Eid Al Adh-ha Mubarak to everyone

Hope everyone has a great Eid and relishes in the feeling of being around the ones that love you most.

Take heed into what matters most, for one day it would come back to you like a boomerang.

Eid Mubarak...

bigger fish to fry

It's not everytime you get so busy that you forget your whole life and what surrounds it just to live off in the freedom that holds you in it's own prison.

I've been so busy with everything ever since I restarted College that I have barely had time to breath just to suck in everything that I have done or about to do that I am starting to taking on-the-job, if you know what I mean.

Studies have been quite hectic because we have tons of work that needs to be finished in so little time, not to mention that I have been trying to depend on myself a little more rather than keep going back to the 'source' that most of the time I am out from morning to College and never come come back until sometime at 11pm at nights all days of the week unless it's a holiday or one of the days that I have my appointment for a hospital health check up.

Sure, it gets boring to be in such a routine mission day-in day-out, but I'd rather have it this way than having to sit away at my monitor or the TV or whatever it is for the rest of the day just doing nothing trying to think of what I can or cannot do for the next 6 or 7 hours until it's time to head for la la land.

I've also been trying to keep my depression thoughts out of the way. It's not easy either because I keep getting them back but I push on, I strive on. And when I put on a smiling face, I always try to make it heartfelt. I've realized that I have become a quitter in the past and I pushed that thought aside to demand what I want - no matter how trivial it may sound or be to the onlookers.

I've come to learn a lot in the past few weeks that I haven't actually blogged onto this site. Too much that I have had to just grasp the moment that it comes with to learn of it what it may bring to me in terms of lessons.

I've learned that Oman doesn't really care anymore about the environment any longer because on the outside they call for eco-tourism yet they on the other hand they are striving to destroy the environment at the same time by giving up more land to oil companies for exploration; establishing peaceful nuclear fuel capabilities along with the GCC council and not to mention redefining the real estate industry of the Sultanate along with its neighbors.

I've also learned that the stupidities that have been announced of allowing competition into Oman is just yet another agenda or front to shut the international community up by setting 'competition' into the field with Nawras when they very well know that the outside competition would cripple them. The thing with Oman is that officials boast a lot about things that need to be done for the country for it's economical benefit, but if you go about the shops, you can still buy pirated software, pirated DVDs, and Playstation or Xbox360 or Wii games. They talk about efficiency in the government sector also, yet you still wait one or two months just to get a printed allocated set of land that you are entitled to - of which you pay for - on a piece of paper.

I'll admit Oman has come a long way in many strives and has indeed jumped leaps from the day that we knew we had oil, but to be honest, things can be done in so many different and better ways in this country but no one is willing to listen.

Nobody.

That's why it seems such a bother to me of why I should ever blog in the first place or even write articles for anyone when no one takes notice.

Blogging is and will always be a phenomenon to me. But to the much conservative Omani society and community in a whole, they are just too damn right narrow minded because they would rather have ask you on a face-to-face basis about your whole tribe whilst standing in public in just under 30 minutes.

I shouldn't even bother to talk about regional or international politics because the game is already played. Seriously. I mean, are you trying to tell me that this wasn't all played out since the day that George Bush took the seat in the White House? Or what about Iran? Or Iraq for that matter? (It's pronounced 'eerak' not 'eye-rak')..

I don't blame anyone anymore for not blogging for several reasons. One of which is because I am in that same position of where I cannot find the right words to be said. And two, because I have a lot more important things to be busying myself with than be bothered about blogging. Three, its not what it used to be to me anymore, unfortunately - for the fun of it.

Believe you and me - there's some bigger pizzas to be baked here (as opposed to 'bigger fish to fry').

TimesofOman.com: Matters of consideration

The TimesofOman.com has finally published my article which was supposed to appear last week but for some reason did not.

I apologize for the delay.

Please follow the below link to read the full article submitted under the title Matters of Consideration.

Do enjoy...

-----------------

Link:

- TimesofOman.com: Matters of consideration

Sultanate marks World Aids Day 2007

Spread the message.. Not the virus.

--------------

Links:

- Al Shabiba: National AIDS Strategy Launched (in Arabic)

- Al Watan: Haitham bin Tariq launches National AIDS Strategy

- TimesofOman.com: Sayyid Haitham to launch national strategy to fight AIDS

- Oman Tribune: Strategy to fight AIDS to be unveiled

last article (proposed): SQU Horizon Newsletter - A Graduate's Burden

Below is the last article that I will be submitting to the Sultan Qaboos University's Horizon Newsletter. The reason is that they have terminated my services due to the return of their ex-English Language writer on a permanent basis.

Oh, well..

Nothing good lasts forever.

But, hopefully, there will be other opportunities in the future to come, inshallah.

