"I Want To Explore On My Own''

I usually talk when I'm fully aware of the topic discussed yet I find that I'm always voicing out an opinion one way or the other. I don't know if others find this irritating though I honestly think it's better than having no say in things at all. What's worse than being quiet is talking complete and utter nonsense. Why word out others' thoughts claiming to be your own? I might quote and refer to some public figures if I happened to have read about any.

That leads me to my next point which is reading about various things. What brought this up is a certain saying that mentions something along the lines that "I'd rather not read to explore on my own" and that sort of stopped me in my tracks for a while: reading gets you in the mind of other people; They write out an organized document of their opinions and by reading that, are you allowed to ponder more? Or do you just agree with all that's there thanks to the convincing evidence laid out in front of you?

Same thing with fictional writings and this deal with your imaginative side. Does reading about new worlds stop your creativity at some point? Does it leave a room for you to imagine when new cool universes are already created and crafted beautifully for you?

Coming from an avid reader, I'm expected to mention the numerous benefits of reading yet I can't help but fall trap in the other contradicting side as well. Reading does harm you only if you’re totally dependent on getting to know other’s views without having any of your own. The trick is to read, analyze, weigh your opinions, try to contradict and support your reasons with logical thinking. If a text could get you to think, then it already did its purpose and it’s left for you to muse over the thought, consider it more thoroughly to come up with your own opinion, leaving aside the author’s.

So are you the type that prefers to keep quiet and listen without having a say in certain conversations? Or are you the one who reads, depending on others’ thoughts or rather choosing to think things through in order to have a clearer view on your point?

Published today, 4th of May on Oman Observer

Reading & I These Days...

I did not quit. Not yet.

The thought of my permanent loss of interest in reading frightens me beyond belief. I may go overboard with it when I say that I have more than 5 books on my night-stand in order to remind me to read again. I would pick one, read from where I left and close it, then pick up the next and the circle goes on with the other novels. This started by the beginning of my two-weeks-long holiday. Maybe it was the effect of watching TV. I've been reading few pages of a certain novel and stopping. Then picking another one and stopping all over again. Why, if you may ask?

Well, I've duelled much on how to answer this between myself and I and I've came up with the only sane reason I could master to find: It's hard to find something that would grab my attention from the first page itself. If not the writing style then it's the plot or vice versa. Thinking back, I've never felt this way before: That I cannot find a worthy novel to spend my time on. Maybe I'm getting old? Or my attention-span is so short that I get bored easily? I don't know.

Bottom line, got any interesting titles you recommend? Or more specifically (if you're willing to help me and got the time to) check my online bookshelves of the books I own and decide which is worthy of time. CLICK HERE.

On another-yet-relevant note, mom wants to get me this when we move to our new house in a couple of months from now, says she'll customize a bed to suit it. Guess I don't need it now, eh? Or do I?

[Book Review] Who Moved My Cheese?

An entertaining yet simple story that reveals the profound truth about change. The story talks about four characters making their way through the Maze in search for Cheese.

The four characters have different ways in finding Cheese and when it was no longer there, they showed different attitudes towards it, the same as human beings attitude towards change. The author choose the imaginary characters based on parts of all of us.

::The Mice::

Sniff: Who sniffs out change early.
Scurry: Who scurries into action.

::The Little People::

Hem: Who denies and resists change as he fears it lead to something else.
Haw: Who learns to adapt in time when he see changing can lead to something better.

Every day, the four characters enter the maze and face various obstacles in an attempt of reaching their final goal that is finding Cheese. On the their way, they find a limited amount of Cheese that satisfied their needs for the day, but when they finally discover the endless supply of it in Cheese Station C things begin to take a new course when they took the current situation for granted.

One day, the cheese disappears and the Mice immediately take action, while the Little People, Hem and Haw complains about it. It is then that Haw realizes the silliness of their action and makes a move; meanwhile Hem refuses to accept the fact and move on.

Haw brings about a fascinating approach of dealing with change and scribble down motivational sayings on the wall of the Maze.


It takes about less than an hour to enjoy and grasp the content of this book. A well written, simple and informative master piece that benefited a great deal of people (be it in their daily life or in the business world).

A movie was produced based on this book too;

Before You Know it

Time passes by like lightning. Before you know it, you’re struck down.

The same quote applies to my situation. I’ve been on a two weeks break and before it, I had all sort of plans to make the most of it, and guess what? I’ve only accomplished two of them:

1. Re-read The Deathly Hallows.
2. Write and finish a story [Shattered Hope]

~ It was planned that I’d get to attend the Disabled home-care centre, where I’d help out for 2 weeks, but I had transportation problems so that ruined the whole thing.

~ Visit our Quran’s school and help in teaching. The same above reason prevented me from doing so.

