The Prophet Mohammed Mosque in the Saudi holy city of Medina

It always surprises me when I see photos of the faithful in Medina or Mecca during pilgrimages. There are just so many. Beautiful photo of the faithful over at The Big Picture.

Überlieferungen nach ist dies das das Willkommenslied für den Propehten (sas), als er 622 nach seiner Auswanderung aus Mekka in Yathrib (heute Medina) eintraf. Er wurde von den Bewohnern freudig empfangen, während Kinder “Tala`al-badru alaina” sangen. Das Lied ist mit 1400 Jahren somit eines der ältesten, das die islamische Kultur kennt und ist unter Muslimen auf der ganzen Welt als Kinder- und Volkslied bekannt.

طلع البدر علينا
من ثنيات الوداع
وجب الشكر علينا
ما دعى لله داع

أيها المبعوث فينا
جئت بالأمر المطاع
جئت شرفت المدينة
مرحبا يا خير داع

O the White Moon rose over us
From the Valley of Wada’
And we owe it to show gratefulness
Where the call is to Allah

O you who were raised amongst us
coming with a word to be obeyed
You have brought to this city nobleness
Welcome! best caller to God’s way

Below is a revised synopsis of home sales in Foxberry Farms in Medina, MN from 2004-2009.   The only data point that changed was the average sales price for 2009 YTD as a home closed earlier this week in Foxberry and it was not included in my earlier data posted here.

This is now the first time since the early days of the development that the average sold price is below $600,000!   The average sales price in 2009 is $590,000 down from $725,000 in 2008.  Statistically, this is an 18.6% decline in the average sales price.  This does not mean that the typical home in Foxberry Farms is down 18.6% from a year ago, but it better reflects the appetite of buyers.   There just aren’t as many people who are interested in buying $800,000 – $900,000 homes in today’s market.

I also believe that there is a major reset going on in the marketplace and it’s driven by several factors:

• lack of mortgage money in the Jumbo market
• overall economic concerns
• decline in interest in large houses because of the operating costs – taxes and utilities
• fundamental shift in thinking of American homebuyers – the house isn’t the status symbol it once was

Click on the pictures  to enlarge in a new window.   If  you’d like to stay up to date on Foxberry Farms, the click the link to subscribe to the latest MLS information.  If Wild Meadows interests you, click the link for that development.

Foxberry Farms Home Sales - Medina, MN

Foxberry Farms Sales by Finished Square Feet - Medina, MN

Sometimes I get so busy living that I don’t have time to write about it. I’m okay with that. The parts I want to remember from last weekend are the parts with candy canes and hot chocolate, streets lined with luminarias and a gazebo glowing with twinkling white lights, a small-town parade lit in the dark with cheery color, a book sale and a trolley ride, beautiful store displays. I want to remember drinking hot, spiced cider in my pink-striped flannel nightgown, breathtaking photos from the new Toast catalogs resting in my lap, and readying up our house for this first winter like a pair of woodland animals getting cozy for hibernation. These long, dark days are going to be lovely. 

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – Dr Mahmoud al-Srouji peers at a laptop computer screen showing technicolor images of a group of Indian pilgrims filing by, just off a flight from Mumbai in Jeddah airport’s massive hajj terminal.

“They don’t know that we are already checking them,” he said, referring to the small thermal camera scanning each person for a high body temperature.

“It rings if the temperature is over 38 degrees (Celsius, 98,4 degrees Fahrenheit),” he said. “It is so sensitive,

if you light up a cigarette way over there, it will sound,” he said.

It is Saudi Arabia’s first line of defence for the annual hajj, with fears over the swine flu pandemic, which has already killed four pilgrims, dominating the preparations to receive some 2,5 million Muslims in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Srouji is just one cog in a massive operation to make the hajj work – several hundred thousand security officials, health workers, guides, translators, religious advisors and baggage handlers vying to do the impossible and make sure few get sick, lost, robbed or left behind on their once-in-a-lifetime trip to the holy land where Islam began.

At Jeddah airport, Javeed Ahmed of Mumbai is on his 14th trip leading dozens of Indians on the hajj.

He said the Saudi management has improved year by year, and newly rebuilt hajj terminal arrival facilities have vastly alleviated past hassles.

“This is much better than before,” when tens of thousands of people would be pushing and shoving in passport and luggage queues.

It is chaos, but altogether pretty efficient, says French consul Christian Nakhle, who has to care for as many as 30 000 pilgrims coming from France.

