The Starbucks conspiracy theory: how a coffee chain was libelled by anti-Zionists

By Damian Thompson Religion Last updated: January 14th, 2009

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For the last couple of weeks, internet conspiracy theorists have been spreading a story that Starbucks is funding the Israeli attacks on Gaza. The story is based on lies and a hoax – but it found a ready audience in protestors who trashed a Starbucks outlet in Kensington High Street, opposite the Israeli embassy.

Brendan O'Neill, editor of Spiked, today published a thorough debunkingof the Starbucks conspiracy theory. It makes fascinating reading:

For the past two weeks, internet discussion forums and mobile phone networks have been bombarded with the following message: ‘Starbucks and McDonald’s are donating their next two weeks of earned revenue to Israel. Please BOYCOTT them and forward this message to everyone you know.’ Other versions of the message say Starbucks and McDonald’s are ‘donating their next two weeks of earned revenue to the Israeli military’.

All nonsense, but try telling that to the morons of the anti-war Left. O'Neill continues:

The rumour has stuck faster to Starbucks than it has to the other corporations. Some point out that the individuals who smashed up Starbucks on Kensington High Street were a ‘violent minority’, yet the anti-Starbucks sentiment was a central part of Saturday’s 50,000-strong demonstration. At the rally in Hyde Park earlier in the day, the rapper Lowkey, one of the invited speakers, was wildly cheered when he attacked companies – including Starbucks – that have ‘Zionist’ links: ‘You say you know about the Zionist lobby, but you put money in their pockets every time you’re buying their coffee.’ A combination of internet rumour, text messages that spread like wildfire, and condemnation of ‘Zionist coffee’ from a platform shared by Bianca Jagger, Annie Lennox and Lauren Booth (sister-in-law to Tony Blair) may have rattled and riled the protesters into believing that Starbucks is part of the Israeli war machine. No wonder they later smashed up one of its shops.

However, it is completely untrue that Starbucks funds the Israeli military. In response to the social-networking conspiracy-mongering, Starbucks released a statement saying that the ‘rumours that Starbucks Coffee Company… supports Israel are unequivocally false’.

Aha, say the morons, but we have proof – a letter from Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz:

Many of the claims about ‘Zionist coffee’ and a link between Starbucks and the Israeli military spring from a letter allegedly written by CEO Howard Schultz. Dated 11 July 2006, and titled ‘A Thank You To All Starbucks Customers’, Schultz apparently said that ‘with every cup you drink at Starbucks you are helping with a noble cause’: ensuring the ‘continued viability and prospering of the Jewish State’. Schultz seems to say that the $5 billion donated by America to Israel every year is ‘no way near enough to pay for all the weaponry, bulldozers and security fences needed to protect innocent Israeli citizens from anti-Semitic Muslim terrorism. Corporate sponsorships are essential [too]’. Schultz thanks Starbucks customers for helping him to raise ‘hundreds of millions of dollars each year’ to support the state of Israel. This seemingly Starbucks-damning letter has been on the internet for two-and-a-half years, and it now underpins much of the current anti-Starbucks, pro-Gaza protesting. It has appeared on anti-war websites; it has been cited as evidence by those spreading the ‘Boycott Starbucks’ SMS; Daily Egypt, an English-language paper in Cairo, says that ‘Egyptians and Arabs [have been] circulating emails’ containing the Schultz letter.

I bet they have. But the Muslim world isn't big on fact-checking, in my experience, and they've been suckered again, as O'Neill reports:

However, the ‘Schultz letter’ is a hoax; worse than that, it’s a piece of satire that has been accepted by some people as fact. The letter was written, not by Schultz, but by Andrew Winkler, an Australian-based ‘anti-Zionist media activist’ of German origin. It was published as a parody of Schultz, and clearly advertised as a parody, on the anti-Zionist website ZioPedia on 11 July 2006. Winkler later wrote: ‘The Howard Schultz spoof letter has caused quite a bit of a stir… Howard Schultz never wrote that letter, I did.’ Yet now it has become something like a modern, internet-shared version of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion: a hoax document supposedly written by a Jew which is cited by some people as evidence of Zionist wickedness.

