Name any country that does not recognise the sacrifices of its citizens, and I’ll guarantee that its government has no real legitimacy in the eyes of their own constituents. Sure they rule, but that is most probably due to the use of oppression to perpetuate their authority. Their tenuous hold on power promotes the culture of fear. Theirs is the law of force, rather than the force of law. That government will not last too long, …
By mahmood Spiritual boxes at Frankie’s, originally uploaded by malyousif.Fantastic Décollage Decoupage hand-made spiritual boxes in at Frankie’s in the Najibi Cenre at the Saar roundabout. Today’s the last day.Proceeds from the sale will go toward helping a lady receive breast cancer treatment. It’s a good cause and you end up with a wonderful (and very much undervalued) piece of art. Most of the boxes have been sold, a few remain to the lucky few who …
By mahmood 500 intellectuals from over 30 countries have descended on Bahrain to participate in the Arab Thought Foundation’s FIKR conference, the annual think-tank that strives to make a change to the Arab world not by force or arms but those of thought. These gatherings have identified and provoked a lot of thought in what needs to be changed in our societies in order for us to progress and integrate within the global community in an intrinsic and …
By mahmood Some words and phrases just can’t be translated properly from one language to another; take this for instance:One might be forgiven for thinking that there is a new brand of spirits announced and being actively marketed. But the truth (excusing the endemic ALL CAPS) is stranger still! Isn’t it time that the translators are put out of their misery or put out to pasture at least? But then, what fault is it of theirs, really, …
By mahmood Uh, do you guys see a glass hermetically sealed cage around his majesty in the following picture taken at the opening of the parliament’s second session on Oct 17th?I only ask because maybe the government which he is its ultimate authority doesn’t seem to have heard any part of his speech, especially the words which confirm – once again – that he (as does our constitution) regards the freedom of expression as sacrosanct. He clearly …
By mahmood Following up from the original post about Eid SMS/txt Message in Nov ’04, let me update you with some of the messages I have received so far and challenge you into a competition: Choose the best and the corniest of the following and share you own too!1. عيدكم مبارك Ùˆ عساكم من عوّاده 2. تقبل الله طاعتكم Ùˆ كل عام Ùˆ أنتم بخير 3. كل عام Ùˆ أنتم بخير Ùˆ عساكم من العايدين السعيدين 4. …
By mahmood May Allah accept your good deeds and reward you in this and any other life He bestows on you! While it is still not assured that we will be celebrating Eid (the end of fasting month of Ramadhan) tomorrow, as that is incumbent upon someone viewing the new moon, scientifically it is, and as far as I am concerned, that’s what actually matters. So let me wish you all a very good, healthy, peaceful and prosperous …
By mahmood I had tremendous fun going all over Muharraq island looking for the mid-Ramadhan celebrations we call “Girga’oun” (the G as in golf, in both cases). I arrived early, actually before Iftar time by a few minutes and set up at the souq, to take the initial shots as it was far too early for anything to happen there. I soon left and went to the nooks and crannies of the island: from the old parts of …
By mahmood I feel guilty if I shorten a word to miss its vowelsAre you the kind of person who grimaces every time you read a hacked up “txt”-like messages? Are you the kind of person who would rather listen to nails being dragged across chalk-boards and suffer the consequences than hack English and Aranglish words when sending mobile text messages or through Internet chat windows? Are you the kind of person who automatically label those who …
By mahmood Could anyone who lives in or indeed anyone who knows about the traditional festivity of Girga’oun in the Kingdom of Muharraq please let me know where should one go to best capture the mood and festivities of this special occasion? I would very much like to travel to the Kingdom and shoot some of the goings on, particularly kids going door to door getting sweets and the Fraisa and anything else that happens during that night. …
By mahmood