Kylie - Part I

The long awaited post by *sounds like a car breaking so fast to an old lady crossing the road... The driver, a 32 year old woman, shocked by the enormous feeling of confusion, decision making and extremely rapid heart beating she has just experienced over the split seconds* who exactly?

Are you with me? *Walking in a mall, looking for something and not knowing what exactly!
- Why are all people walking towards me, how come I am the only one walking forth? Or maybe they're the ones going the right direction!*

But it's okay, don't judge her yet, she's just confused, many people are! Weren't you at one point? *Loud voice, startled her immediately, that voice! That accent! Hispanic?
- Is this what you want?
God knew how much she felt hopeful in that instant, wishing that whoever it is, telling her about whatever it is, was what she was looking for exactly! She just wanted God's divine intervention.*

Understandable, completely and utterly understandable. Looking for someone to throw the answer to us, because we tried, worked hard, thought thoroughly, researched heavily, asked unlimited number of questions and listened infiniftely! But no answer was revealed, we might seem lazy, we might seem like we dig procrastination, but really, God's divine intervention, some people call it luck, other refer to it as coincidence and some simply think it's fate, has to do with so much.

*She looked to her right, she did not move her body, she just turned her neck to the east! She found him, a middle aged guy, pointing to an ice cream booth, waiting for his daughter to decide if this is what she wants! His 3 or 4 year old daughter, did not know the difference between Ice cream and candy! Not a bright child apparently.

She was so jealous of the decision the kid had to made, she prayed that her decision would come down to something so easy and not a life changing decision.

But she remembered, when she was a kid, many decisions felt like life changing for her when they weren't! Could the decision she had to make be relatively simple for her when she looks at it 20 years from now?*

Poor Kylie. Don't you think? Overwhelmed with so many emotions, so many thoughts and so many occuring and re-occuring factors that keep bewildering her into making the right choice.

*Boum, Dijj, crack!
- Fuckin'... shit... fuck.... this hurts!
But that severe pain awakened her... She suddenly realised where the hell she was, and what she really wanted.
She did a 180 degrees, almost did a sprint towards his shop, stormed in, slapped his ugly face, threw him a 100$ bill and said:
- I hate you! I despise you! You're despicable! How could you do this to me? You're a ...
*

Am sorry I have to go, the cleaning lady wants my help.

Silsilet jibel lebnen el gharbiye

Blata fo2 Blata

Aerophobia fed

http://http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/2008892.stm

bass heik

That's all folks

Thank you for listening, and as Frasier puts it: "Good day Seatle, wishing you all a good mental health"


p.s. For slow minds out there, I just stopped blogging! BLEH

Clocks - Coldplay ft Buena Vista Social Club

Nice version indeed

Vodka Gravol

That was actually one of our inner jokes, that is because of the large amount of Gravol pills that we took so we don't get sea-sick. It was fun, different, dizzy, relaxing, refreshing. There is a couple of minutes that I would like them to be removed. Other than that, it was a vacation. Yep, deserves to be called a vacation.

Dare to dream? Actually dare to live

Illusions Illusions, how dare we dream and change the reality we are living in. Most of my life I have discovered that illusions are much more exciting and interesting and fun than real life itself, but that is only because my real life was mostly unexciting, boring and uninteresting. The reason why it was like that, was me being afraid, afraid to read a different kind of book, afraid to scream, afraid to go to a new place, and afraid to have fun and show it!

Now, I am only realizing that life can be much more exciting, interesting and fun than illusions. Shocked, surprised, beaten up and happy.

The only way to be this happy, is to actually allow yourself to be this beaten up as well.

2 words for the day

pusillanimous vs sapient

Un conte oublié :

I received this by email, hah, nice one indeed!

Voici le conte le plus court que tu n'aies jamais lu :

Il était une fois une jeune fille qui demanda à un garçon s'il voulait se marier avec elle.
Le garçon lui répondit ' Non ! '.
Dés lors la jeune fille vécut toujours heureuse, sans laver, ni cuisiner, ni repasser pour personne,
en sortant avec ses amies, en baisant avec celui qu'elle voulait, en travaillant et dépensant son
argent comme elle le voulait.

**FIN**

Le problème c'est que depuis que nous sommes toutes petites, on ne nous a jamais raconté ce conte. Et ils nous ont bien foutues dans la merde ....... avec ce putain de prince charmant !!!!

Awareness test

For those who live in Lebanon and possibly have a slow connection, pause the video, and then play it all at once!

I think this is one hell of a video! Seriously! Check it out and do the test! DO IT NOW!

Paris je t'aime

*sigh*

I miss Paris.

Red Bull and Vaya Con Dios part II

This is the only picture I was able to get, because I have the lousiest batteries ever! Worry no more, I will be getting a professional cam soon :D Next month's budget!

Anyway, a sequel to what happened yesterday concerning the Vaya Con Dios concert. It's been a long time since I wanted to attend a concert and listen to some nice smooth bluesy jazzy gipsy music. And I got to buy the ticket at the last minute online, because I needed to make sure it is right beside my friends' seats. We were supposed to leave Beirut together, but I rang like 4 times and each time for a long time, and no answer, I thought she probably forgot her cellphone, or forgot me or whatever! And as I have drank a red bull earlier, I was pretty hyper and needed to drive my hyperness away. So I did. Waiting till they call so I meet them somewhere, but by the time they did, I was already in Dbayeh, so I told them, I will meet them in the concert, I got there on time. Barely! I was alone, even the bus driver pointed that out "Coming to a concert alone?", and am sure he started thinking much more merrier thoughts of me riding with him in the bus (it's a service that Byblos festival provide, for people who park their cars a bit far), so I told him "No Thanks! the bus is still empty, and it will need time to fill, so I will just walk!"

I have this thing where I explain myself to strange people, or people I care less about! Why do I explain myself? I donno, it might be respect for others, it might be because I am pretty condifent of why I am doing something so I don't mind sharing the reasoning behind it!

Anyway, I got there, sat near two drunken old ladies (who were sitting in my friends' seats haha), but they were having fun, so who gives a shit right? By the time my friends got there, they sat on the stairs, so I joined them (I could've bought the cheaper ticket if I knew that was gonna happen, BLEH), we kissed and said hi, tried to catch up (during the two songs we heard), and then the band left the stage! DAMN that was hilarious! My friends seriously missed the whole concert! The band came back and performed a last hit song, which was pretty fun! And then we left!

In conclusion, I watched a whole concert by myself, kudos for me, I don't even go the movies by myself! And my friends missed most of it! Just so they can fix their hair! Even though they're going to the beach! WOMEN!

Something was missing from that night, because the music, was... so ... so right! Oh and ... and... I was hoping for more that night, but it's ok! There is always Today!

Cheese, Mortadella, Vaya Con Dios and Red Bull

I was once punctual! Until I noticed that I always got on time while everybody else was late, so now, am no longer punctual! I just don't care!

I just ate a cheese and mortadella sandwich, and am craving a light coke, however I don't got one at home, so I found this Red Bull can in the fridge. I never drink Red Bull, but I recently purchased it and placed it in my fridge because I have been pretty tired lately, you can see fatigue presence on my face, even wrinkles around my eyes. So I drank half the can in hope that I will carry on an energetic night!

Why you ask? Because am going to Byblos to attend a concert, Vaya Con Dios! Will give you the review when I am back! or not! You can't make me!

I had to buy 1 ticket online and kept refreshing the page until I got the seat number right next to my friends (who had bought the tickets earlier)! Hah! Talk about freakin luck! I also had to use an online credit card, and I don't have one, so I had to ask my ex! Well yeah, we're still in touch, in hope to continue some sort of friendship, after all we were together for 4 years and a half! And I wouldn't want anything less than friendship!

I also discovered something about myself, something pretty positive!