--------------------------

A Graduate's Burden

On December the 1^st and the 8^th of this year, the Sultan Qaboos University will have a ceremony of graduation. It is always hard in the beginning to start a long journey, knowing the uncertainties at hand, knowing that path is hard and never easy to follow on. In fact, there are some individuals who may fall apart along the way giving in to a different variable of reasons. But it is those that stick to the goals that they target who will always succeed, and succeed they shall prompting the inevitable stage of graduation to come and give them their hard earned rewards.

Those are the days that would start to define the type of men and women the graduates turn out to be in real life throughout their careers, and their practical lifestyles.

A series of developments will await these fine young men and women of our proud nation, a natural course that would always take them through the ups and downs of their lives; choices will be made, decisions taken and ultimately they will bare the fruits of their decision making whether they turn out to be good or bad.

This graduation ceremony will mark a step into the real world where no longer is anything of free service but anything they require will ask of them that extra mile to earn what they want.

No matter what field the graduate comes from, there will be a need to nurture the desire to become better at what has been accomplished so far. This need must be addressed through their work and career when and if they should get a job later on in life. They will need to push further and stronger to prove that they are worthy of such a position, not only amongst their fellow graduate colleagues but also amongst their peers, their co-workers, and at their jobs.

The Sultan Qaboos University has a reputation of giving birth to some of the very best graduates in the Sultanate of Oman, and it is the responsibility of future graduates to maintain that image and to also raise the bar higher in terms of respect towards this fine higher education institution.

A responsibility that is not easy to bare. But, if maintained then it would help in matters of future progress towards the generations to come.

proposed - TimesofOman.com: matters of consideration

Below is the proposed article that I am sending to the TimesofOman.com for publishing.

I haven't been able to write much on the blog because I am so busy with College and other personal matters. I hope you all can understand.

Let me know what you think of this article, though..

--------------------

Matters of Consideration

Take into account what is going on around the world of late. Look at what is rapidly happening throughout our world. Lifestyles have been changed, cultures diminished, and environments brought down to rubble over man's one desire of greed.

The one choice that we, as a younger generation have always thought of when we are children is what we'd like to do with the world when we grow up. Ironically, world peace seems to be the answer that most children answer back and plausibly so.

But is that behavior a reflection of the world that we are living in nowadays? Perhaps. But it is also a matter of perspective. For if one is to look always at the gloomy side of things then they will no sooner be depressed and sad themselves.

The matter at hand is the fact that we are indeed at a crossroad of decisions that need to be made, effectively and efficiently. A decision that would take into hand all matters those revolve around us. Such as the changing environment and scenery in Oman and how rapid the changes are taking place in terms of what effects they may have on us in the short and long term periods of time. A daily ritual that we have to go through everyday no matter where we are living because of the sudden rise in awareness of development in the country.

Population attitude is yet another thing amongst the issues that need to be looked at, with drivers on roads becoming more and more dangerous by ignoring signs and radars that are put on the highways and heavy vehicles overtaking each other in high speeds putting other cars and pedestrians on the road to danger is something that not only needs to be looked at but taken into very serious consideration.

While such matters are all only on a local basis, it is the belief that one should rectify one's own mistakes in order to start pointing out the mistakes and weaknesses of others around them to gain momentum and prompt a forward movement in ratifying the overall situation.

Dar Al Atta reading campaign gets featured

As you all may recall, the book signing session which I was supposed to be included in had been reported several times on this blog and I had mentioned time and time again that it was supposed to be featured within a bigger event to help raise money for a public library here in the Sultanate of Oman.

On Thursday, 15/11/2007, the Oman Tribune featured it in both it's online and hard copy editions, saying:

Dar Al Atta’a, a charitable organisation, will hold its inaugural ‘Let’s Read!’ campaign on Thursday from 10am to 6pm.

The event, aimed at encouraging children to read, will be held at the Jawarat Al Shatti (JAS) Complex in Shatti Al Qurum. The lead sponsor for the event is Bank Muscat. In addition to the hands-on activities for children, including story telling, poster displays, book making, book reviews by kids, favourite character costume parades, and puppet shows, there will also be a used book fair and a sale of T-shirts and bags. Several local guest authors will be there to read their stories and sign copies of their books. A help desk will also be set up to advice parents on ways to encourage their children to read.

------------------

Link:

- Oman Tribune: Dar Al Atta' to hold 'Let's Read!' Campaign

proposed: SQU Horizon newsletter article - Oman's National Day

Below is the full text of proposed last article that I would write for the Sultan Qaboos University Horizon newsletter.

It is about the Oman National Day and its celebration.

I hope you all like it - please let me know what you think of it..

--------------------------------------

In a country such as the Sultanate of Oman, one can only admire the progress it has seen in the last 37 years ever since His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said – Sultan of Oman – had brought the country from the limelight into a blessed development of ongoing renaissance; from the darkness into the light.

