Plasma killed the video star October 4, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Faith & Spirituality, Links, News.1 comment so far
With the start of Ramadan last September, a new large-screen plasma display television was marketed in the Middle East that enables users to read and listen to the Quran. Ten pages can be bookmarked through the remote control. [LINK]
In addition to this feature, the television can record up to 40 soccer games and 30 movies on the 160-gigabyte hard disk drive.
I was dismayed to come across this news not in the original link but on an anti-Islamic site that called for a boycott of all the company’s products in the US because they were supporting terror and Jihad by making available this feature on their plasma televisions. In my opinion, it is smart marketing strategy to assess and provide for consumer needs.
On still another site, some critics were wondering why the Bible or the Torah were not included for customers and why the Muslims were favored.
What these critics are not aware of is that Quran software and other narrating devices have been available for quite a while now. Many people in the Gulf region are utilizing technology to help them in their daily spiritual lives and not as they surmise, to instigate “terror”.
Keep a Clean Stubble October 4, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Health, Life, Lifestyle, Links, Men.2 comments
Despite globalization and the spread of some uniform standards of ideals that define attractiveness and appeal, there still remains much to understand about the differences amongst the cultures of the world.
Socio-cultural perceptions with regards to looks naturally differs from culture to culture. A recent psychological study found that a man with a stubble, not a full beard nor a clean-shaven face, is the kind British women aged 18 – 44 find attractive. It is a look that is not overly-masculine, but mature, and with the potential to grow a beard, according to the report in the Telegraph.
Women who participated in the study were shown a number of photos of men’s faces with a varying level of hairiness: clean-shaven, a light stubble, a heavy stubble, a light beard, and a full beard.
The women were asked to rate the photos with regards to masculinity, aggression, dominance, attractiveness, age and social maturity.
They were also asked to assess the men’s suitability as a short term or long term partner.
Men with full beards were regarded as the most masculine, aggressive, and socially mature. However, men with full beards were regarded as the least favorable for a short-term relationship.
Men with light beards were regarded as the most dominant.
Men with a light stubble were regarded as the most attractive and the most suitable for either long term or short term commitments.
Clean-shaven men came last with regards to choices being the close to least attractive and the least likely choice for a long term relationship.
The study needs to be expanded to include the perceptions of other cultures. In the Chinese culture for example, males with facial hair are almost always considered to be elderly and wise. In our Kuwaiti culture, many Kuwaiti men will never touch their moustache (although this is a changing trend at the time being).
The important thing is for facial hair, however long or short, to be kept clean, tidy and groomed.
