I know I just never blog. But I want to. I feel I best express myself in words so I should do this more often.
What I do want to do is document my graduation project. I'm in communication engineering so its going to be technical but I'll try to not go too deep. After all a big chunk of the time on the project will be taken up writing the report.
So far we don't have a professor to supervise. But at least we've contacted a couple so there's hope there. Thanks to the H1N1 virus known internationally as swine flu (if you read Egyptian newspapers you'll see this a lot and newspapers always know,right?) we're starting school a week late. But then the actual registration of projects is moved forward. So a tight deadline already.
I hope I'll update this often when it actually takes off.
Right now what we are looking to do is something to do with wireless sensor networks. I'm hoping to find a use that's related to environmental studies. And I'm hoping we'll get so good ideas next week.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
I am shocked, Obama supports Israel!!
The feel good feeling left over after Obama's visit to Cairo is wearing fast. Now everyone's circulating a video of Obama giving a speech at AIPAC. I'd just like to nuke everyone and get it done with. I mean seriously are all Egyptians that naive? We can't trust Obama because he's totally dedicated to the safety of Israel? Oh and his speech in Cairo was just to make us feel good.
In a way I support the safety of Israel. If it weren't safe then it would probably be at war, a serious one not a fake one and that would definitely involve Egypt. And sorry to disappoint but I don't want Egypt in a war.
Why do we think that anybody, well any US president, will just kick Israel back to 1967 borders and declare the state of Palestine? Its not going to happen like that. And until we as Arabs are a force to be reckoned with its not going to happen. And to be strong would mostly mean democratic and highly educated, so that'll be a while yet.
Oh and if anyone hasn't everyone supports Israel. Well the only countries that don't are probably North Korea and Venezuela. Notice I wouldn't add any Arab state to the list which is worthless anyways. So its not just the US.
My last point in this very badly planned post is this.
We and I mean Arab people,and I'm not exactly including myself, don't recognise Israel or its right to exist. But what do we propose to do about it? How do you get rid of something that is a fact? A one state solution that is not religious or genocide? Why do I think we'd prefer option two? So we go and do another holocaust? Is that a solution?
In a way I guess its a blessing that we aren't strong, because we are to stupid to be trusted with strength.
In a way I support the safety of Israel. If it weren't safe then it would probably be at war, a serious one not a fake one and that would definitely involve Egypt. And sorry to disappoint but I don't want Egypt in a war.
Why do we think that anybody, well any US president, will just kick Israel back to 1967 borders and declare the state of Palestine? Its not going to happen like that. And until we as Arabs are a force to be reckoned with its not going to happen. And to be strong would mostly mean democratic and highly educated, so that'll be a while yet.
Oh and if anyone hasn't everyone supports Israel. Well the only countries that don't are probably North Korea and Venezuela. Notice I wouldn't add any Arab state to the list which is worthless anyways. So its not just the US.
My last point in this very badly planned post is this.
We and I mean Arab people,and I'm not exactly including myself, don't recognise Israel or its right to exist. But what do we propose to do about it? How do you get rid of something that is a fact? A one state solution that is not religious or genocide? Why do I think we'd prefer option two? So we go and do another holocaust? Is that a solution?
In a way I guess its a blessing that we aren't strong, because we are to stupid to be trusted with strength.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
The Maharajah
On Friday we decided to go out for dinner. We picked the Maharajah based one it being pretty good and cheap if you were looking for vegetarian according to Egypt Today. Now mind you that wasn't a review but part of a round up and the details were a little sparse. And no we aren't vegetarian, not me anyhow, I'm definitely not.
So we got there ok at around 7. Now it obviously wasn't their busy hour seeing we were the only people there. At least in the restaurant area, there is a lounge, but then wouldn't be the time for that to be busy either. Oh, and its not the Maharajah, its the Maharajah & Zen Zen. They specialize in Far Eastern food. Well so they claim. The menu sure was big, pages of Indian then a few Chinese and then a couple more to the rest of Asia. They even had sushi but that was really out of the question.
We took our time to order, since we weren't really familiar with the food. I settled with a lamb dish which is cooked with creamed spinach. I didn't go for the item under it which was labled spicy. And good thing I didn't, because my dish was, so no telling how bad the other would have been. Probably fire would come out of my ears. In general the food was good I guess and the portions on the small side with each dish being strictly a dish, no veg and carbs next to it. My stomach kicked in at 4am so that goes to show how my stomach liked it although stricly speaking I don't thing there was anything wrong with the food.
