The Bible talks about an interesting usage for the Apple; it says that the Apple could refresh the one who is sick with love. The Noble Quran does not mention the Apple but it talks about the fruits in general. The Quran says: for those who merit Paradise, i.e. the inhabitants of Paradise, they have different kinds of fruit therein and, therein, they have whatever they ask or call for, they have whatever they desire or wish for.
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The Apple in the Bible
In the Bible King Solomon says in his Song:
I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.
As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women.
As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Sustain me with grape-cakes; refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love.
His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me!
Upon reading this Biblical song, one may ask if the Bible is a book that teaches the religion or a book that teaches the private hot issues happening between men and women!
In the Noble Quran, the great Prophet King Solomon does not say such a song.
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Song of Solomon 2:1-6 in four different versions of the Bible:
New International Version
1 I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.
2 Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens.
3 Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
4 He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.
5 Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.
6 His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.
American Standard Version
1 I am a rose of Sharon, A lily of the valleys.
2 As a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters.
3 As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, So is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.
4 He brought me to the banqueting-house, And his banner over me was love.
5 Stay ye me with raisins, refresh me with apples; For I am sick from love.
6 His left hand is under my head, And his right hand doth embrace me.
King James Version
1I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
2As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
3As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
4He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
5Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
6His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
Young’s Literal Translation
1As a lily among the thorns,
2So [is] my friend among the daughters!
3As a citron among trees of the forest, So [is] my beloved among the sons, In his shade I delighted, and sat down, And his fruit [is] sweet to my palate.
4He hath brought me in unto a house of wine, And his banner over me [is] love,
5Sustain me with grape-cakes, Support me with citrons, for I [am] sick with love.
6His left hand [is] under my head, And his right doth embrace me.
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The Apple in the Quran
The Noble Quran does not mention the Apple but it talks about the fruits in general. The Quran says: for those who merit Paradise, they have different kinds of fruit therein and, therein, they have whatever they ask or call for, they have whatever they desire or wish for.
Verses 36: 55-58 talk about the fruits in the afterlife for those who merit Paradise i.e. the inhabitants of Paradise.
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The meaning of verse 36: 55
Indeed, this day which is the Day of Judgment, those who merit Paradise i.e. the inhabitants of Paradise are busy; they are delighting in pleasures; they are not tiring with anything wearisome, as there is no toil in Paradise; they are blissful and rejoicing in comfort.
The meaning of verse 36: 56
For those who merit Paradise, i.e. the inhabitants of Paradise, they and their wives are in pleasant shade; in other words, no sunlight affects them. They and their wives are on thrones reclining; reclining upon couches (the word couches in Arabic is pronounced as “Ara’ik”, which is the plural of ar?ka. Ar?ka is a bed inside a curtained canopy, or the bedding therein on thrones reclining)
The meaning of verse 36: 57
For those who merit Paradise, i.e. the inhabitants of Paradise, they have different kinds of fruit therein and, therein, they have whatever they ask or call for, they have whatever they desire or wish for.
The meaning of verse 36: 58
For those who merit Paradise, i.e. the inhabitants of Paradise, Allah, the Lord of the worlds will greet them with the word “Peace”; they are greeted with the greeting of peace! In other words, Allah, the Merciful Lord will say to them, ‘Peace be on you!’
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Verses 36: 55-58 of the Noble Quran in four different translations:
Verse 36: 55
QARIB: indeed, the companions of the garden are this day busy in their rejoicing.
SHAKIR: surely the dwellers of the garden shall on that day be in an occupation quite happy
PICKTHAL: lo! those who merit paradise this day are happily employed,
YUSUFALI: verily the companions of the garden shall that day have joy in all that they do;
Verse 36: 56
QARIB: together with their spouses, they shall recline on couches in the shade.
SHAKIR: they and their wives shall be in shades, reclining on raised couches
PICKTHAL: they and their wives, in pleasant shade, on thrones reclining;
YUSUFALI: they and their associates will be in groves of (cool) shade, reclining on thrones (of dignity);
Verse 36: 57
QARIB: they shall have fruits and all that they call for.
SHAKIR: they shall have fruits therein, and they shall have whatever they desire
PICKTHAL: theirs the fruit (of their good deeds) and theirs (all) that they ask;
YUSUFALI: (every) fruit (enjoyment) will be there for them; they shall have whatever they call for;
Verse 36: 58
QARIB: peace, a saying from the most merciful lord.
SHAKIR: peace: a word from a merciful lord
PICKTHAL: the word from a merciful lord (for them) is: peace!
