10 Reasons why it's great to live in Dubai

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Dubai has been the subject of gazillion news items in for several years now. Ranging from articles written in owe of the huge progress and growth the city experienced, to the bashing of its policies and it's "supposed" decline. Nevertheless, everybody agrees that the buzz this city created throughout the world is unmatched in the region, and in fact many regions across the world. 


Reflecting on my five years I spent in this city, prompted by a discussion with a friend who finally decided to go back home, I decided to share with everyone some of the reasons why I, and many like me I would argue, consider Dubai to be one of the best places to live.

10. Business

Despite all what the doubters say, and indeed despite of the mistakes Dubai committed during its astronomically fast growth, it remains a perfect hub in the region. Let's face it. Dubai has the infrastructure needed to be the link between the East and the West. It also has what it takes to be the starting point for a regional and international business. 


A huge airport, and a first class airliner, in Emirates, gives Dubai the privilige of being the perfect highway people can take travelling anywhere in the world through this region. Numerous Free Zones catering to the needs of multinational companies provides a perfect home for regional offices and logistic centres. Free zones like Jabal Ali, Internet City, Media City, Knowledge Village, Healthcare City, Dubai International Financial Centre cater to numerous business segments and model.


It's also equally important that Dubai historically doesn't mix business with politics. This is most clear in the huge trade volume between UAE and Iran despite of the differences the two countries have, and the ongoing occupation of two UAE islands by Iran. Therefore, you won't  worry that one day the ruler will wake up on the wrong side of his bed one day and decide that certain country nationals are no longer allowed to enter the country, or conduct business in it. 

9. Weather
Europeans are in love with Dubai. The reason being that for a period of six month you constantly live under sunshine and temperatures ranging from 19 to 29 throughout the day. It's the perfect recipe. Perfect weather with a lot of sunshine that will significantly wipe off most of the reasons you might think of to be depressed. The only reason weather is not ranking higher than 9, is that for 4 months during the summer the weather is very unpleasant.

8. Mobility 
For many of us, who are not blessed with having a passport stating in one way or another that your are not a terrorist, or not an illegal immigrant, living in Dubai gives you a great deal of mobility. Your visit visa is less likely to be rejected if you are planning for a vacation in Europe for example. Apparently, they believe that if you live in Dubai, then you have a good job and no good reason to runaway or go and kill yourself somewhere! So, if you are a Lebanese, Jordanian, Syrian, Egyptian, Iranian or from any of the other doomed countries, your chances of being able to travel are better off if you live in Dubai than if you live in your own country. Suffice to say, you are more likely to be able to afford it if you have a job in Dubai, in most cases.


Equally important is that of all the countries in the Gulf Region that offers financial stability and career opportunities, Dubai as part of the UAE offers the greatest level of freedom to expats. You don't need your sponsor's approval to go on a vacation, and if you want you can leave for a 2-day trip on a weekend without the need to request your passport from the company because you are entitled to have it with you at all times. Trivial you might think. But if you live in Saudi or Qatar you will know what I mean.

7. Safety
This is not to say that Dubai is the safest place on earth, or that crimes don't happen in here. But if you are familiar with cosmopolitans, you will notice the difference in Dubai. Whether a male or a female, you will notice that you can walk almost anywhere in the city at three o'clock in the morning without fear of being attacked or hassled. You can leave your car running, apartment open, laptop bag on a chair in a coffee shop and you are sure that they will be untouched by the time you come back. This is in large due to the fact that UAE has a strict policy of deportation of criminals, as well as the fact that most residents are professionals who are benefiting from their presence in the city and they don't want to jeopardize that fact.

6. Freedom
Whether you are Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, atheist or a follower of any other religion in the world, you have the freedom to practice your religion. The city has several churches and Hindu temples. Christmas is celebrated in a similar fashion like Eid, and Diwali is equally as important. 


In Dubai you can choose to be conservative or a liberal. You can wear hijab and you can wear shorts. You can relax on the beach in your bikini, and you can set there dressed in a proper islamic costume. Alcohol is available in hotels, clubs and bars for those who drink. If you are a non-Muslim you can acquire a liquor license and have your own alcohol stock at home. The bottom line is, as long as you don't abuse it, and start getting crazy or intimate in the streets, no one will bother you. You do your own thing, as long as you are not publicly disrespecting the country's traditions and values. 

5. Luxury
Everything in Dubai was built to reflect a life of luxury. From hotels to malls. Streets to parks. Public transportation to cars. Everything is new and done neatly. You can drive an SUV while you'll be dreaming about it in Europe. You can own a Porsche, while you would only call it a DREAM car elsewhere. Even in the metro, you can have your gold section tickets and commute as if you are on board a world class airliner. 

