Free Education is the first step toward a better nation!!!

“Human Rights, Article 26.

1.    Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be FREE, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages.”

It’s been over 50 years and our governments throughout all these years haven’t noticed the word FREE yet! Or even worse, I think they haven’t noticed the word EDUCATION!!!

Some may argue with me about this issue, claiming that government schools in Jordan are everywhere and tuition fees are insignificant for the elementary stages –somewhere around 10 JDs a year. Well, shut up!

I’ve been there! I attended government schools all up to high school; I can’t be selfish and deny all the teachers and the canteen boys their good efforts, they did a pretty good job all around. But when it comes to teaching and creating generation after another to work and lead in this country, they were all rubbish!

Let’s examine the great battle between Free and Private education? For a lot bigger amount of money paid every year you can send your kids to a private school where they will go to a school so far away from home that a fancy bus full of germs and under-cover-mucus will deliver your them both ways and deprive them from the joy and the great benefits of walking. They will wear a decent uniform and carry a lunch box everyday to the school without being beaten twice by other bullies –one for the contents of the box and the other is to take the box frankly. They will not carry a small bottle to survive the school-day since none of the water taps are working, or mostly missing! The classes will be mixed with other gender creature called “girls” so the kids will have all those years to get used to look at them and deal with them as human beings instead of spending the first year of college like a wild beast in its heat season or like a teen flipping the pages of an erotic, yet 3D now, magazine you recall from your 7th grade!  And by the age of 18 they will leave school, thrilled and full of happiness and excitement to face a new era! Instead of that troubled and confused feeling of happiness a government school graduate go through at the same stage! 

I've never been convicted with a crime or done any time, but I'm pretty sure spending 18 years in the joint and then heading out for the first time will have the exact same feeling. There’s only one way to describe it: “now what?!”

There is also beating! Having your kids in a private school means that you, while working like an android 7 days a week trying to collect enough money for those little bastards, can make sure they return home safe and clean. But this also mean that they will master the art of swearing, play during classes and learn the worst attitude possible and later on blow it all up your face when you don’t have enough money to buy them a PS3. At least you can make sure they will return home safe and spoiled! Isn't that what matters?!!

I can recall every single time I got beaten with a big stick or a water hose by one of the teachers. Every single one of them! Especially the ones during winter! But apart from being late to school or not wearing that ugly bag they called “Uniform” I can’t recall a single idea what they were for!

So as you may have noticed here, Free-Education does exist. For a tiny donation on each kid every year the government will provide you with a day-shelter for your potential astronauts and engineering little geniuses so they don’t get lost during the day while you are out doing whatever you do. And if you have enough money in your pockets, they can attend a better school, develop better minds, plan better future and…..well, they won't carry a bottle of water to survive school like soldiers in the battlefield for God’s sake!

Development in the Arab World!!!

I read history a lot, but every time I reach a point where there is no point in reading any further. Because, let's face it, since 1940 nothing changed in the Arab world!

My father is still keen to watch the 6:00 PM and the 8:00 PM news everyday! in a hope for something to change.

Well, nothing changed!

Sorry father, but absolutely nothing will EVER change!

Palestine is still occupied!

Palestinians are still tortured and kicked out of their homes and lands!

The Arab leaders are still talking nonsense in their baloney meetings!

The good news is: These leaders number is reduced by the hour.

So we have less crappy moths talking nonsense at the end of each summit.

Once they announced (after a summit to discuss the current situation in Syria): we are watching carefully!

Just these words: We Are Watching Carefully!

and that's the case after every summit, rubbish words and silly announcements as if we were ignorant morons!

Gulf countries are still wealthy, incredibly wealthy! and its people are still relatively developed as human beings. Spending money like crazy in Europe and the US.

Iraq's people are no longer occupied by that tyrant, they are now occupied by few nations!

Syria's people are is still suffering from the siege. but now it's on both sides!

Lebanon will always be Lebanon, people are having fun and night and working hard in the morning while few big shots are dividing the country as if it was a big family business!

Egypt -after 30 years- is no longer ruled by a smart military bastard, its being ruled now by a few bunch of military bastards under the name of revolution!

Libya is destroyed, revolution happened and people killed Gaddafi on a very long Action-Hollywood movie we watched with no idea what the hell is going on. For me there was never Libya, it was always Gaddafi on TV talking nonsense-true stuff most of the time- apart from your memories, so let's keep that image and those memories and pretend nothing happened there! you had great time there.

Tunis, another revolution, then boom!!! Busy activities in the rest of the Arab world took away camera crews and news teams so no one actually know what the hell is going on there, again, let's pretend nothing also happened there. It was and it will always be a lovely green country with lovely people.

Sudan! Its divided into two countries now and one of them is ruled by a cowboy!

Somalia! will, population is getting shrunk by the hour as starvation is eating away everyone! where is the Arab leaders? Sorry, they are busy in another summit!

   

Jordan! It is still a great solid formula of safety and good living, yes things are not as perfect as we hope for and change is taking all the time it need to happen. But let's be honest dad! after everything we talked about here! give me a break!! this is paradise in here!

Jordan! I can’t help it, love this country…

It’s an amazingly fascinating country if you think of it. No really, because it’s not only the safest and most convenient country in the region –me thinks! And for me it’s not only the place where I grew up and where all my family and close friends are. It’s the memories in the past 28 years for me and the facts about the past 60 years.

Lets me sum it up to you this way, August 1952 King Hussein started his astonishing reign and managed to distinguish this country from the rest of the Arab world as A civilized place the way it should be. Where the rest of the world used to know Jordan as the great-empty desert where Peter O'Toole played Lawrence of Arabia while locals gathered to observe the crew and their devil-made equipment with a look that later on inspired Hollywood so much they decided it will make the best reaction of E.T.’s face for seeing the first human. He managed to literally build the country from scratch penetrating his way through wars on the surrounding borders, occupation on the west-side, internal Jordanians-Palestinians conflict remained a ready-to-blow-anytime tumor for a very long time and the biggest challenge of building a civilized country.

Jordan has ever been a key element in the Arab World journey thanks to this man's legacy. Not only as the centre of the Arab world but for the fact that it was ruled by a man who didn’t only know how to speak and listen to his people with exceptional love and respect. But he also knew how to speak to the rest of the world and have the same influence. I now stopped writing and stared on what I’ve just wrote to be honest, and decided to stop expressing my admiration of him at this point because I will write hundreds of lines and lines and yet I will never be just in summarizing his 46 years and 180 days reign in enough words. But, I always prefer to look at it this way, if the Arab world leaders casted the Godfather movie he will be Don Corleone! Where they will stand in legs-shaking respect listening to every word he says.

As for Jordan the country! Well, if you compare it to the green fields of Holland and the sandy beaches of Seychelles it’s not my favorite place. But for everything else it’s astonishing! Let’s take some facts and figures: it’s a small country of 92,300 km² with a population of 6 million – it was merely 200,000 in 1960. And yet it survived all the conflicts and welcomed all the refugees in the past 110 year, from Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Kuwait, Chechnya, and the Circassians. And now it’s welcoming the refugees from South Syria as well after the resent protests.

Well, if you think that is amazing, and indeed it is, here is the next development; Jordan, and after all those years and all the hits it gladly survived, haven’t only managed to keep the building process moving forward, haven’t only managed to stay safe, secure and a great place of living. No. Jordan is now welcoming big countries like the GCC under its umbrella. Not as refugees seeking shelter, but because these big-wealthy-oil-soaked countries are seeking political safety and stability.

Yes, they may have announced it in the news that Jordan is “joining” the GCC. But the way I see it is the other way round. And that brings the Godfather movie again to my mind!

“Jordan seeks to play only one role, that of a model state. It is our aim to set an example for our Arab brethren, not one that they need follow but one that will inspire them to seek a higher, happier destiny within their own borders”.
King Hussein

Life in the 21st century! Slap me on the face and wake me up please…

You might expect me to write something related to the changes we are witnessing in the region after this absence. Were tyrants are being overthrown by the angry “nothing to lose anymore” protestants. Surprisingly though I am not.

Yes things are kicking everywhere and no one has a damn clue what’s happening next. Useless leaders and being overthrown “Finally” but replaced by, if you’d like to make a guess, nothing!  I was very happy when bin Ali ran away and Tunis became free of this tyrant. It’s a lovely country with lovely people and they gave everyone a great lesson of living with dignity. But unless you are living in Tunis –thanks to the commercial news channels who only promote fresh juicy news- you end up having the great accomplishment as an expired news flash, it is gone. You might see a couple of unknown “political experts” fighting in a talk show. But to be honest I always reach a point when I do not know anymore who is who and what the hell are on about. Which makes me wonder how they both would look like if they sat upside down?

In Egypt though, now that was a great even and the best accomplishment for the Arab world in the last 500 years. You would blame me for not writing a full article about it. But I wouldn’t, not yet however.

Don’t get me wrong now because I was filled with joy and pride when it was accomplished. It wasn’t accomplished by tanks or jet fighters, or with oil-cut threats like some of the rich and retarded gulf country would do if they had a tiny bit of brain and dignity. It was purely the efforts of people, whom over the past years watched their live becoming worse and worse and had nothing left to lose. I hugely respect the Egyptian revolution and I had the greatest pleasure of living a day to witness such accomplishment. But again, thanks to the same commercial news channels, things are left there unfinished and no one knows what the hell is going on in there. I am sure they are not waiting for any support from the early mentioned rich oil countries because most of the year they are too busy building skyscrapers and the world’s biggest sandwich. And in the remaining days they are shopping in Europe or cruising the Mediterranean.

Syria? It is a dead end. Lebanon? No one have a clue what is going on and who are all these peoples suits appearing on TV. Yemen? They are lost years ago! Some have recently discovered -after the Egypt incident- that they are a huge number of citizens and not only the 5 houses on his way to the nearest Catha edulis (Qaat) field. Bahrain? He stared his way as a prince and all gave himself so many “upgrade” titles that he is only 1 step away from being the emperor of a tiny 707 sq km empire. Somalia? It’s been years since anyone heard about them anything in the news; last thing we knew about was that skinny hungry little boy’s picture with his dying mother, I think they are all gone now and it’s an empty land where pirates go to hide their treasures, unless they hide their treasures now in Swiss banks these days like our beloved tyrants.

Jordan? Sill the best and the safest place in the region, regardless of all the old cases that are being forwarded to the anti-corruption committee with thieves being captures and departed to London for dinner and relaxing. You caught the guy! Hooray! Now where is the fucken money?!

Palestine? It’s a very long story and you can read books and books about it, so you don’t need me to tell you about that. But again -thanks to the same commercial news channels- no one knows what the hell is going on in there apart from the victims and their families who are still living behind enemy lines.

Iraq? It was sold years ago! And sadly the American flag waved in so many places covering years of Sumerian heritage. The Cradle of Civilization became the cradle of filth and oil wars. Good job yanks!

Kuwait? All I know is that it’s a place where people do not go to work and have lots of money to spend. While their girls sound like grinding machines and their boys dress like girls. Libya? It’s another chapter in the so called American “Anti-terror” war. Because of the Zibilion gallons of back gold buried underground and the U.S. Department of the Treasury is a little short on Extra-money.

Qatar? The land of opportunities and the host for the World Cup in 2022 –If there are any footballer left who is not busy modeling or fighting their dandruff on public. So busy you might and guess to be available in the whole “loco –fiesta” that is going on, but yet they are a leading actor in the all the scenes we’re watching these days.

Surprisingly all the mentioned above brings me to the shocking tsunami earlier in Japan. It was all over the news everywhere as a start. Then rumors were spreading about a nuclear leakage from Fukushima nuclear plant -What a funny name for a leaking nuclear plant, FUK-ushima! The name describes exactly what might happen to the world if this is true.

Again, the news channels started putting a huge lens on this frightening fact. We don’t have a clue what is going on with the wiped villages and the people used to live in there. No one knows for sure the number of casualties lost in this huge event. You might have some rough figures about it if you Google “what caused the prices of Toyota shares to drop down”. And it’s the same story with the hungry little boy in Somalia.

I can only think that WE (Humans) do not matter to the rest of the world unless someone somehow is going to make big lumps of money, either acting as the caring protector of human rights OR acting as the puppet Tyrant who is about to perform his masterpiece in the “Retirement” chapter and handle the “fuck-them-all” task to another actor.

I really wish this is all a very long dream and after 5 minutes I will wake up as a New Guinean flying bird. Why the 5 minutes? because birds don’t smoke and a really need one right now…

Bring Down The Wall!!!

Israelis argue that the barrier is necessary to protect their civilians from “Palestinian terrorism”, including the suicide bombing attacks!!!!!

So let’s get this straight shall we: You come to a land and force occupation on its people; you rape the people and their lands day and night with guns and terror; you force the people to leave their lands and houses; you tremble with your guns pointed to little patriots carrying nothing but stones in their hands, and strength in their heart; you steal the money of the surrounding Arab countries using their own corrupted governments and the banking system; you buy these governments with debts, expired weaponry and fake loans; you offer the Arab leaders the protection of their selves, their wealth and their ruling systems as long as they keep their mouth shut and look away while you keep spreading your roots further in like a disease.

You’ve killed our armless men and women, our kids, our infants, our helpless elders, our land, our sea, our green hills, our fresh air, our rich culture, our precious habits, out lofty mountains, our fresh river, our dignity, our hope, our humanity, our dreams and our God giving right of freedom; and yet you have the audacity to call us terrorists!!!!

Sooner or later, you supporting traitors will fade away. And we will bring down the wall. 

You trembled facing a stone from a little kid; well the little kid is a grownup now, he lost a brother and watched his father bleeding to death. He is filled with rage and anger is in his breath and his concept of vengeance is unimaginable. 

Your will not find protection in your wall, it will not handle the rage. 

So tremble away, we are bringing down your wall, that’s a promise.

Jordan Parliamentary Elections 2010

I always admired the ever used slogan “Celebration of democracy” when it comes to elections. This is the perfect way to describe it actually, a celebration of democracy. Sadly thou, on the day of the elections you start reading the news headlines:

Police use tear gas to disperse Riots, Clashes in Amman

Riots in 3 cities as election results trickle in

One dead in election violence

A total of 1,255,024 out of 2,373,579 eligible voters participated in the Kingdom's parliamentary elections

It doesn't make sense to read such things on such a day. It should’ve been a smooth and easy process, considering the fact that only 1.2M people participated out of 6.5M!!!!! ؤompared to China, 1.2M is the population of a bloody small neighborhood in there! So it should be an easy and quick process in here!!!

The main problem here is not the candidates or the governors of the voting process or the national security; it’s the bastard supporting their candidates! It’s like a boxing match for them and they want their candidate to win. To WIN?!?! He is applying for a job as a servant to the people; it’s not a fucken WIN or LOSE contest, its being up to the task to serve this country and its people.

If those bastards realized the fact that this candidate they are cheering for is going to ride a fancy car, live in a great house, be a complete donkey setting on the parliament chair half asleep and enjoying watching them getting fucked 24/7 while his investments are growing, I wonder if they would cheer for him at that stage or through rocks at him as they did to the other candidate supporters!

Good luck parliament members; enjoy your next 4 years of laziness and paid expenses, we are always ready to get fucked, don’t worry about us, you won’t be the first group, we have survived the worst!!! But please take your dogs with you to your many upcoming vacation, now we don’t need the animal rights people to get pissed, do we?

My advice to the wise: if the sheep are lost in the woods, it’s the Sheppard who gets the blame. And if you wanted to fix a corrupted and completely lost generation, you don’t correct the school teachers; you aim for the school principal then you make your way down until you reach every single student. 

This is not High-Tech nor Clever Engineering. This is simply.....Genius!!!!!

This is not High-Tech nor Clever Engineering, this is simply.....Genius!!!!!

Can’t blame the government on this one!!!

It is not usual for me to admit this, but YES! The government was correct this time! 

A few months ago, the government canceled the 8 JDs tax, which the travelers used to pay on the borders when visiting Syria. It was a part of an agreement between the Jordanian government and the Syrian government, which was suppose to make life a lot easier for the residents of both countries.

This could have been a great initiative towards the dream of canceling the borders within the Arab world. The European Union did it, so why can't we?! 

Sadly though, the borders authority started collecting the same 8 JDs it canceled, in a different name this time: “Service Tax” instead of “Departure Tax”.

People started to consider Syria as a 3 hours drive to a cheap dinner in Damascus in the aim of buying cheap Duty-Free Cigarettes and Alcohol.

I really don’t blame the government on this one. They didn’t impose the new tax because of the economical incapacity it is suffering on this year’s budget. Although lots and lots of Jordanians started to spend weekends in Syria and Lebanon because it’s only a 3-5 hours drive, and collecting 8 JDs each will generate a good income! But they did because of this greedy group.

Here you go; once again, a small group of people deficiently affects the majority.

It’s true; this is a great country, but it deserves better population!

Ramadan Kareem!

Here we go again, its Ramadan everybody, the God’s month of generosity, forgiveness and salvation prayers.

BUT! When you think things got better in this world. Well, think again!

It’s 2010 now and yet people still taken by surprise at the last night before Ramadan’s first announced day to go out and buy the groceries which much last during the whole month!!!!! Why? Is it forbidden to buy groceries during Ramada days? Is it the end of time? Didn’t we have Ramadan the year before?

I went out late last night with Hisham my friend to buy some stuff; I did fancy some hot bread for our first Sahour meal. I didn’t find bread in 3 of the bakeries I went to, I had to search for a while until we found our craved rare product in the bakery close to Hisham’s house, which had some bread because it is not in a crowded area I must assume.

Just a reminder folks, Pakistan is flooded now! And believe it or not Ramadan happens there too! I am sure they –as many people around the world- can’t afford buying their daily groceries to feed their hungry children. Even in your own country!

So, before setting to that “feast” you call IFTAR eating like a pig, if you won’t even try to help, at least remember those who can’t afford a portion of what you are about to eat. Otherwise don’t bother fasting and acting so religious because that’s not the idea of Ramadan or even being a human!

Disturbing daily pictures…

I am not “Yves saint Laurent” of fashion! And I don’t have the taste or the experience to judge on women fashion. But you have to admit it! Some women just don’t know what the hell they’re on about.

Wearing tons of makeup to work is ugly. It’s not a freaking Halloween party.

Wearing high-heals while working as a nurse or any job that requires moving around all day is stupid. No wonder you can’t move your ass and do your job after 2 hours work.

Wearing a T-shirt to work is silly. Even if all your colleagues (and your boss) admired your T-SHIRT, they are in fact admiring your breasts. come on now! You know it.

Wearing jeans trousers to work is annoying. It’s just not right! The fact that it is Black or Navy doesn’t make it formal.

Wearing beach slippers to work is disturbing; the sight of a slipper on the beach is acceptable only because it is usually linked to a hot slim chick in a swim suit.

Doing your hair everyday as if you are going to a ball or a wedding is frustrating. You could have used that extra time on cleaning it; wouldn't that be a good idea?!?!

Colors!!! Don’t even get me started…

You don’t have to look like a freak show to glow.

You don’t have to look like an optical illusion to get our attentions.

Clean and simple things are beautiful, whether you are in your work, your school, your social life or on the beach. Especially on the beach!!! :-)

Ayrton Senna, the best F1 driver of all times...

Some of life’s short advices…

1- Always beware of bank offers no matter how tempting they might seem.
2- Don’t ever make a decision when you are angry.
3- Don’t take away hope from anybody; it might be the only thing they have left.
4- Read at least one book each month.
5- On daily basis, do 50 Abs and 20 Pushups.
6- Stay away from short credit card loans.
7- Always make a good image of yourself even when nobody is watching you.
8- Learn first aid basics.
9- Learn how to swim.
10- Learn to play at least one musical instrument.
11- Watch the sunset at least once a month.
12- Watch the sunrise at least once a month.
13- Visit a new place within your country at least once a month.
14- Visit a new country at least once a year.
15- Always save at least 10% of your monthly income.
16- Try to change all the things you don’t like no matter how hard this task might seem.
17- When facing a difficult task, act as though it’s impossible to fail.
18- Give others a second chance, but never give a third.
19- Look for a new thing to do in a new place every weekend.
20- Have at least one hobby in your life.
21- Annual vacation is yours; don’t ever spend it at work no matter how crucial your job is.
22- Make mother’s day an insignificant occasion by getting your mother a monthly present even if it was a simple flower.
23- Be humble, but always walk, act, think and talk like you are the greatest person ever lived.
24- Accept each day with a smile in the morning.
25- Always leave a good impression on people even strangers, each time could be the last time you meet them.

A 10 Years old boy again!!!

A few days ago, I was standing next to a mulberry tree; I reached up to catch a nice one I just spotted, and in just a few seconds I found myself hanging on the top of the tree collecting mulberries like crazy.

It wasn’t the sweet taste of those mulberries or the rounded juicy look of each that got me moving; it was the memory of climbing our big mulberry tree back in our old house when I was 10 years old or so.

It’s not easy to imagine such a feeling unless you really did that thing. Wither you did it for your own joy or if you were asked by your father to collect the fruits from that big tree on a Friday morning. It really got me back in time and felt exactly like I was a 10 years old again; with ZERO worries of this complicated life and only one sweet taste in your mind.

Small things do make you happy sometimes, but only thinking as a small kid once again could ease your mind and give you a smooth start for whatever coming next in your life.

Ever thought of the word EDUCATION?!

It’s amazing how a single person can change your life. You learn your first words from your family. You learn how to kick a ball from your childhood pals. You even learn how to sprint from your childhood enemies in most cases. Everything you know about these basic things is already there; You just got a push, a motive to let it go.

If we look up the world education it will come from the root word “Educe”, which means “to bring forth what is within”.

Simple words with a gigantic impact on our minds, “To bring forth what is within”!!!

A stupid teacher with no relationship to conscience at all can definitely teach you how shitty things can be if you ended up just like him. And a good teacher who teaches you everything he know about your study texts, life, experiences and how to get a long in this life will show you the opposing truth. What’s waiting for you after school years? Will you work in a car maintenance garage? Will you go to a decent college and get a good degree? Will you travel faraway to seek a better dream and a better life? Or will you be a homeless bastard circling around wondering why people are running away from your stinky odor?

A great teacher –I shall better call him a mentor- once told me in my last school year: when you finish this year go to a decent college, get a decent degree, study something you love, get a great job and be somebody. Otherwise please do not bother stopping me in the street many years from now to remind me of yourself and say hi, because I won’t.

To be honest, although I respected him very much, I really thought he was an arrogant bastard that moment and didn’t show much attention to his words.

I finished my last year and applied for college, astonishingly his face and his words were the first thing a saw in the college leaflet. I never forgot his words and will never do. He wasn’t teaching me to be an arrogant bastard nor showing me how arrogant he was and mean to little people. It was as if he knew that his words will consort me during my whole journey till this very moment.

With all respect, adoration, gratitude, appreciation, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your unremitting support.

Dedicated to the greatest school teacher I know: Mr. Yahya Ghrouz

The "BOSS"

A man wanted to buy his son a parrot as a birthday present. The next day he went to the pet shop and saw
three identical parrots in a cage.

He asked the clerk, “how much for the parrot on the right?

The owner said it was $2500.

“$2500.”, the man said. “Well what does he do?

“He knows how to use all of the functions of Microsoft Office 2000, responds the clerk.

“He can do all of your spreadsheets and type all of your letters.”

The man then asked what the second parrot cost.

The clerk replied, $5000, but he not only knows Office 2000,

but is an expert computer programmer.

Finally, the man inquired about the cost of the last parrot.

The clerk replied, “$10,000.”

Curious as to how a bird can cost $10,000, the man asked what this bird’s specialty was.

The clerk replies, “Well to be honest I haven’t seen him do anything.

But the other two call him “BOSS”

Embrace Life – Best ad of the year…

Sport city, your destination for a horrifying weekend…

Jordan is a small country considering area and population, but there are “many” destinations to go to if you are looking for a family-escape and a nice weekend. One of those places is “King Hussein sport city” or “King Hussein’s youth city” or as commonly known “the sport city”. What a lovely place, especially in the weekend where all the facilities are closed and the only staff available is the security door keepers.

It was built in 1964 on a vast area in the middle of Amman city, so close to everyone and so repulsive at the same time. Not a single brick changed since then one must presume. Construction works are everywhere and some areas inside should be considered in Hollywood for shooting some horror scenes.
I will try to give you the clear picture as I saw it this last weekend when I went to do some cycling with my friends:-

- Cars circling around like if it were busy highway, with a high possibility of having your little kid ran over by a crazy driver. Annoying drivers and Kia Sephias all over the place, fucken silly drivers (thank God the Bugatti Veyron is so expensive) I can’t imagine the same bastards driving it.

- Some happy couples under the trees, that’s not love, you know what am talking about!!!

- Few families brought their lunch thinking it’s a lovely day and it’s better to eat here instead of setting inside the cold houses.

- Some kids either playing on their bicycles or kicking a ball on the bumpy asphalt street (since all the playfields are closed!!!).

- The worst view: if you ever been there then you know the outer walls of the main stadium, inclined walls forming somehow a slide, I think we all glided those walls, well I did!!!

I don’t have a problem toward the place, it’s a lovely place and a great facility to have in any city, especially where not every family can pay 5000 J’s a year to go to Dunes club. But you can’t just build a city, hire some bastards and leave it running by itself, I don’t want to start talking about the things I’ve heard happening behind the trees at night, what a reputation for a “sport-city”!!!!

In Egypt there are many clubs, maybe 3 or 4 in each city in Cairo, and you can take your whole family, use every single facility there and order some food so you don’t have to carry “Tangaret al ma7she” with you for only 10 or 20 Egyptian pounds for the whole family as an entry fee. I will pay 10 or 20 J’s for each one of my family members if you take them and assign them to do something to make the place worthy to spend a weekend instead of making it free entry and free of any service what so ever!!!!!

I still can’t get over the view of those kids sliding the stadium wall, I wonder if the “minister of youth” takes his own kids to slide that wall or if he did enjoy it when he was a little kid.

My message to you Mr. Minister of youth: for God’s sake go and visit that place, it’s been a long time since a YOUTH minister visited the YOUTH city, have a look and see if you can make it better, it should be better!!!!!

For those who doesn’t know what F1 really means….

City walks…

I sold my old car. It’s been three days now without a car in a city where moving around in public transports is impossible considering the fact of the useless public transports system we have AND how “pleasant!!!” a journey in a cab is…

Not to save money or to avoid the beloved taxi drivers and their interesting chats, but I thought today that it would be a good treat to walk for a while before taking cab back home after my work, a few meters won’t harm…
Although it was really cold and after the first 5 steps I couldn’t feel my ears in place, I took my iPhone and listened to some of my old favorites, Chris Rea’s the road to hell was the most harmonious song for that walk…
It’s been a long time since I had such a “city-walk” – right since I owned my first car, I really forgot how good it make you feel to walk, it cools the breath, straighten the back and refreshes the heart.
Not necessarily to walk in a park like the one in the picture you see here – sadly we don’t have such a view or such a park- but for god’s sake at least once a week, just park that lifeless piece of metal you call a car and walk for a mile or two, trust me IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD!!!

Speed Limits.....

I really hated when the traffic police used to stop me for a ticket when I had a red sports car a year ago, it was a rare model in the city and only few knew it was a Mitsubishi.

As he starts writing the ticket the following conversation takes place:-

Policeman (with a gracious tone and a smiling face): what is the make of this car?
Me: Mitsubishi
Policeman: ooh, I thought it was a Chevrolet.
Me: well, it’s not
Policeman: this is a very nice sports car; here is your ticket…..
Me (thinking): it’s a fucken high-way; does it make sense make the speed limited to 80?! I can understand when it’s limited to 80 or 90 for transportation buses regarding the recent massacre caused by some ignorant driver, so limit it for them and keep the other “normal” cars in the “normal” and reasonable limits; or at least limit them to the so called bus lane at the right side of the road…
I’m not a speed freak, but come on!!!! 80Km/hour on a highway, it’s really irritating??!!

With all respect to that kind policeman, it’s not his fault; he didn’t put the stupid rules, he’s just doing his job, and doing it “politely” I shall say but the ironic part was “This is a very nice sports car”….. it’s like having the hangman say you’ve got a pretty neck 

KA3EK El EID

Yesterday when I came back home, I found a big reminder in the main hall around the kerosene heater, I almost forgot Eid is only 4 days away but I got a very big sip of that spirit when I saw that view.

You don’t feel the spirit of Eid very often these days, for some it’s only another few days break from the daily job.

My mom setting next to the fireplace (the Kerosene heater), surrounded by all the big plates we have in the kitchen, a bottle of water by her side since this process will take hours and hours, a small tiny board where she forms the most delicious circles of flour and dates (3ajweh) with her sparkling hands using small 3ajweh balls properly prepared by my little sister. my brother offered his services and sat next to the “3ajweh” plate, it was obvious that his main concern was as always to get a bite of “3ajweh” that’s all, it happens every year and he get a slap on the hand every year, it became one of the main ingredients…
My beloved dad warming up the oven considering the first plate is almost full, my little sister services is interrupted with a new task from my mom – the higher authority that night- to prepare a big pot of tea while my other brother and I are having a little discussion, I can’t remember what it was actually since we both were just killing the time waiting for the first toasted quantity to be released…

Not prepared in a luxury French kitchen with luxurious ingredients; Made only with lots of love, intimacy and passion of a warm family…the most precious ingredients in life.

Happy Eid to you all…

Best Animation Work EVER!!!

Those who can’t fight…..

Egypt was wiped out yesterday from the world cup 2010 by Algeria an a rather violent fight more than a football match…..now people in all Arab countries are divided into 3 types (with all respect to Egyptians and Algerians who in my opinion should and MUST support their country’s national team since it’s considered a “patriotism” sport winning passion rather than just a game to win or lose) :-

1- People who support Egypt and really mad or sorrow because of the loss, who are mostly from our surrounding area and have no luck nor good teams to compete on such levels (i.e. Syria)… I think they did support Egypt in that game because its closer to the area than Algeria and doesn’t think Algeria will represent their “ARABIC” culture enough!!!

2- People who supported Algeria, not for any reason at all but their hate to Egypt and its lovely people, it’s not a sport thing, its just like that. Insane? I wonder if they will really support Egypt if it was a real war with Algeria…

3- People who doesn’t give a shit who won or lose, it’s just the idea of having an Arabic team in the world cup so they (the team) can (hopefully) get pass the first round, if that’s the case, then why don’t Arab countries unite as a one big players’ factory and find the best Arab players and build a solid team to compete in the world cup and represent the Arab world, wouldn’t that save your time and effort and rest the world from your
insanity.

I am not any of the above (thank god), but I do enjoy a good football match whoever team is playing, after all its just a sport and if it’s not entertainment then why should I care………good luck Algeria, I really wish Spain and Portugal in the final :-)