Archive | February, 2006

Bahrain Bloggers’ Gathering

It’s coming up again guys and thanks go to Tariq Khonji for reminding me. This time it will be at Cappucino Cafe in Saar.

Location: Cappucino Cafe, Saar
Time: 8pm
Date: 2nd March 2006

Agenda:

(Tariq is trying to organise a guest speaker whom you would want to listen to. Details will be updated here once I receive them.)

Talk topic: TBA
Personality: TBA
Other business: Discuss forthcoming Belgian/Bahraini bloggers meeting

I need to know numbers to talk to the management of the cafe and maybe do a set menu for dinner and negotiate prices. So please do enter a comment here if you are coming and if you are bringing anyone with you. The sooner we know, the better organised the gathering will be.

As discussed the last time, I think we should make this “guest speaker” thing a regular to best utilise these gatherings, or at least have an agenda where we discuss things structurally. Topics suggestions welcome.

If you disagree and just want it to be a friendly gathering (which it is in any case, the guest speaking part won’t take the full time) do let me know and we’ll think of another format or indeed revert to what we had before.

A hint of what our guest might talk about this time is the Role of Political Parties in Bahraini Society or something of a similar stream, ie, democracy development in Bahrain

Good morning!

It’s a good morning so far.. the garden is looking good, one of the parrots started to come down to eat some bread and fruit Frances puts out every morning for the birds, and the Passion Flower climber is quite happy with its new location.

I got an email from Yousifnet telling me that he has already completed writing the alpha code to transfer articles and comments from the Xaraya site to WordPress so I was anxious to get to the office to try it out.

That was at 7:11 this morning and I got to the office at 7:41. 30 minutes to drive 14.3 kilometers! BUT, the good thingtm about this traffic jam was I met with an old friend whom I have seen last when we were in the last year in high-school. That’s (ehm) 27 years ago and he didn’t change much. Guessing that he instantly recognised me too, I will delude myself (in keeping with the good morning theme) into thinking that I haven’t changed much either!

There are a few kinks to sort out with Yousif’s program so I hope he will be able to sort it out soon. That would make the whole day good!

Half a million dinars for a water spout!

water spout costing half a million Bahraini dinarsHalf a million! And not a single red fils for budding businessmen and their small businesses.

Half a million! And businesses still have to finance the government to the rate of 5% on every project undertaken by way of that stupid “performance bond”.

Half a million! And the government itself does not have any faith whatsoever in the legal system; hence, applies the above 5%.

Half a million! And no bank, NONE, has any faith in the small business community.

Half a million! And they are still TALKING about venture capital.

Half a million! And the “development” bank don’t give a damn about the vast majority of businesses.

Half a million! And “islamic” banks won’t extend credit to small businesses even though they hold substantial security compared to miniscule requirements.

Half a million! And “regular” banks won’t even LOOK at small businesses even though they have been forced to deal with them for tens of years.

Half a million! While the Chamber of Commerce members are more concerned with religious issues and using their position there as a leverage for the upcoming elections, rather than helping small businesses prosper.

Half a million! And the Ministry of Finance has not closed the 2005 budget.

Half a million! And the Ministry of Finance won’t release payments due in December, and this is almost March!

Half a million! And no one gives a shit if small businesses get flushed down the toilet through no fault of their own.

But then what’s the difference? Half a million here or half a billion there? If you’re not “in“, you’re simply OUT!

So deal with it!

Spring of Culture

This is the first time that I remember something like this is to happen in Bahrain; a month packed with cultural events: music, poetry, dance, art exhibits and theatre all happening back-to-back in breath-taking venues all around Bahrain.

I will do my best to attend as many as I could, especially the Jazz, Tango Flamenco, Hanin Y Son Cubano and the Huroof exhibit at Dar Al-Bareh Art Gallery. I know that Frances and the children would like to join me for some of the activities and it would be a pleasure to have their company.

These events, to me at least, are actually much more important than the Formula One! So it won’t be too hard to choose which event to actually go to… I’ll make sure that I record the F1 though to watch it at a later stage!