YUSUFALI: “peace!” – a word (of salutation) from a lord most merciful!
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Back to my question unto the smart and interested reader:
Is the Quran quoted from the Bible?
Professor Dr. Ibrahim Khalil
? Prof. of Clinical and Chemical Pathology,
? Head of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control Unit, Ain-Shams University. Cairo, Egypt,
? President of the Egyptian Society of Inventors,
? Member of the Egyptian union of Writers,
? Published some 60 Medical Articles,
? Supervisors for 79 PhD theses,
? Supervisors for 111 Master Degree theses,
? Co-Chief Editor of the Egyptian Journal of Lab. Medicine,
? Honorary President of SPIC-Egypt (The Society of Practitioners of Infection Control – Egypt)
This is the second article of the series:” The Wind in Bible versus Quran”.
The Bible says that the Almighty Creator 1) made the Winds His Angels, 2) His servants are flames of fire, 3) He has chariot, 4) He walks on the wings of wind and 5) He made the earth never moves etc. The Noble Quran says that Naught is as Allah’s likeness in attributes. Any form, picture, thoughts that you put the Almighty Creator in it is absolutely mistaken.
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The Wind in the Bible (2)
In Psalm 104:1-8, Kind David says:
“Bless Jehovah, O my soul. O Jehovah my God, thou art very great; You are clothed with honor and majesty: Who covers himself with light as with a garment; Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain; Who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters; Who makes the clouds his chariot; Who walks upon the wings of the wind; Who makes winds his Angels; Flames of fire his servants; Who set the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved for ever. You cover it with the deep as with vesture; the waters stood above the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled; At the voice of your thunder they hasted away. They flowed over the mountains; they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them.”
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Herein, there are some important points:
1) The Bible describes the lord God, the Almighty Creator as:
He has clothes
He covers himself with light as with a garment
He stretches out the heavens like a curtain
He lays the beams of his chambers in the waters
His chariot is made of clouds
He walks upon the wings of the wind
He makes winds his Angels
His servants are flames of fires
He set the foundations of the earth
His voice is the thunder
2) The Bible says that the earth has foundations and it should not be moved for ever.
3) The speed of the Lord God was that of the wind.
4) The wind has wings!
Moreover, there are some discrepancies in the translation of some words in the many versions of the Bible e.g.:
In some Bible’s versions, the word “Angel” is translated to “messenger”.
In some Bible’s versions, the word “wind” is translated to “spirit”.
In some Bible’s versions, the word “curtain” is translated to “tent”.
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On the other hand, all of the above points are ABSOLUTELY rejected in the Noble Quran because:
1) The Noble Quran says that Naught is as Allah’s likeness in attributes. Any form, picture, thoughts that you put the Almighty Creator in it is absolutely wrong.
2) The Almighty Creator is not a body
3) The thunder is not the voice of the Almighty Creator.
4) When the Almighty Creator decides upon a matter, when He wants to do anything, He only says to it ‘Be!’ and it is.
5) The speed of the Lord God was that of the wind; for instance, does not He know the speed of the light? However, Naught is as Allah’s likeness in attributes.
6) The wind has no wings!
7) the Angels are created from the Pure Light.
the Angels are the servants of the Almighty Creator and they never disobey Him.
9) The earth has No foundations and it is rounded and it moves
10) The Great Prophet King David can not say that about the Almighty Creator simply because he knows better who Allah is.
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Aside from the Bible and the Quran, boys in schools know very well that the earth moves and it has two types of movements: the first one is around the sun at about 100,000 km/h. It takes 365 days (1 year/12 months) for the Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun. and the other around itself. It takes 24 hours for the earth to spin around itself.
These two movements are responsible for the seasonal changes and the day and night respectively.
I really do not believe that the Lord God or King David says that the earth foundations and it should not be moved for ever. .
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Psalm 104:1-8 in three different versions of the Bible:
New International Version
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
2 He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent
3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.
4 He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.
5 He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.
6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.
7 But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
8 they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them.
King James Version
1Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
2Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
3Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
4Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
5Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
6Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
7At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
8They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
Young’s Literal Translation
1Bless, O my soul, Jehovah! Jehovah, my God, Thou hast been very great, Honour and majesty Thou hast put on.
2Covering himself [with] light as a garment, Stretching out the heavens as a curtain,
3Who is laying the beam of His upper chambers in the waters, Who is making thick clouds His chariot, Who is walking on wings of wind,
4Making His messengers — the winds, His ministers — the flaming fire.
