Below the sidewalks of London there is a remarkable network of tunnels and chambers, put in to place by Victorian engineers, the final step in a process which took centuries. For over a thousand years there had been a shipping dock at the mouth of the river - its name comes from the Anglo-Saxon fleot which means a tidal inlet. Yet it was not destined to persevere as a river in its own right.
Space Shuttle Atlantis and four astronauts returned from the International Space Station in triumph yesterday, bringing an end to NASA's 30-year shuttle journey with one last, rousing touchdown that drew cheers and tears.
Hours later, after 13 historic and momentous days, Atlantis was then towed into its hangar at the Orbiter Processing Facility, ending not only its two-week mission, but a 30-year shuttle programme which has long been the pride of America.
A £9 million ($14.5 million) appeal has been launched by the British Library to buy the oldest intact book in Europe, a palm-sized leather-bound copy of the gospels buried 1,300 years ago in the coffin of Saint Cuthbert.
If the appeal succeeds, the library has agreed the gospel will be displayed half the time at Durham cathedral, where it was found with the body of the saint when his coffin was reopened in 1104. The gospel is still in its original 7th century leather cover, which has survived in perfect condition.
Ventriloquism is an act of stagecraft in which a person manipulates his or her voice so that it appears that the voice is coming from elsewhere, usually a puppeteered dummy. Originally, ventriloquism was a religious practice. The name comes from the Latin for to speak from the stomach, i.e. venter (belly) and loqui (speak).
The noises produced by the stomach were thought to be the voices of the unliving, who took up residence in the stomach of the ventriloquist. The ventriloquist would then interpret the sounds, as they were thought to be able to speak to the dead, as well as foretell the future.
In 1939, Adolf Hitler needed to figure out how to get past the French Maginot line, a 1500km defensive wall of fortifications, tank barriers, artillery and machine gun nests running along the French-German and French-Italian borders. Before he figured out to simply run around the line via Belgium, Hitler schemed to destroy it outright.
To that end, he recruited the Friedrich Krupp A.G. company of Essen, Germany, to build him a weapon capable of doing so. By 1941, the Krupp company had designed and built the largest gun of all time, the 'Gustav Gun.'
She made men crazy and that might have led to her tragic fate in that London apartment few years ago. Soad Hosny's songs are always popular with the ladies, every girl fancies herself being the Soad of her time. Her style and her approach to life tells a lot about being a girl.
She made being a girl a lot more fun and glamorous than it really is. Her voice is entertaining for those light pop-ish songs of her time. While she did a lot of those dance moves back then, she did so in a cute way asexual way that did not offend many.
She was confident and knew her place, she knew how to get in the role and deliver a fun performance. All her movies say as much. And if she has to sing, she can do so with grace, charm and a great sense of humor.And you know the thing about her roles, they are timeless, you find an 80 years old lady that loves Soad Hosny, and a 16 years old one that swears by her art.
Maybe one day we will be able to tell how she ended her life was it a murder? or was it something else? One thing certain, she is already missed.
Soad Hosny / Baheyah Albraweah سعاد حسني / بهيه البراويه
After parcel post service was introduced in 1913, at least two children were sent by the service. With stamps attached to their clothing, the children rode with railway and city carriers to their destination. The Postmaster General quickly issued a regulation forbidding the sending of children in the mail after hearing of those examples.
Egypt's oldest pyramid has been saved from collapse by giant airbags which have been used to prop up the ceilings. The 4,700-year-old building has been stabilised so engineers can carry out permanent repairs. The giant structure was built as a burial place for Pharaoh Djoser, a warrior who reigned in the third dynasty for 19 years.
See some images and helicopter shots of Egypt you've never seen before from the streets of Cairo. Those images show the beautiful side of that magical urban center. It's like an awesome virtual tour of all those world class Egypt attractions the world if fond of.
And to add a voice to this gorgeous landscape, you get a song that I know will most anyone who has seen those places yet alone has grew up in those part of the world. While I only visited Egypt twice, those places register with me. Quite the trip here.
I think there is a lot we Arabs and Egyptians can do to help lift Egypt of its transitional period, go visit the place and capture the moments, see history being made.
تحذير لكل مصري خارج مصر - لا تسمع و لا تشاهد هذه الأغنية
The honor for the best father-daughter Arabic Duet goes to Angham and her late father. While they have sang together since the late 80s in 1987 when she made her debut, and they had seen a great relationship on both the professional and personal level.
But toward the end of her father's life, they did not have the best relationship. While her father has sang the song with her in more than one concert, later he would just play the lute next to his daughter. This is a romantic song about that pure unassuming love.
The father daughter team has given us some great moments in Arabic music, this one is the crown of this collaboration.
Angham was much closer to her mother growing up and felt a distant with her father. Per wikipedia:
Angham sang "elGennah Taht Akdamek" (Paradise Is Under Your Feet) as a dedication to the mothers who were present during the concert. Despite winning the contest, Angham recalls how her father was not pleased with her performance and that his negative attitude was the major force that propelled her in a battle between her talents and her inner self to come up with better songs.
