It’s taken me three and a half years to make good on my threat to revamp the look of this blog. I’m not quite satisfied yet, but I think it’s getting there. The idea is to make it a bit more functional, less linear, and better suited to navigating the archives.
I have several new features I’ve been developing that I hope to roll out this summer, now that I have a little more time. (I graduated last Thursday, so it’s Dr. QN Bek from here on out…)
In the meantime, if you have any thoughts, comments, critiques, or suggestions for what you’d like to see on the All-New 2012 Qifa Nabki version 2.0, don’t be shy.
Qifa Nabki 
Prof. Dr. QN Bek:
1- bring back the hookah smoking cow (I would even recommend getting a registered trademark for QN and for that graphic)
2- navigating and jumping around thematically is fine, but don’t remove the linear log of posts. As it is I can only find the previous one (<< The Number One Sunni in Lebanon) at the bottom of this post
3- when the academic year starts maybe your students can get homework assignments to contribute certain posts (?)
4- those video debates/interviews are fantastic; more please
Posted by Honest Patriot | May 29, 2012, 9:16 pmThanks HP
The hookah smoking cow is still there, on the main page. I may try to find a way to squeeze it in the banner instead…
The most recent posts can be found on the main page. (Click the “Qifa Nabki” title at the top of this page to see them listed).
Posted by Qifa Nabki | May 29, 2012, 9:27 pmThe makeover looks good. Happy you kept the cow smoking the arguileh.
One observation I have, is that the comments are not numbered.
Posted by Ras Beirut | May 29, 2012, 9:31 pmGood point Ras Beirut…
Not sure what I can do about that. Will look into it.
Posted by Qifa Nabki | May 29, 2012, 9:42 pmIs there a way to restore the numbering of posts? They show up in the google cache versions.
Good to see the cow although I miss the lace curtains…….
Posted by lally | May 29, 2012, 9:42 pmI’ve restored the cow… for now. Will cycle through other options down the road…
Posted by Qifa Nabki | May 29, 2012, 9:53 pmDr. QN,
Two items that you may file under a wish list since non is that crucial:
(1) I like the feature where a comment could be edited by its poster for say the first 10 minutes. and (2) Are the archives searchable by topic and name of poster?
Congratulations one more time.
Posted by gkaram | May 29, 2012, 10:15 pmBrikho brikho Malfono QN!!!
Posted by Franck Salameh | May 29, 2012, 10:24 pmFranck
🙂
Posted by Qifa Nabki | May 29, 2012, 10:59 pmDr QN.
Your future students will be very fortunate ones indeed.
Posted by lally | May 30, 2012, 12:45 amCan you switch the avatars (that appear when people comment) from the right to the left hand side of the page?
Posted by Joseph | May 30, 2012, 1:17 amMabrouk ya doctor.
Posted by danny | May 30, 2012, 7:10 amDr.QN Bek,
I liked the first remodeled version yesterday best. It was handsome, simple and vivid.
It looks a bit too busy now, but that’s besides the point. It’s the content that matters.
Posted by Monolith | May 30, 2012, 9:51 amI love the new look.
Posted by Gabriel | May 30, 2012, 10:31 amWill you be restoring the blog links section?
Posted by lally | May 30, 2012, 11:14 amI hate the font! Can you make the titles of the posts bigger so they’re more obvious? I like that you have an “Interviews” section, good addition.
Posted by Blackstar | May 30, 2012, 2:36 pmTo Like or not to Like. That is the button.
Posted by Monolith | May 30, 2012, 3:01 pmA face lift is a good start, it looks “tarted up”, sleek and inviting! As always we know the content will be good!
Posted by Enlightened | May 31, 2012, 6:41 ami can’t see the cow, where is the cow, we need the cow
Posted by aron | May 31, 2012, 11:42 amFor some (technical?) reason, it’s taking by far longer to to open a +200 commented on post now.
Posted by Monolith | May 31, 2012, 3:18 pmIt’s like an untidy Uni students room, clutter and mess everywhere. Lol. I think the older version was more streamlined.
Posted by Maverick | May 31, 2012, 5:56 pmtoo cluttered
Posted by rm | June 1, 2012, 6:14 amToo much white also. Makes it hard to read. Can you add some colour to some parts of the background?
Posted by Blackstar | June 1, 2012, 8:53 amThanks Blackstar
I’m going to be tweaking this constantly for the next month, I’m sure, so please keep the feedback coming. Don’t assume anything is permanent.
Posted by Qifa Nabki | June 1, 2012, 8:58 amI do hope that the cow is back to stay. And I agree with Ras Beirut that the comments should be numbered.
Posted by mj | June 1, 2012, 9:54 amThe plan is to cycle different headers through the site. The cow will never go away for good, but she’ll take a break every now and then.
I’m also hoping to commission people to design headers of their own.
Posted by Qifa Nabki | June 1, 2012, 10:05 amElias…
Oh come on. At least give me and AIG a little sandbox to play in!
(My suggestion for the new look site).
