True Wonder

She asked for the stars in the sky
He pondered for a second before going away into the night
She thought he had given up and had lost her one chance
To finally find the one and only true romance

Later that week he dropped by her house
He left her a giant cardboard envelope with a card inside
On it was a youngsters drawing of stars at night
Inside he wrote 'You are the true wonder; my only delight'

Had A Bad Day

Gotta love this video on a bad day.

promoting tourism and Oman Air

Following Muscati's post about how the Omani government is now going to focus its efforts on developing Oman Air instead of Gulf Air after an agreement had been reached to hand over total management of the latter airline to the Kingdom of Bahrain; there have been a number of press issues in the local media about how Oman Air is promoting tourism.

I can only agree with one thing here, and that is the role that Oman Air would need to play in the near and far future of the Omani tourism industry by expanding its number of stations internationally and regionally and not just focusing on the Indian Subcontinent and other ill-planned stations that bare no value to encourage tourists and businessmen to come and discover what Oman has to offer in value of location, local culture, and general investment opportunities with the local businessmen and the public sector, per say.

It is in my opinion that should Oman Air be willing to go further into the distance of expanding its role in promoting the Omani tourism industry it must drive further into the diversification of its brand - of which it published its details in a local newspaper through the overall change in its long term planning of the airline, its line of products and services, and the type of investments it is/should be looking into. Such as opening a number of hotels and resorts under its flagname - Oman Aviation Services Company. Complete change of the airport system and its layout, and knowledgable team with international standards set in the field to look into a number of other products that could be developed along the way.

All that and more could help put Oman Air onto the map of international recognition as a well known carrier that helped push its country and government reach the 2020 vision set by His Majesty, the Sultan Qaboos bin Said - Sultan of Oman.

----------

Links:

- Oman Air pushes tourism forward

- Oman Air's role in promoting tourism

ow ow owww

It's painful coming back after the first day of College - for which the only reason I can be glad for is that the actual classes are to start the coming Saturday since today was only an induction into what we will be tackling.

And to tell you the truth, even though I threw myself into this situation, I feel somehow that I am pushing myself too much with a lot of things. Being that the course which would run on a 3 day basis a week morning times, plus working on my writing for 3 establishments, another 2 books of poetry - one in Arabic and the other in English and plus a surprise job for translation amongst other things.

I mean, wow.

I am lucky to be able to breathe in between.

But it's not I am feeling bad about the whole situation. On the contrary, I feel very much alive. Tired and aching. But all alive. Senses tingling and all that.

I just hope I can actually adapt to the needs to all that and the study requirements along the way.

Ow.

Horizon newsletter: The Preservation of Our Environment

Below is the new foreword/article that would be appearing soon in this week's issue of the SQU's internal English Language newsletter; Horizon.

Do let me know of your opinion about it.

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

The Preservation of Our Environment

Global warming has always been an issue ever since the dawn of time and it wasn't just the Earth that was threatened by it. But, as it appears in the daily news these days, other planets in our solar system are affected by it. So it's nothing to say that mankind has inflicted this upon him, but it is safe to say – however - that the Earth's magnanimous population of over 6 billion people has certainly contributed towards escalating the phenomenon in the last 200 or so years.

So what is there that can be undone in order to slow down the process before it reaches the critical stage?

There is very little that can be undone simply because the very issue has gone, as the term would state 'overboard', what with the polar ice capsules melting; the ozone layer over the North and South Earth poles detoriating rapidly and the after effects that has been caused by this catastrophic chain of events, as if they were out of some Hollywood movie. What with the Tsunami that happened a couple of years back, the increase in rainfall over regions and countries that had never experienced such an event and other events around the world ranging from snow storms to forest fires; to say the least.

Unfortunately, not too may people in the world believe that they can play a significant part in decreasing the level of danger we are unleashing upon ourselves in the near future because they only think of their present and care not for their own future and their generation's future.

The Sultanate of Oman, however, is attempting to enforce this 'unknown' culture on its population to help the community and the social gathering all over Oman to realize the importance of helping to preserve the environment through the establishment of a Non-Governmental Organization by the name of the Environment Society of Oman. The main role of the ESO is to educated the public about how a few can do so much through gathering the many hands that could help contribute to revitalizing the Omani environment through implantation methods; coral reef and beach cleaning; and general scouting in natural spots all over the Sultanate of Oman.

Oman has long played a role in preserving the environment it seeks to endure to ensure that generations to come will always realize the important role of the environment in our daily lives and the methods we, as human beings, can play in ensuring that it is us who give back to the environment, ever so kindly.

Let Me Lie To Myself

Everyone and everything in my life
Has had some sort of effect on me
The will; the power
A choice; not an option - imposed on me

Let me lie to myself
That my life is wonderful
That the sun shines outside everyday for me
And that the world around me is as pink as a baby bath's bubble

I wake up everyday
To the grief and the naked truth
Destruction. Mayhem. Possession of one's very soul.
But no one gives a damn; they just want to be subdued

Let me lie to myself
That the sky is clear blue
That the oceans are zodiac green
The love; the passion
Everyday we recieve

Let me lie to myself
And laugh away the fears
The options that I've always been given
All throughout my younger years

After all
We live in a world of deceit
Where we smile at disaster
And embrace the pain
Push away the love
And happily cut our very veins

Let me lie to myself
So that I may live

Earth Song by Michael Jackson

Global warming is still an issue that we all are a contributing factor to.

Act now.

Before it's too late.

ATTENTION BLOGGERS

'One case does not justify the need for group punishment'. Something that I would have to totally agree with. Unfortunately, it seems that a prominent blogger by the name of Tim O'Reily has other plans for the online blogging community.

This all happened after a certain incident that has happened to a friend of his online who got numerous hate-mail in her inbox, countless death threats on her blog and now lives all alone in a locked up apartment somewhere unknown to probably the little part of the 'real' community she lives in that actually cares about her.