By focusing on future needed developments on wide scales whilst keeping an eye on the past his Majesty sought to bring the country up to par with the international community by providing health services for free; building educational institutions such as the Sultan Qaboos University; and providing modern day needs to a nation that never knew the existence of such modern yet practical solutions for the modern day and age.

The Sultanate of Oman has come a long way since the 1970s, and it still strives so by pushing further to make the country a better place to live in and a much safer and more educated haven for people to come and stop by. Such examples that can be admired through the very recent diplomatic Shura Council elections whereby thousands upon thousands flooded the poll stations to state their votes in a calm and orderly manner depicting only that this society is a mature one raised with self discipline on one hand and education in the other.

The Sultanate of Oman indeed is a place whereby newcomers can only expect peace and tranquility and where citizens will always find it a safe haven for themselves, their loved ones, their friends and families.

On a day like today – on the joyous occasion of the Sultanate's National Day – one can only expect that Omanis will always live up to the challenge; no matter how big or small.

Happy National Day celebrations to everyone…

apologies about book signing session

This post was supposed to come online two days before the book signing session.

So, I apologize ever so heartedly for any inconvience caused.

I got hit by some unknown virus which semi-crippled my movement for two whole days and ended up staying at home the entire period until the end of today (Thursday). Thus, canceling my book signing session (as you may well know now).

I am truly sorry that I did not post about this earlier but I just didn't come on the net at all except to send an email to the organizer of the event telling them about canceling my participation.

On the positive side, though, I was informed that there will be indeed a March 2008 session of the very same - maybe different activities - book signing session. So, I ask that I be put down for it.


I look forward towards that day..

book signing session update

Ok, so I reviewed what I got in detail about the book signing session and this is what I have so far - you'll notice a lot of things that I have mentioned before have been changed, this was due to the fact that I had only gone briefly through the document to know the major details. So please forgive me if you find it rather odd for the sudden change..

• Event to be held at Jawarat Al Shatti on Thursday 15th November.
  

• Timings: from 10am – 6pm.
  

• Aimed at children 4years to 9 years, but with participation of older children too.

• Objective is to create interest in reading and help fund a public library.
  

• There will be a raffle held to raise funds for the library project.

• Childrens’ Poster Competition of Book Reviews.
  

• Craft activities throughout the day.

• There will be included author book signings and readings.
  

• Literacy activities (listening, speaking, writing, reading).

• Prizes for best storybook character costumes.

• Refreshments will be available.
  

• Event to be advertised through media and leaflets distributed to schools.
  

• New and used books to be sold.

• Other items related to reading to be sold (letter snap, scrabble etc).

And that's pretty much what I have in information about the whole event. Hope you can all make it as it is for a good cause in the end and if you're not in it for raising the money, then just come along with your children or relatives for the fun.

Hope to see you there..

small update..

Sorry I haven't been updating as usual.

I've been terribly busy with lively matters that are simply too many to mention but I will draw your attention to some of them, though.

I have been asked to participate in a book signing session this Wednesday - 15 November, 2007 - at the Jawharat Al Shatti Complex. The session will have several other writers signing off their books as well as being included in an whole day event of a child's day whereby children can have fun and play in different activities. I will be posting more details and info on this as I have it as soon as possible.

I have restarted my insurance course at the College of Banking and Finance again after a 6 week break because of a health issue. And I have to say it feels good to break the routine after staying out of contact of the human world for so long. I hope it lasts long - this feeling, that is..

I am in the process of collecting material for my third poetry book, you may find some of the poems that might be published on the new blog Pens of Passion. I won't say which ones, I'll let you keep guessing.

I have also been asked to write one last article for the Sultan Qaboos University Horizon newsletter and then I'm off. As in, let off the hook for writing for them. It seems that they had made a previous arrangement for bringing back their old writer back into the limelight after having left them for a while only to come back and claim the same position. Which means that I am out of the picture. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted. I am confident I will find somewhere else that would appreciate my writing, though.

And that's it I guess..

To-Do-List ...The Book

I think I may just get this book; seems interesting enough..

from (blogspot.com) to (.com)

I've recently acquired - with the help of Blue Chi - a (.com) address for Sleepless In Muscat.

So now, instead of having to point your browser to this www.sleeplessinmuscat.blogspot.com, you can directly go to www.sleeplessinmuscat.com.

I have done for this because I am beginning to get fed up with blogger's persistant maintainence and this would save me the hassle, plus I am planning to make big changes to this blog sometime soon to make it more of a general blog that would contain the updates for my other newly born blogs that you see on the sidebar.

If there's any problem regarding the feed or the website, please drop me an email.