5He hath founded earth on its bases; It is not moved to the age and for ever.
6The abyss! as with clothing Thou hast covered it, Above hills do waters stand.
7From Thy rebuke they flee, From the voice of Thy thunder haste away.
8They go up hills — they go down valleys, Unto a place Thou hast founded for them.
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The Wind in the Noble Quran (2)
In this article, the following three points will be discussed:
1) The Historical destructive wind as a Punishment for the disbelievers of the Ancient nation of Aad
2) What if Allah wants to do anything?
3) The Precious verse (faith-wise) of the Quran that describes the Almighty Creator
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1) The Historical destructive wind as a Punishment for the disbelievers of the Ancient nation of Aad.
Verses 69:4-8 of the Noble Quran describe this destructive wind!
Historical Background:
Aad was an ancient nation. Aad nation is always mentioned in the Noble Quran as a nation that came after Noah. Allah sent his Prophet Hud to the people of Aad; some of them believed and many of them disbelieved. Allah punished the disbelievers of Aad by the wind and He saved the believers. The people of Aad were famous by their outstanding might.
It is said that Aad nation lived at the south of Saudi Arabia, nearby Yemen.
The Prophet Hud was Arabic.
The nation of Aad and the Prophet Hud are not mentioned in the Bible.
Thamud was an ancient nation. Thamud nation came after the nation of Aad; it is always mentioned in the Noble Quran as a nation that came after Aad.
Allah sent his Prophet Salih to the people of Thamud; some of them believed and many of them disbelieved. Allah punished the disbelievers of Thamud when they killed the Camel which was the miracle of the Prophet Salih who warned his people not to hurt that Camel and they agreed but they never kept their word. The miraculous Camel emerged from a big rock and it has no father and no mother; it came out as an intact adult Camel following Allah’s will when He says to anything He wants: Be! And it is.
The people of Aad were famous by the might and transgression.
It is said that Aad nation lived at the northern part of Saudi Arabia, nearby Yemen.
The nation of Thamud is too not mentioned in the Bible may be because the Prophet Salih was Arabic too.
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The meanings of verses 69:4-8
Verses 69:4
The nation of Thamud and the nation of Aad both disbelieved in the Resurrection to come and they denied their Prophets and refuted the Day of Judgment.
Verses 69:5
As for Thamud, they were destroyed by the overwhelming Roar, an excessively severe shout of the Angel Gabriel. They were destroyed because of their transgression and idolatry; and it is said that their transgression drove them to disbelieve until they were destroyed.
Verses 69:6
And as for Aad, they were destroyed by a fierce roaring wind. The wind was deafening, intensely clamorous, violent wind, [that was] powerful and severe [in its assault] upon Aad, despite their power and might.
Verses 69:7
Allah forced and imposed that wind upon them uninterruptedly for seven nights and eight days with the same force so that you might have seen the people therein lying prostrate, lying dead on the ground, as if they were the hollow, collapsed, trunks of palm-trees.
Verses 69:8
So do you O Muhammad see any remnant of them? Do you see one remaining?’ No!
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Verses 69:4-8 of the Noble Quran in four different translations:
Verses 69:4
QARIB: Thamood and Aad belied the clatterer.
SHAKIR: Samood and ad called the striking calamity a lie
PICKTHAL: (the tribes of) Thamud and Aad disbelieved in the judgment to come.
YUSUFALI: the Thamud and the ‘ad people (branded) as false the stunning calamity!
Verses 69:5
QARIB: Thamood, they were destroyed by the violent shout (of Gabriel),
SHAKIR: then as to Samood, they were destroyed by an excessively severe punishment
PICKTHAL: as for Thamud, they were destroyed by the lightning.
YUSUFALI: but the Thamud, – they were destroyed by a terrible storm of thunder and lightning!
Verses 69:6
QARIB: as for Aad, they were destroyed by a howling, violent wind
SHAKIR: and as to ad, they were destroyed by a roaring, violent blast
PICKTHAL: and as for Aad, they were destroyed by a fierce roaring wind,
YUSUFALI: and the ‘ad, they were destroyed by a furious wind, exceedingly violent;
Verses 69:7
QARIB: that he subjected upon them for seven nights and eight days consecutively and you might have seen them struck down as if they were the stumps of palm trees that had fallen down.
SHAKIR: which he made to prevail against them for seven nights and eight days unremittingly, so that you might have seen the people therein prostrate as if they were the trunks of hollow palms
PICKTHAL: which he imposed on them for seven long nights and eight long days so that thou mightest have seen men lying overthrown, as they were hollow trunks of palm-trees.