Now, he demands that there would be guidelines for bloggers worldwide to stop anonymous comments being published on their blog's posts and furthermore, the need to implement a certain code of conduct amongst the vast online social buzz.

This would mean further restricting freedom of speech online that is already under threat by local and international law institutions that do not believe in this concept and a certain decrease in the number of people who would go about commenting on each other's posts.

This demand does not justify having to pass on this as a law amongst the online community because of one person's endeavor into what she knew she was getting herself into. For all we know she could have pushed the people online to do such an act on her blog and email by posting something that almost everyone disagreed on and passionately so, may I add. In addition, she could have stopped these comments and emails from coming to her by simply pressing the 'delete' button in either cases - but she didn't. Which is all the more reason to say that she was actually inviting in the comments.

I feel no sympathy for this woman. There are bloggers everywhere that have worse cases against them by being locked up by their governments because they publish information that their country's officials consider highly sensitive and would rather keep it under wraps.

This woman, knew what she was getting into when first signing up to open up a new blog and she knew there would be a consequence for every post she published online there. So it seems no surprise to me that this would happen to someone who thinks that the entire world is supporting her 100% all the way.

...Because that is just simply childish.

Question is now; would you submit your blog to these demands? And why?

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

Links:

- Now, a civility code for bloggers?

- Weblogs 'need content warnings'

commencing studies

College sessions start this Sunday.

Music And Lyrics

If you like Hugh Grant's acting and are a hopeless romantic then you're definitely going to love this movie.

Set in the current period we live in, an ex-80s pop star wants to make a comeback through any open door he can scratch himself in.

Along the way he meets someone special (Drew Barrymore) after she accidentally helps him out with some lyrics for a teenage superstar.

The story evolves from thereon and knowing Hugh, you can expect all the good one-liners that you'd ever expect from a British comedian.

----------

Link:

- Music and Lyrics official movie site

speed praying

I'm almost certain that everyone's heard of the term of speed reading as it began during the World Wars I & II and spread like crazy all over the globe.

It has its advantages because people could differentiate between enemy and ally planes in the sky in the blink of an eye so as to know what needs to be done next so that they could save their lives.

Although it still has its advantages nowadays by students and employees alike by saving time to read through a whole document, some people have taken that skill to their religious chores in praying and reading the Qur'an in the mosque that they do their religious tasks.

That in itself is very wrong, and I have noticed it only just today in the Friday prayers at the mosque with some people finishing their prayers faster than I would and others reading the Qur'an so quickly that I don't think that they even understood and took the small amount of time of reading into the meanings of the words that they were reading.

If the Prophet (PBUH) was alive and saw this, he would have asked them all to redo their prayers and recitles of the Holy Book.

This is definitely not the way that we are asked to practice our religion nor was it ever, neither in the past, present or the future to come.

And it doesn't need educating because as an example if you read something very quickly you're most certainly not going to understand what is being said unless you're a descendant of Einstein.

Arabia Calling: shutdown

As you may have noticed in the last two posts below; I have transferred some and not all of my posts from my previous blog Arabia Calling.

I say previous because I have shut it down due to the ill-attention it got from visitors and contributors alike. It was a good idea at the time because it always focused on serious issues from the perspective of different contributors from all over the Arab world.

Alas, everything good must come to an end.

I thank those who had gone and visited it in the past and probably even contributed. I appreciate their support and who knows? Perhaps there would be a new one in the future that really works on several issues that actually get the attention of bloggers worldwide?

The future is always full of surprises.

transferred from: Arabia Calling - rape between couples: perception through a Middle Eastern Islamic culture

The increase of cases that go announced in Arab countries especially in the GCC countries of a husband raping his own wife is alarming and asks for immediate attention towards the reasons behind such a rapid increase in such cases.

The first question that comes up to any mind is how can a husband rape his own wife? Something that is often raised as a question here in the Middle East. The answer to that is simple coming from the definition of rape, a sexual act that is carried out against the other party's own free will and submission.

Many westerners often mistake that couples in the Middle East get married for the very sake of satisfying their sexual desires without having to put into mind what other consequences they must abide by after consent to their newly found spouse. This is mainly because of fact that the West sees the Middle East region through the perspective of the Gulf visitors that mostly comes from Saudi Arabia; Kuwait and even Qatar with their high spending and often repulsive habits that more than often come into conflict with Islamic boundaries.

For that, it is something that you cannot blame the Western media in it's attempt to focus on stereo-typing the Arabs as the typical pimp that looks more for the base than the face in a slang offering.

But it is unfair and unjust to generalize such an image on other nations that offer a more true meaning to the Islamic world such as the cultural and Islamic habitat that flourishes throughout other Arab countries.

transferred from: Arabia Calling - Dee Dee Dee by Carlos Mencia

Carlos Mencia is by far the best at telling you the right thing in the wrong way.

You go Carlos.

freedom lives on

The newspaper that I deal with may have hindered my voice from being heard through it by choosing to oppress freedom of speech, but that does not mean that their control over my words extends to the list of blogs that I deal with.

They can try all they like.

But they will never succeed.

Sand Painting

Simply takes your breath away.

inspired: Lost

I have a headache
I don't know why
I have a grief
Of a thousand souls that have crossed the other side

I search for the freedom
That will enable me
To become the person
That I want to be

I have search the gallows
The skies and the milky way
I have searched high and low
Beneath them is where I stay

I have lost touch
Of life and love
I have lost faith
And gained no trust

I have lost the will
The power to be a better man
The cherished dreams I always had
Why - I could never understand

I search for her
For I know she will lift me up so high
She'll show me the world
In so many ways that I have come to deny

I search for the passion
And for the trust
Is it really all over?
Can I not gain ever.. even much?

progress report on insurance course - part 2

I got a message on my mobile phone today.

The message said;

"CBFS... CONGRATS!! YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR THE INSURANCE COURSE!"

Some marketing, huh?