Blue Horizon ... now open to general public access

I have worked a lot on this new blog and dedicated some very good hours to understanding how I could shape it to better integrate the Arabic language. Therefore, it gives me great pleasure to announce to all of you - ladies and gentlemen of the blogosphere - my very first serious attempt on an fully dedicated Arabic-language blog: Blue Horizonالمدى الأزرق

I am hoping that this blog will indeed prosper even though I have difficulties with typing out the language as I am not accustomed to it but I am willing to take the challenge and see where it would take me.

Have a look around into the blog, you may notice a lot of grammatical, as well content and theory mistakes - but, please bare with me by pointing them out through the blog. As you all know also I have a policy of not allowing anonymous comments. I apologize in advance for this inconvience because I would rather have serious commeters who have serious issues to point out rather than flood with me with their links, or 'fun' opinions.

Do tell me what you think of the blog - it would mean a lot to me.

Hope of Islam ... now open to general public viewing

After a long long debate and wait of having to think of topics and issues that surround the blog, I have decided to open up the blog Hope of Islam to general public viewing and access.

I trust that you will all treat this blog with the greatest of respect that you would give to anyone else since it is a blog that ideally relies on the topics of Islam and the fundamentals without the need to follow into any other sect.

Feel free to comment on it or leave any suggestions you may have..

"Oh My Stars!"

"Polly want a [censored] cracker?"

We're all brought up a certain way by our folks, and to say that we were brought up wrongly, would be, well – just, wrong. It is the environment that that influences this bringing up on our peers, and our sociable circle and thus, us.

The two types of environment that I talk about are the direct influence group (that directly influences our behavioral change through a certain time period) and the indirect influences (which influence through a certain means or group of individuals).

But where does the act of conversation fall into? Both, I would assume, because of strong influence both groups have on a certain talk module such as word of mouth, direct individual and group relationships and external changes imposed in an direct and an indirect way on both these groups.

However, talk conversations politeness have started going from the easy-going 'Oh my Lord!' to 'Oh, [censored]!' It has become widely common to use street swear slang in normal conversations as it is to wear a sleeveless and shorts in public by both genders.

What's more worse is that we have become more tolerant to the entrance to other street swear terminologies that we have come to not object on them by the excuse of 'being cool'; or 'taking in the trend'; or even 'grasping modern day art'.

Let's face it – the art of conversation is dying taking our very own traditional linguistic high values along with it.

small step for the Omani population - one giant leap for the detoriating environment

It's about time, that's what I can say.

Muscat Municipality has finally dug it's own head out of it's own trenches and looked beyond the matter of profit, and sheer dirt that is lying around it's own neighborhood by launching a small, yet, expandable, project about recycling paper waste in the educational system - starting with a number of schools.

According to the Oman Tribune:

As per the project, school books, notebooks and paper used in different student activities will be recycled. The project, in association with the Ministry of Education and the Omani Environment Association, will be first implemented in six schools in Muscat, in the wilayats of Seeb and Bausher.

Hopefully, in due time, they will expand this project to all the Sultanate of Oman and spread it not only just the educational system but on the public as well as other matters of recyclable content.

-------------------------

Link:

- Oman Tribune: Paper recycling project launched

Patrol d'France to amaze Muscat on Friday

So you've heard of the Red Arrows (shown above). And you've probably been to their shows more than once if you're about as old as I am.

But it seems, this time, that on the occasion of the Omani National Day nearing - due on the November 18, 2007 - yet another airplane acrobat group has been invited to the Sultanate of Oman. The group is called Patrol d'France.

According to the small article provided by the Times of Oman;

The team has a rich history in air acrobatic shows.

On July 14, 1986, on the anniversary of the US Independence, the team presented a historic show in New York, which was hailed by the media.

In 2000, the team organised an Asian tour and in 2004 the team conducted over 45 shows within and outside France.

From September 24 to November 15, 2004, the team toured several Asian countries including the UAE, China, Malaysia, India and Jordan. The team members are famous for conducting adventurous flights.

The show can be seen above the Intercontinental Hotel in Shatti Al Qurum around 3:30pm. I am sure the place will be more than crowded by that time.

Have a go at it, enjoy the weather, the show and most of all - enjoy the fun of something you may have never seen in your life.

------------------------

Link:

- TimesofOman.com: French team to present acrobatic air show tomorrow

Economy: Oman now open to general public access

Despite it is still being in it's starting phase and a little few changes remain to be tended to - I have decided to open up the newest blog in my blogroll collection; Economy: Oman.

Feel free to look around and make your comments and see what you think what can be added as an improvement, baring in mind that it is still a work in progress.

Cheers..

2nd Cup & Dar Al Atta' lend a helping hand

If you're a frequent 2nd Cup visitor, chances are you already know about this.

2nd Cup has teamed up with Dar Al Atta' charity association in selling plastic wrist bands with 'HELP! Make a difference!' imprinted on them in different colors for the small price tag of R.O. 1 only.

