General Talk!!

[Daniil]

Yes, but, just for your information, in Russia, Christianity Orthodox Church, celebrating Christmas at 7-th of January. And Pure Orthodox don't storm the stores like in America (I think that this american "tradition" is programmed  (as you correctly say), but only in last 50 years), but goes to church and praise Christ. And others, who not so churched, comes together at home, blessing each other and enjoyed fellowship, warmth and comfort.

As for gifts, we make them each other at the New Year, and, here is no such "shop rush for gifts-gifts-gifts" like shown in american TV and films.

[humbert]

Yes, but, just for your information, in Russia, Christianity Orthodox Church, celebrating Christmas at 7-th of January. And Pure Orthodox don't storm the stores like in America (I think that this american "tradition" is programmed  (as you correctly say), but only in last 50 years), but goes to church and praise Christ. And others, who not so churched, comes together at home, blessing each other and enjoyed fellowship, warmth and comfort.
As for gifts, we make them each other at the New Year, and, here is no such "shop rush for gifts-gifts-gifts" like shown in american TV and films.

Is the January 7th celebration also that of Jesus' birth, or it is something else? BTW, here also most people who aren't "churched" also celebrate with their families at home. It's also great that over there you don't have that mad rush to buy needless gifts.

[Daniil]

Yes it is. That's because of difference in old "church" calendars. "Old" Orthodox church calendar was behind the normal calendar for 13 days. When calendars was synchronized, all church celebratings moves 13 days forward.

[Daniil]

Dear friends! Happy New Year! Now drink vodka for your luck and success! Wish you all the best!

[humbert]

@Daniil

Good vodka like you said is hard to find here. All they do is keep putting garbage in it. I suppose I'll have to keep looking. 

To my Islamic friends. Let me give you something to remember me by. I know many of you have never tasted alcohol in your lives. If some day for whatever reason you decide to try it, your first reaction will be the horrible taste. You will wonder why people bother to drink this garbage. Just take a few more sips and you will have your answer. 

As for the Orthodox church and the calendar, I'm familiar with the change ordered by Pope Gregory in 1583. Since his religion was not too well liked among other Christians, it took many years before they got off the old Julian calendar. So then you're saying that that Orthodox Christmas is December 25 on the old calendar or what? If so, I'm surprised they didn't simply eliminate some dates like the British did in 1758.

[Daniil]

To my Islamic friends. Let me give you something to remember me by. I know many of you have never tasted alcohol in your lives. If some day for whatever reason you decide to try it, your first reaction will be the horrible taste. You will wonder why people bother to drink this garbage. Just take a few more sips and you will have your answer. 

A valuable addition - few, not a LOT more.  Islamic culture have many wisdom about alcohol. Remember Avicenna's (Ibn Sina):

Wine - our friend, but it lives deceit:
You drink a lot - a poison, a little drinking - drugs.
Do not cause a superfluous injury
Drink in moderation - and will last the life of the kingdom ...

As for the Orthodox church and the calendar, I'm familiar with the change ordered by Pope Gregory in 1583. Since his religion was not too well liked among other Christians, it took many years before they got off the old Julian calendar. So then you're saying that that Orthodox Christmas is December 25 on the old calendar or what? If so, I'm surprised they didn't simply eliminate some dates like the British did in 1758.

Yes, you are correct, Orthodox Christmas is December 25 on the old calendar. I don't know why, but all church celebrations in Russia are numbered on the old (also called church) calendar. Also, that's not so difficult at all. We have two calendars, one for secular celebrations and dates, other one - for church celebrations. That's comfortable.
Also there is many different religions here in Russia, different Christianity and different Islams, also Buddism and some old religions of nothern tribes (different chukchas and other). If do a one calendar for all, and add all this celebrations to it, this calendar would be useless.

[Daniil]

There is horrible news from Egypt. A revolution strikes back. From one view, this is not so bad in case if government doesn't follow their promises. From other side, it's terrifying and dangerous for common people.
Hey, Ahmad, how it's going on there?

[humbert]

Egypt is not even close to other places that have extremely high population densities, and yet there is no war nor any kind of violence other than an occasional common crime. As I understand it, those Egyptians who are either Coptic Christian or generally secular are fearing a takeover by Islamists who want to turn Egypt into another Saudi Arabia or Iran. Our dear friend Ahmad has told me many times he believes this will never happen. Hopefully we'll have his input soon.

[scarface]

you should see again your data mister humbert. I think Cairo is the most dense town in the world. But the real problem for Egypt is that it depends on imports for their food. look at that: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-walker/who-will-feed-egypt_b_816495.html
I read the book of San Giorgio and I remember he sayd that Egypt could have big problem when oil is going to lack.

[Ahmad]

Hello everyone

Egypt is way too crowded, I think a civil war is unavoidable.

God willing, I can assure that this won't happen ever in Egypt. We love each other very much.
The violence you see is not the base.. It happened between the worst people here who start it and Police men.
And yes, Egypt is crowded despite its large area. But this is because we live in a small part of Egypt which is beside the Nile river, and leave the vast area of the desert.

There is horrible news from Egypt. A revolution strikes back. From one view, this is not so bad in case if government doesn't follow their promises. From other side, it's terrifying and dangerous for common people.
Hey, Ahmad, how it's going on there?

Some political parties here were waiting for this day to come to remind the government with their demands that were not achieved, so they protest again in many cities demanding with re-making the constitution which has recently been elected and the majority said YES for it.

The vast majority of Egyptian people like me, don't like the president nor his government because we see that they are week and not accepted from most of us, as originally, we had elected him just because we didn't want the other guy of Mubarak who was against him in Elections, NOT because we like him.
Also, we see that he promised with somethings that he didn't achieve but he says that other parties don't help him, yet, they stand against him in every step he takes, and I can assure that this actually happens. BUT this is not our problem.. This proves your weakness.
Despite all these bad circumstances that we see, the vast majority of us keep themselves calm and don't protest like the others and say "ENOUGH" just to work and produce because we are in a critical situation right now.. We are not working nor producing since 2 years till now.. What will the protest give us ?! .. NOTHING, but more falling down.
So, we say.. We wait for him to end his term of office and elect another one who is accepted from us next time. But for now, we work and produce .. Not for him, but for our country.

As I understand it, those Egyptians who are either Coptic Christian or generally secular are fearing a takeover by Islamists who want to turn Egypt into another Saudi Arabia or Iran.

This is not the case now.. This is not even mentioned in the demands of those protesting parties because it doesn't exist to make them refuse it. The Islamists knew that this is not a matter to discuss any more.. We still as we are.

Most of the protesting people just protest in peace, but you know that there are bad people in every crowd .. Those bad people are the ones who start violence against Police men and who burn and break.. I don't know why they burn buildings and break shops !!  .. They are really strange people. And for that, we don't like protesting because we know that other bad people will do undesired actions under the name of protesting.

BUT the main event right now is in Port Said.. I think this is what you hear about in the news.
There was a football match in this city during the period before the current president.. Someone planned to kill all the audience of the guest team.. They closed gates and started to kill them without mercy.. So, the fans of this team said that they won't be calm until they take their killed friends rights, and this happened yesterday.
After investigations, nearly 21 persons were involved in this disaster and they will be executed. And there are others in prison waiting their judgment.
Of course the families of the executed persons will not stay calm, so they tried to break the prisons in Port Said and get them out, but they failed. However, many people - Police men and civil people - were killed in these events.

The solution I see is to stop protesting even if the government is not good. At least, nobody will be killed, our economy won't fall down and we will elect others next time.
I hope they understand the situation and priorities.