19 Anniversary of Srebrenica Genocide
Photo: Reuters

When US diplomat Richard Holbrooke and former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt gathered Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks), Serbs and Croats together in 1995 at an American air force base near Dayton, Ohio, harassing them into a deal that would end years of terror, genocide and ethnic cleansing that became the modus operandi of what initially appeared to be Serbian resistance to a breakup of communist Yugoslavia but emerged as an utterly brutal attempt to widen borders of Greater Serbia on the territory of former Yugoslavia, the world breathed a sigh of relief. Dayton peace agreement for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) was signed in November 1995. Consequently, Carl Bildt was installed as the first High Representative for BiH and remained in that role during the initial crucial 18 months of implementation of the Dayton agreement.

Holbrooke and Bildt essentially endorsed the partition of the country…

Happy Supermoon Night. The sky is flooded with white light.

Malala Yousafzai knows fear, but she has overcome it.

I am also wishing Malala Yousafzai a happy birthday. She is seventeen years old today. Yes, just seventeen. She is in Nigeria, campaigning for those schoolgirls (an estimated 223 teenagers, who were about to take their exams) stolen from their boarding school – and their families – and now reportedly split up into groups scattered through a forested area. Now on Monday it will be exactly three months since they were kidnapped. The #bringbackourgirls hashtag campaign lasted a few weeks; then people moved on to the next global cause. But causes like women’s and girls’ rights never go away. You can’t move on from them. Malala, who was once the center of the world’s attention herself, is refocusing us. Because, no, after all the denials, protests, prevaricating and excuses, the girls…

What a series. We lit some dynamite this week, didn’t we? I had looked forward to introducing the all-star band of storytellers who had so much to teach us but they were the ones to be astonished by the level and depth of your response. Watching the relationships unfold was wonderful.

The success of the series Outsider, Looking In made me think again about the power of storytelling. Why would most of us – even a nerd like me – rather read a story than a textbook? Even to the point of spending years making them up for the hours it takes to read something called fiction? It’s as simple as that we are less lonely when we open ourselves to the world of another human being. Information alone doesn’t give us a sense of attachment or community. Which is why you have the social misfit geniuses, their mind plenty…

~~July 12, 2014~~ 

TIMELAPSE

Dubai Aviation Corporation, trading as flydubai, is a low-cost airline with its head office and flight operations in Terminal 2 of Dubai International Airport.

The airline was established by the government of Dubai in July 2008. Although flydubai is not part of The Emirates Group, Emirates supported flydubai during the initial establishing phase. 

On 14 July 2008, flydubai signed a firm order with American aircraft manufacturer Boeing at the Farnborough Air Show for 50 Boeing 737-800s with a total value of $3.74 billion, with the option to change the order to the longer range Boeing 737-900ER, according to the airline’s demand. The first of these aircraft was delivered on 17 May 2009. Scheduled flights commenced on 1 June, with services to Beirut, Lebanon and Amman, Jordan.

Since then, the route network has been significantly expanded. In October 2013, the…

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Stirred by the Sacred…
originally posted by Tara

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In the highest moments of human intensity, words become silent.
~ John O’donohue

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TODAY:
After a stormy wet start to the weekend, the days vacillated between sun and dark cloud…light and dark…Yet, today, I woke to glorious summer sunshine…a delight!

IN ONE WORD:
Humble

COLOUR OF THE DAY:
I can smell wonderful Green herbs from my little Courtyard garden…Thyme, Rosemary, Mint, Basil and more…

HOW I FEEL:
I woke early then enjoyed reading the last 2 chapters of my book – the Biography of Fr. Bebe Griffiths…I found the end deeply moving, which set the tone for my day…reverent, silent, reflective – gently aware of inner changes taking place, appreciating all of life and its lessons. Learning, growing, blossoming. Opening to new ideas, ideals, ways of ‘being’ and realising that all of life’s possibilities are before me…

PHYSICALLY:
Settled – moving slowly…

~~July 11, 2014~~

“It Is What It Is” has been honored to receive this blogging award from the Idealistic Rebel. You an find her here:  https://idealisticrebel.wordpress.com/

This is a very interesting, educational and engaging blog. I recommend that you stop by and take a look!

This Award is designed to show Appreciation for the wonderful people who visit my blog and contribute their support and ideas.

There are no rules or requirements assigned for this award.

I have met many bloggers in the short time that this blog (my spot) has been operational. I have learned what I know about blogging from those who stop here and interact with me. I have created bonds with some which I believe will be for life. I’m learning from all of you. For that, I am very grateful.

~~Here are the people I wish to thank~~

Barbara (I need to give…

Sometimes you just need a break. A break from everything you are and everything people want you to be and do. I am sure at some moment in our lives we all feel the same, just a break. From yesterday and last week, from tomorrow and what might be.

Today I woke in my hotel room overlooking the Duomo. I asked for pancetta,bruschetta and tea from room service and slowly ate sitting on the small yet quaint veranda in my room still dressed in pajamas welcoming the sun. I have no agenda. I plan to take the day as it comes. I am in Florence Italy where I have dreamt of being for years and I will not waste my time making plans. I am here for eight days and after I leave here I will have eight days in Rome. Immersing myself in the lifestyle is my main objective…