Ramadhan is the month that has been specifically designated for renewal of spiritual overhaul for Moslems: greater religious adherence, reflection and greater goodwill towards others. The daylight hours abstinence from all objects of appetite that takes place during Ramadhan is beneficial to the health and teaches self control and sympathy for the less fortunate.

The first day of the month following the end of Ramadhan is Eid El Fitr, a celebration that is marked by prayers and by festivities that include feasts and exchange of gifts. In addition to family members, friends and neighbors are traditionally invited to join in the celebration.

As part of the 11th annual Arab Film Festival, the movie "Making Of", will be shown in late October in San Francisco and San Jose.

The film is directed by internationally celebrated Tunisian director, Nouri Bouzid. The award winning movie is about a young Tunisian man's struggle with societal neglect and an ideology of violence.

"I am grateful to everyone who helped make the Study-in-Tunisia Scholarship possible. The experience I had this summer will be one that I cherish for the rest of my life..."

From a report by UAB student Samuel E. Gentle, Study-In-Tunisia Scholarship 2007 awardee.

This is a category in our Women's Section that constiutes an invitation to our members to contribute with their imaginative writing.

We welcome pieces of fiction, drama, screenwriting, poetry, autobiography, creative non-fiction, writing that self-consciously mixes these genres, and other forms of writing.

The Hala Salaam Maksoud Foundation for Arab- American Leadership is dedicated to identifying, nurturing and developing future Arab-American leaders.

The Foundation is welcoming applications for its next intensive, 5-day leadership training seminars scheduled for Oct. 24-28, and Nov. 14-18, 2007, in Washington, DC. Applicants for both seminars are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

"The Laffer Curve -[illustration of the idea that setting tax rates at an optimum point maximizes the tax revenue]- was not invented by me. Ibn Khaldun, the 14th century [Tunisian] philosopher, wrote in his work The Muqaddimah: "It should be known that at the beginning of the dynasty, taxation yields a large revenue from small assessments. At the end of the dynasty, taxation yields a small revenue from large assessments.""

Economist Arthur B. Laffer (June 1, 2004 at The Heritage Foundation)