“We all work 24 hours a day, seven days a week for several weeks,” he said.

Jeddah is the main port of entry for pilgrims heading to the nearby holy places.

At the airport’s hajj terminal – an airy structure looking from a distance like a desert Bedouin encampment – a passenger jet lands every few minutes, disembarking pilgrims from around the world into a huge hall decorated with welcome banners and Panasonic advertisements.

It is a huge mixing bowl of ethnicities and germs. But Srouji said that of the 5 000 people a day who pass by his camera alone – there are 11 other such stations – so far he has picked up only one person with a feverish temperature.

As well as the flu, the doctors police for vaccinations, and have already pushed on arriving pilgrims 300 000 oral polio vaccines, and 100 000 meningitis prophylactic-antibiotic combinations.

“We have to watch them take it,” says the terminal’s medical director Dr Mohammed al-Harathy.

Caring for so many is not just a government effort. Hundreds of travel agents and foreign missions are all working round the clock to deal with myriad problems, says Nakhle.

The French consulate has brought in extra staff to deal with the inevitable medical emergencies and lost passports and other travel problems.

Last year, for instance, an aircraft showed up two days late to pick up its load of returning, hotel-less pilgrims.

This year, he has three French-speaking doctors on call full-time, three dedicated motorcycle drivers to get documents and other supplies through impenetrable Mecca traffic, and roll-up mattresses for staff inside Mecca who follow the French hajj groups around full time, but sometimes cannot get back to their hotels.

The motorcycles are crucial, he said. A year ago, a French pilgrim appeared to be having a heart attack. They had to load the man on the back of a motorcycle to get him through the traffic to where a car could take him to hospital.

Eventually, the consulate had to organise a flight for the man and a doctor to accompany him back to France for treatment.

In addition to sleepless days and nights, taking care of the French pilgrims “involves a lot of money,” Nakhle said.