The entire money goes directly towards the benefit of helping out the less-abled (I hate the word 'disabled' they use, it is so demeaning) people in the Sultanate of Oman by making their lives easier in any which way.

I encourage you to seek out these wrist bands and possibly buy them in bulk so that you can also spread the message of love that we owe our brothers and sisters who have been left out.

--------------------------------

PS: Does anyone know the official website address of Dar Al Atta'?

as promised..

As I had promised you earlier, this is the link to the article that I proposed for the TimesofOman.com for publication, today.

Enjoy..

-------------------------

Link:

- TimesofOman.com: The Election Experience

post # 1500

Well, it's been a really long ride.

1500 posts on one blog is a huge number for me, even though I am not looking to add up the number ever since I found out my fascination with writing.

But it's something to think about, eh?

Here's to the next 3500 posts. :P

Cheers everyone..

proposal - Horizon newsletter: the bigger picture

This is the article I have pushed forth to be published in the upcoming edition of the SQU Horizon newsletter of this month, dated October 30, 2007.

Although it more or less talks about the same subject, I am hoping it would help open up the student eyes to future responsibilities to bared.

Do let me know what you think about it.

Cheers..

-----------------------------

The Bigger Picture

History in the making is what they called it.

A change in the path that the democratic solution for a developing country such as the Sultanate of Oman that would ever take place.

It was a day whereby both men and women over the age of 21 took in the responsibility to say that they are proud – as ever – to be an Omani. To hold their heads high with confidence to show the entire world that they are eligible of the responsibility and the educational level to take a decision into casting their votes for the first ever overall Shura Council elections to be held in the country.

It opened up the opportunity for people to actually sink in the idea of taking participation in the decision making process on an overall. For this not only meant that this was a beginning to opening up further future doors to allowing the simple Omani to take participation in electing the rightful candidate and what goes beyond such a decision. But, it also meant that one day – when the time is right – the Omani population will also come to understand the responsibilities and burdens that rest on their shoulder in making the right decision.

It was a day where Omanis – men and women, alike – took to the voting centres with one thing in mind, to make sure they made the right decision and of true understanding that their decision, by result, would make an impact on future generations to come. Whereby they would take the reins themselves to make a similar decision and most probably, more important.

But, for now – this is just the beginning.

proposal - TimesofOman.com: The Election Experience

This is the article I have submitted to the TimesofOman.com website editor for publication of. I am hoping that it would .. get published, that is.

In the event it should, then I will post the link to it in another different post for your reading pleasure.

Let me know what you think of this proposal, though.

----------------------------------

The Election Experience

History was being set in this moment; a chance to make a decision in the country's overall decisions was slowly being opened up to the Omani population. That day was the day that had introduced one of the first steps towards a democratic process of selecting a candidate of a certain district or Wilaya in the Sultanate of Oman.

Many were the years we dreamt that this day would finally come and show itself, and we all know that it would take the Omani population time and effort also to understand the responsibilities and the burdens that would lie upon such an important decision-making process. It's not enough to know your know your candidate and entrust him with your loyalty and candidacy, but it was also important to understand the role that this candidate would play for people such as us in the Shura Council in raising awareness of issues that concern the public, the general state and the country in general, too.

The overall process was very easy, even though with a very high margin of people going to cast their votes for their likely candidates, holding only their National IDs in their hands and their loyalty in their hears (and a possible bottle of water in the other hand, too). People were turning up from all over the country to cast their vote at the centres, with the authorities on standby for any assistance should the need arise.

In it's entirety, it did not take more than five minutes whereby you stood in a line to wait your turn to cast a vote, where in between you were asked for your ID card; you are marked by your finger that you had indeed visited the voting centre; and you cast your vote on a nicely printed colored piece of paper where it includes the pictures, names and lined-up numbers of the candidates themselves, to which you cast your vote into a large box and leave.

I for one had imagined the process to be a bit more complicated from seeing similar voting and registration lines being formed up on the television. But I guess that is the difference between TV and Oman; it's more realistic when you get into it.

It's something I am proud of doing for the overall benefit of my country...

another private station?

We already know of how there is the existing two 'oldie' radio stations on the airwaves which are state-run, and we also know that there are another two - one, supposedly, successfully established and the other, well, still on test.

But this one about having another yet another private radio station in the country is a bit too much. Can the market actually take it? And who would find time to scroll through the many different frequencies on their radio dial-tone just to get that one station?

Personally, I think if this contender aims to be on the top of the list, then they should be the top notch of their business and know exactly what they should be broadcasting.

Hopefully, they will.

-------------------------

Link:

- Oman Tribune: New radio station on the way

changing trends

In a world of competition between different and various countries of the world, the battle has moved on - long ago - to between the two sexes; men and women. While men have long dominated the hardships of a career-born life for a number of reasons - respect, love and pride being on top of that list - women have long over-stepped the red lines put to them by societies and communities alike to prove one thing: that they are just as strong (and at times, better, too) at men's jobs and and they deserve the chance to take opportunities such as the ones that are vastly open to 'mankind'.