Well, I hope this is a start of good things to come my way because God knows how much I need some positivity in my life at this phase that I am in.

..Anyhow.

You get the jist - I'm in.

what started it all - part 2

This is the 2nd article that I had sent off to the unmentionable newspaper here in Oman - the place where it is claimed that there is a right to freedom of speech - of which, after reading it, I am more than sure you will all agree with me that the article should have not been rejected in the first place nor placed in the 'sensitive' category.

Not like anyone in this country gives two shits anymore about what they should be caring about anymore - according to the newspaper unmentioned here.

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

What Does Muscat Actually Need?

Muscat has become quite the buzz in the Gulf region, in general, and in the Sultanate of Oman, in specific, amongst its very own population; starting with the sudden increase of tourism into the country; the booming of the real estate industry; the increased expenditure into the tourism industry. Along with the other developmental projects that are set to put Oman into the limelight of the international scene of the world map.

Among those projects that are set to boost the tourism industry in the main Muscat area is the establishment of the very first of its kind, state-of-the-art opera house. Another project is the development of a new all-in-one tourism facility in the Qurum commercial area, which would consist of an international 5 star hotel; a commercial complex and a cinema.

Those are but a few of the high standard projects that the government of the Sultanate of Oman is aiming at to provide leisure and entertainment for those who seek to have a fun time in their own special way.

Last week, though, Muscat Municipality had agreed in a meeting that it would carry out a study to establish night markets in unknown parts of the Muscat area to promote tourism and the Omani culture & tradition to tourists and locals alike so as push forward the future for rejuvenating the Omani handicrafts industry and increase the income that would only serve the Omani economy further and further.

As much as this move is commendable on the part of Muscat Municipality, it sets the wheels of thought into motion thus coming into the phase whereby we ask ourselves: Is this really what Muscat actually needs to promote eco-tourism?

Eco-tourism is a campaign that the government of Oman aims to promote itself to; to people who are considered to be in the upper and middle class of tourism customers from countries that it promotes itself to; targeting people who appreciate the solidarity that the country has to offer to the tourist who wants to flee from the ever-buzzing ticks of life itself.

So, having that in consideration, does Muscat really need a new few commercial areas – especially in the night? When the weather is weary during summer and cold as ice in the winter time?

Does the public get to have a say in these matters, this writer wonders?

Or it is simply another 'project'?

what started it all

The reason why you see me so damn pissed off these last few days at some certain people is because I had sent off two articles to them and they both got rejected on grounds being 'sensitive'.

The first of the two; that I list below, just displays the way that I think about certain unthinkable subjects or topics you would see elsewhere in the Sultanate's media in any form.

I urge you all to take a read at it and tell me what you all think about it and based upon that what your opinion is as to why it was rejected.

Your opinions are highly appreciated.

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

Freedom of Expression

Last year, a Royal Decree was issued stating that it is within the rights of any citizen or national of the Sultanate of Oman to express what they feel but in a peaceful manner so as not to disrupt the common daily practice of other people's lives or turn 'the situation' into a turmoil.

The move was hailed by all from the standard public citizen to the high-end local media owners, here in Oman. But, the happiness was cut-off by the Minister of Information's declaration that it does 'not allow certain stories to be published because the Omani public is still not ready to be in that open a position'. Or so it is said.

Freedom of expression may have its own set of pros and cons; being that it would eliminate the invisible security cloak that the Omani public is hooded under. It would also help the governmental and private institutions – alike – to become more transparent in its operations, its validity and loyalty from consumers and customers would both grow because people would see that these institutions are going out in the brink to serve them in terms of services, products, and news (whether or not they are listed in the Muscat Securities Market is a different issue altogether, though).It would, ultimately, lead to a more open and truth-seeking society about issues that are involved internally.

But, as with all types of change, it is a two edged sword; thus the issue of freedom of expression has to be dealt with clarification of certain rules and regulations that would regulate the information sector and in specific news in the media industry from newspapers, magazines and such.

So, what then, is the judgment to be passed down on the freedom of expression act that has been enforced?

I leave unto you, to conclude.

Linkin Park - What I've Done

This is Linkin Park's new 2007 single taken off their new album that is to debut in the month of May.

As you may notice, the video not only shows the serious approach to the song's lyrics from the band's side but also depicit photos that were deemed in the past as prohibited such as the aftermath of 9/11 on the twin towers in New York, 2001.

The song is a sure hit in my opinion for the band along with the correctly used photography images to display the seriousness and change of path that the band is uptaking.

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

Lyrics

Linkin Park - What I’ve Done

In this farewell,
There is no blood,
There is no alibi,
Cause I’ve drawn regret,
From the truth,
Of a thousands lies,
So let mercy come and wash away…

What I’ve Done,
I’ll face myself,
To cross out what I’ve become,
Erase myself,
And let go of what I’ve done…

Put to rest,
What you thought of me
While, I clean this slate,
With the hands,
Of uncertainty,
So let mercy come,
And wash away…

What I’ve Done,
I’ll face myself,
To cross out what I’ve become,
Erase myself,
And let go of what I’ve done…

For what I’ve done,
I start again,
And whatever pain may come,
Today this ends,
I’m forgiving what I’ve done…

I’ll face myself,
To cross out what I’ve become,
Erase myself,
And let go of what I’ve done…

(Na,Na,Na)

What I’ve Done,
What I’ve Done,
Forgiving what I’ve done…

why would I close this blog?

I'm hoping one day I will one day leave blogging for good.

I had hoped, when I started off, to try to make it clear to everyone that I am to set the path that none of the Omanis; moreover, the entire country; to a clear cut either black and white.

It is unfortunate that I am being set down to the standard of a low level writer to write about general issues such as life, relationships and the such without laying a finger on what the true problems in our Arab world, let alone Oman are.

I have had to adhere to such circumstances should I want to continue as a columnist in a local newspaper that I offer my contributions to - and without pay, may I add.