The eating affair was quit quick I suppose as opposed to the wait. First, as I said we were the only people there although eventually some Indian men did show up but that was it. So not very cosy. The ambience though is weird. The music is hindi songs but all you can see around you is chinese decorations on the walls, the tables and chairs being just neutral, althought the stains in the table cloth could go. If you do order meat plus rice and appetizers and maybe a veg too you'll easily go over 100LE. But seriously its not worth the money unless you're Indian I guess. They should get rid of everything not Indian for one and well I don't know make it a little worth the money. Especialy when the service was so slow. I didn't have a watch but the wait from order to service must've been at least 20 minutes and it feels a lot longer when you're mostly the only table in the place. If it was rush hour I wouldn't have minded as much but when you're almost alone the thing to do seems to be to eat and get out. Which we did.
So we got there ok at around 7. Now it obviously wasn't their busy hour seeing we were the only people there. At least in the restaurant area, there is a lounge, but then wouldn't be the time for that to be busy either. Oh, and its not the Maharajah, its the Maharajah & Zen Zen. They specialize in Far Eastern food. Well so they claim. The menu sure was big, pages of Indian then a few Chinese and then a couple more to the rest of Asia. They even had sushi but that was really out of the question.
We took our time to order, since we weren't really familiar with the food. I settled with a lamb dish which is cooked with creamed spinach. I didn't go for the item under it which was labled spicy. And good thing I didn't, because my dish was, so no telling how bad the other would have been. Probably fire would come out of my ears. In general the food was good I guess and the portions on the small side with each dish being strictly a dish, no veg and carbs next to it. My stomach kicked in at 4am so that goes to show how my stomach liked it although stricly speaking I don't thing there was anything wrong with the food.
The eating affair was quit quick I suppose as opposed to the wait. First, as I said we were the only people there although eventually some Indian men did show up but that was it. So not very cosy. The ambience though is weird. The music is hindi songs but all you can see around you is chinese decorations on the walls, the tables and chairs being just neutral, althought the stains in the table cloth could go. If you do order meat plus rice and appetizers and maybe a veg too you'll easily go over 100LE. But seriously its not worth the money unless you're Indian I guess. They should get rid of everything not Indian for one and well I don't know make it a little worth the money. Especialy when the service was so slow. I didn't have a watch but the wait from order to service must've been at least 20 minutes and it feels a lot longer when you're mostly the only table in the place. If it was rush hour I wouldn't have minded as much but when you're almost alone the thing to do seems to be to eat and get out. Which we did.
Monday, January 26, 2009
I love and hate Egypt..... therefore I am Egyptian
Seriously, we as Egyptians love our country, we also love to hate it. I know one thing for sure I either hate Egypt or I just hate the Egyptians as a people.
I understand that in general people as individuals are more or less ok but the way we all collectively act just sickens me.
One thing I hate that Egyptians do and I know I do is complain. We know everything that is wrong and we'll complain about it but no we can't actually do anything about it.
Also I like almost any other Egyptian can't wait to leave this country. We just live this illusion that everything is so much better abroad and we can't change our country. We can't change ourselves either. But as soon as we set foot outside we can change.
I know that's how I feel. For one I feel like I will become a better Muslim once I leave. Being a practicing Muslim abroad I feel is holding on to your identity and its something you put your heart into. Here it just seems so monotonous. But that's not it the environment is just not encouraging. The people you see around you that would be labeled as devout usually disgust me. The problem mostly for me is in how they dress then that they expect a certain treatment, which people give, and then worst of all is how they think. Heck I never really planned on growing my beard but boy let it go for a week and suddenly you might get called sheikh, that was enough for me to shave when I got home.
What really kills me and saddens me is the number of these people are increasing. People that really don't understand much of the outside world but are willing to take a stance and also generally perceive everyone as a non believer. Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised but watching the sms bar of a religious channel my father was watching, someone was still calling for the boycott of Danish products, for I guess the whole collective population insulted the Prophet (SAAS). We also should boycott Mongolia their ancestors basically routed the Islamic world well not SO long ago. I mean come on what are we boycotting? The best intelligent toys ever and milk. Well probably those who are calling for this continued boycott probably make their own cheese. This rant is going no where. And I have already said that I don't really believe in boycotting.