Ci siamo. Qualche giorno ancora è l’Aîd El-Kebir, come si chiama in Marocco l’Aîd El-Adha, arriverà. Arriverà a stordirmi la vita.  Premetto che sono ospite in questo Paese quindi accetto e rispetto in toto le loro tradizioni e tutto quello che è la loro cultura, ma l’Aid El-Kebir è un vero incubo per me. La soluzione? Semplice, mi barrico nel Riad e per un paio di giorni non metto fuori il naso, e mi tappo le orecchie perchè nella medina si sentono belati strazianti ovunque, come adesso che sto scrivendo dall’ufficio.  In questi giorni centinaia di dibattiti sui blogs degli animalisti, nelle televisioni e sui giornali mettono, come ogni anno, il dito nella piaga. Perchè far soffrire cosi’ gratuitamente un povero animale lasciandolo cosciente durante la sua agonia?,  perchè non cercare almeno di stordirlo perchè i suoi ultimi minuti di esistenza siano lievi?..,  perchè in nome di un rituale antico di secoli non si puo’ trovare una soluzione più accettabile considerando che siamo nel terzo millennio?…..potrei andare avanti all’infinito. La mia riflessione parte da un altra considerazione: perchè la corrida, strumento di spettacolo ( e non religioso) continua ad esistere in un Paese assolutamente civile rispetto a molti Paesi arabi?   La pratica della tauromachia è puramente spettacolare, racchiudendo in se una nicchia culturale certo,  ma pur sempre spettacolo per le folle. E ancora penso agli allevamenti intesivi dei vitelli da latte o alla forzata alimentazione delle oche per produrre un fegato enorme e di conseguenza un paté consistente e brelibato (per gli estimatori). Tante sono le questioni  sul tavolo e ovviamente trovare una risposta solida non è facile. Qui si tratta di morte (come nella corrida) in nome di una tradizione religiosa che, a detta di molti esperti arabi, ha sconfinato nella pura festa goliardica e godereccia. Tutti quelli che erano i pressuposti di pietà, di condivisione, di solidarietà, sono pressochè scomparsi in questi tempi moderni. Quindi allora perchè non trovare una soluzione e permettere che questo sacrificio diventi più tollerato anche dalle frange occidentali più intolleranti? La risposta secondo me e semplice e di facile interpretazione. Il procedimento dello sgozzamento, lasciando l’animale cosciente, coricato su di un fianco con la testa rivolta verso la Mecca, pronunciando alcune parole dedicate ad Allah, non è una pratica ad uso esclusivo dell’Aid El-Kebir ma é la procedura consueta nei mattatoi islamici.  Sempre si dissangua l’animale perchè la carne deve essere Halal e qualsiasi tipo di animale riceve questo trattamento, non solo il montone ma galline, mucche, conigli e uccelli. Quindi il problema si ribalta e diventa più generale. E’ vero che durante l’Aïd in Marocco quasi 5 milioni di montoni vengono sgozzati all’unisono e lasciati agonizzare, ma cio’ non toglie che non sia un caso isolato, un giorno all’anno. Quindi, a mio giudizio, è un problema culturale e di civiltà (non di religione), di metodo, che non puo’ essere eliminato da un giorno all’altro. La religione non richiede espressamente che l’animale sia vigile e cosciente.  Durante una conferenza tenuta al Cairo nel 1966, sotto il patrocinio dell‘Accademia Islamica, un buon numero di eruditi musulmani si sono espressi sul soggetto del sacrificio nell‘Islam. Una delle conclusione è stata: ” Il Corano formula chiaramente che il Creatore (Dio) non desidera il sacrificio come tale, ma come simbolo della devozione a Dio del sacrificante. Il versetto del Corano 22:37 indica espressamente che il sacrificio  non deve sussistere come componente essenziale della religione, ma un atto di carità destinato ai poveri“. Questa espressione di sacrificio permette di perpetuare una necessità di ordine umanitario, la prova provata di una  compassione verso i fratelli umani nel bisogno, come testimonianza della compassione che Dio accorda agli uomini. Il Grand Mufti di Marsiglia ha dichiarato che ” Durante i primi tempi dell’Islam la tradizione di offrire degli animali aveva un senso. La carne era un ingrediente essenziale dell’alimentazione umana. Nei nostri giorni uccidere un animale è diventato un rituale vuoto e il senso profondo dell’atto è stato dimenticato“.  Ha concluso esprimendo il concetto che “l’immolazione di un montone nell’occasione dell’Aid  El-Kebir non è un pilastro dell’Islam, ne un obbligazione comparabile alla preghiera o al digiuno del Ramadan“. Detto questo si puo’ tranquillamente affermare che nulla vieta di stordire l’animale prima di procedere allo sgozzamento, non vi è traccia alcuna sul Corano che proibisca questa pratica di pietà. Anzi, in alcuni Paesi a forte componenete islamica questa pratica è già una realtà, come in  Kenia e in alcuni Paesi asiatici. Credo sia esclusivamente una questione di tempo e anche il Marocco, molto vicino all’Europa,  si uniformerà alle leggi vigenti, in funzione del fatto che è disumano far soffrire gli animali in questo modo e, cosa molto importante, per una questione di igiene. La maggiorparte di questi sacrifici non sono compiuti in mattatoi autorizzati ma nelle singole abitazioni dei privati, a volte in condizioni deprecabili. Questo comporta tutta una serie di problemi sanitari non indifferenti, con la presenza costante di bambini e anziani, che sono i soggetti più esposti e più fragili.  So per certo comunque che una percentuale di persone, ogni anno più numerose, di ceto medio alto e culturalmente preparate, scelgono i giorni dell’Aid per andarsene in viaggio, in Paesi dove ovviamente non si festeggia questa tradizione. Mentre dilaga in in Algeria una moda che vuole il combattimento tra possenti maschi di montone che, ovviamente, porta alla morte di uno dei due animali. Non è servito il richiamo degli Imam del Paese per scongiurare questa attività, e per 3/4 giorni prima del sacrificio in ogni luogo si improvvisano i combattimenti. Spero tanto che questa moda non dilaghi anche qui in Marocco! Queste considerazioni comunque mi conducono al discorso precedente; è un problema di cultura e non di religione, di civiltà e di rispetto verso tutti gli esseri viventi.  Mi rammento, per chiudere e spezzare una lancia, di certe pratiche che ancora oggi in un paese civile come l’Italia, perdurano nelle campagne. Molte volte mi sono fermato alla vista, in qualche bella aia del cuneese, di conigli appesi a dissanguare o a vedere l’amico contadino che, con un colpo preciso, sgozzava il povero pennuto; non dico che tutto il mondo è Paese ma cerchiamo di essere realisti e comprendere che costumi di una qualsiasi società sono difficili da sdradicare, quindi pazienza e coraggio, affidando alle nuove generazioni un po’ più di buonsenso.

Vedi anche http://myamazighen.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/aid-el-kebir-2009/ 

Agadir is known as one of the best beach towns in Morocco, it is also one of the major fishing port serving the area around. It is a very popular destination for tourists that most of them are from Europe, which makes it one of the most visited cities in Africa.

