No more half sleeve shirts for Men in Egypt

Mohammed Abu Zaied, a lecturer in Al-Azhar university, had given a lecture to men to stop wearing half sleeve shirts and T-shirts as well as short thawb or thobe/ dishdasha/ kandura/ khameez (an ankle-length garment, usually with long sleeves, similar to a robe), opened buttoned shirts and fitted pants/ trousers; because it attracts and rouses female’s sexual emotions. He also advised people to wear socks when they wear short thawbs. Read more from Arabic newpaper.

Bits and Bytes

• On 26 October 2008, at 5 pm KSA i.e. 1 pm GMT, MBC.net has lunched it’s latest free air channel known as ‘MBC MAX’. I don’t know what’s the difference between this channel and MBC 2.
• Lebanon's First National Bank (FNB) has introduced new product for fertilization to those can’t conceive normally. It’s the first bank in Middle East to launch such humanitarian product.
• PCCW - Awaser Oman Consortium was awarded the second fixed-line license tender by Oman’s Telecoms Regulatory Authority (TRA) and now it's coming to an end of monopoly for the majority state-owned Omantel is the sole fixed line service provider in Oman. Pacific Century Cyber Works (PCCW), an Hong Kong-based telecom company had joined in hand with a Omani partner (a joint venture) and won the tender. It seemed Nawras, the 2nd mobile company had bided for the second fixed-line license tender and lost.

Oman Nightlife from Facebook to Global

Who ever joined Facebook and wanted a snap shot of the nightlife in Oman, he/she would have joinned 'Oman Nightlife' group to get the latest all kind of events and activities that take place in town.

Now Oman Nightlife is going to offer for the rest of the world its services by lunching it's website via http://www.omannightlife.com/. At the moment the Oman Nightlife team working on making it work smoothly. The offical launch has not been set yet, but keep your eyes open.

Bits and Bytes
Two Omani youths jailed for rash driving.

Ramadhan Active blogs

Don’t miss 'RamadhanTV' journal about the latest Arabic TV series which will be running in the Arabic TV stations and preview as well as review of each episodes. I have previously written a short review about journal.

I wish 'Ramadhan Reading' journal to be active as it was back to three years ago, it will encourage Muslims arround the world to read the Quraan, the holy book of Muslims. Someone should contact the Contributors of Ramadhan Reading to start posting.

Noor and Mohannad

The fastest way to increase the number of traffic in your journal/blog, post an article about Noor and Mohannad or Muhannad, “نور ومهند” in Arabic, the name of the two fictional characters of Gumus (Noor) Turkish drama series which broadcasted in MBC 4.

For Arabic readers, please click here to read Mr. Osama’s article about ‘all the roads leads to Noor and Mohannad'.

From round the world

'Miss Sister 2008' contest is the very first beauty pageant for nuns organised by an Italian priest Antonio Rungi and the voting going to be online via WWW, but his dream has blown up because of  protests.. Click here for all related articles via Google News.

George Clooney buys story of Osama bin Laden's driver in order to produce a movie. Click here for all related articles via Google News.

If you have a Muslim name, then you can’t bank in some of Swedish Banks as your name may be in their blacklist, specially for ‘Ahmed’ and ‘Mohammed’.  Click here to read the full article.

Oman Idol

Who ever watched American Idol, an American reality-competition show that is aimed in for Search for a Superstar, Sultanate of Oman is finally ready to join Part of the Idol franchise as the first Arab country joins as a national Idol franchise, is now ready to lunch it's own Superstars in few months time.


The Omani name of Idol franchise will be Oman Idol. This show will be carried out at Studios of Radio Sultanate of Oman & Al Sawadi Beach Resort.

The first Idol show started in UK as Pop Idol on October 5, 2001. There are national and regional Idol franchises. The Arabian version of Pop Idol is known as Super Star, and its part of the regional Idol franchises. The contestants from multiple Arab countries and the winners of 5 seasons are mainly from Jordan, Libya, KSA, Tunisia & Lebanon.