The ironic thing about this whole change from one standard to another is the fact that there are people who talk about worst things politically and locally that address such serious issues related to the Omani population in general with great confidence but as a beginner writer you would not be allowed to touch such topics just because they are deemed sensitive.

What is even more ironic is that I thought that the laws of the country apply to everyone in this vast land that God has offered us as mankind, yet I wake up to find out that some laws are passed out intensively whereas others - while they are issued on pieces of paper and published in the local media - are very unlikely followed just because no one is challenged enough to to do it or because others have their own personal benefits at stake and at a moment's threat will make the necessary move.

This is where my heart is now torn.

For as much as I love to write, I would rather talk about issues that matter to every woman, child and man than about issues that children in the kindergarten can do better at than I.

I am trying as much as I can to focus on the positive side here to stay sane instead of losing all logic and losing out in a one-man-battle that I couldn't possibly ever survive. That still doesn't mean that I have given in. It only means that I have been temporarily phased out - that's all - until a solution breaks out.

So, am I seriously considering closing down the blog because of this only reason?

The answer to that question would be: no.

Since I am to start a few other things along the way with the course in mind I would become extremely busy with my life's chores that I would need to keep in focus the priorities and leave out everything else that would cause or act as a distraction.

So, for that reason, you may see this blog one day deleted altogether.

the Bush administration & global warming

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

Link:

- The Economist: KAL's weekly cartoons

inspired: Besieged

The lonely child
The sigh; the whim
Say who you are
Dare you to believe?

The heart beats on
The life we live goes on
The sun shines along on pretty faces, so unique
The sadness that we belong to can no longer win

The chance of destiny
At a moment's glance
What's taken by will
Is now forgotten, for there is no stance

Thy soul is taken
Besieged
The whims of a broken soul of a man
Who had once.. believed

TimesofOman.com: Relationships are a way of life

For obvious reasons, I have had to resort to talking about general topics in the TimesofOman.com website.

As I had clearly announced earlier on, this would be the form of my articles from now on.

I regret that I have no control whatsoever over this issue.

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

Relationships are a way of life

To say that I know everything there is to know about having a relationship and how to handle such an issue would be a total lie. I am as much as confused about relationships as you are.

The common fundamental core of a relationship – whether you're in love or have a longtime childhood friend – is the issue of trust. And I have no trust in anyone no matter who they may be because in the end you only have yourself to trust to get you where you want to be. No one's more concerned for your well-being than yourself. Not your friends, not your family, and certainly not anyone you may have your eyes upon.

I'm not saying that none of those groups qualify to never have your trust ever. I'm just saying that you could never trust anyone blindly that they would carry you over to the greener side that you have always dreamed of.

Look at this way: are you friends going to do for you what's needed to be done by you and can only be done by you? Are they more caring for your issue than you are? Nobody can get the ball rolling unless you have a strong desire to reach your aspirations.

Your friends; your family and relatives; your loved ones are all there for a few reasons – one of the enlisted reasons that they would be is that they love you for you are and would change the you are for the world (that last part you might want to check with your friends, though). And it is you who brings out the you in you.

Relationships can be considered a station in your past, present and future that form your personality; your way of thinking and perhaps the way you deal with your own life. And that's what makes each and every human being on this planet special in many ways – unique, if you will.

And as much as relationships can form that happy side of our personalities, there is no high without the low. And each depends on how long you can stay patient about the casualties that you suffered during one.

I had formed many good relationships with many people I loved very dearly in my heart but they had gone and left because their time was up on this Earth. God chose them each for a purpose. People I know have come and seen me while I was hospitalized while others did not. You tend to appreciate the ones who did and forget ever again about the ones who didn't – that was the way I dealt with it.

There are people you would know from a distance and you would perhaps see in a blue moon to call them 'family'. You find yourself questioning yourself whether or not to continue the relationship or not. But no matter what decision you may make it would never change the fact that 'blood never becomes water'. So whether you despise them or love them they would still be your family.

Relationships will always be there to form a way of life. You earn friends. Other days you earn new enemies. At times you just find out new things in your life. You learn that Angels can be on Earth all the time in the form of human beings that you find glowing in your eyes and your eyes-only. And, you see the whole world so dark and bleak that you wish only for a candle to guide you back to your heart's true desire.

Relationships are a mystery by themselves just as the human mind is and is still to be explored. Yet still treasured in our hearts no matter how many stabs we get in our souls from it. We yearn for the pain to only understand the love. To me that is what a relationship is all about.

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

Link:

- Relationships are a way of life

finally

After long negotiations and tremendous patience from my side - part of my dream has become a reality.

I am finally going to get paid up by the Horizon newsletter that is distributed and published in the Sultan Qaboos University for every article (foreword or otherwise) I contribute towards the internal newsletter.

Hopefully, this would be the first step of a series of other payments coming in line for other newspapers that I would contribute to.

Massari in Lebanon's Star Academy

I posted this for two reasons:

1. For all you Massari fans to watch and drool over.
2. To show you all why there was a need to free Lebanon and other oppressed Arab lands from the hands of their occupiers'.

Because these are actually the people that will one day 'free Palestine'.

....Whatever.

Al-Baal: Women Praying &Sultan Qaboos Mosque

Shaykhspeara Sha'ira had posted some time ago a somewhat small post about how her visit to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque was, describing it from the inside and telling her experience and reminsence on how women still have no right to step into mosques where-ever they are.

I think you should all pay that post of hers a visit to have a clearer idea about it.

I still loved it, though.

----------

Link:

- Al-Baal: Women Praying & Sultan Qaboos Mosque

change

Following what has happened in the course over the last 3-4 days here on my blog and through a newspaper that I contribute to I hereby announce that there will be a change in the article's style and they would only come by every week whether on this blog or any other blog or the media.

This is in reply to the action that I am the target of because of my 'old' style beckons down to.

Hopefully you shall all like the improvement.