4. Services and Facilities
If you are a European, you will know deep in your heart, even if you don't admit it, that Dubai provides a world class service in most aspects of life. All your bills and transactions can be done online. If you pay a handsome some of money for an apartment, you get your pool, Sauna, gym, security, facility management and parking with it. No compromises. Barring International City and Discovery Gardens, you always get value for your money. More so now that rents have went down to a more realistic and acceptable levels. 


Gas stations are malls. business buildings are fully equipped, and almost everybody have their delivery services. Dubai residents are spoiled to the point of laziness when it comes to services, and people love it. 

3. Activites
If you are an outdoor activities' fan then Dubai is the place to be. Walking, cycling, golfing, fishing, sailing, windsurfing, desert activities, fresh water activities and beach & sea activities. The facilities are available. You can always join a club or a community or do it on your own. 


skiing, ice skating and bird watching. When in the desert, you can take the pleasure of activities like camel safari and desert jeep safari.

You can enjoy the sea with activities like scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, parasailing and deep sea fishing

Team Sports? No problem. Some popular outdoor games are ball games like football, Basketball, Volleyball and Rugby.

2. Events
One of the most interesting things about Dubai is that you always have a feeling that there is something going on. It's true that the buzz went down a little bit after the crisis, but this normal even if you go anywhere else in the world. 


Concerts and tournaments. Art galleries and plays. Fashion shows and exhibitions. The cultural agenda in Dubai is always full, and you can count on a dozen of big time events every year that will break you routine and give you a taste of how life is all over the world. In the past few month Nickelback and Sting were here. Soon David Guetta will play in Dubai, preceded by Kelly Rowland. Bands like The Killers, Coldplay, Scorpions performed in Dubai. The Dubai Movie festival is an annual event. Circus de Soleil is a regular fixture. Car, Technology, Healthcare, arts and architecture events take place all the time. In simple words, you will not be bored. 

1. Multicultural Taste
In a world destined to shrink further into a tiny village, Dubai has taken the lead in becoming the melting pot of different cultures from all over the world, and definitely the only place in the middle east that practically lives the global village dream. 


It's not abnormal to be sitting on a table with 10 people from 10 different culture and be able to call them friends. This unique experience helps you get out of your box. Learn to understand people in a different way that the one you were made to understand through TV and mainstream media. Dubai gives you the chance to meet people from different religions and social background, and serves as a bridge that helps people see beyond stereotypes. It's a given that through mingling with different cultures you create this panoramic view of life, and learn as you go about what matters and what doesn't. You become more adaptable to change. More flexible in dealing with the other. You learn about what's important to people and what they hold important to their heart and values, and this to me is the greatest thing about this city.

Messi 3 Valencia 0

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This is to let you know, in case you didn't already, that Messi played against Valencia today and won the match 3 goals to nothing.

Messi waited till the second period to score all of the three goals. The first came after he ran rings around Valencia defenders! The second in a trademark Messi-esque fashion. Incisive run that cut through the defence before curling a shot to the keeper's right. The third with a cheeky mini-loop that confused Cesar. Messi's contribution didn't only stop here. Out of 4 yellow cards for Valencia, Messi was behind 3, plus a red card for double booking. So yes, Messi defeated Valencia three goals to nothing

Let it be known that Messi is the current leading scorer in La Liga with 22 goals, 5 goals ahead of Villa, his closest rival. Also, he is the Assist leader with 9 assists.

Oh, and by the way, Barcelona played along side Messi on a couple of occasions.

Dubai from the 29th floor this morning

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A perfect view to start your day with!

An Advice to all Arab/ Muslim bloggers

Retweet this button on every post blogger You don't realize how little accuracy there is in network TV reporting until they cover a story in your hometown.  ~Robert Brault


I came across this post about a dog. As I understand, a guy did something nice to a dog, and as a result he deserves to be praised. 


Accidently, the guy who did the good deed is an Israeli. The outcome of the story is 25 comments so far. Ranging from complaining about Zionist Propaganda, to ranting about those who think it's a Zionist Propaganda and believe that it was only about a dog.


I personally have no problem with the post, and I didn't actually read it. But I read the subsequent post and the comments that it received and I would like to lend "Ange" the writer, and the rest of the Arab/ Muslim bloggers an advice. After all, it's free of charge, and the best thing about it is that you can totally ignore it. 


What is the most powerful weapon in the world? A nuclear bomb? A hydrogen bomb? No, I strongly believe that Media, in all its forms and shapes, is the biggest weapon of our time. As Arabs and Muslims, we clearly lack in this department. We are not powerful or influential. We don't own huge network channels like CNN, FOX, SKY, BBC or the rest. In many cases we lost wars before they even began. I'm not only talking about wars carried out by tanks and guns, and aiming at winning a territory or some natural resource. I'm referring to public opinion, and the way people look at us.


Now, if I came across Ange's post, I would have probably read it, and kept browsing without leaving a comment. I have my reasons not to leave a comment, but this is just me. However, some people were a little annoyed by the post and they made it clear in their comments. I understand why they felt so. Ange got offended, and extremely defensive. I also understand that. 