Posted by Gabriel | June 1, 2012, 11:18 amQN,
I think you should give Gabriel the honorary title, “Resident ME Cesspool War Crimes Referee”. This could pan out to be a really good-paying UN position if Gabriel can show us he applies himself satisfactorily.
Posted by Akbar Palace | June 1, 2012, 12:08 pmQN,
The redesign is great. One very small peeve. The color scheme of the icon on the browser tab (also your gravatar) was an excellent fit with the previous design. Perhaps a lighter color scheme for the icon is also warranted.
Posted by AIG | June 1, 2012, 12:11 pmAIG
Good observation. I had had the same thought, but dismissed it as too anal. I’ll see what I can do.
Posted by Qifa Nabki | June 1, 2012, 12:58 pmQN,
I just found this article on Yahoo:
Annan frustrated over Syria, all eyes on Russia
“ALL eyes on Russia”?? Now my question is, who’s is going to lead the new BDS campaign against Russia when the Russian FM flips us his middle finger??
Posted by Akbar Palace | June 1, 2012, 2:29 pmAP…
Why don’t you?
You should connect with AIG and lead the BDS campaign against Russia.. and China!
Posted by Gabriel | June 1, 2012, 2:57 pmOur New QN Warcrimes Referee has Sboken
Gabriel,
I don’t believe in BDS compaigns unless they’re directed at Jews and Israel, because I hold Jews and Israel to a higher standard.
Posted by Akbar Palace | June 1, 2012, 3:13 pmAP,
YA google search on: israel turkey genocide gives you the answer: it’s political. Am I proud of the decision? No. But the Israel-Turkey alliance was extremely beneficial for Israel. The way things are going, Israel will recognize the genocide. And then what? All of a sudden Danny will like Israel more? Will it save lives? Will it make anti-Zionists happy?ou said:”
Wow! It just shows how shallow thou art! It has nothing to do with me liking Israel more Mr. shallow. It has everything to do with the Holocaust and human suffering. I thought as a Jew you would think different. If you think tainting the memory of million dead would buy Israel a friend in Turkey…You are really scraping the bottom of the barrel.
gabby & AIG play somewhere else 😀
Posted by danny | June 1, 2012, 3:25 pmQN,
PS. When you filter by category.. as in:
https://qifanabki.com/category/miscellaneous/
The text of Miscellaneous extends to the next frame.
Posted by Gabriel | June 1, 2012, 3:43 pmHere’s amazing and contradictory comments almost in the same breath…
““We stress that the state is responsible for addressing this case and we are helping it, but the main party is the state,” he went on to say.”
“Everyone agrees that there is no state in Lebanon…”
guess who and earn a bonbon
Posted by danny | June 1, 2012, 3:44 pmIf you think tainting the memory of million dead would buy Israel a friend in Turkey…You are really scraping the bottom of the barrel.
Danny,
I hear what you’re saying, and I’m not totally disagreeing with you. Tough decisions have to be made when you a now the head of a country who controls the fate of 7 million people, you’re at war, and you have few allies. I would prefer to tell the Turks straight out about their genocide. Have the arab countries done so Danny???
Turkey’s alliance is/was very important and outweighed “tainting the memory of (six) million dead”. I think the dead would forgive the GOI. That’s my opinion. Now that Turkey is out, perhaps the GOI will change her mind.
Posted by Akbar Palace | June 1, 2012, 3:50 pmOk, thanks Gaby.
Posted by Qifa Nabki | June 1, 2012, 4:25 pmComment removed by moderator.
Please stick to one moniker only (i.e. Monolith).
Thanks, QN.
Posted by Abou'l Abed | June 1, 2012, 7:43 pmDanny,
I didn’t hear back from you regarding the terrible massacre committed by the once genocide victim Armenians.
Now that you know the Armenians indeed committed a Sabra-Shatilla like attrocity, do you feel the Armenians have let you down since you hold them to a somewhat higher standard?
Posted by Akbar Palace | June 1, 2012, 10:20 pmAP,
I don’t know what you are talking about? I remember Qana & Sabra & Shatilla and both were supervised by the IDF..
Posted by danny | June 2, 2012, 5:47 amI don’t know what you are talking about? I remember Qana & Sabra & Shatilla and both were supervised by the IDF.
Danny,
OK, I’ll remind you. Way back in 1992, about 10 years AFTER the Sabra-Shatilla massacre, the once victims of genocide, the Armenians, were at war with Azerbaijan.
A number of Armenian military personnel massacred and killed 613 unarmed Azeris.
Here are some links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khojaly_Massacre
Here’s a link showing thousands of people gathering to remember the attrocity (in Turkey no less):
http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=272526
Here is my point and my questions:
Danny,
You said you hold victims of genocide to a “higher standard”, and you specifically identified Rwandans, Armenians, and Jews.
You admitted that not only do you hold Israel to a “higher standard”, but you also hold all victims of genocide to a higher standard.
In light of this:
1.) Are you now angry and critical of the Armenians for committing this attrocity in the same way you are agry and critical of the Israelis for their involvment in Sabra and Shatilla?