This is just to let you know..

progress report on insurance course

Tomorrow I have my mock IELTS exam at the college and it is that exam that would determine if I really get the whole deal on having a scholarship course in insurance to get a Diploma and Advanced Diploma in ACII.

As the TimesofOman.com reports on behalf of Mr. Ali Mohammed Bhayani, Director, Professional Studies Department at the College of Banking and Financial Studies:

"An IELTS preparation course will be held before the insurance course commences on April 14. Seventy-six students have been short-listed out of which 65 will make it to the final list. CMA will offer scholarships to 60 candidates."

Here's hope that I would succeed.

----------

Link:

- CBFS offers CII insurance courses

for those who don't know..

Freedomhouse.org reports that..

Article 29 of the Basic Law declares the rights of all Omanis to free speech, declaring, "Freedom of opinion and expression whether spoken, written, or in other forms, is guaranteed within the limits of the law"; however, restrictions exist in practice. Freedom of the press is restricted, and it is illegal to criticize the sultan in any form. Journalists, therefore, are known to practice self-censorship. Restrictions on freedom of expression and the press are applied equally to both men and women journalists and to activists in Oman.

Maybe there should be a full scale investigation of incidents whereby people's civic rights to freedom of speech in the Sultanate of Oman are violated so that the 'hypocrisy' ends?

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

Link:

- freedomhouse.org: Oman

Braveheart

I posted this video for a reason to remind everyone who lives on God's green Earth that the way we live right now is not what we would call freedom but we are chained to the world's needs from us and not the other way around.

It binds us by the gags that are put around the most basic rights that is given to us when we born: freedom of speech.

And this is only the beginning.

Just remember that.

no freedom of speech

Freedom of speech is the only thing on my mind right now.

I have been gagged by certain people because they don't understand the cause.

TimesofOman.com

The last two articles that I have sent off to the TimesofOman.com have been deferred until the next week due to their sensitivity in particular issues.

So I apologize if you find that my article for this Monday's online issue is a bit on the down-low.

If they both get approved; it would be well worth the wait.

Inshallah, they will.

My apologies in advance.

watch this

You all thought that child with the annoying laugh was really funny.

You have another thing coming.

Just make sure you're close to the bathroom when you are (watching this, that is).

Have a good one.

Horizon newsletter: Literacy or Ignorance?

The following is the article that was (or should have been) published in the English Language internal newsletter for the Sultan Qaboos University.

Do comment if you feel you have anything to add, suggest or discuss around the article's topic.

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

How many times have you heard this question: 'what kind of books do you like to read?' The new generation is being judged by what it reads and by what topics it should and should not read into.

Literacy may have been the most important topic back in the old days when the Arab and the Muslim world alike were known for their scholars and inventors in many – if not all – types of fields.

It is not subject to debate that education is a turning point for all the generations that have landed on God's green Earth. What is, though, is the matter or the measure in which it is judged.

Reading and writing have become one of the main communication methods of the 20^th and the 21^st century; so one cannot say that they are literate because they can do those two basic tasks.

The current day and age that we live in now forces itself upon us to change our definitions and perspectives of many different things. One of them being the definition of literacy, of which, can be multi-branched many a time to accommodate to one's field of choice or specialty.

You would be literate in information technology by having a good knowledge on the fundamentals of this specialization, or if you are a writer, having a broad knowledge on different cultural perspectives of civilizations, countries, leaders, poets and such.

So the question that implores is 'are you literate or ill-informed by self ignorance?'

open letter to the Creator

Hope is such a rare commodity that I am holding onto because of frailty that everytime I think I have lost it I ask that I can just hold on some more because I know one day everything can change if only I stay strong enough.

I visualize it as if I am in a hospital bed and I am having all this pain and the only thing that would bring it down is a quick stick of that needles in my veins. But that drug only gives away the feeling of false hope, something that only lasts for a minutes; hours at the best and I awake, sober, to the pain all over again.

I don't want the needle, but I don't want the pain either.

So what do I do?

Hold onto that hope for my dear life until God - Himself - decides it is my time to start loosening it up a bit on my side so I can start to live my life.

I know that I have to go through the lows before I can taste the highs. I know I have to be 'poor' now so that I can appreciate the value of money in money and not go squander it away on needless purchases here and there. I realize that I have to be sick now so that I can ask for help from nobody except from the Almighty because He alone will aid me in this difficult time, and without Him my medicine would not work nor would I be able to have the 'life' that I am able to see now before my eyes.

But what I do not understand is why do I have live it alone.

Why, dear God?

Why?

being alone

When I am alone and writing I like to be left alone so my thought pattern cannot be cut or else I will have a bad time cursing the reason; whatever it may be.

And you would you think, that when you sit in a coffee-shop with a book with your head immersed in it that you would be left alone to enjoy the world that is being created before your eyes.

Fortunately for me, this is the case with the majority of people who see me writing along by just passing by with a simple 'hello' and then on with their way - because they know that I am busy. But there's also the minority of the cases that come along and never mind you and your book, they still want to sit down with you and have a chat. Even though you're reading along quitely. Worse, even, when they chit chat with you knowing that fact and that they just want to bug you half to death with their silly interrogation-like questions just so you can pay them some attention.

Hello?

Holding book?

Head deeply immersed in?

I swear, I am having second thoughts about changing the 'favorite' venue of mine to a much quieter zone where you can have no one to disturb you and nobody to irritate you at all.

Have you ever been in such a situation?

is it too late?

So, finally Iran has come to its senses and released the British Navy crew.

One is, though, pushed to ask: what was the deal with the whole incident? Why even make such a dumb move that would only endanger the entire Middle Eastern region into nuclear warfare?

Was it a desperate attempt to seek attention from the international community? Was it to give both the UK and the USA a message that Iran does not care about what they can or cannot do no matter how many troops they might sent to the Arab and Persian Gulf?

Was it even ever in their intent to bring them in, in the first place?

