Subject: soc.culture.syria (FAQ)
Date: 28 Nov 1995 22:20:30 GMT
Summary: This is a complied list of information and data pertaining
         to soc.culture.syria and Syria in general.
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2]


posting-frequency: monthly


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This document is a compiled list of answers to the most Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ) about soc.culture.syria in particular, and about Syria and
Syrian culture in general.  This document will be posted monthly to the
following newsgroups: soc.culture.syria, news.answers, soc.answers.

This FAQ is Maintained by:       Thabet Birro <tbirro@bb.iu.net>
Date of Last Update      :       8/22/95
FTP Location             :       ftp.rtfm.mit.edu
Version                  :       1.01

Contact Person for soc.culture.syria:   Thabet Birro <tbirro@bb.iu.net>

This version of FAQ is the official copy to be distributed.  Please email
your suggestions and proposed additions to me personally at tbirro@bb.iu.net
Once your contribution is added to this FAQ, your name will appear in the
Credits section.  If you wish to email this FAQ to someone, please do so
without any modification. This is an evolving document and will be more
comprehensive as readers email me their proposed additions. 

Disclaimer:
~~~~~~~~~~~
This FAQ is presented without any warranties or guarantees of any kind.  
I have tried to verify the correctness of most of the information in it,
but your use of any of the contents of this document is at your own risk.  
I may not be held responsible in any way for any of the information
contained herein.  This FAQ may be freely distributed for non-commercial
purposes, but on the condition that it may not be altered in any way. 


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                             TABLE OF CONTENTS
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I.    Credits Section 
II.   Rules of Netiquette (Etiquette and Rules of Thumb for Posting to SCS)
III.  Internet Access in Syria and Internet sources about Syria (WWW pages) 
IV.   Syria Data Sheet
V.    Information Concerning Syrians abroad


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                             CREDITS SECTION
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The names of contributors to this FAQ are acknowledged in this section
(unless anonymity is requested), provided of course the information
submitted is actually published in the FAQ (i.e. it is deemed relevant to
Syrian social and cultural issues, and determined to be suitable, in that
it doesn't violate any of the principles of Netiquette, especially copyright
laws).

Thabet Birro, Marc Haddad, Grey E. Burkhart, Karim El-Boustani.

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                           RULES OF NETIQUETTE
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GUIDELINES AND RULES OF THUMB FOR POSTING TO SCS:

In addition to being familiar with the general rules of etiquette for 
posting on the Internet (Netiquette), which can be found in the newsgroup
news.answers or news.announce.newusers, one is expected to observe the
following rules of thumb, for the purpose of keeping SCS a worthy
representative of us:

* Refrain from using profanity and name-calling.  It reflects badly on YOU.
  Inflammatory postings are not acceptable, be them by nature or by language.
  Remember, this is soc.culture.SYRIA and all postings should observe that.

* Use a descriptive title for your posting.  If your posting is meant to
  ask a question, don't make the title to appear as a statement, but rather
  as a question.  Don't use elaborate measures to draw extra attention to
  your posting.  Chances are, readers will start to ignore you after a 
  while.  CAPS MEAN SHOUTING...If you want to stress a phrase/word, use
  _underscores_ instead. 

* Use discretion when cross-posting.  SCS should not become a battlefield
  for flames across newsgroups. Overall, keep it to a minimum and do it
  _only_ when it relates to Syria.

* Be your own critic for the quality of your post and try to be sensitive
  toward the rest of the readers of SCS and their diverse and ethnic
  backgrounds.

* In the spirit of the national pride that most Syrians enjoy, avoid making 
  remarks which may reflect badly on that pride. 

* Try to take the higher ground when provoked.  Unfortunately, there are
  elements on the net who enjoy starting unnecessary flames.  They are
  best ignored.  Should their flames continue to poison SCS, try to resolve
  the matter via email.  If they continue, you're encouraged to contact their
  Internet access provider.

* When doing a follow-up, please make sure to properly quote the previous
  posting and mark the deleted sections as such.  Try not to echo the
  entire previous posting unless you have to.

* Bear in mind that the minute you decide to share your posting with the
  world, you become responsible for its contents.  Postings on the Internet
  are admissible in the courts of law as evidence in case of violations. 

* Do not post Copyrighted material without obtaining the proper permission.
  Do not post private email unless you obtain a permission from the sender.
  It is considered rude and you may become liable should the content of the
  email be of importance.

While SCS is an _unmoderated_ group, SCS readers will be quick to let you
know should you violate the agreed upon netiquette.  The above rules are