Anyway, I am brushing my teeth now, for the second time in 10 minutes! So... No am not obsessed, I just forgot I didn't have dinner and we won't have time to eat before we get to Jbeil, and only remembered after I started brushing my teeth for the 1st time, so I made myself a quick mortadella and cheese sandwich, and here I am, brushing my teeth pour la seconde fois, oui! I ate cucumber with it!

Are you still reading? My aim is to bore you to death! Seriously, go away!

bi ma inno tarakna

bi ma inno tarakna
bi ma inno tarakna el 7ayet hiye yalli tmashina
w mish ni7na nmashiya w n2ella wein badna nrou7 w amtin badna nrou7
bi ma inno tarakna
bi ma inno tarakna 7alna nenjar
nenjar bi kil shi mfakrin 7alna inno meskino w inno kil shi under control
bi ma inno tarakna
bi ma inno tarakna el moujtama3 y2assir fina
w y2elna kif netsarraf w 7ad aya point 3ala hal check list lezim n7ot juste

tarakna? eh
bass mish lezim netreka teflout min idna
3am be7ke 3an el 7ayet.

Towel? You are doomed!

Today, I yelled at a towel.

No more crazy posts

Okay okay, I can see that my crazy posts are not getting any reactions. So, I will stop them, and go back into writing boring stuff, you boring readers! *roars*

The one-man world

So this man is actually God, he noticed that heaven was utterly boring and decided to create a man, so he did. But this man was very ridiculous, he would just sit there and do nothing, so he took one of his ribs, and created another himself again, and this apple tree, and so long and so forth.
One day, this man had a country, and he was his own people, he voted and became president, but he didn't like how he as president was a dictator, he did a revolution. Later on, he started liking the revolutionary him, so he as president was so jealous of the revolutionary El Him, so he got assassinated, and he stayed President, dictator.
He was also the president of another country, and he invaded himself, him and his army, that is him. He took over the new country and joined it to his and called it the United States of MAN.
Consequently, he as man, was at this jazz show, but he was very angry at how much tax the government, he, was taking from himself, he also has been just fired by his boss, him. He hadn't eaten or slept for days, he was only drinking and drinking, until he got kicked out by the bartender, he, from the pub, and he walked along the street of NewMan, and ran into his boss, he. He was so pissed at him, so he grabbed a knife from the floor, that a hobo he threw, and killed his boss, he.
He was sent to jail. The guard, he, made fun of him. But later on he bought cigs and gave them to the guard, and the guard let him out. And he was free again.

He saw life from a different perspective. More flowers, more green, brighter sunshine, lovely birds cruising the skies, laughter and kids playing and screaming. Families, musicians, couples holding hands, tall skyscapers, corn, hotdog sandwiches, scooters, ...

Are you scared?

Are you scared that you will get a bad grade on your exam tomorrow?
Are you scared you wrote your homework with the wrong pen?
Are you scared you didn't finish your task on time?
Are you scared you won't get that loan for that car you supposedly like?
Are you scared you won't get to hear someone call you mama, or papa?
Are you scared you won't be "successful" and make that enormous salary that people will be jealous of?
Are you scared you won't be able to buy that new set of leather sofa for your feng shui living room?
Are you scared you won't find that shoes to die for, in your size?
Are you scared you will hear someone criticize your un-branded jeans?
Are you scared you will look "natural"?
Are you scared you fucking stupid piece-of-art fool?

Sleepless in Paris - Last night

Speechless in Paris is more like it, I had so much to say for the past two nights, but I had left my laptop at work (because it's also the laptop I work on), and it was a drain carrying it back and forth and especially when I go hang out after work, and am sure you know by now that there is a lot of walking around here.

The last 3 nights were just perfect, I did the last two things I wanted to do, it is go to Louvre and go on the bateau mouche, but also, I got to see another 2 of my friends and eat at the Paradis des fruits *coughs-overrated-coughs*

This is my last night in Paris, and my last night in the hotel. I might never come back here and I might come back to live, no one knows, but I did say goodbye to the metro, to the hotel, and tomorrow to Paris.

But the most important conclusion that I drew from all this is... how easy I felt integrated, and right in my place, not when the metro is too crowded, that I can never get used to.

Hasta la vista baby, so long suckers, and TADA to the next place I visit.

Sleepless in Paris - Day X+1

You know how people drive in Lebanon, when they don't let anyone else pass, they jump their cars in front of you because they want to go before you and faster than you? And they cross you over, and move in front of you, or cut your way so they can pass, even though it is clearly your road.

Well they do this in Paris, with walking!

Check this McDonalds's location, isn't it just beautiful? It's small, it's in the middle, it's old, and it's McDonald's



Dogs here are like ants (mitel el namel) in Lebanon, there are so many, just look at this one!

Sleepless in Paris - Day X

I donno which day it is anymore, maybe 8th? Anyway, I got a book with me today to the metro, you know, the cool me, blending in with the french dudes and dudettes, but to my surprise, and I guess it is because it is early Monday morning, it was packed, I couldn't breeze, I had 6 or 7 stations to go, and the last 2 stations I started sweating and felt like I was gonna faint, and kept telling myself, visualize the metro empty, you are alone, there is a lot of oxygen... No, it did not work!

After I got to work, hell broke loose, too many projects to work on, not so much time, need to finish everything for production soon, still I did not panic! Later on, J told me that there is once again a problem with the whole trying to get a house loan thing, and it was a big one, nevertheless I did not panic, I reflected: "Whether you panic or not, nothing will change!"
No no, am not that deep, I didn't panic, because if I did, things would get much worse, things WILL change.

Later on, I left work hoping to meet up with any of my friends, but they all ignored me, yes, YOU and YOU and YOU.... Okay okay they have busy lives, I understand, I would've done the same thing too. But right now, I am my own center of the universe, and I wanted to hang out, but I didn't I went straight to my hotel, luckily my cousin who happens to be in toulouse, called me and kept me company from the beginning of my LIGNE 3 journey to the hotel. I had to end the call because my battery is dying. Now, don't worry, she's on life support.

After a while, I got hungry, so I followed my heart hoping to find that shaped logo, and to my surprise I did find it, I ordered a meal "sur place", it wasn't good, but it was food.

Actually people who know me will be shocked to know I ate at McDonalds, cause I hate it in Lebanon, and now I hate it in France! I usually eat at Burger King, but the last time I ate at BK was 27 December 2007. Yes I remember the date, because it happens that I LOVE BK, but I hadn't eaten there since because I got food poisened. I should've known better and not take the OFFER they had, because it's usually old. Luckily I vomited all of it, the f*cking acid in my stomach was killing me, orelse I would've gone to the hospital for sure!

Bi khsous talking a lot, you have to forgive me, but talking French all day is so agonizing that I have to vent in English at the end of it.

Fa fichez moi la paix trou de derriere!

Sleepless in Paris - Day 5?

Tip of the day for when you are in Paris:
"Look down when you're walking, or you will be stepping in dog poop, and stay in denial for an hour saying, no no it's chocolate ice-cream"

Funny scene happened yesterday, you know at metro stations here they distribute free newspapers, those that have light articles and a lot of ads. Anyway, after I got into the metro, the doors were closing, then people ran fast towards the door (I used to wonder why they did that, now I do it too), so I think the driver saw them and opened them again, but they closed so fast, and this woman's newspaper got stuck while she was still outside, unlike the usual, they re-opened the door, but the newspaper fell down, so she bent down to pick it up, and another woman came in the metro running and the door closed again, and the first woman got stuck outside, for a free newspaper! Haram!

They sell fruits here on carriages on the corner of the streets, it reminded me so much of Lebanon: "2 Euros, 2 Euros les cerises, venez achetez de cerises, 2 Euros. Madame, vous voulez une Bakette (basket?) de cerises pour 2 Euros?"

