About The Sheep In Libya ....

A reliable source has informed me that the Libyan sheep do not , I repeat, DO NOT have anthrax or hoof and mouth disease . Thank God/ Allah !

What they do have is a viral disease named Bluetongue that is found in this part of the world , along with Europe and the UK.The disease is spread by midges, which are gnat like flies that infect the animal through it's bite .The Bluetongue virus is found mainly in sheep or cattle , but may be found in any animal that grazes, such as camels , deer ,horses, ox ,and goats .Actually any animal that is exposed to the gnat that carries of the virus , but mainly the animals that are grazers .

Symptoms of Bluetongue disease are as follows :a high fever ,swelling of the face and tongue , with the tongue turning blue ,slobbering / drooling of the animal that is infected , swelling of the lips , running nose , sores on the foot area which may cause the animal to change it's standing position from foot to foot , making it look like it is dancing .

There are vaccines available for the animals not infected. Quarantine and vaccination are effective ways to combat the spread of the virus , but the main thing is to eradicate the midges that spread the virus .The disease usually will die off after the cold weather sets in killing the gnats . The disease is non contagious but spread from the bites of infected insects . The vets here in Libya are advising people to NOT eat the meat of a infected animal even though the disease is not spread by contact with the body/ carcases, meat , or wool/ fur of a infected animal,to humans.

Tagura Land Of The Rainbows

I was just reading my blog reader when I came across this rainbow video taken by Libyano yesterday . It looks like this was taken on the seafront road to Tagura . Libyano has this posted on YouTube and his own blog . What a great video he has made !I think this proves that Tagura is the Land Of The Rainbows . Way to go Libyano !!

Some Of This And That

Thought I would ask if any of you here in Libya have heard about the anthrax rumors going around ? Some one told me that the professors in the university was informed that there was a out break in the Ben Ghazi region of Libya . They were told NOT to buy or eat any mutton or lamb from Libya . That even though the sheep had been vaccinated , it was unsafe to eat them for the next six months .Then a different source was told not to worry about it , it wasn't a problem . Last night some one else told Moe that thirty sheep had to be slaughtered because they were found to have the hoof and mouth disease , which is a different name for anthrax . This was here in the Tripoli area . So , what with Eid Khabir ceremony coming up next month in which everyone here in Libya sacrifices a sheep , we need some concert information and get it out to the people to prevent a disaster . Of course no announcement has been forth coming from the news networks here , at least as far as I know . So, ... any info anyone ?

I am still so excited over Obama's win Tuesday .Still feeling optimistic for the future . Of course things will change once he is in office and facing the mess that's waiting for him .But for right now , this minute , I am so happy .Oh I forgot to mention to those of you that are interested , lol , that Moe woke up before me on Tuesday , turned on the TV to see how the election was going . Just as it was announced on TV that Obama was the next president , the calls for morning prayers were called out from the near by mosque . Now that is sooo cool !

I woke up late yesterday . The clock's battery was dead . This put me in a bad mood because I had a full day scheduled for myself and because I woke up late , that meant I was already behind schedule . I hate to feel rushed in the morning when I am trying to wake up . I am not a morning person anyway , so this just aggravates me even more .I walked into the living room with my coffee to discover MORE bad news . It had rained while I slept and I had missed it ! OH NO ! I have been waiting for rain for months now it seems and I MISSED IT ! That really depressed me . The weather people also had said it was gonna cool off and that hadn't happened , so more disappointment .

I got Moe to town for his gym date , went on to my luncheon feeling already frazzled by the time I got there . I had to battle my way across town in the Thursday traffic . Every idiot in Libya, and his MOTHER is driving on Thursday according to their own traffic laws .That translates to every person for their own selves .

My friends and I were sitting around talking , as women love to do , when we felt a slight breeze come in the window . Yeah ! At least something is stirring outside . A break from the oppressive weather . I wished it would rain again . Then as if God had read my mind , it starts to pour down raining . We rushed to the windows to watch the rain .Glorious rain .What a present !It didn't last long but long enough to please the senses and to settle the dust .

I went to bed early last night but woke up around 4 AM no longer sleepy . I watched some TV and then Moe got up too . So I fixed us both a early breakfast . After that I straightened up the house up before I made my way back to bed for a long nap .I had opened the house up for some fresh air since it had cooled off yesterday after the rain .As I was going around closing things back up , it began to rain again . I sat down to watched and listened to the rain .

This rain wasn't silent . It splattered , splashed , and pattered .The wind carried a earthly aroma , rich and wholesome . Made you think of fields abundant with crops waiting to be harvested .Dust was washed away and things began to sparkle with newness . I was so tempted to go out on the balcony to dance in the rain , but sanity won out sad to say . Now we have the feeling of autumn since it is cooler then even yesterday . I love it.

OMG ! I just now read up on anthrax and it has scared the you know what outta me ! Things are handled so lax here in Libya , that if there is anthrax here , we are in for some BIG trouble ! Did you know that anthrax is considered to be the sixth plague that will contribute toward destroying mankind as is mentioned in the Bible ? Read what Wikipedia has to say about anthrax and you will have nightmares .Ok , I have to go have a nervous break down now . Bye .

WE THE PEOPLE

For the very first time in America's 232 years as a nation The Constitution Of The United States ,We The People , means all the people. Barack Obama, a American man born of a white American mother and a black African immigrant father is what America stands for , an America for all people no matter their race , their religion , or their political beliefs .This is truly a moment in time and history that will be talked about , taught in schools around the world for possibly century's to come. One could almost believe anything is possible , if only the HOPE it represents could be frozen and sealed in amber for all time .

President elect Obama said in his now famous Chicago , Illinois Grant Park speech , " If there is anyone out there that still doubts America is a place where all things are possible ,who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time ; who still questions the power of our democracy , tonight is your answer ."

