Recently a friend of mine joined me at my cousins wedding. Besides the number of guests, decorations, and non-stop dancing do you know what surprised my friend?  That we ate dinner at 10 pm in the evening

It goes without saying that Chaldeans on average get anywhere from 5-7 hours of sleep a night.  Long hours in the family business and events that span into the wee hours leave little time for bed time.  Some are impressed that Chaldeans can function at such an intense level with so little rest. It may be impressive, but that doesn’t make it good for us.

A June 2010 Newsweek article entitled “The Surprising Toll of Sleep Deprivation”, discusses a research study that only allowed participants 6 hours of sleep per night for a two week period. The study found that even though the subjects felt some sleepiness and “they thought they were functioning normally, formal testing showed that their cognitive abilities and reaction times progressively declined over the two weeks. By the end of the two week test, they were as impaired as subjects who had been continuously awake for 48 hours”.

When you look at these results, it’s very clear that many Chaldeans would be performing even better if they had more sleep.

Let me begin by sharing my deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to all the wonderful e-mails shared with me by readers of my articles.  As I have written to some of you, please join me by sending me your ideas or writing for this wonderful website.  It is a blessing that it is available and hopefully other courageous writers will contribute an article about their profession, passions, or points of views. 

I am sorry it has taken so long to write more articles as the winding down of another semester, caring for some elderly relatives, and helping my dad find a job, has kept me quite occupied.  My family has hit a financial snag when my father was laid off from work.  I share this not to endear any readers, that is the furthest from my mind, but to share a personal reflection that has given rise to today’s article.  Thankfully dad was able to find another job, but he now has to drive nearly two hours one way. 

I mention this to highlight another reason why I love my dad so much; his optimism born from his faith. When I tried to empathize with his ordeal of a long travel and less pay he smiled and said, “brronee (son), I listen to your Ipod (after I showed him how to connect it to the car, he is infatuated with the device and has adopted it as his own), pray an extra rosary, and enjoy your mother’s bag of fresh fruit and vegetables; I am even more blessed now.  God always knows better, I just enjoy the ride.” 

Washington DC, USA - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is championing her home state’s wine industry in an effort to defeat bill that would give states greater control over how Alcohol is distributed.   The move is causing a battle on Capitol Hill as California winemakers are pitted against beer wholesalers and distributors.   Pelosi and her wine caucus is working to stop the Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness and by doing so, open the flood gate of out-of-state alcohol distribution via direct shipment.

Direct shipments of alcohol cut out the distributors and middlemen, allowing wineries to sell straight to customers who may have visited in person or browsed via the Internet.  Wineries, in particular, have considered direct shipping across state lines a retail boon.

Many states enacted laws that either prohibited direct shipping or severely restricted it.  “This legislation is urgently needed to help states defend against lawsuits that are motivated by economic gain … and are not in the best interest of the health, safety and welfare of the public,” Nida Samona, the chairwoman of the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, told a House panel recently.  (To read Nida Samona's Testimony before the House CLICK HERE.)

The fight pits One hundred and seven lawmakers......

Michigan, USA - The Chaldean community in Michigan were stunned to learn two of their favorite shopping locations went up in flames yesterday afternoon.  Both Kashat International Market and New Sahara Restaurant were completely destroyed by fire. 

Firefighters from Oak Park, Ferndale, and Beverly Hills spent all day Wednesday trying to get  the five alarm fire under control.  Early reports indicate the fire started in an international market and spread to the New Sahara Restaurant next door.

Both businesses have been in the community for decades.  “Almost every Chaldean family has eaten or shopped at those places,” says Alex Jabarow of Novi.  “Sahara would often stay open until two or four in the morning as Chaldeans would close their business and visit for a late night meal.  Those places have lots of history and meant a lot to many Chaldeans.  Especially those who fell in love with their house sauce.”

Michigan, USA – "Chaldean business owners prove they believe in Michigan.  They put their money where their mouth is," says Ashley Hanna of the Chaldean Education and Career Center.  "Despite the high business taxes and anti-business environment in the state, Chaldeans continue to reinvest, improve, and open new businesses in their local communities."

On Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor, Mark Yaldo has committed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the community by becoming the new owner of an abandoned and blighted building on 3555 Washtenaw.  Yaldo has been spending money all year working with contractors to open an improved and upgraded Marathon brand fuel station and convenient store.   