Its also not just me though but a few people are of the opinion that Cairo is quite a beautiful city. When its empty, which means no Egyptians. And they don't really all go to sleep and that. Ok I am typing at the 2:30 AM but then I had coffee a little too late. For everyone else this is just maybe close to bedtime.
For those few that I know have an exam tomorrow and probably just passed out with exauhtion I wish you the best of luck.
Bedtime.
Someday I'll learn to write not rant.
Of course maybe I should try breaking these posts up. And Saving drafts. And reading what I wrote. One of the worst things abot me is I hate reading what I write. So maybe I should slightly change this title to raw zid and zee. Or zid and zee undercooked. Why am I thinking about carrots? Next it will be bunnies that are alergic to carrots. Then those will become an endangered species. But it won't be cellphones that caused it this time.
Where did my rant go?
Bedtime?
See we collectively as a people and me personally will just go on complain about everthing and anything and will just keep on talking.
Bedtime.
I understand that in general people as individuals are more or less ok but the way we all collectively act just sickens me.
One thing I hate that Egyptians do and I know I do is complain. We know everything that is wrong and we'll complain about it but no we can't actually do anything about it.
Also I like almost any other Egyptian can't wait to leave this country. We just live this illusion that everything is so much better abroad and we can't change our country. We can't change ourselves either. But as soon as we set foot outside we can change.
I know that's how I feel. For one I feel like I will become a better Muslim once I leave. Being a practicing Muslim abroad I feel is holding on to your identity and its something you put your heart into. Here it just seems so monotonous. But that's not it the environment is just not encouraging. The people you see around you that would be labeled as devout usually disgust me. The problem mostly for me is in how they dress then that they expect a certain treatment, which people give, and then worst of all is how they think. Heck I never really planned on growing my beard but boy let it go for a week and suddenly you might get called sheikh, that was enough for me to shave when I got home.
What really kills me and saddens me is the number of these people are increasing. People that really don't understand much of the outside world but are willing to take a stance and also generally perceive everyone as a non believer. Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised but watching the sms bar of a religious channel my father was watching, someone was still calling for the boycott of Danish products, for I guess the whole collective population insulted the Prophet (SAAS). We also should boycott Mongolia their ancestors basically routed the Islamic world well not SO long ago. I mean come on what are we boycotting? The best intelligent toys ever and milk. Well probably those who are calling for this continued boycott probably make their own cheese. This rant is going no where. And I have already said that I don't really believe in boycotting.
Its also not just me though but a few people are of the opinion that Cairo is quite a beautiful city. When its empty, which means no Egyptians. And they don't really all go to sleep and that. Ok I am typing at the 2:30 AM but then I had coffee a little too late. For everyone else this is just maybe close to bedtime.
For those few that I know have an exam tomorrow and probably just passed out with exauhtion I wish you the best of luck.
Bedtime.
Someday I'll learn to write not rant.
Of course maybe I should try breaking these posts up. And Saving drafts. And reading what I wrote. One of the worst things abot me is I hate reading what I write. So maybe I should slightly change this title to raw zid and zee. Or zid and zee undercooked. Why am I thinking about carrots? Next it will be bunnies that are alergic to carrots. Then those will become an endangered species. But it won't be cellphones that caused it this time.
Where did my rant go?
Bedtime?
See we collectively as a people and me personally will just go on complain about everthing and anything and will just keep on talking.
Bedtime.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Not Sudying
Have an exam tomorrow and I guess its quite obvious what I'm not doing.
I did watch the inaugural speech and my personal reaction was that it was pretty good. I understand how Americans in America probably were a lot more emotional and moved by it. At least it confirms that hopefully he will be a more understanding president and worthy of being a world leader. Optimism is hard to feel if you're in the middle east but it did give me hope. God's speed Mr. President.
I did watch the inaugural speech and my personal reaction was that it was pretty good. I understand how Americans in America probably were a lot more emotional and moved by it. At least it confirms that hopefully he will be a more understanding president and worthy of being a world leader. Optimism is hard to feel if you're in the middle east but it did give me hope. God's speed Mr. President.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Boycotting Idiocy
I have no idea why it took so long this time for calls of a boycott of American and now British products. The idea is to boycott companies that support Israel.
In general I don't really take part in these festivities if you may. The loudest calls always are for Mcdonald's and Starbucks. That also includes all fast food more or less. In general I don't really buy fast food and tend to go with local brands at least when it's my call. They are cheaper and well why not support your local brands if they are good enough.