Several times, I come to refer to the hotel I am staying in as home.

The below pictures were taken in Mont Martre, where Scare Coeur is.



An old house, so beautiful.

Sleepless in Paris - Day 4

Ah well! One thing in Paris for sure is that the bathrooms are always clean, because they're scarcely used! French people don't hate me, but am just doing some statistics here and comparison with my home land!

Sleepless in Paris - Night 3

De toute façon... My utter shock today was how expensive this restaurant I got invited to is, and I swear I wouldn't eat the things in it for free. You know, moule, escargot, faux filet, bli bla blou... And all the time I spent today were either at work (stayed till 19h30, like yesterday, and then went to meet my cousins, stayed in the resto till midnight, then metro, BLEH)

I slapped myself today when I noticed that I started thinking in french. My eyelids have been closing since morning today, I think I really should get more sleep...

In conclusion, Paris day 2, Night 3, was okay. I can do better tomorrow!

Oh and I bought a bag (SUKKUMEN = Sac à main) today, because mine is torn in some places! yey for me, it was cheap 27Euros, which is almost 42USD, which is 63000LL! AHH

Oh, okay fine I get it, people love reading here, but I didn't know that it went that far, today a girl was walking in the metro station holding a book and reading it, not a small newspaper article or something, no a whole book, while walking!!

And I saw several women wearing business skirts riding a bike. And several riding a motorbike! That I like!

Sleepless in Paris - Day 2

As much as I was amazed by Notre Dame, I have to tell you, Paris smells like Pee! Anyway, day 1 covered work, had some problems adjusting my working environment to here, but at the end of the day it worked out! When I was leaving, it was raining a little bit, so I bought an umbrella! Yey for me. Then met my friend, went on the bus and I saw the Louvre (from far).

The hotel reservation problem has been solved, so am staying in the same hotel. But I was kinda downgraded, I was moved from a bigger room to a smaller one. *cries*

Here are some pictures :D Turned out I have a memory card reader in the laptop, silly me, I didn't notice it yesterday!




I am thinking of calling in sick tomorrow to work :P Mih

Sleepless in Paris - Night 1

I really surprised myself! I actually was not afraid on the plane tonight (more like yesterday)! I was cool, read the newspaper, watched a coupla movies! All good.

Then I arrived to the Charles de Gaulle airport, went in a taxi to my hotel to find that my reservation was cancelled, but you know what? I didn't care, luckily I was able to reserve for the night, and we'll see about tomorrow! Then my friend came over and picked me up. We went to the Opera, place de vendome, champs elysees of course, had a drink and grabbed a quick chicken burger from QUICK! Finally, I went back to the hotel by myself, alone, in the metro, can't believe I just did that! It really is so simple!

Someone told me to grab every opportunity that hits me in the face, and I am trying to do that. Let's just hope I stay awake for all of them, coz am darn tired and sleepy!

No pictures yet, I brought the wrong cable for the cam with me from Beirut! Alileh rasseh?

Poor Jessica Biel

First item to be crossed over from my new todo list (which has been set since October 2007) is the 2nd checkpoint! Paris, j'aghive. This list is a hard one, a long term one, but there is always hope.

Checkpoint #6 is probably the hottest one, and people waiting for me to actually accomplish it... but seriously! Jessica Biel? Me? She's trying her best, but it's a tough one. She even sent me an email begging me to tell her my secret, I told her: "Jess, sweety, take a hold of yourself, I really do nothing, this is how I am, but you, you have to work out 6 times a week, with weight cardio, jogging and all that, and eat a strict diet... you have to, little people like you struggle to become amazing like people like me!"

She cried, and thanked me endlessly, after praising me for an hour!

Yep, that was my dream yesterday :P

It's not midnight yet

It's not midnight yet
I can still stay awake
I don't want to go to sleep
I want to go to a lake


Ok ok, enough with the lousy poem attempt. It's just that it is not midnight yet, for me, it means am not breaking the rules, the rules that nobody put, nobody knows of, and nobody follows, except for me. This is my time of freedom, my time, for me, and I get to do whatever I want, before I go to sleep. I can still stay awake, because it is not midnight yet. It is my time for me.

Crazy thoughts and whatnot

Write from the heart. A piece of advice I received lately. How do you write from the heart? Do you like connect your keyboard to your heart? Or do you move your eyes to your heart?

It is amazing how we know that when we think, it's actually from up there, from that egg shaped ball that we call head. Even if we don't study the anatomy of the human body, we can sense that all the processing of the perception of the outside world is done inside our own Arnabita! It looks like one, it also looks like naked walnuts, or like irish cream thrown in liquor, also known as BRAIN DAMAGE shot :P

Can you imagine if your eyes were in your stomach? or better yet, on your toes? Okay crazy thought, but what if, our eyes remain in the same location as now but our brains are in our foot. We'd be dumber, you know, since it will take longer for the perception of the outside world to reach the brain, and then its response to travel back up, possibly out from your hands or mouth or even your eyes. You know, eyes are not only an input device (computer term, i.e. Keyboard and Microphone), it is also an output device (also computer term, i.e. Screen, Sound Blasters). Because I personally can speak with my eyes, I actually once ordered a hamburger with them!... Without onions and with cheese.

Maybe this is why it is faster to speak than it is to write or type. It's all related to how far an organ is from the brain! So genius of me!

Ok really, am not high on anything. I am just writing from the heart. I got a feeling that I am going to click on the SAVE NOW button instead of PUBLISH POST. I am so silly. And I like it :)

You know what? I am gonna click on ....

It's always personal!

People tend to misunderstand all the time, which leads them to assume things and jump into conclusions, and take actions. Actions such as stop talking to someone, learning how to dance, learn a new language, learn how to fight, fight back, learn some mean quips, hate, judge, curse, hurt... The list is long.

On a very low level, individual to individual, sometimes things can go bad. And in order to comprehend someone, many things should be donw such as understanding where they came from, slowing down on the judging, trying more to reach out, transforming our hate into love, all that in order to be able to fix things. But, it's so hard sometimes, so difficult, and it does now always deem successful for us to fix things.

So how about a high level. Although the word "high" is not really meant in its honorable state here. How can, two groups of people, listening to one side, seeing one point of view, afraid of the other group, scared for their own exisence, beleiving in a certain idea... How can they understand where the other group comes from, slow down on judging this other group, try to reach out more to them, transform their hate into love, their xenophobia into trust, in order to fix things?

Balance of evil and good in this world, some say it's necessary, but what happens when evil is more ubiquitous than good, when balance is no longer just, when bad things occur more than good things, and when people drown and sink into hurting more than helping?

And what is worse, some think that they're helping while they are really hurting!

Ahhh finally

I've been preparing myself for writing this post for quite some time, read a whole bunch of my fellow bloggers which I haven't paid a visit to for a long while, so am here, I read some articles, checked some pictures, commented on things, took an apointment for a friend of mine, an interior designer, to check the house we're getting and what we can do with it... clearing my mind, preparing myself, inhaling, exhaling... am cool. Ready...

And then I get invited to go eat a Kafta sandwich with Joe, and I realize I have to do the dishes before he comes and picks me up...

So... Am sorry to disappoint you, but no great post today. Come back tomowwooow

Happy Women`s Day

Kafa - Enough violence and Exploitation.

Kafa is a non-profit organization, dedicated to help women and children who are being abused verbally and physically.

This is their contact info and address:
Address: 43, Badaro Street, Beydoun Bldg., First Floor, Beirut - Lebanon
P.O.Box: 116-5042
Helpline: 961-3-018 019
Website: www.kafa.org.lb

Bill Gates is now only the 3rd richest man in the world?

Bill Gates was the world’s richest man for 13 years but this year he has dropped to third on the Forbes list. The Harvard dropout and Microsoft founder is also one of the world’s most generous philanthropists..