So there you have it. Anti-war liberals can go back into Starbucks and talk bollocks to each other over their extra-drizzle soy caramel macchiatos, safe in the knowledge that not a penny of it is going to Israel. They might even want to stick an extra shot in their drink, because fulminating against Zionism is so terribly tiring…

COACA COLA, MC D AND ISRAEL

Between services Coca-Cola & Mc Donalds .....

Coca-Cola has been a supporter of Israel since 1966. There is plenty of evidence of events that show their support for the Zionists.

In 1997, the Government of Israel has recognized the contribution of Coca-Cola in Trade Award Dinner for the continued support Israel Israel for 30 years, and their refusal to comply with the Arab League boycott of Israel.

On 11 October 2001, the World Headquarters of Coca-Cola has been the host and also the main sponsor of the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce Eagle Star Awards Gala ceremony.

In February 2002, Coca-Cola partnered with "Friends of Israel" to sponsor a lecture given by the famous Zionist correspondent Linda Gradstein at the University of Minnesota.

In October 2005, Coca-Cola has increased investment in Israel by buying 51% in the Tavor Winery. Tavor Winery is an Israeli company based in the occupied Palestinian territory at the foot of Mount Tavor overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

McDonald's Corporation also is a major corporate partner Jewish United Fund (JUF) / Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. McDonald's Corporation was honored to sponsor the 100 year Jubilee and JUF in 2000 as a key partner to the corporate level of economic resources Zionism.

Through the Israel Commission, JUF "works to maintain American military, economic and diplomatic support for Israel; monitor and, when necessary, responds to media coverage of Israel".

These are only some sign and proof of the cordial relations Coca cola and Mc D with the Zionist regime of Israel.

At this time, Gaza was attacked with vomiting Wrath Israeli bombs and bullets that had killed many innocent Palestinians.

So, it's up to you whether they continue to want to give their support or otherwise ....

MCSOCNALDS , STARBUCK AND ISRAEL

STATEMENT ON JAN 16, 2009

McDonald's and Starbucks have yesterday announced that they will be donating all profits from now until Sunday to Israeli war. Also, the producers of Adam Sandler's new movie Bed Time Stories will be donating their profits to THE Zionist entity of Israel."
It is difficult to verify these specific claims. Both companies are predictably saying they are victims of Internet and SMS rumours. However, it is another example of the wide-spread anger felt by the general public at the atrocities carried out by Israel and increasing awareness of how the US supports it.

McDonald's is on the Innovative Minds boycott list of companies that support Israel:

According to the Chicago Jewish Community Online (website of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago), McDonalds Corporation whose global headquarters is based just outside Chicago is a major corporate partner of the Jewish United Fund and Jewish Federation.1.

Through its Israel Commission, the Jewish United Fund "works to maintain American military, economic and diplomatic support for Israel; monitors and, when necessary, responds to media coverage of Israel"2.
Starbucks is also on this list:

Howard Shultz, the chairman of Starbucks is an active zionist.

In 1998 he was honoured by the Jerusalem Fund of Aish HaTorah with "The Israel 50th Anniversary Friend of Zion Tribute Award" for his services to the zionist state in "playing a key role in promoting close alliance between the United States and Israel". The Jerusalem Fund of Aish HaTorah funds israeli arms fairs chaired by the butcher of Jenin - General Shaul Mofaz, and the zionist propaganda website honestreporting.com.1


His work as a propagandist for Israel has been praised by the Israeli Foreign Ministry as being key to Israel's long-term PR success.

McDonald's and Starbucks "donating all profits to Israeli war" | Pakistan Daily

BOYCOTT ISRAEL CAMPAIGN

BOYCOTT ISRAEL CAMPAIGN

BOYCOTT McDonald's

Boycott Rating: 


The Jewish United Fund that "works to maintain American military, economic and diplomatic support for Israel" lists McDonalds as its major corporate partner in its last published corporate sponser list (2002). McDonald's has 125 restaurants in Israel which have a policy of sacking its Arab employees if they are caught speaking arabic.