YUSUFALI: he made it rage against them seven nights and eight days in succession: so that thou couldst see the (whole) people lying prostrate in its (path), as they had been roots of hollow palm-trees tumbled down!
Verses 69:8
QARIB: can you see any remnant of them now?
SHAKIR: do you then see of them one remaining?
PICKTHAL: canst thou (O Muhammad) see any remnant of them?
YUSUFALI: then seest thou any of them left surviving?
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2) What if Allah wants to do anything?
Verse 36: 82 says:
QARIB: when he wills a thing, his command is to say to it ‘be’, and it is!
SHAKIR: his command, when he intends anything, is only to say to it: be, so it is
PICKTHAL: but his command, when he intendeth a thing, is only that he saith unto it: be! and it is.
YUSUFALI: verily, when he intends a thing, his command is, “be”, and it is!
The meanings of the verse:
His command, His affair, when He wills a thing, that is, [when He will] to create something, or to do anything is just to say to it ‘Be’, and it is.
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3) The Precious verse (faith-wise) of the Quran that describes the Almighty Creator
Verse 42: 11 says
QARIB: the originator of the heavens and the earth, he has given you from yourselves, pairs, and also pairs of cattle, thereby multiplying you. there is nothing like him. he is the hearer, the seer.
SHAKIR: the originator of the heavens and the earth; he made mates for you from among yourselves, and mates of the cattle too, multiplying you thereby; nothing like a likeness of him; and he is the hearing, the seeing
PICKTHAL: the creator of the heavens and the earth. he hath made for you pairs of yourselves, and of the cattle also pairs, whereby he multiplieth you. naught is as his likeness; and he is the hearer, the seer.
YUSUFALI: (he is) the creator of the heavens and the earth: he has made for you pairs from among yourselves, and pairs among cattle: by this means does he multiply you: there is nothing whatever like unto him, and he is the one that hears and sees (all things).
The meanings of the verse:
He (Allah) is the Originator of the heavens and the earth, the One Who created them [without precedent]. He has made for you, from your own selves, pairs, when He created Eve from Adam’s rib, and [also] pairs, males and females, of the cattle and whereby He multiplies you through marriage. There is nothing like Him; there is no likeness of Him, exalted be He). He is the Hearer, of what you say, the Seer, of your works. Naught is as His likeness in attributes, knowledge, power and providence etc.
The basic point of faith is that Naught is as your Almighty creator.
Since man is a creature which has Spirit that gives him like; and since Naught is as the likeness of your Creator, then the Almighty Creator has NO SPIRIT.
Hence, the Almighty Creator is not a body or material like us. Any form, picture or thoughts that you put the Almighty Creator in it is absolutely wrong.
According to the Islamic Rule of Faith, if any one put the Almighty Creator in any form, picture or thoughts, he or she is Disbeliever and has No faith; and he will end up in the Hereafter as a dweller of the Eternal Fire.
This is in spite of what name(s) you are giving to your Almighty Creator e.g. Allah, Lord, God, Jehovah etc.
On the other hand, the vice versa is absolutely True!
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Back to my question to the smart and interested reader:
Is the Quran quoted from the Bible?
Professor Dr. Ibrahim Khalil
? Prof. of Clinical and Chemical Pathology,
? Head of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control Unit, Ain-Shams University. Cairo, Egypt,
? President of the Egyptian Society of Inventors,
? Member of the Egyptian union of Writers,
? Published some 60 Medical Articles,
? Supervisors for 79 PhD theses,
? Supervisors for 111 Master Degree theses,
? Co-Chief Editor of the Egyptian Journal of Lab. Medicine,
? Honorary President of SPIC-Egypt (The Society for Practitioners of Infection Control – Egypt)
Charlie Davies an American soccer player had a fatal car accident in Virginia last early Tuesday. The accident causes a great impact to the United States hope for achieving prominent awards in soccer’s 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
**Without Charlie Davies, Do Think The Team Has A Chance To Win?**
(Just vote above for your chance to win a Dish Network – Satellite TV)
The American forward Charlie Davies is amongst the top and most promising soccer player for the past few years. He got a fatal accident that severely injured him. The incident happened around 3:15 in the morning, and crashed along George Washington Memorial Parkway. The other passenger namely Ashley J. Roberta, 22 years old of Phoenix, Md., was killed in the crash. According to the police, the driver that they did not identify lost control of the car, which hit a guardrail and split in half.