Wow, respect man! I guess he is no longer the richest person in the world because he donated in billions! I remember last year he had $71 billion.

This time, Lebanese descendent, Carlos Slim Helu (now referred to as Mexican), has become the 2nd richest man in the world. ($60 Billion). Good thing is that he also helps out.

Helú has donated almost $7 billion to projects in Mexico City.

Ok check this guy out:

IKEA’s billionaire founder Ingvar Kamprad: it is said that, in spite of the 81-year-old's wealth, he still drives a Volvo and flies economy class.

(Respect to the IKEA guy too! 7elo rasso eh? I can't wait till I can start flying first class, badna nmid ijrayna wlo!)

And compare him to this guy:

Lakshmi Mittal is known for his spending. In 2004 he spent an estimated £34 million on his daughter’s wedding...

There are families in Lebanon that live on 250$ per month! I think I read somewhere, some families in the poor countries live on a single dollar... This world is not balanced!

The wealthiest woman's name is Liliane Bettencourt, heir to the L’Oreal fortune. (There is hope for me I guess)

Last but not least, the youngest richest person in the world is no stranger but our dearest and closest friend, Mark Zuckerberg, the FACEBOOK guy! He's only 23, and Forbes estimated his worth at $1.5 Billion. Eh mish 3atlin!

Pretty weird

Due to public massive demands, I am writing another post (by public massive demand, I mean AM's comment: "Wlik waynik") :P.

End of February, beginning of March seems to be the month of change for me, am not sure if I am to accept this change, or just experience the possibility of having a change in one's life. Why is that? Maybe it is here to only teach me some more things about myself. This change is on a couple of levels, personal and professional. So yey for me!

I should check the horoscope, maybe they're saying something about this. Okay, I did not check the horoscope, I am sagittarius, anyone knows anything about it?

Anyway, what I learned so far, is that if you think you know everything, then think again. ("DUH" is the word am expecting you to wonder at this moment, but bare with me, I am looking at it from a different point of view, so come look with me)
Just when you think that you have things under control, and you know what you want, you get a job interview just out of nowhere. You show up, planning to only do the minimum required, because you really don't want that job, and if you're like me, and has been asked a question, you cannot but answer honestly, and in consequence, the honest answers (from someone like me) gets you the job.

Years ago, I used to think of myself as a very smart person. And I really think I was. I was smart because it mattered to me a lot. I worked hard on thinking in a smart way (yes, you're not only born smart, you actually need to also increase your intelligence through various ways). However, I have reached a point where I don't think am so smart anymore (even though my IQ is higher, my general knowledge has increased, got a savvy experience and my technical skills have improved), yet I feel less smart (don't care the same way I did). You see, for me it is not just a matter of GREATER THAN ">". It should be GREATER THAN WHAT I SHOULD HAVE BECOME at this point of my life. Anyway, I hope I keep up this motivation, seriously man, if I am as motivated as I am today, Einstein would be my pet! And his nickname would be 7ayfa. (Don't ask why)

In deed, this is the secret to intelligence. It is just wanting to know more, learn more and do more. If you're lucky, you would be born a little bit smarter than the average joe, and you get a head start.

Finally, I would like to exempt you from commenting on this post (this is a trick, because if you comment than I will know you did not read the whole thing *evil laugh*), because I can obviously see that it's long! But not boring :D, right? Am not boring! :)

Invest?

There is this passage in the bible (don't remember it exactly, but only the moral), about a man giving 3 people money and who came back after a year to see that one spent it all, one hid it and one invested with it.

I remember I thought when I was young, that the one who hid the money, and kept it as it is was the one to be rewarded by his master, because he did not risk losing it, so he can return it in full. To my surprise, it was the one who invested with the money, that had actually done it right. I hadn't understood it for years, I insisted that it was the one who hid it, that should've been the right choice.

But now and for this I think, does anyone know if I want to invest, where should I start?

I know am messed up, do you?

Ahhh the beauty of messy-ups! The various, the creative, the horrible messed-up some persons can be.

I know I am, do you?

Same as there are the semestrial exams at schools, and the midterms and finals in universities and such, I have my own... trimestrial or monthly (it depends) test, verification, examination, check-up, whatever you want to call it.

And I love it, it's a long process, always accompanied with depression, anger, frustration, tension, pressure, rudeness, self-consciousness, insecurity, vulnerability, susceptibility, concentration and lack of concentration, confusion... nevertheless and never failed me till now, it always ends with inspiration, clarity, assurity and confidence.

It doesn't last long, before the next exam is due. But am bound to graduate some time, right?

So long suckerzzzzzzzz!

Wish I can be as cool as this guy

So much for being inspired and motivated, I can't ever write a decent post. For me, it's important. Not because I want to show off my writing skills, because I humbly say, I am not a good writer. By good writer I mean, those people who use words that no one understands, metaphors that only waste time for someone to finally comprehend them. Nevertheless, if everything in life is straight forward, then it would be as boring as hell.

Anyway, losing my temper quickly is something I have tried to overcome over the past years. I can't deny that I have become much better at controling my temper. moreover I am less emotional than I used to. Although there is one thing I was not able to get rid of, and that is moodiness.

Moodiness in my opinion is for the weak and susceptible. I, on the other hand, like to think that I am strong and in control. However, some people just know how to get on my nerves, and they're usually close people.

Mathematically speaking, I can eliminate the close people, by implication the problem. Or psychologically blablaicly speaking, I can try to look inside myself, listen in depth to my thoughts and feelings and see what is really bothering me, and begin healing myself starting that point.

Freakin duh, I know what's wrong and there is nothing I can do about it at this moment! Let me give you a slight preview, which many will most probably refer to as nagging.

Buying a house <-- Needing money <-- Making money <-- Job itself gets nowhere, therefore need to find a bright idea or make business of my own <-- No capital to start <-- Find an investor <-- You're in Lebanon <-- Stop giving excuses <-- Okay fine, I will do a business plan and run it by investors <-- Okay fine, now pick the good idea <-- I have none, all the ones I have are when I am sleeping, then I wake up and forget them <-- Idiot <-- Thank you! like you're not, you're my brain and I use you to think, so you're the idiot <-- Fine whatever, live in the moment <-- I am and it sucks!!!

Ok enough, now you guys know a bit of how my brain and I function!

My new list

Okay this list is not a TO-DO list in 6 months, it's more of a long term thing, so here it is:

- Learn how to ride a Motorbike
- Go to Paris
- Go to Newyork
- Drift a car (Tokyo drift style)
- Learn basic electricity and mechanics of cars
- Have body like Jessica Biel
- Learn Spanish (yo quiero ir a la casa)
- Study for a new degree (either in Math or Psychology, whatcha think?)

Anta Akhi - Christmas Package

Chers amis,

Cette année aussi, Anta Akhi offre un joli paquet à l'approche de Noël.
10 Cartes dessinées par nos jeunes atteints de handicap,
avec un sac de chocolat produit par le SeSoBEL..
Le tout à 20.000 LL livré chez vous!

Merci de diffuser cet email à vos amis et connaissances
pour nous aider à atteindre un plus grand nombre de personnes!

Votre aide est très précieuse!

Au nom de nos jeunes: MERCI MERCI MERCI!

Chantal

Pour vos commandes:
Anta Akhi: 04.408890 ou 04.415365
Email: antaakhi@yahoo.com

Talking about happiness

Coco suggested that I write about happiness instead of fears. I know that she thought I was depressed or bothered when I wrote about my fears, but I really wasn't. I felt like, once you admit what you're afraid of, you can at least challenge it or realise it and maybe get over it.

