Sunday, May 18, 2008
Kuwait Parliament 2008: Give Change a Chance, People!
Well, I'm not surprised or shocked by the results of the Kuwait parliamentary elections that were announced finally a short while ago.
As was expected, the same people who prevented reformation plans and change to the better in the country regarding education and health services, especially, have won the elections and will soon be back in the new parliament to resume their negative or destructive practices!
Some friends have blamed the current government for the current problems in the country since it has not tried to implement any of the reformation plans or projects announced earlier. Well, I'd like to ask those friends this question:
How could a 2-year old government start solving critical security, educational, or health problems in the country - that have started about 30 years ago -while working with a parliament that was dominated by Muslim fundamentalists MPs, (representatives of both Muslim Brotherhood's and Salafi movements)?
And now with such results of the parliamentary elections of today, do you expect this 2-year old government to be able to work with yet another parliament that would be probably controlled by representatives of the Salafi movement?
If some of you are happy that Muslim Brotherhood's are not heavily represented in this new parliament, remember that the Salafi's and other conservatives', enemies of change and development, who are even worse than them in terms of pulling the country to the bottom, preventing any kind of innovation, are going to dominate this new parliament.
Hope this new parliament is dissolved soon so that the government can work effectively at least for a year!
As was expected, the same people who prevented reformation plans and change to the better in the country regarding education and health services, especially, have won the elections and will soon be back in the new parliament to resume their negative or destructive practices!
Some friends have blamed the current government for the current problems in the country since it has not tried to implement any of the reformation plans or projects announced earlier. Well, I'd like to ask those friends this question:
How could a 2-year old government start solving critical security, educational, or health problems in the country - that have started about 30 years ago -while working with a parliament that was dominated by Muslim fundamentalists MPs, (representatives of both Muslim Brotherhood's and Salafi movements)?
And now with such results of the parliamentary elections of today, do you expect this 2-year old government to be able to work with yet another parliament that would be probably controlled by representatives of the Salafi movement?
If some of you are happy that Muslim Brotherhood's are not heavily represented in this new parliament, remember that the Salafi's and other conservatives', enemies of change and development, who are even worse than them in terms of pulling the country to the bottom, preventing any kind of innovation, are going to dominate this new parliament.
Hope this new parliament is dissolved soon so that the government can work effectively at least for a year!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Orange Kuwait!
The picture you see is of Kuwait city shortly after the sand storm hit the country a short while ago :-(
Monday, April 28, 2008
Kuwait University Current Events
Hi Class, I saw this poster in my way out of Engineering College and thought you night be interested in attending the event shown on the picture.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Situation in Kuwait Just Before the Storm!
The video you see shows the news item that I received immediately after the strong dust-storm that hit Kuwait City a few hours earlier. The irony is that while this kind of action was taking place somewhere in the country, mother nature disapproved. The interesting part by nature was that showers of rain followed the storm and the political actions, and everything was back to normal and the weather became nice and clear later.
Friday, April 11, 2008
A Strong Dust-Storm Hit Kuwait!
It was very scary! I felt like our house was being pulled from up and kept looking at the ceiling expecting it to be lifted any minute! The storm took less than 3 or 4 minutes, and then a heavy shower of rain followed that for few minutes. At that point,the call for maghreb (dusk)prayers started, which was heard loud from the mosque opposite to my home. It was a strange experience that happened to us, people in Kuwait City.
The irony is that in the middle of all this the local news I got on my cellphone stated that the interior special forces managed to separate a large group of citizens (all men)near a diwaniya in Asubahia area who were trying to run an illegal pre election meeting!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Education and Public Freedom in Kuwait
Hundreds meet early Wednesday to file a law suit against Jamiyat Al-Islah and MP Abdul Samad at the Justice Palace
Hundreds angry Kuwaiti citizens, including students, parents, and professionals in the public and private sectors in Kuwait agreed to meet early Wednesday to file a law suit against MP Abdul Samad and Jamiyat Al-Islah (Muslim Brotherhood) at the Justice Palace.
The agreement on this action was announced at the end of a Symposium titled, Education and Public Freedom, organized by the National Democratic Alliance, and was held at the Graduates Society, yesterday.
The event expressed strong anger against Jamiyat Al-Islah that represents Muslim Brotherhood Party in Kuwait for issuing and publishing an abusive statement against innocent citizens.
The statement by MB, which was published in main Kuwaiti Arabic dailies on Saturday, lashed out at citizens who supported mixed classes in universities and private schools, and accused them of being the source of corruption in the country by encouraging sexual sins and serious sexual diseases through mixed educational institutions in Kuwait!