Charlie Davies underwent five hours of surgery and describes as “serious condition” at Washington Hospital Center. The spokeperson of the United States Soccer Team Neil Buethe said the Davies injuries are not life threatening but will eventually affects Davies future games. Davies plays a great role for the FC Sochaux in French League and paves way to the debut of his team in June 2007 and played in 17 major games for U.S scoring four goals. The team felt sad when they learned the news and felt sorry for Charlie and his family.
Charlie Davies is great player, he will be a great lost for the team. His partnership with Jozy Altidore is the best dual combination in the game that makes Davies’ speed matches the opponent, and they surely do great in the coming league in South Africa.
Poll:
Without Charlie Davies, Do Think The Team Has A Chance To Win?
(Just vote above for your chance to win a Dish Network – Satellite TV)
With the right diabetic diet recipes , even if you have diabetes, it does not mean you cannot enjoy good food, it just means that there are a few limits. Being in control of your diet is imperative in reducing the effects of diabetes and can also help lower the chances of you contracting it. Sorting out a diabetic diet plan is one of the most important things you need to do if you suffer from diabetes.
Weight is generally a problem when you are a diabetic and the goal is to get that weight off and keep it off. Another important thing to remember is to eat a healthily from all four food groups and keeping to you diabetic diet.
Heart disease and strokes are two complications often associated with diabetes but the risk of these can be reduced if the sufferer sticks to a healthy diabetic diet. A diabetic diet is essentially a healthy, low-fat, balanced eating plan that helps the patient feel better and more energetic, and achieve some control over the symptoms like fatigue, thirst, blurred vision.
There is a diabetic food pyramid that shows how to eat healthily by consuming vegetables, non-fat dairy products, whole grains, fruit, low fat meat, beans, fish and poultry. If you are also subject to a low-carb diet then your diet may consist of certain vegetables like kidney beans, carrots and avocados in addition to meat, fish poultry, eggs and cheese. Saturated fats and cholesterol are a problem if you are a diabetic so you would need to cut down on foods like this and eat skinless poultry as well as fresh fruit and vegetables.
A diabetic diet consists of certain food groups but it also imperative that you weigh the foods so you intake the correct amount of calories. Also check the food labels when you shop because they contain useful information and daily intake amounts which are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
An effective technique to stop smoking once and forever. The author provides step-by-step instructions that guarantee success. High commission to partners, additional promo materials and support available! Four Steps to Stop Smoking Forever
Cigar smoking enjoyed an abrupt, and steep, spike in popularity during the 1990s, after years of decline. Cigar bars and shops sprang up even in midsize towns and cities, while profits experienced heady growth. But during all the years between the industry’s heyday and this 1990s revival, these fictional cigar smokers from stage, screen and literature never stopped puffing away.
James Bond
This tuxedo-clad, luxury-obsessed, cynical secret agent first appeared in Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel Casino Royale, in which the young Bond, a recent addition to the “00″ (double-o) ranks of the British Secret Intelligence Service, proves his mettle by winning a high-stakes game of roulette against industrialist/rogue villain Hugo Drax. The success of this novel led to a long-running film series, television adaptations, many Fleming-penned sequels and – after Fleming’s death – various new sequels by such authors as John Gardner, Charlie Higson and even Kingsley Amis.
Perhaps his biggest mark has been made on the medium of film, where his adventures have been followed by millions who’ve never read the Fleming novels or their offspring. Sean Connery made the character an icon in such films as Dr. No (1962), Goldfinger (1964) and Diamonds Are Forever (1971), with his old-blooded suavity and crackling, slightly Scots-inflected accent (“I’ll play yer game, y’rogue”).
Bond has been played with great deftness and assurance by actors Timothy Dalton and Pierce Bronson as well, though Roger Moore, with his painted-on hair and flippant manner, kept the role the longest (from 1973′s Live and Let Die all the way to 1985′s A View To a Kill).
Most recently, Daniel Craig has injected the role with a new pathos and toughness, in 2006′s Casino Royale, perhaps the most critically-lauded Bond film yet. (But spare a thought for poor George Lazenby, who essayed the role in 1969′s From Her Majesty’s Secret Service – this writer’s personal favorite.)
Bond is a heavy smoker, and a discriminating one. He smokes both cigars and cigarettes, preferring a blend of Balkan and Turkish tobacco with a high tar content. (Recent Bond movies have curtailed this habit somewhat.)