As for happines, here's a mind breaker, I don't think it exists in general. We have been brought up to think that money does not bring happiness. However, I have lived all my life in the middle class (in a very struggling middle class, not the rich middle class), and the only thing that I can say is, Money does not NOT bring happiness, because I wouldn't know. For many, happiness is the lack of sadness, and maybe its the same with me.

You see life is nothing but a series of moments, and if you're happy this moment, then you're happy all your life.
Like when I was a kid, I used to tell myself, why is holding your breath that hard, every second just say I want to hold it for another second? But of course, it's not that simple, and being happy is not that simple either.

In my opinion, people lie to themselves all the time, they live in denial and suppressed memories. But not to sound so gloomy, I do experience happy moments in my life. Which ones? well here's a list:

1- ..

(wow writing a happy list is much harder than the fears list... wait I still didn't give up)

1- ..

(a minute passed and still nothing)

1- Having a great conversation with someone (no one in specific, just anyone, a friend, a relative, a stranger, a colleague), like a deep conversation
2- Learning about something after knowing about for so long but never knowing how it works
3- Helping someone without knowing (but of course learning about it after some time)
4- Realising each day that maybe we do have a lot of family problems, but as long as they are all alive and healthy, I am happy
5- Seeing my nephew after some time, and now another nephew was born 2 weeks ago, so double happiness
6- How some friends sometimes do the nicest small things just to show support and agreement
7- How some friends understand you when you go cou-cou
8- Receiving a gift without expecting it, even if it's a useless gift, but you know, those gifts which show that someone was thinking about you at some point
9- Eating something delicious after craving it for some time
10- Music

Wow, I did it :), thanks coco. There is a lot of stuff out there you can be happy about, you just need to know what to focus on more I guess.

My first optimistic post. Injez.

Talking about fears

Inspired by NT who was inspired by MMMMMMMMM, I decided to talk about my fears too.

I am afraid of worms.
I am afraid of getting old.
I am afraid of losing someone I love so much, thus I try not to love as hard as I can.
I am afraid of losing my memory.
I am afraid of being thought of as less intelligent than I think of myself.
I am afraid of never finding happiness.
I am afraid of never accomplishing anything.
I am afraid of going to the bank.
I am afraid of doing any kind of paperwork needed to be processed, waiting in line and stuff.
I am afraid of dying.

Oké bi kaffé la lyom!

P.S. As a matter of fact it was poshlemon who inspired NT in the first place concerning writing about own's fears. So thanks Posh

- I am also afraid of flying (planes)

What? Who? Where?

This morning, just when I got to work, a colleague of mine said:
- "Liliane, didn't you forget something?"
I replied:
- "What? Hein?" thinking that, how would he know if I forgot something.
He said with a sort of a shocked face:
- "Layke Saideh?" (Saideh is a colleague of ours at work)
So this is when I slapped myself silly and was like : "OH SHIT!"

Yep, ladies and gentlemen, I forgot to pick up a whole person, no, I didn't forget my cellphone, or my keychain, or my food, nop I forgot a whole person!

Hurray to my super memory, it needs a medal.

BLEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

p.s. Don't worry, I went back and picked her up.

Should raising a child be licensed?

Think about it, things like driving a car, teaching, fixing cars, etc... need to be licensed or the person is not entitled to apply them. How about raising? Are all human beings good enough to raise children? Is this not the reason behind having psychos and liars and criminals? Isn't it because of their parents?

When did I stop listening?

You know in life, you go through phases. Sometimes you know it all. Sometimes you're asking a lot of questions. Sometimes you're just arguing for the sake of arguing. And sometimes, you argue because you do know more. Sometimes you listen, and you ponder upon what you heard, so you learn. Sometimes, you stop listening and you start talking, and teaching or preaching?!
So it's been some time I haven't done the listening part. And, let's just say, I felt like my IQ is decreasing. I hate how I have to spend most of my time at work. I feel like, even though I do learn and get experience, however I really want to know about other things, and not just programming and databases and technology information!
I want to know why we itch. I want to know how cars work. I want to know how is moodiness related to our body. I want to travel. I want to believe again. I want to be interesting again. I want to help others. I want to make a difference. And I definitely don't want to die. Well, not before a 150 years or so!

I don't get it!

You know those scenes in movies when someone chokes in a restaurant, did you notice how frequently they happen? almost in every movie? However, did it ever happen in front of you in real life?
Hmmm, liars!

Sheep or Sheep or Sheep or Wolf?

There are four categories of individuals in this world. There are those who are of type Sheep A, the second category are Sheep B, the third is Sheep C and the last type is Wolf.

What is the difference between the sheeps A, B and C
Sheep A is in the lowest level of the pyramid. Sheep A actually is a sheep who follows sheeps. In consquence, Sheep A is extremely stupid, does what its told, and think that by following Sheep B, he/she is actually doing something smart. Only because, if he follows no one, he feels bewildered, lost, insecure and vulnerable. He/she cannot make it on its own.
Now Sheep B is of a higher authority than Sheep A, as he is a leader on one hand and a follower on the other hand. He is malicious and evil! He follows because he needs a lot of money in order to preserve a life of pleasure and power over the smaller sheep. He leads, because the higher power cannot directly lead as they will become a direct target.
Sheep C, is the sheep that rebels, says no, thinks, defies, wonders, demands, and speaks. Sheep C unfortunately is also a sheep. Because even though he doesn't follow, he sure as hell doesn't lead as well. So he's back to the sheep category.

Last but not least, it's type Wolf. Wolf is on top of the pyramid. Wolf has a low-profile. Wolf is never ever attainable.

Which category are you?

Man shou hayda?

Sometimes, I stop for a second and take a look at the world around me, I can't help but think how ridiculous the human being is. We built shelter, microwaves, cars, cellphones, shoes (fashionable shoes, I mean would you wear last season's? yiiihhh yaaah!!), selling flowers, baygone to kill insects, oh and now that's funny, paying to go to the beach (you own? you own earth? WTF), headphones? ... We're like so busy with our lives, going to work every day, having politics and political shit, and wars, and concerts, and pop starts, CDs, competitions, reality TV!

Then again I think, that's not ridiculous, that's one hell of an amazing adaptation! ekhwet shliteh man!

Decision? What decision?

Does it happen to you, when you have a decision, a choice to make about a certain issue, which for one, you don't feel like thinking about, and two, it's one of those days, when your IQ is actually divided by 10, and it's so damn hard to see the pros and cons of things, anyway after you squeeze the juice out of your head and make a decision, you get busy with something else, and then you come back to the issue in question and forget what your decision was, and then you do the whole process again? And the funny thing, you reach a different decision. Finally it all comes down to: "Ini mini sini, chocolata ......"

Go with the flow, Go not with the flow

You know how a lot of times we hear people telling us to just go with the flow. However this is complete absurdity and dream-killing. What if the right path for you is not the flow, what if you are bound to stay alert and when you just see the beginning of the path you have to wave goodbye to the flow and just be where it is right for you to go.

Craziness symptoms

When you hear church bells at 11pm on a Thursday night when there are no holidays or mass going on, does it mean you're losing your mind?

Genious discovery, Patent claim

A new way has been discovered in order to know the exact date a picture has been taken!!! See above photo for more info.

P.S. Hot Mint Chocolate and Marshmello in the mug (bought from Starbucks). RECOMMENDED BI OUWWé
P.S. #2 Homer Simpsons appears in photo
P.S. #3 Dexter & Didi appear in photo, toy gotten from Burger King

Para-Rainbow

Child dreams, wishes and fantasies. We grow up dreaming of so many accomplishments, or so many adventures, we grow up watching heroes and hearing Snow-white and sleeping beauty's romantic stories, rainbows and clouds are very similar to marshmellows upon which you can walk and jump and they're concret objects!