So in general I can't really boycott. You can only boycott if you are a customer. So that's the background.
Now what really pisses me off is the emails. Who writes the lists. Why on earth can't they spell half the products correctly. Is it because they are too lazy, too ignorant, too stupid or what? Can't admit they use the products, then again how will you boycott????
But what really did it for me was the latest email I got from a friend. At least it was calling for boycotting the car companies. Now that would be scary to America, if and that's a big if, if you could get Arabs off American cars. Now the list didn't include Chrysler, duh. And only mentioned Land Rover as part of Ford, which is now owned by Tata of India. Oh and no computer companies. Sure you have to give up that McBlubber or whatever but that iPod is sacred.
But that's the tip of the iceberg on idiocy. On the list was one and I repeat ONE furniture manufacturer. The name, the unfortunate name, American Furniture. Despite the name it is an Egyptian company.
So mister boycotting list writer please check your facts, we treat our local brand badly enough in this country; we don't need idiots calling for their boycott too.
So I will not boycott my local brands and I will buy anything made in Egypt regardless of the brand. The imported stuff I already live without.
So long live the idiots.
In general I don't really take part in these festivities if you may. The loudest calls always are for Mcdonald's and Starbucks. That also includes all fast food more or less. In general I don't really buy fast food and tend to go with local brands at least when it's my call. They are cheaper and well why not support your local brands if they are good enough.
So in general I can't really boycott. You can only boycott if you are a customer. So that's the background.
Now what really pisses me off is the emails. Who writes the lists. Why on earth can't they spell half the products correctly. Is it because they are too lazy, too ignorant, too stupid or what? Can't admit they use the products, then again how will you boycott????
But what really did it for me was the latest email I got from a friend. At least it was calling for boycotting the car companies. Now that would be scary to America, if and that's a big if, if you could get Arabs off American cars. Now the list didn't include Chrysler, duh. And only mentioned Land Rover as part of Ford, which is now owned by Tata of India. Oh and no computer companies. Sure you have to give up that McBlubber or whatever but that iPod is sacred.
But that's the tip of the iceberg on idiocy. On the list was one and I repeat ONE furniture manufacturer. The name, the unfortunate name, American Furniture. Despite the name it is an Egyptian company.
So mister boycotting list writer please check your facts, we treat our local brand badly enough in this country; we don't need idiots calling for their boycott too.
So I will not boycott my local brands and I will buy anything made in Egypt regardless of the brand. The imported stuff I already live without.
So long live the idiots.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Worth Reading
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/howard-schweber/israel-in-gaza-three-wron_b_156801.html
Very rarely do I see common sense in any American media. Too bad it doesn't translate into anything in government. Hope Obama's a little better.
Very rarely do I see common sense in any American media. Too bad it doesn't translate into anything in government. Hope Obama's a little better.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
I have a blog! Yikes.
I almost forgot about this obviously I keep most of my mumbling to my self. I had wanted to regularly post but I guess it wasn't for me. I must say I like that the interface hasn't changed much in over a year that I've been inactive, it does seem to work better though so far.
The reason I remembered this is that I got a comment!!
Don't you just love how stuff just stays around for ever.
But really what to do with a blog? I guess I feel I'm not very interesting.
I definitely don't want to comment on current affairs.
But then why am I bothering to ask, all I need is to remember to blog something.
Something random like the seldom seen kid is pretty good. And I want a new 500 anyone want to donate one?
And I don't think I can change the world, not now at least I have a project to finish tomorrow and I just hope my brain hasn't created any serious design flaws.
Welcome to the world of private education in Egypt. You can learn if you want to but to be good you generally should focus cause really there won't be much time for anything else.
Just to keep this random enough, there's only two more weeks till inauguration day. No more shrubberies.
The reason I remembered this is that I got a comment!!
Don't you just love how stuff just stays around for ever.
But really what to do with a blog? I guess I feel I'm not very interesting.
I definitely don't want to comment on current affairs.
But then why am I bothering to ask, all I need is to remember to blog something.
Something random like the seldom seen kid is pretty good. And I want a new 500 anyone want to donate one?
And I don't think I can change the world, not now at least I have a project to finish tomorrow and I just hope my brain hasn't created any serious design flaws.
Welcome to the world of private education in Egypt. You can learn if you want to but to be good you generally should focus cause really there won't be much time for anything else.
Just to keep this random enough, there's only two more weeks till inauguration day. No more shrubberies.
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