I wonder: Will this mosque be the largest in the world or in Germany?

Far-right European groups to protest German mosque

 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080912/ap_on_re_eu/germany_mosque_protest

Critical habitat for the monk seal
Turkey´s rocky coastline provides critical habitat for the endangered Mediterranean monk seal. Around 100 monk seals are found in Turkey. The rocks also provide a solid substrate for algae and invertebrates like corals, molluscs, and crustaceans, as well as refuge, feeding, and spawning grounds for many species of fish and invertebrates.

HOW TOURISM HAS RUINED THE COASTAL HABITATS OF THE MONK SEAL
ON THE BODRUM PENINSULA, TURKEY

http://www.monachus-guardian.org/mguard04/04covsto.htm

http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/europe/what_we_do/mediterranean/about/marine/monk_seal_project/monk_seals/index.cfm

Gencturk, thank you for sharing this link about the People of the Lut. I enjoyed viewing your link of the Perished people. Good research!

 "Evet - I do"

 An exhibition that opened Aug. 17 at Dortmund Museum of Art and Culture History in Germany focuses on the increasing closeness of Turkish and German cultures following the 1960s migration of Turkish workers to the country. The exhibition, titled “Yes-Ja, Ich Will! Wedding Culture and Fashion from 1800s to Today: A German-Turk Encounter,” displays the similarities between Turkish and German weddings. It reminds visitors of the old traditions which are being forgotten. The exhibition may also provide wedding ideas to couples planning to marry soon.

http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=112645

The Museum of Art and Cultural History in Dortmund, Germany, welcomes "Evet-Ja, Ich Will! Wedding Rituals and Trends from 1800 to Present." This exhibition will present German and Turkish nuptial traditions, both modern and historic, and will reflect on Turkish-German cultural relations since the migration of Turkish workers to Germany in the 1960s. The exhibit consists of 272 works of art, on loan from the Ethnography Museum of Ankara, Istanbul´s Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, the Topkapi Palace Museum and private collections. "Evet-Ja, Ich Will!" opens on Aug. 17 and will remain open until Jan. 25, 2009.

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=150363

I am cracking up! A Palin Doll for the Nation and her first grand child. Ha, ha.

I happen to be in Icmeler a few months ago. Forgive me: I cannot agree with you. Beautiful is rather an overstatement. The truth: this  place resembles  more and more a  British "Colony". You see the Union Jack flying, notice  fish and chips places, British steak houses,  British breakfasts with ham and eggs, catering to British tourists. You do not experience anything Turkish.  If you want to have Turkish food, it is not easy. We only could find one Turkish Restaurant which played British Christmas Music.

Peacetrain, its car talk:  car salesmen are good in using lipstick on a pig and McCain used it in the context of Hillary Clinton.Gutter politics at its worst.

“slang for when someone tries to dress something up, but is still that something.“You put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig.“

John McCain´s daughter Meghan is not taking offense to Barack Obama´s "lipstick on a pig" line like the rest of her father´s campaign.....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/10/meghan-mccain-my-dad-says_n_125323.html

It´s a phrase common in the car sales industry, used to describe taking a hunk of junk, brushing on a fresh coat of paint and selling it for full price. Now, in the wake of Barack Obama´s use of the saying and the McCain/Palin attacks against him over it, "putting lipstick on a pig" has become the latest flashpoint in the presidential campaign circus. But politicians and average joes have tossed around the folksy phrase long before this recent bump on the campaign trail.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1840392,00.html?imw=Y

http://www.wordwizard.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=20695

John McCain has shown that he is willing to go into the gutter to win this election.

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=fd685f57-8a3a-4a28-be31-a662b522b589

Favorite boys grew up to
marry their masters´ daughters, and to take over management of
businesses and properties. The Sultan´s favorite boys often grew up to
be generals, governors, and high court officials.

http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Soc/soc.culture.turkish/2005-10/msg00374.html

Ottomans ruled between 1299 and 1923 till the foundation of Turkish Republic. They had been Moslems long before and they didn´t have much from their pre-Islamic period. Things were organized according to Islamic system, from state system to social services. So the rules about sex were from Islam too. Men could marry four women and even the way he should treat them were mentioned in the Kur´an. But as there are only vague references to homosexuality in Kur´an, it has never been an issue.Sleeping with men who are usually referred as "boys" was very common.It was not something looked upon.

http://www.qrd.org/QRD/www/world/europe/turkey/islamottoman.htm

 designs backgammon which is based on both wit and chance with the inspiration from life and time. According to anthologist Ferit Ferhangil, backgammon which is among the most popular games of the world is a sign of the ‘oneness of the year’. The six doubles of triangular points on the board of backgammon represents the twelve months; fifteen dark and fifteen light checkers represent the night and the day. The twelve points on each wing of the board are the 24 hours of the day.

The Game of the Challenge Lovers: Backgammon

http://english.istanbul.com/Content.aspx?CatId=3661&Type=detail