And then science comes and explains to you the reality behind clouds and rainbows and the fact that if we try to stand on them, gravity sucks us down... Assures us that super heroes do not really exist, and there is no planet called cryptonite, proves to us that princes do not wake up beautiful dead women by kissing them (and as Krys pointed, if you kiss an ugly frog, no it does not turn into a hot muscular charming 6 packs guy)

What's left for us to do? We indulge and sink in the material world, the dreams change, our principals die. Expensive bling-bling cars, huge yachts and fancy travelling become our dreams, question: do they really make one happy? Can't give you an answer as I am not even categorized in Middle class.

Well I say no way! I still want to be able to fly and save the world, to enjoy slippery rainbows and fly down using my own home-made parachute.

Sucky Weather

So this transitional weather completely sucks, at one point it's hot at another it's windy and cold, which usually causes a conflict of temperature in your body, and thus, either flu or worse, an air hit (in arabic, shab2et hawa). After only 1 week, I missed work because I was sick, I really didn't want to appear as a weak girl, I barely get sick, but, who knows what! Sucky weather in deed.

As I was hallucinating the night before, due to the Air Hit, I had several weird dreams, one involved watching the opposition burn tires, another was me being at a house being robbed by someone with an unloaded gun and me kicking him out, a third one was being stopped by a friend in the middle of the road while driving, in order to give my farewell to supposedly a friend (who I have never seen or known in real life) because she got arrested for singing a "naughty" song (waynik ya Hayfa) and being sentenced to jail for 6 months, and suddenly I run into mom at my aunt's, turns out she was in Lebanon the whole time and not the US, so I was like: "Come sleep over mom like once a week!"

Be vewy vewy quiet.

It's okay, it's alright

So, as my friend Joseph put it, I am counting upwards while last month the countdown was... down obviously. It's been two days already, and I am the new girl. Well there is also another new guy, so we're half half new. I am learning new things, and while yesterday I had maybe a 2% doubt whether quiting my previous job was the right decision or not, after today, the 2% have vanished, I am convinced that it was a good choice.

The thing is I always expect the worst, this way whatever happens, I feel ready for it and barely disappointed, but J pointed out to me that I also never enjoy anything...

It's a habit that is really hard to get rid of, I think people describe it as Pessimism, and apparently I should become more optimistic. Fingers Crossed.

Stop Global Warming - i`m making a difference

For all Live Messenger users, I guess you have noticed that some of the users are displaying the i'm icon in their nicknames. You can see different codes, such as *help, * naf, *unicef, *komen, etc... There are several organizations you can support.

To join, you can visit this link here, and you will need Windows Live Messenger v. 8.1.

I am currently showing support to the "Stop Global Warming" Organization, I hope more bloggers will post about this, so more people can add the icon to their nickname, and the following will happen.

i’m is a new initiative from Windows Live™ Messenger. Every time you start a conversation using i’m, Microsoft shares a portion of the program's advertising revenue with some of the world's most effective organizations dedicated to social causes. We've set no cap on the amount we'll donate to each organization. The sky's the limit.

Let's make a difference.

Taboo subjects

There actually still exists a lot of taboo subjects in Lebanon, in some places more than others however in general, they are present.

First topic - Homosexuality:

Homosexual persons are still struggling to come out, many living a lie in order to succumb and be in form with the society's standards and judgmental members.

Second topic - Sex

Pre-marital sex in specific, and virgins, those who where, those who weren't yet had a "certain" operation to return to being a virgin in worry of the wedding night and being exposed as non-virgins, and those who are not and labelled by many as "bad" girls. Focussing on girls, because guys don't really have this problem, they have another, and I will share my theory with you next time.

Third topic - AIDS

HIV Positive does not only scare a person because this means they are no longer healthy and death awaits in years, it is because they worry of what their parents will say and how they will react. They are scared that they will be labelled. Immediately the term HIV positive labels a man as gay, whether he is or he isn't, it is not the issue, the issue is, some people believe "he deserves it" or "she deserves it".

To be elaborated more about in the future, for now, if anyone has any experience or story or opinion to share, please do, I am looking forward to hear your words.

Russia

Did you know that Russia actually exists in Asia and Europe?

Being more of a Math person and astronomy person, History and Geography really didn't intrigue me during school, and I regret not being interested in them back then. I don't think that I was the only one who wasn't interested in materials such as History and Geography, and for many Math wasn't interesting at all, it is because the importance of such knowledge and information are not emphasized and explained. We pass through school as just a phase. History was never a story, it was a text that we needed to recite as it is.

I remember always thinking and telling myself: "If one day I am a surgeon operating on a patient, would I be telling the patient what happened during World War I, would this save their life?" Of course, my question was wrong in principle, because I wouldn't be doing the integral of a function either...

Moral abuse

After coming in to the office today, late, I went in to my colleagues office to greet them, colleagues who became friends, and as soon as I saw my friend, I was 100% sure she didn't have any allergies or sickness, but that she had cried all night.

Even when I know the reason, I still feel helpless, all I have is my words, my cheap words...

How can you tell someone to get out of moral abuse, it is much harder than we think it is, it is not as easy as it sounds, leaving such an issue after dealing with it for years, is life-changing, and a person is too upset with themselves for the mistake they have done, that they keep hoping that maybe it will get better and wash off their mistake... but meanwhile, things would be getting worse, and the person would be drowning deeper, lacking more and more oxygen to swim up and save themselves...

I got stuck in the bathroom for 3 hours

How did YOU spend your Saturday afternoon? Well, on Saturday afternoon, sitting along at home, I decided to go see a friend whom I haven't been speaking with for the past 4 years, and finally water got under the bridge and we decided to meet and catch up. So I told her I will meet her in Starbucks Zalka at 4:15 pm. Then I remembered that my car wasn't with me, and my brother had parked it in Dora, so I needed to go and get it. I told Joe that he will need to give me a lift to my car in 30 minutes or so, moreover he was waiting for my cue so he can come and pick me up.
At 3:35 pm, I thought I would go to the bathroom (you know, better at home than public restrooms), get dressed and leave for my appointment.

I got out of the bathroom at 6:45pm. You're wondering why? Well continue reading then.

I have this reflex for many things I do on a daily basis, and locking the door is one of these things. So when I went in the bathroom, I locked it while on my pc a song for Jimmi Hendrix was playing, "Hey Joe", however, it's screwed up and it keeps making all those khhhhhhhhh, khwaaaaaaaaaaaakh shiiiiiiiiish sounds, you would think it's been inhabited by demons. As it pissed me off so much, I didn't really do anything in the bathroom, decided to get out, turn off the media player then get back in. And tadaaaaaaaaaaa the lock wouldn't open. It got stuck, and not "there is hope to open" stuck, but stuck-stuck!

All those thoughts rushed through my head like "What's wrong with me? Why did I lock the door when I am home alone?", second I thought "Wish I told Joe to pick me up directly and not just wait for my call!", third "If this doesn't open, then they will have to break the front door, because I have it locked from the inside" and concluded "Wow, is this ridiculous or what, breaking two doors to rescue me from my own bathroom because I am too paranoid!"

Of course, the girl I was supposed to meet called me 5 times, however couldn't answer as the mobile was in my room. Then Joe called me almost 20 times, then after 2 hours and a half he finally confirmed that something's definitely wrong!

By the time he got here, I heard him, told him what's happening then he checked with the neighbors and stuff, the neighbors came, broke the front door then the bathroom door and finally I got out.

What did I do during those 3 hours? Well I found one scissors, so I used it to dig a whole around the lock and maybe try and open the door myself, if I had 90 more minutes myself I think I would've succeeded. Anyway I was also surprisingly positive, because I knew Joe would finally notice I was missing, and that I didn't have a migraine orelse the experience would've sucked dramatically!

Dad told me the next day in order to prevent from such things to happen, I will need to store keep food in the bathroom :P

Salamander Tongue Is World's Most Explosive Muscle

The greatest burst of power from any animal muscle comes from the tongue of a tropical salamander, scientists have announced.