On "Maa Hobby" (With Love) talk show in 2005, host Joumana Bou Eid asked Angham how she felt toward her dad after eight years of collaboration in making records. Angham replied "that she owe him many things and that she is lucky he is her father and an important figure in the music industry at the same time". The publicity of Angham's separation from her father whether on a personal or artistic level stabilized Angham's independent entrance into the industry of music
I do not believe this, this video is at least 25 years old and does Sherine still sound the same as she did then? She is the leading voice of Egypt now, int terms of voice quality and sales. She is the hottest voice in the young voices. And she throws the best live concerts becasue she can actually sing and engage the audience.
Now check out this video of hers, when she was at school in Egypt leading the choir and dazzling with her young voice. The song is a tribute song for mothers, a very famous song indeed. And Sherine owned it, she has no fear this little girl and her skills on stage were second to none. It takes a lot of guts to do this, and she did not think about it, she knew she will be a star and she become one.
This video tells me with Sherine is this, what you see is what you get, her voice is really awesome, she needs no computers or sound engineers to coach her. She just had a strange phase in the early 2000 when she wanted to do pop. Glad to see she is back to doing Tarab songs and respectable pop songs. المطربة شيرين و هى تلميذه
The days when Iraq was a top Arab country in all fields might be gone for now, but they will be coming back soon. Things are tough now, but the people of Iraq are resourceful and appreciate art. They are a highly educated bunch who invests in education and art. No more junk pop music, there are few names in Iraqi music that will live forever in the collective memory of its people. There is Nazim Al Ghazaly and Saadoun Jaber, but there are dozens more. Here are few names that should not be overlooked.
Reda Al Khayyat "رظا الخياط", a legedary Iraqi singer that was big in the 70, one of the most vocal singers of his country. Lives between Iraq and Bahrain. His songs got covered by Hossam Al Rassam, Mjaid Al Mohandis and Samira Toufic. He is a great voice and remains active in the music of his country.
Yas Khader "ياس خضر", one of the sad songs best voices in his country. He has a distinct Iraqi dialect and has a recognizable voice. Made it big in the 70s http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifand 80s. He is no longer with us. His music can define how Iraqi you are.
Shaheed Kareem "شهيد كريم" responsible for many hits in the Iraq folklore songs, current day singers remake his songs. He is folksy singer that has great mawaweel. His music travels with Iraqis wherever they go.
Hussein Nimah "حسين نعمة" he used to be a school teacher in the 70s. He also worked in Kuwait and had many religious themed songs. He had a very elastic set of vocals that allowed him to do all kind of songs. He has a sweet and a tender voice that sticks with you. He is no longer with us, but his legacy speaks for him.
We all love ice in the summer, it makes everything cool in this really hot and sticky weather. But back in 1996 before we had to hear much about global warming Kathim Al Saher released a song with Rotana titled "Wash With Hail".
This is one of his rare songs that went under the radar as he was not the big star he now is, he was just a guy from Iraq living in Lebanon and Jordan. Sheik Mohammad Bin Rashed of the United Emirates wrote this poem that Kathem sang. The same Sheik would give Kathem another poem to sing for Iraq in 2005
كاظم الساهر - اغسلي بالبرد - نسخة اصلية
اغسلي بالبرد .. قلبي صبٍ تشهّد بعد عقل يدله ضاع منهالدليل ساهر ما رقد لين جفنه تجمد يسهر الليل كله في نحيب طويل جمر شوقيتوقد في ضميري وعود بالعنا والكلافة والبكا والعويل له نصيب الأسد في فؤاديمؤكد وما لحبه بديل كلما الليل رد ذكرها له تجدد علة فوق علة من يداويالعليل بين صد ورد ناعس طرف سدد نظرة منها عجب من تصيبه قتيل بعد طيبالوعد من أوده تمرد ما رحم قلبي خله وتار عنه الرحيل سامني بالزهد في غراميتزهد منيتي ليت فعله مثل وجهه جميل إن تقربت صد أو تبعدت هدد حيريني ياهبدله وين بأمري أميل؟؟ مستحيل مستحيل البعاد له دموعي بتشهد وأنت يا عمري كلهقربك المستحيل
You probably dial a few of them every day, but do you ever stop and think about the history behind a phone number? When were the first numbers introduced? How did you end up with a particular area code?
Here are 10 fascinating facts that you might not know about the common phone number.
She is 17 years old, I am ok with it, and her father is ok with it, what do you have to do with us Honorable Judge? Those are the lyrcis from Hossam Hosny, the pop guy from the 90s who was a pioneer in Arabic pop and funk. He does not make much news anymore nor does he go any big gigs.
But this song is a bit too much. This is about a grownup who is getting married to a minor 17 of age. This is not an Arab problem, this is human problem. Here's the proof of a 51 year old American wanting to wed a 16 year old "Watch Video" I am serious this should be the Libertarian song of choice if they ever needed on in Arabic.
Not sure what they have to brag about in this song, he even says that the girl is dreaming of the day of her wedding, even she is still practically in cradle! Don't look at me, this is a song not many know of. But nevertheless, it was permitted to play on the radio.