This city was rebuilt after a major earthquake that happened in 1960, which makes it mostly more modern than cities like Fes and Marrakech.

It has a wide stretch of beach that has a lot of hotels and attraction establishments.

There are some more beaches in the 50 miles radius, that are less crowded than the one that at the city, like Aghroud, Sidi Rbat, Tifnit, and Imessouane.

Also a very known large market where everything is sold from food to souvenirs, which is a short distance from the city center is called souk elhad, not to confuse with the city’s central market.

About 10 minutes from the city a brand new old style Medina built out of traditional materials. Very faithful to old gorgeous constructions.

For art lovers Agadir’s Museum of Berber Art is another great significant cultural spot. It is certainly a small folk art museum showing carpets, costumes, and other traditional 19thcentury Moroccan objects.

Children would love Agadirs La Valle des Oiseaux, it is a small zoo with a rich collection of birds, as well as goats and ostriches.

It also has a large birdcage with a tunnel you can walk thru for close up viewing of flamingoes, ducks, and an assortment of other natural aviators.
Very important to mention that Agadir has many truly fabulous restaurants, from authentic Moroccan to French Moroccan fusion. A good rule of thumb for choosing restaurants is to avoid those catering solely to tourists.

]]> http://johnmurphyreports.com/2009/11/22/medina-highlands-luxury-townhomes-2009-sales-charles-cudd-development/ Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:34:40 +0000 johnmurphymn http://johnmurphyreports.com/2009/11/22/medina-highlands-luxury-townhomes-2009-sales-charles-cudd-development/

Medina Highlands is one of the premier townhome developments in the Twin Cities western suburbs.  The development consists of 68 units is located near Highway 55 and County Road 101 on the eastern edge of Medina next to the Elm Creek Golf Course in Plymouth, MN.

There are currently 6 Medina Highlands luxury townhomes for sale ranging in price from $435,500 to $589,000.   So far 2 Medina Highlands townhomes have sold in 2009.  One sold for $429,900 and the other sold for $497,500.   The former was  a bank owned property.

Subscribe to Medina Foreclosures and stay updated on the latest bank owned property and short sale opportunities in Medina, MN.

Medina é uma cantora dinamarquesa que já tem alguns anos de estrada, mas até agora não era muito conhecida fora de seu país, essa música originalmente se chama “Kun For Mig” que virou um hit em seu país, agora a cantora decidiu lançar a música em inglês e tentar conquistar o resto do mundo!

O clipe de “You And I” já está em exibição na MTV Brasil. Esta música também possui remixes de grandes nomes como: Deadmau5 e Spencer & Hill.

Clique aqui para baixar (4shared).

PS: a foto que está no banner do blog é da cantora Medina

]]> http://fernandomendes.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/chefchaouen-morocco/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:22:12 +0000 Fernando Mendes http://fernandomendes.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/chefchaouen-morocco/

Chefchaouen or Chaouen is a city in northwest Morocco. It is the chief town of the province of the same name, and is noted for its buildings in shades of blue.

Chefchaouen is situated in the Rif Mountains, just inland from Tangier and Tetouan. The city was founded in 1471, as a small fortress which still exists to this day, by Moorish exiles from Spain led by Moulay Ali Ben Moussa Ben Rached El Alami to fight the Portuguese invasions of northern Morocco.

It was known as one of the main concentrations of Moriscos and Jews who sought refuge in this mountainous city after the Spanish Reconquista in medieval times.

Chefchaouen or Chaouen, as it is often called by Moroccans, is a popular tourist destination because of its proximity to Tangier and Ceuta. The name refers to the shape of the mountain tops above the town that look like the two horns (chaoua) of a goat. “Chef Chaouen” literally means “look at the horns”. There are approximately two hundred hotels catering to the summer influx of European tourists. One distinction possessed by Chefchaouen is its blue-rinsed houses and buildings, a tradition that comes from the town’s former Jewish population.

Chefchaouen is a popular shopping destination as well, as it offers many native handicrafts that are not available elsewhere in Morocco, such as wool garments and woven blankets. The goat cheese native to the area is also popular with tourists.

The countryside around it has a reputation for being a prolific source of kif (marijuana). The Chefchaouen region is one of the main producers of cannabis in Morocco. Hashish is subsequently sold all over town, but is mostly the domain of native Chaouenis.