Sorry about the long introduction, but I had to put things in the right context. 


The problem, I think, is that there is always subtext to the things we write. or they write. Few weeks ago, when disaster hit Haiti, people across the world felt it. Countries and NGO's from across the globe sent aid. Either in the form of man power, clothes, medicine, food or Money. As I was watching CNN for a full day, there was one story that kept being repeated and repeated. I think it was a woman, maybe a man, who was saved from under the rubble. Her family and neighbours were ecstatic. Happy to have him/her back, which I totally I understand and respect. That person was a victim, and he/she deserved all the help possible. Then you have images of the local crowd chanting the name of the country where the crew who did the rescue come from. "Good job Israel, Good job Israel". This is the same Israel who is still killing, abusing and starving Palestinians while the world is watching. This is the same country that still illegally occupies the land of other people. This, of course, takes nothing from the good job the Israeli rescuers did, and we applaud them for that. But the question that baffled a lot of people like me I'm sure was, why all the emphasis on Israel? Why didn't CNN show the good jobs done by France, Germany, Cuba, Japan, Brazil or any of the other countries? I'm sure there were others? 


It's a world of propaganda. It serves to polish the image. They say, you are as good as your last deed, and therefore whatever you have done, especially if not covered by the media, will be wiped off by a good thing you did, which gets tirelessly and relentlessly repeated. 


The problem those guys had with your post is that you applauded and act of humanity an Israeli did towards an animal. While they believe that this same person, or the regime he comes from will NOT extend the same act of humanity to Palestinian humans. They got tired of the overwhelming propaganda about how good Israelis are, and how evil and violent Arabs are. They see this post as another serving in the plate of good deeds of the Zionists. 


Once a newspaper touches a story, the facts are lost forever, even to the protagonists.  ~Norman Mailer


To be clear, I don't agree with those who posted comments on that post simply because they have probably pushed the post up the Technorati, delicious, bloglines, twitter.. etc rankings! Making it more visible to the world. Clearly this might be good for the blog hosting it, but for all the wrong reasons. 


If a TV network wanted to feature this story on one of its shows, it will probably be something like this: "A post about an Israeli man who takes good care of a sick dog draws scathing attacks from Arabs and Muslims in an anti-semitic wave. The post written by an Australian woman, A catholic turned Muslim through marriage, sparked attacks on her for showing sympathy towards Jews. We were not able to interview or get a picture of the writer apparently because her Muslim husband doesn't want her to show her photo on her blog."


How does that sound? Good? I don't think so. Neither for the blogger, nor for the commenters. She will sound like an oppressed convert, and they will sound like mindless and angry terrorists. I know she says that she doesn't write about Palestine, because she has nothing to add. But it was surprising to see how much she had to say explaining the difference between Jews and Zionists. How there are good Jews as well as bad ones. She is definitely right, but this discussion only serves to add fuel to the fire and emphasizes the difference between what she supposedly represents as moderate oppressed convert, and what they present as angry and racist Arabs and Muslims. She could've ignored those comments, or simply deleted them. They could've skipped by the post and let it be. We often shoot ourselves in the foot, and then make things worse while we try to correct the wrongs that we have done. I know she is an animal lover, but had she looked beyond the dog, she would've picked a different story. After all, there are humans all over the world who at the very least are as kind to humans as they are to animals. As one of the commenters, Femme I think, said she wished her family received at the Gaza crossing a treatment as good as the one offered to a bug! It's her own experience, it's her pain and millions like her. She has the right to be angry, she has the right to complain about it, and she has the right to hate because of it! She is human after all. I don't hear people anyone complaining about the never ending milking of the Holocaust story! It happened more than sixty years ago by the Germans under the watch of the Europeans. Until now any criticism of Israel is an anti-semitic act, and whoever questions the actual event of the Holocaust or the mere magnitude of it is criminalized and accused of anti-semitism! And the worst part is that Palestinians are paying for it. They don't seem to get tired of connecting everything to the Holocaust, and it doesn't look like people mind it! In fact, they still feel guilty. Then why are people surprised that Palestinians are also obsessed with their own ordeal?  


it's a complicated issue indeed. There is always sub-text. There is always something that will be taken out of context to get back at you, and bite you. We don't have the media. We are not the ones writing history in these times. 


I urge you to be careful. If you want to write something about Palestine. Please be careful. Please look at it both ways. We have enough people questioning our religion and our rights. It does more harm than good to have people questioning the despair and frustration others feel. If you didn't understand it, then who will? And if you want to write about animals, food, music, culture or anything else you want, be careful where that might lead. Watch out for the conversations on your blog. Don't let it divert and lead to where nobody wants it to lead. At least nobody we care about. Nobody who knows what we are all about. 