Oman Ministry of Tourism is trying to boost Oman tourism by lunching this show.

Qusai - Don Legend the Kamelion

Recently, my sister bought an Music CD of Qusai a Saudi Rapper aka Don Legend the Kamelion.

At first I felt odd listening to an Arab rapper, specially from the KSA; but he rocked with 'The Wedding' (Saudi Wedding rap song) by Qusai and Jeddah Legend, a mix of Arabic & English lyrics.

His website is DonLegend.com.

I hope you enjoy the music video.

The legendary Egyptian filmmaker dies

(Photo from www.sudplanete.net)

My condolences to the family of MR. Youssef Chahine/ Yousuf shaheen and all his fans for his death.





Youssef Chahine/ Yousuf shaheen ,the Arab cinema's most celebrated director has passed away 27th July, 2007. His soal has depaerted his vavid body at 3:30 am after been in coma for weeks.



I watched his last film he have directed with Khaled Youssef ‘Heya Fawda (This Is Chaos)’ - 2007 (premiere at the Venice Film Festival)

(Photo from tadrart.com/tessalit/lechaos)

His official website is http://www.youssefchahine.us/. As per the post date, the website is currently temporary suspended due overtraffic.

ADHAM ELOKSH STUDIO

ADHAM ELOKSH, a German cartoonist, origonally from Egypt and born in United Arab Emirates.

Eloksh dot eu

Gumus (Noor)

Gumus is a Turkish drama series which broadcasted as ‘Noor’ in the Arab world by Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC). It is aired MBC 4, the free to air channel has created a series of stress and domestic violence as well as social tension.

Several divorces cases happened as most women are obsessed with the character Muhan’ad and Noor, by wanting one or more of the following:

• Women want their husbands to romance them like the way Muhan’ad romances Noor.
• Women wish to spend one night with Muhan’ad.
• Women want their husbands to change their names to Muhan’ad.
• Women want their husband go through cosmatic surgry to look like Muhan’ad.

Mr Muhan’ad has ruined allot of people’s lives.

The positive about Gumus or Noor that it attracted more tourists from the Arab world to Turkey.

Changes in lives

The month of June was pretty active month for me and other people surrounding me (in my circle of life) career and social life.

On first Thursday of the month, my cousin have finally got married and he is back from his honeymoon happy with his new wife; she seems nice and we (the family) are happy for him as we see that she makes him laugh and became a cheerful person.

The family gathering went well, had allot of fun.

At work allot of pleasant and sad news, some of my brilliant co-workers are moving out of the department either moving internally or externally. The internally changing their career path and the externally moving for better post. I’ll really miss them.

Four of my co-workers have finally passed their final exams. One earned his professional certification; two earned their college degree; and the last one earned 11 grade certification. Best wishes for them.

Now my co-workers and I busy preparing for Certified Internal Auditor Certification (CIA) Exams. Wish us all the best.

Now I am going to watch an Arabic movie; just to please my cousin by giving her company and at the same time relaxation for me to get my head-off study.

After the storm

It’s been a while I haven’t posted anything, when ever I login the internet, I feel drained and not in a mood for to write nor surf the net; allot of news I want to talk about, I hope it may interest you’ll.

First I give high five for the Sultanate of Oman leader, the government and it’s citizens as well as the expatriates for making Muscat Festival 2008 work and go through after six months of ‘the Guno cyclone’ hit Oman and everyone got on their feet making it happen.

Dish TV is a satellite broadcasting service available to users in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and parts of South East Asia, which is now been sold off in the Arabian Gulf Counties - Middle East through the Indian expatriates who work in the satellite distribution companies or get it by them selves from India, I was told about by my colleague.

When you buy a dishtv connection you get - Hardware / Equipment:

• Dish with LNB
• Digibox and cable
• Viewing Card (VC)

It will cost from USD122.21 to USD162.70 for one year with the above Hardware / Equipments, then it will only cost from USD 51.1 to USD91.59, it’s vary cheep. It seems it’s illegal in Oman but it is still sold.