The growing tourist industry is geared especially towards Spanish tourists, who are especially numerous during great Catholic feasts like Seminar Santa and Christmas.

There are a number of distinct mosques in the town. Aside from the mosque at Place Uta Hammam in the medina, there is also a mosque dedicated to the patron saint of Northern Morocco’s Jebalah region, Moulay Abdeslam Ben Mchich Alami. His tomb and the village surrounding it is by the way an hour’s drive or so from Chefchaouen on the old road to Larache.

Chefchaouen is home to the only octagonal minaret in Islam. There is also a ruined mosque built by the Spanish, with stairs still in the tower. In Wikipedia

In the previous 3 pieces, I defined and analyzed the problem in the previous 3 pieces, and suggested improvements – most of which have already succeeded in solving similar problems in other cities. The only thing unique is that Cleveland has allowed itself to fall so low. My commenter lsbnbj blames a lack of leadership for the problems. This is true. By definition, strong, wise, caring leadership would not have allowed this decline to occur.

That said, it doesn’t take brilliant leadership to follow in the path of regeneration that other cities have already established. Mostly it takes persistence, concentration and cooperation. This is something that even bureaucrats could accomplish, if they were empowered to do so. What does take leadership is in persuading people, at the beginning, to support a new system that would be much more effective in achieving its goals. This is how I would do it:

Set Goals
In the 3 previous pieces in this series, I set out what I think are necessary goals to achieve in order to revitalize Cleveland and its surrounding region:
1. Think and cooperate regionally
2. Bring in businesses and jobs
3. Bring new people into the region’s urban cores

Leadership and persuasion: how to get things started.
I know many people who think the leadership in and around Cleveland are ineffective, uncooperative, self-interested idiots – often using that or similar language to describe them. Credibility is the foundation upon which effective persuasion is built. Cleveland and the other regional urban cores need to do competently and successfully those things that are within their power to do to help themselves. I suggested things that are simple, cheap and effective: tax credits for renovation, being easy to do business with, and community-police trust building and cooperation. To the extent that these things build up the tax base, they can provide revenue for more baby-steps. An unmistakable pattern of many small successes sustained over time will build credibility. Credibility is requisite to persuasion, which is the vehicle to achieving cooperation.

If Cleveland and the other cities in the region want help, they have to change minds by showing that they are serious about fixing their problems, and will wisely apply any and all resources to effectively uplift their own city, and the region as a whole. Once Cleveland and the other cities within the region show they are serious about growth and revitalization, then they can begin to make the case that ‘if we all work together, we can grow, better, stronger, faster than we would alone’.

Right now, Akron is most ready to lead. Akron may not be the largest city in the region – but for now, it should be the face of the region. Akron convinced me to move into the city – even though I could have afforded a house almost anywhere in the region – even in the most expensive suburbs. Akron should be the leader and role model for the rest of the region until some other city in the region can do better than Akron.

Like I said in my very first piece, ‘to  be effective, the idea of reform must become a vision compelling to all. Like President Obama says we need change we can believe in. Its not enough to have some vague notion of it – a concrete plan must be made and executed. Those with an interest in reform must help set the agenda, or those who favor the current state of affairs will corrupt the agenda, and make the reforms ineffective’.

It will also take a strong, caring leader who is willing to be abused in his official capacity by many people both petty and well-intentioned. Do you know such a leader who wants to revitalize Cleveland and its surrounding communities? Ask him if he will stand for election.

Cleveland could attract decent leadership again.    Former Cleveland mayors George Voinovich (Republican) and Michael White (Democrat) both were able to make substantial headway for 2 decades straight  The North-East Ohio region has no shortage of good business leaders either – the supply of leaders is here.  Now, the region has to make sure the demand is there and make sure that demand is clearly understood by those who would want to lead us to better days.

Working at a regional level should increase the amount of demand (more highly-educated voters in the suburbs who will vote in favor of leaders who will bring success). As a community, our region can do a lot to attract good leaders, by making the leadership jobs satisfying and effective. By satisfying I mean having appropriate power without any unnecessary administrative restrictions – that is no restriction except for meaningful oversight, clear objectives and clear responsibilities that do not compete with or overlap other people’s responsibility and vice-versa. In short, we have to convince potential leaders that there is a prospect of success if they come here. Think about it: no one wants to be fired from running Cleveland – you can get any lower than that. It would also help if we set up the leadership jobs to be competitively (but not extravagantly) paid.

