin refugee camp. Raids to capture terrorists let to road bombs going off and apche helicopters firing onto the streets. 7 israeli soldiers injured, 5 Jeninese killed and 90+ wounded. It's not been so violent since the 2nd Intifada 20 yrs back. We're just praying that this violence will cease and innocent people don't get killed or injured. The tension is so palpable that Damascus Gate which is swarming with people on summer nights is now very quiet and empty.

Healthwise my hands and feet are still swollen .... I'll get my appointment to see the specialist soon to get my kidneys checked.