Monday, April 30, 2007

Images Galore --- sites, thoughts and some sounds :P

Well not in the writting mood lately (more like am scared to post what I wrote since it will piss people off) SO ENJOY


Life In China - Boy we can't complain :
courtesy of EastSouthWestNorth


Rush Hour But where is the A/C ??


I see ... people .... lots of people (incase you are wondering this is an "instant lottery ticket purchase line")


Plowing the fields, when there is a shortage of life stock why not use life ?!


Coal Minor


An Airy Haircut

A Quick Fix

It's a plane, its a newspaper...... NOT ! just your average perfectly packed abandoned baby -_-'

Hercules Personal carriage service




A Bird (??) eye-view of a planet:


Whippin-Cream 10 mile HIGH ! (click for a full wizz .... of course courtesy of NASA)

Step 1. Spell it. Step 2. Do IT. (Photo by David B. Page Click for the whole collection)


Power of the Mind



For the light hearted:


.... And the award of the worst actor in a leading role goes to ....

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Wednesday, April 25, 2007

US taxes and how they are spent


EDIT : sorry forgot to add the link to the big one ! u can either click on it or go HERE
To all of you living there, wondering how ur money is going to be spent........

To all of us here seeing how things are spent there ......

ENJOY

ps. Funny how the international labour affair budget was cut by 81% =))

listening : NightWish - dead boy's poem( i wonder if people notice these song links ??!!)

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2007 Pulitzer prize


Tears ...........









.... The whole series Here

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Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Jordantiers ..... it is (for now atleast)

I haven't forgot about it, but life & especially work has caught up to me lately.
I managed to create a group and a blog, plus an email account
all under the "Jordantiers", I think this is good enough name for now. We can change it or just go by a more arabic/street name later on .......
please send me an email to jordantiers at gmail dot com so I would send everyone the usernames and passwords to all of the accounts.
Also am trying to get in touch with zikar the organization that does monthly collection and distribution of charitable items, games, books ....etc and see if they need any help or if there is something that we can do.


I guess one of the goals to have in mind is to create a one point reference for any organization or group in need of volunteers and use the blog/email/ or the facebook group to advertise that


ENJOY
ps. will post some more tonight hopefully ... and again sorry for the vanishing act.

listening to :Susheela Raman - women

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Wednesday, April 18, 2007

To everyone in marketing ........ ENJOY ! (6)

Came across a quote by Bill Hicks
Couldn't help but share :


By the way, if anyone here is in advertising or marketing, kill yourself.

Just a little thought. I’m just trying to plant seeds. Maybe one day, they’ll take root. I don’t know. You try. You do what you can. Kill yourself.

Seriously, though. If you are, do. No, really. There’s no rationalisation for what you do, and you are Satan’s little helpers, okay? Kill yourself. Seriously. You are the ruiner of all things good, seriously. No, this is not a joke, if you’re going: “There’s going to be a joke coming.” There’s no fucking joke coming. You are Satan’s spawn, filling the world with bile and garbage. You are fucked, and you are fucking us. Kill yourself, it’s the only way to save your fucking soul. Kill yourself. Planting seeds.

I know all the marketing people are going: “He’s doing a joke.” There’s no joke here whatsoever. Suck a tail-pipe, fucking hang yourself, borrow a gun from a Yank friend – I don’t care how you do it. Rid the world of your evil fucking machinations.

I know what all the marketing people are thinking right now too. “Oh, you know what Bill’s doing? He’s going for that anti-marketing dollar. That’s a good market, he’s very smart.” Oh man. I am not doing that, you fucking evil scumbags! “Oh, you know what Bill’s doing now? He’s going for the righteous indignation dollar. That’s a big dollar. Lot of people are feeling that indignation, we’ve done research. Huge market. He’s doing a good thing.” God damn it, I’m not doing that, you scumbags. Quit putting a goddamn dollar sign on every fucking thing on this planet! “Oh, the anger dollar. Huge. Huge in times of recession. Giant market, Bill’s very bright to do that.” God, I’m just caught in a fucking web. “Oh, the trapped dollar. Big dollar, huge dollar. Good market, look at our research. We see that many people feel trapped. If we play to that and then separate them into the trapped dollar …” How do you live like that? And I bet you sleep like fucking babies at night, don’t you? “What did you do today, honey?” “Oh, we made arsenic childhood food. Now, good night. Yeah, we just said, you know, is your baby really too loud? You know … yeah, the mums will love it, yeah.” Sleep like fucking children, don’t you? This is your world, isn’t it?