Planning and Execution: how to finish it.
A simple referendum should be held once enough people are persuaded that there is a realistic chance of success. The ballot measure should read:

TITLE 1:   CREATE A NEW LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE (NLGS) that merges the counties of North East Ohio and their cities and their suburbs and empowers it with the revenues and powers of the merged jurisdictions for the purpose of accomplishing Titles 2 and 3.

• The counties to be included are Cuyahoga, Summit, Lake, Mahoning, Trumbull, Stark, Wayne, Portage, Geauga, Medina and Lorain.
• The NLGS should include an elected legislative power, and an elected executive power.
• The legislative power should include 1 representative from each county (11 total) and 9 more at-large representatives, all elected by popular vote. The legislature would legislate on those matters that can not be handled administratively. The legislature would have powers of subpoena in matters within their jurisdiction and a staff of whatever experts and clerical workers they may need.
• The NLGS will measure their own progress using these measures of success: Measure #1-a: The net number of full-time jobs created within the area of the NLGS that pay at least $15/hour. Measure #1-b: the net number of full-time jobs created within the area of the NLGS that pay at least $25/hour. Measure #2: the % population growth each year within the area of the NLGS. Measure #3: cost per resident to run the NLGS (the budget should be balanced within any 4 year period, although not necessarily in individual years). Measure #4: the net square footage of newly renovated buildings in current use.  These results will be verified annually by an independent auditor.

TITLE 2:   CREATE A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY with broad administrative powers to bring in businesses and jobs, by being an easy place in which to do business, building on existing strengths and turning weaknesses into strengths, etc. This Authority will be required to improve all gains 2 years out of any 3 year period. This would report to the executive. The legislature will establish a committee to oversee this Authority generally.

TITLE 3:  CREATE A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY with broad administrative powers to bring people into this region, especially the cities, by making the cities nice places to live in both actuality and perception. This Authority will be required to improve all gains 2 years out of any 3 year period. This would report to the executive. The legislature will establish a committee to oversee this Authority generally.

TITLE 4:   ALL EXISTING LOCAL BODIES THAT PERFORM THESE SAME RESPONSIBILITIES AS THOSE CREATED IN TITLES 1-3 WILL BE ABOLISHED.

TITLE 5:   THE NLGS WILL BE ELECTED EVERY 4 YEARS, to coincide with the US presidential election. No one may serve more than 3 terms in the NLGS regardless of capacity or capability. No one may stand for election who has been convicted of any kind of corruption, or who has been found to be incompetent in his NLGS role, or who has served in a previous NLGS term that did not meet its numerical objectives. Pay for NLGS executive, legislature and Development Authorities members will be competitive with cities of similar size and challenges, but not extravagant. Pay will be 1/3 base pay, 1/3 current-performance bonus and 1/3 deferred-performance bonus over a 5 year period, where the deferred pay depends on the performance in the year preceding the bonus payment.

TITLE 6:  ESCAPE CLAUSE: in 16 years time, the voters should have the opportunity, to dissolve the new governing structure, by a 2/3 majority vote, and revert to the previous system of governance.

So, what say?  Lets start turning this region around.

Tra meno di due settimane avrà inizio la 9a Edizione del Festival Internazionale del Film di Marrakech (FIFM). Registi da utto il mondo saranno presenti al rendez-vous dal 4 al 12 dicembre e prenderanno parte a diverse attività in programma. Il realizzatore e scenografo messicano Alfonso Cuaron, il  regista australiano Christopher Doyle, il regista Jim Jarmusch e il regista/attore serbo Emil Kusturica daranno vita ad un Master Class che avrà luogo nelle sale degli Ambasciatori al Palais des Congres, sede ufficiale del Festival, red carpet incluso. Ricordo che il Presidente della giuria è Abbas Kiarostami, regista, scenografo e produttore iraniano, premiato con una Palma d’oro per “Il gusto delle ciliegie“. Kiarostami sarà circondato da uomini e donne del cinema internazionale. Cito l’attrice francese Fanny Ardant, il regista palestinese Elia Suleiman, l’attrice nostrana Isabella Ferrari e il regista/scrittore francese Christophe Honore. Membri della giuria l’attrice spagnola Marisa Redes, il regista britannico Mike Figgis, l’attrice indiana Nandita Das e l’argentino Pablo Trapero. Nella cerimonia di chiusura prevista per sabato 12 dicembre, la giuria premierà con quattro Stelle d’Oro (Grand Prix) i migliori films, oltre ad un premio della Critica e un premio per la miglior interpretazione femminile e maschile. Nel quadro dell’omaggio reso al cinema asiatico, il FIFM ha previsto un programma dedicato al cinema thailandese. Questo settore in Thailandia sta conoscendo una florescenza artistica che dura da alcuni anni con numerosi giovani attori come Nonzee Nimibutr, Pen Ek Ratanaruang e Oxide Pang. Lo sguardo sul cinema thailandese avrà inizio giovedi’ 10 dicembre, in presenza di una delegazione di registi thailandesi. Una selezione dei films sarà proiettata durante tutta la durata del Festival, secondo programma della manifestazione.