And while it's commendable for such a trend to surface up in a region such as the GCC, in general, and in a country such as the Sultanate of Oman, especially, and encouragingly, so. It's consequences go to lengths beyond imagination to which this writer tries to point out. Such as resulting in bringing down the female youth's interest in settling down and leaving the matter to a higher age and possibly (although, never proven) the reach out to other methods of 'satisfaction'.

Lifestyles have changed leading to more sicknesses, more mental problems with direct relation to work anxieties leading to an increase in depression cases and higher fatality rates in general all over the Arab world and one of the main reasons this is happening is the women's loss of interest in marriage and increased consciousness of general society welfare. This isn't to say that this is wrong. Women have a basic instinct of trying to take care of things and when put to the test, they dedicate their all to it until it is achieved even if it means isolating themselves from everything else that would distract them from that goal. Even if that means going against the society, the community in terms of legal bodies, authorities and societies at one go - just so long as they believe that they going along the path of the 'greater good'.

It is understandable that current market trends have pushed both men and women to extreme measures and fashions of the working culture, to the point whereby love, feeling and all the important things in a personal lifestyle take a backseat until a certain point in time they are brought up by 'special circumstances'. But that does not mean that it should be a permanent position that our society should ever adopt - ever.

A certain compromisation should be resolved - and desperately - before things get out of hand. A man should devote to his household as much time as he can so he can set an example to his wife, for instance, to prove that life isn't always about being 'professional'.

It is life's imperfections that let us enjoy it's fruits and, therefore, we must be willing to make sacrifices in order to embrace these fruits of our long-awaited much-need natural bliss.

Saturday is business as usual..

The government has announced that it would be business as usual for anyone who works in the public sector since that would be the day that the 6th Shura Council elections. The government source also stated that anyone who takes a leave for attending the voting cast will not be penalized in their month-end salary.

It is worth mentioning that there would be around 388,000 candidates who are eligible for selection as a successful Shura Council member on which the election period would be on October 27, 2007 from 7am to 7pm at the appropriate voting casts designated for each Wilaya.

There has been, though, no news about how the private sector would deal with any Omani employee who does not attend work on that day as that day closes nearer.

--------------------

Link:

- Shabiba: 2 days to Shura race conclusion (in Arabic)

- Times of Oman: Ministries to function as usual on Majlis election day (English)

isn't bad enough to know how Gonu was handled?

From the Times of Oman:

Abdullah bin Abbas bin Ahmed, chairman of Muscat Municipality and head of the main committee of Muscat Festival 2008, said yesterday that the festival would begin on January 21.

In an exclusive statement to Al Shabiba, he said the festival would include a number of new activities and the preparations for the festival would begin early, pointing out that Muscat Festival is regarded as one of the major festivals in the region, with many achievements since its inception.

Why do they go on and on with such a stupid excuse to waste money that is needed much more elsewhere?

--------------

Link:

- Times of Oman: Muscat Festival from January 21

Child Exploitation

It's a shame there isn't such an agency like this in the Middle East because we need it so badly.



Don't just watch the video - spread it.

Everyone counts in this fight..

For more information about this programme - please visit this link

Games Galore now open to general public access..

The latest blog that I am launching - Games Galore - is now open to general access from the public ever since it has been included into the blog roll.

Check it out if you're a fan of the latest video games that come out on the PC; Wii; X360 or the PS3.

I am more than confident that you will all like it.

Any suggestions are also welcome..

Cheers..

By Royal Decree: Journalist Club to be shut down

I read this excerpt of news on the Shabiba website after the wee hours of midnight with a bit of shock and amazement as well as some frustration and confusion.

His Majesty - Sultan Qaboos bin Said - Sultan of Oman, has issued a Royal Decree, due to have an effect from October 20, 2007, to shut down the Journalist Club and move all its financial aspects to the Ministry of Information.

Something which I cannot comprehend as to why such a decision was made, even though it may not be in my place to question such a Royal Decree; but none the less, it drives one to speculate a dozen reasons as to why such a decision had been taken.

Don't you think?

---------------------------

Link:

- H.M. Issues a Royal Decree: Close down of Journalist Club and transfer of financial aspects to Ministry of Information (in Arabic)

Horizon newsletter: Success Comes From Defeat

Finally, I have been able to update my article portfolio with a new one for the Horizon newsletter at the Sultan Qaboos University with a powerful article (at least, I think it is) under the title 'Success Comes From Defeat'.

I enlist it here for your reading pleasure, feel free to drop any comments about it.

-----------------------------------

A short-spend of time is a time well spent; a sentence that occurs in times of peril, difficulties, and much less ease in the small life of an individual on Earth. Something we so foolishly lack in the face of our desires and needs and forget the very reason as to why we should ever be here.