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Tuesday, April 17, 2007

We volunteer ,,,,,,,,, aggregation

Hey thanks for all the people that replied to my suggestion a few days ago to for a volunteer group in Jordan .
Here is what we got so far;
people that showed interest were palforce, Tala, Kinzi, & MQabbani.

Plus 7aki
wasn't even phased by having the Atlantic between us and her and offered to help too

We agreed to form a face book group and a blog/website to help organize and provide info. we still need a name, the names suggested so far are:
  • "We volunteer"
  • "na7no natatawa3"
  • We Volunteer
  • Bright Jordan
  • Jordan Volunteers
  • bring it together!
  • Bricks of JO
  • Voluntary Group/Works
  • JO Volunteers
  • JO Helpers
  • in the middle of the Middle East
  • HANDS
please help us pick a name if you read this.

We plan on meeting an hour before the next bloggers meeting, so all are welcome to join and brainstorm.

Projects suggested:
  • art projects, reading, English, math and computer classes for young children - by summer
  • painting schools in villages/painting artistic murals in East Amman*warhol style* (both will involve kids, grown ups, anyone really) - 7aki/Kinzi
  • Volunteer in health clinics in some rural villages (if we can get some volunteer doctors and donated medicine it would be great) - by 7aki
  • Visit "jar7ah alintifadah" that go and stay in Jordanian hospitals (donating calling cards, or just spending time with them) - by 7aki
  • Setup computer's in school, and provide training to workers there - by Kinzi
  • talent show bil balad for undeserved community kids - by Tala
  • planting trees, cleaning reservations & parks, animal care and adoption - by Tala
  • micro loans (that is if enough money could be raised)
Money raising events:
  • ala save life style bracelets
  • Bake sale (not exactly xmas i know !)
  • concert (that would be tough)
so as soon as we settle on the name, the group and blog will be created and hopefully things will become clearer over the course of next week.

Mental note : Check UNICEF & UNURWA for any helpful info, plus check some of the NGO's and their plans


THANK YOU FOR READING, ENJOY

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Sunday, April 15, 2007

SICK of Talking ?(A blogger's volunteer committee ?! )

I have been dabbling with this idea for a while, I always felt that volunteer work in Jordan is very lacking.
Even when you go to any of the obvious venues (Noor Al hussein, SOS, ...etc) they look at you like "are you for real ?! "

So the idea to form some sort of volunteer society from the current pool of Jordanian bloggers seemed tempting to me... Would love any input on this matter.

Ideas I have in mind;
  • meetings to be held in a bi-weekly or monthly form, those meetings will be held to decide a monthly or bi-weekly events
  • activities will range from mentoring (ala BigBrother, BigSister models), educational seminars, Charity runs, event organization.
  • The aim is to have donations of time rather than money, that will help to reduce The complexity of the organization. It will also provide a different side to charity than the one we are used to in Jordan. Since we have the habit of not getting involved in the personal side and prefer to donate an amount and expect others to do all the work for us.
I understand the idea is still not mature enough, but the reason i posted this is so i won't forget about it. More importantly is that I want to know what other people think about this ....

If you are sick of just TALKING about change, and interested in actually DOING Something about it then please provide some feedback

I understand that most of us are busy with commitments and I am not gonna burden with more, all am asking is if you can find it in your heart to dedicate about 3-4 hours a week (on a holiday or weekend) to help others.
ENJOY

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Thursday, April 12, 2007

A Child philosophy on G-o-D !

Well I finally found a clip for that ! I love the way he put it

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Where the hell did the egg laying rabbit come from ?!



No seriously who came up with the rabbit laying eggs idea ? I can't find anything other than a pagan legend of Eostre who changed a bird into a rabbit !

What does that have to do with 3issa 3aleyh 2il salam (Jesus Christ) Crucifixion ?!
And don't tell me its a symbol of rebirth, a phoenix is much cooler than a rabbit laying eggs.

Although its a creative way to get rid of the surplus in eggs caused by lent !

