…the government lied to you about 9/11.

In other news of corruption:

• Papa John’s stole money from me.  We ordered pizzas with Sprite.  They failed to deliver the Sprite and then refused to refund us.  Sure, it might only be $2 from us, but add up how many others they’ve probably ripped off and it becomes massive fraud.  Don’t buy their pizza.  It sucks anyway.

• My sister-in-law was arrested and charged for a crime she didn’t even know about, much less commit.  The cops are pigs, but you already knew that.

• The EU is fining Microsoft $1.45 billion.  Yeah I know it sounds like a lot, but Microsoft makes $1.5 billion in profits each month.  It’s like fining a lemonade stand $0.25.

• Exxon’s case is being heard by the supreme court, yes the one bought and paid for by the Bush family.  Exxon has proved that oil is thicker than water, and so is cold hard cash, with annual profits at $36 billion.

• Black History Month isn’t quite so short this year.  After all, we get an extra day.

This video is worth a look.  Some fans react to the sentencing of Michael Vick to 23 months in prison.

I’ve always wondered about the intentions of Christians who mail-order children from places like Afghanistan.  Instead of these children being raised in a Muslim environment, they are brought up in Christian (and often white/European) households completely isolated from the language, religion, and culture.

I’ve heard of Korean children growing up in such an environment and then making the choice to go back to their home country to find out who they really are.  But that is not even why I am questioning the real motivation behind such programs that are financed by large Christian missionary organizations.

Why are they choosing Muslim children?  Do they think that they are somehow “saving” them not only from poverty and orphanhood but also from the pyres of Hell?  Is it not only a humanitarian mission but also a crusade?  After all, there are plenty of countries where Christian children need to be adopted (America included).  Why don’t we hear about more Christian families adopting Palestinian Christian babies?  Oh yeah, maybe it’s because most of the organizations support the Israeli occupation of Palestine.  It’s not politically convenient to support Arab Christians.

God knows best what the true intentions of these people are.  Maybe they are just naive political tools or maybe not.  What I do know is that Muslims need to adopt more frequently.  The Prophet did it, the Qur’an highly recommends it, and it seems close to being an obligation for those who can afford to do it.

Warning:  Umm Yasmin induced this:

1.  Survivor’s Guide to Desert Islands  (if that doesn’t exist, someone should write it).
2. The Qur’an
3. Nahjul-Balagha
4. Any book about Mulla Nasruddin (I’ll need humor and some spirituality rolled into one).
5. Survivor’s Guide to Escaping Desert Islands (yes, definitely)
6. Mathnawi (Maulana Rumi will comfort me on my lonely nights)
7. Essentials of Islamic Metaphysics (since I’ll have time, I can finally try to figure out this book).
8. A book with blank pages (so I can write my own)
9. A Thousand and One Nights (I love the stories, and it just sounds appropriate)
10. Survivor’s Guide to Accepting that You Will Not Be Rescued, including the 3-step easy guide to learning any island language so you can marry the native girl stranded on the island with you.

Yes, I haven’t been writing anything…anywhere.  I don’t know what to write, or maybe I have so much to write that I can’t figure out what to write first.  At any rate, here’s some advice for all you budding writers:  When you get stuck with writer’s block, just start writing.  It doesn’t matter what it is or if it even makes sense.  You just have to keep writing.

That is all for now.

Our youngest daughter had her first birthday party last weekend.  Click on the picture below to see more.

No, don’t get excited.  I’m not announcing it.  I’m just thinking about the preparations.  I never really thought of preparing for it when I was younger.  Eid was just the prayer after Ramadan…and maybe a brunch.  Other than that, I didn’t actually do much.  Now, with a family of four, Eid is an event.  The kids are getting presents, decorations will go up, and parties will be attended.  Having a Muslim family really does mean something special.  I thank Allah repeatedly for being blessed with a practicing wife and two amazing daughters.

My advice to any young brothers out there: when it comes time to choose a wife, think deeply about it.  Certain physical and even personality traits will come and go, but a sister who is serious about the Deen, someone who has a connection with Allah that cannot be broken, that is priceless and timeless.