It will not be smooth sailing for Obama in the future even with a majority of Democrats in the Senate and Congress to back him up in the changes he wishes to in act for the American people .He stated that , " Even as we celebrate tonight , we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest if our lifetime - two wars , a planet in peril ,the worst financial crisis in a century , " he said . " There is a new energy to harness and new jobs to be created , new schools to build , and threats to meet and for us to lead , alliances to repair ."

He also said in the same speech , as reported by The Associated Press :

"We may not get there in one year or even one term , But America , I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there ." And to those Americans that didn't vote for him , he said , " I will be your president , too . "

On January 20, 2009 Barack Obama will be sworn is as Americas 44th president on the steps of the US Capital building in Washington D.C. He , who will be the first African American to be elected as president, at the young age of only 47 years old , will be standing on steps built by slaves in the 1860's when there was still slavery in America . He will live in the White House that was also built by slaves . Everything comes full circle .

Amazement at what has transpired in this election is astounding .History that your children , their children , and their children's children will study and discuss for ages to come has happened in your life time . May God grant him wise advisers , wisdom , patients , and the ability to see into the future for the betterment of mankind by his acts in office as the President of the United States .

Here are the videos of President elect Obama's speech given last night in Chicago , Illinois Grant Park .

Some News 4 You

Read this story as reported by Reuters in The Financial Times . Libya is discussing opening a Russian naval base somewhere in Libya in the future to counter balance the growing American influence in the region , the Russian business newspaper The Kommersant quotes insiders there in Russia as saying . Agency-France Presse reports also in ABS-CBN that a possible site for such a Russian naval base might be somewhere in Ben Ghazi which is situated in eastern Libya . It goes on to say that Russian rail monopoly signed a 2.2 billion Euro deal to build a railway line in Libya .

Also reported in the news ... Libya has made a $1.5 billion payment into the $1.8 billion fund set up to compensate the American family's of the victims of the 1988 Lockerbie , Scotland Pan Am bombing and the bombing of a 1986 German disco.

Other news of Russia and Libya ... a possible nuclear power plant is being rumored to be on the drawing board while the two leaders discuss a multi billion dollar deal in a arms purchase by Qaddafi , in exchange Russia agrees to forgive Libya's outstanding debts from the Cold War era .

On a different note , the election for a new president in America takes place tomorrow Nov. 4 all across America . For days now absentee voters and early voters have been sending in their votes . McCain and Obama both running a hard fought race for the title of President of America. Each one brings their own values to the table , along with their hopes and dreams for the future . Each has their own factions of support and I came across this article from The Sun Sentinel in the US state of Florida . It is by Rabbi Bruce Warshal who is a publisher of emeritus the Jewish Journal in which he discusses how much support Israel can count on from Obama . Obama's voting record in support for all Israeli aid . Pretty interesting reading and a must for Arab Americans who are voting tomorrow .

This past year has seen some odd news come to light; such as the British teacher in Sudan that was arrested last November all because her Muslim kindergarten students decided to name the class Teddy Bear Mohammed , which is the worlds most popular name by the way .Then there was the outrage over a police poster which featured a cute little fuzzy puppy by the Tayside Police department informing the Scottish residences of their new non emergency telephone number . Why ? Because dogs are considered unclean to Muslims , which meant that many of the religious shop owners Muslims in the community refused to hang the public announcement poster in their shops . Now I came across this story from WCBSTV in Parmus New Jersey . A eighth grader was sent home from school in a uproar over his choice of a Halloween costume last Friday October 31, Halloween , BECAUSE ..... his costume was deemed inappropriate . He was dressed as Jesus. The principal stated that it was disruptive and offensive to some. Isn't Jesus the founder of the Christian religion ? Isn't Halloween now celebrated as a Christian holiday around the world ? What next ? Poor kid ! The Politically Correct thing is way outta control here don't you think ?

Clarification

Let me go on record as saying ..... I am NOT AFRAID of the Black Magic they practice here in Libya , simply because in order to be afraid you have you believe and I don't .I am just amazed at how prevalently it is practiced by all these so called "self righteous , right thinking Muslims" here in Libya .The ones that would love to join the Tailabad and go kill the non believer Infidels !They are so Holy Roller but still they break the Laws by practicing Black Magic which is expressly forbidden in the Quran . How they think they will be able to square that with Allah/ God on Judgment Day is beyond reasoning .

I become shocked when I run into prejudice here in Libya because I have always been made welcome by almost everyone I meet , especially Moe's family . I have always been welcomed , considered family by them, and treated as such. So when I encounter bald hatred for no true apparent reason it bowls me over in shock .My kids did have to cope with it more than I did.I found that when dealing with the more ignorant uneducated prejudice people , it is better to smile and say hum . Sadly , ignorant superstitious prejudice people are everywhere in this world , not just here in Libya .

American Woman Stay AWAY From Me !

Here is Lenny Krvitz singing the all time great rock classic made famous by the Guess Who , "American Woman ".Maybe a bit racy for some. I will rate it a R .Enjoy and rock out !

In Memoriam

Remembering Loved Ones

Stanley Studney

Elizabeth Studney

Salem Sharif

Virginia White

George Pearson

Haj Mustafa Benlasher

Haja Fatuma

Haja Ayada Adulrahman

Sebastian/ Bashire Mutawa

Khalifa Sharif

Mohamed Sharif

Charles Deffenbaugh

Marsha Bowman

Aurthur Kelly

Florence Baker

Don Roy Baker

Haroun Hamed

Lorin Baker

Eileen Deffenbaugh

Saundra Kelly

Carole Anne Sedita

Dr. Ali Benlasher

Cathrine Ann Studney

Raygaya Sharif

In our hearts never to be forgotten .