Last Updated: 29 July 2009

Products & Affiliated Companies:

McDonald's Restaurants
McCafe Restaurants

Research Findings:

McDonald's is the largest and best-known global food service retailer with 31,000 restaurants around the world in 118 countries.[7]

McDonalds discriminates against its Arab workers, in 2004 it sacked an Arab worker in Israel because she was caught speaking arabic to another Arab employee.[3][4]

McDonalds first resturant in the Middle East was in Israel, opened in 1993, since then it has over 125 resurants in Israel (1996) with a 60% market share and a turnover of over $93 millon (1996), employing over 3000 Israelis[8][9][10]. In April 2009 McDonalds announced its bringing its McCafe chain to Israel[5][6]

According to the Chicago Jewish Community Online (website of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago), McDonalds Corporation whose global headquarters is based just outside Chicago is a major corporate partner of the Jewish United Fund and Jewish Federation(2002).[11].

Through its Israel Commission, the Jewish United Fund "works to maintain American military, economic and diplomatic support for Israel; monitors and, when necessary, responds to media coverage of Israel"[12].

The Jewish United Fund runs "Fun-filled Summer Family Missions to Israel" (the next one is on Aug 19 2002) where families get to "visit an army base and meet with Israeli soldiers" and "visit our sister city, Kiryat Gat and see the important work we are doing there"[13]. Kiryat Gat, you may be aware from theBoycott Intel Campaign, is built on stolen Palestinian land - the lands of the villages of Iraq Al Manshiya and Al-Faluja whose residents were ethnically cleansed in 1949 in contravention of International Law[16]. Through its "Partnership to Israel" programme, the Jewish United Fund provides $1.3 million annually[15] to help the development of Kiryat Gat and to promote further illegal settlement there.

In the Jewish United Funds outreach program they pay for Christian leaders and American high school kids to visit Israel and be fed zionist lies.[14]

Additional Information & References:

[1]	JUF sponsorship - update July 2009 Since our expose of JUF's corporate sponsors (including McDonald's) in 2002, they have removed all reference to the sponsors names from their website. Whilst the corporate names remain hidden, the corporate partnership programme is however still very active, with its own director, Sharon Silberg, who is also reponsible for JUF's Israel Solidarity Day: "Silberg, director of events and corporate partnerships for JUF, also received the Goldsmith Award. In her position, she oversees the planning and logistics of JUF and Federation events, including Israel Solidarity Day. She successfully implemented a multiple structure for Israel Solidarity Day, resulting in increased attendance and record-breaking fundraising. As director of Corporate Sponsors, she has fostered important relationships in the corporate community and been invaluable to the success of the annual campaign." Source: http://www.juf.org/news/local.aspx?id=12864
[2]	Previously we noted that: McDonalds chairman and CEO Jack M. Greenberg is an honorary director of the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., of Metropolitan Chicago.[18] This is no longer the case, Greenberg is no longer the chairman & CEO. Its chairman since April 2004 is Andrew J, McKenna who is also the director of Aon Corporation (the other major corporate sponsor of JUF) Source: http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/investors/corporate_governance/board_of_directors.html
[3]	No Arabic at McDonald's Israel by Jonathan Cook, Al-Ahram 4-10 March 2004 "Discrimination against Israel's Palestinian citizens has been expanding to include a total ban of the use of Arabic language by workers. A photograph of Abeer Zinaty shows the 20- year-old student from the mixed Arab and Jewish city of Ramle in central Israel wearing a T- shirt branded with the logo "Excellent Worker 2003 -- McDonald's Israel". Less than a year later she is unemployed, fired by the world's most famous fast food company. Her crime, according to the branch manager, is that she was caught speaking Arabic to another Arab employee. Zinaty's treatment at the hands of the Israeli management of McDonald's is a stark illustration of an ever-swelling tide of discrimination against Arab workers, director of Mossawa -- a political lobbying group for Israel's one million Palestinian citizens -- Jafar Ferah told Al-Ahram Weekly. Nominally, Arabic is an official language of the State of Israel, but it has been long-standing practice in many Israeli firms to ban its use among staff. It is the first time, however, that a company of McDonald's stature has implicitly acknowledged that speaking in Arabic provides grounds for dismissal. The decision to fire Zinaty for speaking Arabic was confirmed by McDonald's Ramle branch manager to Al- Ittihad, a local Arab daily newspaper, last month." Source: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2004/680/re104.htm
[4]	McDonald's Israel's ban on Arabic Source: http://electronicintifada.net/bytopic/251.shtml
[5]	McDonald's brings its McCafe chain to Israel, by Adi Dovrat, 1 Apr 2009 "McDonald's Israel plans to open McCafes in about a quarter of its 150 local branches, at a pace of ten a year." Source: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1075375.html
[6]	McDonald's to launch coffee chain in Israel, by Navit Zomer, 03.23.09 Source: http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3690593,00.html
[7]	About McDonald's Source: http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/students/faq_for_students.html#10
[8]	McDonald's Israel opened its first restaurant in October 1993, in Ramat-Gan (a suburb of Tel Aviv). Today, McDonald's Israel operates more than 80 restaurants across Israel. McDonald's Israel Benefits the Israeli Economy McDonald's Israel proudly sources over 80% of its ingredients locally, including 100% kosher beef patties, potatoes, lettuce, buns, and milkshake mix. McDonald's Israel employs 3000 Israelis. McDonald's in Israel It should be noted, in its favour, that when in 1999 an international campaign forcedBurger King to withdraw its name from a restaurant that had been built in the illegal Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, the general manager of McDonald's Israel, Omri Padan, said that he will never open a branch on the occupied territories. Source: http://www.mcdonalds.com/countries/israel.html
[9]	McDonald's Israel Source: http://www.mcdonalds.co.il/full.asp?pageName=english&worldName=none
[10]	McDonalds to open 24 new branches by 2009, Israeli CEO: Lebanon War lost us over 10 million NIS According to McDonald's Israel CEO Omri Padan, the chain is growing at 8-9 percent per year. McDonald's currently operates 125 restaurants in Israel and plans to operate 150 by the end of 2008. Padan reports that the expected turnover for McDonald's Israel in 2006 stands at over 400 million NIS (USD 93,283,500). In 2005 the turnover stood at only 380 million NIS (USD 88,619,400). Padan also noted that the war in Lebanon cost the chain considerable financial damage, with an estimated loss of over 10 million NIS (USD 2,332,000) during 2006 due to the closing of 20 northern branches over the course of the summer – considered to be a crucial time in fast-food sales. "If it weren't for the war," said Padan, "we would have reached a 414 million NIS (USD 96,548,5000) turnover." Padan estimates that the turnover for 2007 will reach 450 million NIS (USD 104,944,000) and 500 million NIS (USD 116,604,400) in 2008. Source: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3321068,00.html
[11]	Chicago Jewish Community Online (website of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago) http://www.juf.org/cent/partners.asp After the successful take up of the boycott around the world, companies are for the first time shy to show their support for the zionist state. As a result this page which lists the corporate partners was quickly taken off.. Luckily we managed saved a copy (below). Notice that the partners list is split in to three tiers. Presumably the largest contributors are in the first tier with their names in a large type. Mcdonald's is third on this tier withSara Lee fourth. Other partners include several newspapers, banks and finance companies. JUF web page (feb 2002), before it was removed, which lists the corporate partners Page no longer available but archive can be seen at: http://web.archive.org/web/20020208120848/http://juf.org/cent/partners.asp Source: http://www.juf.org/cent/partners.asp
[12]	THE ISRAEL CONNECTION The Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago maintain strong ties to Israel in a variety of ways. The Partnership 2000 Program forges business, professional, and personal links; Israel Experience Programs for teens and young adults provide education and enrichment opportunities; and JUF Missions offer families, singles, and others a wide variety of travel options; the Israel Commission of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish United Fund enables the organized Jewish community to maintain its interest in Israel-related issues. Source: http://www.juf.org/jewish_identity/ji_connect_home.asp  THE ISRAEL COMMISSION "The Israel Commission serves as a forum for the organized Jewish community to promote understanding of Israel and Middle East developments, most recently including those connected with the peace process; works to maintain American military, economic and diplomatic support for Israel; monitors and, when necessary, responds to media coverage of Israel; plays a leadership role in organizing and planning the annual community-wide Yom Ha'Atzmaut celebration; and helps promote Israeli cultural events in the metropolitan area." Source: http://www.juf.org/services_resources/sr_jcrc_israelcom.asp
[13]	Summer Family Mission to Israel August 19-23, 2002 Led by Missy & Allan Malmed ...Walk in the steps of your ancestors and view the amazing excavations at the Southern Wall ... Stop at Mt. Hertzel where Yitzak Rabin is buried ... Visit our sister city, Kiryat Gat and see the important work we are doing there ... Visit an army base and meet with Israeli soldiers ... Learn the important history of the Golan Heights ... Source: http://www.juf.org/mission/ Source: http://www.juf.org/mission/mission.asp?id=9
[14]	OUTREACH TO THE GENERAL COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP MISSION TO ISRAEL In past years leaders from a broad spectrum of Christian faith communities have been invited to participate in a week-long seminar in Israel, coordinated by the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago and the American Jewish Committee, and jointly sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and the American Jewish Committee. SPEAKERS If your group is interested in having a speaker address the topics of Israel, Israel's role in the Middle East, Jerusalem, or the peace process, contact... HIGH SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH The Israel Youth Delegation is an official joint project of Israel's Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education. The purpose of the project is to make American high school students aware of Israel ... Source: http://www.juf.org/services_resources/sr_jcrc_outreach.asp
[15]	PARTNERSHIP 2000: OUR LINK TO ISRAEL In Chicago, the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation is twinned with the Lachish region, comprising the city of Kiryat Gat and the rural areas of Lachish and Shafir. Through this partnership, $1.3 million from the Jewish United Fund is allocated annually for projects that promote the region's development... (incidentally, the map they use shows Gaza and the West Bank as integral parts of Israel) Source: http://www.juf.org/jewish_identity/ji_connect_p2000.asp
[16]	For full information on Kiryat Gat please see the article on Intel already facing possible legal problems for building its chip plant in Kiryat Gat : http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-news-0194.html
[17]	The oppressing arches of McDonalds can be seen in most Muslim countries. In Saudi Arabia there are 83 branches including four in Madina and four in the Holy City of Makkah, including one just metres away from the Holy Kabba in the Abraj al-Bait ("Towers of the House") shopping centre. Prince Mishaal Bin Khaled Al Saud is McDonalds licencee in the kingdom. Source: http://www.mcdonaldsarabia.com/english/ksa/locations.asp Source: http://www.mcdonaldsarabia.com/english/ksa/about_story.asp
[18]	http://www.mcdonalds.com/corporate/info/exec_bios/greenberg/index.html Page no longer available but archive can be seen at: http://web.archive.org/web/20021201101351/http://www.mcdonalds.com/corporate/info/exec_bios/greenberg/index.html Source: http://www.mcdonalds.com/corporate/info/exec_bios/greenberg/index.html

The Differences between Mcdonalds Meals in the USA and other Countries

By: Michael Totten 

• Published: August 16, 2012

McDonald's excels at providing consistency in their meals. However, an American may be surprised at some of the differences between McDonald's meals in the U.S. and McDonald's meals in other countries, even in neighboring Canada and Mexico. In India and Hong Kong, very little on the menu may be familiar.

Differences in the staples

Anything which is not part of the main menu may not be available outside the U.S. For example, Chicken Nuggets are much more widespread than Chicken Selects, which are only available in the U.S., the UK, Canada, Australia, and Israel.

Names often change from country to country. In Australia, Chicken Selects are known as Chicken McDippers. In metric countries, the name "Quarter Pounder" is meaningless, so the same burger in these countries is known as the Royal Cheese or the McRoyale.

Portions are generally smaller outside the U.S. Even "standard" burgers such as the Big Mac are smaller. As a general rule of thumb, the U.S. small sizes are comparable to medium sizes elsewhere. You won't be able to find special upsized meals such as the Mighty Kids Meal outside the U.S.

French fries and burgers taste different from country to country because of changes in the way they are cooked and differences in spices and the amount of salt. The amount and type ofsalt may be doubled or halved. Unusual seasonings, such as seaweed, may be available to shake over the fries. Fries may be shoestring, straight, curly, or replaced by potato wedges. A poutine upgrade is available in most of Canada.

Some countries also use a local brand of potato. For example, Israeli French fries are processed locally, from local potatoes, as part of the 80% of McDonald's ingredients which come from local sources in Israel.

The buns and cheese in McDonald's hamburgers varies from country to country. Italy has a special Parmigiano Reggiano burger. In France, Emmenthal (Swiss) cheese is used on a ciabatta bun. Pita bread is common in the Middle East.

Most countries don't include gherkin or dill pickles as part of their McDonald's hamburgers. Some countries also omit the ketchup. Germany sometimes uses cucumber slices instead of pickles.

Religious dietary restrictions

Hindus don't eat beef, so you won't find any standard hamburgers in India. Instead, the Maharaja Mac is made of lamb or chicken meat. For strict vegetarians, the McAloo Tikki replaces the meat with a deep-fried potato and pea patty. India also has the McCurry Pan, which consists of a creamy mushroom, broccoli, bell pepper, and optional chicken curry in a bread box.

All burgers in the Middle East are made with halal or kosher meats. This refers to the way the cow was killed and prepared.

Pork sandwiches, such as the McRib, are not available in the Middle East, north Africa, and most of south Asia. Pork is forbidden under both Jewish and Islamic dietary laws.

You won't find cheeseburgers in Israeli McDonald's branches with kashrut certificates. They are against the dietary laws which do not allow mixing meat products with milk products. If milk products such as milkshakes are sold at all, they will be sold from a separate booth. During Passover, a Passover bun replaces the sesame seed bun. All hamburger patties at kashrut locations are barbecued over charcoal.

Although only 40 Israeli McDonald's branches have kashrut certificates, all of them use only kosher ingredients. A kosher McDonald's restaurant can also be found in Argentina. All restaurants with kashrut certificates are closed on Sabbat and Jewish holidays.

The McDonald's sign for the 2 kashrut-approved branches in Tel Aviv, Israel, is in blue and white instead of red and gold, although the sign of the golden arches is still right beside it. This is the only time McDonald's has ever strayed from using only red and gold.

Many McDonald's locations in Islamic countries close during the day during Ramadan. Some McDonald's locations in these regions offer special menus for the daily breaking of the fast, including items such as harira, a traditional Berber soup.

McDonald's locations in many Catholic and Greek Orthodox countries offer special fish or shrimp burgers during Lent. However, Mexican McDonald's locations do not serve fish at all.

International McFood

= McRice =

Cheese products are difficult to find throughout the Far East, where most people are lactose-intolerant. Instead, many people opt for McRice, which is simply a side order of rice. Rice is also available as the "bun."

In Costa Rica, the national dish of gallo pinto has a McDonald's version. It consists of mixed rice and beans, and is served with scrambled eggs and sour cream.

In addition to McRice, Hong Kong McDonald's branches offer a particularly wide variety of local items, ranging from pasta soups to mung bean ice cream. Standard items are given a local twist in Wasabi Filet O'Fish and Shogun Burgers. A special bun is used during the Cheung Chau Bun Festival.

Pasta is also a popular side option in many parts of the world. Many locations from Italy to the Philippines offer spaghetti, twisty pasta, or some other variant on local pasta as part of the standard McDonald's meal.

= McSoup =

Soup is a very popular item in international McDonald's locations, but the flavors vary from country to country. In Portugal, the McSoup is Caldo Verde cabbage soup, while corn soup is served in Taiwan.

= McArabia =

This comes in 2 versions: grilled chicken and grilled beef with spices (kofta). The sandwich is served with tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and garlic mayonnaise, all wrapped in a pita. It is available throughout the Middle East, except in Israel.

Other related sandwiches include the McFalafel ("ta'miya"), which is a seasoned, deep-fried ground bean patty with tahina sauce, lettuce, and tomato on a bun. It can be found in Egypt and Iafa, Israel. Israel is also home to the McShwarma and the McKebab, which is made with turkey.

= Kiwiburger =

This nostalgic New Zealand burger is fast developing a cult reputation similar to the McRib's reputation in the U.S. It adds a fresh egg and beet slices to a standard Quarter Pounder.

The Kiwiburger has been canceled and reintroduced 3 times since its invention in 1991. As of August 17, 2011, it has returned to the New Zealand menu for the fourth time.

= Pies =

McDonald's pies feature local foods. Some flavors are sometimes available only for a short time, such as Canada's blueberry maple pie. Taro pie can be found in Thailand, Guam, and Hawai'i. Other flavors include custard (Cyprus), banana (Brazil, Hawaii), corn (Japan), and cheese (Mexico, Guatamala).

= Beverages =

In many parts of Europe, such as Italy and Germany, you can order beer with your McDonald's meal. Even in these countries, not all McDonald's locations are licensed to sell alcohol.

Popular local non-alcoholic beverages include Irn-Bru (Scotland) and Inca Kola (Peru). Frozen Coke can be bought in Australia and New Zealand. Green tea is available in China and Japan, as well as green-tea-flavored ice cream and milkshakes.

Regional McFood

= McLobster and McCrab =

You can find this lobster sandwich in New England and the east coast of Canada. In eastern parts of Quebec, it is known as the McHomard, after the French word for lobster.

The McCrab is the McDonald's version of the Chesapeake crabcake. It can be found along the Delmarva Peninsula.

= Oatmeal =

After a successful market test, oatmeal is now available throughout most parts of the eastern U.S. and Canada. Flavors include fruit and brown sugar & maple.

= Spam =

Hawaii is crazy for Spam, and its McDonald's food is no different. Breakfast meals come with Spam or Portuguese sausage, rice, eggs, and optional pineapple.

The Big Mac Index

The price and relative cost of a Big Mac varies greatly around the world. The Big Mac Index is a tongue-in-cheek measure of purchasing power parity (PPP), based on the cost of a Big Mac or Maharaja Mac in each country. It does not take into account the different size of Big Macs in different countries, or the different meat of a Maharaja Mac.

Its combination of exchange rates with PPP can yield values which are different from the store price. For example, in Norway as of May 2012, the store price of a Big Mac was 96 NKR, which is close to $16.70 USD. In contrast, the PPP- and exchange-adjusted cost of a Big Mac in Norway in 2012 is $6.79.

An even stranger example recently played out in Argentina. In 2011, the Economist claimed that "burgernomics" showed that the average annual rate of burger inflation was nearly double the official rate of inflation. Shortly afterwards, the price of a Big Mac in Argentina became strikingly lower than all other comparable Argentinian McFoods, and stayed that way until June 2012.

6 jenis wanita yang tidak patut dikahwini.

Berikut adalah 6 jenis wanita yang tidak patut dikahwini. 

Pesan Rasulullah untuk kaum lelaki:

“Jangan kamu kahwini wanita yang ada enam sifat ini, yang ananah, yang mananah, yang hananah, yang hadaqah, yang basaqah dan yang syadaqah”.

Berikut adalah 6 jenis wanita yang tidak patut dikahwini:

1. Al -Anaanah:

Wanita yang banyak keluh kesah, yang selalu merasa tak cukup, apa yang diberi semua tak cukup. Diberi  rumah tak cukup, diberi motor tak cukup, diberi mobil tak cukup, dll. Hanya ingin memenuhi kehendak nafsu dia saja, tanpa memperhatikan perasaan suami, tak hormat kepada suami apalagi berterima kasih pada suami. apa yang suami beri pun tak pernah puas. Ada saja yang tak cukup.

2. Al-Manaanah:

Suka mengungkit. Kalau suami melakukan hal yang dia tak berkenan maka diungkitlah segala hal tentang suaminya itu. sangat senang membicarakan suami: tak ingat budi, tak bertanggungjawab, tak sayang, dll. Padahal suami sudah memberi perlindungan macam-macam padanya.

3. Al -Hunaana:

Wanita yang ingin pada suami yang lain atau berkenan kepada lelaki yang lain. Sangat suka membanding-bandingkan suaminya dengan suami/lelaki lain. Tak ridho dengan suami yang ada.

4. Al- Hudaaqah:
Suka memaksa. Bila hendak sesuatu maka dipaksa suaminya melakukan. Pagi, petang, malam asyik menekan dan memaksa suami. Adakalanya dengan berbagai ancaman: ingin lari, ingin bunuh diri, ingin membuat malu suami, dll. Suami dibuat seperti budaknya, bukan sebagai pemimpinnya. Yang dipentingkan adalah kehendak dan kepentingan dia saja.

5. Al -Hulaaqa:

Sibuk bersolek atau tidur atau santai2 dll hingga lalai dengan ibadah-ibadah asas, seperti solat berjamaah, wirid, zikir, mengurus rumah-tangga, berkasih sayang dengan anak-anak, dll.

6. As-Salaaqah:
Banyak berbicara, menggosip. Siang malam, pagi petang asyik menggosip terus. Apa saja yang suami kerjakan selalu tidak benar di matanya. Zaman sekarang ini gosip bukan saja berbicara di depan suami, tapi dengan telpon, SMS, internet, dan macam-macam cara yang lain . Yang jelas isteri tersebut asyik menyusahkan suami dengan kata-katanya yang menyakitkan.

Iman Ghazali = " Apa yang paling besar didunia ini ?"
Murid 1 = " Gunung "
Murid 2 = " Matahari "
Murid 3 = " Bumi "

Imam Ghazali = " Semua jawapan itu benar,tapi yang besar sekali adalah HAWA NAFSU. (Surah Al A'raf: 179) = Maka kita harus hati-hati dengan nafsu kita, jangan sampai nafsu kita membawa ke neraka."

IMAM GHAZALI" Apa yang paling berat didunia? "
Murid 1 = " Baja "
Murid 2 = " Besi "
Murid 3 = " Gajah "

Imam Ghazali = " Semua itu benar, tapi yang paling berat adalah MEMEGANG AMANAH (Surah Al-Azab : 72 ) = Tumbuh-tumbuhan, binatang, gunung, dan malaikat semua tidak mampu ketika Allah SWT meminta mereka menjadi khalifah pemimpin) di dunia ini. Tetapi manusia dengan sombongnya
berebut-rebut menyanggupi permintaan Allah SWT sehingga banyak manusia masuk ke neraka kerana gagal memegang amanah."

Imam Ghazali = " Apa yang paling ringan di dunia ini ?"
Murid 1 = " Kapas"
Murid 2 = " Angin "
Murid 3 = " Debu "
Murid 4 = " Daun-daun"

Imam Ghazali = " Semua jawaban kamu itu benar, tapi yang paling ringan sekali didunia ini adalah MENINGGALKAN SOLAT . Gara-gara pekerjaan kita atau urusan dunia, kita tinggalkan solat "
(HR. Muslim no. 82) =

بَيْنَ الرَّجُلِ وَبَيْنَ الشِّرْكِ وَالْكُفْرِ تَرْكُ الصَّلاَة
ِ
“Pembatas antara seorang muslim dengan kesyirikan dan kekafiran adalah meninggalkan solat.”

Imam Ghazali = " Apa yang paling tajam sekali di dunia ini? "
Murid- Murid dengan serentak
menjawab ="Pedang "

Imam Ghazali = " Itu benar, tapi yang paling tajam sekali didunia ini adalah LIDAH MANUSIA . Kerana melalui lidah, manusia dengan mudahnya menyakiti hati dan melukai perasaan saudaranya sendiri"

[HR. Al-Bukhari dalam al-Adab hadits (6018) dan Muslim hadits (47)] =

مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللهِ وَاليَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْرًا أَوْ لِيَصْمُت
ْ
“Barang siapa yang beriman kepada Allah dan hari akhirat, hendaklah dia berkata yang baik atau diam.”