Moreover, the conference announced agreement on fling another law suit against MP Abdul Samad for his support to terrorists, like Mughnia, a Lebanese Hizb Allah leader who committed two major acts of terrorism against Kuwait in the 1980s.
More photos here and here!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
A Crime Act Commtied by Muslem Brotherhood's in Kuwait
During his meeting with representatives of various groups of Kuwaiti people, including Women and Professional Societies, parents, students, professionals, and individuals, Sabah Al-Mousa, an Interior Security Official announced -(listen Al-Mousa's announcement via the video above)- that "according to Kuwaiti laws, the statement published by "Jamiat Al-Islah Al-Ijtemaei" Society on February 18, 2008 is illegal and confirmed to be an act of crime". "Consequently",Al-Mousa added, "the case reported against "Jamiat Al-Islah Al-Ijtemaei", by the protesters available in AlRawdha police station has been accepted and validated as a felony.
Al-Mousa informed the protesters that they have the right to file a lawsuit against "Jamiat Al-Islah Al-Ijtemaei" Society that represents Muslim Brotherhood in Kuwait. Protesters can now start filing a lawsuit through legal measurements and procedures, Al-Mousa confirmed.
Al-Mousa and other officials from the Interior Security arrived at AlRawdha police station after groups of Kuwaiti people, including parents, students, professionals, individuals, and representatives of Women and Professional Societies in the country have gathered at the police station to report a complaint or file a lawsuit against the abusive statement published by "Jaiat Al-Islah Al-Ijtemaei" Society that is located in the area of AlRawdha. The illegal, abusive statement that was published late yesterday, attacked and accused all supporters of mixed education in private and public schools, colleges, and universities in Kuwait of being "evil for supporting sexual sins, and corruption in the Kuwaiti society".
Kuwaiti media, including the the 5 dailies and Al-Watan TV were present at AlRawdha police station but were not allowed to take photo shots or videos of the protesters or the meeting between Al-Mansour and representatives of Kuwaiti people that took place inside the police station, however.
I am greatly appreciative to Al-Mousa for granting me his permission to publish the video I took of part of the meeting inside the police station . A direct link to the video can be found at http://uploads.blip.tv/file/675100
Love & Peace!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Red & Pink Roses- No Orchids!
This is really funny; the flowers shop delivered the roses in the image and took the orchids mistakenly delivered early! Actually my children saw the blogged photo of orchids and immediately called the shop :-D
Thursday, January 17, 2008
एवो २००८ वेब २.० फॉर एस्प सेस्सिओं इस नो ओपन!! (थिस इस अ टेस्ट पोस्ट)
This is a test to see how Hindi language is integrated in this blog posts!
PS I'd be greatly appreciative if somebody who speaks Hindi could provide feedback on the accuracy of the title of this post. Just post a comment to tell me what the title of this post says.
Thanks!
PS I'd be greatly appreciative if somebody who speaks Hindi could provide feedback on the accuracy of the title of this post. Just post a comment to tell me what the title of this post says.
Thanks!
Sunday, September 16, 2007
IUCN 2007: "New Learning for Sustainability in the Arab Region"
I was invited to present at the IUCN unevent held in Alexandria, Egypt, on August 31-Spetember 1, 2007 was one of the most exciting, learning experience. The atmosphere inside the main room was friendly, and a real blend of formal and informal interactions. The organizers actually did a wonderful job integrating interesting new learning and facilitating techniques to have people, the presenters and audience, get closer and think together during discussions after or before a presentation. I really liked the Carousel discussion technique that was used during the closing session; it encouraged everyone to get involved, contributing ideas, getting inspired, and learning, together. This was my first time to participate in this kind of activity which I hope to use in future projects.
Moreover, I was happy to meet people from the Arab world and to exchange ideas about what can be done to help improve our region. I was thrilled to see how a number of them were so enthusiastic and determined to start trying to implement some of the new ideas once they return to their countries.
Furthermore, I was also glad that I had the chance to hold an interesting conversation during lunch breaks with the translator of this conference, a professor of Translation at the University of Alexandria, who did the translation from English to Arabic. Actually, I was curious to learn what Arabic words she used to express some technical terms and names, such as Web 2.0, blogs, and wikis that were mentioned in some presentations. I know that the Arabic word for a blog is "modawina", but it was interesting to find her preferred to use such names or terms in Arabic as they were said in English, which made sense to me since these technical names or terms don't exist in Arabic, anyway!
Vance gave an interesting useful presentation, as always amazing the audience when he talked about tagging and then announced the conference tag, IUCNALEX. And, I talked about Blending Formal & Informal Learning Using New Technologies in the Workplace; here is the slideshow.
