This morning’s key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

Web site appears to have been fixed

Yesterday I asked readers to let me know if they’ve been havingproblems with the GenerationalDynamics web site. I received dozens ofreplies, and almost every one reported significant problems (500:Internal server error). Users said that they had to click Refreshseveral times before the error disappeared.

Dealing with Network Solutions/web.com customer service is anightmare. They shuttle you from one “expert” to another, requiringrepeated wait times on hold, and none of the “experts” seems to haveany idea what’s going on. Talking to Network Solutions/web.comcustomer service is worse torture than waterboarding.

However, I was able to open a new support ticket, and report thatscores of users were having internal server errors with their servers.This information caused them to escalate the problem, and apparentlyis was fixed around 12:30 pm ET on Tuesday.

Thanks to everyone for your responses. They made a big difference.And additional thanks go to those who appended messages ofappreciation for the daily World View column to their response. MerryChristmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

Bethlehem celebrates Roman Catholic midnight mass on Christmas eve


Girls dress in traditional clothes at Bethlehem Christmas Eve celebrations (Deutsche-Welle)

Thousands of Palestinians and Israelis, as well as internationalpilgrims and tourists, arrived in Bethlehem on Tuesday to witness theRoman Catholic midnight mass at the Church of the Nativity, where it’sthought that Jesus Christ was born. Visitors included Palestinianpresident Mahmoud Abbas and European Union foreign minister CatherineAshton.

The region of Bethlehem and Jerusalem is unique in the world becauseit’s the homeland of world’s four monotheistic religions — Judaism,Western Christianity, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, and Islam. Ithas thus been the epicenter of almost every major world war formillennia. The people visiting Bethlehem are aware how easily somedispute could spiral into a major conflict, and so the chances arethat every visitor will be on his best behavior.

There is one more midnight mass to be performed at the Church of theNativity in this year’s holiday season. Orthodox Christmas iscelebrated on January 7, and there’ll be a midnight mass in Bethlehemon January 6 at midnight, as well as in Moscow, Athens, Cairo, andother places with Orthodox Christian communities. Deutsche-Welle and LA Times

Saudi Arabia student campaign to stop misuse of Mohammed’s name

A group of Saudi Arabian students from a university in Jeddah arestarting a campaign aimed at honoring the name of the Muslim prophetMohammed. Apparently it’s common practice in Saudi Arabia that if youdon’t know the name of the person you’re talking to, even anon-Muslim, then you call him Mohammed. Even worse, very often thename is used in this way in a pejorative sense.

According to one college professor:

“The prevalence of using ‘Mohammed’ in thisinappropriate way surfaced around 15 years ago and I remember wenever used this name to call unknown people or workersbefore. Unfortunately, we as Muslims and members of the Saudicommunity disregarded the sanctity of the name until we arrived ata point that we began to use it to show our resentment towardstrangers.”

This pretty clearly indicates this pejorative use of the name Mohammedis generational. I would advise these university students to takecare, because the unintended consequence of their campaign is likelyto be more widespread use of the name in this way among young Saudis.Arab News

KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Network Solutions, web.com,Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Mahmoud Abbas, Catherine Ashton,Saudi Arabia, Mohammed
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