A sense of purpose, the life that we truly deserve to live by and aim for, as well on the path of seeking a soulful redemption of the mind, body and soul.

Why is it that we live to regret every single day of our lives when we could do entirely the opposite and face our fears, overcome the challenges and at the end of the day, have an undeniable sense of satisfaction that we have done what we had to do and so much more to acquire such a small goal in small period of time?

Why is it that we live with the fear that we should never push beyond the limits that we only bind ourselves by? How would we ever know how we can achieve anything if we cannot attempt? After all, success is another way of overcoming defeat; and almost nobody succeeds from the very first time.

To alter our way of thinking and the way we react to present and future events in our lives, we must be willing to change ourselves; even by drastic measures. That is not to say that we preach and bestow upon ourselves the grace that is an undeniable feature of self-perfection. But to start through ourselves by carrying out the very negativities that we hold within ourselves to inspire others to look at us as role models worthy of being followed in the footsteps of regaining the once lost confidence.

A feature that is no doubt difficult – yet, never impossible.

the story so far..

Right, so here's a size-able recap on what's new with the new blogs that entered into the collective blogosphere rat race.

First off, there's a new post about the Nokia 8GB N81 on the Gadget Garage, which is one very nifty device if you ask me, something I might consider buying if it does go under the $200 US Dollar mark.

Then there's there are four new posts about different movies such as The Comebacks; Darfur Now; the Fred Claus; and finally Talk To Me on the Movie Guide blog.

If you're a fan of Eric Clapton, then you'll find his latest album - Complete Clapton - slightly reviewed on Music Control, Inc.

Of course there's been little or no progress in Pens of Passion or the Photo Generation blogs mainly because people are still unacquainted with them and/or still are in the Eid holiday moods. So feel free to browse them and if you care to join them, you can always email me about it.

The Ramadan Kareem blog has been put on hold until next year by Shaykhspeara Sha'ira since the celebrative mood of the holy month has moved on.

If you're a fan of poetry, then you can still review my old poetry collection on the Rapidly Blue blog.

Then there's of course the participation that I have in both A Secret Arabian Journal & the UAE Arabic Community Blog.

So, that's the round-up this time.

Until next week; happy blogging..

have you got a 'HateBook' account?

This is so funny.

I was just browsing the BBC world service site and found this by coincidence.

Apparently, someone has invested the popularity of the famous facebook service that has been recently acquired by Google and launched something similar only quite the opposite in purpose: Hatebook.com.

Check it out..

Gadget Garage open to public access

I have finally opened up general public access to the latest renovated blog experience to Gadget Garage.

On it, and in due time, too; you will find the latest news that I can find about gadgets, technology and software that is or will ever come out in the many years to come of humanity's rise above the evolution pattern.

Take a look and tell me what you think, and I am sure you will find it to your liking whether you're a buff or a beginner.

Cheers..

the foiled Omani telecommunication industry

Things are getting a bit turbulent in the telecommunications sector here in Oman, things like how well the service is becoming and how bad each competitor needs a good section of the pie. And this time it's not just about one of the companies in the leading branded mobile technology. But it's more of how well the two of them (Nawras; Oman Mobile) are both handling their customer share and the services they provide them with.

Oman Mobile has always had it's issues ever since I can remember, things like service, accuracy, compensation for lost service, try outs, and most of all prices were always hideous (at least in my opinion). Nawras sort of cleared up the picture through its clarification of service list against price, better customer service but are still lacking - as Muscati would say - the innovative edge to lure the present mobile customer from one network to another.

And no time like the present has been more clearer than now through this philosophy. As the troubles have started to begin with the Nawras networkd during the last Eid holiday (which is still an issue to be resolved, mind you) because almost all your calls are disconnected because the network is always busy. A new service that has been launched by the mobile telecommunications company similar that of to the one by Oman Mobile to have a caller ring tone and even though it is a bit cheaper by the minute through instruction time, the lack of options, the mere boredom of having to listen to an automated voice repeating itself all over again and again plus the issue of having to pay for something that has only been launched through an SMS service is somewhat disgraceful for a company that boasts about being the number one customer-orientated company in this form of technology in my opinion.

So if you're asking me if I still like Nawras as my mobile telecommunications provider; I would say no. But if you asked me if I would like to come back to the previous mobile company; my answer would be a 'Hell, no'.

This was an opinionated post.

Prince of Persia 4 coming 2008

Finally, we have some concrete evidence to now that there indeed has been a behind-the-back development on the famous all time game series that this generation (and the past) had ever come to see.