Chaldeans are reminded that staying healthy during the summer months requires more than just eating the right foods. Dr. Saad Manni offers this partial list of things Chaldeans can do that will help keep them cool and healthy during the hot summer months.

Michigan, USA  – The cold air has thawed in the great lakes states and Chaldeans are fast enjoying the summer days.  With temperatures getting warmer, many Chaldeans are firing up their barbeque grills.  Grilling is one of the most treasured outdoor activities to do every summer for Chaldean Families.  Shish Kabob, chiken tooka, and grilled vegetables folded in warm grilled pita bread with garlic sauce and a nice cold drink is usually enough to give any Chaldean a glimpse into the essence of back-home joys. 

www.CHALDEAN.org collects a number of community tips on choosing the best gas grills.  Next week we complete our report on Chaldean barbeque tips.  Community members are asked to send in their best tips when barbequing Chaldean foods to info@chaldean.org. 

Choosing the Best Gas Grills

Michigan, USA – “I hope the State Department is prepared to defend its position with hard facts.  We are tired of hallow promises.  Chaldeans have not seen any serious action from the U.S. about protecting the rights of minority in Iraq or helping the hundreds of thousands of refugees scattered across the world,” says Anthony Aboud of Sterling Heights, Michigan.  “I pray every Chaldean concerned about what is happening in Iraq and what is happening to Chaldean refugees around the world joins me on June first.”

On Tuesday, June 1, 2010, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Michael Corbin, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Special Coordinator for Iraq's Minority Communities will be speaking at the American Polish Cultural Center located on 2975 E. Maple Road (corner of 15 Mile & Dequindre), Troy, MI 48083.

عامة

 وزارة الخارجية الأمريكية

نائب مساعد وزيرة الخارجية

Chaldean business owners know if you want to expand your business, you're going to need some cash.  Money still isn't falling off trees for small businesses, and the lending process can be a challenge to navigate. As a professional loan officer for a large banking company Haisha helps small businesses prepare loan request packages.  He also serves as the corresponding secretary of a private Chaldean investment group in Michigan.  The Chaldean group pulls their financial resources, investor connections, and business expertise together to help fund new Chaldean business ventures. 

Banks have tightened their lending policies, and it is more difficult for a Chaldean entrepreneur to get financing.  “The difficulty in getting a loan from a bank is causing many Chaldean small-business owners to have to get creative with finding sources of capital.”  Haisha adds, “Many Chaldeans have great businesses ideas, but do not have the money, business contacts, or expertise to make a go of it.  Chaldean entrepreneur candidates submit loan or investment requests to our members and we decide as a group, which we will fund.”

The Chaldean venture capitalists group is mostly composed of successful business entrepreneurs, professionals with funds to invest, and businesses able to provide services to new businesses.  The group tend to invest or loan money to Chaldeans who have developed a thorough plan for the success of their business.  Loans are provided with untraditional collateral requirements and terms. 

Chaldeans have received hundreds of thousands in loans by offering gold for collateral, property in Iraq, or agree to equity shares of their business says Haisha.  “Our members each buy shares into a proposed business opportunity.  Shares prices range from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands, depending on the amount needed by the business selected to be funded.”

California, USA – The spring season brings with it a welcoming initiation to travel.  Chaldean students excitedly plan for the end of the college winter semester by traveling home or planning a visit to out-of-state relatives.  For Gina Abaya, a student at San Diego State it is traveling to see her favorite cousins in Michigan.  “I was an only child.  My cousin Cynthia and I were best of friends.  We were sisters,” Gina says. 

While Gina may be looking forward to seeing her favorite cousin she dreads the travel headaches.  “Packing is fun.  I always pack way too much, but don’t mind.  I do mind all the extra travel charges and the security checks that always seem to take so long and seem to put everyone on edge.  I love the extra security, but do they really have to make it so stressful,” Gina asks. 

Chaldeans preparing to travel will experience no shortage of indignities and none rivals the worry of the security line.   Will the fashionista in front of you take twenty minutes to unlace her knee-high boots? Will your bag be the one selected for a dump-it-all-on-the-counter inspection? Did you forget something in your bag they consider dangerous?  What are the new restrictions?  How long will it take? 