So many possibilities, yet, the outcome is still one: Iran took full advantage of the situation at holding back any further development in the war path they seem to be heading down to - whether this is the case with the Persian people, is at disregard because no matter how dumbfounded a government maybe you cannot hold the same mistakes upon it's people because it had no choice but to follow or else face dyer consequences - take Iraq, for example.

Times are now both crucial and of the critical categorization because what happens in the new few weeks shall change the demography of the Middle Eastern history altogether for a lifetime for all of us.

May we all get through this in one intact piece.

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Link:

- Iran releases British sailors

Live Free Or Die Hard

The best thing about this movie is that they dumped Britney Spears as Maclain's daughter.

Otherwise you'd have her in the movie going in the walkie talkie "Oops, Daddy, I did it again".

comes out this summer

inspired: Lie of our Life

I wrote this poem after reading a few pages from Kahlil Gibran's collection of books into one.

Please let me know what you all think of this particular one.
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The choices we are given
The lives we make
The noblest of measures
The tides we break

The choice of life
The wondering breeze
The tree we were shook from
The dying leaves

The sunshine in the sky
The sky; the air
The days we lie
The past we forget

The forgotten rose
Of salty soil
Of ideas we make
And battles emboiled

The risk to be found
The security we seek
The process we search for
In darkness, so bleak

The light of the wind
The gust of the air
The chances, so slim
In passion, we are flared

The curtain closes down
The actors go home
To another new day
We dream - to which - we belong

This is the lie of our life

Kahlil Gibran - The Greatest Works of..

My good friend lent me a book that contains the 12 Greatest Workings of Kahlil Gibran.

I took a few looks at it and it looked promising to me since I am not that much of a reader. I started reading it and went on to finish a part of 'The Prophet'.

I had read that much and I thought it was absolutely amazing.

My friend had lent me the book because they thought that it was similar to my line of poetry writing in my first two books - Rapidly Blue & Wonderous World. I can see why they saw it that way, one look at the way Gibran wrote in 'The Prophet' and it was astoundingly similar.

It seems I have been deemed - unknowingly - a student of the Gibran school of poetry.

Move over Shakespeare.

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Kahlil Gibran on Reason and Passion:

"And the priestess spoke again and said: 'Speak to us of Reason and Passion.'

And he answered saying:

Your soul is oftentimes a battlefield, upon which your reason and your judgment wage war against passion and your appetite.

Would that I could be the peacemaker in your soul, that I might turn the discord and the rivalry of your elements into oneness and melody.

But how shall I, unless you yourselves be also the peacemakers, nay, the lovers of all your elements?

Your reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul.

If either your sails or our rudder be broken, you can but toss and drift, or else be held at a standstill in mid-seas.

For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.

Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion; that it may sing;

And let it direct your passion with reason, that your passion may live through its own daily resurrection, and like the phoenix rise above its own ashes.

I would have you consider your judgment and your appetite even as you would two loved guests in your house.

Surely you would not honour one guest above the other; for he who is more mindful of one loses the love and the faith of both.

Among the hills, when you sit in the cool shade of the white poplars, sharing the peace and serenity of distant fields and meadows - then let your heart say in silence, 'God rests in reason.'

And when the storm comes, and the mighty wind shakes the forest, and thunder and lightning proclaim the majesty of the sky, - then let your heart say in awe, 'God moves in passion.'

And since you are a breath In God's sphere, and a leaf in God's forest, you too should rest in reason and move in passion."

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Links:

- Poet: Kahlil Gibran - All poems by Kahlil Gibran

the truth, the whole truth and nothing but..

Have you all come to notice that the type of news we always find in Omani media is always either prehistoric or just some form of junk that is pathetic and useless?

It's always and forever the type of news that we find in the BBC, CNN, or whatever news medium we use to get our information except that it's late.

At one point in time newspapers were complaining about bad sales and asked for help. As I know of it (correct me anyone if I screw up here), the government obliged by pushing up their sales to make an indirect sales order but if you looked at it in the media's books it appears as 'help' from the only source in town with that kind of cash around.

There was also the action back in the 90s of the last century when foreign newspaper sales were delayed a whole half a day on the news-stand to help the local news media take advantage of the situation and 'someone' whistling and walking around peacefully behind them.

Are you telling me that that's the type of compeition we are expecting to see?

It's no wonder that we don't have freedom of speech in this country (even this is enforced by law through a royal decree as of last year) but the authorities explain that this is only that the people of Oman are still not ready for this move just yet.

Whose to say?

When you take away the solid truth based by facts, what else have you got to live on?

Seriously, people - think about it.

wreckage and havoc in MQ

I had recorded this from Al Madina Plaza here in Madinat Qaboos after stepping in after a day's absence from the area.

It looked like an earthquake had hit the place more than a disaster area.

How could anyone leave a place so badly done like this? What if someone got hurt?

Personally, I want an explanation from the foreman.

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Update: Please wait before viewing this video. YouTube is still processing the video. When it becomes available, you will all be notified. Apologies.

2nd Update: Video now is available.

somebody find this kid

...because I want to smack him silly.

Idiot.

any volunteers?

The group I assembled to work on the project for the similar 'Red Nose Day' fund-raising event is having a major hiccup because everyone seems to be busy in their business; job; or own project.

So I am opening the door to people who would like to have a role in make such a fund-raising event a day that would be remembered for ayons.

The most essential characteristics would be:
- Great time-management skills.
- Good communication skills.

Other key features that need to be included:
- Languages: English (both reading and writing), Arabic would be a plus.
- Nationality: can be any nationality, it doesn't matter.
- Experience in dealing in Public Relations.
- Valid driving license.
- Preferably between the ages of 20-30. But will not obstruct in the face of talent that is either younger or older.

Please bear in mind, that since this is a charity project, the entire scheme of things is voluntary therefore, there would be no payment whatsoever, as payments is the happy smile you see on a child's face. Lame; yes, I know. But these are my rules.

