omigosh, omigosh, omigosh...

What makes me giddy like a teenager?...A photoset of Hugh Ferris's sketches just posted to Flickr by Martin of KSMGRD. That was so damn nice of him.

Ismael writes...

Photo by Ira Lippke

Ismael emailed me today:

"dear brother i miss u i hope u r. healthy do u get marred i wish u hapyy new year mery xmas i hope to see u soon in jerusalem"

...Ah, habibi, it is always a special Christmas gift to get a note from you.

Here is Ismael's latest poem, strange for its libidinous and acurate depiction of Jerusalem. She is a warm coquette, a promiscuous mistress. She has many lovers...

BRIDE AND MISTRESS OF CITIES...JERUSALEM

Between hills it is vainglorious and by heaven amazement and coquette bride...

Adornment with the stars of heaven.

Blessed by the highest god and ennobled by the prophets.

By her name the birds responding in the morning

And in the evening the doves cooing over its walls

And dozing and the kids dozing between its bosom

My spirit united with your spirit

As the light united with light....no darkness

As the water united with water....no thirst

Death cannot separate us

Nor anyone can kill our love

Bride once more...more fondling and coquettish

Jerusalem city of lights.

By my spirit I soar to you

My feet rushing to your dooors every day

Flying high...far...far...with the breeze

Takes me the smell of incense and perfumes

In the markets...in the yards...and every courtyard.

I ascend the balconies which waves to me by the flags

Of peace...flags of love and rejoice

And promise happiness.

As the spirit carries the seeds of love to you and planted

I carry my spirit and plant its grwoth and blooms

When seen by eyes

With sunrise I kiss every piece of your land

And with evenings full moon I whisper my passionate love.

By your love I am king and you are my queen

And the queen of hearts everywhere....Jerusalem

Full of promise I will stay on your love Jerusalem

Your love is everlasting

When everything is gone everything extinct

Gay bright more and more coquettish

Bride and mistress of cities

City of prophets....city of soaring...city of lights.

Words of Prof. Isamel Obydat

Jerusalem

What the World Eats

Check out Time's outstanding photo series.

Above is the Ahmed family of Cairo (food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53; family recipe: Okra and mutton), which is definitely my favorite of the bunch. It looks similar to the kind of fare I could get in the market in Jerusalem's Old City, where I onced survived on $25.00/week...God, I miss that food. The vegetables, btw, are tasty in a way typical American produce is not - one of the things I actually miss the most about life in the M.E.!

Japan: The Ukita family of Kodaira City

Food expenditure for one week: 37,699 Yen or $317.25

Favorite foods: sashimi, fruit, cake, potato chips

Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp

Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23

Favorite foods: soup with fresh sheep meat