Holden Caulfield
Like so many precocious adolescents, Holden Caulfield enjoys a good cigar – besides the taste, it’s a rite of passage for a soul that seems irretrievably trapped in transit. In J.D. Salinger’s 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye – for many readers, the great American novel of adolescence, though it had and continues to have its detractors – Holden runs away from his boarding school, Pencey Prep, condemning what he considers its “phoniness,” and spends a memorably disjointed weekend in New York City looking for something worth hanging his life onto.
He visits old friends, tries (and fails) to lose his virginity, drinks himself into semicoherence, and is hit on by one of his old teachers. Along the way, he treats readers to his reflections on the dishonesty, image-consciousness, and hypocrisy of adult society, sexual politics, and popular culture “I hate the movies!” while displaying, and rebuking himself for, some of these same traits. (“You’re always saying ‘Glad to’ve met you’ to people you’re not glad to’ve met at all.”) He washes away obscene graffiti written near the site of his old elementary school, and wishes that he could rescue his younger sister, Phoebe, from society’s various affronts to childhood innocence; but, finally, he realizes that nobody can scrub all the dirt from life, and it’s foolish to try.
Perry White/J. Jonah Jameson
What would a superhero be without his secret identity – and without the cigar-chomping editor-in-chief who makes that secret identity’s life painful? Perry White, the larger-than-life editor of the Daily Planet, first appeared in the seventh issue of Superman (1940), and has bedeviled the existence of Clark Kent (that paper’s mild-mannered reporter) ever since. He is rarely pictured without his cigar. He is also a fan of Elvis.
J. Jonah Jameson, editor of the New York-based Daily Bugle, is just as crusty in his demeanor as Perry White, but, as the editor of a Rupert Murdoch-ish sensationalist tabloid, his sense of ethics don’t match those of his Daily Planet colleague. When Spider-Man begins his New York crimefighting career, Jameson wages a smear campaign against the hero – not knowing that one of his many underpaid freelance employees, photographer Peter Parker, is Spider-Man’s alter ego. But Jameson has a good side – as a young reporter he waged similarly tireless campaigns against organized crime and in support of civil rights.
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Whether you want to enjoy the highlights of Havana, relax in five star accommodation on the coast, or escape to a secluded part of the island, there’s bound to be a Cuba hotel that’s perfect for you. Here are four of the country’s very best.
The Best Cuba Hotels for 4 Different Cuban Holidays
There are few places that can offer such a diverse range of holiday experiences as Cuba. You can relax in some of the finest all inclusive beach resorts in the world, live it up in cosmopolitan and historical Havana, escape to one of the lesser known historical cities, or find your own deserted getaway in the mountains or on the coast. Whatever kind of holiday you want to have, choosing which one of the many Cuba hotels to stay in is always going to be a hard choice.
Here are some of the best Cuba hotels for four different kinds of holiday…
For five star luxury…
The very finest Cuba hotels are naturally located in Havana, the Cuban capital, and in this city you really are spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting your accommodation! For sheer grandeur and luxury, however, there is one hotel that stands out from the crowd – The Saratoga. This five star hotel was built in the 1930′s and is a classic example of neo-colonial architecture at its most stunning. With elegantly decorated rooms and spectacular panoramic views of the port and Havana’s Old Town, it’s hard to beat the Saratoga if you want the grandest accommodation on the island.
For a secluded getaway…
Sometimes you just want to get away from it all, and Cuba offers plenty of opportunities to find a peaceful retreat away from the crowds. Travel to the northern province of Pinar del Rio, and you’ll discover a part of Cuba that is a world away from the major cities and frenetic beach resorts. This part of the country is dedicated to tobacco growing for the famous Cuban cigars, and the beautiful countryside is ideal for hiking and horse riding. La Moka in Las Terrazas is the ideal base for a holiday in Pinar del Rio, a small hotel in a secluded location that is the perfect place to relax.
For a bustling beach holiday…
If you like a beach holiday that is filled with life, colour, and plenty of things to keep you occupied, Guardalavaca is the place to be. The biggest and most developed of Cuba’s beach resorts, Guardalavaca is also home to some superb hotels. For a place that is the life and soul of the party, the Playa Pesquero hotel is hard to beat. With facilities that include a swim up bar, six restaurants, numerous bars and the glorious Pesquero beach just a moment away, it is the biggest and perhaps the best hotel in Guardalavaca.
For a peaceful urban break…
Havana is often regarded as Cuba’s star attraction, but it is far from the only place to stay on the island. For somewhere a little less touristed but with just as much to see, head over to Trinidad. This town has the finest examples of colonial architecture on the island, and has even been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status for its remarkable buildings.