It's an advice. You can take it, and you can leave it.


People can, and will mutate the truth. Use it to their own good. Propaganda is built to brainwash people, and if you are not there... You never really know the truth.


If one morning I walked on top of the water across the Potomac River, the headline that afternoon would read:  "President Can't Swim."  ~Lyndon B. Johnson


That's all I have to say

Pepsi World Cup Commercial: Messi, Kaka, Drogba, Lampard, Henry, Arshavin

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This is one cool commercial! Messi's part is so authentic! I also have to say, what a creative method to win a game :)

Dubai: Wind of Change

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I guess you don't really believe in the Global Weather Change until you see it yourself.



Dubai experienced a wet and windy weather that has almost never happened. Especially in February!



But it was a cool change!

Consumer Tip: Sharaf DG

Retweet this button on every post blogger This is for all of you who occasionally shop for gadgets and electronic stuff.



Some time circa 2007 or 2008 a new retailer opened in UAE, and from what I understand it has similar retail outlets around the GCC and maybe even beyond. This retailer is Sharaf DG, or in some cases Sharaf Digital. The main slogan of Sharaf DG was/ is that we have everything, and that if we don't have it we give it to you for free. I personally have a serious issue with this slogan, because It's so darn obvious, but this is something I'll get to later.



Sharaf DG is well known for having a huge variety of products, and with surprisingly cheaper prices than anybody else! Jacky's, Jumbo, Axiom and the rest. Numerous experiences and stories have helped me to reach to the bottom of the story and understand the trick. PARALLEL INPUT, or as some would said Parallel Market. Now, what does that mean?



It means that when a new product is introduced into the market like iPhone, Blackberry or Windows Vista, what happens is that Sharaf DG gets these products from other markets in huge quantities and sells it 5-10cheaper here. It sounds good, but when you think that those products were not manufactured for this region a blip should sound because it really makes a difference.



How?!



Take iPhone. Apple manufactured iPhone and sold it in a way to make sure a unit is intended for a specific market, and that this unit can only be serviced in that specific market. Meaning, an iPhone sold in Spain can only be serviced in Spain. Even the iPhone dealer will tell you that he can not touch it, and that the software needs to be unlocked in that country. Furthermore, if you tried to download iTunes on your PC to use it with this iPhone, it will only be the Spanish version. Now, what the smart guys at Sharaf DG did is that they got the iPhone from Europe before it was introduced to the region, and sold it with no Arabic support and no warranty. One incident I know about was when my friend bought the iPhone, and in two days the Wi Fi was not functioning. Practically reducing the mobile into a nice looking toy since you lose all the functionalities that depend on the internet. Sharaf DG said they are not responsible and that they can't fix it!



Another example is a Dell laptop that I purchased with Windows Vista. Make no mistake, the system started hanging and slowing down the very next day . Sharaf DG pulls out a big disclaimer with the warranty, which they don't give to you except in a form of a receipt, that excludes practically anything, saving probably if the laptop exploded in your face.



One more example is the Blackberry Curve 8900. Interestingly, this smartphone is already in the market and endorsed and locked by Etisalat and Du! However, Sharaf DG went and got it from a different region, arabized locally, and unlocked it for use on both carriers. This means that the manufacturer's warranty is automatically revoked. They are selling it now for 150 derham less than other retailers. The Warranty is local by Sharaf DG, and the BB reads but doesn't write arabic script.



This means that most of these products are not supported by the manufacturer. They are warranted by Sharaf DG, and the service is dependent on the craftiness of their service agents. Some examples of this craftiness include, advising my friend to update the software on the iPhone and once he did it and the phone stopped receiving calls they advised him to de-install the upgrade. Also, re-installing the same windows from the same CD on my Dell when they decided that it's a software problem, only for the problem to get worse and then they throw their arms in the air as to say; FIGURE IT OUT YOURSELF.



Bottom line is that their prices are up to 10% lower than the market, but the risk your run is much higher.



Now going back to their slogan " If we don't have it, you can get it for free ". How on earth are you going to give me something you don't have! I tried this one as well, and unsurprisingly the guy said; sorry Sir but we can give you something similar, and NOT for free.



Whoever was the marketing guru they hired to come up with this slogan probably had in mind two things: coming up with the biggest marketing lie, and that consumers in this region are idiots and easily fooled.



My verdict is that I'm not going to buy from them if my life depended on it.

Half-Baked Ideas: Life, Raising Kids, and Arab's Memory

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Of Life and Expectations.

Life happens in a very random way. It's somehow depressing yet refreshing to know that your plans will most likely fall apart. So my advice is never plan farther than a year or two. Don't assume or expect. Things and people change. Life twists and turns in weird ways. One of your best friends will be someone who you haven't seen for 10 years. People you had many things in common with will soon drift and others will replace them. Places you planned to settle in might be the places you send postcards to, and those you used to send to might be your new home.