Oh well I guess I prefer the legendary "Hare Club for men" theory much better than all the one's i came across



ps. if anyone is offended please tell me why ? I actually waited till the end of the week so I won't be inconsiderate !

more unrelated cartoons of bunnies ;
Those marshmellow duckies are disgusting :P













Edit: in case u miss the reference and the link watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDrLeI1d6v0

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Wednesday, April 11, 2007

That was Creepy !

I saw something weird on my way to work today !
I SAW SOME ONE WAS SMILING ON the street !
no not a subtle smile, a showing some teeth smile.
and no not for a lil while, hey held it like it was his business
that was creepy, i just hope i don't have nightmares about it tonight

ENJOY
For the visual impact see this ---->

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Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Another earth & moon couple have been BORN !


Oh well, last week I was at one of my friend's wedding.

It's funny how when guys get married in Jordan their life starts revolving around their women.
I understand that's the natural thing here and almost everywhere but come-on, after being free as a asteroid you get tied down to orbit around her needs and whims. In my dictionary that's called being whipped.

Why after being so close to someone for so long they are suddenly not a good company, is it jealousy over your women ? I just love how wives every where despise their man's friends.
The funny thing is those exact friends you mistrust, are probably one of the factors that you are married to this man. whenever shit hit the fan while you two were getting to know each who do u think anchored him and stopped him from running away ?

Oh well probably am slightly biased, and a bit angry at the fact that we ("as his friends") were not allowed to properly say goodbye to his bachelor days!
I still don't get it, does it involve the fact that most of the bachelor community are immature worms (or atleast "they" view them that way)?

Why being a friend to a married couple is like a "Cobels only" restaurant !
I don't get it at all, oh well whenever I'll get married i believe am going to do the same just to exact revenge on all the friends I lost to this process. its unfair to segregate people based on their Marital status.

Best of luck to both of them!
ps. to those ones that are saying am impatient and should give him the benefit of the doubt, this friend (Actually one of the few that would qualify to the best friend status) cut ties with all of his friends since he started seriously dating ........ SO YEAH !
pps. the image is from tempest_wind

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Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Poetry ......

How come poetry has fell from grace .....
Am a fan of Lauryn Hill, wish she could come back with some kick ass music very soon

I love this piece, some clasical critique will murder it (much like the way scholars view poetry in the arab world) .

here is the transcript
Rotating bodies, confusion of sound
Negative imagery, holding us down
Social delusion, clearly constructed
Human condition, morals corrupted
Trapped in reaction, lawlessness war
Dissatisfaction from bowels to core
Devil’s technology, strategy for
Human mythologies, urban folklore
Sick of psychology, counterfeit cure
Wicked theology, robbing the poor
Scheme demonology mislead the pure
Strictly strategically studying war
Light shown in darkness, image exposed
Few can see through the new emperor’s clothes
Lustful this hustle turn humans to hoes
When the blind lead the blind
Just more trouble and woes
It’s the mind that they chose
Its designed to stay closed
Standard of jokers, court just a logic
Sick looking cosmics, from schoolyards to college

Primitive man with civilize knowledge
System collapse and he still won’t acknowledge

God is the saviour, studies behavior
Trying to fix the mix mind that he gave ya
Stiff-necked scholars on prescription meds
Wishing their problems were all in their heads
Morale dilemma, pride is the root
Misguided from youth, heart divided from truth
Egyptians and Grecians, spiritually dead
Imperially led, by the gods in their heads

Motives and thoughts

Industrial wealth
Global economy, in it for self
Heart full of madness, covered with kind
Pleasure designed to take over your mind
Furnished in godliness, painted in good
This tainted priesthood got real saints misunderstood
While classes in government, set up the veil
And cultivate minds for more mythical tales
Typical Hollywood follies good girl
While vice and corruption take over the world

Motives and thoughts
Check your motives and thoughts

Blind with the wickedness, deep in your heart
Modern day wickedness is all you’ve been taught
Lied to your neighbors, so you get ahead
Modern day trickery is all you’ve been fed

Motives and thoughts
Check your motives and thoughts

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23 H 36 M of up time

This is it
"wisdom is the waves hitting on a rockbed "

BAM BAM (deflated) blast

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Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Palajordanian view (spoken with a P B accent) Part TRES or not

When I started this I had "hastily" came up with three scenarios as i saw fitting of the situation in Jordan. Now that I started to thoroughly think things through , and;
  • I just couldn't see anything that will be drastically different in the third scenario than the second
  • I simply didn't have a forethought to project on this one
So this is more of a conclusion than anything else .......