Ubisoft can deny all they like, but we have them red-handed right now after they had managed to keep a lid on the subject for oh so long. But folks we have proof that a new Prince of Persia game is all set to have it's launch around late 2008 with a title that could surround the vibe of what was previously posted on this blog as being 'Ghosts of the Past' to be set as a prequel to the older Prince of Persia: Sands of Time/Warrior Within/The Two Thrones series.

What's more you can find two screens from an early build for the game with Surfer Girl reporting that

'...stylistically and gameplay-wise, the game has abandoned the dark edginess of the last two titles in favor a fantastical cross between The Sands of Time, Ico and Zelda.'

With work also on the way to have the second part of the said new trilogy by 2009 in time for the Prince of Persia movie release set by action premiere Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Walt Disney studios.

----------

Links:

- Surfer Girl: Exclusive - Prince of Persia 4 Screens and Information

- Gamespot News: Prince of Persia prequel trilogy unearthed?

announcing..

Since I never got the chance to produce anything in the blog that was supposed to focus on the religious and cultural aspects of 'celebrating' Ramadhan that has just passed us by due to many circumstances, I have gone and changed the blog from the root.

The result is what you see you above and you can access also through the newly revamped Photo Generation blog that was once Ramadhan Spirit.

Check it out and let me know what you think about the idea and concept. If you'd also like to contribute then by all means you're most welcome.

Cheers..

so, now what's new?

As you may have slightly noticed; I have done a little tidying around here and there in the blogosphere.

I have renamed the Ramadhan Spirit blog to another of my choice that would most seemingly interest every single one on this planet. But can't tell what's it name is yet.

The other yet mysterious blog that I have launched is hereby dubbed Gadget Garage - something to do with everything in the tech world. I have only opened it to an elite number of people to get their opinion on it. But it'll be open soon enough.

The third announcement is that I am now officially back onto the list of contributers of the UAE Arabic Community Blog. At least they are interested in good articles and have a respect for people's mind and sanity in this insane world we live.

That's all for now, I guess.

ain't that the truth

Source: Al Watan Dated: 12/10/2007

yet.. another blog in the making

Yes, you can boo me all your like. But it's not like it will ever stop me.

This time I establishing a new blog of which, if your are smart enough, you will tell in a second, which one it is.

The picture above is what it looks like - for now.

But once it's open for general public and fully stored up, you will find it up to date on ...oops. Almost did it.

See you there!

What The Hell: Omanis are throwing their folks into housing homes?

This is exactly what's happening under our very noses.

I wonder if any of you are actually doing it, or even - under any excuse; justified or otherwise - then shame on you.

Reported by the Gulf News:

The elderly are being forced to live a lonely life as an unfortunate impact of rapid urbanisation - thus the government is gearing up to take care of the ageing population, said Barka Al Bakry, an Omani social worker.

Furthermore:

"The Health Ministry is gearing up for such an eventuality because a lot of children drop their elderly parents or relatives at hospital and eventually abandon them," Al Bakry told Gulf News.

She said that in the past Omani families took care of their extended family.

"Unfortunately, now the increasing needs of an individual is gradually tearing society's fabric. People want to buy luxury cars or go on holidays and thus have little time for elderly people."

Are you people getting this? You have all the luxury of the world at your fingertips, and yet you still have no time for your parents?

It must because you hang out with your friends so much, or can't take care of them because of the big new business idea that's flourishing away. This is, in my opinion, one of the many disadvantages of the development process, we want to have this and leave the rest. Moving from rural to urban cities leaves those places unprocessed and underdeveloped. Our poor parents have it worse - by getting a bite in the ass - that's how.

And what's more worse, the government is stepping in to accommodate to those needs.

"The aims of such services are to support older people and their families in maintaining an independent lifestyle in the familiar surrounding of their communities," he said.

He added the ministry had already taken several initiatives in relation to elderly citizens.

"A home for elderly people has been set up in Nizwa with the collaboration of the Ministry of Social Development," he said.

He said another home health care project had been doing very well since 2004 in the Al Amerat area of Muscat.

I do not for one accept such an adoption legal because the government is taking a responsibility that is supposed to be on the shoulders of the children that be damned for leaving them at such places. I would it unlawful to do so, too. After all, is this what we Omanis were taught by our traditions? By our religion? Is this what Islam taught us to do in taking care of the elderly?

I am astonished. Absolutely dumbfounded.

from Your Choice of Music to Music Control, Inc.

I've done a slight change to the name of the musical blog that hasn't been paid attention to so far due to my fault neglecting it over this last vast period.

You will now that the blog no longer stands as "Your Choice of Music", since I thought it was a bit draggy and more centre than a creative stance to what a musical blog should be called.

So, now, I am trying this odd one for size to see the reaction from everyone and what they would say about it. Having said that.

Ladies and gentleman of the blogosphere, I hereby present to you the new name of the musical blog "Music Control, Inc."

Tell me what you really think of it through any angle, please. I am begging to hear a tone to this deaf ear.