Nine Facts

(1) Whenever I take the first initiative into making change, no matter how small this might be, I feel good about myself and I wouldn't let anyone make me feel otherwise.

(2) I'm afraid of animals, kittens included. It's not that I think they'll pounce on me or something but the thought of having a physical contact between them simply terrifies me. That's one of my most complicated phobias that I haven't gotten over yet.

(3) I've done some silly things back in my first teenage years that I don't necessarily regret but makes me think twice of how my mentality changed (wait for the most embarrassing post) .

(4) I don't understand too sensitive people. Like my sister for instance who would prefer to live under a rock, not knowing what's happening currently in the Arab world just so it wouldn't affect her emotionally. On second thoughts, I think she's just being selfish.

(5) Sometimes...or often, I think that a lot of us live to impress. We buy this or that because it's cool, wear this style or that to follow the trend and the list is endless.

(6) My older sister and I fight a lot. Our mentalities are so different and our ideas are always contradicting. Only rarely do we agree on something. Nonetheless, we get along pretty okay. Our fights will only last for 5 minutes, then after 15 minutes or so, it's either I bring up a topic to discuss it or she does it.

(7) Two topics that would trigger me to talk on impulse: Religion & family. You can diss everything related to me except these two because they define me more than anything else.

(8) I'm only writing this because I couldn't find the analysis of two poems I've been looking for.

(9) I liked the image up there since my eyes look exactly like that after hours of studying.

Sohar Protest #2

After Friday prayers, there's said to be a peaceful march of about 50 people in Sohar protesting for those who were arrested on Tuesday. Things then got serious when approximately 400 people gathered around, throwing stones resulting into clashes between them and the army who were guarding the place. Rubber bullets were fired, causing injuries and reportedly one death just confirmed by ROP. [Source: @Mohana1]

A video taken by @BaderHinai after the clashes:

Other sources: In English: Gulf News and Arabic: Jidar.

3 Things I'm Grateful For

There are a lot of things I'm extremely grateful to have in my life but career wise, here's the ultimate 3;

Getting Published: I never thought, not in a million years, that I’d actually see my name in print. Sure there’s the dream of publishing my own novel after being discovered in a so-hollywoodish kind of way but to have my own column is something I’ve never foreseen before.

Winning Cubscribe: I know I was supposed to be optimistic about the whole thing but I wasn't. The topic we choose was alright though the approach we took could have been different. Nevertheless, my team and I won the The Week's challenge for Best Design and Overall Winner.

Writing and finishing stories: The only story I've ever written and finished was Perspective just because it was a school project. When I started writing after that, I've scribbled plots here and there and a couple of stories but it is when I posted them on here that I had the courage and the drive to work on them further. It has a lot to do with my readers' comments that I saw my potentials in the true sense of the word. So a huge THANK YOU to all of you out there who stood with me since the first days of my noob-ish attempts.

سوفَ نـبـقـى هُـنا

سوفَ نـبـقـى هُـنا, Mohammed Nabbous' favourite song dedicated to every Libyan and whoever out there believes freedom will come at last.

سوف نبقى هنا كي يزول الألم
سوف نحيا هنا سوف يحلو النغم 

رغم كيد العدا رغم كل النقم
سوف نسعى إلى أن تعم النعم
سوف نرنو إلى رفع كل الهمم
بالمسير للعلا ومناجاة القمم

In Mohammed Nabbous' Memory

Mohammed Nabbous or ''Mo'' is the founder of Libya AlHurra TV; a private station that provided the world with news and on-ground footages from Benghazi, Libya. On 19 of March, he was shot in the head by a sniper by pro-Gaddafi troops. Ever since the beginning of the revolution, Mohammed's been wandering the dangerous streets of Benghazi, shooting videos and pictures of the regime's crimes that haven't been aired to let the world know what's going on without censorship. He founded the channel on livestream and people have started following his videos since Feb 17th.

I haven't known him personally, but his sister, a teacher of mine is so proud of him and for what he's done. A real hero, 28 years of age, lost his life and left his wife behind him and a yet-to-be-born son. Mohammed's famous statement is this  "I am not afraid to die, I am afraid to lose the battle." And inshAllah, his son would come into this world and get to live in a free country, a free Libya. 

الله يرحمه  ويغمد روحه في الجنة إن شاءالله

Is It Too Much To Ask For?

Millions and hundreds are being killed each passing day in Libya.. It's saddening to hear the toll of the deceased being spoken about as if they're counting any ordinary numbers.. What's yet more devastating is the fact that we're hopeless, we can't see anything happening in order to stop all these killings of innocent lives. As if it became the norm to hear/watch people being shot down, murdered without feeling a pang of pity... Can't imagine how the Libyans are living right now with planes flying over them, dropping bombs and killing whoever comes in the way. We'd say it's none of our business, but how's that so? Aren't they Arabs? Muslims? More importantly, human beings? 