Raising kids

This advice comes with a great deal of credibility. Mainly because I'm single and have no kids, and so, I'm free of all inhibitions and psychotic protective behaviors.

if you want your kid to be more successful than you are when he/ she grows up, as a rule of thumb, they should be different from you!

Unless you want them to be copy cats and bad re-runs, you should unleash them and let them do their thing in their own way. 

More successful means not the same as you are. It means different. 

On Arabs' Memory. 

 In general terms, Arabs don't have a big interest in their own personal history. Interestingly, we more than anybody else tend to retain the biggest stock of our cultural history, and in many cases take it with us, oh so romantically, to the grave.

We are not big on birthdays and anniversaries. We don't usually celebrate milestones, and we definitely have a thing against pictures. You are unlikely to find an Asian who doesn't have a dozen pictures of himself in the cradle, whereas you can find many Arabs who don't even remember how they looked when they were young.

It's probably a reflection of what's going on on the political scene in our era. We celebrate our long and glorious history, but we rarely take actions on our current events or celebrate our successes, if there was any to celebrate anyway!

Chapter 3: Jordanians " The Hair Shirts "

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THE HAIR SHIRTS


You need a Polo shirt, Diesel Jeans, Clarks shoes, and a Breitling. You need a BMW or an SUV, a BB, a so-called exquisite taste, and a 5-number car plate. These are the pre-requisites to the League of Extraordinary men and women. If you have the pre-requisites, then you're eligible for entry.
Self-haters who denounce everything around them. Jordanians by virtue of a document, and if given the chance they'll be anything but. They claim superiority to a world that fed them. They are disgusted by a nation that never stopped giving them. To them, this country can't do anything right. As the movie of the Jordanian life flickers before there eyes they fail to see anything but the black spots and the hidden signatures. They've succumbed to the notion that their survival stems from their distance from this society. They welcome foreigners with a cry for help. They'll bash everything they see to overcome their insecurities, and lack of self-respect.
they're overwhelmed with reality. Oblivious to the concept of classes. Everyone needs to be Upper Class. You need to get your morning coffee at Starbucks, watch your movies at Zara Center's, have your Shisha in Lemon, and NOT read your books in Books@cafe. You're unrecognizable to them if your net worth of apparel covering your body is less than 200 JD. They'll sing Odes of the wonders of the countries they visited, and compare it to the nothingness they see in Jordan. They have a soft spot for Lebanon. It's their best bid to achieve social immortality.
If you want to see them, look around you. They are the ones sitting on tables talking to each other in English, dropping a "ca va" every once in awhile. They are the ones staring at you, from the corner of their eyes, somewhere near the belt, for an eye contact with the masses hurts their superiority.
They love their version of Jordan. One in which they only see themselves. One in which everybody dines in a hotel and shops in a mall. One that breathes vanity and exists in their fantasy.
They have a keen interest in arts, but they can't tell the difference between a melody and a fart. They are the farthest there is from sophistication, but they definitely look the part. They are the parasites growing around ministers, and the country's blood-sucking sinisters. For them, narcissism is a religion, humility is fascism, and a nation is a minority of Gods and a majority of enslaved and ripe humans put there to glorify their mere existence. 
They dread the crawling of the easter Ammanites to their Green Zone. Down the years they retreated from Jabal Al Hussein, Jabal Amman, Shmeisani and Rabieh. They are still fighting for there lives in Sweifieh, while they still have a stronghold in Abdoun and Deir Ghbar! A counter attack has been recently launched at Jabal Amman, but it remains to be seen who will eventually prevail.
If you're rich, you're not necessarily one of them. However, you need to keep spotting yourself. As your humanity and your connection with reality is at stake. You have the choice. You can become superior by overcoming your superiority, or dwell in the hole of self-worship and shoot yourself to oblivion. To the dumpster of history.

Prophet Tiger, Terry The Star, and Sex Addicts!

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My Prophet, not!

I felt genuinely insulted, when Tiger Woods appeared on TV to apologize for his affairs and sexual exploits. This is not a joke. It was a completely condescending act. It insulted my intelligence, my self respect, and my overall outlook in life. Here is why;

I'm not sure who told this guy, or these media outlets that munched on the story for weeks that I cared that much. I also don't understand what gave those celebrities the impression that they were the prophets of our time, to come out and explain to us why they have sinned!

I have no interest in Golf. But let's assume that Lionel Messi or Paolo Maldini were the ones who cheated on their wives. My interest in those guys is purely because of their football skills, and is only centred around the football field. Whatever they do in their normal lives is absolutely irrelevant to me. In simple words, I don't give a damn. Using the same analogy, what Tiger does in his private life is his own business, and unless he considers himself a prophet like Mohammed, Jesus, Moses or Buddha, he shouldn't be apologizing. I don't use him as a model for how to deal with my wife. He is not my rule model when it comes to how to handle my financial affairs, love affairs, family affairs, or sexual appetite! It is so demeaning and insulting for someone to think that anyone should care what this guy does other than Golf. They should leave him alone. Let him work out the whole thing with his wife! We don't know the details and we shouldn't know. She might turn out to be a lesbian! Here is a reason for him to go an cheat. Bottom line we shouldn't care.

