Old Photos

I stumbled across these pictures, which are purported to be about the only color pictures taken of the effects of the Great Depression in the small towns of USA. The pictures were made by various photographers working for the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information. These pictures are not mine; they are the property of the Library of Congress and were included in an exhibition in 2006 entitled Bound For Glory: America in Color.


I reckon as a citizen of that country I can post them for your enjoyment. Let me hear from you!

Jim

Welding a ship's boiler, Chattanooga, Tennessee 1942

B-25 bombers, Kansas City, Kansas 1942

Fighter plane in flight over Inglewood, California 1942

M-4 tank crew, Fort Knox, Kentucky 1942

Marine glider, Parris Island, South Carolina 1942

A-20 bomber, Langley Field, Virginia 1942

Some Random Pictures

Not much to say, really. We are into the second half of the month, and still settling into the new flat. Ramadan with it's quiet days and busy nights will soon end with Eid al Fitr. We will see many gatherings and feasts and in fact, are having a lot of the family over for Iftar tomorrow.

Our Great Friend, Ibrahim!

Here are some few pictures we made while painting the flat before moving in,

Master Bedroom

Ibrahim "posing" in the salon

...and in the living room

And...in the living room again!

Entry from salon to hallway

of a shopping trip to City Mall

Ramadan lights at City Mall

Virgin, where I buy most of my books because the prices are fixed

View from first floor of City Mall

And from fourth floor

and another shopping trip in the Palestinian refugee camp

Absolutely anything can be found at the markets!

It's like a giant flea market

Battery operated belt buckles with streaming messages...

and from my birthday which coincided with our move to the new place.

Enjoy and comment!

Baptism Site of Jesus Christ

The Baptism Site of Jesus Christ is just a short drive from Amman. Considered to be one of the three holiest Christian sites, this is where the earthly ministry of Jesus started and by extension is the spot where Christianity began. Several other significant events also occurred here. The Israelites, led by Joshua, crossed into the "Promised Land" here. From this site Prophet Elijah was taken up in a chariot of fire and St Mary the Egyptian and other early Christian holy people lived and died here. Many Christian churches are situated at the Baptism Site and others are being built.

This site has been recognized as the real (and only true) site where Jesus was baptized by all the major traditional Christian Churches and has been visited by many Christian leaders including the late great Pope John Paul II . Many churches of different Christian denominations are situated there or are in the process of being built now that, after the 1994 peace treaty between Israel and Jordan, it is no longer a military border zone. Many other world leaders, Christian and non-Christian have also visited the site.

The Baptism Site on the Jordan side of the Jordan River is one of the most important recent discoveries in biblical archaeology. It was only after the 1994 peace treaty with Israel that excavations began. Already more than twenty churches, caves and baptismal pools dating from the Roman and Byzantine periods have been unearthed.

The site is now a legally protected National Jordanian Park operated by an independent board of trustees appointed personally by His Majesty, King Abdullah II, who considers its maintenance an honor and a sacred trust for future generations.

It’s Ramadan!

We here in the Arab world, as well as in the rest of the globe, are observing the holy month of Ramadan; the ninth month of the lunar Islamic calendar. I thought some of you might be interested to know just what Ramadan is and why it is universally observed.

Ramadan is the month in which the first verses of the holy Qur’an were revealed to Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) as well as many other important revelations. For instance Mary (Maryam) (Peace be upon her) was told she would give birth to Jesus (Issa) (Peace be upon him) in the month of Ramadan.

During this month Muslims will refrain from eating, drinking and sexual activities from dawn until sunset. More prayers than usual will be offered, asking forgiveness for past sins, asking for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils as they try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds.

To prepare for fasting, Muslims wake up before dawn and the Fajr prayer to eat a meal (Sahoor). They break their fast at Maghrib (sunset) prayer time with a meal called Iftar. The fast is intended to be an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised awareness of closeness to Allah.

In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur’an. This can be done communally by the recitation of special prayers called Tarawih which are held in the mosques every night of the month. One thirtieth of the Qur'an is recited each night so that at the end of the month it is finished. It is also a time to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment. This is to establish a link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others. Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it. There is also a social aspect involving the preparing of special foods and inviting people for Iftar.

The holiday of Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. A special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor, everyone puts on their best clothes and communal prayers are held in the early morning followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends.