Kuwaiti Babble

and we made our mark in history..

2009-05-17T21:28:00.003+03:00

My otherhalf and I stayed up all night constantly refreshing the electoral results page. Our excitment highetend as four females made it into Kuwait's parlimentary history...

Congratulations Masooma, Rola, Aseel (our favourite) and Salwa, I hope that you are armed well to fight corruption and prepared to prosper the land. Men only did half of the job, women are here to complete it..

Now, I can hold my head up high...

Spring smells wonderful

2009-04-14T03:15:00.002+03:00

This is what I walk past every day at 7.25am and then back at 6pm. I watched this patch persevere with snow, rain and ice. It is nice to find light at the end of the tunnel...

realities..

2009-03-18T04:28:00.005+03:00

Despite being miles away from Kuwait, I have been following the political situation as much as my times allows me.

The government resigned just way too many times. My hunch is, that the parliament will follow in a dissolution..

It is inevitable and only a matter of time. Maybe then will be able to uproot radicals, tribals and corrupts...(not sure about the last one.....)

I am tired of hearing criticisms about people's behaviour, intolerance to people's freewill and judgments on individuals' choices in life..

Let us start moving forward, rather than backward..

The past 181 days

2008-12-25T15:40:00.002+03:00

Boy they passed so fast..

Following the disappointment of the electoral results, I retreated into my disappointments with this land. Soon after, I set sails to a land miles and miles away and had to leave my most precious other half behind.

How did I manage? I am not sure.

All I know that during the last 181 days, I established my grounds onto a new land, I made a little humble home, I made new acquaintances, I made new friends and I had to persevere with new experiences.

Was it difficult? Yes it was, but I would have never done it without the love and support of my other half.

I can't wait to see you in 28 hrs from now.

للأسف

2008-05-18T12:34:00.001+03:00

و أنا طالعة للدوام اليوم شدني شكل الخيام المنصوبة للمقار الانتخابية. كانوا مهجورين و شكلهم كئييب و كأنهم يرثون لحال الكويت..حال الحركة السياسية اللا ديمقراطية..حال النتائج الانتخابية الوضيعة. ما قدرت أطلع من البيت اليوم إلى أن سمعت النتائج الأولية من عملية الفرز و صراحة قبضني قلبي لما ما سمعت عن نجاح المرأة و أصابني مغص في بطني لما سمعت عن نجاح الحركة السلفية و حسيت بوجع في الرأس لما شممت رائحة القبلية. هل يا ترى الوضع سيكون مختلف لو أن الأربعون في المائة الذين امتنعوا عن التصويت صوتوا؟

المجتمع الكويتي صار مكون من 3 شرائح: 40% يريدون الرجوع إلى الوراء و 40% فقدوا الأمل بالسير للأمام و ال20% المتفائلون الذين لا يمكنهم إنقاذ الكويت. و توقعاتي المستقبلية بأن شريحة فقدان الأمل ستكبر و من ثم شريحة الرجوع إلى الوراء ستصبح أقوى و تلتهم الكويت تماما فبوادر الالتهام الأولية واضحة...

في رأسي الكثير من الأسئلة و لكن من أهمها هو: كيف يفوز مرشح مطلوب في قضية شراء أصوات؟ لماذا لم يتحدن نساء الكويت بشكل أقوى؟

أنا أعلم أنه لا يوجد ردود منطقية لجميع تساؤلاتي, فلذلك سأكتمهم في داخلي و أستمر في حزني على مستقبل الكويت الضائع.

للعلم النتائج إلى الآن هي:

Skype is blocked

2008-05-17T20:17:00.002+03:00

Skype got blocked by the Ministry!
What a load of bullocks!!!!!

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Update: Just to clarify matters, the site is blocked if you are on KEMS only. the actual software is not blocked. You will log-in and use it as you normally do. However, their website is blocked. Therefore, if you wish to download or update the software, it won't allow you. In addition to the difficulties in topping-up your account if you normally do it through the Skype account.
My question is: why KEMS but not Qnet? Can someone find out if this is a mistake or will Qnet follow?

Voting

2008-05-17T19:35:00.002+03:00

In earlier posts, I said that I was not going to vote simply because I felt that there were no worthy candidates running this time. As much as I was excited about women gaining their political rights in Kuwait, I was equally disappointed about them completely neglecting the multitude of important issues concerning women in Kuwait. This of course is singling out the candidate Ms. Almagheet, who candidly suggested that Kuwait should only allow 'ugly' demostic-workers so that wives can clamp down on their husband's infidelities.

So, voting is what I did today and it was my first time ever. I thought things were very organised, though I did create a bit of a mess when I unintentionally crashed myself into a queue. I hope I made the right choice...

Good luck everyone, counting will start shortly...

RIP

2008-05-13T20:32:00.003+03:00

Only minutes ago, Alrai and Alwatan Tv channels announced that Sheikh Saad had passed away. May his soul rest in peace
Condolences Alsabah
Condolences Kuwait

Blogger Alfarhan Freed

2008-04-27T13:32:00.003+03:00

Blogger Alfarhan was arrested in December for expressing his views towards the Saudi government. He was released on the 26th of April and is at home with his family.
For more details click here.

Congratulations Fouad!

الكويت هنأت الدنمارك بعيدها

2008-04-17T20:30:00.003+03:00

Quoting from Alwatan Newspaper today:

"بعث حضرة صاحب السمو امير البلاد الشيخ صباح الاحمد الجابر الصباح حفظه الله ورعاه ببرقية تهنئة الى الملكة مارغريت الثانية ملكة مملكة الدنمارك الصديقة عبر فيها عن خالص تهانيه بمناسبة العيد الوطني لبلادها.
كما بعث سمو ولي العهد الشيخ نواف الاحمد الجابر الصباح وسمو رئيس مجلس الوزراء الشيخ ناصر المحمد الاحمد الجابر الصباح حفظهما الله ببرقيتي تهنئة مماثلتين.

"تاريخ النشر: الخميس 17/4/2008

It made me laugh in fits, I wonder what happened to our lovely friends who wanted to throw the Danish ambassador out of the country?

حامض على بوزكم يا اسلاميين

Spanish first woman defence minister

2008-04-15T11:47:00.003+03:00

(Click on the picture for more details)

The new Spanish government appointed their first female defense minister. At the prime age of 37 and seven months pregnancy, I wish this lady the best of luck. (She is the one with white top, fourth from the left)

She made me feel proud seeing her strutting her baby bump to the troops on EuroNews.

Now, what does Waleed Altabtabie feel about this? hmmmm

Move on..

2008-04-14T20:17:00.006+03:00

Fascinating how I am reading increasingly more articles which state that segregation stems from a cultural need, and there are no religious grounds for it. Just fascinating.

Mr. Almuttar, a student in the Faculty of Political Sciences; spends 2/3's of his articles citing research proving that segregation increases students' schooling potential. He raves on saying that since the US and Bush are advocating segregation, then it must be the way forward. Puzzling that those Kuwaitis who exemplify the US when convenient, are the same who justify the actions of terrorism. They are just the same people who said that women should not have their political rights, but once women were granted; they rushed to preach that voting is a religious and Godly duty.

On a much brighter note:
Kuwait Public Transport Company (KPTC), Ministry of interior and the Ministry of Education have started a new initiative in an attempt to tackle the ever worsening traffic congestion problem. They created the mottamen campaign which aims at transporting students from their homes to school and back via specially designated air-conditioned buses. The vehicles operate from September to June. Apparently, they have cut down on the traffic problem in Romaithiya by 70%. Bit by bit, they will expand the project so that eventually they cover all of Kuwait. I hope our proud, golden-spoon-fed and eccentric Kuwaiti bright students along with their parents will show full participation.

I say..way to go Kuwait, I hope you keep it up.

Pregnant Man

2008-04-03T15:56:00.002+03:00

Click on the picture for full article in English

It is just like any Lesbian women who decides to dress and beautify herself in a masculine manner but chooses to get pregnant. I can't believe the part where s/he claims in the article that his wife's family can't even tell that he was a woman, where will he hide that growing belly?!
If he is married to a women, it only means that the wife is gay too. Otherwise, with him not giving up his sexual organs, how can they do it??

and it all gets a bit confusing...I can't help but think that the picture is photo-shopped!

If anyone knows when his/her interview will be with Oprah, please let me know

Observations

2008-04-02T16:57:00.004+03:00

Every newspaper in Kuwait is dedicating a section to cover the "democratic" activity in Kuwait. Some are biased and others are unbiased. However; I never thought that it was allowed for the papers to label candidates for the elections based on their sect. Specifically, AlSeyasah paper lists a table of all the individuals running for elections with a column indicating their Islamic sect!
By doing so, we are emphasizing sectarian divisions rather than political affiliations. It is a known fact that every runner-up indicates to which party they belong to. However, their religious believes have nothing to do with their political party. As much as I support freedom of expression in Kuwait, papers should try to stay as impartial as possible. Meaning no advertising and no bias...only coverage.

the government has to do something about getting this round of elections right for the obvious reasons:
1. Two many constitutional dissolutions.
2. Women will be involved as voters and candidates.
3. Five constituencies for the first time.

Otherwise, we will only get yet another dissolution and yet another resignation....

حسافة عليج يالكويت

2008-03-25T13:56:00.001+03:00

للأسف هذي الانتخابات الثانية إلي راح تمر و ما راح أقدر أشارك فيها. أول مرة كنت حاجزة أسافر و ما قدرت أغير و كنت حزتها أظن أن السفارات راح تفتح الأبواب على مصراعيها للمسافرين الهاربين من لهيب الصيف على شان يصوتون في شتى أنحاء العالم. و لكن لا! الحكومة كانت راضية بالي قعدوا بالديرة و هذا بالرغم من أن قبل عامين كانت أول مرة المرأة تشارك بالانتخابات.

و الحين انحل المجلس و جاءت الفرصة بأن أستخدم حقي السياسي, بس شنو صار؟ اكتشفت أن يوم اعلان الحل أغلقوا أبواب التسجيل. اهو بالضبط متى فتح على شان يغلق؟ شنو هاعفسه!!!!!!!!!!!!

عاد اشدعوا راح أقدر أعرف أعطي صوتي لأحد؟ النواب صاروا حالهم حال بعض, بس يبي يوصل المجلس و يغير القوانين على شان ينفع نفسه و أهله بمعنى آخر أن يزيد الفساد. لا و الحين مع الدوائر الخمس لا بالله الديرة راح تعتفس. يا راح نصير دولة اسلامية أو دولة قبلية, و الديمقراطية راح تضيغ بالطوشة.

فنوعا ما أنا مو متحسفه على إني ما أقدر أصوت هالسنة, لأني صوتي ما راح يغير شيء أو يضيف شيء. الديرة صاير فيها سرطان فساد متقدم جداّ و علاجه ليس بالإسئصال و لكن بالعلاج الكيماوي والإشعاعي....

اي و الله ديرة بطيخ

2008-03-19T13:26:00.001+03:00

Oops! guess what?

The Parliament has been dissolved

So unexpected!

إحنا شكو؟

2008-03-19T11:56:00.003+03:00

إحنا ما صدقنا إن موضوع المنتجات الدنماركية و الإساءة للرسول خلص إلا طلع مرة ثانية. أنا بعرف شيء, يعني عادي عند ربعنا إن نسب في العالم و نعاملهم خرة و نهضم حقوقهم الإنسانية و الدينية بالإضافة الي الادعاء بأنهم كفار بس إذا اهم عبروا عن حسهم الفني لازم نسوي بلبلة سياسية و عالمية و فضائية. للعلم, في هذه الدول عندهم شيء عادي ان يرسمون كاريكاتير عن حكامهم و رؤسائهم و ملالوتهم لأن هذا يعتبر شيء اسمه حرية الرأي و التعبير. أقول, كاهم لسنوات رسموا كاريكاتير عل رسول الله عيسى! اشوف ربعنا ما قالوا شيء!!! مو اهوا نبي من أنبياء الله اسوه بغيره؟؟؟

الحين وصلت المواصيل ان يبون يطردون السفير الدنماركي بعد و الله أنا أشهد لو إن أحد الدول المسيحية قررت طرد السفير المسلم لأن يعتبر المسيحيين كفار و نجسين جان ربعنا الحين عافسين الدنيا. أنا بس أبي أقول رائي و كل واحد عنده رأي, الي ما يرضاها على نفسه لا يرضاها على غيرة.

و لا تطوفكم زبده لورباك و قيمربوك ترا أحسن شيء بالسوق

Olives

2008-03-10T18:16:00.005+03:00

I think that there is a serious olive crisis in Kuwait. I always thought that Kuwaiti super-markets have good reserves of nice olives. This notion remained there, albeit it was getting increasingly difficult to find the same quality olives everywhere. With the current increase in products prices, good olives seem to have disappeared completely.
A couple of days ago, I was completely disgusted when my significant-other pointed out that the olives he purchased, though were fine to eat, were preserved in cooking oil! I got so turned off that I binned them the next day.
So, today I thought I'll do my own experiment. I bought some fleshy olives in brine, which I felt needed a bit longer to marinate. I mixed my own olive oil, lemon juice & rind, chili, garlic, salt and vinegar and dumped the whole thing in a jar...

let's see if this one works....

International Women day

2008-03-09T18:12:00.001+03:00

Way to go Egypt

2008-02-26T18:50:00.005+03:00

A congratulatory note goes to Egypt for the appointment of the first female religious officiator licensed to conduct Muslim wedding ceremonies. During my latest visit to Cairo, I was in a state of shock due to the extreme religious change which had swept Egypt. I thought it would never hit that country, but it did.
However, Despite that disappointment it is always pleasant to see a governmental affinity to modernise Islam in a time when Islamist in certain countries are trying to segregate people at Universities and private educational institutions.

For the full article, please click on the picture

Happy National Day

2008-02-26T18:46:00.002+03:00

No Comment

My teddy is called Mohammad

2007-12-04T20:34:00.000+03:00

In a region where the name Mohammad ranks number one, it is not difficult to understand why children in school would want to call a dear toy by that name. If calling your teddy Mohammad is disrespectful, what about then nicknaming people with that name "Hamoodi", because that is in its own right a mutilation of the sacred name.
I think what the Sudanese government did was way out of order. I feel sorry for Ms. Gibbons who strived to teach those kids in a culturally understanding way but then got a smack across the face for doing so.
I'm glad that she got freed and didn't have to endure a worse ordeal...

I just wonder, will the Iranian government roar if a child calls his toy/pet Ali?

Please Muslims, wake up and start synapsing for God's sake

Feed the hungry

2007-11-13T20:46:00.000+03:00

According to the BBC, this site has been the most successful method in drawing the attention to world hunger.
The concept is simple and addictive. Every time you answer a question correctly, you manage to donate 10 grains of rice. It is very addictive, especially for someone who enjoys vocabulary.
Click on the link and start feeding.

Movie Review: Quinceañera

2007-09-26T20:23:00.001+03:00

I heard about this movie early last year through trailers on TV. I enjoy watching foreign movies as well as low-budget movies, as they have a charm of their own.
Being addicted to downloading most of what I watch on TV, supporting piracy for that matter, I recently persevered with the lowest rate of download for a whole week just to watch this film.

For those of you who do not know what quinceañera is, it is a coming-of-age celebration for girls who reach 15 years. This event is commonly practiced in Latin America and traditions vary from one country to the other.

Back to the movie, It was a refreshing, well portrayed exposure to a tradition that one doesn't hear about often. It starts really cute, with a lavish party for a rich 15-year old Hispanic girl and a bunch of old ladies slamming the tequilas. it quickly then diverts your focus to Magdelena, played by Emily Rios, who did a great job. Her acting was mature and natural. While watching the movie, you couldn't help but really feel it was a low-budget movie, I just couldn't get into it so well for me to forget that fact. I felt that its target audience were teenagers. It lacked the adult feel to it in the story-line (and I don't mean by that porn!), however you do come across homosexual references in the plot. I also was disappointed towards the end, when the movie becomes Americanised. By that I mean, script lines referring to things as 'Miracle' and a certain person as a 'Saint' and an attitude of 'I can conquer the world'. What I also couldn't understand in the movie was, how come Magdelena's bump grew bigger, yet her butt remained the same size!

This movie won 2 awards in the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and was screened in the 2006 Berlin Film Festival.

Will I watch it again? I don't think so. I actually trashed it.

The day & month of atonement

2007-09-22T20:42:00.001+03:00

People around the world fast during Yum Kippur and Ramadan, yet neither parties can or know how to get along...

Images obtained from moos & MSN respectively.

Sumo

2007-09-21T19:54:00.000+03:00

Below is an article from Reuter's website:

"TOKYO (Reuters) - A woman invaded a sumo ring -- a sacred arena from which females are banned -- in Tokyo during a major tournament, domestic media said on Thursday, then was pulled down by a referee and one of the sport's huge wrestlers.

The middle-aged woman dashed from the side of the Kokugikan sumo stadium on Wednesday and shoved away a female security guard before rolling onto the ring just as a bout was set to begin, the Yomiuri newspaper said.

The Japan Sumo Association insisted that though the woman did enter the raised platform around the batting ring, she did not set foot on the ring, or dohyo, itself.

"It's bad for the heart," said Takamisakari, a popular wrestler who helped catch the woman, told the Sports Nippon daily. "What was the person trying to do while we were wrestling seriously?"

It was not clear why she had attempted to reach the ring during one of the sport's heavily televised six big tournaments, but she was carrying a bundle of flyers saying "help, bad spirits," Nikkan Sports daily reported.

Such an intrusion would be a severe faux pas for the ancient sport, which is so serious about keeping females out that a female governor of Osaka had to delegate prize-giving duties to a male subordinate at a 2001 tournament.

Japan's giant wrestlers battle it out in a ring with a diameter of 4.6 meters (15 feet) set in the centre of a sand stage raised around 50 centimeters (19 inches) from the ground.

Tradition forbids women from entering the ring on the grounds that it is sacred and their presence, considered unclean, would pollute it.

"It's just the way it's been from the past," an official from the sumo association said.

Women were also banned in the past from climbing mountains or entering mines in Japan."

I beg to differ, I think this lady was trying to break the sumo taboo in Japan. Whatever the flyers were saying, I think this women was trying to tell the Japanese population, and the whole world, that we are not subordinates, dirty or pollutants. Men were just afraid that the whole world will witness no harm happening to the sport once a woman steps onto the ring. So as to protect themselves from ridicule, they shoved her to th side...

Islamic Swimathon

2007-09-07T23:44:00.001+03:00

I recently got back into exercise, and I feel great. And so to avoid boredom with doing a routine workout, I included swimming into my weekly schedule. On my first day in the pool, I noticed that all the women, and I am not exaggerating, were wearing spandex shorts under a half-sleeved bathing costume and one or two were in the full attire as the picture. I initially thought that it is related to one's lack of self-esteem when it comes to exposing the famous Arab hips and thighs. However, I was very wrong. There were even slim women present who were wearing the same outfit. I am facinated by the surge in trend of what they call 'Islamic bathing suite'. It is originally designed to allow Muslim women to participate in outdoor water activities. Yet, I do not understand why a woman needs to wear it in an indoors all-ladies swimming pool. One has to bear in mind that, Islamically, women should conceal in the presence of other women the area from the naval to the knee. Therefore, it baffles me why ladies in Kuwait feel the need to cover from neck to ankles when going into the swimming pool. I am not implying that they should all go topless, however, there is no harm in being in an ordinary bathing suite...it is just easier on the eyes.

Note: apology goes to eshda3wa & lady says for the technical hiccup

I'm sensing a cool breeze

2007-08-16T10:14:00.000+03:00

It seems that my blog was blocked for some reason since I last posted. I wonder why?

'Dalag Suhail' was spotted yesterday, so we will be anticiptating a slight drop in temperature. Happy news for the Ministry of Energy, as they will stop threatening the country with power outages.

Sex Education

2007-08-05T16:21:00.000+03:00

It was announced today that the Ministry of Education has rejected the offer of including a 'Sex Education' module in schools. They claimed that the inclusion on such subject is culturally unacceptable. Furthermore, such subjects in other Arab countries were proven useless and failed to provide additional benefit to students.
On another note, four days ago, it was announced that 'celibacy' did not reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases nor teenage pregnancy. In other words, celibacy is not synonymous with safe sex. This revelation was based on a study done in America as a response to Mr. Bush's believe that celibacy is the way forward for a better society.

Therefore, I think you should make your own conclusion on the matter.

Congratulations Kuwait, it is official and it is in numbers! the weekend switch will be in a month's time. Expect confused traffic...

Tarsheed feedback

2007-07-09T10:41:00.000+03:00

I sent an e-mail to the tarsheed group, raising the point of the governmental institutions noncompliance with conserving energy resources. and guess what? I got a response!

" We would like to thank you for your e-mail, and yes what is happening at the ministries is attributed to our society's (Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaitis) nonchalant behaviour, which has to change and tackled from within.

We again appreciate your feedback."

We all know that it is because of their 'nonchalant behaviour', but what are your strategies to tackle it?

Religion: a personal matter

2007-06-24T23:05:00.001+03:00

A while back, I sat listening to a conversation which was initiated by the fever of the University elections and somehow ended in sectarian prejudice. I observed alarming comments from the people who were involved in the dialogue. They were explaining that for a Kuwait University student, joining a party is all about who constitutes a majority. For example, if the mustaqela (independent party) is a majority of Shiite, they will choose to be a member of, for example, a Democratic party. They elaborated that as Sunni Muslims, they did not want the stigma of a Shiite sympathizer. How shameful!

I view the University Student’s Union election as a training step for the youth to learn about politics, political life and leadership. It is like a mini-trial of what is awaiting them in the future, if they choose to pursue a life in the political arena, or if they wish to exercise their political rights properly. However, some people find it useful to brain-wash the youth in academic institutions to think in an unhealthy manner. They muddle the brains with tribal thoughts. It feels like, this country instituted a political system as a step forward towards being more civilized. However, some would like to push it backwards by promoting standing up for your tribe/religious sect.

I think religion is the root of all evil. Now, you might consider this a very strong statement, but I have my reasons for stating it here. I am not displaying hatred to religion, I am portraying how when the religious institution is the driving force for societies’ desires, civilizations are destined to doom. Just look at the various examples of blood-shed, war and destruction in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Bosnia. All have one thing in common; fighting in the name of religion. Little can they realise, that they are fighting against the core teachings of their religions.

Going back to our subject, Academic institutions, such as Kuwait University, should try to dampen the effect of religious extremism. They should teach their students about religious and sectarian tolerance. They should institute modules that teach them about how to be a good Muslim, rather than how to perfect performing your Islamic rituals. Students should also be taught how to have an opinion and avoid being a conformist. Sigh, I think I'm just day dreaming...!

Consumers lessons in economisation

2007-06-24T20:48:00.001+03:00

I am sure a lot of you agree with me that Kuwaitis are renowned for their high consumption. Let's see the examples, they love consuming foods, love to shop 'til they drop, cruise around the coastal road with frequent splurges on gas. These displays of extreme expenditure is an evolution of an old cultural Arab costume: GENEROSITY. Obviously, times have changed and currently the Kuwaiti citizen doesn't fancy being labeled stingy. Therefore we, as a nation, had to explore other avenues to express our extreme urge of showing generosity.

Following the Iraqi invasion, there was a sudden boom in the real estate market (I am not going to discuss the financial side here). This boom meant that every Kuwaiti aspired to having a bigger house, with more rooms and a larger reception area with more lighting involved. Kuwaitis developed a taste for large flasher-lights which showed the tasteful/tasteless exterior of their houses. Other green-oriented individuals, opted for the vast gardens which included exotic vegetation that required extensive maintenance and watering. And with the larger houses, came the increase in the number of man-power, i.e. gardeners, maids and the lot.
The summing result of the evolved Arab costume and the exuberant life-style meant that more water and electric power is needed to keep up with the demand. So guess what we are facing right now?

Who would believe that a wealthy country like Kuwait faces challenges in providing power during the longest season of the year. Not to mention, water supply too when it is most needed. Couldn't they speculate that a crisis like this would happen when they decided to air-condition every possible venue in Kuwait? I am not implying that it is not necessary. Couldn't the government try to clamp down on the aspiration of people who think bigger-is-better? It's a shame that an educated society needs to be taught how to conserve resources in the twenty-first century. Yet again, bad management is kicking in. I'd imagine a crisis like this happening to India, China where there are billions scavenging electric power and water, but not Kuwait.

Looking on the positive side, the 'tarsheed' campaign is taking the better-late-than-never approach. They are working at full force doing their educational bits on TV, billboard advertisements and newspapers. I am proud that the Kuwaiti society is doing well so far, but I could also attribute the reduction in consumption to the fact that half of the country is away on vacation.

Just a note from my Buddha, how come the governmental institutions are not setting an example by switching off lights and air-con in vacant offices during peak-consumption hours?

The Execution of a Tyrant

2006-12-31T18:56:00.000+03:00

Just a little under 48 hours ago, I was driving back home listening to the news on 97.5 FM. The headline was that they were speculating executing Saddam Hussein on the eve of Eid Al Adha.

Waking up on Saturday morning, I immediately switched the TV on, and there was it, the breaking news Saddam is dead. I am not sure if I was happy or sad . I certainly did not feel that all the innocent people that died on his hands were happy to see him amongst the dead.

I think executing Saddam was a very easy exit for the suffering and the turmoil he left all his nations for. I am oblivion to what is in the after-life. I am not sure if he will pay for what he's done to millions of people.

Saddam's lawyers thought that he did not receive a fair trial, that he was shoved to the ropes, that he was conspired against by the Americans. Apologise people of the law, but I do not think that any law will bring justice to the people of Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and Kurdistan.

I Don't think Saddam deserved a trial to begin with...

I think he should have been hung in a cage somewhere on public display, and every person who was affected by him would visit him and tell him what damage they were left with because of him...Saddam would not be allowed to answer, only listen...day and night...until he dies..

Season's Greetings

2006-12-29T22:39:00.000+03:00

Merry Christmas

Happy Eid

(Both Fi6r & Adh7a)

Happy new year

Ramadan Kareem

2006-09-25T23:17:00.000+03:00

People can be very unpredictable, one can have very close friends for one minute, and the next they can be their worst enemies. but how long can one keep his/her guard up when they form pleasant friendships? How much can someone get intimate with friends? is it wise to reveal our weaknesses in front of our friends?

I might seem like a foolish teenager by posing these questions. However, I am certain that many mature adults still make horrible mistakes when it comes to forming judgements.

I consider myself a good communicator and a relatively no-so-bad at judging characters. Unfortunately, I got hurt several times by opportunistic individuals who exercised their parasitic behaviour on a good-hearted individual.

With time, I am becoming more cautious of people, but it is a tiresome task not to be yourself with others. My options are either to permanently discomfort myself or to accept the consequences of being down-to-earth.

oh well, c'est la vie...

================

RAMADAN KAREEM and happy many returns!

random ramblings

2006-09-08T13:55:00.000+03:00

Let's make this post easy on you: I honestly have not got much to say..

It's September and life is starting to kick back in Kuwait. Most people are back from their holidays, private schools started and the remainder are yet to start next week. The crowded malls are getting back into their routine of weekends rather than busy all week. There is always a sense of comfort when things get organised again.
My life is also starting to take shape, though only for a while. I finished the second installment of my exams and I can have a breather for a while until I pick up my books again.

Since I got my new laptop, I did not manage to transfer all my media files from the old to the new device. It is Friday hence I decided to finish off this boring job today. and It is all over! I am donating my old laptop, which I must say is fully functional to someone who needs it more. I hope the new family will be good to my old friend as it serviced me well.

Ramadhan is approaching, and I am not in the mood for fasting. It is still hot, and people's tempers will shoot during the combination of heat and lack of tummy feed. I saw a few advertisement for what the Ramadhan TV schedule will include, and I must say it is disappointingly repetitious of what was showed in previous years. Sadly, Kuwait TV lacks the ability in improving the standards of the society. It only broadcasts shows which exaggerate realities of the society and falsifies them. Media is a vital tool in progress of societies. However, in Kuwait it is well utilised in the retardation of our society..

daily natter..

2006-08-08T14:19:00.000+03:00

Something I heard on the BBC today which made me believe that China is certainly on the way to becoming the next super power!

Just when you thought that a Chinese person can never get fat, China is hit by an obesity crisis. It is estimated that 18 million people in China are clinically obese and children are hit worse. Obesity is a sign of industrialisation and a shift in the diet from conventional to a more westernised form. Currently, summer camps are trying hard to educate children and train them to shed off the extra pounds. (hmmm..sounds familiar)

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On another note, H. H. Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic church in Egypt decided not to celebrate his 83rd birthday as a sign of modesty... (No comment)

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There are pictures to supplement this post, but regrettably the uploading function is having technical difficulties. The post will be updated on a later day..

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UPDATED Picture included - better late than never :-)

Peace for Lebanon

2006-08-07T18:26:00.000+03:00

It is a bit of a late notice but there will be a huge peaceful demonstration to protest against the Israeli aggression on Lebanon today at 8pm in "sa7at al 3alam"

Huge crowds are expected to be there...

let us unite for a good cause...

For further information on rallies and protests around the world, visit this link Moghtarebee Lubnan

Matters of nationality

2006-08-03T14:50:00.000+03:00

I was appaled to read this from Dr. M Albusairi in Alqabas paper today:

البصيري يقترح تجنيس أرملة الكويتي التي لديها أبناء

تقدم النائب د. محمد البصيري باقتراح بقانون بتعديل نص الفقرة الثانية من المادة الثامنة من المرسوم الاميري رقم 15 لسنة 1959 بشأن الجنسية الكويتية طالب فيه بتجنيس ارملة المواطن الكويتي التي لديها ابناء ولم تتقدم بطلب

اعلان رغبة.

Excuse me:

what about the children of Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaiti men?

if nationality is passed on by blood-relation, since when a non-Kuwaiti widower is entitled to a Kuwaiti identity...?

Islamic Hejab

2006-06-09T22:49:00.000+03:00

So, here I am yet again following a transient disappearing act. I swear that I have been writing but I have a number of incomplete posts on my account. In addition, due to feeling of shame for not finding the time to load my blog with posts, I tried to delete my blog but the process got halted for some reason. Life is getting so chaotic for me to the extent that I don't get time nor the energy to read e-mails or reply to them for that matter. My idea of watching TV to relax happens while I am typing something for work. Obviously all I could do now is victimise myself..so you all feel boohoo for me

so, I didn't get to have a weekend this time as I had to cover out of service hours. Guess what? I had to do it far and beyond in Ahmadi, my favourite spot to pick up juicy fundamentalist ideas to talk about. I think someone in that hospital figured that there is a person who rips the flayers off the wall, so this time the brain-wash material was in a sticker form which I could not get it completely off the wall*.

The topic which was of great importance in the Ahmadi area was the "Islamic hejab". Our beloved Salafis were promoting what they called the correct Hejab which was basically a woman covered from head to toe, including gloves and socks and black cloak resting on the head. On the flayer, the Salafis denounced all forms of hejabs you witness in ordinary life including the cloak which women commonly wore on the shoulder.

I really do not understand why those idiots are magnifying the sexual notion of women in our region. In return, women liberties and freedom are being violated. I don't see those Salafis talking about "correct men dress", or I don't even hear them criticising the men neglecting their familial responsibilities for their Diwanyas or what have you.

Let's also not forget that the Salafis are the ones who did not want women to get their political rights, but now they are gagging for all women to practice their right because it is an "Islamic responsibility". More like they realised that females constitute a larger proportion of the society, hence greater chance of them winning the elections.

The greater problem: people are blind and forgetful...

NB. The picture is the closest thing I found to the "Islamic Hejab"; the Alsader picture dramatises the scene

Good night

=====================
* here I am admitting to vandalism

We are corruption hungry

2006-05-22T17:39:00.000+03:00

As I have confessed in an earlier post, I do not care much for the local news. Most of what is read in the papers about laws and fair play in ministries is a pile of bull. When it boils down to realities, the networks of corruption are getting more entwined and strengthened to an unbelievable levels. Take for example, individuals who belong to other countries of the GCC. It is a known fact for the majority in Kuwait that they get treated with equal rights as Kuwaitis. This, as agreed by my family, is what the papers say. However, one of my acquaintances is being rejected employment in one of the ministries on the basis that there are no vacancies available. This situation is simultaneously going on at the time when the ministry is employing individuals from other countries not belonging to the GCC. This lady is being treated this way despite the fact that she is properly qualified for the job as well as married to a Kuwaiti man.

Clearly, this incident is nothing compared to the other inequalities many others are facing in Kuwait. people who are stateless, employees who are made redundant due to their ethnic origin, individuals who work hard in an office while others just sit around and sip coffee during working hours..etc etc.

With the current parliamentary dissolution, flocks of people will attend 'Diwaniyas' blackmailing the 'hopeful' and "potentially successful" parliamentary candidates to make their "dreams" come true no matter how unfair or unjust they are. Extended families are offering their entire voting power just to materialise their own personal goals; neglecting the future prosperity of the country. Others will be driven to cash on their political rights; especially with the escalating expenses of summer holidays..

Is this the right way to go about fighting corruption? I don't think it takes a genius to come up with the answer..

What a day!

2006-05-21T22:01:00.000+03:00

Is it something in the air or is it just one of those bad days?!

1. Parliamentary dissolution..

2. Slept way too much...

3. Work just went from bad to worse...

4. I get home and couldn't find the key to my room...

Tomorrow is another day...

Good night all

New Laptop

2006-05-16T21:24:00.000+03:00

My baby arrived!

After 4 years of hard work and sincere service, my Dell laptop started to get knackered. For starters, I felt like an idiot for upgrading it a year ago, as now I think it was money gone down the drain. However, looking on the bright side of things, had I not spent that money I would not have this sweet baby on my lap right now.

Recently, my Dell got to the point where it cannot tolerate the demands of technology. It was so old it had an A drive, no built-in WiFi, no Bluetooth technology and it weighed 10 KGs. As aging dictates, the down-arrow key stopped working in addition to the Shift key on the right side. In addition, last weekend while I was trying to start up my computer the monitor just blackened which necessitated that I re-boot.

Thankfully, one of my sweet friends was kind enough to get me a computer of my choice all the way from the states. So ladies and gentlemen, I proudly present my state of the Art (And fart) Sony VGN SZ-140. I had to cough up a lot of money for it but I am happy to have it.

Now, posting on my blog has a brand new flavour to it!

=====================================

Lately, I seem to be starting things and never getting through with them..what is going on with me?!

cravings

2006-05-05T22:05:00.000+03:00

For the entire week, I have been craving simplicity. Every time I had a moment to myself at work, I would deeply visualise myself walking in a third-world country (I am well aware that Kuwait is one of them, but I think it is way too far away from simple). I close my eyes and feel the breeze, the heat, the variant scents mingled with sweat and cooking aroma and the hussle and bussle of market.

The closest place in Kuwait which can meet part my expectations, is down town Kuwait City. So, on Friday afternoon I put on my kurta pyjama and set off to there. Boy I loved walking amongst all the Immigrants who go to 'Maliya'. The short walk there made me so happy. Shame the weather was not a little cooler...

I'm glad that my annual holiday is drawing closer...

Confessions on a dance floor

2006-04-29T20:51:00.000+03:00

This smashing album was one of my latest purchases from the Virgin store. I really love it! It is very different from any of the previous Madonna albums and it is so disco! I have it on repeat in my car, and it helps me kick start my day.
If you are into dance/disco music, I really recommend that you get it..
At the age of 47, Madonna's figure is just super, it's even better than mine!!! kinda got jealous

Nanny McPhee

2006-04-07T15:47:00.000+03:00

It has been a long time since I last went to the movies, mainly due to revision demands. Now that I am over and done with the exam, for a short while, I am resuming normal activities.

So, earlier this week I went to see Nanny McPhee, which is a children/family movie. The trailers really appealed to me on TV and I really wanted to see it. It was such a cute and light-hearted movie which I have enjoyed every minute of it. I loved the house which was so brightly coloured..

my favourite part was whenever Nanny McPhee reported to Mr. Brown in his study at the end of the day, she always tilted her head sideways and mutters 'I did knock'...it made me break into laughter..

There was one part which did not make sense to me, which is why every time Nanny McPhee was done with one of her lessons, an unpleasant feature of her face disappeared?

If any of you understood that part, please enlighten me..

yet another traffic incident

2006-04-04T14:07:00.000+03:00

While I was slowly making an exit from my area, a silver ford focus took over dangerously, without a signal, from the far right to the far left. I managed to avoid it, whispering to myself 'what an idiot!'. The car proceeded in her dangerous turn to overtake a white small Toyota, which did not manage to avoid the focus. The Toyota driver crashed into the pavement, hit the poll, his dead and body shock violently forwards and backwards while the car spun in the middle of the road.

It just shocked me..

the cow who was in the silver focus, just drove off carelessly, well mainly trying to get away from the scene she created. I couldn't drive, I had to pull over cried my eyes out and called my Buddha who managed to calm me down. I couldn't call the police because I did not have the lady's registration number and I already was a considerable distance away from the accident. The weird thing is, that I drove back on the same road an hour later and did not see any sign of the accident which happened..it made me feel as if it was a dream..

I wonder what happened to the poor Indian who was in the car...

and I wonder if that lady managed to sleep that night...

April's fools day

2006-04-01T11:41:00.000+03:00

Did he really commit suicide and deprive us of hours of laughter?

is the Alanba newspaper pulling an April's fool act?

HAMSA

2006-03-24T17:38:00.000+03:00

Hands Across the Mideast Support Alliance (HAMSA) is a project of the American Islamic Congress. The AIC is a Non-profit Organisation aiming at improving inter-faith relationships, and needless to say, are doing a great job! (Trust me folks I am not trying to kiss ass here).

Anyhow, they have come up with a contest for an essay from 600-2000 words max about Human civil rights in the Middle East. It can be written in English, Arabic, Farsi or French and is only open to under 26 year old. There are great prizes to be won and even a better chance to voice your opinion about sore issues in our region.

Click on the pictures for further information about HAMSA and the contest. Good luck for those who choose to enter!

Let's become German

2006-03-18T14:21:00.000+03:00

من شروط الجنسية الألمانية قبول المثلية والعري؟
18/03/2006 برلين - دِبِأ - اثنى وزير الداخلية الالماني فولفغانغ شويبله على النموذج الهولندي لاختبار الاجانب الراغبين في الحصول على الجنسية الهولندية واعتبره 'مثيرا للاهتمام'.وقالت صحيفة بيلد تسايتونغ ان عدد السياسيين الالمان الذين ينادون بالاقتداء بالنموذج الهولندي في هذا المجال في تزايد.ويختبر الهولنديون مدى استعداد الاجانب الراغبين في الحصول على الجنسية الهولندية للعيش في هولندا وقبول مبادئها من خلال اسطوانة مدمجة بها صور لنساء عاريات على الشواطئ الهولندية ومثليين جنسيا يقبلون ببعضهم بعضا علنا.ونقلت الصحيفة عن نائب رئيس الكتلة البرلمانية للاتحاد المسيحي الديموقراطي قوله 'هذا القرص المدمج هو وسيلة نموذجية لتعريف الناس في وطنهم الحالي ليس فقط باللغة ولكن بالتاريخ والثقافة والنظام القانوني في المانيا'.وطالب شتيفان ماير، خبير الشؤون الداخلية في الحزب الاجتماعي البافاري بأهمية تعريف الاجانب الراغبين في العيش في المانيا، وبرر ذلك بأن بعض الدول الاسلامية تنفذ 'عقوبة الاعدام' نفسها على بعض اساليب وصور الحياة والتعبير المعترف بها في المانيا مثل ارتداء الزي المثير جنسيا فيما يعرف ب'موكب الحب' في المانيا او الجنس المثلي العلني حسب ما ذكره الخبير.

I think that this is a wise thing to do especially that it might help repel those fanatics who decide to reside in Western countries and then rake havoc in the name of Islam. Some people might find it explicit, having to watch porn and homosexulity on a CD. However, I think that it is the concept which one should pay attention to..

On another note, the good news (which I spoke about last Saturday) got confirmed today. I am so chuffed and I loved the girli scream my mum did when I told her over the phone..

Thank you my buddha for being such a great support :-*

Ya fancy a pint of Guinness mate?

2006-03-17T21:48:00.000+03:00

This day has special memories. For the years I had spent in the UK, I endeavored to acquire a Guinness T-shirt which were only given away on St. Patrick's day. To my disappointment, when I finally got my hands on one, it fitted so tightly on my butt that it looked dire. oh well...

For those who celebrate it the traditional way
Happy St. Patrick's day everyone

They say, good things come to those who wait...

2006-03-12T18:24:00.000+03:00

I am still buried under my books and papers and the upcoming new event happening at work and completely unaware of what is on the news or the malls or the restaurants or blog-o-sphere..

I thought I'll take a bit of time off as I felt that my head was going to explode from the amount of information that is trying to squeeze into it. I keep on comforting myself that there is not long to go, but I can't get too comfortable as I still have so much to cover. you know, the usual dilemma of exam tension.

The babbler was eagerly awaiting certain news concerning her future. God only knows how long she was waiting for a little whiff of news, and the breakthrough came yesterday. I had to attend a meeting after my working hours concerning extra-curricular-work-related activities I engage in. While I was in the meeting, my senior spoke to me on the assumption that i knew about the good news, not realising that the desperado right opposite to him could not believe her ears. I had to endure a whole hour of serious and professional talk and was unable to show the slightest excitement. I SUFFERED! every time the senior spoke, I felt a mixture of butterflies, birds chirping, yes yes yes yes yes yes, and an urge to jump and cry and then I had to calmly switch to professional talk...lord it was hard.

Now, the good news are not official yet so I am trying to contain the excitement and will let it out on full blast once all formalities are done. No one knows about it apart from my Buddha and myself. I can't wait to make the news public, because I know how much my mother and friends will be happy for me..

guess what jan6a, you're not the only one who had a blissful March 11th

عذاب القبر

2006-03-01T15:05:00.000+03:00

I am not here to preach anyone. This post is about an incident which happened at work and I just cannot contain how stupid (in my opinion) people can be when it comes to religion.
There is this clip which is circulating around by means of 'BlueTooth' and it is to do with this young chap who 'supposedly' never prayed, always listened to music..and so on. So, the clip is of how he looks like, 3 hours post burial and of being subjected to punishment in the afterlife for the sins he committed. Obviously, the body was Dug Up following burial:

but isn't that a sin itself??? and not to forget..a crime???

So, for the past two days the staff have been saying "oh my God, one must pray..shofaow 3athab el gaber..."
now, hold on a second people, don't you realise that when one dies, the soul departs the body? and when you get punished for your sins, it is the soul which is punished not the physical body? in fact, the soul never goes back into the body, otherwise the person is alive then!?!?!?

the problem is, no one even made this little analysis...

To top it all up, I get this text message, which is supposed to be a joke but I only see it as another form of degrading women in this sexist society:

تخيلوا الدنيا بدون حريم
- الأسواق هادية
- فلوس زايده
- شوارع فاضية
- افلاس شركات الإتصالات
- الشيطان ما عنده شغل
-دواء الضغط ماله لزوم
- كل الرجال يدخلون الجنة <= Now this I don't understand, اش ياب لياب؟؟؟

I know Christmas is way over: ما حكم تهنئة الكفار بعيد الكريسماس

2006-02-23T20:00:00.000+03:00

It was one of those 'public holiday' weekends when I had on-call duties. Not many patients turned up and I got bored with reading my book for two consecutive hours. So, I decided to walk around the place for the sake of killing time.

Strangely enough, I came across this A4 sheet of paper stuck on the wall right next to the 'closed' pharmacy window. This piece of paper had the 'Fatwa alshar3eya' on sending the 'infidels' Christmas greetings. Obviously, it was only in Arabic so none of the 'infidels' can get an insight in how the believers think of them. I was selfish enough to rip the paper off the wall and keep it all for myself, as it is great for self education.

Below is part of the fatwa, obviously in Arabic, and typing it up took me over a day!

تهنئة الكفار بعيد الكريسماس أو غيره من أعيادهم الدينية حرام بالإتفاق,كما نقل ذلك ابن القيم - رحمه الله- في كتابه (أحكام أهل الذمة) , حيث قال: (و أما التهنئة بشعائر الكفر المختصة به فحرام بالإتفاق, مثل أن يهنئهم بأعيادهم و صومهم, فيقول: عيد مبارك عليك, أو: تهنأ بهذا العيد و نحوه, فهذا ان سلم قائله من الكفر فهو من المحرمات, و هو بمنزلة أن يهنئه بسجوده للصليب, بل ذلك أعظم إثما عند الله, و أشد مقتا من التهنئة بشرب الخمر و قتل النفس, و ارتكاب الفرج الحرام و نحوه, و كثير ممن لا قدر للدين عنده يقع في ذلك, و لا يدري قبح ما فعل, فمن هنأ عبداً بمعصية أو بدعة أو كفر فقد تعرض لمقت الله و سخطه. انتهى كلامه - رحمه الله

After reading this, I have come to realise that I am so going to hell....

so, who is joining me?

Face off

2006-02-20T18:21:00.000+03:00

Hi everyone..I am not quite back, but I have a little space for an intermittent comeback. I do not care if that did not make sense, as I am ill again!!!!!!!
If you are interested, I am deeply immersed in intensive revision for an up-coming exam which I am taking voluntarily. I have been a very good student, and I am being very boring, but what to do. Since my last post, I have been accumulating a pile of 'To write on my blog' next to my bed and on my desk top and I just never got round to doing it.

So, some of you will notice that the reported news here are a bit dusty, but I do not care as I have an opinion and I NEED TO VOICE it..

Something which got my attention was: The first partial-facial transplant.

When I saw the bulletin on the BBC I was impressed. I saw and heard the lady speak in the televised conference, and though the facial muscles were nonfunctional, the aesthetic results were astounding. The only abnormality about her appearance, is that while speaking the mouth does not move and the face does not resume normal gestures. However, with physiotherapy and speech therapy both should improve dramatically. I feel for her for having to go through the constant gulping of medicine for the rest of her life and the worry that her body might reject the graft tissue.

a dichotomy which coexists: Some doctors try to 'reconstruct' beauty while others try to reconstruct faces...

الخلوة و ما أدراك ما الخلوة

2006-02-03T15:05:00.000+03:00

I have come across this Islamic consultation in Alqabas, today’s issue page 22 section نور الإسلام. Needless to say, it revolted me..

الخلوة

عقدت الزواج على فتاة وقد دفعت المهر وقدره اربعة آلاف دينار كويتي، وقد أُخبرت قبل العقد ان البنت كان في ظهرها حرق وقد اجريت لها عملية تجميل في لندن وان الحرق حاليا غير واضح وانا وافقت على ذلك، ولكن تبين لي عدا ذلك وما رأيته بعيني ان الحرق مازال واضحا اضافة الى حروق في يديها، واخبرتني كذلك والدتها ان هناك آثار حروق في أحد إبطيها. وسؤالي الآن انني غير راض بذلك لعدم علمي به قبل الزواج.- والسؤال الاهم هو اذا حدث الطلاق فهل يرجع إلي المهر؟ارجو النظر في الموضوع وابداء الحكم الشرعي ولكم جزيل الشكر.- واستفسرت اللجنة من الزوج فقرر ما كتبه في طلب الاستفتاء، وقال انه لم يدخل بها حتى الآن وقد حصلت بينهما خلوة.وقالت الزوجة: لقد اخبرته بكل شيء فقلت له ان جسمي فيه حروق ولم نحدد له حجم الحروق وقال ان ذلك ليس مهماً ما دام لا يؤثر في الحمل ثم بعد ذلك تم العقد، وحصلت بيننا خلوة واطلع على جسمي.

اجابت اللجنة بما يلي:ان عيب الحرق ليس من العيوب التي يفسخ بها الزواج، وحيث انه قد حصلت بينهما خلوة فتستحق المرأة كامل المهر، ثم ان طلقها فعليها العدة ولها فيها النفقة، وقد نصحتهما اللجنة بالتروي لعل الله يؤلف بينهما. والله اعلم.

How shallow can you get? Divorce a woman because she happened to have an extra patch of burn under her arm!

and I love how he's so worried about getting the bucks back from the traumatised wife..
She’s not damaged goods for a man to dispose of just because he did not have prior notice. I wonder what he will do to the next lady he marries when he realises that pregnancy can leave you with stretch marks!!!

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Is it cats mating season or something?

I was awaken by a noisy horny cat at 4am, but the bloody thing is still around the house the whole day. Obviously the neighbourhood cats are using our house as a brothel..

Grey's anatomy

2006-01-24T15:00:00.000+03:00

Hold your horses, I am not talking about the new TV series here. I am referring to the famous anatomy book, obviously everyone knows how great this text with the beautiful illustrations..

anyway, being cheap as ever, I am reluctant to purchase another anatomy book. So, to my surprise I found a link to THE GREY'S anatomy!!! I got so excited as I know I can customise my notes from the link..which is exactly what I did.

So, being kind as ever (e7m e7m), I'd like to share the URL with the rest of the bloggers who are medically involved and are tight on cash..(oops..I just admitted that I suffer from MSS)

Urbanisation: life is just a syndrome

2006-01-23T17:17:00.000+03:00

Doctors enjoy grouping signs and symptoms and they apply it in their daily lives. I personally whenever notice a group of personality characteristics which are associated with a specific type of people, I tend to come up with a title and affix it with the word 'syndrome'. Now, you can look at this from another angle and call it stereotyping, but I think it is a reflection of an ultra-sensitive observation..

Let's take an example. One of the syndromes I came up with, and I really think it exists is the 'small man syndrome' and just to note that I am solely indicating the stature. This, as the name says it, is exclusive to short men, (sorry I really do not mean to insult anyone, but I'd appreciate if you see the humor side of it). From a number of encounters, I have realised that short men tend to be ego-centred, have strong superiority complex (once successful), always date taller and attractive women, drive larger than life cars. One should not fall into the mistake of generalising here, but once I notice a short man who has these characteristics..I'd refer to him as suffering from the 'short man syndrome'..

anyway, let me not get carried away and give more examples. If you allow me to get scientific now. A mental health expert named Roger Henderson have discovered what he calls 'Money Sickness syndrome' (MSS). He has noticed that people who are under financial strain share a multitude of symptoms which he thought they'd be better off grouped under one title. You see, these things are very common in the UK since the National Health Service (NHS) is eager to justify sick-leaves by pigeon-holing people with the most outrageous diseases. Anyway, the gentleman claims that 43% of the population suffer from MSS and that it affects people from all income levels. If you just check out the link and read the list of symptoms, you'll figure out that the fella is just talking about feelings people go through when they have something they stress about. It's so funny that some want to come up with fancy names for their misfortunes..oh well..c'est la vie...

A case of stress mismanagement

2006-01-18T22:32:00.000+03:00

I know that I have not posted anything substantial since the start of the new year, but I swear, I have been pre-occupied..

As a consequence of my ever-famous multitasking habits, I fell ill for the second time within the last 2 months. At the start, I thought it was a case of the usual seasonal cold. So, I self-medicated with plenty of Paracetamol during day time, Fludrex for night time, the drowsy coughing syrup, plenty of bed rest and liquids. I persevered with brain-melting fever which broke into night sweats for a week and a horrible chesty painful cough which only attacked when it's 10pm. I resisted my Buddha's pleas of seeing a doctor, as I genuinely thought it'll clear up.

Guess what? my Buddha did his I-told-you-so dance on me. Obviously, things took a turn to the worse. I suddenly lost all my sense of smell and taste, ear went bonkers and eye shot all red and I had lack of sleep due to extreme coughing for two nights. So, I surrendered and went to the doctor who told me that I had Bronchitis and now I am on these strong antibiotics (supposed to be fast-acting) which are making my tummy run. I am glad to say that I am feeling the early signs of recovery and it is getting me excited. I can't wait to go out and enjoy food again.

I only had that because of overloading my system. For someone who preaches about stress management, I fell a victim for an extreme case of stress mismanagement..

I promised myself to decrease my work-load...let's just hope that I stick to it!

nighty night all

May you rest in peace

2006-01-15T10:06:00.000+03:00

I hope that Sheikh Jaber had departed this life to a better place.

May he rests in peace and انا لله و انا اليه راجعون

My sincerest condolences go to Alsabah's for their loss

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On another note: I find it sick that some people immediately started cashing in the Emir's death by initiating these circulating text messages that have prayers. I think this forwarding craze should stop..

Early birds of 2006..

2006-01-01T11:01:00.000+03:00

I know it is way too early to be up on the first day of the year, but believe it or not I have paper work to do!!!!! appalling..

With it being the new year, I have been trying to change my template, not really sure what to pick. I can't find a template which reflects my character yet...

Any suggestions?

Happy New Year Bloggers!

Bed Linen: Emotional Comfort

2005-12-30T14:40:00.000+03:00

I was tidying some piles of paper (something I have been doing on weekly basis) and I came across to the solution to my lonely nights!

People, 2 years ago the linen makers Kameo Corp ,which are based in Fukuoka, introduced THE "Boy-friend's Arm Pillow". It consists of a headless torso (scary), a stuffed arm which curls around you when you sleep (sounds more like a python) and wears a shirt. The company claims that this pillow not only provides emotional comfort for the needy, but it also keeps the body balanced by providing support from both sides.

Obviously the company is aware that ladies have different preferences, and naturally men come in different sizes. So, Kameo is working to come up with different sized and shaped boy-friend pillows to satisfy all tastes. Examples include: Muscular pillows for the ladies who like beefy men and slender pillows for the ones who are after a sensitive (sissy) man.

Men do not despair, as the company is prototyping a Girl-friend pillow! which will be shaped like a woman's lap but with a 'skirt' cover.

So, blogg-edette this is cash worth spent, just for $80 ( just under 30 KD) you can purchase a comforting man who does not nag you when you want to sleep. I think this is the perfect Christmas/New year/Eid present you can get yourself..

Men...beware

late night natter..

2005-12-28T23:19:00.000+03:00

It is the start of a long weekend in Kuwait, and I am spending my first night at home doing nothing. I have zillion matters pending in my cerebral hemispheres, which is not the healthiest at this hour. Some of these issues are important and others are just very trivial..so, let me share the latter..

I have noticed that I do not read newspapers. The only thing I do with the daily paper is a quick flick and then a close glance at the last page and voila! I am done. I have reasons for not wanting to read Kuwaiti local papers, as I consider them very biased and full of a$$-lickers. I rarely get to read anything interesting in there and if anyone of you had noticed, I mainly comment on last-page columns on my blog. The whole point is I am comforted by the fact that I don't create unnecessary headache for myself, but sometimes I feel that I am a little silly for completely boycotting Kuwaiti papers from my life. The bizarre thing is that I read newspapers of the countries I travel to but not my owns!

Anyhow, maybe I should not worry about it too much as I do not think I am missing out..

What else? I fancy buying this new lipstick which I was planning to do today but I did not get the time. A co-worker was wearing it earlier this week and boy she looked so pretty. so I am going to purchase it hoping it will make me look a bit as pretty as she is..

I am used to doing pre-sleep chat with my sweetheart and I think he fell asleep early tonight. I feel odd as I am wide awake and trying to find something to do until I get drowsy. how come I forgot how to occupy myself when I had no one in my life? strange...

Behaviour is very much culture specific. Knowing how to mould and condition someone's behaviour depends on culture as well as universal concepts. One has to be familiar with both as with the great amalgamation of cultures we are witnessing these days we have to be open-minded to all tactics. I know it doesn't sound like rocket-science but applying it is not as easy as saying it...

Jingle bell Jingle bell...

2005-12-25T15:24:00.000+03:00

Oh Silent night! It is that time of the year again, when it is 'supposed' to be cold and wet..(it is wet alright over here). Overcooking and over-eating is usually the highlight, and not to forget, over-spending. Clothes and decorations are green and red, everything twinkles and glitters. It is Christmas time everyone..

I miss Christmas in England..

I miss the ambiance

I miss the smell

I miss carol singers

I miss my tiny Christmas tree (fresh one may I add)

I miss my decorations

I miss buying passionata (which usually doesn't last for long with me)

I miss the ivy and the mistletoe

I miss buying M&S Christmas goodies

I miss the cards

I miss the festive feel

I miss the Christmas sales

Sigh....

And here is a clip I got from a dear friend of mine for everyone..it is ever so cute, just click the link http://bixbyrose.com/turkeyday.htm

I just wanted to wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS

طق يا مطر طق

2005-12-24T21:56:00.000+03:00

finally, some thirst quenching rain. It is nice for the sun to depart us for a couple of days and to allow cool wind to blow on this side of the world. Hope this will mean that Winter is on its way....

=======================

Thumbs up go to د. ناجي سعود الزيد for his column today in Alqabas. The ever increasing piles of dirt on our streets have to be controlled somehow. The problem is that as long as the natives are too lazy to keep our streets clean, how do you expect the expatriates to behave?

I hate the site of a person who publicly gets out of his car and so casually disposes of all his/her rubbish on the tarmac and walks off, or even chucks it out of his/her window while driving. I thought that النظافة من الايمان.

Bushy-Brow Week

2005-12-23T16:49:00.000+03:00

I am a brow person and I consider eyebrows the gateway to beauty and the makeup for the face. Unfortunately, God gifted me with peculiar eyebrows which need some air-brushing before facing the big bad 'cruel' Kuwaiti world.

My funky brows gone very thin over the year simply because every time I went to the Indian brow-lady she just fancied making them thin as she considered it the fashion. So, after realising that I will one day end up with no brow hair (like my mum), I thought I should salvage the situation and find myself another lady who appreciates brows the way I do. So I did! and now for the past 2 months I am in the process of thickening them again.

The thickening process involves enduring days or even weeks of unattractiveness. such that I have to scare the general public, including my sweetheart, with the site of my unruly brows so that I can achieve the ultimate result. It is good to announce that I am almost there, and the effects are already visible (that is they are looking denser and thicker now). So here is to the end of another bushy brow week!

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That picture was taken by me and edited by mistletoe (whispers 'thank you babe') I hope it is to your liking people..

Bad habits

2005-12-20T16:36:00.000+03:00

I recently have discovered a number of bad habits which are deeply rooted in my character. I am very much aware of them but I have a damn hard time kicking them...the list goes:

I don't know how to say NO to someone needing help, even when it means I have to go through a learning process just to be able to help them ( I hope this makes sense).
I cannot and I mean I REALLY cannot shut my mouth when I see something wrong (which gets me in trouble most of the time)
I always bite more than what I can chew (hence I am struggling with the work load these days)
I am too emotional (you can imagine how bad it gets when it is the time of the month) Good luck mistle
I do not know how to relax.
I do not enjoy going out or socialising during working days.
I find it difficult to understand that not everybody can take a liking to you and it really gets me down when I realise I am not favoured by somebody.

Hope you all are having a good week...mine has been a bit of a funny one

To drive or to be driven away..

2005-12-10T22:27:00.000+03:00

When I moved back to Kuwait I made a conscious decision that I will take whatever shit the road throws at me lightheartedly. Babbler is very fond driving on the motorway listening to music. To her driving and music marry very seductively and it always takes her to a different dimension.

However, driving in Kuwait possesses a serious health risk, as on daily basis one can feel the impeding heart attack. Our beautiful nation considers our vast and wide roads a battle field where your only weapon is your car. Obviously cars vary in their sizes and shapes, but the greater tendency is to enlarge what is already large...ending up with a thing that resembles an ugly army tank with tyres as wide as the hips of an Arab lady. Usually, the over-sized cars are to be wary off, as the bits which stick out of them tend to nudge you while they slip away harmless. The smaller variety tends to be camouflaged in a frightening way, such that the headlights can flicker in your eyes as if they are of a UFO resulting in extreme blinding at night time.

Our law-abiding drivers will surprise you in their ability to signal when taking turns, sticking to maximum speed restrictions (except when on the phone) and to never terrorise other drivers/motorists. If you ever dare to over-take one of their vehicles, you will suffer extreme degrees of courtesy. What will happen to you is a thing you only witness in a Stallone movie performed by a stunt double. You will simply hear a constant honking of the horn, frightening proximity of the other car, and then a swift take over and sudden brakes ahead of you. In addition to middle-fingers and big fat fists thrown about in the air.

So, I have reached a point now where I am seriously concerned for my well-being and my road mannerism in this country.

Holy Matrimony

2005-12-09T22:35:00.000+03:00

The day was Monday 5th of December 2005, I was on the edge of the bed early in the morning brushing my teeth. I had, as usual, the BBC on to quickly get an update on the world. Then I hear, as of that day, England grants homosexual couples their civil rights...

I was genuinely happy, not that I will exploit this right for I am a heterosexual who lives far and beyond in Kuwait. but I was happy for the couples who shared a life together for years and were not able to have simple rights like: next of kin or paternity leave for the ones who decide to have children through IVF. There was an interview in that bulletin about a couple who waited for this day to tie the knot in a civil ceremony. What I found a little over-the-top was their wish to have a religious ceremony one day. I am not meaning to be rude, I just cannot see a religion accepting a homosexual union as such act is deemed inappropriate and a 'sin'. This by no means represent my view, as to me a religious marriage will not serve any extra advantage as it does not give you civil rights on its own.

Homosexuality is incomprehendable for many who live in the Middle East. However, there is a great proportion of individuals who turn out to have homosexual tendencies and they engage in such behaviours and practices in a Victorian fashion. The reason I am accepting of homosexuality is the fact that, apart from being an accepting and open-minded person, is sometimes gay people do not chose to be this way. I am not an expert in this topic, but science have found that there is an area in the brain which determines our sexual predilection. This part of the brain is called sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area. Work carried out on dissected brains revealed that this area in heterosexual individuals is large in males and small in females. On the other hand, the same area in homosexuals was neither large nor small, more like a medium-sized nucleus. Obviously more work is required in this area, but there are strong indicators for biological basis of homosexuality.

So, what will happen if such biology is definitely confirmed? will religion then accept homosexuals? I think not, simply because religion and science never go along..but who knows.

Finally, congratulations for who ever is getting married soon...

Fondue for beginners

2005-11-25T14:57:00.000+03:00

Lately, my blogging slowed down a great deal. Many acquaintances filed complaints that I am not keeping everyone up-to-date. My sincere apologises go to them, I do have my reasons.

Since Eid, life was busy with work and family. As I had previously posted, since I relocated to this new work-place, driving the long distance tired me a little and it was just a matter of adjusting to change..hence I needed time. and then there is the matter of my long nails which prevent me from typing smoothly, I do not have the time to go to my favourite spot to get them done and shortened appropriately. In addition to the fact that a certain "someone" loves them long. I know to many of you that this is a bullshit reason, but I am trying to convince myself that it is a valid one.

On another note, we lost someone very dear to us in my family. It was hectic and it still is. Having to comfort those around you and yourself requires a lot of emotional and physical energy. my mister was wonderful and very comforting during this difficult time and he treated me at the end of the week to an orgasmic fondue au chocolat. This weekend was one of the most wonderful weekends I had in Kuwait since I moved back, I hope there will be many more to come.

Have a great start of the week you all..

Observations..

2005-11-18T15:01:00.000+03:00

I find it peculiar how one finds it such a chore and an issue having to wake up 15 mins or even 30 mins earlier in a morning. If you try to relocate those 15 or 30 mins to any other part of the day they become so insignificant. Not only that, you can so easily waste them as if they were 5 mins!

So, the significance of time alters once it impinges on our convenience...

On another note..latest observation..

musicians always wear black..doctors always wear white

Eid Mubarak (aka عيد مبارك)

2005-11-03T20:29:00.000+03:00

At last, Ramadan is over. Towards the end of the holy month, bodies grow weaker, minds fatigue and nostrils become extra sensitive to the scent of coffee beans. At that point, everyone awaits the announcement of Eid eagerly. When it becomes clear that Ramadan is of 30 days, fasting this extra day becomes such a chore.

I am not a great fan of the Eid rituals, by that I mean the excessive visitation you are obliged to do for the family. I enjoy getting back to the old routine of eating and drinking, I love grooming myself and looking like a glamour puss and not to forget handing over presents or 3eediyas.

So far, I am not having a great Eid for a number of reason which I do not wish to highlight here. Let's just say...I wish I'd gone away (The constant wish which never comes true).

So people, on this day I wish you all a عيد مبارك

Failed attempts at finding normality..

2005-10-28T13:44:00.000+03:00

Having recovered from that horrible flu, I am trying to find my grounds again. The combination of extremely elevated temperature and fasting was not pleasant at all. I really did not want to break my fast (I know I am an idiot), but I did not fancy accumulating more days to make up later after Ramadan. I endured long hours of an intense believe that the white and grey matter of my brain was turning into a mush and I will lose all my memory (I wish), but this did not wean my determination to stick to abstaining from much needed liquids (barking mad..I know). I have to admit that I slept for hours and hours, obviously my body needed, but also I did not realise that the coughing syrup I was galloping 3 times after iftar time was making my limps ever so heavy. You see, because of the horrible cough I had, which made my abdominal muscles including my rib cage ache, I thought carrying on taking this bloody syrup will do me just GREAT. Until I read the bottle...I thought MoH have non-drowsy coughing syrup just like the UK!

Naturally, I stopped taking the syrup. Then I realised what I got myself into.

Feeling energised again plus + nothing to do + extra energy because I slept a lot in the previous 10 days = sleepless, and restless babbler..

Thursday night during the last 10 days of Ramadan is not fun. You can hardly decide to drive to have a coffee somewhere in Salmiyah, let alone be in a quiet area with a book.

So, I was on my bed rolling all over until the early hours of the morning. I just could not sleep last night. I am feeling extremely frustrated, missing things I do not have any more and wanted to get away but not knowing where to..I wanted answers and I needed patience (something I have not mastered well yet)...

I Switched on the TV, movie channel and then ta-dah, heard some Irish natter, checked the title and it was 'Intermission'. I thought..let me watch it, I needed to connect to something close to my heart. I never heard of this movie, so it must have been a small budget movie or something. It was starring: Colin Farrell, Shirley Henderson, Cillian Murphy and Kelly Macdonald. It was such a fun movie to watch..I laughed out so much..it cracked me up. I found some photos on the net to post here, but the uploading mechanism is not working..so sorry for the technical failure. Please try to watch it, it is a good light-hearted comedy..I loved the bit when the TV crew realised the shadow was a moustache!

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I was once told that hope was my worst enemy. My hoping mechanism is failing. Whether I want to regain it again, I am not sure. I am just surprised how it does not operate in areas which are much needed...maybe I should engage into cognitive re-interpretation. This should be my next self assignment..

It's that time of year again...

2005-10-21T21:18:00.000+03:00

People, I am down with a cold. oh boy, I hate it when it happens. For some reason, I always get cold & flus on weekends which for some of you, is a bonus, for for me it is not. I was absolutely okay on Wed, until night time when I developed this mild cough. Thursday morning involved a mild chest wheeze and a headache, until noon time when the wonderful flavour of cold hit my taste buds. The feeling was ' oh no, not now'.

I was in bed early, not happy with the aches and pains. I slept for long hours, but kept on waking up in the middle of the night a number of times. Friday, was more sleeping and stronger coughing..and now, I am getting sniffly..

Why do I always get ill during Ramadan? Last time I had a cold was last Ramadan too! I can find one reason, the unhealthy diet takes its toll on your immune system especially with the funny sleeping hours.

Looking at the brighter side of things, the weather is getting better! oh joy..I love winters and cold air, the thought of it just makes my heart flutter. Hopefully, by the time I rid myself of this cold, I will be enjoying this lovely weather to the fullest.

In the mean time, I will be reading blogs, watching telly, sleeping and doing work-related reading..

I have been tagged by mother courage

2005-10-19T00:47:00.000+03:00

I am not sure who started this tagging business and what is the significance of it. Nevertheless, I have been tagged by the famous mother courage. So, here it goes...

Seven things I plan to do:

Be more patient
Become a specialist & world-renowned researcher
Have my own place abroad
Get a tattoo & a naval piercing
Travel
Weight-train to tone up my physique
Take up black & white photography

Seven things I can do:

Talk for hours
Keep things tidy
Writing
Throwing a good surprise
Make others happy (well, I think I do)
Be independent
Treat myself

Seven things I cannot do:

Stay up all night..
Be dishonest
Live without my mobile
Live without my caffeine fix (Obliged to do during Ramadan)
Keep quiet when I see something wrong
Keep my opinion to myself
Sit idle

Seven things I say most often:

Well..
No way!
Anyways..
..o bas..
Put your seat-belt on please
Oh my God!
In my experience…

Seven people I want to pass this tag to:
The first seven who read this post

hot hot politics

2005-10-13T01:43:00.000+03:00

HH Sheikh Salem's revelations two days ago created havoc in peaceful Kuwait. The Sabah's, together with the current parliament, are gearing up to face any uprising problems which might occur in consequence. Sheikh Salem's accusations, if we are to call them that, of corruption are true. However, one cannot put all the blame on a leader who had faced a lot during his ruling period. One also cannot blame a government which is plagued by tribal thought. One also must not forget that Sheikh Salem is trying to gain power by supposedly logical way, but in an authentic tribal manner..

Political instability/(ies) is/are striking the country, and we have to be prepared for whatever is ahead. I tried to imagine:

what will come of those Marina Mall strollers with rainbow coloured t-shirts and spiked up hair if a revolution happens? will they just carry on strolling aimlessly?
What will happen to women rights?
What is Sheikh Salem like? Do we know enough about him and his agendas to be able to resist any opposition?

There are many other important questions we should be thinking of at this critical time.

Just to end the post in a classic old-fashioned Kuwaiti way:

أمان يا كويت

Advantages of living in Kuwait: 2. Ramadan working hours

2005-10-09T00:42:00.000+03:00

Listening to: Another lonely day by Ben Harper and Pearl Jam

As Ramadan was approaching, I made a conscious decision that I should take this month to relax. This of course was in gratitude to the fact that my 'governmental' working hours were so short. In addition to the fact that eating activities are deducted, hence more hours to spare. I thought the equation which I am facing at present is:

Late start + 4 official working hours + no work-related activities in the afternoon + guilt-free siesta + night life (not the wild type) = time to SLEEP & RELAX

So, day one of the fasting month started and thankfully enough I stuck to my relaxation vows. I started my long walks again, continued reading my lovely novel and also managed to refresh my memory with information I had to read for work. I love it when I come back from work and go straight to bed sleeping for as long as I want and not to have to worry about how it will affect my sleep at night.

I paid hard for the years I spent fasting in the UK. I had to be at University from early mornings until past If6ar time. So, having such luxury just handed over to me is overwhelming. At work, so many were complaining that we should get the whole month as a holiday. I say, some people just take things for granted. At least those 4 hours or so at work make the day go faster and only help you to sleep more in the afternoon.

Again, thank you lazy government officials for allowing us a free and paid relaxation month.

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I realised what was wrong with my template. It was all down to my browser which decided to play up. It is too complex and long to put down here. I am just happy that things are all back to normal again..

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Reasoning with someone who sees the glass half empty torments you

Ramadhan and plenty of spare time

2005-10-06T19:30:00.000+03:00

First things first...مبارك عليكم الشهر

It is most strange that the activity on the blog-o-sphere has been suboptimal during the last month. I predict it will continue during Ramadhan too, especially with the extreme change of sleeping and munching routines.

If any of you had noticed, I changed the template of my blog. Something happened to my html settings in the last template, and I thought by trying to change the template, things will go back to normal. Obviously it did not. For some reason, my sidebar had decided to take a different location or the main body of the template...not sure which one went wrong. Anyhow, with the spare hungry hours I have, I tried over and over again to play around with the html settings. So far, I have not noticed much change. Then I thought maybe if I post something new, it will go back to normal...so I am keeping my fingers crossed this time.

If any of you know how to solve this problem, please let me know as it is getting on my nerves.

any html geniuses out there?

The Doha Debate

2005-10-01T16:10:00.000+03:00

Today, on BBC world there was a program titled ' The Doha Debate', which as the name stated was located in Doha (Qatar). As I was flicking through the channels I decided to stop and watch it for a little while. I would like to share a part which angered me a little..

Ms. Ghada Karmi, enthusiastically defending the Palestinian cause, was accusing the Arab countries for relying on the Americans politically a little too much, hence their hands are tied when it comes to dealing with Israelis. She further explains, that the Arab countries are taking too many favours from the American government, therefore they have to support the Americans in whatever they do. Since Israel is backed up the Americans, the Arabs are too lenient towards the Israeli presence on Palestinian soils. Ms Karmi added, that the Arab countries should stop accepting those American favours and stand by the Palestinians so they are a stronger front against the Israelis...

So, a lady stood up and asked her: But aren't you asking for too much from the Arab countries?

Ms Karmi kindly said: No...(now I forgot what else she said here)

All I would like to say to Ms Karmi:

Has she forgotten how the Palestinians stabbed us (Kuwait and the Kuwaitis) during the Iraqi invasion when we used to be their no. 1 supporters?
Wasn't it for the Americans who helped us to get our country and homes back?

I am very sorry Ms Karmi, with all due respect for many, The Palestinians do not have a good track record...

Deep down, I wish the Palestinians would get their rights back, but not on the expense of others..

and I agree with the lady, Ms Karmi was asking for too much.

==============================

On another note: Bali got bombed again, shame on those extremists who are cowardly attacking the innocent when and where they cannot retaliate.

Can we be friends?

2005-09-23T17:05:00.000+03:00

I had a wonderful weekend, I managed to spend two days with one of my closest friends. My consciousness was so absent from Kuwait to the extent that I felt that I was back in my flat (In England of course), in the cold weather with heavy rain knocking against my window and the central heating blasting in the background. I slept with this thought and a huge grin on my face...

I googled a friend of mine's name (I know it is sad). I found a link for a post on someone's blog for her, so I clicked and read it. Although I had heard the short version of what was there, I was shocked to read the fine details.

So, this is the

link

to the post, I really recommend you to read it. It will make you appreciate a lot of things in your life..

Happy reading..

Realities of "تكويت القمامين"

2005-09-10T18:38:00.000+03:00

اليوم في القبس, السيد محمد مساعد الصالح ما قصر في مقاله "تكويت القمامين" حيث اقترح أن الكويت عليها التخلص من عمال القمامة البنغاليين و تكويت عمال النظافة. المقال ظريف جداً و شوية يشوبه بعض أحلام اليقظة. أنا بس عندي ملاحظات صغيرونة

احنا ما خلصنا من التفرقة بين "الأصيل" و "المو أصيل" و الطائفية و العنصرية علشان نعطي مجال جديد للتفرقة بين الأوادم في الديرة

أبو طلال بّرقع عملية تكويت القمامين و قال " فتح كلية خاصة في جامعة الكويت يدخلها الحائز على الشهادة المتوسطة و تكون الدراسة فيها سنتين يتخرج بعدها الطالب ليعمل قمامي". أنا بعرف يعني على باله اذا طرح موضوع الشهادة راح يغري الكويتيين اللي على بالهم ان كل واحد عنده شهادة صار شي. و بعدين تخيّل القمامي لمّن يتخرج و أبوه يشتري له سيارة مرسيدس

و بعدين شنو راح يصير في العيد لمّن القمامين الكويتيين يبون يعيدون؟ أنا أتوقع راح يصير عندهم نظام الخفارة مثل الدكاترة. بعد شنو, هم جامعيين

طبعاً بو طلال نسى نحاسة الكويتيين. فإذا قمّام كويتي يبي ينتقم من واحد راح يهمل خمام بيته لمن يخيسون الأهل

و من منو القمامين راح يتزوجون؟
I think there will be a serious gene-pooling problem within the garbage- families’ community

أنا عندي اقتراح أحسن: ليش ما يجنسون عمال النظافة البنغاليين و خلاص؟ بهذه الطريقة راح تتم عملية التكويت بدون اية مشاكل جذرية تعرقل مسار حياة المواطن الكويتي المخلص لوطنه

P.S. There was no need to waste half of the column talking aimlessly just to slip in the fact that you have a flat in central London!

Nobility doesn't reside in your nationality

2005-09-03T10:45:00.000+03:00

I watched a brief report on Mobility India Charity organisation. It is an organisation based in India and aims to serve disabled people, mainly, who lost function of their legs due to Polio. Taking into consideration the level of poverty in that part of the world, this organisation came up with a cheap way to replace limbs of disabled people. That was done in such a way that those prosthetic limbs are functional as well as modifiable as the individual grows or changes in needs. One has to mention that the prosthesis are hardly sightly, however are functional. I was really taken by what the people who worked for this organisation did.

They work so hard to perfect the gift of independence..

You might think now, but why the picture with the African children? well, this charity have done so well that they are going to extend their services to Ethiopia where similar high trends of disability due to polio exist. It is beautiful to see such non-profitable 'business' extending far and wide with the sole benefit of making others happy..

It just amazed me how those noble 'Indians' have achieved so much with modest opportunities. Unfortunately, so many Kuwaitis think they are far superior than those Indians just because God decided they are Kuwaitis. We are nothing but couch-potatoes who are making no difference in our children, let alone in the rest of the world. I hope one day that Kuwaitis will realise that nobility doesn't reside in their nationality.

Advantages of living in Kuwait: 1. Public holidays

2005-09-02T11:26:00.000+03:00

As days go by, I slowly come to realise the advantages of living in Kuwait. So, I decided to run this series about the positives of the lifestyle in this part of the world.

Today, the highlight is Public holidays.

During the past 2 weeks, I was suffering from serious shortage of sleep to the extent I thought I had some sort of illness. Work was, and will be, hectic especially as people are returning back from holidays. I cannot afford taking some time off, nor I had money to go away again after the disaster I endured few weeks back. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Saturday is a holiday for the celebration of 'Isra & Me3raj'. I decided to do serious sleep. Thankfully, after 2 nights of semi-hibernation, all the illness-like symptoms have disappeared and I can say that I am officially functional again. Had I been in the UK, this sleep-shortage would have accumulated for days on end until I came down with a flu.

Therefore, I would like to submit special Thanks to the hard-working, ever-so-sweating ministry officials for allowing us to have free-lazy days....

Now, you must be wondering why on earth I have Alicia Keys on this post? Well, I was hung on this album for the duration of the waking hours of this weekend. I had 'if I ain't got you' on repeat most of the time. Although I am mainly into alternative music, but I love Alicia's voice.

Love, oh sweet love

2005-08-25T11:38:00.000+03:00

I remember coming back home and finding your lengthy comment on one of my posts. It was then when I instantly fell in love with the way you write. Back then, I had only accumulated a modest number of posts, yet I was still looking forward to reading your comments either after work or evenings. Until the wedding night…

I cannot describe the heightened excitement I felt when I realised that you were online at the same time as I was. I was hesitant at the start of making the move of asking you to chat with me on MSN messenger, but I think my yearning for an intellectual talk did not deter me. Little did I know that being forward was going to set my foot on an emotional rollercoaster I thought I’ll never be up to.

When you asked me whether there are things I love about you, I was thinking to myself ‘how could he doubt it?’. My love, there are zillions of things I find and consider great about you. If I had thought that you lacked fundamental things in a person, I would not have fallen in LOVE with you.

Fat Free

2005-08-24T23:52:00.000+03:00

Why are women more self conscious about their bodies than men? And why are men, no matter what shape and form they come in, always think that they are God’s gift to earth?. I suppose it all starts from the early days of Human kind, when God created Adam and then Eve. Men think they are the perfect sex because God made Adam first. But, unfortunately it did not occur to them that God perhaps thought that the man s/he created was not perfect enough, so Adam was modified a bit and Eve, the mother of all women, was made to be top notch of perfection.
I believe the issue of body image starts from the type of clothing a culture expects a person to wear. When you think of it, we are used to men wearing suits, they come in different colours and patterns but they stay suits, consisting of a jacket, shirt, tie and trousers. However, when it comes to women, there is a countless variety of different clothing that will unduly makes a woman think too much about the way she looks. This thing not only applies for the western society, but also to the majority of the world.

The society puts a lot of pressure on females, for example, when a man takes his girlfriend to meet his family for the first time, the female gets subjected to a length of criticism after the nerve-wrecking meeting starting from the way she looks, and especially her weight. Speaking from a personal experience, I always had a comment or two about my weight from friends’ parents. And to top it all, every time I went to visit their house over a dinner party or whatever, there was usually a flying comment about whether I lost or gained weight. When a female applies for a job, her appearance and body image is of prime importance for the majority of ‘female-required-jobs’.The media puts pressure on the female celebrities, the examples are plenty as one has to just watch the E! channel and observe the weight-relating reports.

And you know who else puts pressure on females? Females themselves!!!! Every time you walk aimlessly down town, the only gender that always stares back at you and eyes you from head to toe are FEMALES, its very rare that males do that in broad day light in a country like England unless they are under the influence of alcohol or some kind class A drugs! Another example is in the gym, females tend to look at each other and think to themselves ‘ I wish I had a bum like hers’ but men don’t do that! I even questioned some of my mates about whether they look at fellow athletes in the gym, and the answer was ‘ no’.

So, I wonder, who is to blame in this never-ending quest to form fat-free women?

Back from holidays (A bit of a late post)

2005-08-19T20:06:00.000+03:00

Hello everyone, I am back!

Going back to my 2nd homeland had a different flavour to it this time. One of the major differences is that I am no longer a student and obviously this meant that i had a lot of dosh in my kitty. It was such a pleasure to be able to look at everything knowing I can afford it this time.

Luckily enough, the weather was splendid throughout my stay there and I had a blast getting everywhere on foot, something I do not get to enjoy in our scorching hot Kuwait. I pigged out on every junk there is in the UK, shopped til i dropped and stayed up so late (something I do not get to do much during working days).

You see, holidays are not complete until you you get shit forced down your throat. I was looking forward to getting back home to show off my new clothing items and to get back to my 'addictive' workaholic routine. So, I get to the airport and only 5 minutes away from my terminal, I hear on the news that bloody British Airways went on strike. I happily got stuck in the airport for 2 nights, and had to queue for up to 6 hours to get my flights re-routed to get back home. I managed to get to Kuwait after spending almost 24 hours travelling. and to top it all up, my luggage did not arrive with me, which made me ever so miserable.

Anyhow, I am safe and sound and that's what is important. For the first time in my life I did not suffer from post-holidays depression, and that is thanks to the BA strike! I hope I will be fully recovered for my next trip.....

Post-birthdays and holidays

2005-08-03T21:59:00.000+03:00

I had a splendid birthday!

At work, I had a mini-birthday party which was nice and sweet of my colleagues. I received beautiful presents on that day and I felt like a little child getting excited all over them. I ended up my long day of gift-receiving by having dinner with my friends in Marina Crescent.

Unlike Fadibou (a fellow blogger) I did not get the disco-ball bash, but there is always my 30th-birthday in 4 years time.

Well my friends, I am going away on holiday for couple of weeks. Don't miss me too much...and I shall blog back once I am over my post-holiday blues...

See ya later

Krabi

2005-07-29T12:30:00.000+03:00

This is a picture which I am very fond of. I took it in Thailand, in Krabi (pronounced gab-ee) and obviously on the beach.

What do you think it is of?

Holy Fridays

2005-07-29T11:30:00.000+03:00

After being in Kuwait for almost a year now, Fridays have started to feel lazy for me. I successfully managed to switch over the Sunday feeling to the Friday feeling...
Despite having an important task to complete today, I decided to veg on my bed and watch telly all morning. So, it got a little boring....

What I wanted to share with you my friends today is a small talk about religious scholars. In the Alqabas today, on page 9, there is an interview with almufti Dr. Moahammed Raafat Othman. I must say this, following reading his ideas and thoughts I developed a lot of respect for the guy. Few points which I thought were interesting:

1. Breast enhancements, alfatwa = Makrooh:

I think the guy doesn't like women with large breast full stop

2. Face lifts, alfatwa = ja'ez:

The guy likes younger looking women

3. Cloning is acceptable between husband and wife:

Why do they need cloning when they can have sex?

4. It is ja'ez for a pregnant women to abort her baby in order to treat the husband with stem cells: controversial, but I think the fella expects this from his wife

I think our 6ab6abaee should learn a little from Dr. Moahmmed. This guy is well brave and very open-minded. I might not agree with some of his fatwas (What's new!? babs always has an opinion), but I think his ideas and views are a good step in the right direction. The sad point is that, those muftis usually end up being labelled as freaks, psychotic or demented. This I know for a fact, is because I once was sat with some religious fanatics who were discussing the 'Kuwaitis who converted to Christianity'. Those extremists, whom should be in a mental institution themselves, were claiming that every person in Kuwait who publicly went with his views, ideas or opinions about religion has a file in the Psychiatric hospital. It is sad that the Kuwaiti mentality, or more correctly the middle-eastern, is continuing to deteriorate. It is a misfortune to witness this wonderful part of the world going through the dark ages when the rest of the globe is at the tip of civilization and intellect.

Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS)

2005-07-12T15:24:00.000+03:00

I get a kick out of learning new things. When I come across something new in my practice, I usually go home and immediately read about it. I am ever so grateful for the internet as it responds to me as fast as my impulses.

God, in his mysterious ways, allowed me to meet this jolly child with PWS. I never heard about it so I was very much eager to read up on it. So, for anyone who is interested, the link is provided.

UK website for the support group: http://pwsa.co.uk/

USA website for the support group: http://www.pwsausa.org/

(This post is dedicated for Abdulaziz, a happy 6-year old)