The giant palm salamander of Central America (Bolitoglossa dofleini) captures fast-moving bugs with an explosive tongue thrust that releases over 18,000 watts of power per kilogram of muscle.

That shatters the previous record of 9,600 watts per kilogram, held by the Colorado River toad.

Continue reading here...

Isn't this amazing or what?

Life is weird

Life is weird, when you want something you don't get it, when you get it, you don't really appreciate it, when you appreciate it, you start wanting something else.

I can't remember the last time I was laughing from my heart or being genuinely happy. Until now, the only times that were really fun were unplanned. Every time something is planned, it is completely and utterly unsurprising, unnatural and fake.

So we wait for those surprising, natural and real moments, and then...? My French literature teacher at school used to always say: "Le bonheur n'est pas dans la possession, le bonheur est de le souvenir".

The only answer I believe is go crazy, act like a complete bonehead, scream and not give a crap of what other people thinkl; go on adventures, without worrying how much you're spending or if you're allowed to take off days at work.

We're such cowards. (by we I mean me, and whoever else wants to join me :P)

P.S. That's me in the picture, maybe 4 years ago in our network staring at the pc like the robot, I still stare this way.

Girls can't program

Can you believe that there are still some guys who think that girls can't program, believing that the girl's brain cannot process such information and analysis?

7aram 3anjad :S

Anta Akhi: Fête des mères

From Anta Akhi, Mother's day package, a cook book, containing international recipes written in 3 languages for 30.000 LL.

"Le monde au Menu"
170 pages couleurs en 3 langues, des recettes de tous les continents! Entrées, salades, plats et desserts délicieux et faciles à faire! La fête des mères approche, pourquoi ne pas offrir ce livre à votre maman!

Ce livre sera livré chez vous à 30.000 LL seulement! Pour chaque achat, vous recevrez en cadeau, un sac de 200g du délicieux chocolat SeSoBEL que vous aimez tant!

Merci de continuer à nous aider à assurer une vie meilleure à nos 400 enfants et 57 adultes atteints de lourds handicaps, du SeSoBEL et de Anta Akhi!


Pour plus d'informations et pour vos commandes n'hésitez pas à appeler Chantal au 04.408890 ou en envoyant un mail à: antaakhi@inco.com.lb

Perhapsi yes perhapsi no

He asked me: "Don't you want to get the answer now?"
I replied: "Well sure, why not!"
He called the other guy, they both sat down, had some laughs on my expenses.
The first said: "You know, it could be a yes or a no."
I laughed, knowing from the first moment, that it is a yes, but still hiding my excitement and smile, I made myself think of death so I stay calm.
After some time of teasing and back & forth questions and answers, they said: "Welcome".

And then I smiled, a very big smile. If I had a chance, I would've said what Homer Simpson says:

"WOOHOO"

OzZi In UL

I decided to pass by my old college and pick up my diploma (yep it's been 5 years and I didn't bring it), I thought it wasn't important and it's only a decorative tool for the wall, turns out it is important.
Of course, the people were gone home by then, so I will have to go again, but I went for a walk to places where we used to hang out... with every step, a memory. I was happy to be there... Finally I remember I am one of those crazy people who write their names everywhere and draw stuff... I searched till I found this.



Oh for the record, my nickname is Ozzi since 8 years or so.

Someone said she loves her job :|

I thought I would never hear this, but apparently, some people are happy... at their job!

Children of men and Arabic writings

I wanted to talk about this 2 weeks ago when I saw the movie "Children of men", a good movie, makes you think and get depressed a bit. Anyway in the movie, there is graffitis and writings on walls of this weird city, talking about Al-Intifada, and they had it written in Arabic, however, what's disapointing is they did not even bother to get someone who knows how to write arabic, and not just match Latin alphabet with Arabic ones.

They wrote it like this: انتفادا

Ma heik?

Climate change Wake up call!

Sign Petition here so we can reach 100'000! DO IT!

Ze ring Ze revenge

I was taking a picture of myself yesterday with one of Tori Amos' album in order to upload it so I can be part of the big mosaic made of fan pictures, anyway, this is how my picture came out

I am dying in 7 days!!!!

Anta Akhi: Valentine (English)

(Check below post for French)
Because we believe that love is the last to have its say, Anta Akhi offers with the coming of Saint Valentine's holiday, a white towel embroidered in red (35 x 50 cm) with a small package of delicious chocolate from SeSoBel.

This nice package will be delivered to you in only 15,000 LL.

A small participation from you end will help us face the economic crisis that has landed on our home and our handicapped youth.

For your orders, please contact Chantal by email on antaakhi@inco.com.lb or by phone 04.408890.

Thank you for everything.

Anta Akhi: Valentin (French)

(Check above post for English)

Parce que nous croyons que l'amour aura toujours le dernier mot,
Anta Akhi vous propose, à l'approche de la fête de Saint Valentin, fête de l'amour,
une serviette blanche brodée en rouge (35 x 50 cm) avec un petit paquet
du delicieux chocolat SeSoBEL.

Ce joli paquet sera livré chez vous à 15.000 LL seulement.

Une petite participation de votre part nous aidera à faire face à la
crise économique qui menace notre foyer et nos jeunes atteints de
lourds handicaps.

Pour vos commandes, prière de contacter Chantal par email à
antaakhi@inco.com.lb ou par téléphone au 04.408890

Merci pour tout!

In the Morning

Would love to see Norah Jones in Concert one day.

Enjoy.

State of Panic

During lunch break, 2 of my colleagues informed me that they are going to ABC mall in Ashrafieh to check the 50% sales. So Yippeeeeee, I went with them. But of course, for those who are not familiar with the Sale in Lebanon, it is usually a slightly more complicated formula. In general a sale is on an Item's price which is X, if it is 30%, the final price F will be:
F = X x (100 - 30) / 100

Now in Lebanon it goes like:
Y = X x (100 + 20) / 100
F = Y x (100 - 30) / 100

Got it? Okay for those who don't like math, first they increase the original price X to Y, then they do a sale on Y and not on X. So eventually the 30% is not really a 30%, it's much less!

Anyway, I went to Aizone, I only go there when I am with my friends and THEY want to buy anything. I don't like paying much for clothes just because they are branded and their quality is not really the best quality in the world. I saw a Coat, leather coat, it is something I might wear, long, beige, so I looked at the price, something I instinctevily do, being poor and stuff. At first I thought it was 386'000 LL, "a bit expensive but maybe worth it", I reflected, but to my surprise (and I almost fainted), there was a 4th Zero, it was actually 3'860'000 LL, which is a bit more than 2'500 US$.

Conclusion: it is actually cheaper to travel to Turkey, get a real leather coat and come back!

38 ways to win an argument

38 ways to win an argument, or a more eloquent description of the matter, "The Art of Controversy". Surprisingly, while reading these ways on this link I have come to realize that I among many other close and distant persons use some of these ways, the more instinctive ones. I bet the husband is pretty familiar with #38. It's a pretty effective method, just make it person and get angry, now who can argue with you anymore. However, this method cannot be used with just everyone, so if you're having an argument with your boss for example, maybe #37 can save your day.

So again, if you're interested in learning or increasing your knowledge in the Art of Controversy, which can be reffered to in slang language as "Kickin' Yo Ass!", just click here.

Giving up

I recently learned that a lot of students give up on their Thesis. It's kind of good news, as I have been beating myself up for being so late with it. However I don't plan to give it up, although I felt sometimes, that this is one thing I won't be able to do.

What's the secret though? Why most people go all the way, and then drop it all when the Thesis comes? What is this feeling we have? Apparently it's a universal thing.

For one, I spent a good bunch of money which I worked hard earning on it, and second of all, if I give it up, then I will be ... giving up!