It was 1991 when she released Kalemat, a song that was carried by by Arab radios and TV in a matter of days, the dudes and the gals were singing to this classic song for the relatively then unknown singer Majda El-Roumy. She made her first mas media appearance in Studio El Fan in the 70s. Back then her late father given her most of her songs that tended to be patriotic and Lebanon focused and tended to be oreintal melodies.
Magida was one of the first modern singers to combine western classical music and Arabic classical music (tarab). Her first hit was Am Behlamak Ya Helm Ya Lebnan, written by poet Said Akl and composed by Elias Rahbani.
Magida's self-titled debut album was typical of 1970s Arabic pop, with traditional percussion, a string section, guitar, and keyboard. Her Lebanese patriotism is evident in songs like Nab' El Mahabbeh, which are song in Lebanese Arabic dialect. This is also true of her 1980s songs Layalina Men Layali El Omr and Ya Saken Afkari. Her first work in classical Arabic was La Taghdabi and Salawna. Magida sang a hit rendition of the Abdel Halim Hafez's El Touba in 1987.
In 1991, Magida released Kalimat, her first pan-Arab hit, under the Music Master label. The title song was written by Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani and composed by Ihsan El-Mounzer. Other songs by Qabbani were Beirut, Set Eddounia and Ma'a Jarida.
Magida initiated the movement that re-popularized classical Arabic poetry in music and began to fuse East and West. 1994's Ibhath Anni followed the template set by Kalimat. Souad Al Sabah's Kon Sadiqi was about empowerment of women. Other patriotic songs were Oum Etthadda and Saqata Al Qina.
She is one of those heavy weight divas in her country Lebanon where she makes her political views made public. She has also dabbled into acting In 1976 where she Magida starred in Youssef Chahine movie Awdat Al Ibn Al Dal (The Return of the Prodigal Son) providing also 3 soundtracks for the movie. Chahine introduced her as 'the Voice of the 20th Century' and received the 'Egyptian Critics Award'.
And if that's not enough, she has performed one of the most memorable wedding songs that is on everyone's must play song at weddings in places like Lebanon, Syrian and Palestine. Nasheed Al Zafaf "The Wedding Anthem" is her epic song.
She continues to serve as one of those good will ambassadors for the United Nation. She also works with the FAO to combat hunger. There is more more song of hers that is waiting to be released. In this song the lyrics are the work of Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani and composed by none other than her buddy Iraqi composer/singer Katehm Al Saher. Majda has also taken part in the Quincy Jones mega production song for human rights to be released sometimes in the near future.
is none other than the Saudi singer Abdel Majid Abdallah, came to the spot light in the early 90s and has not left the spotlight ever since. He made the song of the Arab Gulf sexy without having to show any skin. He Abdel Majid Abdallah did it with close to daily life lyrics, beautiful and often meaningful stories. And of course his music was always up to date.
The newly lunched Arab entertainment networks carried his cool music videos, and he was performing in places like Jordan and Egypt without having to change his tongue or leave his comfort zone.
But his mission was done, the Gulf song made its great comeback and by the mid 2000, we started seeing those Arab singers form countries like the Lebanon, Egypt and Morocco performing song sin the Gulf Dialect. So he is now back this year 2011 with a new single, a bittersweet one where he is having the DTR conversation with his loved one.
عبد المجيد عبد الله قلبي وانا / محد يسواك 2011جديد -3lo0o$h
Around the world there are many abandoned prisons, once cages for people - some criminals, some political prisoners. Many disused prisons have been left to rot and decay, while a few have been demolished.
No longer places for the incarcerated, many of these derelict landscapes are now the realms of urban explorers who document the abandonment and degradation of the former correctional institutions in pictures.
Hilmi Baker the Egyptian composer who has been very close to Eastern melodies all his career that has enriched the Arabic songs has given an interview to Alarabya and commented on various issues in Egyptian and Arabic entertainment. He does know a thing or two to give those observations:
Egyptian music is like a dead body, lack of solid summer albums attest to that
I fear Arabic music from the Gulf overtaking Egyptian songs becasue the Gulf singers rely on poetry and poetic lyrics.
A lot of those half baked singers who made it big prior to the regime are phasing out under the new revolution.
Many of those independents bands that emerged in post Mubarak Egypt are quite good, I fear they are relying too heavily on western melodies and American band styles. I worry they might lose their Eastern soul.
Pariah singers in Egypt will restore to singing religious themed songs in an effort to seek redemption for their past support for Mubarak.
I call on deleting all those black lists for celebrities, let the good ones be judged by their work without bias.
The days when Iraq was a top Arab country in all fields might be gone for now, but they will be coming back soon. Things are tough now, but the people of Iraq are resourceful and appreciate art. They are a highly educated bunch who invests in education and art. No more junk pop music, there are few names in Iraqi music that will live forever in the collective memory of its people. There is Nazim Al Ghazaly and Saadoun Jaber, but there are dozens more. Here are few names that should not be overlooked.