Also, start working on Harry Potter’s fanfiction starting from this section, precisely:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Chapter: Beyond the veil
Page: 710

Scene:

At the department of mysteries where Harry had fallen into the impression that Sirius was locked up with the Death Eaters on Voldemort’s order. Harry had seen through Voldemort’s mind that someone was being tortured and the dreams he saw were all of a tall corridor leading to the door of the Department of Mysteries. It’s then when he found the prophecy that has his name on it, as a group of Death Eaters close around him, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna.

I only wrote half a page and realized that I can’t compete with Rowling’s intelligence, although that’s not the point of it all, but I just created an excuse of my own, if you know what I mean.

Normally, I don’t watch TV unless a movie I’ve seen earlier is aired, so recently I got back to the habit of staring at the screen whenever.

::Movies::

Never Been Kissed
The whole story plot was lovely, and Drew pulled the young-ish look just fine. 9/10.

Fever Pitch
Basically, it was all about baseball and that was the point of the movie, till a bit of romance between Drew and her boyfriend was introduced. It’s wasn’t all that great, though. 4/10.

In Her ShoesOne of the best movies I've watched in a long time, and I wouldn't mind watching it again. Cameron Diaz shined in this movie. 10/10.

:: Shows::

The Simpson’s

Before, I couldn't watch 5 minutes of it and now I just can't get enough. I'm hooked, and you can blame Fox Series for it. It's on almost 24/7. Also, I watched it's movie and meanwhile, Fox series had the Simpson's series on. See? It's not my fault.

Make It Or Break It
It's a shame that it's on every other Thursday

American Idol
I don't know why I've started following it since day #1, as I've never been a fan of the show. Anyways, I think Lee has what it takes to win it, besides his hotness, of course :P





Though I don't believe in the whole Valentine's Day crap, I'm looking forward to the movie! Just take a look at all the stars cast!

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jessica Alba, Anne Hathaway, Julia Roberts, Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner, Emma Roberts, Joe Jonas, Topher Grace, Patrick Dempsey, Queen Latifah, Jamie Foxx, George Lopez

And I'm a fan of romance comedy, not cheesy and entertains you at the same time.

The official trailer:


Here's for a bit of amusement on the same occasion,

Police in Saudi Arabia rid stores of red roses, heat-shaped things as Valentine's Day nears

Religious police in Saudi Arabia are cracking down on stores selling items that are red or in any other way allude to banned celebrations of Valentine's Day.

A Saudi official says policemen are inspecting shops for red roses, heart-shaped products or gifts wrapped in red, and ordering storeowners to get rid of them.

Such items are legal at other times of the year, but as February 14 nears they become contraband.

Saudi Arabia bans celebration of Western holidays such as Valentine's Day, named after a Christian saint said to have been martyred by the Romans in the 3rd Century.

Saudi has it's own way of dealing with this, but would it really stop people from celebrating it if there were not gifts to be gifted? I think not.

Inspirational Quotes

'The tragedy of life is not death, but what we let die inside of us while we live'.

Sometimes, we just lose the sense of living. We wish that we were not brought up to this world in the first place. We cheat, lie, kill, and do other sorts of things and that’s when the regret part comes in. We often think that this sweet feeling of remorse can simply erase the others off. We walk around knowing we’re on the right path, and there’s nothing, not even a single thing can change this, when in fact, we simply lost our values and ethics in order to cope up with our surrounding. Life is ripping the humanity out of us just so it could give us a space on it. We must not forget the people we’re living close by are also humans, just like us, and by a word, we can easily hurt them. Saying sorry is the least we could do in this situation, even though they might not get over it, but at least know that your job is over by uttering this 5 letter word.

'We don't really forget anything bad that happened to us, we simply choose to ignore it to be able to move on'.

One of the blessings we own is the fact that we’re able to forget. Forget and move on, as if nothing happened. Though there are certain things which we carry along with us no matter what. It’s usually the bad things we’ve been through and decided to forgo to be able to live without the knowledge of its existence. It brings great joy to us if we believed we’re living the perfect life. The only sad thing is, we’re actually not.

Why Don't We Read?

Based on the article I read yesterday with the title of 'Ma waraa2 3uzoof el3arab 3an el8era2a' (The reasons behind Arabs neglecting reading) [?] on Al Khaleej newspaper, I found out many points and I'd like to hear your own take on this.

Some of the reasons were,

Political instability; according to what people think and emphasize on, due to lack of trust some Arab government has on its authority, they resort to the policy of obscurantism, in order to stop their own people from reading and enlightenment.

Other than this, the rest of the article talked about poverty being the main reason.

Do you agree/disagree, and what, in your opinion, are the reasons why we, Arabs, don’t have that habit of reading?