If you want to stay at the finest hotel in town, choose the Grand Hotel Trinidad. With its attentive service, high quality accommodation and ideal location in the heart of the Old Town, this five star boutique hotel truly stands out from the crowd, and is one of the best Cuba hotels.
Emma Lelliott is the general manager of Captivating Cuba, an independent specialist in luxury holidays to Cuba. With offices in Havana and the UK, Captivating Cuba can tailor-make your holiday to a choice of .
The study of the economy of Cuba can be divided into four phases. The first phase consists of the occupation of the island by the Spanish, which led to the extinction of the aboriginals and the bringing of African slaves to work on the sugar plantations. At this point of time, Cuba provided for the highly profitable business of sugar cultivation and its exports. Sugar industry was the crux of Cuba’s economy and Cuba rose to become one of the largest producers of sugar in the world.
The second phase pertains to the years following the wars of independence against the Spanish and also the invasion of Cuba by the US. It is marked by the sweeping powers of intervention obtained by the US in 1902, with the Cuban economy being controlled by the growing investment of the US citizens in the sugar plantations of Cuba. Now, again, money and profits from the sugar plantation, sugar refineries and subsidiary sugar products such as rum went to the many American investors and a few Cuban elite. The other major industries also included tourism, tobacco, transportation, mining and the communication industry.
The third phase begins with the Cuban revolution and the beginning of Fidel Castro’s rule in the year 1959. All plantations that were more than 400 hectares became state owned and all industries including the petroleum and the telephones became nationalized. This lead to the US trade embargo towards Cuba. Cuba lost its traditional international market. However, Cuba found a trade and political ally in the USSR when the Cuban-sugar for Russian-oil package worked well. Cuba reoriented itself to the Russian and pro-Russian market and did over 80% of its international trade with them. The next 30 years saw tremendous improvement in health care, education and social welfare. Cuba boasts of a 97% literacy rate and the life expectancy increased to 76%. There was an egalitarian distribution of income and Cuba’s income inequality index became the lowest in the world.
All was well until 1989 when it became clear to Cuba that sooner or later Cuba would have to learn to do without any subsidies or trade relations with the USSR and the eastern European countries. The fourth phase begins here with the government dubbing it as the ‘Special Period in Peacetime’. The economic reforms include:
(i) the opening and gearing up of tourism as an industry
(ii) diversification of the agricultural sector by producing fruits and vegetables and rice along with live stock for local consumption that include the visiting tourists.
(iii) production of more of citrus food and less of sugar
(iv) focusing on that sector of fisheries which sent its fleets to nearby seas and exporting spiny lobsters to Japan
(v) State-owned lands have been converted to agricultural cooperatives that are managed to a certain degree by the workers. Retail outlets at a small scale have been allowed for the food market. In the field of food production, allowing the of excess production (which is above the state-fixed production quota) in the free market has brought down black markets, in addition to enhancing production
(vi) Foreign investments in various industries such as tourism, mining, telecommunication, construction and manufacturing sectors have been allowed
(vii) Self employment has been legalized for around 150 occupations.
Investment into biotechnology and pharmaceuticals during the third phase reaped returns when products of this industry were available for export now at the fourth phase.
The other Cuban industries include cement, steel, agricultural machinery and construction.
Fisheries, nickel and ore production, growing agricultural products such as fruits, tobacco are some areas that have shown growth in the export sector. Cuba now exports to European countries (50%), Canada and Latin America (20%), and Asia (20%).
Spain, France, and United Kingdom have invested in the tobacco and cigar production. Spain and Canada have invested in the exploration of oil off the shores of Cuba. Mexico, Canada, Australia, South-Africa, Netherlands, Brazil, and Chile are the other major countries that have invested in the various industries of Cuba.
Cuba has entered into an agreement with Venezuela whereby thousands of Cubans who are doctors, teachers and sports trainers, and engineers would move in to Venezuela to assist their development program in return for 53,000 barrels of oil per day being shipped to Cuba for the next five years.
“Energy revolution” where apart form changing the entire system of power generation and distribution, energy conservation is also aimed at, has been in vogue in Cuba for the last two years. The quality of life of the Cubans are improving with the volunteers of the government replacing on a door-to-door campaign, the existing electric stoves and lights with the ones that are more efficient and less energy consuming. Energy efficient refrigerators and television sets have been distributed and would be installed in all the thousands of housing units that the government is building. Energy efficient buses from China would soon be available for the Cuban public transport. It is just a matter of some time when power generation would take place at hundreds of units that are well synchronized, thus avoiding wastage of power while distributing it through very long distances. Generation of natural gas while exploring for oil at oil rigs is also considered.