Medina, MN has seen closed home sales transactions increase 23% year over year through October.  So far this year 48 homes have closed whereas last year it was only 39.   I believe the main reason closed sales activity has increased because prices have dropped by 10% compared to one year ago.   This is a consistent pattern that we see throughout the Twin Cities.   Prices drop by 10-20% and sales start increasing!   Imagine that!

2009 YTD through October:

Median Sales Price: $582,500  (-10.4%)

Average Sales Price: $616,105 (-10.2%)

Average Days on Market: 209 (-8.7%)

Percent of Original Price Received at Sale: 89.6% (-1.6%)

Click the link for Medina, MN Home Sales statistics found at the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors site.

In 2006-2007 the median and average sales prices in Medina consistently were in the $800,000 – $850,000 range.

The reality is that there have been few sales in Wild Meadows this year where it’s difficult to purchase a home under $800,000.    In Foxberry Farms, it was common to see several sales each year in the upper $700,000’s as well as in to the $800,000’s.   There have even been a few $900,000’s, but not this year.   In Bridgewater, homes used to consistently sell for between $850,000 -$950,000 but now it seems they have to go to the upper $600,000’s to mid $700,000’s to sell.   Medina Highlands is a beautiful luxury townhome community in Medina.   They used to sell in the upper $500,000’s to mid $600,000’s but now they appear to be selling in the mid $400,000’s to very low $500,000’s.

With more new construction competition coming from the likes of Pulte Homes’ Elm Creek Highlands development located in the Wayzata School District, this is likely to continue to keep the pricing pressure on homes in Medina.

Previously:
November Medina Park Edit
October Montage Medina, Ohio

L’Aïd el Kébir (festa del sacrificio) si svolgerà  il 27  Novembre 2009, ma saro’ più preciso tra qualche giorno, in quanto, come tutte le feste religiose islamiche, é strettamente correlata al cambio della luna. Questa festa ha la durata di alcuni giorni ed é la più importante dell‘Islam, simbolo di sottomissione totale di Abramo e, per estensione, di tutti i credenti in Dio (Allah). Ha luogo il 10° giorno del Dhou al Hijja, ultimo mese del calendario musulmano e segna la fine del pellegrinaggio alla Mecca. Secondo il Corano, Abramo, inviato di Dio, obbedendo ad un comandamento divino, si appresto’ a sacrificare il suo unico figlio, Ismaele, nato dalla sua unione con Hajar, una ex serva della sua prima moglie Sarah, quando l’Arcangelo Gabriele sostitui’, nel momento dell’uccisione, un montone a Ismaele. Questo avvenimento é situato in prossimità della Mecca e, per sottomissione a Dio, Abramo é considerato come il migliore dei musulmani. Secondo la Bibbia invece, Abramo é un discendente di Noè. Obbedendo a Dio si appresto’ a sacrificare il figlio Isacco, nato dalla sua prima moglie Sarah, e tre erano gli angeli presenti. Abramo caccio’ nel deserto la sua serva Hajar e il loro figlio Ismaele. L’intervento di Dio salvo’ poi Isacco e l’avvenimento è situato a Gerusalemme. L’animale da sacrificare (il montone) non deve essere ucciso all’istante ma dissanguato. Secondo la legge islamica, questa operazione spetta al capofamiglia, che puo’ delegare un sacrificatore riconosciuto, e deve essere compiuta dopo la preghiera dell’Aid, venti minuti circa prima dell’alba, chiamata da un Imam. Il montone deve essere poi diviso in tre parti uguali; una per la famiglia, una per i vicini e amici e l’ultima, composta dai pezzi più prelibati, deve essere donata i poveri. Nel Maghreb e in Egitto si utilizza il nome Aïd el Kébir (grande festa) per distinguerla dall’Aïd el Seghir (piccola festa), che segna la fine del Ramadan. In Arabia Saudita e negli altri Paesi musulmani é chiamata Aïd el Adha. Postero’ in seguito sugli aspetti sociali, culturali e folcloristici di questa festività, importante e spettacolare, che puo’ pero’ essere poco tollerata dai turisti occidentali in quanto sono  momenti abbastanza forti e violenti; si calcola che circa 5 milioni di montoni vengono sgozzati nella mattina del Aïd in Marocco. Quindi a tutti gli animalisti e alle persone estremamente sensibili,  consiglio di non raggiungere il Marocco ( e comunque i Paesi musulmani) in quei giorni.