Can we live in peace again? Is it so much to ask for under all that's going on? Would I be selfish to wish that all of this stops right now, at this very second? Just last night, my Libyan teacher's brother was killed in his own house..just because he's a reporter, for getting the truth out there. Does he deserve to die for telling the world what's taking part in his country? When did taking one's life for doing his job become ordinary? May all of their souls rest in peace.

A question to think about; Can't we do anything at all to stop this madness?

It's The Small Things...

As you’re heading out the door a total stranger opens it for you, the smile you see on the face of an elderly woman when she’s leaning on her son for support, the cute and warm laughter of a baby… I know I would not stop here for these little gestures that lighten up our entire day deserve a list of its own but here is me trying:

[Photo Credit]

Whenever you go, make sure to carry a valuable thing with you, it’s not a pen nor a bag but a facial expression and what is more beautiful than a smile? Yes, this smile of yours at the first of the morning can encourage others to be positive, to follow the same path in order to have what you seem to spread around contagiously: energy and happiness.

‘Sorry’ is a one-letter word that can be easily said but when meant can have an even larger impact. Always be careful to say it at the right time and in the right places for it may change your relationship with someone or destroy it.

‘Thank you’ is a rather two-word phrase but can be used almost everywhere. Be thankful to what you have, to others, to your family, your peaceful life and just about everything in between.

Avoid any aggressive situations that can make you go angry in a blink of an eye, don’t let simple things like forgetting where your key chain is change the whole atmosphere for you.

Take time-outs, because who doesn’t need them? Reward yourself knowing that you deserve it. Go out, enjoy. Life, as they say, is too short. You have a remote control that doesn’t has a pause button so without thinking of its existence, just hit the forward button and have a blast.

11.3.09

Whenever I hear or read this verse, I remember him. He used to repeat it numerous of times without reading the verses in between. Now I regret not counting the times he said it, maybe they'd have been 31? Like it's mentioned in Surat AlRahman? Maybe he just forgot to remember the remaining verses yet was so persistent to finish reciting the Sura.

He went through a lot and I've only seen him in the true sense of the word in his last years. I was so stupid back then that I'd taken him for granted. But don't we all do that? Take every dearest person in our heart for granted? We'd love to believe that they'll be there no matter what but that's the sad part. There will be a day when we'd see them passing through the crowd in white linen, covering our eyes to think this can't be true, they'd be gone to where we all belong, beneath the ground.

Their memories will haunt us, just like a shadow. Wherever, whenever or whatever you do, there will be a point in which you'll remember what used to be between you, the times you shared... Just know that they're in a better place, a much nicer place than the planet we call Earth. To us, it may seem like they'll miss the great fun they could have here, but what do we know? They might be having a blast in heaven, looking down upon us, wishing we WERE there with them.

May he rest in peace.

11.3.09 to 11.3.2011 = 2 years.. feels like it was just yesterday.

Sick Leave: Day 3

For the past 4 days and 3 nights I've been feverish like never before. And before you start making any assumptions that this will be another rant post; it isn't.

The great thing about being sick to the point that you're bed-bound and can't move off your place without your head spinning so fast that it might fall off your neck is the realization of the small amount of people's pain from their permanent diseases.

It's only situations like these that makes you stop and appreciate EVERYTHING you have, starting with the greatest blessing that is your health.

[Guest Book Review] ولدت هناك، ولدت هنا

Remember the Arabic book I posted about here sometimes back? It's the same novel that I kept quoting and tweeting about. And finally, just on Tuesday, I've finished reading it and immediately bought my own copy from the book fair.

The novel got emotional at parts; made me realize the great struggle Palestinans go through while watching their country being taken away from them day by day knowing that someday they'd have it back. Only question is, when?

I knew I wouldn't do the book justice if I began reviewing it so without even thinking to try, I asked my good friend, Blogger and above all, an awesome tweep with informative tweets spamming (in a good way of course) my timeline: Salma to write a review and she kindly did so;

كيف لما كتب كسيرة مختصرة أن يختصر واقع شعب دون أن يغفل عن تفاصيل الأرض والسماء والشجر والزيتون؟
وُلدتُ هناك، وُلدت هنا.. كتاب يعطي الجواب.

يسرد الأب مريد زيارة إبنه تميم الأولى لفلسطين.. يحكي جهد السفر وشوق الزيارة والمعابر.. يعود حينا لماضيه في مدارس دير غسانة، ليرحل في المستقبل ليحكي عن إبنه تميم طالب الجامعة.. بوصف شاعري، عاطفي بسيط وصادق مؤثر.