Today’s www.CHALDEAN.org article is to help Chaldeans prepare for the travel process to overcome the dramas and cliffhangers and help keep your wits and your schedule. It will help you keep up your odds of zipping through quickly.

Michigan, USA – Back in September 2008 Chaldean businessman Sal Yono received devastating news that his Pro-Hardware business on Davison near Dexter was burnt to the ground.  The fire completely destroyed the 60 year old hardware store and left a dilapidated neighborhood in even worse condition. 

Many of the Detroit residents relied on the business to purchase needed hardware supplies.  “We don’t have much in the city and the hardware store was the only place we could get to fix up something in the house,” says customer Gary Harris. “He was an angel.  If we didn’t have the money to buy some needed tools he would loan the tools to us for free.  We were all upset when we heard the store burned to the ground.”

People in the neighborhood were shocked to learn Yono would rebuild as more and more residents and businesses were fleeing the city.  Residents cheered when the hardware store re-opened with a million dollar investment by the owner.  Many of the people who work at the hardware store can walk to work. The $1 million investment raised more than a few eyebrows in an area where abandoned and boarded up homes dot the landscape.

Chaldeans grip the cross bars as the roller coaster of their existence takes another steep and deadly plummet.

Baghdad, IRAQ – Yet another targeted religious execution of Iraqi Christians takes place in northern Iraq.   An armed commando storms the neighborhood of al Saa, near the monastery of the Domincan fathers on a killing rampage killing 55 year old Chaldean businessman, Sabah Yacoub Gurgis.  The well known entrepreneur owned an eyeglass factory, employing many Arabs and minorities in the city near the Tigris River. 

Neighboring Christians are terrified that the killings will continue.   The shooting is just the latest in a long trail of blood that has forced hundreds of Chaldean families to flee the city toward the plain of Nineveh or abroad. A spiral of violence that grew in the months preceding the parliamentary elections of  March 7, so much so that Msgr. Emil Shimoun Nona, Chaldean archbishop of Mosul, spoke of an "Endless Via Crucis".

Iraqi Christians continue to escape the country as killings and religious persecutions intensify.  “The election and Easter season has given the crazy killers motivation to wipe out all the Christians in Iraq,” says Husam Ashaki, who barely managed to survive the rampage killing in the city.  “We are all trying to figure out how we can leave.  We are not even safe in north.  They follow us here and are very thirsty for Christian blood.  No mater if it is a man, woman, or child.  They kill even small children and babies if they know they are Christian.”

California, USA - From his sixth floor executive office window, Sam Attisha has an unobstructed view of the action on the Padres home field at Petco Park, which, by the way, is 7,713 miles from where Attisha was born 42 years ago — in the fabled, now troubled, capital of Iraq, Baghdad.

Attisha is vice president of business development and external affairs for Cox Communications San Diego.

He was recently named one of San Diego’s Top Influentials by The Daily Transcript newspaper, a plaudit he appreciates, but had to laugh, “It still doesn’t get me much influence over my three boys and my wife.”

Attisha is a combination of outgoing (“You have to be in this job”) and laid-back (enjoying hanging out with his three young sons). He’s tall, 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, with brown eyes, olive complexion, and a bald, neatly shaved head.

Baghdad, IRAQ – Iraqi Christians march in Mosul and Baghdad and hold prayer vigils in Kirkuk to draw attention to unending murders of minorities in Iraq.   In recent weeks alone, minority men, women, and children have been abducted, killed, raped, harrased, and tortured.  Those surviving have returned with ominous messages that Christians are no longer allowed to be in Iraq. 

Mgr Emil Shimoun Nona of Mosul confirmed that hundreds of families have left Mosul in the last few days, about 600 in a community of some 4,000 people, according to a United Nations report.  The prelate said, “about 400 families have escaped.”

Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa of Mosul led over 1,000 Iraqi Catholics in a silent protest on February 28 to demand that the government act to put a stop to violence against Christians there.

The United Nations estimated that 683 Christians fled Mosul between February 20 and February 27. Chaldean Catholic Bishop Emil Shimoun Nona of Mosul estimated that "about 400 families" had left the city's community of 4,000 Christians.

“The daily massacre suffered by the Christian community … is met with indifference from the authorities,” said Archbishop Casmoussa on the eve of the march. “We will be fasting and praying for peace and for the survival of Christians.”