Is it humanely to give one hour notice for dismissing your employee to pack his stuff and sending back home? I don’t believe so.

The first spy camera was found in female toilet in a government building in Dubai - UAE; the man was captured after 48 hours from the time it was found.

Dubai-based Almulla Hospitality is planning to develop a hotel chain that complies with Islamic law, including a ban on alcohol.

Muscat Festival 2008

On 21 of January 2008. Sultanate of Oman has lunched the Muscat Festival 2008, organised by Muscat Municipality under the theme, ‘Fun and communications’.

Events

The fistival events has been devided into several areas:

• Qurum Natural Park
• Art Events Festival Plaza - Al Athaiba
• Al Sahwa Park
• A' Seeb Beach Activities
• Qurum Commercial Area

In addition to Cultural Events which are scattered in different locations:

• Cultural Club
• Grand Hayat Hotel - Muscat
• Technical College Theater- Muscat
• Sultan Qaboos University
• Al-Noor Hall
• Oman College for Technology

And finally Variety Events which are scattered in different locations:

• ROP Cavalry – Wattaya
• Bait Albranda
• Sultan Qaboos University Hospital
• Cultural Club
• Boushar Dunes
• The old Muscat Road, Riyam
• Qantab Beach
• Bait Muzna

Enjoy.....

The raining day

I got up from my bed by 5:45 am, I slide the curtain to see outside, it was dark & raining, got down to the car by 6:30 am I took off to work, I was stuck in the traffic jam for 3 hours although the trip usually takes me between 45 min to 1 hour depends on the time I departure & the traffic volume.

While driving made several phone calls with family members & my partners (co-workers) for traffic report updates, some headed back home as they couldn't handle the traffic jam others couldn't pass through the pound of water in the streets & roads. I feel lucky that I managed to arrive safely at work although I was drained.

On Friday the 18th, my male cousin's wedding reception, I don't know about the weather condition on that day if it will continue to rain (he is praying for it not to rain), as if it does the event may be cancelled as it will be outdoor & at night.

My mood is listening to romantic songs, I bought an Arabic music CD 'Mein Alqalb Ela Alqalb maa Hubbi.' 'From the heart to the heart with love', produced by Rotana.

Arabic movies top of the list in 2007

I have been watching different movies in 2007 Arabic, English and Hindi either on Cinema or DVD or VCD.

The Arabic movies took the crown from the Hindi and English movies. It all depends on who is acting and the standard of the movies.

The post will be updated soon.

Fanna

I watched ‘Fanaa’, the Bollywood movie it is directed by Kunal Kohli The film also stars my favorate actors Aamir Khan & Rishi Kapoor in adtion to my favorate actrocess Kajol & Tabu.

The story of the movie that Zooni Ali Beg a blind young woman travels to the New Delhi, the capital of India for performing a dance for the India’s independent day; before the big day came, she went for a tour and fell in love with the tour guider Rehan Qadri who captures her hurt, he pays for the surgery to bring her sight back and when she recovers she discovers that he is dead but the truth he is a terrorist.The interesting part of the movie that the characters are Muslims and the love ends up destroying everyone.

The casts:

• Aamir Khan ... Rehan Qadri
• Kajol ... Zooni Ali Beg
• Rishi Kapoor ... Father of Zooni
• Kiron Kher ... Nafisa Ali Begum (Mother of Zooni)
• Tabu ... Mrs Malini Tyagi
• Lara Dutta ... Zeenat (Special Appearance)
• Shiney Ahuja ... Suraj Ahuja (Guest Appearance)
• Gautami Kapoor ... Rubina
• Sharat Saxena ...
• Lilette Dubey ...
• Shruti Seth ... Fatima (fatty)
• Jaspal Bhatti ... (Jolly Good - Sardar ji)
• Vrajesh Hirjee ...
• Master Ali Haji ... Rehan (Zooni & Rehan's son)
• Sanaya Irani ... Bobo
• Satish Shah... Colonel