New York destinazione Marrakech!. E’ in Marocco, nella Ville Rouge, che le fashion protagoniste hanno posato le loro valigie Louis Vuitton, per girare alcune scene del secondo film di “Sex & the City“. Forse finalmente si potrà vedere un cambio di look, abbandonando i tacchi a spillo “Jimmy Choo” per indossare delle babouches?. “Mai” dichiara Carrie Bradshaw. Accompagnate da tutta l’equipe delle riprese, le quattro attrici si sono installate per circa sei settimane a Marrakech, sorseggiando thé alla menta e Bloody Mary…le riprese si sono svolte in alcuni Hotels della città tra cui il Mandalina Resort, in fase di costruzione, con apertura prevista per il 2010. Mobili, suppellettili e quant’altro sono stati trasportati dall’America per poter ricostruire parti del set nell’Hotel-Resort, praticamente work in progress.

On our way to 7eme Art Snack & Cafe for a hamburger (or at least that was the plan) we passed by Tagadirt Restaurant on Mohammed V Avenue.  I’ve always noticed a lot of people eating here and their colorful food sign above the restaurant that show pizza, chicken, burgers and sandwiches with lots of French fries, of course!  This time, it seemed to catch my husband’s eye to because he mentioned that it looked nice and maybe we should try it.  We talked about it for another block heading still in the direction of 7eme, but before we turned the corner we decided to go back and check out the menu which they have blown up right outside the restaurant.  We did it- we sat down and decided to try a new place instead of sticking with one of our safe three choices for a change.  The menu is short, simple, and cheap. 

Pizza, burgers, sandwiches and paninis, and salad as well as roasted chicken are all on the menu.  The sandwiches, burgers, and paninis range from 20-28 DH all with fries included.  The pizzas range in price from 30 DH-40 DH and they even had a “Hawaienne” choice.  The salads were reasonably priced as well, but I didn’t see any on the customers tables to see how they looked.  It’s a simple menu and a great place for a quick cheap lunch in the medina.

We both ordered burgers, mine with cheese, and two Coca Lights.   The food came out very quickly which was nice because we were quite hungry!  Now, as far as burgers go, this was the best one I’ve had at a Moroccan establishment.  Unfortunately, restaurants in this country don’t quite get how to make a real burger even though they have the very basic resources to do so.  They are often thin, don’t have a good caramelization on the outside and are served on bread to thick for the small patty.  However, the Tagadirt version was good comparatively to others I’ve had.  I think I said this about 7eme when we ate burgers there, but this one is better.  They also have a close version of real ketchup served in generic bottles so I don’t know the brand, but it was thick, tangy, and less sweet than the other popular brands served at most places.  The fries are always good at almost any place you get them, so there’s no need to harp too much on them. 

The other great thing about ordering the burger was it came with a real dill pickle slice served on the side (which I put inside one half of my burger).  Next time, I’ll ask for two pickles so I can top both halves.  I’ve mentioned before that Moroccan pickles have a spiky salty flavor that’s just too intense, but these were mild and perfect. 

There are some other tempting sandwiches on the menu that I think I’d like to try another time, and we both agreed it was a place we’d like to visit again.  They have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.  They provide real napkins, as opposed to the newsprint of many other places, and it is super clean.  I didn’t check out the bathroom situation, but maybe next time I’ll do that too and update the post. 

The restaurant is located on Mohammed V Avenue directly across from the BMCE bank.  It offers quick and friendly service and a nice outdoor setting for people watching.  I definitely recommend it for the budget conscious person looking for a simple meal.   

I’ve been posting updates on Best Bite posts whenever I try something new at the same restaurant, and will do so here if and when that happens.  Updates are in bold green print at the bottom of the post so you can just scroll down to see updated information.

On route to Medina, we stopped at a petrol station. This Gent. was performing ablution as the time for Afternoon prayers (Asr) was fast approaching.

(Continuing the series of images that I never uploaded before for one reason or another).