After each session, speakers were requested to go to breakout rooms where participants had the chance to visit each room to ask questions or comment. In my room, I was joined by participants interested in informal learning and the discussions were focused on ways to integrate informal learning in the workplace, in particular.
On day 2, Vance ran the Unworkop successfully, impressing people, despite of the technical difficulties, he has already reported to you about. The unexpected part, for me at least, was that the participants were so interested in SL; and the funniest comment heard during the discussion that followed the workshop came from an Egyptian participant who said that "SecondLife should be called SecondWife" in an indication to the time one could spend at SL. They also liked Elluminate and asked many questions, including license and pricing!
This IUCN 3-day Workshop was an eyes wide open experience for me. It helped me improve my plans for my classes for this semester of Fall 2007, which starts here on, Monday, Sept. 17, 2007; and made me feel optimistic about things people can do virtually together in terms of education, learning, teaching and facilitating, in order to make it a better world for all.
Finally, here are some more photos tagged with IUCNALEX or iucn2007
Moreover, I was happy to meet people from the Arab world and to exchange ideas about what can be done to help improve our region. I was thrilled to see how a number of them were so enthusiastic and determined to start trying to implement some of the new ideas once they return to their countries.
Furthermore, I was also glad that I had the chance to hold an interesting conversation during lunch breaks with the translator of this conference, a professor of Translation at the University of Alexandria, who did the translation from English to Arabic. Actually, I was curious to learn what Arabic words she used to express some technical terms and names, such as Web 2.0, blogs, and wikis that were mentioned in some presentations. I know that the Arabic word for a blog is "modawina", but it was interesting to find her preferred to use such names or terms in Arabic as they were said in English, which made sense to me since these technical names or terms don't exist in Arabic, anyway!
Vance gave an interesting useful presentation, as always amazing the audience when he talked about tagging and then announced the conference tag, IUCNALEX. And, I talked about Blending Formal & Informal Learning Using New Technologies in the Workplace; here is the slideshow.
After each session, speakers were requested to go to breakout rooms where participants had the chance to visit each room to ask questions or comment. In my room, I was joined by participants interested in informal learning and the discussions were focused on ways to integrate informal learning in the workplace, in particular.
On day 2, Vance ran the Unworkop successfully, impressing people, despite of the technical difficulties, he has already reported to you about. The unexpected part, for me at least, was that the participants were so interested in SL; and the funniest comment heard during the discussion that followed the workshop came from an Egyptian participant who said that "SecondLife should be called SecondWife" in an indication to the time one could spend at SL. They also liked Elluminate and asked many questions, including license and pricing!
This IUCN 3-day Workshop was an eyes wide open experience for me. It helped me improve my plans for my classes for this semester of Fall 2007, which starts here on, Monday, Sept. 17, 2007; and made me feel optimistic about things people can do virtually together in terms of education, learning, teaching and facilitating, in order to make it a better world for all.
Finally, here are some more photos tagged with IUCNALEX or iucn2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Trying Animoto!!!
I've just created this slideshaw / video with animoto. I'm so impressed by this new technology; it's fun and easy...Thanks to Ewan McIntoch for informing and sharing!
Thursday, June 01, 2006
SkypedPresentation by Dr. John Bradley
Dr. John Bradley thankfully gave a short presentation via skype to the group of bankers participating in the Blended Business English program. The presentation focused on Dr. Bradley's recent Business project in China.
Branch Managers of Gulf Bank are grateful for Dr. Bradley for the information he shared with them and for answering their questions.
SkypedConversation on Presentation Skills by Dennis Oliver
Dennis Oliver, an ESL professional at Phoenix Community College in Phoenix, Arizona, USA leading a skypedconversation with some branch managers particiipating in the Blended ESP in ELF program. The skypedconversation focused on oral presentation skills.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
MobileVideo!
This is test video taped via my Nokia Mobile. Let's see if it works here.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Celebrating Christmas with Friends in Lebanon!
Dear Webheads and Friends everywhere,
I spent last week with friends in Lebanon where we celebrated Christmas, together. I had Christmas dinner last Sunday with my friends, Michel and Sonia. Ruba, their daughter played the guitar while we were preparing dinner. I’ve videoblogged a short clip of Ruba to my blib.tv.blog to share with you the wonderful moments I spent with my friends on Christmas day, Dec. 25, 2005, in Beirut. Hope you like it.
A Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year from Beirut!
This is Ruba, my friend's daughter, playing the guitar while we were preparing Christmas dinner, last Sunday, Dec.25, 2005, during my one-week stay in Bieurt. Although I'm a Muslim, I like to celebrate such traditions with my Christian friends.
I hope everybody have a peaceful, happy new year :)
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