Cuba has also legalized the US dollars. Further, the Venezuelan inputs for domestic oil production and upgradation of existing power stations have raised the level of optimism. Cuba is also hoping to find oil off its shores. Apart from the sugar industry and its related products, there are various industries such as tourism (also called the lung of the Cuban economy), fisheries, nickel and ore production, production of tobacco, Cuban cigar, citrus fruits, pharmaceuticals, coffee, besides basic manufacturing industries which have earned Cuba foreign exchange. Cuba has learned to manage its post-USSR economic condition and is steering towards a more prosperous economy.
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Previous Part (to prove that it’s the summit): Arriving at the top. www.youtube.com Me, Steve, Sean, and Kana started our climb to the top of Mount Fuji from the Gotemba station on Friday, July 17, 2009. We hit a storm at around 9pm, and after pushing through until around 11pm, the four of us decided to stay at a hut. The next morning, two climbed down and two made it up. Thank goodness, everyone is all right now. 11:53 am on July 18, 2009 we hit the summit! For a total climbing time of 6 hours and 30 minutes, we made it down (by taking short cuts and sliding/jumping down the ashy side of the mountain) just under 2 hours and 45 minutes. What better way to celebrate than to smoke a Cuban in front of the Shrine at the mountain peak? Hell yeah!!! I call FIRST! Equipment: 3 bottles of water 3000 yen (around $33) A banana from my friend 3 pieces of ham 1 energy bar Wearing nothing but jeans, t-shirt, a jacket, nike sneakers, a scarf, and a hat. NOTE: There is no embargo on Cuba in Japan, therefore the purchase of Cuban cigars is completely legal and legit. This particular cigar was purchased at a small cigar shop that specialized in Cuban and Dominican cigars, in a hotel a block away from Shibuya Station in Tokyo. Cubans start from around $13.
Creating stickers is an enjoyable activity that can be fun for both kids and adults alike. And thanks to Xyron, this activity couldn’t be easier because of their great assortment of sticker- and label-making devices. One of these machines is the Xyron Create-A-Sticker 250. This is a product that is easy to use while being attractive and inexpensive. Here are four reasons why you should consider getting this cute little crafting device.
The size of stickers you can make. The Xyron Create-A-Sticker 150 is the so-called entry-level machine in this particular line-up of products and it can make stickers and labels up to 1.5 inches wide. However, the 250 can make larger ones that are up to 2.5 inches wide. This allows you greater flexibility and the chance to be more creative. You can make a sticker from just about anything when using this product, including photographs, ribbons, and other materials, as long as the object you’re using is less than 1/16″ thick.
Using the machine couldn’t be easier. The 250 is easy to use and it requires no power or heat, so it’s great for kids. To use this machine, all you need to do is place an object – such as a small drawing or photograph – into the feed area. Then gently push it into the machine while cranking the handle. Soon the object will emerge and all you need to do then is tear the label off the roll of adhesive, peel off the plastic covering remove the paper backing. Then, place your sticker or label where you want it. You can use repositionable adhesive with this device, as well as permanent, and all the adhesives Xyron produces are acid-free and non-toxic too.
It’s refillable and lightweight. One of the best things about the 250 is that it’s not a one-shot deal. Xyron makes refill cartridges for most of their crafting tools. Once you use up the roll that’s included with your device, don’t worry, you can just a new one. Another great thing about the 250 is that it is attractive (its casing is made of translucent purple plastic) and lightweight. This means you can make stickers just about anywhere, from your living room to your child’s classroom.
This is a really affordable machine. The 250 is one of the most affordable crafting devices on the market with a suggested retail price of $22.95. The refill cartridges are also inexpensive, so you can enjoy making stickers either on your own or with your kids without spending a lot of money.
The Xyron Create-A-Sticker 250 is a great choice for crafters, moms looking to keep their kids entertained, and teachers who would like a fun crafting device for their classrooms. By making this product affordable – and so easy (and fun) to use – Xyron has created a machine that’s hard to pass up. So why not yourself (or your kids) one of these great gadgets today? You’ll love it – especially since it won’t make a dent in your budget.
If you’re interested in buying the , you should really visit . They have a great price on this machine and they offer the full line of . Plus, they offer free shipping on all orders over $75.00. Check it out for yourself today!
the Angels are the servants of the Almighty Creator and they never disobey Him.