meant to ensure quality postings and discussions.  Please do your part
in contributing to the overall quality of SCS.  Should you violate the
rules of thumb, chances are; you will get a copy of the guidelines in your
emailbox sent by me or by other readers.  Informing one of his/her violations
of the above rules of thumb is a collective duty of ALL readers who like
to keep SCS clean.  Any violation of the above rules is a violation against
all readers.

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                      INTERNET SOURCES ABOUT SYRIA
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Internet in Syria:  
As of the last update made to this document, Syria does not yet have
a true connection to the Internet.  However, a local Syrian company
is in the process of setting up a connection to the Internet for email,
Gopher, FTP, Archie, Veronica, Netfind, WWW, WAIS and Usenet services.

The connection should be available within a few months (pending a government
approval).  The Syrian top-level domain will be .sy

Syria Home Pages:  
The official home page for soc.culture.syria can be found
at  http://www.coe.uncc.edu/~aalyoune/syria/main.html

Guide to Syria: 
Syria Revealed - by Anthony King - From the Revelation Guides 
series. The first guide in this new British series, and the first guide
in English, in many years, devoted to Syria.
     262 pages - 5 1/4" x 8 1/2" - 1st edition ... 
     http://www.gcb.com/catalog/t/t16/8409.html 

FTP Sites relating to Syria:
Hotel Guide:   ftp.access.digex.net at  /pub/access/alliedus/hotel-guide
List of books: ftp.access.digex.net at  /pub/access/alliedus/
Law 10:        ftp.access.digex.net at  /pub/access/alliedus/law-no-10
 
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                             SYRIA DATA SHEET
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


Proper Name: Al-Jamhouriya al-Arabiya as-Souriya
             (The Syrian Arab Republic) or (The Arabic Republic of Syria)

Capital    : Damascus
President  : Hafiz al-Assad
Population : 15 millions (est. 1995)

Ethnic
Composition: Arabs (90.3%); Kurds & others (9.7%)

Religious
Composition: Senni Muslim (70%); other Muslim sects (16%); Christians (14%)

Languages  : Arabic (Official); Kurdish; Armenian; Aramaic; Circassian;
             French and English are widely spoken and understood. 

Total Area : 71,498 square miles, or 184,180 square kilometers
Total Land : 71,062 square miles, or 184,050 square kilometers 

Major Cities: Damascus, Aleppo, Latakia, Homs, Hama, Tartous, Idlib 
              Raqqa, Dair el Zawr, Swedaa, quamishli, Dara'a, Hasakeh 

Independence: Syria achieved independence on April 17, 1946 from the
              French mandate.

The Syrian Golan Heights: In accordance with resolutions 242 and 338 of the
UN, Syria has been urging Israel to accept the call of the world
community and withdraw from the Syrian Heights in exchange for full peace,
as stated in the relevant UN resolutions.

Source: Northern Sky Publication

Further data on Syria can be obtained from designated electronic sites.

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                   INFORMATION CONCERNING SYRIANS ABROAD
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


For North America (USA and Canada), the address of the Syrian Embassy is:

Embassy of Syria
2215 Wyoming Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 232-6313

* Travel Agenices:

Sunshine Travel & Tours Inc.
3051 W.Bancroft St.
P.O.Box 2783
Toledo, OH 43606
(419) 531-4440
FAX (419) 536-6611

Sahara Travel
1-(800)-946-8206

SyrianAir, the official Syrian airlines, does not service North America at
this point.  However, a connecting flight from Europe is possible.  Most
international carriers service Damascus and some service Aleppo too.


* Syrian Recipes:

Hommous
~~~~~~~
Ingredients: One can of chick peas (a.k.a garbanzo beans), 3 tablespoons
             of Tahini sauce (raw sesame paste), one clove of garlic,
             3/4 cup of lemon juice, 1/4 cup olive oil, parsley and
             ground red pepper for garnish.

Procedure  : Drain the entire liquid content of the garbanzo can.  Place
             the above ingredients (except for the garnish and the olive oil),
             in a food processor or a blender.  Blend the mixture until
             creamy-smooth.  Spread on a shallow plate, pour the olive oil and
             place the garnish on top.  If you are having problems blending
             the mixture, add extra liquid (1/2 water & 1/2 lemon juice).
             Hommous can be served as a pita bread dip or as a side dish.


Cheese Pudding
(Halawih bil jibin, by Karim El-Boustani)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ingredients:
1 pound shredded, unsalted, and fresh Mozzarella cheese
2 cups of water
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of wheat semolina flour
1/2 cup unsalted Ricotta cheese (optional)
1 teaspoon orange blossom extract/water (ma zaher)

Procedure:
Start by boiling the water and adding the sugar.
Once it starts boiling add the semolina slowly and mix.
When finished, continue by adding the shredded Mozzarella cheese slowly and
keep stiring until all the cheese has been added and melted completely.
Then spread the entire mix on a dish and let it cool down for a few hours.
Best eaten cold with some Ricotta cheese spread on top flavored with
a touch of orange blossom water. 
 
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