2.) If you never heard of the Khojaly Massacre (aka Genocide), could it be because it wasn’t Israel or a western nation who committed the murders? Could this be an example of media bias?
3.) Are you as angry and critical of the Lebanese Christian community as you are of the Israeli Jewish community for their involvement (they did the “dirty work”) in the Sabra-Shatilla Massacre?
Feel free to expand on these questions, and I hope you’ll spend more than just one sentence describing your feelings. And feel free to counter with questions of your own.
Posted by Akbar Palace | June 2, 2012, 7:36 amAP,
Let me wrap this up really quick and stay in Lebanese affairs…
Firstly I am angry at any nation that commits atrocities especially the ones who have suffered themselves. I would appreciate it if you guys (those of Jewish faith or Israelis) do better homework then quote a Wiki or Zaman. I understand Azeris are your new sweethearts lol…
It is possible that it never happened!! I did not accuse Israel of anything in defence of their lives and country. I take acception of inhumanity (like cluster bombs)…
I did some research…Here’s some eyewitness accounts from Azerbaijani reporters: http://www.xocali.com
I am disgusted by the reprehensible murder of innocent people and the people responsible for it!
As I said above; I will stay to topics relevant to Lebanon & ME and I don’t want to go on a tangent about nonsensical matters.
Posted by danny | June 2, 2012, 8:06 amooops…Exception>>>
Posted by danny | June 2, 2012, 8:27 amAP sorry for my tardiness. It should be http://www.xocali.net
Posted by danny | June 2, 2012, 8:31 am…I don’t want to go on a tangent about nonsensical matters
Danny,
Sorry, but I’m not going to “close shop” just because you now consider this a “nonsensical matter”.
We are indeed discussing the ME and Lebanon, because of you are admittedly holding Israel, a ME country, to a higher standard than all other ME nations.
I am merely trying to understand if you are holding certain countries (worldwide) to a higher standard, or, are you really just holding 1 (one) ME country to a higher standard than ALL OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD and just using the “genocide” issue as an excuse.
Let me just say that I personally believe some people, mostly anti-Israel arabs, hold Israel to a higher standard than all other nations for various reasons. I think it is something they learned within their family and social circles. I discussed this issue with an Arab-American on another website, and she admitted without hesitation that she held Israel to a higher standard.
Mind you, I don’t mind to being held to high standards, but when it comes to war to is absolutely NO WAY to destroy an enemy and his weapons without innocent people getting hurt in the process.
In summary, you may want to side-step this issue, but rest assured, it will come back again as long a we Zionists are typing away on these websites. And in your case Danny, I consider you a “moderate”, because everything is relative. But you have room for improvement;)
Posted by Akbar Palace | June 2, 2012, 8:48 amAP:
I you want to really have a serious discussion on Armenia, Khojali and whatnot…
Begin by answering the following question:
Forget Wiki and what have you, in your personal view. Were the deaths of civilians in the Khojali matter:
1) An unfortunate death of civilians as a result of war?
2) A terrible massacre of Azeris in the hands of Armenians?
A simple (1) or (2) will suffice.
Posted by Gabriel | June 2, 2012, 8:54 amAP,
Lakhayem
Posted by danny | June 2, 2012, 9:06 amGabriel,
Here are my answers (and I have to get back to work so I’ll chat later):
1.) To my understanding, reading a few of the articles I linked to, the “unfortunate deaths” were absolutely war crimes. They were unarmed civilians who were shot, tortured, bound, cut, etc. These murders which were committed by the Armenians, had nothing to do with war.
Now if you want to dispute this, fine. Please show me some links.
2.) Yes (from the information I seen so far).
BTW – Also included Lebanese Christians into my discussion above as ANOTHER example…
Lastly, US State Dept today issued several photos regarding Syria’s involvement with recent massacres in Syria:
http://news.yahoo.com/u-publishes-satellite-images-syria-010324837.html
Posted by Akbar Palace | June 2, 2012, 9:07 amWow, I’m astonished. Are all people of the Jewish faith this adamant, persistent, compulsive, stubborn? Okay, I give up, lets sign a peace treaty, I can’t be effed fightin’.lol
No offence AP and AIG, i meant it in a good way.
Posted by maverick | June 2, 2012, 9:17 amAP… The link YOU provided, states the following:
On the precursor to the events:
And on the event itself:
This whole- take actions but minimize civilian casualties- appears to be a recurring theme.
So let me ask you- given that the Nation of “Your People”- Israel- is apparently regularly taken to task by the media for its actions in harming civilians:
1) Why are you so quick to call this a massacre?
2) Why can’t the Armenians use the arguments that Israelis make to justify this. AKA, why was you response not (2)
3) Do you think that Israel’s actions in 2006 constitute gross war crimes? If not, why not?
Posted by Gabriel | June 2, 2012, 9:18 amI like it. It looks great….
Posted by Zenobia | June 13, 2012, 10:41 pmCould you upload a multiplayer online Risk game here?
That would be AWESOME !!
Maybe a Texas Hold ‘Em Table for the regulars?
Posted by Monolith | June 17, 2012, 2:52 pm