الكتاب مزيج من قصص فردية ووقائع تاريخية وإنسانية.. مزيج يحكي واقع إنسان.. مريد وهو فلسطيني تزوج رضوى المصرية ليمنع النظام في مصر إبوته لتميم، ومن وجوده لجانب رضوى زوجته، الأديبة المصرية.

اروع ما في الكتاب هو إنسانية محتواه:

تكون اسرة فلسطينية مصرية..
كيف يعيد لإبنه "فلسطينيته" وكيف يعيد "فلسطين" لإبنه..
أسرة فلسطينية في زوبعة الشتات

رجوع خطوات في التاريخ مرة اخرى.. لحكاية التهجير سنة ١٩٤٨
وأخيرا.. النهاية.. التي كانت هي البداية..
كيف ضاع العمر؟ كيف ضاعت فلسطين؟
بعد أن كنت اجتزت شوطا كبيرا في قراءة هذه الرواية، قررت أن تجربة قرائتها ستكون أحلى، لو تعرفت على مريد، ورضوى، وتميم.. ولكم أن تجربوا هذا أيضا..

Muscat Lecture Tweetup

Updated: Visit Faith's blog for a review of the lecture.

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A lecture organized by @youthvisionnet and presented by Dr. Tareq AlSawaidan.

Day: Monday.

Date: 7th of March.

Time: 7.00 PM - 10.30 PM.

Venue: City Theatre, Qurum National Park.

Since a lot of my followers were planning on attending this lecture I thougt to create a Tweetvite page to make it as a tweetup where we can meet, have fun and enjoy. You can RSVP on Facebook or on the #MctLectureTweetup on Twitter here.

To know more about Youth Vision, visit their site: HERE.

من أجمل ما قرأت

من أجمل ما قرأت

أنا أضعف شخص في هذا الاجتماع، أنا بلا حزب وبلا فصيل وبلا يد تحميني في ما تسمونه الحكومة وبلا شلة تناصرني في أي مكان لكنني أملك هذا... ورفعت قلمي بيدي اليمنى عاليا أمام عيني

ص 209 من وُلدت هناك، وُلدت هنا لمريد البرغوثي

Sohar Protest

Update: Click here to read the Sohar Protest [2] ~ 1/4/2011

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One finds this hard to believe but it's happening as I type this. Protests in Sohar, 2 reportedly have passed away and others injured. Muscat Daily and Reuters have reported it this morning.

Last night's

For keeping up with the up-to-date minutes follow this #Sohar hashtag on Twitter but please don't believe EVERYthing you hear or spread it in fact.

To make it clear for all of you out there, Omanis are not protesting for change in regime, on the contrary, they're fighting for some political reforms. It was supposed to be a peaceful protest but something, somewhere might have gone wrong when the protesters put a gas truck on fire. Police stepped in by firing rubber bullets and tear gas. And that's that.

Once again, we do not want this to get any further if it means causing chaos and distruption in our beloved country. So please go back to your homes and come back only when you're ready to carry out a civilized protest; not riots and havoc.

Dear Someone...

Dear Someone,

You've been ruining my life ever since I was 6. Sure, it was fun playing around with you, even I can admit that but sometime later dealing with you just became very hard. I've thought a lot about killing you, destroying you but knowing that I don't have the power to, I couldn't. You started possessing my mind and thoughts ever since I realized I was doomed. You're the first thing I think of in the morning. Not because I love you, no, the amount of hate I have towards you is so much bigger that I can't see others when you're in line.

When you're around, I become very weak. My mind goes off to different places all at once just by feeling your presence. I've avoided all those who were related to you for the fear of being reminded of you as with them your odor filled in, your scent that changed the whole atmosphere for me. A lot have urged me to change my attitude; maybe then you'd soften up a bit. Maybe, they said, I'd fall in love with you just like others have.

Know that I've tried, more than you'd ever know but I've been failing repeatedly. You've never captured my heart. I tried to admit you in, keep a place for you, hoping that someday, somewhere you'd finally belong there. Above all, you should know that I did all of this not because I wanted to, on the contrary, because I had to. There was no other way to survive than admitting you're a part of me; an essential one at that.

You confuse me to bits. I can’t think straight without messing up big time. You shatter my self-confidence into a tiny, million pieces. When asked about you, my heart beats a billion times per second that I could feel it bursting out of my chest. Even though I might not know everything about you, I feel like a total idiot when speaking about you. Your problems puzzle me, your words are unfathomable. Reading your expressions is as hard as a dyslexic reading a first grade textbook.

I could go on and on about the things that irritates me about you but I’m afraid the ink would rip this letter and you wouldn’t get to read what I wrote above. It saddens me that we’d never gotten on terms before but I’d like to keep it that way. God only knows how I’d end up if you’re going to spend the rest of my life with me.

One last thing dear Math: I hate you with a passion.

Not yours truly,
Kitten.