One last note on this subject. If he really thinks that he owes people an apology, then he must be the biggest narcissist in the universe.

I act like a star, and you're loving it! 

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Another mega money earner, maker, and a football star fell in the same trap. Again, cheating on his wife. John Terry, England's and Chelsea's captain was exposed and it turned out that he was having an affair. Now, one smart feminist lady I know blasted that "whoever marries a footballer is an idiot". Coincidently, I read some readers' comments in some newspaper echoing the same sentiment. 

You see, the problem is that women will always go for stars. I bet you three months worth of my own salary that if Terry made a pass at a girl in a bar, a club or a restaurant the very next day this story was exposed, 5 out of 10 would've ended up hooking up with him. And that's me being very conservative. It's very straightforward, stars behave this way because girls entertain it. They're rich, successful and therefore they are desirable. I admire the idealistic sentiments of some of those with high self-esteem and belief in good things in life, but I wouldn't want you to be put into test. Because rest assured, you will falter and you will start orbiting around them like they were the only men left on earth.

If he manages to sort things out with his wife, then good for him. If he doesn't, then in no time you will find him holding another beauty queen and packing her with his underwear to South Africa for the World Cup. 

What's your excuse for being screwed up!

It so happened that I was lodging on my couch browsing the countless, useless, and mercilessly brain draining channels on my TV and I came across the most powerful man on earth's show, Oprah Winfrey. The show was about Sex Addiction. As you can imagine, we had on show three or four people, males and females, who are suffering from Sex Addiction. Brace yourself. Now, what was interesting about this episode is that every single one of those addicts had a back up story. Her father abused her. His father didn't play baseball with him. Her sister called her a nerd. Her mother drank like there was no tomorrow. And so, they developed this sad disease and became prostitutes and male whores. Then suddenly, the last guy said "I wasn't sexually abused as a youngster. My mother wasn't sleeping around. My father wasn't an alcoholic, and he played all the lovely American sports with me. I had a perfect childhood. I was a happy kid! But somehow I became a sex addict. Maybe I was just in love with sex!" No Back Up Story!

The moral of the story is; if you have a problem; if you steal, sleep around, drink, inhale, sniff, or pick you nose, it might just be you! Don't blame others. Don't look for an excuse. You screwed up. And so, you should sort it out and move on with your life. Get over yourself. You are not perfect, so you don't need to act like if you were. It's getting old and annoying hearing all these empty and jaw dropping excuses.

I'm done being grumpy for the day! Have a nice one.

The Hero of Our Time

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In a world where values are dwarfed into words on papers. In world where family has become a mere DNA connection. In a world where power over-powered love, lies masked truth, villains velified prophets, and harsh relaity killed the tiniest of dreams, we are in a dire need of a HERO! Someone who will restore our world back to what it was. 

Heroes are truely hard to find. They are made of a rare material. But they still exist. In our world, there is a hero for everyone of us! This hero never fails you. He/ She is always there to lift you up, and guide you through!

This video, should give you an idea

You can also find your HERO by clicking this link.

 http://en.tackfilm.se/?id=1266277394875RA44

Chapter 2: Jordanians "THE WINGERS"

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THE WINGERS


In a world of superstars and celebrities those people take the different route of annonymity. They are socially outdated, and barely ever took a look at today's dictionary of Who's Who. They run through life with selfless dedication and make the best out of nothing. They're the ticking clock behind every functioning or barely functioning family, but life breezes past them like summer wind, and their unforgivable cluellessness is their only triumph.

They are deaf to The obscenely loud buzz of life, as somewhere along the line of their monochromatic life someone taught them that this is the best they're ever going to get. With an 80's hairstyle, and a 20JD- leather jacket they wake up everyday to do the same thing they did the day before. A weekend is for house shores. A picnic is a barbecue task on Airport road. Eid is family visits, and Jabal Al Hussein is the equal of the strip in L.A.

They pass by you like a Friday. As they exist, but to us we managed to strip them off every single meaning of spirituality. They've learned some 50 years ago that being a woman is a test. Being a man is an obligation. Work is routine, and life is a big greyscale scene.

They studied in public schools. They admire and resent those brats who graduated from schools usually referred to by 3-letter acronyms. Gel is as bad as Alcohol, and trendy Jeans are as sinful as thongs.

They roam the streets of East Amman and Every Jabal something during early evenings, wearing an empty look. Carrying a black plastic bag that is the only source of joy to that family. they are usually overwhelmed by how life left them behind. How their values are antiquities from the past, and how days move so freaking fast. They grow frustrated with the shadow they cast, but it's as far as the next morning that this feeling will last.