Once you give up on one thing, then you will do it on another and another...

The scary thing is that how much a person changes and how much his principles and beliefs change! High school days, university days and even while I was still studying the MS courses, I had one goal in mind, PhD! Now it's no longer my goal.

Once again, we are sucked in the slavery machine of this world with all its judgements and labels and rankings. I refuse this. However I don't like to stop something because I cannot do it, I only stop when I know I can do it but don't find its use anymore. At this point, I have doubts that I can finish my thesis, and this is why I am not stopping. I am not quitting.

I just can't find myself sitting on my pc and working like hell, how have I grown so lazy? I know I was never much of an A student or a study-lover, but I know I had potential and I could deliver when I want to. However seems like there's something wrong with my brains lately. Or could it be my full time job, my boring job, my dead end job, seeing that Computer Science was never really what I wanted to do, and uptill today I don't have a clear idea of what I should've done! Take me back 8 years and I still don't know which major to pick.

At the same time, if I had majored in something else, I would have went crazy if I didn't know how to program and develop a website! Talk about stupid dilemma!

I will stop here, I think if I keep writing I will end up writing a novel which will be worth nothing. Or maybe I could sell it and become rich?

Borat Under the Hammer

The Naughty Borat has got himself into trouble, so many victims of his movie, where they either fell victim to Borat, or after the movie came out, they paid the price of falling his victim, as they let out some honest thoughts (such as racism and sexism) during the footage, are now thinking of sueing or are sueing Borat!

The most unfortunate one was Dharma Arthur, the TV producer who allowed Borat to appear on her show, lost her job, and couldn't find one for 3 months!

Read more here.

I bet COCO is ecstatic to hear this news!

January 24th the most depressing day

And finally, make plans for 24th January!

It is official. January 24th is the most depressing day of the year according to research by Cardiff University. In the aftermath of the festive period, January has long been regarded as the darkest of months as most employees return to work feeling de-motivated and sluggish.

Source: Jobs MSN

Reading those Jobs related articles every now and then is a thrill. Because I get to see that I am not hallucinating and job related depression exists! They usually deal with psychological issues we go through as job people, routine people, 9 to 5 people (although I start at 8:30 am and stay till 6,7,8,9...), boring and bored people.

My job depresses me too. I don't like my job. I don't like my boss. I am going to nag as much as I want, this is my blog! *sighs*

I know that most people feel this way, and I should suck it up. However I am not happy so I am not easily going to be able to "cope with it" or "accept it" or "live with it", because if I do, I will be bidding farewell for any potential dream coming true, and definitely for my creativity.

Every day, my motivation, creativity, hopes and dreams die a little bit. What will I become after a couple of year?
What good am I this way to people I love or potential people I might be able to help?

That Cardiff University is wrong, January 24th is not the most depressing day, today is, and yesterday, and tomorrow!

Dawn simulator curbs wintertime blues

First, I had thought the whole wintertime blues was only something of my own imagination. I always thought of the reason why I get so depressed during winter, especially January and February. And apparently it is true. Anyway, they have some kind of a cure, which is called Dawn simulator. There is something even called SAD - seasonal affective disorder.

Anyway I usually turn on the lights when I wake up, but this isn't really working anymore, because the curtains on my balcony are closed and I don't get any sun-light in the morning, this is probably why I can't get out of bed.

"Dawn simulation and negative air ionization are two naturalistic, non-pharmaceutical environmental enhancements now verified superior to placebo and remarkably effective in the treatment of winter depression," Dr. Michael Terman told Reuters Health.

[...]

With bright light therapy, SAD sufferers sit at a bright light box for 30 minutes at breakfast time. Dawn simulation and negative air ionization are more convenient, being delivered automatically and innocuously during the final hours of sleep by an apparatus placed next to the bed.

[...]

Although the sunrise pulse treatment was "therapeutically active" in some patients, it led to the persistence, emergence and exacerbation of depressive symptoms, making it an "unfavorable option," the Termans write.

Click here to read full article.

Borat

I saw Borat 2 days ago, and it cracked me up. I barely smile, and rarely laugh. But Borat made me laugh more than 1 time. Sacha Baron Cohen did a great job being and creating the Borat character just as he did with Ali G. The first half was hilarious, although it got a bit weird for me, when Borat and his producer Azamat were running after each other, completely nude.
However, I give it an 8.5/10. Especially because there has been many scenes that are real footage and not acting, and sometimes it is hard to tell which is which.
After a couple of minutes since Azamat started having lines in the movie, I found the language familiar, but was focusing on the english translation so I didn't pick it up. Suddenly, I realized it was Aremnian, a language I hear very often and fairly understand. Yes Azamat, the Kazakhastanian producer was speaking Aremnian, and I suspected Borat was just babbling by using the "KH" pronounciation very often.
Finally, if you haven't seen the movie, go see it, it's a funny one, crazy, very well directed and shot (again with the whole real footage).
P.S. When Borat puts a sac on Pamela Anderson, I think this was real!
Borat deserves the whole fuss that had!

Talents in Lebanon - Photographer: Karen K

This is the second entry of Talents in Lebanon. The first was about the composer and musician Jalal Haddad.

This entry comes in a bit late nevertheless it is only because I want to make sure that I only bring you the best.



I have been introduced to the work of the Lebanese photographer Karen K on Flickr.com consequently I have immediately been drawn to them. After browsing the work of so many photographers, I only experienced the feeling of closeness when I stumbled upon the photos Karen have taken. I couldn't take my eyes off her photostream, one after another. Each time I thought I had found the best one, I was wrong.

The interesting thing about Karen's work, is her work can feed different tastes. Everyone can find his own favorites while skimming through her library of photos.

To know more about Karen, where she lives, her interests, etc... You can view her profile here.



Furthermore, ladies and gentlement, Karen's photographs. Karen has many albums, if you are lost and don't know where to start, I recommend Karen's dearest photos.

Karen even had her share in reporting about the war in her own way.

10 things we learned in 2006

That's a pretty much interesting article from MSN UK about 10 things we learned in 2006.

We learned that stringrays can kill, that UK has the best public transportation, that if we save the earth from the Global warming is far less cheaper than what it will cost us on the long run, and the most interesting for me was "Pluto is not a planet". After all those decades, a new definition of a planet has been introduced here and Pluto is now described as dwarf planet.

Continue reading here.

10 things I hate in people

1. How only when we receive something in an email telling us about how we shouldn't take things for granted, that we actually realize it
2. How only when we see something expensive even if it tasteless, that we think it's worth it
3. How we wear clothes that make us look like a potato only because it is the trend
4. How we forget the true meaning of holidays
5. How someone thinks we are great friends to them only when we get them an expensive gift
6. How friendship is no longer a feeling, but mutual interest
7. How we take crap sometimes from the boss, just because we need our salary at the end of the month
8. How the more we get paid, the more we spend
9. How home is a large place full of fancy furniture, and not a small one with loved ones in it
10. How success is a position in a company, and not a position in close ones' life

I was born 26 years ago

I got to my desk, and I saw this.

First I thought it was from J, and then I thought, how could he have gotten it to work so fast in the morning, but then I read the card, and it turned out it is from my friend/colleague Marthe. Cute.

Why do we smile?

Why is the smile :) and not the frown :( the symbol of smiling and being happy?

10 things I need to do in 6 months

1- Fix the engine "chair" of my car (whatever the technical word is)
2- Fix the C/O of my car
3- Get and install the door handle for my car's left door
4- Fix the plate number, as it is just hanging out there
5- Get a new LCD screen for my home pc
6- Finish my thesis thus get my MS degree
7- Do some projects on .Net technology so I can finally learn it
8- Make money somehow O.o
9- Get alarm for my car (so I can lie to myself and pretend it's an Aston Martin)
10- Get a new job