Hugh gender split going on here
Yeah, same here. One of my French (female) students told us yesterday that she was all ready to put herself in front of the tele Saturday morning, and watch it all the way through. We had to explain to her gently that the wedding was on Friday, not Saturday (day of all French weddings).

Posted by: alexno | Apr 28 2011 15:51 utc | 3

@alexno – We had to explain to her gently that the wedding was on Friday, not Saturday
Sure that wasn’t a disservice to a guest?

Posted by: b | Apr 28 2011 16:21 utc | 5

It is telling that this Shit Parade is on Friday. These scum have never worked a day in their lives, so they don’t keep the same schedule us Plebes do. Friday is like any other day……an anguished, yet feigned attempt to lead a fulfilling life but instead filling the time with vain conceits of puffery and pomp.
I fart in their general direction.

Posted by: Morocco Bama | Apr 28 2011 17:03 utc | 7

AFAIK, the only evidence of Salafis being behind the trouble in Syria comes from the Govt owned Syrian media. I think you lose a lot of credibility b, by stating and re-stating these unverfied allegations. I read Tishreen and al-Thawra and SANA and you are repeating what they are saying. Syria does not allow any foreign media source to verfiy the claims of the govt mouth pieces.

Posted by: ndahi | Apr 28 2011 20:55 utc | 9

On Syria:
1) While I worry about Salafists in Syria, I have to say that the current system is unsustainable. In addition, of course, to being horribly brutal. I certainly appreciate the Syrian government’s stand against the US and Israel, but that is hardly license to do what it pleases at home.
2) It is also notable that the most strongly pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist bloggers are fully behind the protesters. From Angry Arab to Palestinian pundit. (Friday Lunch Club is sympathetic to the government.)
3) Also notable is that Egyptian leftists, who started and sustained the revolution are fully behind the Syrian protesters. All of them are pro-Palestinian, ant-Zionist and sympathetic to Hizbullah.
4) I suspect Bashar has more support and popularity than did Mubarak (faint praise) but probably nothing like majority support.
5) None of us can predict what would replace the regime, should it fall (I don’t think it will, but if it did) But that is not an excuse for opposing the protesters. Yes, Saudi Arabia will put its fingers in the pie and try to turn it to bark stew. But that doesn’t mean they will succeed. Let’s give Syrians some credit.
6) It is unlikely that Syria’s foreign policy will change much given that they ALL want the Golan back and they will need Iran and Hizbullah to get it back.
7) The moral authority of several Arab countries working in concert will be enormous. I’m really sick of Israel’s crocodile tears over Hama and Dara’a and her claim to be the only “democracy” in the middle east. I hope in the next few years it can claim to be the only apartheid state in the middle east.
8) This really can’t be compared to Iran, 2009. There, there had been an election where claims of fraud were not followed by any evidence. Iran’s use of force (100 dead over 7 months) in quelling the protests are not even in the same league as that used by Egypt (845 dead in 18 days) or Syria (500 dead in 5 weeks)
And so, although, I certainly understand b’s concern and worry over US and Saudi plots, as an Egyptian, I’m praying for the success of the Syrian protesters.

Posted by: Lysander | Apr 29 2011 1:49 utc | 11

2) It is also notable that the most strongly pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist bloggers are fully behind the protesters. From Angry Arab to Palestinian pundit. (Friday Lunch Club is sympathetic to the government.)

Too much credit is given to AngryArab, this is a man who has the tenacity to call president Chavez of Venezuela a clown. Now let me ask you what has the AA actually done for the cause of his Palestine, not much besides sitting on his couch and writing drivel and thinking that he has all the answers to the Arab street. Give me the Chavez “clown” any day!

Posted by: hans | Apr 29 2011 7:58 utc | 13

Arms flowing to Syrian rebels from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon

Syrian opposition sources said tribes in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon have been relaying weapons in an effort to oust President Bashar Assad. They said the weapons were sent to avenge the killing by Syrian security forces of tribal members over the last month.
…
The weapons smuggling to the Syrian rebels began in March when Assad forces shot and killed members of tribes in Dera near the Jordanian border. Some of the tribes in Dera have links with supporters in Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
On April 19, a son of a powerful tribal chief, Saleh Al Fadous, was killed by Assad forces in the northern city of Homs. Fadous is a member of the Fawareh tribe with allies in Iraq and Jordan, including Duleimeh and Bani Hassan.
“Arms are flowing into Syria in large quantities today by tribal leaders whose traditional bonds with the tribes of Syria make it impossible not to smuggle arms,” the Reform Party of Syria said. “As Assad massacres continue against unarmed civilians, he is also driving the country towards an outright civil war.”
…

“arms smuggling” and “unarmed civilians” doesn’t really fit together …

Posted by: b | Apr 29 2011 17:42 utc | 15

ben, I was including the entire ME when I mentioned “peace in the region.” However, the same applies to Israel. Israel never would have been if there was no oil, and Israel will no longer be when there is no oil. Then, of course, there’s everything in between.

Posted by: Morocco Bama | Apr 29 2011 18:25 utc | 17