One more thing, this fund raising event will be to raise money for the NACA - National Association for Cancer Awareness in Azaiba.

So, do you feel you have it?

Email me (click on the link on the right hand side blog roll - 'email me') or leave a comment here expressing your interest and your experience in terms of qualifications.

deadline: 14th April, 2007 - 5pm

no more anonymouses

I said I would do it.

People who left stupid and hurtful comments by saying stuff that had no relation whatsoever to the content of this blog have no excuse whatsoever.

You've all been blocked out.

Only registered users can now comment on this blog. If you were going by a nickname which was not registered, please do so now to be able to continue commenting on this here blog.

It is to those latter group of people I apologize for the inconvience that I am putting them through. But believe me it was no easy decision.

Please try to understand.

fever be gone

I have been under the weather since the beginning of this week with a somewhat high fever and loss of appetite.

Some of the folks have speculated that this is because I could be psychologically fighting within between two desires with this insurance course and my writing. Others just said that it's probably due to the change in weather pattern we've had in Muscat over the past few days.

Either way.

This is not something that I will allow to stop me from going on full steam ahead with my plans.

TimesofOman.com: Rage on the roads

My new article has been published in TimesofOman.com website.

The article is under the title: Rage on the roads.

Feel free to comment on it and to express your views as you want but in a constructive manner.

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Rage on the roads


Let's just ask ourselves – in all honesty – if the 'road rage' issue has deterred over the past years in any way. We still see people who drive their cars as if they were in a race between life and death. Petrol tankers that over-speed their allowed limits just to overtake other 'slow' traffic so that they can meet their deadlines with a 'How's my driving?' sign printed on their backs. It's as if the radar cameras that were installed all over the Sultanate are there for the sake of sightseers.

The problem with automobile drivers in the Sultanate is that there is a fear of the law rather than the demanded respect that is much needed. People flash by radar cameras if there were no police vehicles to stop them in that part of the road. But place a police car in that same place and all of a sudden everyone on the road becomes a law-abiding and obedient driver on that part of the highway or service road.

This kind of misbehavior is not just restricted to the highways but also to the service roads where drivers act like they own the road flashing their full lights to overtake other God-fearing folk and possibly causing irreparable and sometimes fatal damage to any other vehicles coming in the opposite direction.

The Royal Oman Police has done its best and more to try to stop the situation from escalating. But you still see people from both genders violating basic road laws like talking on their mobile phones; or not wearing their seatbelts; or having their lights switched off at night-time; and changing lanes without indicating to which direction they are heading.

It's these simple basic mistakes that the public, in general – without restriction of one nationality to another – commit these road crimes.

So how do we solve this problem?

Obviously, the people who are caught in this 'road rage' business are the types who are foolish enough to endanger not only their own lives but also the lives of their fellow drivers, bystanders and even pedestrians alike.

One solution could be is to constantly monitor all the major roads that have a high ratio of accidents (i.e.: both highways and service roads). A new culture must be adapted into the driving license acquisition process, with more stringent examination methods to allow the individual who applied for it to learn to respect the law as well as to fear it by not crossing over the allowed borders.

In the end, these are mere recommendations to this dilemma that the Sultanate is going through that could be fit enough to be a solution. But the decision – ultimately – is up to the authorities to decide upon.

(The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of timesofoman.com)

what gives?

Apparently, I have people talking about me behind my back, in a matter of speaking and I didn't know about it until tonight (today, or when-ever you're reading this).

There's been three posts about me, and I haven't quite understood if they were of a supportive or a negative nature.

Perhaps, you could help me out.

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Links:

- Balqis in Wonderland: Dear Kishor

- Balqis in Wonderland: My Views

- Balqis in Wonderland: (The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of timesofoman.com)

a Garfield a day, keeps the boredom away

I swear.

If it wasn't for Garfield and me; then this world would have been a really boring place to be.

thoughts

Tomorrow I'm starting my new course with a workshop that'll have me locked up there from 9am to 7pm on intensive English language lessons in ELTS. Can you believe that I actually have to go through with this? I'm not saying my English is perfect but its not excatly the type that is widely spoken by the Omani nationals.

I'm considering it a pass-by event. A very long event.

We met up on the charity project that I mentioned in one of my posts that includes fund raising for charitable cause in a fun way through awareness. The most likely candidate is the NACA - the National Association for Cancer Awareness.

We've still got a lot on our hands to start with; we're moving slowly yet steadily.

TheWeek doesn't seem like it wants to post my 2nd article for some reason as I had sent them it some 3 weeks back and emailed them various times and still no reply. I still hold hope in that department, though.

I am going to be also working on two poetry book projects that includes translation of Rapidly Blue and Wonderous World into one Arabic poetry anthology. It seems more appropriate this way because the Omani market has more taste for Arabic books than of ones in the English language.

The second book project that is currently under the title The Dying Days will be the last of the Rapidly Blue anthology. Aiming to put an end to all the misery that I have had in my entire lifetime for once and for all.

Both book projects will take a long time to develop, so don't expect them anytime soon.

And I guess that takes care of my thoughts for this evening..

Ocean's 13

What would you do if robbed several casinos with heightened security that is impossible to penetrate and has an evil mob boss behind the chairman's desk?

I hope they don't make an Ocean's 14 - 14 is such an unlucky number. :P

does stupidity grow on trees?

It's not been 2 or 3 weeks since the demise of those two young quad-bikers from a fatal accident here in Muscat. Everyone in the capital felt the blow from royalties to simple folk such as you and I. And we all thought that by now those young bikers who still rent or own such a bike would either take them back to the dealer's or perhaps picked a better spot to enjoy the sport in a safe and unfatal environment like a sand dune in Azaiba or Bowshar.


But this was not the case.

Wednesday and Thursday saw the 'gang' roll over the cycle all over again. And yet again, drivers and pedestrians as well as the riders themselves were the prey of the asphalt roads and its mercy on their ill-geared bodies and minds.