For conformity's sake:
The Third and Final Type: Currently things are not all that great, but if the opposition ever gets the chance to implement things their way, and the current system is disturbed the effects on the people will be devastating. This will reflect poorly on the people of this country. hence its better to maintain what we currently have rather than abolishing it completely and starting anew.


the mean idea that was going through my head then was a de-localization of practical power and introduction of a prestige power. which regardless of what i meant there I couldn't see it happening so i was stuck.

In conclusion the problem with society is more deeply rooted than one might anticipate when you actually start thinking in webs (moving from economical to social to practical to traditional).
Now we keep on blaming it on the colonialism that hit the region in the early 19th~20th century, which has effective sedated a warm blooded and emotional population.
You can blame it on Israel for being the embodiment of the boggy-man, and introducing and anxiety in the commons and practically demolishing a superiority complex that was the apparent trait of our culture (think ottoman and the claims they boasted) and turning it into a paralyzing inferiority complex.
blame it and what you want to blame.......


Fact of the matter is that here an now, we are apathetic, intellectual-void, consumer body that is gullible to jump on the next fad or buzz words without properly weighing out the effects of it.
Our chain of thought can barely project to tomorrow never mind to see further ahead into the future, and then we play the blame game of "I told you so" rather actually tackling the problem it self. in so many ways we operate to the stereo-typical manager model, we want all the benefits and we fantasize about them without doing any of the work required.


Maybe what we really need is an HR department for each country!

As a system it needs to operate on data, figures theories. Those are weighted and given priority and then they are implemented according to the circumstances. Much like a healthy company, most of us have worked in a Jordanian company (at least I hope) . How much whimsical misadventures are undertaken, and how much authoritarian regressive procedures are facing you every day when you believe that you know better.

In actuality accepting that no one reality is true, and all reality hold some truth to them. something akin to constructive alternativism in a political system.
We have developed a major deficit in intellectuals, and still suffer from since the second part of the ottoman era.
That was reflected by a crude understanding and imitation of ideas instead of careful adoption (e.g. architecture towards the end of the 19th century was visibly European) . Coupled with a zealous adhering to tradition helped shape what we are now (pretentious I would like to say but not quite fitting).

To speak of it blatantly I don't believe in the common wisdom i believe in the collective naiveté to see incentives and block reprocutions. We feel threatened by anything and everything that defies what has been breast fed to us century after century, and we zealously fight those among us that venture beyond the red lines that we envision in our mind. In no sense is this a new behaviour, it has been the dominant trait of our people and others through out recorded history.
The difference is there was a schism at a point in history.

I'll stop there since i think am falling into a "holier than thou" attitude and creating much of the intellectual void that am criticizing..... (i.e at first glance its sophisticated and intelligent, but any deeper and it falls apart)

Purely we lack data to make any intelligent decision or study, we don't have any information to validate our theories and myths.
There is nothing more effective to us than hearsay, and with out enough statistics of factors, preferences, polls, and consensus no path will last long.

As for the perennial Palestinian problem, its simple. The compassion felt by the commons is meaningless to the Palestinians still struggling there, those words fall on deaf ears there.
"we" write and talk and expect "them" to act, that is sad.
We in a way look at them in a view of disdain privately, but our social conformity doesn't allow us to display that except in rare occasions. Religion is becoming a sort of a cocoon and escapism from reality, which in this case turns into a pretty manipulative tool. IT IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT IS/BEEN HAPPENING.
We all celebrate the struggle, give out the "zakka", shout slogans to protect Jerusalem, protect Al-Aqsa. Most of that turned into an unconscious activity, rather than a passionate one.

No matter how sarcastic the following statement may sound, i can guarantee that if polled the population of Palestine will pick one or the other. "rabna yifta7 bab 2il janeh 2o yakhodod kol 2il falastinia, bi ma2ino ma hada radee fee7om"
Or to deport all the Palestinian to say new Zealand or Canada, somewhere there is alot of empty space, compensate them properly for the previous years and suffering and internationalize Jerusalem.

If you are outraged about the thought, then i urge to not talk and do something about it. I mean physically not monetary.

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