Maps of War's Imperial History shows a 90-second animation of who has ruled what portions of the Middle East at what times since the Kingdom of Egypt 5,000 years ago.
The comments section has various comments and the mapper's responses. I just now scrolled down on their front page and saw links to various other maps. Looks interesting.
In other news, Tuesday was, in the Hijri calendar, the birthday of Imam Ali, which is also the day of the declaration of the End of Law by the Nizari Ismailis of Alamut, and the birthday of Ibn Arabi (if I recall any of this correctly from PL Wilson's Sacred Drift). Last weekend was a full moon, yesterday was Aleister Crowley's birthday, and today is Friday the Thirteenth. Quite a set of correspondences for the superstitious, with Halloween coming too.
I have a little essay forthcoming in this Drrty little rag (a local publication) about why Christians should celebrate Halloween. Fun fun fun. You can see all but maybe the last couple lines from my contribution to their previous issue under We'll See (their web formatting is a little off in my browser).
I love America, hallelujah. (siriusly!)
hakim
I know that Crowley character was a heretic, but then all things are written, who is more heretic the one who makes a choice or the one who takes it?
Praise belongs to God, Lord of all worlds.
Salaam Hakim, I don't know if I understand your difference between make and take.
hakim
If all things come from God then he made the choice that the Heretic considers taking.
I guess it goes back to the saying "Allah guides whom he will and sends astray whom he will."
Praise be to God