How ironic it was to see an advertisement issued for the public by theweek basically targetting the issue by saying 'there is a time and place for everything'. Unfortunately, though, it fell upon blind eyes and deaf ears.

I for one will uptake the fight at an even stronger level. Clearly the petition that was distributed electronically over the web was insufficient to drive the authorities to make a case of such irratic and irrational behavior.

So, this is my propostion to you.

If you should see one of these quad bikers, honk as loud as you can. Make the whole neighborhood aware that danger lurks on their streets. If you pass by a police vehicle on the same street, pull them over and report the incident and make sure they do something about it they are there to protect and to serve. Conduct a community service programme that tackles this very issue through awareness by media, pamphlets, posters and even big advertisements.

Nothing will be done unless this community takes a strong stance.

walking on very thin ice

What Iran has come to do after the escalation from a US stand off for a potential war on the state by capturing 15 seamen off the Gulf of Iran was stupid and uncalled for.

If this is to be translated into anything, it would be 'come and get them' and that would be by taking the Bull by its horns.

I was one who was hoping that things would not end up to become to the situation that it is of now; by bringing in the international community and sentencing Iran to oblivion - in a matter of speaking. They may have the nuclear capabilities, but they're not only inviting the entire world to a stand off by their irrational and baby-like behavior but they are also going to bring in the world into the GCC a future so glim and gloomy that God only knows how it would end.

Nuclear winter, perhaps?

What does the future hold from now on?

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Links:

- Iran releases new 'Turney letter'

- Iran airs second sailor 'apology'

technology shmology

The reason why I haven't been able to update as regurlaly as I used to for today's posts is because I've had to stay up the whole again to reformat my laptop again.

I swear, it's times like these that I wish I had a human punching bag.

Anyone want to volunteer?

PS: I'll be back during the daytime to update some posts so be sure to check back very soon.

bloggers threatened

There's been several cases of bloggers being threatened by death or injury just because of their views on their blogs.

One person, a female blogger has had some 900 ill-comments on her blog and 300 personal emails delivered to her email inbox all either containing sexual, threatening or racist comments against her for her views. Leading her to rethink if it is really all worth it.

As the BBC reports on behalf of Tim O'Reily that there needs to be a code of conduct enforced in the blogshpere by the bloggers themselves and not through some government or external organization lest they want to lose the freedom of talking freely.

The question that is being raised here, though, is, if you were in her shoes, what would you do?

What is your opinion?

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Link:

- Call for bloggers code of conduct

Prince of Persia: Ghost of the Past

And yes. It's been finally announced by Ubisoft that the new next-generation game in the new trilogy for our beloved Prince of Persia is going to be dubbed Prince of Persia: Ghost of the Past.

Don't ask me where they got the name from or why or who or when. The point is that this game is due to come this September. So, people get your PS3s rumbling and those joysticks toggling.

Here's an excerpt from IGN about the game:

"The plagued prince returns in his first next-gen adventure. Ubisoft has planned a number of adjustments to the series, with a new design for the prince, a new armored gauntlet with incredible powers, and a renewed focus on platforming and physical challenges rather than fighting.

NOTE: This game has been confirmed as a title in production, but exact platform releases have not been confirmed. Please check back for official info."

The artwork is similar to the soundtrack trilogy pack and can be found on Play.com.

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Links:

- Blogger's entrance: At nine, I was in love with a prince

- Play.com: Prince of Persia: Ghost of the Past

- IGN: Prince of Persia Next-Gen [Untitled]

what does Muscat actually need?

Muscat Municipality has agreed in a meeting headed by His Excellency Abdullah Abass that amongst its list of things that need to be done is the chance to determine the best locations to establish night markets and new commercial districts in Muscat.

While this is a much commendable move on behalf of the Municipality; it still occurs to me that there a number of matters that need to be addressed before that strategy is implemented.

One of which is - with the co-operation of the Royal Oman Police - to find a suitable answer for the ever growing number of vehicles that run on Omani roads and the increased number of fatalities that happen due to recklessness of the drivers for various reasons, and last but not least, the bottleneck situations that we still find ourselves in despite the road alterations and expansions along with future flyover additions.

Besides that issue; why does Muscat need to have night markets?

It might seem like a wonderful idea from a tourism perspective but taking a look at it more broadly you'll find that its just an implementation of an idea of having something like an open-air complex that strides from one end to another in one commercial area.

And the last thing Oman needs is another commercial centre (read: Dubai). Most of the tourists that come over to Oman look for the nature, the quite atmosphere and the relaxing getaway from the town buzz, and what is being done right now is a policy of destroying that image particularly in the environment sense of things (please read post - theweek: In The Name of Development).

There is a fine line between development and crossing the border, that much must be said.

If there is going to be a development here in Muscat, then why not create a natural park with something that a person can come to learn from while having a stroll and buy cultural items on the way. It pleases both the young and the old in whichever angle you may look at it.

Why is there always a need to make another income moneymaker at the price of losing out on something that is oh so more than priceless?

Prophet's Birthdate

It has been announced that Saturday will be a holiday for both the public and private sectors to commemorate the birth date of the Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him).

I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone on this joyous occasion, hoping that you will take the lessons that the Prophet (PBUH) had sacrificed for all the Arab Muslim population to learn from.

Happy holidays.

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Link:

- Saturday is a holiday for Prophet (PBUH) birth-date

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time - the movie

Disney Studios has finally announced the different movies projects that it will start on for the following years to come, such as Toy Story 3; National Treasure: Book of Secrets; and most importantly - for me, anyhow - Prince of Persia: Sands of Time.

The Prince of Persia movie will be a solid trilogy following the new adventures from the actual game maker Jordan Mechner that was developed alongside the infamous video games company; Ubisoft.

The movie will be co-produced by Disney studios and Jerry Bruckheimer.

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Link:

- Disney making 'Prince of Persia' film


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Update: Blogger went and deleted the images and this was the only one left. I offer my apologies.