There pen is a stamp. They know how to guide you to the next office of that civil building with as few words as possible. they puff their cigarettes earth bound. They searched for their ambition but it's nowhere to be found. Unlike others, they usually underestimate themselves, but they compensate for that with their self-proclaimed high standard of morality.

They are the Janitors of a hospital. The infantry of a military. The traffic cops at intersections. The TA's in a faculty. The full backs in a football team. They play on the premises of the play. They walk at the edge of life. They are the wingers going forward and the guardians going back. They are the wings of a falcon. For without wings a falcon can't fly. But as he poses and stairs at you, those wings are held back. They just don't have the knack.

In their world, love is convenience, and respect is obedience. Fun is a travesty, and change is a tragedy. In their shells they are contained, writers, scientists, geniuses and hard workers! Unfortunately for the world, only few of them will ever break through that bottle knick called self esteem.

Outrageous Football, Outrageous Messi

Retweet this button on every post blogger Those who watched Barcelona's game against Getafe most probably will have noticed two lessons being taught to the whole world about skill and team work. A team that spent most of the game playing with 10 players, after Pique walked off the pitch red carded, managed to stay in control of a match against a highly organized and aggressive team like Getafe. 2-1 was the final result and this is a lesson Barcelona taught to the whole footballing world. 


On a more personal level, Lionel Messi have once more proved to the entire world that he is a genius and a star still rising at the age of 22. The first goal for Barcelona, which Messi scored, was a screamer! Not in the sense that it was a powerful shot, but simply because it was sublime. Perfectly executed, and almost impossible to imagine. Roberto Carlos goal in a friendly against France back in 1997 was hailed as one of the most beautifully taken free kicks! Well, in my opinion this goal is even better. Carlos scored his goal from a dead ball against a static wall using shear power to force the ball into that glorious curve. Everybody who was looking from Roberto's back thought that the ball was heading to the billboards behind the goal. Instead, the ball changed course in the air, struck the post and smashed right into the net. Messi's goal however, was scored in a less ideal circumstance. The ball was on the move, coming back from Toure. The forest of legs and bodies in front of him were swarming and heading towards him to try and close him down. Not to mention his own team mates who were still trying to recover from their positioning after the corner kick. 


A Work of Art


Just as Messi noticed that Toure managed to get his foot on the ball, he moved in to position himself well for a pass, and as the ball arrives he gloriously and without pausing unleashes, beautiful not powerful shot, almost with his heel that takes a perfect sidewise curve and evades every single player. There were 7 of them, then beats the keeper and settles in the back of the net. This is pure magic! Six minutes into the game and Barca were one up.





Roberto Carlos Goal against France in 1997





Messi's Goal against Getafe in 2010




Then, as the game ticks on, Messi receives a ball exactly at the halfway line from Xavi, faced by two players and a third trailing back to cover up, he does what he does best. He takes on them and shears the whole defence off their positioning dragging three defenders to his side leaving Xavi completely unmakred. You see, the fact of the matter is that when you defend against Messi you need to double up. No question about it. If you face him one on one, he will in 99% of the time brush you aside and go on with his life with not as much as a flinch! And so Getafe defenders, with the state of panic associated with Messi's presence on the ball,  had no other choice but to keep their radars locked on the marauding punisher, leaving Xavi with no coverage whatsoever. Messi, known for being totally unpredictable, slides the ball to Xavi who completes the move he started and buries the ball in the back of the net! 2-0. To their credit, Getafe never gave up and indeed managed to grab one back right at the death.





Xavi's Goals against Getafe,  assisted by Messi.


Jose Mourinho is well known for being one of the best managers in the world. He is also well known for his stinginess when it comes to praise, especially for those not on his team sheet. In messi's case in particular, Mourinho was tormented by him as a teenager during Chelsea's Champions league encounter, and " The Special One " had no other choice but to label Messi an actor. Still, as snobbish and self-centered as he is, Mourinho simply couldn't ignore Messi's talent. This is what he had to say about the Argentine genius: 


" The best way to stop Messi is when you play with 11 men and then you can double mark him, one player to stay on Messi and the other to help out. If it is 11 against 10 then you have almost no chance of stopping him "


In 2010, Messi already has 16 Goals and 8 assists in the Spanish Lega, topping both charts. The curve is still rising, and it's terrifying to think what he will do when he is 26 and having his best years. Messi is still growing as a goalscorer and a playmaker, and just a brief look at the table below, shows how magnificent his performance is for Barcelona. 

It remains to be seen though, how Maradona is going to utilize his abilities during the World Cup, for without any doubt, it's the only title Messi needs to take his place among the all-time legends of the game.

Chapter 1: Jordanians " The Floaters"

Retweet this button on every post blogger There are five types of Jordanians. At least 95% of the population belong to one of these types. The rest are just anomalies or simply not Jordanians.

These types are identifiable by their way of life. Not by religion or origin, but by social beliefs and codes of social communication.

In this Series of 5 posts we will go through the 5 types as an extensive Jordan 101 Course.

THE FLOATERS:

This group takes pride in being Elite. Not in a financial sense, but more on a moral level. the wrong doing of their own doesn't necessarily undermine their status as they have struck a deal with God to give them a signing bonus. A huge sum of good deeds that will always balance out their screw ups.

Males will look for a girlfriend, and girls will look for boyfriends. Guys will always look for sex by any mean, but they'll eventually look for a Virgin to marry! Someone whom no man's hands have touched before. For them every guy in a car with a girl is the boyfriend and he's getting some! The possibility of him being her brother, fiancee, cousin is absolutely absurd and unrealistic for them.

They all know what religion is all about. They know what's wrong and right, but they do all the wrong things. They want to enjoy life! Go out, party, have Girlfriends, dance, experience the nightlife, sleep overs, go camping with the opposite sex just for a laugh and a game of Monopoly through the night. They want to have a hobby. Play a sport. Maybe Tennis! They end up playing Cards until all their life's wild cards are spent. They are hooked to pipes running from their lips to the end of their dreams. To a bowl of stinking water as they vent their dreams and watch it become a white cloud blocking their sight.

They sit and judge and gauge. How much did they waste, and how more is there to waste. By the time their dreams are transformed into a proud gut, and their lungs rot, they find themselves a "Virgin" and go on to add mediocrity to a mediocre existence. Eat, Work, Drink, and sleep. They believe that they are the best thing that happened since bread came sliced. Syrians, Egyptians, Gulf people, Iraqis, Lebanese? No, they are not good enough.

They speak different tongues because they always try to fit! Gaddaish, Addaish and Addaih! They love their cars. They love their Shisha's and they love their coffee cups and keyboards.

They are stuck midway between Heaven and Hell! They don't drink but they don't pray, they don't think but they don't play!.. They don't read because it's lame. They don't play sport because it's immature. They love and they deny it. They have brains but they don't levy it. They are dressed in blue, grey and black. Probably Green on a happy day, But Pink would be just too Gay. They don't know where they stand. Are they on the left or on the right? Are they in the middle of it or just on the side? Are they vectors or just scalar values with no direction or aim?

They just float... The lost Children of this country.

To Be Continued....

Algeria, Egypt and the Arabic competition culture

Retweet this button on every post blogger To start with, we have to congratulate Egypt for a convincing win over Algeria. It doesn't get clearer than 4-0, and the win is obviously well deserved. Having said that, this game is a living example of everything that is wrong with Arabic football, and this reflects the many flaws we have in other aspects of life.

Algeria is probably as good as Egypt, maybe a little better or a bit worse. 4-0 might lead observers to believe there is a huge technical gap between the two teams , but what it really reflects is how bad we are at losing, and how unequiped we are in defeat. 3 red cards for a team of professional footballers who've just celebrated a birth in the coming World Cup! One might be a result of an honest mistake, or a clumsy challenge, but 2 or 3 is just an indication of emotional immaturity! They gave up, were pissed off and decided to have a go at the players to vent and conceal their weakness! Let's be clear, what the Algerians did doesn't reflect dedication, patriotism or professionalism. It only indicates bankruptcy and desperation. We are emotionally defeated and immature. We give up and as a result we change the course of the fight and start our own objectives which no one cares about but ourselves. There should be a very big question mark over the maturity of those red carded, and their involvement in the team going for the World Cup should be re-evaluated.

As for Egypt. Well, a game of football can not be equated to October War. Sending the whole population on full alert and having actors, singers and all sorts of celebrities charging up the atmosphere is an indication of desperation and utter absurdity. You lost the game and Algeria deserved to go through to the world cup. Live with it. If they were aggressive in supporting their team, you were not exactly the most gracious of hosts! Algeria is not the enemy. Much bigger rivalries exist in the footballing world! Argentina and Brazil, Italy and Germany, Italy and France, Argentina and England who played each other few years after the Falkland War, and till now the players respect and show admiration of each other! Grow up and accept the fact that you always choke when it comes to the World Cup!

Egypt are likely to go home with the cup, and Algeria are likely to lose 3 games in the World Cup and go home. In both cases our media will hail the result as a success, and we will still talk about that game Algeria won against Germany back in 1982. Basking in old glories just as we do in any other field of life.

We need to be reasonable and consistent. We need to be mature and rise to the occasion. We need to stop choking when things matter and accept our failures and successes as our own doing.

To all those reasonable Egyptian fans, congratulations and good luck in the final. To all those reasonable Algerians fans, hard luck and better luck in the World cup. To all the rest, get a life!